Week #1 - New Year

Just A Good Ol' Time Ricky

I'm not rightly sure what New Years was like back in the day. There are no cute family pictures or reminiscent day's of old stories. I can remember Nana would make black eyed peas and collard greens for luck. She would put out shrimp cocktail and pickle dishes. I even remember a few years when my grandparents would invite friends over to play pinnacle, but the youngn's never seemed to make it to the dropping of the ball.

One Of My Personal Favs

I do recall one year in particular.

My Aunt & Uncle had taken me along on a beautiful trip camping in the U.S. Virgin Islands, on

St. John. Now I was young and was off to the Land Of Nod long before midnight. But, if I recall

correctly, the next morning we packed up and headed to St. Thomas for a lovely hotel due to the 

wild donkeys over running our campsite. 

Note to self: no matter where you are there will always be party crashers.

Until Now...

I don't quite recall how this tradition began but it is one that is sticking. When I was planning the menu for this week I took a poll. 

"What does everyone want to do on New Years for dinner?" 

The answer: "Really? Lobster Duh"

The annual New Years Lobster Race has been going strong for the better part of a decade and it is the highlight of everyone in this home. 

Who says you shouldn't play with your food before you eat it?

Enjoy!

This Week We Purchased The Following: 

NOTHING, NADA, ZILCH, ZIP, ZERO

 The total spent was $0.00

Our allotted budget is $130 but the goal is to stay under $100

You know what I love about this time of year? 

Unexpected invites!

Since we had so many changes in our plans we 

get to roll over all those meals we didn't make,

again! Now that may not help you much but

I have come to find if I don't use it, I freeze it.

Than when I do need it, I have it.

Breakfast Options For The Week

• Pumpkin Cranberry Bread (LO)
• Peaches & Cream Instant Oatmeal (Plenty left)
• Banana Nut Muffins (FZ)
• Cinnamon Raisin French Toast (FZ)
• Banana Walnut Instant Oatmeal (Plenty Left)
• Blueberry Pancakes (FZ)

The best part about making one or two

things a week is that eventually you have

plenty and you don't have to make a

single thing!

Monday:

Lunch - Ham & Cheese Sandwiches (hot or cold, your call)

Dinner - Turkey & Vegetable Soup, Biscuts (FZ)

Tuesday:

Lunch - Turkey Cesar Salad

Dinner - Roast Turkey Club Sandwiches with Cranberry Sauce

Wednesday: New Years Eve

Lunch - Turkey Cesar Wraps

Dinner - Lobster, Steak, Boiled New Potatoes

**WooHoo Surf N' Turf

Thursday: Happy New Year

Lunch - Tropical Chicken

Dinner - Savory Meatloaf, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Side Salad

Friday:

Lunch - Chicken Wraps

Dinner - Amish Poor Mans Steak, Rutabaga Pancakes (I used LO)

Saturday:

Lunch - Meatloaf Hoagies

Dinner - Shepard's Pie, Side Salad

Sunday:

Lunch: Left Over Dive

Dinner: Simple Crock pot Beef Stew, Loaf of Bread or Yeast Rolls and Butter

Dinner At Friends House - My Turn To Bring - Last Week Was Canceled.

Snacks:

• Oranges, Bananas, Apples
• Popcorn
• Granola Bars
• Coconut Pie
• Lemon Raspberry Cake 

Drinks:

• Coffee and Hot Tea
• Better Than Starbucks Frappicinos
• Water - that's a biggie here
• MYO Arizona Green Tea
• MYO Lemonade Concentrate

I Don't Leave Home Without It

I generally plan on Wed when I have 30 minutes  before mass chaos begins.

I shop on Fri so our family menus (posted on the fridge) run from Fri to Thur.

How do I keep it all straight without pulling my hair out? I use Pepperplate.   

This site/App keeps all my recipes, super easy to upload from other sites, 

my shopping list which automatically uploads, my weekly/monthly planner, 

AAAND  (with best infomercial voice I can muster)   So Much More! (Nope I 

didn't get paid to say that either.)

Jeremiah 29:11The Message

I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

Week #52 Happy Birthday

The Real Reason For The Season

It is so easy this time of year to get caught up in rushing to stores and parties and what not. It is easy to forget that I am free to love those around me without trying to "buy" their love because God loved me so much he sent His son to live among us and erase all our debts.

