New Years Dinner

New Years Day

Sauerkraut and Pork
Buttered Potatoes
Leftovers from New Years Eve

Dessert

Pumpkin Pie
Cherry Pie
Apple Pie
Champagne Cake

Beverages

Harveys Bristol Cream Sherry
Coffee
Tea

New Years EVE Menu

New Years EVE Menu

Appetizers

Small Salmon Patties

Triscuits and Humus


First Course

Butternut Squash Soup with Half 'n Half and Thyme

Greens, Apples, Pecans with House Dressing

Second Course

Sweet 'n Sour Meatballs and Pineapple

Thyme Rice

Mushrooms and Onions

Cauliflower

Dessert

Pumpkin Pie

Cherry Pie

Apple Pie

Beverages

Sherry

Easy Supper with Cabbage and Kielbasa

Today, I couldn't figure out what to have.  I have not made a menu
for this week, so I saw an ad for kielbasa and I thought I have a head
of cabbage from the co-op and some carrots. So, I found this recipe:

http://www.food.com/recipe/cabbage-and-kielbasa-422164

We have been so busy with Christmas preparations that I needed something
quick and I think this will do the trick. I think I am going to change the recipe up.
I will brown the onions and sliced cabbage and place the sliced kielbasa over the onions in a 9x12 pan.
I'll slice the carrots thinly and mix them in.  I might add some garlic, not sure. I'm thinking of making mashed potatoes, but if I don't have a lot of time, I might just slice them and add them to the cabbage mixture.
I'll then cover with tin foil and bake for a half an hour and see how it looks.  Maybe ten more minutes
uncovered.

Let you know how it turns out...will take pics.

Thanksgiving 2013

Well everything is quiet here...the kids went to a movie and it's just
my husband and I home.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. My one daughter's family could not make
because they all had the flu :(

I made a very simple stuffing with a couple bags of stuffing, salt, pepper, a couple of eggs, 8 stalks of celery chopped, onion chopped, some milk to moisten bread cubes. I first put a stick of butter into a large frying pan and sautéed the onions and celery for about 10 minutes. I mixed the bread with milk and the eggs and then poured the butter mixture over the bread cubes. I stuffed the turkey and put the other half of the stuffing in a 9x12 pan. I roasted the turkey for about four hours. (19 lb. bird)

I also had succotash, mashed potatoes, candied yams, organic green bean casserole, gravy and cranberry sauce.

Beef Tips Over Rice

Today I made Beef Tips over Rice



I sliced an onion and a green/red pepper
Sauted in oil in a large skillet, sprinkled salt and pepper over the onion mix.
When the onions and peppers were slightly brown, I took
them out and added the pound of beef tips, salted and peppered
them and added a little bit of soy sauce.  Browned the meat...did
not overdo it.  Added 1-1/2 cups of rice to 3 cups of boiling water and
covered and let simmer for 20 minutes.  When the rice was done I added it
to the large skillet and mixed well.

While onion and green pepper were sauteing, I made a green spring salad with tomato.
I sprinkled salt and pepper and  2 capfuls of oil over greens along with a couple of capfuls
of cider vinegar. I chopped a clove of garlic and added to the salad. Tossed well and served
as a first course.

I also had some banana squash in the freezer, put it in the oven and then when I served added
brown sugar and cinammon with a little butter.  Yum!

Yesterday I Switched it Up

Yesterday I switched it up. Instead of using the Womans Day November Menu

We had kale, broccoli and Black bean chili.
I cut up celery, onion, pepper, browned it, browned 1 lb. of grass fed beef, added 1 28 oz. of tomato sauce, salt, pepper and 3-4 tbsp. of chili powder and cooked for 45 minutes. Served over rice.
oops, I forgot while I was preparing the above, I had a banana squash in the oven....I drizzled molasses and sugar on it (I am out of honey) when it came out of the oven.  You can add some butter it you like.

By the way, banana squash should be the number one prep food to grow in your garden....It is huge, although a little difficult to peal and cut up.  I really needed a hack saw :)  My friend gave me some out of her garden and she said she did not give me the larger ones!  She also told me they make great pumpkin pie...most cans of pumpkin are just some kind of squash.  

How to make a pumpkin pie from squash

Made Meatloaf Tonight

Anyway, I made meatloaf tonight. It was a very delicious. My son said it tasted like Swedish meatballs. Probably wouldn't want to have it like this all the time. Here is the recipe: 
http://www.food.com/recipe/yes-virginia-there-is-a-great-meatloaf-54257

To go with the meatloaf, I cut up five potatoes, five carrots and sprinkled with salt and pepper and Braggs Liquid Aminos. I covered with tin foil and stuck in the oven with the meatloaf.

http://www.amazon.com/Liquid-Aminos-16-oz-Ounces/dp/B0006Z7NNG/ref=amomslove09

Told the younguns to shut the oven off when it dinged and went shopping for this coming week's groceries.

This was a very easy meal.

