Meal Plan Monday

It's already time for another Meal Plan Monday.  Here is the plan for this week:
Breakfast is cereal, waffles, or toast
Lunch is leftovers

Sunday: Baked ziti but instead of ziti I'm using mini raviolis, garlic bread, salad
Monday: Chicken "Glop" (yes, it's a terrible name but that's what we always called it growing up), rice, roasted butternut squash
Tuesday: Pork chops with pineapple salsa, steamed broccoli
Wednesday: Something in the crock pot but I haven't figured out what yet.
Thursday: Jambalaya with chicken and/or shrimp
Friday: Baked Tofu



I'm heading off to jury duty now.  Lucky me, I got called in on the first day.  I have a book and a sudoku book all set to go so hopefully that'll keep me entertained all day.  Some things say I can bring my cell phone, some things say I can't at all, so I guess I'll just leave it in the car.  It would be nice to be able to text or just roam the internet while I wait but oh well.  Hopefully, I don't get lost driving out there.  

Questions

Wanda over at The Shambled Shack posed a few questions that I figured I would answer. 

1. Why is it so hard to stick to a menu plan? Honestly, I have no idea but it happens to me all the time.  I end up making meal plans with meals that I love on them but something ALWAYS happens that makes me deviate from it.


2. Am I the only one that deviates this much? Definitely not.  Life happens and you deal with it.

3. Is it really worth making a plan if your constantly changing up the plan? I think it is.  This week I didn't make a meal plan at all, and I went food shopping without a list and I felt kind of lost.  I just bought things on sale or things I wanted to buy and it felt weird not knowing where everything was going to be used.  Even though a lot of things don't get used as they were intended because the meal plans change.

 4. When making your plan, do you grocery shop first or plan your meals around what is on sale for the week?  I make my meal plan and then go shopping.  I generally stock up on proteins whenever they're on sale or I can get a good deal so I don't plan my meals according to the sales.  I just go food shopping to pick up random missing ingredients and veggies/fruits.
5. How often do you grocery shop?  It depends..  usually every other week or so but sometimes weekly.  If I'm feeling particularly lazy it can go about 2.5-3 weeks.  It's just me and my husband so it's not like we need gallons of fresh milk in the fridge. 

6. How in the world do you get your pantry stocked up enough to do a pantry challenge for an entire month?   I'm a packrat?  I don't really.  I think it's a combination of going shopping while hungry so I buy weird things and then stock up on random sales or whatever looks good.  Then I get home and forget what I bought so I make other things and the new random foods get stocked into the pantry.  I also tend to forget what I bought so one week I may buy 5lbs of chicken because its a good sale.  Then the next week I might do the same because I forgot that we have plenty so then we end up with a ton of stuff. 

7. What problems have you had with menu planning and how did you solve them?  My main problems are just sticking to the actual menu plan.  I always put good stuff on there.  Life just jumps in the way.  Friends/family want to go out to dinner and of course I'm not going to say no.  Plus, sometimes I'm just not in the mood for that meal on that day when it actually happens.  I've learned to solve these problems by just going with the flow and hoping for the best.  I keep making the plans and sometimes I stick to them sometimes I don't.

8. What kind of variety do you give your menu plans? Do you stick with only three or four and rotate them?  They're all completely different.  Depending on if I'm following a diet plan (which I should be currently.. ) there may be certain meals that I really like and I know will help me stick with it.  I generally like to try out new recipes so there is at least 1 recipe that is new on there and an old standby.  It would probably be easier to rotate a few different plans but we like change and trying out new/different food so that wouldn't work for us. I find that if I'm eating lower carb, I tend to make monthly plans.  If I'm eating lower fat or just whatever I want, I make 1-2 week meal plans.  I have no idea why I differentiate, it's just always what I've done and I know it makes no sense whatsoever.
 
 
As for Food Waste Friday: No picture sorry.  I dumped out the mashed potatoes from last week and one leftover chick pea cutlet. There's quite a bit of leftovers in there that we need to finish up this weekend.

A real post will be coming later today.  I'm running a bit behind because I had to make a big vat of guacamole to bring to work this morning. 

