Menu Monday and September: A Preview

That's right! Two, count them two, posts for the price of one. So with one more day until September I am already booked up with things to do until the 13th. Every year around this time I cook a large feast for the SCA group I play with, occasionally. This year is big one. I chose to do a historical documented late period Roman feast. (300-400 C.E.) We're talking end of the Roman Empire, Hello Visigoths! They still ate like the Romans. I mean who wouldn't? After doing all of my research, my conclusion is that they didn't eat much differently than we did and even had fast food places and street vendors. They couldn't even go to their midday bath at the bath house unless they knew there would be snacks.
Anyway, that basically means I'm going to be doing a lot of prepping and I'm making feast my official personal project of the month. I'm already half way done with the papier-mache pig.
Later in the month Ruby will be going to her grandparents house in Kentucky for the first time, sans parents. During which time J and I will be taking off of work and getting the house in order. Purging, painting, rearranging - All good things to accomplish before the winter hits and we go into hibernation. Yes. We are bears. That will be this months home-improvement project.
Also starting on the 2nd, my online courses for my business degree. I've already checked it out. Looks pretty fast paced which I'm happy about. I was a little worried it'd be a little too independent. I definitely know by now that I am a student that needs clear deadlines and assignments. I never liked having to be somewhere at a specific time so online classes seem like a perfect match for me. Thus, the third and final project for September. Don't fret. In October I will return to my normal crafty self. Here's a visual of one of the projects now.

Think two round chair pillows strapped at the shoulder. Cause that's what it is and they're charging 60 bucks for it.

 This weeks menu is still a work in progress because my shopping schedule has been thrown off due to a Sunday sausage-making session. So I will leave some blanks to be filled in after the shopping is done on Wednesday.

Monday: Pan-fried rice cakes, Scrambled eggs, scallions, bacon.
Tuesday: Turkey meatloaf, mashed cauliflower-potatoes, green beans (never made it last week)
Wednesday: Pumpkin hummus, spinach-yogurt dip, pita bread, roasted chickpeas
Thursday:  Brine treated BLSL Chicken Breast, Farro-sotto (feast recipe try out) except with celery and parsnips, Peas.
Friday: TBD
Saturday: TBD
Sunday: TBD

Menu Monday: The Confession Edition plus Progress Report

Okay so in addition to this being my menu post it will also be a one week until the end of the month progress report. What have I done this month? Not much. I finished the butterfly project. I did an owl craft for a friend of mine. Here are some specific things I haven't done in the entire month of August.
1. Cleaned the kitchen** or bathroom floors.
2. Deep cleaning of the bathroom
3. Fridge Cleaning
4. Put away clean laundry
5. Cleared out anything to get rid of or give.
6. Cared about cleaning at all.

So, I'm hoping that today I can get myself into a manic fit and do it. Maybe all it will take is the lovely smell of bleach water to get me started. Soon if I don't do something a new species of sentient leftovers will be discovered in our home, watching tv and eating popcorn.
ETA: I just finished cleaning the kitchen, its floor and walls. So at least something has been accomplished. I am about to embark on a journey through the clean laundry pile. It has come to my attention that if I would simply fold the clothes as they arrived from the laundry room this would not happen. I have known this for sometime yet still choose to do nothing. Maybe it's a weird genetic thing or medical condition. I'll make a note to get this tested asap but I may have to postpone laundry folding to do so. 

So on to the menu:

Monday: Oven Chicken Nuggets, Sweet potato fries, Broccoli
Tuesday: Turkey-Quinoa Meatloaf, Cheddar rice casserole, Peas
Wednesday: Crepes with Cottage Cheese, Apples, Bacon
Thursday: Crock-pot Chicken Paprikash, Green beans
Friday: Salmon with roasted beet salad, oranges, and avocados.
Saturday: Ham and Cheddar rice casserole(leftovers), peas
Sunday: Shrimp, spinach-yogurt dip, pita chips, cucumbers

Menu Monday: More Healthy Food

So this week features J's birthday. In celebration, we will have one day of not so healthy food, since that seems to be his favorite kind. I think we're all doing pretty well with the adjustment. It's been over a week since I stopped going somewhere for coffee/empty calories. Never got to the flank steak from last week so I'll fit it in this week.

