Back To School 2012: Making Meals Part 2

Reusable Snack Bags

I'm sorry I haven't had more posts on getting ready for the school year- I've just been so busy doing that there has been no time to post on it! We've gotten every one's bureaus or amoires sorted and cleared out so that we know what is needed and not. (Blessedly, hardly anything!) Yesterday we divided up the school supplies, labeled them and got them packed away in every one's backpack. Today I cooked up a large amount of ground beef and venison to freeze for future dinners. I have 3 quart sized bags labeled and filled with the meat so that next time I need a quick meal, I'm prepared!

Last time I wrote about dinner time and meal planning, shortcuts, etc. Today I'd like to share a bit about lunch time. On weekends and (admittedly) during the summer, lunch can be a "Gee, it's noon and everyone is hungry. What should we do?" sort of affair. We always have bread and peanut butter, sometimes cold cuts and left overs. But come the school week, I like to remember lunch so that A). my kids don't starve at school, and B) I don't have to shell out for them to buy a school lunch. Now, this does not mean I have some sort of elaborate meal plan for the kids' packed lunches, or even that they get fancy theme-type lunches like you see on Pinterest. But I like to have options for the "entree" and for the snacks.

For the "entree" or sandwich, peanut butter is usually a good choice. My boys like peanut butter, hold the jelly. (I have NO idea how they choke it down, but no one has needed the Heimlich so far!) My daughter likes peanut butter and Fluff (I know, not healthy, but it's not an everyday lunch choice.) Teddybear will take a salad or even what we call a wrap, which is just a flour tortilla with lettuce and some dressing, cheese and steak or chicken from leftovers. I try to have healthy options, and am very grateful for a cookbook I bought a few years ago called Disney's The Magic Kitchen Cook Book.

I was desperate when I bought this book! Teddybear would only take a salami sandwich to school. And I had (and still do!) another fussy eater with Wheels. I was hoping that their favorite movie characters would inspire them to try new foods. And it did. Teddybear couldn't wait to take a wrap to school! This was only one "recipe" that we have used with great success! For more ideas, pop on over to Pinterest and type in "lunch box ideas". They have some nice choices and ways to pack them. Some are cutesy, with shaped sandwiches, etc., but there are some very good ideas, too. (Not that gussying up your kiddos' sandwich from time to time is o.k., but really, who has time for the everyday?)

Now, if the thought of packing lunches every morning for the next 9 to 10 months doesn't appeal, here are some tips to make it easier.

• Talk to your kids about what they would like for lunch. I know, seems silly, but they might have a great idea. This doesn't mean they are going to get what they want, but it's a starting point.
• Have a cupboard, shelf, drawer or some other place devoted to just lunch box foods. I keep all of the "kids'" food in one cupboard, along with snack cups, plastic silverware (which we reuse, but is less heartbreaking if someone throws it out or forgets it!), etc.
• Start the night before. I try to remember to have the kids bring their lunch boxes to the kitchen so I don't have to hunt them down the next morning. Then I get out the bread, crackers, fruit, and other non-perishable items and their packaging. When I get up in the morning I don't have to go all over the place to get what I need, just a trip to the fridge for anything that could spoil.
• If you want to send carrot or celery sticks, cut them up all at once at the beginning of the week, then you aren't trying to get them done while fighting with your 6 year old to get their clothes on and teeth brushed!
• Have the kids do as much as they can on their own! This isn't always a good option for us because Daddy is usually in the kitchen packing his lunch (I'm not allowed to. He says he doesn't get enough to eat when I pack his lunch!), so it's best if it's just Mama and Daddy in the kitchen. Do what is best for your family.

These are just a few ideas to get you going. I'd like to do a post soon with more specifics and maybe even pics of what we do exactly. Hope you have a marvelous day!

Many Blessings,
Kelly

• Just a note to let you know that I do not receive any compensation for any of the books I mention in my posts or featured on the side of the blog. I just like to share what I have enjoyed and think others might, too!

Back to School 2012: Making Meals Part 1

 

Dinner. We all have to eat it at some point in the day! Some of us know what we're having for dinner a week in advance. Some of us wait until 3p.m. to plan it. And some of us find ourselves making a phone call for takeout for dinner. This school year, I do not want to be one of those making a mad dash to the local pizza joint 30 minutes before my family expects dinner on the table. It's unhealthy for both our bodies and our bank account. So this year, I will menu plan and have emergency meal plans waiting in the wings!

Now, I am not going to go into a long post on how to menu plan. There are many other bloggers that have done a much better job of explaining it, but I will give some you some ideas to keep in mind. And at the end of this I will share links to blogs and sites that I have found helpful.

• Know what you have in the freezer and pantry. Now might be a good time to take inventory and write it down. It doesn't have to be an elaborate inventory system, just find out what you have and try to make note of what you have added and used.
• Keep staples on hand. These might be different things for every family. We usually have pasta at least 2 times a week, whether as the main meal or a side dish. So I make sure that we always have it in the cupboard.
• Have one or two quick and easy meals that your family likes. Spaghetti with marinara sauce is my go to meal when it's been a crazy day.
• Keep your schedule in mind when planning your meals. Tuesday is not a good day to try out that new recipe for stuffed chicken breasts when you know that that is the day that your son has sports practice and your daughter has a music lesson. Try to plan easier meals for days and evenings that are hectic.
• Rely on your crock pot. One of my favorite things to do is to put a whole chicken in in the morning on high, then walk away. All I have to do then is decide how we want our potatoes and make the gravy from the juices in the crock pot. In fact, next time I do this I'm thinking of adding the potatoes to the crock a couple hours before dinner. I'll let you know how it goes!
• Cook once, eat twice. Whether you plan on eating the leftovers or you cook double the rice, pasta or meat needed for a recipe later in the week, you'll save time if you cook everything at once. And make sure to let your family know that you are planning on those leftovers!!
• Have a meal or two that's ready to go in the freezer. Not only will this benefit you, but if a friend or family member has an emergency, you can have a meal for them.
• Do as much prep work all at once, ahead of time. For a while I used to get home from the grocery store and cut up the carrots and celery for snacks, wash the grapes and take them off the stems, etc. Why not do this for dinner? Cut up your onions, shred your cheese, measure out your ingredients for the week. Then label them with freezer tape.
• Be flexible. One method of cooking and/or menu planning may work for one Mama and her family, but not for yours. Find what works for you and stick with it!