Reading

One of my new year's resolutions this year was to read more.  I have lots of books that I want to read (currently 4 sitting on my night table).  I've also decided if I hate a book, I don't need to finish it.  There's one sitting on my nightstand for about a year and a half now with like 50 pages left that I just can't bring myself to open again.  Maybe one day.  

It dawned on me recently that I really should read more.  I have plenty of time to read and yet, I never have the time to read. I'm always super busy watching tv or roaming the Internet.  One of my friends has 2 kids, 2 dogs, a job, a husband, and a house.  Yet, she reads a ton.  So my resolution was just to read one chapter a day.  Not too much that it's impossible and daunting and I could easily read more if I wanted to.

Of course, I read 8 chapters of a book one day and then decided I was good to go for the week.  I'm trying to change that.  Over the past weekend I've read 2.5 books.  My latest discovery is I really like series. 

I get so involved in these characters and their lives for 300+ pages and then never hear from them again.  Sometimes, I actually get sad that I won't get to find out what happened to a character.  Books that just leave you hanging and then never come out with a sequel.. that annoys me.  So I decided to try out some series and see how that were.  I'm enjoying that I already know the characters and that I can keep picking up the next one to hear about their latest adventures. 

I'm currently reading the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris.  I didn't say the books have to be life-changing but I really enjoy the way she writes and how in depth she makes the characters.  Even though they're about vampires and all sorts of other mythical creatures, it's believable.   I'm up to book 8 and I'm trying not to finish it too quickly since there is only one more book to go.  Plus, I have this terrible terrible habit of buying books and the last book is still only available in hardcover.  Even when I can pick up a paperback for $7.99, after 8 books it really starts to add up.  At this point, I also have 8 of the 9 books, I'm a completist.. when the next book is available in paperback, I will need to buy it.

I'm really going to try to go to the library more often than the twice a year I'm currently averaging.  It's silly to buy all these books because I read pretty quickly (once I actually sit down with a book) and I rarely reread things.  Plus, since I'm into serials lately, it's going to take up too much room in my house and my wallet. 

I'm thinking of starting one of the Janet Evanovich series because I've heard from a few people that they're great.  Have any suggestions for books?  Series or single books are good.  I'll read pretty much any genre.

Crock Pot Wednesday

If you haven't noticed, I like simple crock pot recipes.  Since I don't have much control once all the ingredients go in, I like to keep it easy.

Today, I'm not even sure if you can call it a recipe, but I am. .

6 Chicken Legs
1/2 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce (or whatever bottle is lurking in your fridge)

Put chicken legs on bottom.  Pour sauce on top.  Cook until done. 

Eat and enjoy. 

Short, simple, and tasty.  My kind of recipe.  I also saw this Crockpot curry recipe the other day that looked really good.  Of course, I didn't write it down/print it out so I'll have to go by memory and fudging it along the way.  Hopefully I'll remember and try it in a few days.

Pompeii

At my school, in third through fifth grade, a Latin teacher would come in and teach us Latin.  I also took Latin again in 8th grade because it was offered as an elective and I had nothing better to do.  I told you I was a weird kid.  The only thing I remember from those classes is how to count to ten in Latin to the tune of "Ten Little Indians" and Pompeii. 

I remember our teacher telling us all about Pompeii and how it was covered in ash and lava from an erupting volcano.  I remember thinking how horrible that must have been and picturing all these people trying to run and save their lives.  I later learned more about Pompeii in a random archeology class in college (yes, I took random electives in college too..) and how much they had unearthed and how much of the city they were still excavating. 

We went on a Mediterranean cruise for our honeymoon and one of the stops was actually in Pompeii.  I was so excited!  I had always thought it would be awesome to go there (and the Galapagos Islands but that's another story) but never thought I would actually get the chance. 

We docked that day and found our tour group.  I was right in front all day wandering through the streets of Pompeii.  Honestly, I was awestruck.  Even though I had always thought about it, I guess I never really realized that an entire CITY was covered.  It was huge.  I knew it was a city, but in my head I guess I always just imagined a few blocks.  No, this was the size of an actual city and we were walking through it. 

