Is it to soon for a break?

Yes, I know. Another day missed. Life is so hectic right now. It seems like every time I think things are slowing down and life will get easier, a million other things pop up and doing little things (like blogging) become almost impossible. Or I get so tired I just forget about it until it's the next day. I will attempt to remedy that now with another two posts. And hopefully get back on track tomorrow!

Last night I had planned on making Creamy Italian Chicken for supper. However, I was out late on Wednesday (more about that in my next post) and so, overslept a bit on Thursday. Because I didn't get up on time, I didn't have enough time to make my cream soup (Can't use the canned stuff because of DH). I had to change the menu quickly and decided to make my Pasta Bake. This recipe is adapted from, I think a Taste of Home Casserole publication. I can't currently find the one I think it's in. All I can really tell you is that the original recipe is not my own, this is just my take on it. I can also tell you that the original recipe had multiple layers, but after experimenting, this is the way my family likes it best.

Pasta Bake

1 lb penne pasta (I use gluten free and it works just fine)
8 oz ricotta cheese
8 oz shredded mozzarella
your favorite jar of pasta sauce
1 lb ground beef, if desired
Parmesan cheese

Brown you beef if you're using it. Drain and add your pasta sauce.

Boil your pasta until almost done, but not quite. If you cook it all the way it will become a bit mushy in the final dish.

Spread your pasta in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Spoon your ricotta cheese over the pasta and smoosh it down with either a spoon or very clean fingers. I find fingers work better. Sprinkle the mozzarella over the ricotta. Pour your sauce over the cheese layer. Sprinkle the top with Parmesan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and it's heated through.

Easy peasy and really good!

Monthly Menu

Here's post number two!

Instead of making a straight down the line list of what we're eating this month, I'm just going to give some highlights...

~Main Dishes~

Beef Stew
Pork Chops
Salisbury Steak
Meatloaf
Italian Chicken
Parmesan Chicken Fingers
Chicken Paprika
Chicken and Dumplings
Corned Beef and Cabbage

~Sides~

Parmesan potatoes
Mashed potatoes
Rice
Creamed spinach
Corn casserole
GF Macaroni and Cheese
Assorted vegetables
Oven Roasted potatoes

~Baked Goods and Desserts~

Brownies
Cake mix cookies
GF peanut butter cookies
GF chocolate cupcakes with mint frosting
Homemade angel food cake
Girl Scout cookies
Blueberry muffins
Bread

Butter Jar

Gah! I missed a post! And I was doing so well too! Last night I thought to myself that I needed to do it, but I was so tired I just went to bed without thinking anymore about it. To make up for it, I'll do two posts today! First up, yesterday's post.

I love butter. Don't give me that fake stuff. Yes, I know it is more expensive than margarine, but butter is one area I won't compromise on. No way!

That being said, there is always at least one stick of butter sitting on the counter. Sometimes the other big person in the house won't see the stick that is out and will take another one out and I wind up with two sticks on the counter. For some things, I like my butter soft, and it can get messy softening in the microwave, so I just leave it on the counter. Problem solved, right? Not so much. For one thing, other people use it, which would be fine and dandy if they'd throw the darned butter wrapper away! But no. For another, sometimes it can get pretty hot in the kitchen when I'm cooking up a storm, and sometimes the butter will start to melt. Lastly, it gets really soft (which is what I want), but it's not so wonderful if the stick accidentally gets knocked on the floor and lands with a fairly undignified splat that yours truly has to then clean up.

Last week I was reading the newest book in one of my favorite series. At one point, the main character is commenting on the muffins her sister had made her and the fact that she had also put out "a jar of butter and a knife." Well, that certainly opened my eyes! I remembered a few years ago seeing an add for one of these. But just then, reading that book, I wasn't thinking about that. I was thinking of a plain old canning jar. Why hadn't I thought of it before? So, I set to work. I took out a pound of butter and set it on the counter and then went looking for a jar. I was out of canning jars (Note to self: need more canning jars), but since a good glass jar is useful, I have a small collection. I found my butter jar in the form of an old black bean and corn relish jar. After removing the label (nail polish remover is excellent for this), it was ready to go and so was the butter!

I simply unwrapped the butter and scrapped it into the jar with a rubber spatula. I smooshed it down and added another stick. I kept smooshing and adding until all four sticks were in there, screwed the lid on, and put a label on top. The label wasn't originally there, but DH thought it looked like mayonnaise (it does, but the jars are totally different) and said it needed one.