Monday: Turkey and Whole-wheat Spaghetti Night with fresh spinach and peas.
Tuesday: The Birthday Dinner: Bratwurst, Brocco-Blueberry Coleslaw, Green Beans
Wednesday: Grilled Chicken Salad with Grilled Zucchini and Chickpeas 
Thursday:  Grilled Chili-rubbed Flank Steak, corn tortillas, Avocado and Grapefruit Salad,
Friday: Date Night (Maybe Medieval Times)
Saturday: Pantry-raided Chopped Salad with Leftovers
Sunday: Grilled Tilapia, Grilled Sweet Corn, and Grilled Farmer's Market Veggie or the day.

Menu Monday: The Diet Edition

Okay so we have all gotten out of control. It's come to the time when Momma put us all on a healthy diet again.
Proteins, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It's sad when your preschooler comes home from Grandma's house and all she wants to eat is fruit snacks, ice pops, chips and french fries. So I still have the snacks around but she's going to only get one a day and she'll have to earn it by eating something good for her first. Of course, we aren't exactly nutritional role models, at least not yet.

On to the menu.

Monday - Grilled Turkey Cutlets, Spinach and Grapes.
Tuesday - Grilled Salmon Salad with Potatoes, Eggs, and Green beans
Wednesday - Grilled Chicken, Corn, Tomato, and Zucchini Salad, Whole Wheat Farfalle.
Thursday - Grilled Tilapia, Broccoli Slaw with Apples
Friday - Turkey Kefta Kabobs, Pita bread, Cucumber-Yogurt sauce, Grilled Zucchini
Saturday - Family Pizza Night
 (probably something with spinach, pine nuts, and maybe some of the leftover kefta.
Sunday - Grilled Chili-rubbed Flank Steak, Avocado and Grapefruit Salad, Corn tortillas

Menu Monday - The pauper's edition

Okay so we're a little lean this week. We all have those weeks where ends meet, but boy did you have to stttrrreeettchhhh to make that happen. It's only hard when J and I get paid at the same time, instead of one of us getting paid once a week. I hate it when the calender syncs up like that. We are very grateful because we know it could be worse and we know it's mostly our bad decisions. We're still a work in progress just like everyone else.

On to the menu.

Monday - Fried Rice with Veggies and Veggie"Beef tips"
Tuesday - Thai chicken peanut noodles
Wednesday - Tuna Nicoise-style Potato salad
Thursday - Leftovers night or Spaghetti night
Friday - Date Night - no Ruby TBD
Saturday - Dinner at J's parents house. TBD
Sunday - Farmer's Market Day - no Ruby

Yeah..not really a menu. Ruby is going to her grandmother's house in Iowa, this coming weekend. First time she'll be going somewhere without me that I'm not bringing her to and leaving her there. It's only three days.

Menu Monday: Back to Business (Tuesday)

So it was going to be posted yesterday but I was having computer issues, and head-desk issues. So without further ado: 

Okay - enough savoring my birthday week and time to go back to cooking actual meals, not just skating by on grilling a protein and steaming some veggies. It's been hot, so I haven't been wanting to cook, but I'm pretty sure I'm legally obligated to feed my daughter so I've been forcing myself to do so. So, Sunday she and I both went to the farmers market to get inspiration. I let her point to some cherries, "brown grapes" in her language. I'm going to can those bad boys based on this post. I want summer in a jar in the middle of winter, too.
She also pointed to eggplants and asked if they were chocolate. Then looked only more confused when I said they were eggplant. I also got some Yukon gold potatoes, apricots, and grape tomatoes "sweeter than a mother's smile," according to the farmer's sign. I didn't end up cooking the pulled pork last week because of a scheduling error. I ended up being the only one home on Friday so I had Indian food instead. So it's in the slow-cooker for tonight.

Monday - BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Oven baked green beans
Tuesday - Mexican Eggplant Casserole with tortillas and re-fried black beans
Wednesday -  Turkey Spaghetti Bolognase and Snap Peas
Thursday - Grilled Parmesan Chicken Skewers over Vegetable Couscous
Friday - Family Pizza Making Night (zucchini, bacon and mushrooms)
Saturday - Leftovers night
Sunday - Farmer's market surprise probably involving the grill.

Menu Monday: The Blueberry Edition

Went to the farmers market yesterday and found one of the vendors selling California plums. Complete with code stickers on them like the ones found in the grocery store. Not awesome. I don't think they should be allowed to do that. A farmer's market is for local produce. We have plums in Wisconsin and Michigan. Not yet, but in a couple weeks. The whole point of the market is to sell fresh local produce that is in season. It made me sad because the same vendor has the sweetest most delicious cantaloupe I've even had. I dream about it in the winter. Watermelon is awesome too. The melons are local, like thirty minutes away. It broke my heart a little. Did buy the watermelon though. Can't wait to break into that puppy.