Our guide showed us their versions of fast food restaurants, penis signs that pointed the way to brothels, wealthy houses, poor houses, an ampitheater.  There were even still "people" there.  When they were being excavated, they would pump in cement (probably not actual cement but that's what I'm rememberding at this point) and fill in the holes where bodies were so you could make out the outlines of mothers protecting children and people trying to hide.  He showed us the theater were a woman was found in a rather compromsing position with one of the gladiators.  What a way to go out.   It was all really sad and surreal at the same time.

Food Waste Friday and Recipe Round-Up

Food Waste Friday:
Well, I'm currently on my way to my parents (or already there depending when we actually left) so I couldn't take a picture of what I threw out.
I ended up throwing away 4 grossly moldy cucumbers. When I bought them from the "going" shelf, I should've used them right away but I could never think of anything to do with them besides cut them up into salads. We were both sick for a while so not many salads got made or eaten. I need to figure out more to do with cucumbers. Any ideas?
I also threw away a handful of wilted blueberries that were heading into "gross" territory. I bought them on a whim and then ended up not in the mood for them at all. Luckily, my niece ate most of the good ones when she was visiting earlier in the week along with basically an entire can of mandarin oranges. The rest of that can got thrown out since I won’t use them in anything else and, honestly, I have no idea why I had a can of them in the first place.
I also anticipate having to throw away the following things once I'm back home on Monday night: 1 serving of leftover Taco Bake (if it's still good one of us will have it for lunch on Tuesday) and about 2 helpings of mashed potatoes (I always make too much).

New Recipes That We Tried:
Chickpea Cutlets – They were interesting. Instead of making gravy, I just ended up using a can of beef gravy because that’s all I felt like doing that day. So the gravy didn’t go with it at all but I would definitely try them again. I was surprised my husband actually liked them since he’s a picky eater and when I told him what we were having for dinner he made a weird face. He said he’d want to try them smaller – more like falafel – with yogurt sauce. I ate one for lunch dipped in ketchup and hot sauce cause I didn’t know what to dip it in and it was also tasty.

Taco Bake – Very good. I took pictures too like requested! I halved the recipe and made it in one pan and also added sautéed peppers since I have a bunch of peppers to use up. My favorite part, of course, was the browned cheese on top because you can’t go wrong with cheese in my eyes. My husband really liked the addition of beans and rice to the dish since I’ve made a similar one before. I would definitely make again. Here are the pictures:

My tortilla lay out.  I ended up using 2 across then sliced one in half to cover the top and bottom middles.  Then I took a fourth one and cut it into quarters  so I could make sure to cover every possibly corner.  Yes, I'm crazy, I know.

Making layers.  This was everything up until the last layer of tortillas and cheese

Right out of the oven

My slice.  I ended up topping it with a dollop of sour cream.

Travel Bug

I was a dork and a loner as a kid.  I'll be honest, I still am.  Don't get me wrong, I love my friends but I also know that I don't have 20+ close friends and I like it that way.  I don't mind being alone and I really enjoyed living by myself.  I make sure my husband knows this as well :).

Anyway, back in ninth grade, I came home from school one day and asked my mom for $1200 so I could go to Spain with my friends.  She was, to say the least, surprised.  I had barely even talked about or hung out with these friends outside of school.  They were school friends and I had a different set of "hanging out" friends.  It was kind of a school trip, they rotated the country every year (Spain, France, Italy) and if you took that language in school you could go on that trip (if you could afford it).  It doesn't make sense to me that you had to take that language because, honestly, when you put a bunch of high schoolers in a foreign country the last thing they are worried about is speaking the language properly.  But those were the rules.  I talked about it with the girls in my Biology class and we all thought it would be cool to go.  What 15 year old wouldn't think going to a foreign country without parents would be cool? 

Somehow, my parents gave in.  It wasn't even really that hard to convince them either.  My sister decided that it should be instead of a Sweet 16 or gift and I was fine with that.  I think because I was always so quiet they were just shocked by it and that's what made them hand over the check so easily. 

