Menu Plan Monday

Here we are at another beginning of a week. I'm looking forward to trying the Honey Chicken Stir-Fry and Nacho Chicken Casserole. Should be interesting. I need to do an update on my pantry challenge. So far I think I'm doing pretty well. :) I had a request to post my recipe for beans, so I'm going to try to do that this week.....

Monday- Baked Ziti, Fresh Salad

Tuesday- Honey Chicken Stir-Fry, Rice ***This was by FAR the BEST Chinese dish I've made!!! YUMMY....but add more honey!****

Wednesday- BBQ Hamburger, Mashed Potatoes, Veggies

Thursday- Nacho Chicken Casserole, with Flour Tortillas and Beans
***The Nacho-Chicken Casserole was a big hit....even Renato said it was better than going out for Mexican.****

Friday- Homemade Pizza

Saturday- Chili

Sunday- Homemade Pancakes, Eggs, Turkey Bacon

Go visit Organizing Junkie for a TON more menu plans!!

Menu Plan Monday

We got to see my Brother, Sister-in-law, and 2 of my nieces yesterday in Denver. Camden was soooo excited to see them!! Dwight made Dawson cry, but Dawson warmed up to him after a lot of playing tickle. :) They also were able to bring more of our meat and applesauce from my parent's house, along with some honey, salsa, and about 30 lbs of pinto beans. Ummm, yes you read that correctly....30 LBS OF PINTO BEANS!!! My other brother is working on a farm that produces beans, so he sent me some beans....ok, he sent me A LOT of beans! It just makes me giggle thinking about all those beans. So our menu's will consist of a lot more beans.....for a LONG time. Ha! And I have a feeling we'll be using them to do a lot of "art projects" too. :) It's also a good thing that we lived in Brazil and I learned how to cook up some tasty beans!! (Although we won't be eating them everyday like they do in Brazil!) Here we go....

Monday- Herb and Moz. Cheese Meatloaf, Spaghetti Squash

Tuesday- Chicken, Rice, Beans

Wednesday- Stroganoff with Egg Noodles

Thursday- Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans (Gotta get rid of those turkeys!!)

Friday- Turkey Pot Pie or this recipe

Saturday- Homemade Pizza

Sunday- French Toast, Eggs, and Turkey Bacon

Please visit Organizing Junkie for MANY more Menu Plans!!

Eating from the Pantry--Update

OK....so far so good! I've made 2 trips to the grocery store so far this week and my total so far is $30.77. I was so proud of myself this morning. I ran to Target and ONLY bought what was on my list...now that's impressive. I went through my list a few times with my menu plan and recipes and revised a few of the recipes to use just what I had on hand....hopefully they turn out well! :)

Here are my grocery trips:



This was my trip to Safeway earlier this weekend to get the cheap eggs and milk! Total here was roughly $6.00-I somehow lost my receipt. Agh! If you're wondering...no we don't drink THAT MUCH milk, but I froze it. It's a trick I learned from my sister-in-law that had 4 kids ages 4 and under and lived 40 miles away from the closest city. She'd maybe go to town once a month, then stock up on milk and freeze it. It works! The eggs....well, we'll just be eating a lot of eggs, and I bake a lot, so they always seem to go fast! :)




This was my morning trip today to Target. Total: $24.77

***Just a tip....It pays to ask! They had Archer Farms Vanilla Soy Milk on sale, but there were none on the shelf. I asked if they had any in the back, they looked, but they didn't. But they gave me the Silk Vanilla Soy Milk to me at the same price as the "on Sale" Archer Farms milk. Saved me a few cents, but those cents add up!!

***And I got my FREE breakfast from Chick-fil-A this morning too!!! :)

Look Who's Climbing!