Wow, This Looks Like One Hop'n Party!

What an idea, give to others on your birthday! I don't believe I have ever given anyone anything on my birthday. Honestly, I hold my breath in anticipation for what my DH might give me. I couldn't find a picture on my birthday but I found one of my Aunts. I believe I had the same expression in my Sweet 16 birthday picture

From 3 to Sweet 16

 On the day of her birth this young lady gave me the precious gift of a new start at life. I hadn't yet developed a relationship with God but looking back I realize now that He was there all along.

It seems like family tradition to have a birthday dinner with all your nearest relatives. Let's hope she appears to have more fun on her Sweet 16 then the rest of us had on ours.

Nana's Oyster Stew

Oyster stew always seemed to show up around Christmas or New Years. I don't know if it was just a favorite of Nana's but it defiantly became a favorite of mine, than my husband, and now even our children. Keeping this tradition alive for as long as I can!

What Kind Of Recipe Is This?

 It's the kind of recipe Nana uses, a pinch of this, a bit of that. Let me see if I can clarify a bit for you. Drain the juice and save - only add at the end if you want a more "fishy" flavor. I prefer 1/2 n 1/2 and I use the whole pint but unlike Nana I use less butter so only 1/2 the stick. The corn starch depends on how thick you like your "Stew", if you like it soupy'er than 1 heaping tablespoon dissolved in a bit of water (this is called a slurry) if you like it thicker than up to 3 tablespoons. Hope the "Nana Translation" helps.

This Week We Purchased The Following: 

This week feels kinda like a cheat.
We had some unexpected invites and I just happened to have plenty
of treats to take ready and on hand. That adds up to very 
little shopping. Just rolled over the unused meals from last week.

 The total spent was $73.65

Our allotted budget is $130 but the goal is to stay under $100

So last week we were invited to some parties.
That means I didn't cook several of the meals I
had planned, which means, we roll them over
and make them this week.

Breakfast Options For The Week

• Pumpkin Cranberry Bread (LO Last week)
• Peaches & Cream Instant Oatmeal (MYO)
• Banana Nut Muffins
• Cinnamon Raisin French Toast                                                                                                             ****(use any bread left from last week - freeze what you don't eat and you have instant breakfast before school or work)
• Dunkin Donuts Honey Glaze                                                      **everyone loved these so much I did'um again
• Banana Walnut Instant Oatmeal (MYO)

This breakfast prep may not seem minimal, but
the oatmeal's take about 10 min to make 30 or 40
packets. The French toast is easy on the fly.
The Bread and muffins are just as easy as 
from the box, so really I only had to make the 
donuts and well lets be honest - 
that was more for me than them.

Monday:

Lunch - LO Ham & Broccoli Mac-N-Cz

Dinner - Birthday Girl - Dinner Out
** Happy Sweet 16 **

Tuesday:

Lunch - LO's or Ham N CZ Sandwiches

Dinner - Savory Meatloaf, Baked Potatoes, Side Salad

Wednesday:

Lunch - Tapas snacks with the Grandparents

Dinner - Crock pot Split Pea Soup with Ham, Biscuits (Make N FZ)

Thursday: Merry Christmas

Lunch - "Nana's" Oyster Stew

Dinner - Rosemary Roasted Turkey, Mashed Rutabaga, Green Bean Casserole, Cranberry-Orange Sauce, Yeast Rolls (FZ), Apple Pie, Cookies N Milk!

Friday:

Lunch - Roasted Turkey Club Sandwich with Cranberry Sauce

Dinner - Turkey & Vegg Soup, LO Yeast Rolls

Saturday:

Lunch - Leftover Turkey Cesar Salad

Dinner - Amish Poor Mans Steak (whew, no more turkey), Mashed Potato (or rutabaga) pancakes

Sunday:

Lunch:  Split Pea Soup with Ham (Crock pot), Biscuts

Dinner: Simple Crock pot Beef Stew, Loaf of Bread or Yeast Rolls and Butter
Dinner At Friends House - My Turn To Bring

Snacks:

• Oranges, Bananas, Apples
• Popcorn
• Granola Bars
• Honey Crunch Granola Bars
• Ice Cream Sammies

Drinks:

• Coffee and Hot Tea
• Better Than Starbucks Frappicinos
• Water - that's a biggie here
• MYO Arizona Green Tea
• MYO Lemonade Concentrate

I Don't Leave Home Without It

I generally plan on Wed when I have 30 minutes  before mass chos begins.