The other day I got a cook book on my Kindle called Fix, Freeze, Feast:The Delicious, Money Saving Way to Feed Your Family for only $2.51.* The basic premise is to but meat in bulk and cook one recipe using that meat, then dividing it up into meals that you freeze in 1gallon freezer bags, pulling them out when needed. I don't know if I will be using many of the recipes, but it gave me some ideas of how to do this with meals that I make now, as well as doing this for crock pot meals. 

One site I stumbled upon abut 2 years ago was A Year of Slow Cooking. It's an amazing blog full of crock pot recipes for things I didn't even KNOW you could make in a crock pot! A good friend of mine that is our Pastor's wife, an art teacher and home schooling Mama of 4 (among many other things!) has used quite a few of these recipes. And you can go to Tipnut for crock pot cooking tips.

For menu planning, check out Organized Home for more information. You can also search online for make ahead meals, freezer cooking, etc. to learn more and get ideas. I'll be sharing more on this as the weeks go by.

Have a lovely day, Friends!

Many Blessings,

Kelly



Thrifty Thursday #3: Scratch That Off Your List!

Could you tell I was working hard on that title?

Hello, Friends! I know it's been a while, but, as usual, I've just been too plumb busy or tuckered out to compose a coherent post. Believe me, it's better that way. I ramble enough as it is with out me rushing or being semi-conscious during blogging!

So, it is another Thrifty Thursday, and today I'm getting out from behind the sewing machine and into the kitchen. One of the best (and tastiest!) ways to save money is to make your own baked goods from scratch. This is also the healthiest way to enjoy your cakes, cookies, muffins and other treats. Now, I know that for somethings, it may seem cheaper to buy some items ready made, or even from a mix. In the long run, though, I think that once you get into the habit of making things from scratch everything will even out. And you might find that you can give up some things because you have replaced it with something homemade.

Now, if you have been reading my blog for a length of time, you know that I bake just about every Saturday. Sometimes I only get to make the kiddo's breakfast item and snack item, but that is a huge help. I like to do a majority of my baking on one day because I do not like firing up the oven for only one thing. This way I can run my oven all at once and bake more than one thing at a time. This saves money by conserving electricity.

I think I'm going to revert to my bullet structure here, cause I can sense some rambling and backing up in the near future!

• Baking from scratch saves money because you are buying 1 ingredient with multiple uses. Yes, you may be able to buy a chocolate cake mix for around a $1 a box, but if you buy a can of baking cocoa for about $2.75 you can make a chocolate cake, chocolate zucchini bread, hot chocolate (made with actual milk, not boiling water!) and chocolate syrup for ice cream or chocolate milk. Talk about more bang for your buck!
• Baking from scratch gives you more versatility and can be adjusted to your family's preferences. You could buy a loaf of bread for sandwhiches and then a bag of rolls for dinner. But if you make a batch of bread dough, you can have both!  Or, maybe Timmy likes plain chocolate chip cookies but Betty Sue like walnuts in hers. You can make one batch of cookie dough and split it in half for them both to take to school with their lunches.
• Baking from scratch is healthier. YOU control what you put into your food. You can add whole wheat flour to your cookies, substitute some of your butter or oil with unsweetened applesauce, and eliminate corn syrup, food dyes, additives and preservatives.

Now, I could go on. (And you know how I can go on!) But I have the feeling that you can all get my point. If you are not use to baking and don't have baking materials, or you really want to embrace making more things from scratch, you may need to invest in some things. You will find that investing is and will be a recurring theme in these posts. You may cringe at the price of a rolling pin, but that is really a one time purchase, whereas refrigerated ready made pie crusts are only good for one or two pies. That rolling pin will make you pies for practically your entire life time, and maybe even your daughter's lifetime. That is an investment worth making and money well spent!

Before I get to the recipes, I would like to tell you about some of the items I have in my kitchen that I find invaluable to have. I am by no means Julia Child or the Cake Boss, so don't feel that you have to have them, or even agree with me! And by all means, if you have something you would like to share, I'd love to know about it!

• Large Pyrex mixing bowls: I have 2 large and one really big one. And every Saturday all 3 of them get used at least once, if not more! I like Pyrex (or Anchor Hocking) because they are sturdy, easy to clean, and you can mix and bake in them.
• standard size muffin pan: good for (obviously!) muffins, cupcakes, mini meat loafs, stuffin' muffins and cloverleaf yeast rolls. My pan has a dozen cavities, so my basic muffin recipe can be made in one batch.
• 2 to 3 bread loaf pans: or even more! I like to make quick breads and yeast breads, and if you are inclined to make homemade bread for your family's weekly supply, it is a very sound investment. And they can stack together so that they don't take up much space.
• a 13x9 oblong pan: I have 2 Pyrex, and 3 metal ones. And I have used each and every one on certain Saturdays. I make the kiddo's breakfast cookies, cakes, casseroles and brownies in them. And all but one of the Pyrex pans have lids, so I can store in them as well. Now, this may be a lot for some people, but I also make snack for our church refreshments on a regular basis, as well as making birthday cakes for my DH and children. I can make the cake for our family party, the children's friends party and the goody to bring in to school to share for a treat. These pans to not sit in the cupboard in neglect!
• a glass 4 cup measuring cup: This, too, is a recent purchase. I wondered if I really would use it as I stood looking over the Pyrex/Anchor Hocking shelves at my local Kmart, $1 off coupon in hand. But, like the sheet pans, I do. I use it for measuring and mixing my wet ingredients for homemade bread and other recipes. And I have even used it for the DH's and mine scrambled eggs.
• a glass 8 cup (2 qt.) measuring cup: I have a Tupperware version of this that I used for about 7 years before I started to become a bit leery at the thought of there being Tupperware scrapings in my muffins, pancakes and waffles. Then I purchased an Anchor Hocking one and gave the Tupperware one to Hubby for a sap dipper. This is the perfect size for a batch of muffins, chocolate chip bread, or homemade waffles. It is also used for pouring off the juices of a turkey or when straining homemade stock.
• rubber or silicone spatulas: I have 4 of these. One is a very large one from Tupperware that I use for mixing up snack mix, granola or sauteing with. It doesn't really get the job done when it comes to scraping the sides of mixing bowls, so that is where 2 others come in. And then there is the double ended one that is more narrow for scooping out of jars with. You will never waste a drop when using one of these, and scraping the bowl clean is handy when it's time for clean up.