Dawson is 10 Months Old!!! (OK, on the 6th he's 10 Mo. Old, but close enough!) This weekend we caught him climbing up the stairs, and yesterday he pulled himself up in his pack-n-play. He still doesn't "technically" crawl for long periods of time, but he can move like the dickens scooting on his tummy! Who needs to clean your floors when you've got a little "mop" scooting all over them all day long! Ha! Here is what Dawson is up to lately:

~ He says "DaDa" constantly, but only cries "Ma" when he's upset and needs me. :)
~ He still has 6 teeth, but I know he's working on more...always drooling!
~ He doesn't eat much finger food yet, still too gaggy, but he's starting.
~ The only finger food he likes is bread and bananas.
~ He can sign the word "More". SO CUTE!
~ He does "So BIG" or "GOAL" with his arms up high.
~ He loves to clap and dance.
~ He likes to watch his Baby Signing Time video and Praise Baby.
~ He loves to wrestle with daddy and Camden, and chases Camden around the house!
~ Last Sunday was the 1st Sunday he didn't cry in child care at church! Yay!! (Bless those girls' hearts in child care!)



Dawson is such a fun little guy! He loves the idea of other people and will smile and reach for them, but when they take him he usually ends up crying. We're working on it! :)

It's been so nice to have a "baby" for a little longer this time around. I should say, a "not mobile baby". :) Camden was just SO FAST at doing everything. (At 7 mo. he was walking around all the furniture and into EVERYTHING!) So it's nice that Dawson is just starting that now. Makes Mama happy! :)



And this smile just absolutely melts my heart!!!

1st 2010 Menu Plan

OK, my 1st Menu plan for the year, along with my Eat from the Pantry Challenge. I tried to base my Menu this week on what I have on hand, with hopefully only buying a few extra things for certain recipes. I'll track my groceries this week and let you know how I do!


Monday- Freezer mystery Hotdish...should be interesting! Ha! :)

Tuesday- Brazilian Stroganoff, Rice, Salad (I'm hoping to make up an "official" recipe for this as I make it and then post it later this week....here's hoping.) :)

Wednesday- Baked Spaghetti, Broccoli

Thursday- Probably with family that are visiting... Yay!

Friday- Sour Cream Enchiladas

Saturday- Creamy Tomato and Cream Cheese Soup, Homemade Soft Pretzels

Sunday- French Toast, Eggs, and Turkeybacon

Go check out more amazing Menu Plans at Organizing Junkie!!

Eat from the Pantry Challenge

I thought since we've only been in this house 2 months, maybe I wouldn't have enough in my pantry to join this challenge....hahahaha!!! Now that I've taken "stock" of my freezers and pantry, I know how laughable that statement and thought is. I have MORE than enough provisions to join this challenge. Here is a look at and inventory of my pantry.

2 cake mixes
1 box + 5 ind. granola bars
1 box mac & cheese (for emergencies...ha)
4 boxes/bags of pasta
2 pkgs. ramen noodles (YUCK! From a friend and Camden loves them.)
1/2 lb dried pinto beans
2 single serve tunas
1/2 lb. wheat germ
2 lg. cans sp. sauce
1 jar beef gravy (YUCK again, but given to me by a friend who was moving)
3 cans cr. of mushroom soup
1 can cr. of celery soup
1 can cr. of chicken soup
3 cans gr. beans
1 can tom. soup
1 sm. can of mushrooms
1 can tom. sauce
1 can diced tomatoes
5 cans beans
2 cans evaporated milk
2 cans sweetened condensed milk
1 can mandarine oranges
1 can tropical mixed fruit
1 can cranberry sauce
1 can bread crumbs
4 boxes crackers
2 boxes chicken broth
1 stovetop mix
1 bag rice
many items for baking (flour, sugars, choc. chips, etc.)

And since I was at my parent's farm in ND this summer I was able to do some canning, so this is what I have left of what we were able to fit in the van when we moved...

6 pints Salsa
4 pints Raspberry Jam
2 pints Pickled Beets
12 pints Stewed Tomatoes

Here are the freezers!! (Keep in mind we bought a 1/4 of a beef from my brother and a sheep from my nephew...so that's where we get all the meat!!)



Big stand-up Freezer:

1 pkg. Pumpkin pancakes
2 bags of bagels (given to us from friends)
2 turkeys (I CAN'T resist buying turkeys when they are sooo cheap at Thanksgiving!!)
1 container random Hotdish...oops, didn't label, so it's a mystery :)
2 containers SUPER HOT CHILLI...accidentally made way too hot chilli awhile back, so I divided up the leftovers into 2 containers to add to future chilli.
3 bags cheese
19 lbs. hamburger
5 pkgs. Lamb
16+ pkgs. Beef
3 pkgs. corn
4 containers Apple sauce (I made from my mom's apple tree!)
1 pkg. Goose (my nephews are big hunters) :)
1 loaf Bread
2 Gal. Bags of Rhubarb (from mom's garden!)