I shop on Fri so our family menus (posted on the fridge) run from Fri to Thur.

How do I keep it all straight without pulling my hair out? I use Pepperplate.   

This site/App keeps all my recipes, super easy to upload from other sites, 

my shopping list which automatically uploads, my weekly/monthly planner, 

AAAND  (with best infomercial voice I can muster)   So Much More! (Nope I 

didn't get paid to say that either.)

1. John 3:16 (The Message) 
   16 "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

Week #51 Crazy Christmas Season

“The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world.”

“I couldn’t understand the Herdmans. You would have thought the Christmas story came right out of the F.B. I. files, they got so involved in it–wanted a bloody end to Herod, worried about Mary having her baby in a barn, and called the Wise Men a bunch of dirty spies. And they left the first rehearsal arguing about whether Joseph should have set fire to the inn, or just chased the innkeeper into the next country.”

Who's Pageant Was This?

That move/book is truly one of my favorites from childhood. The Herdman kids reminded me much of myself and my siblings. Dirty little faces, absurd and lude antics, never knowing what "those" kids might do next. Come to think of it they remind me of my children as well. I can't image any of my Aunts or Uncles partaking in any such sananagans. Just see how prescious and well behaved they all look. 

My son on the other had… 

You cannot see (in my mommy brag moment here), but my son was busy picking his nose, yawning, and elbowing the young lady beside him every time her exuberant arm motions entered his personal space. I laughed so hard I was easily disrupting all the well behaved parents around me. We enjoied ourselves so much I even forgot for a while just how hectic the last couple weeks of this busy season has been. Speaking of which, please forgive me for getting this blog out 5 days late. I'll work on keeping the future weeks on time.

This Week We Purchased The Following: 

This was a restocking week, 40# flour, 20# sugar,
10#brown sugar, 5# powdered sugar, various spices
and extracts. 10# ground turkey, 3 dozen eggs and the remaining
meats, veggies, fruits, cheese

 The total spent was $116.25

Our allotted budget is $130 but the goal is to stay under $100

Now before you say, "Hold the phone lady, you totally 
blew this one." Remeber we've been saving for several weeks now.
This go round  had some major restocking. This is the time of year
when baking supply prices drop so it's a good time to load up.

Breakfast Options For The Week

• Oatmeal
• Cinnamon Apple Cherry Cheese Ball with Apple Slices and Toasted Rasin Bread
• Apple Walnut Butterhorns (FZ)
• Pumpkin Cranberry Bread
• Dunkin Donuts Honey Glaze (LO Last Week)
• Land Of Nod Cinnamon Rolls (FZ)

Minimal breakfast prep  means more time
for making cookies!

Monday:

Lunch - LO Chicken Pot Pie

Dinner - Tacos

Tuesday:

Lunch - LO Taco Wraps

Dinner - Sweet & Sour Grilled Chicken, Au Gratin Potatoes, Pickled Beets, Homemade Applesauce

Wednesday:

Lunch - Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup

Dinner - Meatloaf, Baked Potatoes, Side Salad

Thursday:

Lunch - PB & J

Dinner - Baked Ham, Green Beans, Yeast Rolls, Apple Pie

Friday:

Lunch - Meatloaf Sandwiches

Dinner - Ham and Broccoli Mac & Cheese

Saturday:

Lunch - LO Ham & Broccoli Mac & Cheese

Dinner - Christmas Party - Walnut Date Balls

Sunday:

Lunch:  Split Pea Soup with Ham (Crockpot), Biscuts

Dinner: Dinner At Friends House

Snacks:

• Oranges, Bananas, Apples
• Popcorn
• Granola Bars
• Apple Cheese Ball & Apple Slices
• Walnut Date Balls

Drinks:

• Coffee and Hot Tea
• Water - that's a biggie here
• MYO Arizona Green Tea
• MYO Lemonade Concentrate

I Don't Leave Home Without It

I generally plan on Wed when I have 30 minutes  before mass chos begins.