Also picked up some yellow wax and some green beans, black raspberries, fresh red onions, cabbage, split-pit peaches, sugar snap peas, and a tomato. Yum.

Monday - BLTS with Apple Coleslaw Salad
Tuesday - Fish Tacos, Cilantro-Lime Rice, Corn on the cob
Wednesday - Spaghetti Pie
Thursday - Beef and Green Bean Stir fry with noodles
Friday - Family Pizza Night
Saturday - Burgers and Hot dogs
Sunday - Chicken Salad Sandwiches

I've got Blueberries and Black Raspberries to deal with. Here's some things I'm thinking about doing with them: 
Chicken with Blueberry Salsa
Blueberry Buckle
Classic Blueberry Muffins

Menu Monday:The Birthday Edition

In an effort to observe my birthday and that it's way too hot to eat/cook/breathe, this week's menu is brought to you by the letter L, for lazy.

Monday: Fishsticks, Sweet Potato Fries, Peas, Watermelon. 
all courtesy of Trader Joes (except the watermelon)
Tuesday: Grilled Chicken, Blueberry Salsa, Spinach and Whole Wheat Orzo
Wednesday: My Birthday - Going out for Mexican
Thursday:  Grilled Turkey Cutlets, Jasmine Rice with Corn, Asparagus, and Carrots
Friday: Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Green Beans
Saturday: Chicken Apple Sausages, Broccoli Slaw with Blueberries
Sunday: Crawfish Boil at my Boss's house

I like to think he's throwing that crawfish boil for me...I know it's just good timing. So I'll pretend it's the universe throwing me a party.

Menu Monday and a PSA

 Public Service Announcement: 
From now on Brine your Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts. 
If you choose not to listen to me, fine. Your loss. I have recently started to brine them and I now feel as though I have been missing out on delicious, moist, flavorful chicken breast my whole life. No more rubber protein source for me thank you very much. Next week I'll be trying it with Pork chops. Yum.


As for this week:
 
Monday - Fish and Chips (Oven roasted potato wedges) with Peas
(didn't have these Saturday as we ate at J's parents cabin that night)
Tuesday - Grilled Chicken, Black beans and Rice, Carrots with honey and lime.
Wednesday - Turkey Chili Cottage Fries
Thursday - Caesar Pasta Salad with broiled Chicken breasts
Friday - Date night cook-in (edit:Sandwiches and a "Lost" marathon)
Saturday - Papa-Grill Hot Dogs, and 'Mac an Cheese' (A Ruby request)
Sunday - Farmer's market bounty mystery meal
Edit: Grilled Peaches and Pork Chops, Sugar snap peas and beerbread


Nothing too exciting. We're pretty much at the mercy of my fridge and pantry until Friday when we can go grocery shopping. Still sounds pretty acceptable, though. Yay me for my stocked supplies!

Second First Anniversary and a Menu Monday

So Sunday was our First Wedding Anniversary. Saturday night we had Ruby stay the night with her grandparents so that J and I could enjoy a night out to dinner and some time to ourselves. We decided that would be the night we'd stop trying NOT to have a child. So we'll see.
I should be registering for classes soon for the Fall semester. Looking over the courses, they are as necessary as boring as they sound. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.
Things are moving along nicely for the month of June. With two and a half days to go, I still need to make the curtains for the kitchen. When talking to J about it he said that I should give myself a one-day extension due to the last needle on my sewing machine breaking when I was 3/4 of the way done with my bag project. If I need it I'll take it.

I did not clean the hood vents in the kitchen in bathroom last week, so first thing after the post, that's what I'll do. 
Floors were vacuumed. Dishes were done. No leftovers wasted, week 3. Farmer's Market visited and came home with some lovely cantaloupe and a giant bag full of patty pan, zucchini, round zucchini, cucmbers, and yellow squash. I'll have to investigate some squash recipes.