I'm pretty sure I'm missing a dozen things, but those can be for another post. It's time to get onto the fun part: recipes! I have posted these recipes before, so I will only be adding the links, but I'll be giving some hints and tips for each. And as I'm writing this, I'm thinking that this is going to be part one of a series because I have so many more basic recipes to share!

Boynton Breakfast Cookie Bars I make these just about every week for my kiddos! You can add what ever stir-ins that you and your family like. These have replaced the white bread toast and cheerios that the kids used to eat for about 2 1/2 years now. I would really like to figure out how to soak the oatmeal for this recipe, but just haven't had the time to experiment. If I figure it out, I'll be letting you know!
Chocolate Zucchini Bread While going over this post, I realized that I didn't include the sugar!! I feel like such a big goober. If you tried to make this, I SOOOO apologize! The sugar is now included in the recipe. Another note on this is that I no longer use canola or vegetable oil, I use olive oil. This is great for a snack or for breakfast. It's yummy with cream cheese, too! I use my food processor to shred the zukes, and take out the big seeds. I'm going to have to make a batch of this Saturday, I froze shredded zucchini for this purpose!
Whole Grain Chocolate Chip Cookies I make these every week for the kids to put in their lunch boxes. I have taken to making these in the sheet cake pan and substituting 1/2 to 1/3 cup of the butter to unsweetened applesauce. I also do not use margarine or shortening any more. You could use coconut oil in place of butter, too. This recipe is really just your basic chocolate chip cookie recipe that I tweaked. If you don't have oat and wheat flour, you can use all purpose flour. By using the sheet cake pan I can save time and I have enough for the entire week for both the kids and my DH. (O.k., o.k., and I can filch a couple for myself!) They also seem to stay more moist in bar form, too.

Well, I was going to post a couple more recipes, but this has been long enough! Have a wonderful rest of your Thursday.
Blessings,
Kelly

This Week's Menu Plan

Menu Plan for November 27 to December 3

Sunday Homemade mac and cheese with ham, homemade bread, corn and green salad, brownies for dessert

Monday  BBQ ribs, baked potatoes, green beans, applesauce, salad, brownies for dessert

Tuesday   Breakfast for Dinner: waffles, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit

Wednesday   Roast turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, carrots, fresh fruit, homemade cranberry sauce

Thursday   Spaghetti with meat sauce, green beans, fresh fruit, salad

Friday    Turkey casserole with left over turkey, gravy and stuffing; corn, fresh fruit, homemade cranberry sauce

Saturday    Chicken and dumplings in the crock pot, fresh fruit

A Menu Plan, Lap Book and Family Faith Wall To Share

Happy Monday, dear Friends! We had a long weekend with the children being home on Friday. Princess was able to go to her friend's house to play and the boys ping-ponged between Gramma and Grampa's house and home. Saturday was the first day of rifle deer season, so my DH and I headed out to the woods to take our rifles for their yearly walk. I actually played hide n' seek with a large doe, and then had a staring contest with her before she quietly bounded away. It was right in the same spot where Teddy Bear took his shot last week! At first I couldn't see if it was a buck or doe because all I could see was a back side, so I waited patiently (and very quietly) for the deer to move from behind a tree. When the wind picked up, I slooooooooowly creeped ahead, only to discover that it was a doe. I'm thinking of heading out early Wednesday morning to the spot to see if I can find a buck there!

I've done my grocery shopping for the week already and finally got a chance to take stock of the freezer last Thursday. So that means I have a menu plan for the week! Last week I sort of winged it, and Sunday became a takeout pizza night because I was not feeling well at all and my DH had a back ache that kept him down for the count most of the afternoon. I've really got to get to work on freezing some meals for occasions such as this, as well as getting an extra batch of cookies in the freezer, too. I wasn't able to bake Saturday due to being out hunting and then yesterday there was just no way I could be up on my feet for any length of time. (I know, I sound rather whiny, don't I? Sorry!) The kiddos were not happy for having to settle for a breakfast cookieless breakfast!

~Menu for Monday Nov. 14 to Sunday Nov. 20~

~Monday: grilled baby back ribs, baked potatoes, salad, applesauce, corn and banana
~Tuesday: homemade shake n' bake chicken cutlets, stuffin' muffins, carrots, fruit
~Wednesday: Breakfast for Dinner bacon, scrambled eggs, waffles and fruit
~Thursday: turkey smoked sausage, roasted potatoes, green beans, fruit
~Friday: Baked ziti, corn, fruit
~Saturday: venison stew with carrots and potatoes
~Sunday: leftovers, veggies and fruit

A prayer for one side and Scripture verses for the other. I added some stickers to make them look prettier!

Well, I finally got my Scripture verses typed, printed and framed for our Family Faith wall, and have some seasonal decorations added as well.

And here is a peek at our Thanksgiving lap book: (It's still a work in progress!)

I covered a standard size manila file folder with wrapping paper.

I added a flap of dark red card stock.

The front. I "laminated" the title with clear packing tape, glued it to one side of the cover
 and added a hook and loop closure on the other side.

A Blessings Tree (I have to add the hook and loop pieces so that the blessing leaves can be stuck on)
 and a print out of Bible verses.

A pocket for the mini books and Bible memory verse cards.

*I keep forgetting to mention a wonderful resource for families, and one that I used for the lap book. Scripture Adventures make wonderful holiday resources filled with recipes, crafts and Scripture. We have both the Easter and the Thanksgiving ones. I think I'll be ordering the Christmas one as well. The best part is that you print it out from your computer, so you don't have to wait for it to be delivered. Just make sure you have plenty of paper and ink!