Perfectly softened butter that I'm ridiculously happy about.

P.S. Sorry for the blurry picture and the mess. Still working on cleaning the kitchen!

Menu Plan Monday (March 4-10)

Good Morning!

Another busy day and I think now is the only chance I'll get to blog today. I usually make my menu on Friday, but I'm going to be trying something new this month. Well, not really new, I've done it before but gotten away from it. What is it? Making my menu for the entire month. I've not actually had time to sit down and do that yet, but it's coming! So here's this week menu, slightly on the fly.

Monday-Kielbasa, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes
Tuesday-Pork chops, scalloped potatoes, corn
Wednesday-Creamy Italian chicken, rice, green beans
Thursday-Beef stew, biscuits
Friday-Stir fry, rice
Saturday-Spaghetti dinner for Scouts
Sunday-Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, peas

For more menu ideas, visit orgjunkie.com

Stressful Sunday

Today wasn't too bad, but it was a little stressful. In fact, I'm still trying to finish some things.

Next month, I will be sure and get all of my grocery shopping done on one day. Or at least not do any on Sunday. Because after I went to church and then finished up my shopping, not only was I exhausted, it was already noon. Of course, it didn't help that I talked to my pastor's wife for almost an hour and half after services!

I did however, manage to get two loaves of bread made (I hope it's enough for the week, but I have a feeling I'll be making more. I also think I need to find two more loaf pans. I also made a batch of Miracle Cookies (recipe follows). I know I'll need to make some more cookies at some point this week as the cookies I made are ones DH can eat and I know he will!

I have a massive amount of clothes that need to be hung up and a dishwasher that needs to be emptied. Then I'm taking a shower and going to bed!


Miracle Cookies are super easy and really delicious. The best part? They contain no flour, hence the name. I've had the recipe forever. I think I may have gotten it from my Grandma.

Miracle Cookies

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg

Mix all ingredients together well. Shape into balls (I use a scooper) and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Using a fork, make a criss cross pattern on top of the balls, flattening them out. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes (depending on how big your cookies are). Cookies will spread slightly. Yield: approximately 20 cookies.

Hello!

In an effort to stick with my posting, I bring you this late blog post!

I think I may have overspent just a little in my new food budget. I'm not entirely sure because I still have one more store to go to. Also, I haven't decided if I'm going to include things like plastic bags and toilet paper within my grocery budget or not. If I don't, then I can say with almost compete confidence that I won't go over my new budget.

Today was very long. I stopped by a friends house and dropped off Girl Scout cookies, went to Trader Joe's, went to Costco, made another stop, came home, made several trips up and down the stairs with groceries, and then collapsed for a few minutes! Once I recovered, I hard boiled some eggs, made tea, and started to separate my meat. Then it was time to get ready to go to a Tastefully Simple party.

So now I'm home, getting ready to finish separating my meat and putting it into food saver bags. I've got the Saturday Night Fish Fry on NPR and I'm grooving while I get this done. Just thought I'd make this post to keep the ball rolling!

Progressing Forward

Today was not as productive as I had hoped it would be. Lots of things factored into this, but hopefully tomorrow and Sunday will work out just right and things will get back on track.

I had really wanted to go by Costco and my two favorite grocery stores today and get my shopping for the month out of the way. However, that was not to be. In fact, I will probably not be able to do my shopping for the month this week. I will most likely have to do for half this week and half next week. Still, I will be down to two trips instead of multiple trips a month week.

I was able to stop at a grocery store that I don't normally frequent (prices are fairly high) and got a good deal. I had stopped there for two reasons. One, I knew for a fact that they carried Super Washing Soda, Borax, and Fels Naptha, and two, it was on the way home. Well, apparently they stopped carrying Borax. I think I know where I can get some though. But I was able to get the Super Washing Soda and Fels Naptha. Score! Then I went to get some rice because I have two meetings tonight (Girl Scouts and Committee meeting for Cub Scouts) and won't be home for supper. A few days ago I discussed curbing our frequent weekend eating out with DH. He's totally on board. I, however, need to get used to not going out to eat on Fridays! Anyhow, he wanted rice to go with the leftover chicken curry I made last night and he had already eaten the leftover rice. So, rice was on the list. And...it was on sale---10 bags for $10. Which made 2 bags 1 pound more and .49 cents less than the big bag of rice. We eat *a lot* of rice because DH is sensitive to gluten. Not celiac, just sensitive. I may have to get some more!