Meals For the Week

On Saturday, we took our bi-monthly trip to Costco. It is a 1 1/2 hour drive, so that is why we only go ever two months or so. We came home with van full of food. I am so happy that my freezer is now full with Scottish ground beef again. Those of you who follow our family blog, know that I REALLY don't like English beef, especially the ground beef. We have lived here for 2 1/2 years and I still haven't gotten used to the taste of it. It just tastes funny to me. About a year ago, we tried Scottish beef and we loved it. I am not sure it is as good as Mid-Western beef, but it works.

I also ordered my regular groceries on-line this afternoon. They will be delivered in the morning. Now that our freezer and cupboards are stocked again, I am ready to get planning.

Monday - Chili, salad and sweet cornbread
Tuesday - Spaghetti with Meatballs, garlic bread, mixed veggies
Wednesday - Chicken Enchiladas and corn
Thursday - Pesto Chicken Penne Pasta, salad and bread
Friday - Baked Potato Bar
Saturday - Out, we will once again be out for the day.
Sunday - Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwiches

Thoughts on Blogging

I would prefer this blog to be more than just menus and recipes. But hey, it is what I do. I make meals three times a day. At this phase in my life, I need to be okay with feeding my family, keeping the house semi organized and clean, and getting school done with the kids. Doing these things doesn't leave me tons of time to think of thought provoking things to write about. There will be a day. Until then, I will continue with what fills our days, food, house, and school, with the occasional deep thought.

Taco Salad

Taco Salad

1-2 heads of Romaine lettuce
1 pound taco seasoned ground beef with kidney beans added
1 cup salsa
1 cup shredded cheese
1 chopped tomato
1 bag of nacho chips crushed

I make cut up the lettuce in the biggest bowl I have. Then I dump in the taco meat, cheese, tomato and then I add the salsa. Stir the salad to mix the salsa up. Finally, I put the nacho chips on top. Mix it all together before serving. Enjoy a quick, easy and delicious meal. We usually eat it all.

Final product

Poppy Seed Chicken

Poppy Seed Chicken

3 C. cooked cubed chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 8oz container of sour cream (in England I use creme fraiche, I am not sure the difference, but it is easier to find in the stores and it tastes good.)
1 stick butter
1 tube or box (if in England) of Ritz crackers crushed
1 T. poppy seeds ( I just sprinkle some on the top. I don't measure it.)

Mix the chicken with the sour cream and cream of chicken soup. Put into a greased casserole dish (something smaller than 9x13) I use one of my oval corelle dishes. Melt butter and mix with crushed crackers. Spread crackers over the chicken mix. Sprinkle with poppy seeds. Bake at 350 degrees F or 180 degrees C for 20-30 minutes until bubbly.

Making Beds

A very European thing that I have embraced is Duvets. For the first six weeks we were in England, we lived with rental furniture, towels, and bedding until our crate came with our own things. All of our bedding consisted of a fitted sheet and a duvet with a duvet cover, no flat sheet. For our bed, I missed the flat sheet and I do still use my flat sheet under my duvet. But, for the kids I love the idea of the duvets. After our rental stuff was taken away, I went right out and bought duvet covers in patterns for all of the kids beds. I didn't have to buy the duvets, because we got to keep the rental ones. Having duvets on the kid's beds makes them so much easier for them to make. They just throw the duvet back over the top of their beds and off they go. No silly flat sheet that gets pushed to the foot of the bed or needs to get it straightened out. Duvets are especially nice for bunk beds which are hard to make anyways. I do admit, though, that I wash the bottom fitted sheet more regularly than the duvet cover. Even the littlest kids have them on their beds. They are quick for mommy to make too. When we move back to America, I am taking the duvets with me!

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Weekly Menu

Monday - Chicken rice casserole (thanks Holli)
Tuesday - Taco Salad, applesauce and graham crackers
Wednesday - Grilled cheese and Tomato soup, if I can find tomato soup at the store this week. They didn't have it last time. I get so frustrated at the store over here. One week they will have things, but then you can't ever find it again.
Thursday - Poppy Seed Chicken
Friday - Mini Pizzas on English Muffins
Saturday - Eating out or something quick from Costco, we will be out all day.
Sunday - Tuna Melts with chips

I will probably be baking some banana bread and some cookies this week too. Baking is really what I like to do. Dinner is just necessary. I do admit that having a plan makes dinner so much easier and pleasant.

Nachos

How I make my nachos has been requested, thanks Malory. So here you go.

I brown about a pound and a half or so of ground beef (mince). I will only use half that and save either freeze the rest or this week I will use it in Taco salad. I just estimate because I buy Scottish beef at Costco, divide it and freeze it. After it is browned I add a packet of taco seasoning with the amount of water it calls for and a drained can of kidney beans. (If I freeze half the meat I do it after I add the beans and seasoning. This makes it quick and easy the next time we want nachos.) I warm the meat and beans through. Next, I cover my biggest cookie sheet in foil for easy clean up. I layer a whole bag of nacho chips, the meat, some salsa and some shredded cheese. I bake at 350 degrees F or 180 C for about 5-10 minutes until the cheese is melted.

That is it. So simple. You could add whatever your favorite toppings are as well. Like I said before, it is a perfect Sunday night dinner. The kids love it. I think I am close to having to make two trays. This past Sunday, we could have done with more.