Well, that's all for now! Have a wonderful day.
Blessings,
Kelly


*This is not a paid endorsement, just my opinion, plain and simple!

Don't Wing It Wednesday #2

O.k., I'm a bit behind due to an emergency subbing job at the school and an impromptu lunch invite, so I'm going to dive right in there today. It's Wednesday, so we're working on our "Don't Wing It" for the holidays.

I've gotten quite a bit of work done for my holiday planner. I was able to make up new versions of my planning pages on my laptop and get them printed. For those of you who don't want to fuss on your own, (I admit to being a control freak when it comes to these things!) I have some links for Thanksgiving planners that are FREE!

One page planning calendar from Ocean Spray

Multi paged plannerOne page check list from Martha Stewart

One sheet calendar for planning from Family Fun- very cute!

A 1 week planner from Family Fun- cute, too!

 Another 1 pager
A Disney 1 pager with pilgrim Mickey and Minnie

As soon as I'm able to, I'm going to try to get my planning sheets into PDF form so that I can share them. If that doesn't work, I'll at least be able to show pics so that you can get an idea of what they look like if you would like to make your own.

Yesterday I was able to play  work on the Thanksgiving lap book. Here are some links that I used for materials, including some actual lap book materials put together for you, all for free.

Nice lap book templates and some decorations

Printable coloring pages and games (I used this site for our Easter Lap book)

Although these resources are for a specific Thanksgiving book, you'll find templates and mini books that will be useful.

The First Thanksgiving mini book

Thanksgiving lap book page from Squidoo.com. Scroll down to get to printable section

Alright, so for our family's Thanksgiving, we actually get 3 (yes, THREE!!) feasts. One on Thurs. with Mama's side of the family, put on by my lovely older sister. Next up is Daddy's side of the family on Friday, which I put on at our home. And then we head up north to my aunt's for my mother's side of the family. (Luckily Aunt Audrey always does a ham in addition to a turkey, because by that time my DH and I are just about sick of turkey!) So I will be making something for each of the feasts we will be attending, plus putting on a meal. I plan on making as much ahead of time as I can. I also usually keep my meal as simple and fuss free as possible. I'll be sharing my actual menu and some tips soon.

For ways to celebrate thankfulness and gratitude, I was going to make a wreath in which we filled with leaves and acorns made of paper that we wrote what we are thankful for on. Then I found this adorable poster. Very cute and simple, it makes this Mama happy! We started a new dinner time tradition, as well. Just before we say grace, I light a tea candle in a pretty holder, the Busy Bear says grace and then thanks the Lord for something that they are thankful for that day. When they are done eating, they get to blow the candle out.

I still have more to share, so be sure to check back soon!

Blessings,

Kelly

Monday Updates

Happy Monday, Friends! And it is a lovely morning here on our hill. The sky is clear, the birds are chirping and the blanket of frost is slowly giving way to the sun's warmth. I don't know about you, but I was very grateful for that extra hour this weekend. I needed the sleep Sunday morning after trekking through the woods with Teddy Bear Saturday morning. Neither of the boys bagged a deer, but they both had chances to take a shot, and actually T.B. did get off a shot. It all happened so quickly, and my DH and I are extremely proud of how calm and collected he was as we watched about 5-6 deer hurdle towards us! Wheels would have been able to shoot but for a communication breakdown between him and Daddy. We're proud of him as well, because he was a good sport about it. They are both looking forward to next weekend, as are DH and I!

As far as home keeping, this weekend it was practically non-existent! I did about the bare minimum, as I was in a lot of pain most of the weekend. I did get the cookies for lunches made, as well as breakfast cookies, and my DH helped out in picking up the kitchen. Mostly I worked on planning and getting my leg/back straightened out.

I'm still working on this week's and next's dinner menu plan because I haven't had a chance to do a freezer inventory. As soon as I have it done, I'll be posting it. I do have a confession to make though: tonight I'm cheating as my DH said to go get KFC for dinner tonight! Who am I to argue with my hubby? ;0)

As I mentioned earlier, I was able to get some planning done, mostly in my Holiday Planner. As soon as I get all of my new pages in, I'll be posting more on that. I've decided to do a Thankful Wreath instead of a tree this year. I'm hoping to get some of the work done so that we can get it started this evening. I'm also going to be making a Thanksgiving lap book for the kiddos. I know that lap books are usually made by the children, but with them in school, they don't have a lot of time. I'm going to be including some games in it, as well as some sheets that they can all do and keep in the lap book. I'll be posting some of the links that I use for that, as well as pics of the finished product soon.

In holiday news, I've also decided on adding a Jesse Tree to our Advent traditions. If your not sure about what a Jesse Tree is, go here for a great explanation.  I'm thinking of making a sort of lap book Jesse Tree to help further the kid's understanding (And mine!) I'll be posting more links on this as we get closer to December.

That's about all for now! I'm not scheduled to work so far this week, so I'm planning on getting some housework and yard work done. I need to finish buttoning up the garden for the winter, and I'd like to get some Christmas lights up before I have to do it in the snow and freezing temps. They won't be turned on until after Thanksgiving, but they'll be ready to go! The kiddos have Friday of, so I'm thinking of doing some Thanksgiving crafts with them.

Have a lovely day, all!
Blessings,
Kelly

Friday Update

Friday greetings, Friends! Just a short update to let you all know what has been happening up on our hill, and some things to be looking for in upcoming posts!