So for this weeks menu:

Monday - Teriyaki Chicken Stir-fry with Pineapple and Noodles
Tuesday - Chorizo, Red Pepper, and Rice Stuffed Round Zucchini Squashes with Quesadilla for the Roo.
Wednesday - Pizza night, bacon, mushroom, and yellow squash a family favorite
Thursday - Sweet Corn Pasta Salad with fresh sweet corn from the farmers market
Friday - Date night with Grilled Burgers and pasta salad, probably some grilled zucchini.
Saturday - Fish and Chips with Peas
Sunday - Fourth of July Family BBQ at J's Parents Summer House.

Menu Monday: The Good kind of Boring Edition

One of the helpful tidbits I've learned over the years is that company = leftovers. So we are swimming in them.
This week's menu is going to reflect that.

Monday: Trader Joes Orange Chicken with leftover fried rice and yakisoba from Benihana, asparagus. 
Tuesday: Tacos in the city with Roo's Daddy.
Wednesday: Spaghetti with Turkey bolognese, salad with carrots and radishes
Thursday: Veggie rice cakes and chicken skewers
Friday: Date Night at Seasons 52
Saturday: Family Pizza night
Sunday: Grill night/farmer's market iron chef

A nice boring menu for a nice boring week.

Menu Monday

This weeks menu is brought to us by my local Farmer's market.
I LOVE farmer's markets. I especially love my little town's because all the growers are so small and cute. Especially in the early harvest season. Some of the booths have one item now but will have thirty by the end of summer. I love being able to see the change, from lean to bountiful. I also love grocery store rarities like English peas in the pod and local red currants.

Yes, Roo has gnawed off the bottom of the letter 'p'. For your information, that many pea pods yield that many peas(approximately a 1/2 cup and I bought what they had labeled a quart). They will be starring in Monday's dinner courtesy of Martha Stewart.

On with the meal plan:

Monday - Creamy Pasta with Peas, Arugula, and Pine Nuts
Tuesday - Chili-rubbed Steak Tacos with Snap Pea and Radish Salad
Wednesday - Grilled Chicken with Mango Salsa and Edamame Coconut Jasmine Rice
Thursday - Eating out
Friday - BBQ Chicken, Potato Salad, Grilled Asparagus
This is the same BBQ chicken from last week that never got cooked
Saturday - Eating Out
Sunday - Father's Day (Yet to be decided, but will consist of a brunch and dinner since Ruby has a Daddy and a Papa)

At some point this week I have currants to use. I'm wanting to make a very European style tart.
I also have some rhubarb and the sweetest, smallest, beautiful strawberries I have ever tasted and seen.
Did I mention how much I love the Farmer's market?

June Syllabus

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Picture from Style Me Pretty

June. Month of roses, marriage and the pearl.
It's named for Juno, Mother of the Gods.
Well, at least she got a month named after her. I have a hard enough time taking care of one human child. God-children? No thanks.

So the meal plan for the week.

Monday - Baked Pollock with homemade macaroni and cheese, and Ruby's favorite, peas.
Tuesday - Taco Joes, Southwestern rice, corn on the cob with lime butter.
Wednesday - Asian Chicken Noodle Salad with Green beans
Thursday - Vegetarian Fried Rice
Friday - Date Night(I do have a plan but I can't say yet because he might read it)
Saturday - Family Pizza Night
Sunday - Slow roasted BBQ rubbed chicken, Potato Salad, and farmers market veg.

I'm really digging For the Love of Cooking. I'm looking forward to trying the salad recipe. I'll post pics and the official Ruby review.

So we know the dinner-time schedule, let's talk about the "home"work.

Monday - Clean out the fridge
Someone should probably take away my sanitation license for not practicing at home as well as on the job. I mean it's not that bad, mostly a little embarrassing. More embarrassing that it's been worse.

Tuesday - Mop kitchen and bathroom floors
Again with the ew. Normal people just do this stuff right?

Wednesday - Bathroom deep clean
I'm usually pretty reliable with this one - no worries here.

Thursday - De-clutter Day.
Pick one small space, before and after pictures.

Friday - Vacuum a la husband.
He's pretty good about this one too.

Saturday - Toy purge/switch(every other week) and
Our family's Good 'ole-fashioned Laundry party. Yes - We know how to have a good time on a Saturday night. Honestly it's because we share a laundry room with eleven other neighbors and there is NO competition on Saturday night.

Sunday - Farmer's Market and Pancakes.

I'm excited about this. So far, seems pretty doable.

Projects will be revealed tomorrow as I am getting the sleep queues from the Roo and I have approximately 5 minutes until she official reaches monster status.