Honestly, I didn't think my parents would ever say yes or give me the money to go.  When they said "Yes" so quickly, I got rather nervous.  I started thinking "What the hell did I get myself into?  What if, in 9 months when this trip happens, I don't even speak to these girls anymore?  What if I get lost in Spain and no one remembers me and comes to find me?  What if someone walks in on me in the shower?  What if I snore?"  Hey, I was 15, we all have different worries and fears at that age.

I remember being at the airport and hugging my parents goodbye while all the other girls (I think there was only like 1 guy on the whole trip which is weird) cried and kissed and hugged their parents.  At night, most of the girls would call their moms and cry about how much they missed them but they were having a good time.  I didn't call my parents once.  I didn't want to waste the money calling and I was having a great time - I would tell them everything when I got home anyway.

Of course, when I got home I was very excited to see my parents and tell them everything.  My mom hugged me and told me that she always knew I would be her traveler.  I was the quiet one but she could always see it in my eyes that I would go places and see things and I would love it.  And I do, I really do.  My husband and I both love saving up money just so we can use it all on a big trip and see things we never imagined we would be able to see.  I never thought I would actually get to go to Pompeii or touch the Great Pyramids but I have and it makes me very grateful that I've been able to.

Crock Pot Wednesday

 


I used to be really afraid of my crockpot, it's true.  I think the problem was the crockpot itself.  I started out using the one my parents got for their engagement.  My parents will be married for 35 years this year.  So, as you can see, it's an old crockpot.  It's white with the lovely yellow 70s flowers on it and everything.  There's no high or low - just off and on.  I think that's why stuff used to taste terrible whenever I made it in the crockpot.

Also, I started low carbing when I first started using the crock pot.  So it was a weird mash of learning to cook differently and in different equiptment.  I'm surprised to this day that my husband has never said anything bad about my cookings because, oh boy, some gross things would come out.  Food would come out tough and overcooked (or undercooked) and just gross.  He's a good sport. 

The only thing that works perfectly in that old crockpot (that I admit is still sitting in my pantry because I feel guilty throwing it away) is candied nuts.  This works out well since I can't make candied nuts in the oven without burning them.  The recipe can easily be halved or doubled, I was just using a 5-6 qt crock pot and it tastes so good so I make a ton.

Candied Nuts

• 2 lbs nuts - I like to mix: Walnuts, Pecans, and Almonds
• 1 cup of melted butter
• 1/2 - 3/4 cup of sugar (or splenda)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (or diabetisweet) - Can use all regular sugar as well
• 1 TB cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp of ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp of ground cloves
• a bunch of fresh nutmeg 

Put nuts into crock pot.  Stir in butter.  Stir in all seasonings until everything is nicely coated. 

The trick is in heating.  I remember reading somewhere online about what to do so that's always what I've done.  I don't remember where I read it so, if it was you, please let me know so I can credit you with your trick. 

Cover the crock pot and set to high for 30 minutes.  Uncover, stir, turn to low and let cook for about another 2 hours or until tasty and done.

No matter how much I make, these are always eaten up very quickly.  Even when I would make them with Splenda my picky brother in law (who claims he absolutely hates the Splenda aftertaste) happily eats a huge portion whenever I make them.

Doggie Time Outs.

As I've mentioned before, we have 2 cats and a dog.  The cats are the grumpy misers of the house because they like to avoid the dog at all costs.  I figured after a while they would all learn to get along but it's been over three years since Cooper showed up.  For now, let me introduce the youngest member of our family: Cooper.

Part daschund/part poodle, all squishy lovable.  He's an annoying, barking dog that follows me around constantly.  He's a little bundle of love who helps me in the kitchen by cleaning up all the food I "drop".  At times I hate him, but I know he loves me just as much as I love him.  He doesn't like to sit still for photos so these are the best I have right now.  When he first gets a haircut he looks like a sad little old man and pouts in the corner.  He looks much much cuter with longer/curlier hair but since he hates being brushed, we can't leave it too long.