• Youth hunting weekend starts tomorrow, so Daddy and I will be up bright and early to take the boys out. Prayers for a successful hunt would be greatly appreciated!
• I've been working since Weds. so I'm a little behind on house work, but so glad that I had my dinners planned out. I'm looking to next week's plan and will be posting that as soon as I come up with it!
• I finally got my printer unhooked from my piece of junk very old desk top computer so that the cord is accessible for my laptop.
• Yesterday I subbed for the receptionist, so I was able to bring in my laptop to work on my Holiday Planner sheets. I'm hoping to share these in PDF format, though I'm not very tech savvy, it's questionable!
• We have some chicken drama and trauma. Our poor hen, Fanny, is being very badly abused by her coop mates. There is something about her that the roosters can't resist, so her back is nearly completely bald. Despite repeated sprayings of Blue Kote, she is being terrorized by the other ladies. She stays in the coop for the majority of the time, but is skittish. I just don't know what to do to help her out. Any suggestions?
• We gave away 3 of our 4 roosters about 2 weeks ago. They are currently residing in my mother-in-law's cousin's garden to fatten up for the butcher block. They have quite a setup there, and I'm curious as to whether or not they all make it to the dinner table.
• I've been able to do some research on Thanksgiving traditions, Advent traditions and the Jesse Tree. This is only our third year of celebrating Advent, and would like to add the Jesse Tree to our tradition. The children really enjoy the Advent wreath, and it has truly enriched our holiday season.

Well, that's all for now! I hope to have a post tomorrow, though I can't guarantee it, what with hunting and baking! Have a lovely Friday!
Blessings,
Kelly

Introducing!!!!!

A flock of geese headed south for the colder months.

Happy November !!!!!!! As you may have read before, autumn is my FAVORITE season, but November has to be my favorite month. That love has grown as I became an adult and homeowner. There is no more lawn mowing, weeding, bugs, or gardening to do. Some lawn work to get things hunkered down for winter, but in the crisp, clear air, you can't seem to mind being out and working. You're not sweating or swatting. And Thanksgiving has always been be favorite holiday. Family, food, history and faith all rolled into one beautiful, scrumptious package!

I mentioned in Saturday's post that I had to re-do my dinner menu plan for Thursday, so here is this week's revised menu plan:

MONDAY: Sloppy Joe's and green beans
TUESDAY: Leftovers (mac & cheese, sloppy joe meat filling, chicken)
WEDNESDAY: Breakfast for Dinner- scrambled eggs, sausage, waffles, applesauce
THURSDAY: Individual homemade pizzas, salad, fruit
FRIDAY: Spaghetti, salad, peas, apple sauce
SATURDAY: Pot roast with potatoes & carrots in the crock pot, applesauce, canned mandarin oranges
SUNDAY: Left overs

I'm trying to keep Saturdays as a crock pot day, as I'm on my feet so much with baking, and we have hunting season now, too. Sunday's will start being a designated left-overs day, as I try to keep Sundays easy because of the Sabbath, and I truly need a restful day. I don't like to be legalistic about Sundays, but I like to relish the blessing and gift that it is meant to be, so very little (if any) house work, though I have been known to mow the lawn (riding mower) or putter in the garden.

And now for something I have been working on. I've had the holiday countdowns on my blog page for quite a while now, and as I explained, it's because I like to plan when it comes to the holiday season. So, I am introducing:

DON'T WING IT WEDNESDAYS

Counting today, we have 4 Wednesdays until Thanksgiving, and 7 until Christmas. So, instead of getting frantic about the holidays, lets use this time to plan, plan, plan!!!!!!!! It's been a while since I've posted about planning or planners, but if you've been a long time reader, you know how much I like to plan for the holidays. Last year I put together a Holiday Planner (Read here for an intro. to last year's planner) and found it to be VERY helpful. It organized all of my calendars, planning pages, flyers from school and church, as well as research that I have done on different traditions all in one place. I'll be updating this year's planner, and posting on it as soon as I'm done. I got most of my inspiration from one of my favorite blogs, By Sun and Candlelight. You can also check out Organized Home for more information and inspiration, as well as free printable pages you can use to make your own planner.

So this week's challenge is this:

• Brainstorm!!!!! Think about your usual holiday traditions, what to keep, what to try.
• Start a planner- it doesn't have to be fancy, even if it is just some notebook paper stapled together, keep your brainstorming and info together.
• Are you putting on the Thanksgiving feast? Traveling? Get dates set.
• Looking for crafts to do with the kids or a new recipe to try? Or wonder about why we do some of the things we do? Hop online or get to the library to do some research.

Every Wednesday will be something new to do, and I'll be posting what I'm up to. I have NO IDEA how to link up with other bloggers (If you think you can walk me through it or point me in the right direction, I'd be so grateful!) but you can share by leaving a comment, emailing me at Homespuninpirations@gmail.com or posting on my facebook page.

Have a lovely evening, friends!

Blessings,

Kelly



Baking a Weeks Worth on Saturday Part 2

Breakfast cookies

Crusts for individual pizzas.

Chocolate chip cookies.

I honestly thought I would never get to this post! I may have bit of more than I could chew in the kitchen today, but it was well worth a sore back and feet. And I'll definitely sleep tonight!
Today I baked:

• a batch of choc. chip/M&M cookies for the kid's and Daddy's lunches.
• a batch of choc. chip/M&M cookies for Princess' class party on Monday
• breakfast cookie bars
• a batch of pizza dough that made 8 individual crusts- Wheels had one for dinner tonight, 5 will be used for dinner Thursday night
• a batch of white bread dough that made 24 dinner rolls and a 9 inch pie plate of sticky buns for tomorrow's breakfast.

I also had a whole chicken in the crock pot for our dinner tonight. It was a pretty big bird, so I had plenty of meat left for another nights dinner. After getting all of the meat of the carcass, I pulled a quart size freezer bag of veggie scraps to add to the crock pot along with some more water, then turned the crock back up to high. (Read here to learn how Heidi over at Frantically Simple makes a crock pot veggie stock.) I'll turn it down before bed and let it cook over night. Tomorrow after church I'll strain it out and save for Tuesday when I make chicken noodle soup for my lunches.

Speaking of chicken noodle soup, I've been thinking of canning my own soup. It would save on time, money and my health if I had my own soups ready to heat for lunches or dinners. Here are some links about canning your own soups:

• The Family Homestead
• Pick Your Own. org

This past week I posted my dinner menu plan for Oct. 24 to Nov. 5. I had to change my plan for this coming Thursday because I'll be working, so I need something easy and quick. This is where those pizza crusts are coming into play! I have them on the freezer, so Thursday morning I'll just pull them out to thaw.