Now the Small Freezer:



2 1/2 pkgs. Coffee
1 bag mixed Veggies
1/2 gallon of shredded Potatoes
4 ind. ice cream bars
1/2 container of Ice Cream
4 ind. Go-Gurts (Camden's popsicles!)
3 containers Ham and Bean Soup
1 container Potato and Corn Chowder
8 Bananas (for banana bread)
3 kinds of Homemade Baby Food Cubes
1 pkg. Flour Tortillas
3 Pie Crusts
2 Boxes Butter
4 Family Servings of Chicken


Whew! There it is! Now I know what I've got to work with for the next month. My plan is to:
1. Spend $40-50 per week on groceries like fruits, veggies, milk, etc., but try to only use what I've got in stored up to cook with.
2. Only go to the grocery store for necessities, or if there is a SUPER good deal.
3. Menu Plan from what I have and try to be creative and not buy "extras" for recipes.

Well, we'll see how I do. If you'd like to join along, check out Money Saving Mom or Life as Mom.

2009--A Year of Blessings

I stumbled upon a blog that participated in Gratituesday, and she had reflected on 2009 and her top 10 blessings. Well, I'm going to follow along and reflect and list my top 10 blessings of 2009.

#1. Our 2nd son, Dawson Daniel, born March 3rd. What an amazing little guy he is! He has brought so much joy and fun to us. We love that he is a big little guy who just lights up and giggles every time he sees his big brother. :)

#2. My wonderful husband. He has been such a rock for me in this year of constant change. We faced many challenges this year that would have driven a wedge between other couples, and I know that those challenges just brought us closer together and made our love for one another stronger than ever. I praise God for Renato every day!

#3. Camden. This little man is teaching me a lot too. Parenting can bring out both the best in us, and at times the worst. I'm learning every day to lean on God more than ever with my parenting skills. Camden is such a strong little leader. He loves to laugh and every day I do laugh with him in my life. I know God has amazing things planned for Camden's life!!

#4. Our rental house that we are living in right now. After constant transition for the past 2 years, along with living with family and friends for over 11 months of that, I am sooo very thankful for our own house, and our own space. (and my own kitchen!!!) :)

#5. Our time spent living in Brazil. I learned so many valuable lessons from God in the past 2 years. I know that without living in Brazil, I would never have learned them.

#6. Family and friends. Both of our families were such blessings to us this past year. We were able to live with Renato's parents for the last month we were in Brazil, and we were able to live with my parents for almost 5 months before moving to Colorado. HUGE blessings!! God has been teaching us about friends and what it really means to be friends. We are so thankful for our friends who have loved and supported us. We are blessed!

#7. Living back in Colorado Springs...and actually back in our same neighborhood! After living in a different culture with a different language, and with different (and scary) driving, and being mostly completely dependent on my husband for everything, you have no idea how thankful I am to be able to get out on my own and be able to understand everything that is around me.

#8. My dishwasher, clothes dryer, stove/oven, and fridge. After living a yr. and a half without a dishwasher or clothes dryer, I am SOOOO thankful for them and how easy they make my life. I'm thankful for my stove/oven because it's big (I can fit more than one pan in at a time) and it has a digital tempurature gage, unlike my teeny/tiny stove/oven in Brazil that didn't have a temperature setting. And I'm so thankful for a BIG new fridge with a big freezer too....that actually freezed food. :)

#9. A wonderful Queen sized bed to sleep on, and a bed for Camden, and a crib for Dawson. The bed we had in Brazil was a full-sized, foam mattress on a slat bed. Not very comfy. Camden had been sleeping on the floor since June...not that he complained at all. And we haven't had a crib for our boys to sleep in since we sold the one Camden had before we moved. So beds are a HUGE blessing!!

#10. My husband's business that he just started. Renato just started his own painting business 2 months ago. God's favor is on him as he has had many jobs come his way, and many great connections too. I just know that God is going to bless Renato and this business to not only provide for our family, but also fund our on-going ministry.

2009 was definitely a tough year of constant change and transition, but we have grown so much through all of the challenges. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us in 2010!!!