We got into a fight yesterday.  He was eating my stamps, again.  He loves stamps for some reason.  These stamps were sitting on the coffee table since December (I told you I need to declutter...).  He left them there perfectly fine.  Yesterday, I was working and he was sitting in the bend of my legs, all curled up and adorable.  Out of nowehere, he jumps up and lunges for those stamps and grabs them.  He runs around the table and starts chewing.

I'm pissed.  More so because they have been sitting there untouched for weeks and JUST THIS MINUTE you need them?  WHY?  So I yelled, and he looked at me.. with those sad puppy eyes.  Those sad eyes that almost make you want to say "Okay, fine, just eat my stamps".  If it were a napkin, I would've let him have it (for roughage?).  But these are self sticking stamps.  You probably shouldn't ingest them.

So I yelled "Drop it".  He tilted his head.  I yelled something incoherently because I was mad and finished with "drop it".  He dropped it but as I went to take it he tried to snap at me.  Oh no buddy.  I may love you but I don't want to be snapped at.

So, I put my dog in a time out.  Yup, a time out.  I put him in the bathroom (pulled out the garbage can), closed the door, and shut off the light for a few minutes.  I poured myself a glass of iced tea and walked back to the couch, proud.  Then I realized how ridiculous that was.  I just locked my dog in the bathroom.  I let him out.  He looked at me like I was crazy and then continued to follow me around for the rest of the day.    Maybe working from home isn't such a good thing for me?

Meal Plan Monday

I can't believe another week has already started.. Here's another Meal Plan Monday.

Last week we never got around to eating: Paella or Stir Fry.  I just ended up making random things those nights because we weren't in the mood for either. 

For breakfasts we still have 3 bagels left so we'll eat those, along with waffles and/or eggs. Lunch will be leftovers as usual or there are some Lean Cuisines in the freezer

It's a weird week this week.  I met the husband for lunch today and we went to a Chinese buffet so since that was such a big meal that means no real dinner tonight.  Also, we're heading out to my parent's either Thursday or Friday and we haven't decided which day yet.  So only a few meals planned.

•Monday: Popcorn or random snacks while watching tv (very healthy, I know)

•Tuesday: Chickpea Cutlets w/Gravy from The Happy (atheist) Homemaker

•Wednesday: Taco Bake from The Shambled Shack I'll use up the frozen leftover buffalo chicken that I made last week with this.

•Thursday: Chicken (and whatever fish I can find in the freezer) Paella which may, yet again, be pushed back to next week.

Picture of perfection...

My parents own a bed and breakfast in the Poconos. It was always their lifelong dream. Not necessarily a bed and breakfast but more, I think, to run their own business. My father was a chef and my mother was a nurse. The bed and breakfast just seemed to fit them. This November, it'll be 9 years since they bought the place. It's a gorgeous house (I could be biased) and all their guests love them. When my husband and I go out there (1-2x a month) we always end up helping out because that's just what you do. We cook, serve, whatever is needed.

It's funny cause we're very vocal in my family. If we're mad at you, we will let you know. We've been known to scream, cry and throw things. But we don't hit people - maybe walls or pillows, but never each other. So, of course there are always random fights and arguments going on in the kitchen because everyone thinks that their way is the correct (and only) way to do things. My mom has been known to flip out over garnishes and my dad has been known to knock over a stool or two.

We like to believe that when you're in the kitchen no one can hear you. Of course, that's probably not true but we have to believe that because once we walk through that magical doorway and into the dining room, a smile goes on your face and you are the picture of perfection.

We walk through that door with a plate in our hand, smiling and asking how everything is. As soon as you walk through that doorway, you are transformed. Life is good and all is well with the world. Honestly, I think people probably do hear us fighting in the kitchen but they enjoy it because this is all part of the family atmosphere and charm.

I've found though that the "Magic Doorway" really does work wonders. Maybe it's just one of those things my parents instilled in me, but I don't bring my issues to work. As soon as I walk into that office doorway, I'm good to go. It doesn't matter if I got into a fight with my husband last night or I had a flat tire this morning. I'm at work and let's get this done.

Sometimes, walking through the magical doorway is a great break and other times it can just really suck to put on a brave face for the outside world.