I shop on Fri so our family menus (posted on the fridge) run from Fri to Thur.

How do I keep it all straight without pulling my hair out? I use Pepperplate.   

This site/App keeps all my recipes, super easy to upload from other sites, 

my shopping list which automatically uploads, my weekly/monthly planner, 

AAAND  (with best infomercial voice I can muster)   So Much More! (Nope I 

didn't get paid to say that either.)

Proverbs 31:15

She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day's work for her servant girls.

Week #50 Family At Christmas

"All I Want For Christmas Is ___ ____ ___"

Don't those look like some happy faces, the holiday cheer is practically beaming out of that picture! 

As our family enters this holiday season we have been discussing what we want most to focus on this year. The unanimous vote (with extra enthusiasm from my DH), was just more time together as a family.  Isn't that what most of us want deep down, minus the dysfunction and anxiety of course. I can't imagine in the 1950's there were annny dysfunctional family gatherings.

Nope, Not In The 80's/90's Either

If I remember correctly this was the year Aunt Rebecca hosted a Christmas dinner. She had made an exquisite lobster bisque. Now Nana is allergic to lobster but she wouldn't let that stop her, no sir. She enjoyed every bite of that soup as her face began to swell and her throat tickled. She even managed to smile in this picture, it's likely her brain was swelling by this point as well but you can't tell under all that AquaNet.

Carry On, Carry On

I think as you grow older your Christmas list grows smaller and the things you really want for the holidays can't be bought.  Like awkward family photos and stories that you'll never live down. Like quarks that drive the In-Laws crazy but is normal to everyone else in the room. Like knowing your with your family and someone is willing to drive to the QT for toilet paper and Marlboro Lights.

Not My 1st Pick, But We Are Trying New Things Here

This Week We Purchased The Following: 

This was a restocking week, laundry detergent, 
personal care items, baking goods, Meat,
veggies, fruit, and dairy.

 The total spent was $89.73

Our allotted budget is $130 but the goal is to stay under $100

Anything not spent gets rolled into the pot for restocking

or end of the year reallocation, like Christmas shopping

Breakfast Options For The Week

• Oatmeal
• Maple Almond Scone Bites with Vanilla Glaze
• Carrot Cake Donuts (leftover)
• Sugared Chocolate Donuts (leftover)
• Eggs & Toast
• Mock Jimmy Dean Breakfast Bowl

Minimal breakfast prep  means more time
for making cookies!

Monday:

Lunch - PB & J

Dinner - 7th Heaven Chicken, Side Salad, Jasmine Rice

Tuesday:

Lunch - Left Over 7th Heaven Chicken

Dinner - Grilled Steak, Grilled Onions, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Green Beans

Wednesday:

Lunch - Steak Salad or Tomato Sandwiches

Dinner - Spinach Stuffed Shells, Garlic Bread

Thursday:

Lunch - Left Over Stuffed Shells

Dinner - Lemon Pepper Pork Chops, Au Gratin Taters

Friday:

Lunch - Thai Veggie Ramen Stir-Fry

Dinner - Chili Mac, Side Salad

Saturday:

Lunch - Christmas Shopping - we'll eat out for a change

Dinner - Crab Newburg Over Old Bay Pasta, Garlic Steamed Asparagus

Sunday:

Lunch: Homemade Chicken Pot Pie, Cranberry Sauce

Dinner: Dinner At Friends House

Snacks:

• Oranges, Bananas, Apples, Pears, Grapes
• Christmas Cookies
• Granola Bars
• Peppermint Popcorn

Drinks:

• Coffee and Hot Tea
• Water - that's a biggie here
• MYO Arizona Green Tea
• MYO Lemonade Concentrate

I Don't Leave Home Without It

I generally plan on Wed when I have 30 minutes  before mass chos begins.

I shop on Fri so our family menus (posted on the fridge) run from Fri to Thur.

How do I keep it all straight without pulling my hair out? I use Pepperplate.   

This site/App keeps all my recipes, super easy to upload from other sites, 

my shopping list which automatically uploads, my weekly/monthly planner, 

AAAND  (with best infomercial voice I can muster)   So Much More! (Nope I 

didn't get paid to say that either.)

Proverbs 31:15

She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day's work for her servant girls.