When I shared with my sister that I had my dinners planned for the next two weeks, she asked me how in the world I could know what I was going to have. I said it was easy, I know what is in my freezer and pantry. Keeping a stocked pantry and freezer, as well as knowing what they contain is key to planning your meals. Here are some helpful links for keeping a pantry and menu planning:

• Better Homes and Gardens: Kitchen Pantry Ideas
• Organized Home: Beginner Guide to Pantry Pride
• Hillbilly Housewife: Menu Planning

Well, I hope this was helpful! It's 8 p.m. right now, and I am one tired Mama. Have a blessed Sunday.
Blessings,
Kelly

An October Surprise

It may be hard to tell, dear readers, but that IS snow! I took this pic around 6:45 THIS MORNING!!!!!

And we are expecting more from Saturday night to Sunday morning. There is a winter storm watch for our area with possiblities of power failures, so I will be preparing for that today and tomorrow. I hope to be back today with a baking plan for tomorrow, and I have to make some changes to next week's menu plan. See you soon!
Blessings,
Kelly

Menu Plan for October 24 to November 5, 2011

• Monday Oct. 24: Spaghetti with Italian sausage, home canned green beans, Italian bread and canned mandarin oranges
• Tuesday Oct. 25: Grilled pork chops, baked potatoes, canned carrots, banana
• Weds. Oct. 26: Breakfast for Dinner
• Thurs. Oct. 27: Meatloaf*, stuffin' muffins**, brown gravy, steamed broccoli, homemade applesauce
• Fri. Oct. 28 Baked ziti with Italian sausage, canned corn
• Sat. Oct. 29: Whole chicken in the crock pot, mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots and homemade applesauce
• Sunday Oct. 30: Homemade mac & cheese with ham, canned green beans
• Mon. Oct. 31: Sloppy Joe's, corn, homemade applesauce
• Tues. Nov. 1: Leftovers!
• Weds. Nov. 2: Breakfast for dinner
• Thurs. Nov. 3: Homemade chicken tenders, roasted potatoes, carrots
• Fri. Nov. 4 Spaghetti with meat sauce, green beans
• Sat. Nov. 5: Crock pot dinner?

*I made the meatloaf ahead of time and stuck it in the freezer in one of those aluminum foil pans, then I pulled it out to thaw in the fridge this morning
**Stuffin' muffins are just stuffing that you mix and bake in a greased muffin pan. A box of Stove-Top makes 6 stuffin' muffins. My DH loves them because they are crunchy.

Have a great evening friends!
Blessings,
Kelly

Apple Picking and More!

Family team work!

He doesn't look like it, but Teddy Bear truly enjoyed picking apples.

Good Monday to you, Friends! I hope you all have been well. I was pretty busy last week, so I wasn't able to get any more posts done, but I'm hoping I'll be a bit more on the ball this week! I'm only working 1 day this week, that I know of, so I'm planning on getting lots done around here!

Saturday held the usual baking, although I wasn't able to make everything I had wanted to. I did get 2 batches of zucchini bread and 2 batches of cookies made, though, so that was good. I also made a small batch of applesauce in my 2 quart crock pot, and I did a whole chicken in the large crock for dinner. After dinner I added water to the crock to make stock. I'm not sure if I'll be making more soup for my lunches this week, or if I'll freeze this batch. In the afternoon, my darling hubby and I took Princess and Teddy Bear into town to get some chicken feed and other supplies. Wheels was at a friends for a play date. We rarely get a chance to get to town all together, but as it was raining, it was nice to get out of the house. We even stopped for an ice cream on the way home!

Yesterday after church, we headed to the apple orchard. We had packed our lunches and ate on the way up. The drive to the orchard is beautiful, even on a cloudy day. Some of the trees had really started changing and there are many farms that we pass. We got to see alpacas, goats, sheep and, of course, cows! I asked hubby if he was sure he didn't want any more livestock, and he said no. (I knew he would, but I had to try!) Despite the clouds, it really was a beautiful autumn day.

We picked 1 bushel of Macintosh for "eating" apples, and then picked up a bushel of mac drops for baking and applesauce. We also got a half bushel of both golden delicious and Cortlands. I thought that mixing the varieties would be give baked goods and applesauce more flavor. We made sure to carefully check the drops for gashes, worms and slugs. Some were a bit muddy, but they need to get washed anyway! All in all, we had a perfectly wonderful time at the orchard!

So, today is Monday, and I did my grocery shopping. I've also gotten the groceries put away, the dishwasher unloaded and started to reload dirty dishes, and I have another batch of applesauce going in the 2 quart crock pot. I left the skins on this time, so when it's done and had a chance to cool some, I'm going to put it through the food processor.

Wheels is supposed to have a soccer game tonight, but right now it's pouring! We're going to have homemade mac & cheese with ham, some Italian bread, apple sauce (if it's done!) and corn. I'm still working on planning the rest of the weeks menu, but I know that Italian sausage and pot roast are going to be on there somewhere, as well as one of Wheels' favorite meals, onion chicken. (I'll post the recipe later this week!) The best part of making the onion chicken is that it is one of the VERY few homemade meals that Wheels will eat. And it's absolutely yummy!!!!

Well, that is all for now! Hope you have a wonderful rest of your day, and join me back here soon!
Blessings,
Kelly 

Nesting Boxes, Substituting and Soccer Practice

The new nesting boxes that my father in law built for us.

Attached to the side of the coop. Almost finished!

My planner turned to this week's page, with my apple shaped post-it reminders for the kids' chores and menu planning!

This is the post I thought would never happen! I've tried a few times to get a chance to get it done, but the computer would freeze, or I'd run out of time. It's about quarter after seven, the kids are still showering and need to get to bed, as do I! It's been a crazy day for this Mama, and the week has just begun!

In homesteading news, my father in law got the nesting boxes finished, and my D.H. got them hooked onto the coop with his father's and brother in law's help. The girls are happy, I think, although some are still insisting on squeezing in with Alice, our broody girl! We still have to finish putting on trim, insulating and staining the coop. But we're getting there!

