Menu Monday

It's Sunday night as I'm typing this out.  It's the end of the weekend.  Normally, I don't loathe Sunday night knowing a new week is upon me.  I actually kind of like it.  I like looking forward to what will come my way, but it's been one of those weekends.  The weekend where you feel like the week just morphed into the next week without a break.  I'm tired.  Super tired.  Too many functions crammed into a short amount of space, and nothing I could do about it.  For the first time in a long time,  I am concentating the next Friday on the calendar. Until then, I will be cooking and wiping booties.  Not necessarily in that order. 

Here's my menu...

Monday-Steaks, Fresh Green Beans, Spring Potato Toss
Tuesday-Eggplant Parmesan, Psuedo Olive Garden Salad, Toasted Italian Bread with Roasted Garlic Dipping Sauce
Wednesday-Homemade Pizza and Garden Salad.  I'm attempting to make the crust from scratch...
Thursday-Fend for Yourself Night*
Friday-Grilled Chicken Quarters with Grilled Zucchinis and Onions (new recipe)
Saturday-Smoked Tilapia, Sweet Potatoes, Broccoli Salad (Trees and Raisins)
Sunday-Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Potato Wedges

*Fend For Yourself Night does not happen very often.  In 7 years of marriage, this is the first time it has happened.  I always have a plan for dinner.  Consequently, Thursday is my night to teach gymnastics.  I thought it would be a good learning experience for Steven to prepare a meal from conception to birth...i.e. start to finish.  He's not too keen on the idea...

Happy Cooking!!!

Reality

I dislike clutter.  I dislike dirty floors.  I like organization.  I like cleanliness.  I have three kids during the week.  Two are my own, and the third I like to claim as my own, but he is my nephew.  These three kids love clutter.  They love dirty floors. They dislike organization.  The dislike cleanliness.  They are the reason my house looks like this for the majority of the day...

I think it is their daily mission to see how many toys they can pull out and how much food they can fling on the floor.  Just look at Chunky Monkey's face.  It says it all.  He's looking for the next opportunity to throw something.  As for Little Man, he's working on crashing into something breakable with his remote control car.  And Little Miss over there in the corner?  Don't let her fool you.  Five minutes before this she was the ring leader.  She saw the camera and decided she'd better get her act together.  She didn't want any proof that she had been guilty.  Typical girl!

But the reality of it all is I would clean up after them no matter what.  No matter how many messes.  No matter how much food goes on the floor instead of their mouths.  No matter how much they are out to get me, I love them to pieces.  I wouldn't trade this life for the world.

Less then $10

A lot of people tell me they don't coupon because they like to buy organic.  Truth is, I use more coupons for tolietry and household items then I do for food purchases.  Here's what I got for a little less than $10 this week. 

Three tubes of toothpaste and a deodorant didn't make the pic this time.  I already put those suckers away and wasn't about to get them back out.  You get the point, so here's the breakdown...$6 went to the coffee and cereal. Both bottles of Lysol totaled $2, and everything else was free with coupons (paying tax was the remainder of the cost).  Overall, I saved around $45.  I love these kind of shopping trips!!!

Best Money Ever Spent

If you have little ones and live in my area, the Bartlesville Kiddie Park is a MUST!  We recently went with some of our fabulous friends and had a wonderful time.  Then again, we could go look at a dump site with the Kueny's and still have a good time...

Anyway, we were there for a little over 2 hours.  The kids rode almost every ride in the park and got 2 snow cones and we walked out of there spending only $11!!!  Little Man has been asking to go back everyday since.  Little Miss has been asking to wear shoes, but that's an entirely different topic for an entirely different day.

Here's some pics of our fun...

Menu Monday

There very well could be repeats.  A couple nights last week were declared 'Clean Out the Fridge Week'.  I had a multitude of tupperwares containing leftovers that needed to go.  If eating leftovers disgusts you, I hope you don't throw up reading this.  We only had to scrape mold off a few dishes.  The rest underneath was fine.  Joking. Totally joking.  Or am I?

Monday-Italian Grilled Chicken (just mix about 2 Tbsp of Mayo, 1/2 cup of Italian dressing, and 3 Tbsp of Parmesan cheese for a marinade), Garden Salad, Cheesy Bread
Tuesday-Soft Tacos, Spanish Rice, Chips and Queso
Wednesday-Shish Kabobs, Baked Potatoes, and Cresent Rolls
Thursday-Turkey BBQ Meatballs and Homemade Mac N Cheese
Friday-Hamburgers and Sweet Potato Fries
Saturday-Lemon Pepper Grilled Chicken Quarters (for marinade melt 1 stick of butter, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and Mixed Pepper Seasoning), Perfect Au Gratin Potatoes, Spinach Salad
Sunday-Who's inviting me over? I am out of ideas for this week, or am I secretly wishing for a date night???

Happy Cooking!!!

A Little Stinker

Back in the day.  The 'day' being when I was a teacher, I had a little stinker in my class.  Not figuratively speaking.  Literally speaking.  I'm not quite sure what he ate at home, but whatever it was...well, let's not go there.  However, this little stinker also had great manners.  Always used his please and thank you's. Always held the door open for me, and always announced when to not go near the bathroom.  It usually came out like this, "Mrs. Torres, I don't think you should let anyone go in there for a while."  However, it didn't really matter, the funk spread quickly.  At least he claimed it.  That way no one was looking around for the culprit, and we could move on to Social Studies.

I'm not quite sure why I felt the need to share this, but shared I did.  Do with it what you will...

Happy Hump Day!

Menu Monday

This week is going to be entitled..."Go here, go there".  Since it's "Go here, go there" week, this menu will be a little sketchy.  I highly advise you call up your buds and invite yourself over for dinner.  And since you don't want to seem like a big mooch here's a little scenario to help you out (hint: you must call at dinner time)....

"Hello?"

"Hey Janie!  It's me.  How are you?"

"Oh, I've been good.  Just cooking dinner."

"Oh yeah?  Whatcha having tonight?  I need some ideas."

"Nothing special.  Just a little prime rib with scalloped potatoes, lemon seasoned green beans, and creme brulee for dessert."

"Wow!  That sounds amazing.  You are such an amazing person, and an amazing cook.  I bet it's delicious.  We haven't had good prime rib since, well, since we last ate at your house.  It was so delicious.  I really enjoyed the last time you had us over."

"Well, would you like to join us tonight?"

"I wouldn't want to impose, but I do love your cooking."

"You wouldn't be imposing.  We'd love to have your company."

"In that case, we'd love to come over.  Thanks for the invite."

Works like a charm...everytime (sorta)  But, just in case have your coupons handy and take your family out to eat.  Either way, you'll still be the queen!

MENU
Monday-Italian Broiled Salmon with Broiled Zuchinni and Squash
Tuesday-Baslamic Bowtie Pasta Salad
Wednesday-Grilled BBQ Drumsticks, Corn Casserole,  Salad
Thursday-Dinner at Dink's
Friday-Dinner at my Mama's
Saturday-Parmesan Chicken (recipe is for pork chops), Scalloped Potatoes, Fresh Almond Green Beans
Sunday-Dinner with Friends