Meals for the Week

Slight change of plans much to my disappointment. All the slots were full to have my groceries delivered tomorrow. They didn't even have any until ten p.m. on Wednesday night. I definitely couldn't wait that long. I had to head out tonight after dinner in the pouring rain to get the groceries. It was a bit nice, though, just walking through the empty store and taking my time. It was also nice to have a break from putting the kids to bed. Thanks to my great hubby. Now the cupboards are once again full. The fridge is full and clean. I cleaned it before I went to the store. What a nice feeling. I feel a bit more prepared for the week now.

Monday - Chicken Potpie (haven't made this in a long time and I don't think I will for a long time again. Only one of the kids actually liked it. We forced the rest to eat it to get desert. One 2yo didn't even think that was worth it. She'll be hungry in the morning.)
Tuesday - Tacos and Mexican rice
Wednesday - Spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic bread
Thursday - Pancakes and Scrambled eggs
Friday - Homemade pizza
Saturday - kids chicken nuggets (mom and dad got a sitter for Valentine's Day)
Sunday - Nachos (I think I have had these on the list for three weeks and we haven't had them yet. They are a good Sunday night meal.)

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY (Februauy 9, 2009)...

Outside my window... we still have snow on the ground but the temperature is rising and the snow is melting.

I am thinking... about how I can make my life more simple and quiet amongst the chaos.

I am thankful for... having all of my children at home with me all day.

From the learning rooms... get a little more on task this week as last week was a bit disrupted due to the snow. I am also hoping to do some history reading and science reading this week. It seems we can never get to both in the same week.

From the kitchen...the cupboards and fridge are bare. I did find a package of chicken and some vegetables. So, I will be making a chicken potpie. Hopefully some banana chip muffins too.

I am wearing... black jogging pants, purple long sleeve tee shirt, bare feet when sitting, slippers when standing.

I am going... to read my Bible and hopefully get a quick nap before the kids come down from rest time.

I am reading... The Heavenly Man

I am hoping... to get my menu planned and the groceries ordered on-line this afternoon.

I am hearing... silence, aaahhhhh and the occasional dove cooing

Around the house... just picking up the clutter after the weekend and all the snow gear from last all the playing in the snow.

A few plans for the rest of the week: ordering groceries, to do some baking, to get back in the swing of lessons.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

My daughter yesterday on her 4 yo birthday!

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Chicken Tortilla Soup

I have had a few requests for the recipe for the Chicken Tortilla Soup. So, here it is. It is super easy and uses a crock pot.

4-6 chicken breasts
2 cups salsa
1-2 cans of corn
1 can of black beans drained (if I have them I use them, if not I don't)
chicken stock/broth ( I use enough to fill my crock pot after everything else is in it. I think it is 8 cups)
tortillas - to crush on top
shredded cheese for the top too
sour cream for top (if desired)

That is it. Just put it all in your crock pot and cook all day on low or 4-5 hours on high. Yum, it is so good.

Car Trips With Kids

We have always lived quite a distance from family. Our kids have been used to traveling long hours in the car from birth. Over the last eight years, we have learned a few things that make those long car rides a little easier and more enjoyable.

• I bought sandwich size tupperware or rubbermaid bowls for each of the kids. I leave them in the car, so I will always have them. We use these to distribute snacks, sandwiches, Happy Meal foods to the kids while driving. The bowls fit perfectly on their laps and minimize spills or foods from slipping off their laps.
  
• When we moved to the UK, we gave in and bought the kids hand held video games. (We don't have any video games in the house.) We knew that living here meant long car rides and extra long airplane rides. The kids are only allowed to play their video games when we go on trips.
  
• Because convience food (aka fast food) is not as readily available in the UK, we have found it quite helpful to bring a picnic lunch with us when we travel, even for day trips. This allows us to eat whenever and wherever.
  
• When traveling in the UK and needing food or a bathroom, we look for grocery stores. Rest areas are hard to come by and you wouldn't want to go near a gas station. At grocery stores, we can usually always find a clean bathroom and pick up sandwiches. (sorry for all the UK tips)
• The older kids bring backpacks with all their travel things. I also bring a small box filled with books, school work, flashcards, and baby toys. I keep it within an arms reach.
  
• I also have a bag or box filled with snacks. This is also within an arms reach.
  

Just a few ideas that have made our car trips a little more peaceful. I feel certain I am missing some, maybe for another post.

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Meals for the Week

A day late, due to the "snow day" we had yesterday. You haven't missed much. Hubby picked up cheese burgers from McDonalds on the way home from work yesterday. I just couldn't think dinner.

Monday - McDonalds
Tuesday - Meatballs, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies, homemade applesauce, rolls
Wednesday - Chicken Tortilla soup
Thursday - Chicken Poppy Seed (Dawn I see you are having this too)
Friday - Chicken BBQ Sandwiches, curly fries, salad
Saturday - Mom and dad will have dinner out with friends to celebrate Rachel's birthday. The kids will have something easy like frozen pizza or chicken nuggets
Sunday - Nachos (lunch or dinner out for daughters 4yo birthday)

I also made a decision today to use up the food we have in the house and see how long I can put off shopping. We seem to have lots stock piled. Of course, I will have to get bread, milk and orange juice. I think we will be having a Costco shopping trip in the near future. This is another reason to clear out the freezer and cupboards.