I subbed at the kids' school today, after doing my grocery shopping and some quick chores around the house. I'm truly thankful for my crock pot because Wheels had a soccer game tonight. I bought a whole chicken this morning because they were on sale, got home and threw it in the crock with some onion, garlic, thyme and sage. It was done just in time, and tasted wonderful! There were lots of juices in the crock to make gravy with, and we left the carcass in the crock, so now I'm making stock!

The rest of the week is looking pretty full, with a full day at the school tomorrow, evening soccer practices, a volunteer class in Princess' class and a washing machine that isn't working. That means a trip to the laundromat! I'm wishing I had one of those old ringer washer's right now.

That's all for this evening. I'm hoping to be back Wednesday for another post. Have a lovely evening!
Blessings,
Kelly 

Baking a Week's Worth on Saturday

Eggs and butter warming up on top of the oven.

Quart canning jars with mixes ready to go for Saturday morning.

Welcome back, friends! Saturday means at least two things for this Mama: baking and the weekly Preparedness Challenge link up over at Homestead Revival. The next few weeks will also mean soccer practice for Wheels, so that is what inspired today's post. I know that I have a definite deadline for getting my baking done in the morning because I have to get to town with Wheels, so I've been working on preparing for my baking the day before.

My Saturday baking days prepare me and my family for the coming week because that is when I make the kids' chocolate zuchinni bread and breakfast cookies. The last two Saturdays I have also made a batch of homemade bread dough so that I can make rolls for dinners and breadsticks for the kids' lunch. This week I'm also making snack mix and chocolate chip cookies for the my hubby's and the kids' lunch boxes. (And maybe Mama might sneak some of these treats!)

So, before I even start pulling the canisters out of the cupboards, I like to plan what I am going to be making ahead of time. And I write this down! If I don't, I could forget something. Then I head to the cupboard to start measuring out my dry ingreadients. Last night for my zuchinni bread, I put all of the dry ingredients into a half gallon canning jar, and for the breakfast cookies I put the flour and baking soda, salt, etc. into a quart jar. For my bread dough, I put the flour, sugar and salt into the bowl I used to mix it, stirred it around with a whisk. I then taped a sheet of wax paper (the sheet I had used as a funnel to get the dry ingredients into the jars!) over the bowl. I also measured out the sugars for a batch of cookies into another bowl. Looking back on it now, I could have measured my wet ingredients for the bread dough and put them into a quart jar in the fridge, and measure out the sugars for both cookie doughs, but I was whipped after subbing at the kids' school yesterday.

Breadsticks rising in the microwave on top of my heating pack!

Last Saturday I also thought of an ingenious (if I may say so myself!) way to have a warm place to raise my bread dough. I have used a car parked in a sunny location before to raise my dough. It works very well when it is the afternoon and the sun has heated up the car nicely. However, that isn't the case early in the morning. So, I stood in the kitchen debating about where to put the dough to rise, that was warm and draft free. The microwave is draft-free, but how to keep it warm in there? A light bulb went off: I'll use my large rice bag that I use for a heat (or cold) pack for my back. I'll just set it under the pan, then cover the pan the way I usually do. This worked out really well, and is time and energy conserving.

I've also learned that the best place to soften butter and bring your eggs to room temperature is on top of the stove. (This works on my stove anyway!) As soon as I get into the kitchen, I turn on the oven, then get out the butter and eggs, and put them in my enamel ware dishes, as they conduct the heat the best. (And the different coloroed eggs just look so pretty in the red and white enamel ware!)

Now, in other preparedness news, I've been reading The Woodchuck's Guide to Gardening by Ron Krupp and thumbing through Foraging New England by Tom Seymour. They have both been helpful; however, the Woodchuck's Guide is about more than gardening. It is also about "Foraging for wild plants in the Spring, Planting by the stars in summer, Putting food by in fall and gardening with chilldren all year round." These books belong to my local library, but I'm thinking of investing in the Woodchuck's Guide for my own library.

While taking these books out, I also took out a book about bees and beekeeping. While I'm not nessecarily interested in keeping bees now, it is something that I would like to look into. If I could replace our white sugar use by using honey and maple syrup, that would be great! We already sugar in the spring, which is not only fun, but really satisfying. I love to see all of our canning jars full of the dark amber sweetness! Waffles and pancakes are enjoyed by all in our house, plus with having fresh eggs from the chickens, we have breakfast for dinner once a week. I hate to think how costly it would be if we had to buy maple syrup. It would completely defeat the purpose of having a low budget meal for sure!

Well, that is all for now! If you have a face book account, please be sure to "like" my new Homespun Inspirations page. I plan on sharing news, recipes and tips on the page, especially when I may not have time to write a whole post. I also figured that it might be easier for all of my readers to respond and comment. I really love to get comments and questions from my readers!
Have a lovely weekend, Friends!
Blessings,
Kelly

Menu Planning and Meal Prep Mondays

Boneless pork sirloin steaks cooking on Saturday night.

Getting everything together for meal prep. work.

Putting up green pepper sticks for the kiddos' lunch boxes.

Happy Monday, Friends! It's sunny and warm here on our hill today, one of those days that (almost) make me wish that it was only July! As you can tell, I've got a new look for fall. I know I may have jumped the gun a bit, but autumn is my FAVORITE time of year! The harvest, the yummy pumpkin and apple goodies, the gorgeous leaves, the cooler temps and gearing up for the holidays. And of course hunting season! I'm looking forward to getting back out with my darling hubby and the boys and hopefully bringing home a freezer full of venison!

(Just a little side note about the countdowns on my blog page; I am NOT rushing for the holidays, however, I do like to plan for them because I usually put on a Thanksgiving and Christmas meal, make some presents and bake practically non-stop from mid November to January! I thought it might be helpful for others that are like minded!)

I'll give a few quick updates, and then get on to our main subject. The kids started school last week and all like their new teachers. Open House was this past Thursday evening, so we went to see their classrooms and meet their teachers. Actually, the only one we didn't know well was Teddy Bear's teacher, because our kiddos seem to get the same teachers as their older sibling did for that grade! We finally put the six "babies "in with the "big girls" in the run. (I'm talking about our chickens!) We do have a broody girl that is taking up the one and only nesting box in the coop (we tried to get them to use a second one, but they just won't budge on this!) so every morning their are squawks from the coop as they squish themselves in with Alice to lay their eggs. Then we have to done a pair of glove so we don't get pecked and pick her up, get the eggs, then put her back down in the nest. I'm hoping she comes out of this soon!

