menu.

gearing up for a new week already! where do the weekends go?

here's what we're eating this week:

sunday-veggie lo mein
monday-minestrone, rolls, salad
tuesday-veggie pitas, veggies & dip, chips
wednesday-taco soup, rolls, salad
thursday-pizza, salad
friday-out
saturday-tortellini soup, rolls, salad

can you tell we're eating lots of soup? it's that time of year when I just want comfort food. and what could be more comforting than soup and rolls? I'm a carb girl. it's what'll kill me.:)

bread machine.

I registered for a bread machine when we were engaged, and got one at a shower. I thought it looked so cool, and when we were first married, we even made a couple loaves. but for some reason, a few months ago--right before we moved to arkansas--I decided I wanted to start using it again. since then I've made pizza dough, cinnamon roll dough, breadstick dough, roll dough (can you tell I use it for dough? I like to bake stuff myself). it's all been AMAZING. so, if you have one and don't use it, dig it out! if you don't have one, maybe you should get one...christmas is upon us!:)

here are a couple of my best recipes:

pizza crust

1 cup plus 2 Tbsp warm water
1 tsp olive oil ($.03)
1 cup whole wheat flour ($.20)
2 cups white flour ($.28)
1 packet or 1 Tbsp yeast ($.25)
1 tsp sugar ($.02)

pop all that stuff in your bread maker, select the dough cycle, and voila! when it's done, you roll it out and bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes (I like to pre-bake the dough for a few minutes and then top it and bake the rest of the way).

thanks, $5 dinners!:)

rolls

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm milk (70 to 80 degrees F.)
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 4 cups bread flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

Directions

1. 1

   In bread machine pan, put all ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer.

2. 2

   Select dough setting.

3. 3

   When cycle is completed, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface.

4. 4

   Divide dough into 24 portions.

5. 5

   Shape dough into balls.

6. 6

   Place in a greased 13 inch by 9 inch baking pan.

7. 7

   Cover and let rise in a warm place for 15 minutes.

8. 8

   Bake at 375 degrees for 13-16 minutes or until golden brown.

thanks, recipezaar!:)

we had the rolls just a couple nights ago with yummy potato soup--heaven, I'm telling you.:)

back again.

so, I know I'm often back on the wagon, but I MEAN it this time! we've moved and been busy, but I am committed to change!
anyway, I want to talk about breakfast. breakfast is supposedly the most important meal of the day, but I often neglect it. really, it's the time you should stock up--you have all day to burn off those calories! but it's hectic in the morning, right? here are a few things to try to make sure you're getting in a good breakfast.

*freeze some muffins
make your favorite muffins (banana bread, zucchini bread, bran muffins, whatever!) and freeze them. they heat up in like, 1 minute in the microwave, and you've got a good start. I ate tons of these when I was pregnant and needed to be at school by 7:30. I will be making 3 different kinds of muffins tomorrow to freeze.
*freeze breakfast sandwiches and burritos
make your own egg mcmuffins w/ english muffins, eggs, cheese, and ham! flash freeze 'em (on a cookie sheet) and then ziploc bag them. they are SO yummy! do the same thing w/ breakfast burritos (I posted the recipe here). they heat up great too!
*eggo waffles
not the healthiest maybe, but slap on some pb and you can eat 'em on the go!
*yogurt and granola
*smoothies
these seem a little more intense, but if you buy frozen mixed berries, you just put it in w/ a little yogurt and some ice...maybe some juice, and you're good to go!

eat breakfast. it's good for you.:)

use your freezer.

so I'm always on the look out for sales. grocery ones. in the past few months, I've found super cheap strawberries, blueberries, boneless-skinless chicken breasts, and really lean ground beef. my freezer is full of strawberry jam, strawberry sauce, strawberries in sugar, and plain old strawberries. bags of blueberries. a few pounds of chicken. and WAY too much ground beef. and while it can kind of get away from you (today I have plans to make peach jam, peach crisp, peach pie, and peach fruit leather...from last fall's bounty), it's such a money saver. so use your freezer.

and that's not to mention the spice cake, brownies, and snickerdoodle blondies that also fill my freezer...another day.

2 weeks of menus and a recipe you gotta try.

last week-

sunday: chicken verde, tortillas, rice

monday: sandwiches, veggies & dip

tuesday: spaghetti with salad

wednesday: chicken kabobs with basmati rice

thursday: eggs, hashbrowns, toast (actually went out to celebrate lance's cpa test being done!)

friday: out

saturday: burgers & fries

THIS week-

sunday: beef stroganoff (from the freezer)

monday: sandwiches, veggies & dip

tuesday: mexican egg rolls (from the freezer)

wednesday: chicken, baked mac & cheese

thursday: burritos

friday: out

so, the recipe...it's salsa. so easy. so good. it's from prudence pennywise.:)

Super Fast Blender Salsa

Estimated Cost: $$1.50

1 clove garlic, chopped

1/4 white onion, chopped

1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes with jalapenos, undrained

1/2 cup cilantro leaves, with some tender stems

juice of 1 lime

salt, to taste

Combine ingredients in the blender in the order listed. Puree until smooth, or leave a little chunky, if desired.

back on the wagon.

for real...at least for weekly menu posts.:)

sooo...

sunday: stuffed shells with corn and garlic bread

monday: meatballs with rice, salad, and french bread

tuesday: leftover stuffed shells with salad and french bread

wednesday (tonight!): mexican egg rolls

thursday: baked pesto chicken with cheesy potatoes

friday: out

saturday: burgers and fries (I might make a salad to make it healthier :))

so, that's our menu! if I still have any readers, post yours!:)

feeding your family.

so, I totally joke about this phrase, but it's one of my core beliefs. that as women, we are nurturers and give lots of love ALL. DAY. LONG. also, though, that a huge part of our job as nurturers is to feed our families. to stifle those "and now I have to cook?" feelings and get busy in those kitchens! not only is it healthier, but it is a labor of love!
I don't mean to sound preachy--I struggle sometimes. but it's been a goal lately, and we've been doing it! we've only been eating out once a week, and even on those nights where I so don't feel like it, I've been persevering. and the outcome? I feel better. I feel accomplished. lance is happier. it's great.:)
so, hang in there...feed those families! show your love by getting dinner on the table.:)