This past Friday night, Princess and I worked in the garden some more and cleaned out the coop. She is becoming quite the little garden buddy! We picked the green beans and added to the compost pile, which I also tried to mix up a little more. In the kitchen, we have a bad case of fruit flies! I have a trap out for them, but with so many, I'm going to have to make another. Also in the insect news, our poor kitty, Merlin, has fleas. I'm dumbfounded as to how she got them because she is an indoor only cat. I first tried a commercial treatment(although I really didn't want to) because I was so far behind with the storm and school starting delay, but it didn't work. So it's on to natural remedies. I'll be posting more on this in a coming post this week. I'm still doing research and trying to get the poor thing to let me get close to her after subjecting her to two hair raising baths.

Mondays are my grocery shopping days. After doing my shopping, I come home and put things away, then get busy washing and cutting veggies and sometimes fruits. Then they all get put in the fridge, ready to use for lunches and dinners, sometimes snacks. I've decided to go one step ahead this school year, by trying to prep things like onions and green peppers that might be used to make dinner. Carrots can be cut up ahead of time, too, for use in soups or just for your veggie one night.

Here are some of the things I cut up ahead of time:

• lettuce- use for salads or tacos
• cucumbers- cut in spears for snacks, or chop them to top salads with
• carrots- cut for soups & stews, a side dish or in sticks for snacks
• onions- for soups and stews, salads, spaghetti sauce, omelette's, tacos
• green peppers- dice for the above ideas, or in sticks to dip for snacks
• celery- snacks, adding to soups and stews
• oranges- keep the peels on and cut for snacks or to have with dinner
• lemons- to add to water, tea or as needed for lemon juice
• cheese- shred for salads, tacos, pizza, baked pasta dishes. cube for snacks or homemade mac & cheese

I'm sure you might be able to come up with more!

In addition to keeping things ready in the fridge, I'm trying to have at least one meal where I cook extra to have planned leftovers. For example, Saturday night I cooked up an entire package of boneless pork sirloin steaks so that tonight I could make an easy casserole for dinner. So this afternoon, all I did was cut up the leftover pork, make my gravy (I cheated and used a package!) and make my stuffing (Stove Top!) and put them in my Pyrex bowl to bake. Now, only Princess, my dear hubby and I will eat this, so for my boys I'm going to make some homemade individual pizzas. I happen to have cheese in the fridge and a packet of yeast. Wheels will eat frozen pizzas, but Teddy Bear won't. TB usually eats what i make, but there are times when he won't and if I don't have leftovers that he likes, we have trouble. I'll have enough homemade pizzas to freeze for later.

Yes, I do make separate meals for my picky eater (Wheels) and my sometimes picky eater(Teddy Bear); however, if they say they will eat something and then turn their noses up at it, they can make a peanut butter sandwich or be hungry. I'm not a short order cook. And I am able to sneak things in that they don't even know about, but that's for another post!

This weeks menu plan is not completely finalized, but so far, this is how it looks:

Monday- Pork and stuffing casserole, salad, green beans, and apple sauce
Tuesday- homemade sloppy Joe's on wheat bulkies, corn, salad, mandarin orange slices
Wednesday- breakfast for dinner, and fruit
Thursday?
Friday- onion chicken, roasted potatoes, salad,
Saturday?
Sunday?

So far, that's all I've got! Need to get going, my chickees need to rounded up so that I can start the pizza dough! See you soon!
Blessings,
Kelly

The Fridge: Cleaning & Organizing

The BEFORE picture- scary, messy, cluttered, gross!

A close up; happy to say that the top is so full because we have 3 gallon sized bags filled with green beans from the garden!

Teddy Bear wasn't happy about me taking pictures of the messy fridge!

TA-DA!! The after picture; clean, organized, completely edible food!

A close up of the fresh fruit and veggie shelf. (I have to clean & cut the celery up!)

Some links for inspiration:
Organizing Your Fridge- from YouTube.com
a video from HGTV

So, this wasn't on the agenda originally, but after picking beans in the garden and gathering some hidden zucchini and cucmbers, I decided it was time to tackle the mess in the fridge. And then that got me thinking that there must be other wives and mamas who are facing the same predicament: a messy fridge full of wonderfully fresh produce and some scary "science projects"! I admit I wasn't exactly thrilled with the thought of hauling everything out of there, especially since I have have an extremely sore back, so I looked up some articles online for some inspiration. The 2 video clips I shared above really helped. (BTW, the containers featured in the HGTV clip are from Tupperware and they were "new" about 8 years ago! I know this because I was a TW consultant at the time!)

As I was cleaning out, I was thinking how keeping up with the fridge inventory is an important part of menu planning and pantry keeping. (I'm sure this is not revolutionary to some of you, but I can be slow to implement sometimes!) Our fridge looks rather barren right now, except for the fresh fruit and veggie shelf, but for this time of year it's fine with me! I'm trying to eat what we have in the fresh area to save on the pantry items, and it's also healthier. For example, instead of having a potato or pasta for a side dish, I like having 2 veggies instead. (I didn't mention rice because Princess and I are the only ones that like it, so I don't make it very often.)

I have yet to get a menu plan for this week down on paper yet, but I have a pretty good idea in my head for the next few days. Menu planning is important for saving money, time and sanity! It can be a saving grace when you have a crazy day (or week) looming ahead of you, or even if your day ends up being that way. Instead of standing in the kitchen wondering what in the world you're going to make, you know ahead of time (and hopefully remembered to take out the pork chops to thaw the day before!) and can get going. I also like to plan because I tend not to have as many of those "I don't want to make dinner, can't we just get a pizza?!?!?!!" nights.

I am hoping to have more posts on pantry keeping and menu planning, as well as how they go hand in hand. For now though, I'm looking forward to that little thrill of seeing a clean (inside!) fridge every time I get creamer for my coffee!
Blessings,
Kelly

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