Dinner Menus this Week

This week and next I am using Family Food on a Budget from So You Call Yourself a Homeschooler
I am using the October Plan.
http://www.soyoucallyourselfahomeschooler.com/2013/10/01/october-2013-free-whole-food-monthly-meal-plan/

Today I made Quinoa Veggie Salad....I knew my husband wouldn't eat quinoa so I substituted rice and my kids do not like zuchinni so I just didn't put it in...Instead I used 1 stalk of celery, 1 tomato (I didn't have cherry tomatoes), some red onion chopped, some chopped basil and parsley.  I made the salad dressing and added some black beans.  It was very good.

For breakfasts we have had oatmeal with sliced apples, brown sugar and cinnamon, fried egg and toast and fruit. One day we had yogurt and granola (I used Bob's Red Meal Museli). For lunches we have had leftover pizza, tuna sandwiches and leftover tacos.  

I absolutley love this menu plan.

Dinner Menus

This week and next we are using this blog free October Menu Plan:
http://www.soyoucallyourselfahomeschooler.com/2013/10/01/october-2013-free-whole-food-monthly-meal-plan/
Today we had the Taco Casserole. It was very good.

There are so many blogs with recipes and menus. I like the fact that this one has breakfast and lunch as well as dinner.  Takes the "what-should-I-have-for-breakfast?" out of a rushed morning, or a leisurely one.  So, I'll let you know how this goes.

For more dinner menus check out:
http://www.pinterest.com/caroline_shaw2/dinner-menus/

Easy Dinner: Hamburger and Mushroom Sauce over Rice

Yesterday I went to Penns Corner and picked up my order of ground beef from Clarion River Organics.

So today I was a little under the weather with a cold, so I decided to see what's in the fridge.
I had a bag of baby carrots and a quarter of an onion and a patty pan yellow squash. I chopped the carrots and squash and sliced the onion and sautéed them together. I removed the vegies and put the pound of ground beef and browned that. I put salt and pepper and added a couple tbsp. of flour. Stirred it well and added the vegies back in and a can of cream of mushroom soup*. I simmered the mix for about 30 minutes or less and served over rice. I also added about a tbsp. of Braggs Liquid Aminos.

*Make your own mushroom soup.

Mac 'n Cheese

Today I made Mac 'n Cheese for our Two Week Get to Payday Menu

I boiled 3 cups of macaroni until dente.  In another pot I added 3 tbsp. of butter to
a pot and whisked in 2 heaping tbsp. of flour when the butter had melted. Poured in
2 cups of milk, some salt and pepper and simmered until sauce thickened.  I added
8 oz. of grated Giant Eagle mild or sharp cheddar cheese; let the cheese melt and added
1 can of creamed corn and stirred for a couple more minutes.  Spread the cooked macaroni
into a 9 x 12 greased pan and scraped the cheese sauce over the macaroni and mixed well.
Took the pot back to the stove and added 2 tbsp. of butter and quite a bit of  Italian bread crumbs
(about 4 tbsp.). I sprinkled this over the top of the macaroni and pushed the crumbs into the top
a little.  Baked on 350 degrees for 40 minutes.  Was delicious.

Tortillas and Beans

Today, I took the tortillas we had left, cooked some rice...made the bean soup, and Stuffed the tortillas with a mixture of beans and rice (I strained the beans), covered with sauce and some pace salsa and sprinkled cheese on top and baked in oven for 20minutes. We ate this along with a bowl of bean soup.

Still Working on our Two Week Menu

I am still working on my menu below:https://www.facebook.com/AMomsLove/posts/10151881887942451 I made the tacos....made my own tortillas, but used white flour and not whole wheat, made my own taco seasoning listed below. Served them with grated cheese, pace salsa and sour cream. It was truly delicous. Nothing like homemade tortillas!  I doubled the recipe for the tortillas and tonight we are going to have tortillas with the black beans and cheese and salsa.

Tacos
1 lb. Of ground beef
1 onion
10 tortillas
1 jar of Pace salsa
1 small container of sour cream
1 pkg. Of grated Mexican Cheese
1 packet of taco seasoning
or: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Taco-Seasoning-I/
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
Use 1- 2tbsp.
Saute half the onion, add ground beef and brown, add taco seasoning.
Cook until ground beef is done. Warm tortillas in tin foil in oven for 6 minutes. Assemble tacos with ground beef mixture and add pace, cheese and sour cream on top. You can serve with crockpot beans and a salad.

Make your own tortillas: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/05/26/recipe-whole-wheat-tortillas/
How to Cook Dried Beans
http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2010/12/how-to-cook-dried-beans-in-crockpot.html You can season beans after they are cooked to add to tacos or have with tacos.

How to Make Bean Soup
Beans you have cooked (above)
1 onion chopped
2 stalks celery
2 potatoes cut up
2 carrots cut up
3 cups water, add boullion, or use chicken stock
1 tsp. Salt
¼ tsp. pepper

Saute onion and celery, add beans, potatoes, carrots and water, bullion or stock. Add seasonings, you can add some parsley or cilantro if you like.
Let cook for about an hour and serve with Italian bread.

Flat bread and scrambled eggs

I was out of bread this morn so I looked for recipes online for
flatbread without yeast and this is what I found:
I didn't notice that you had to put oil in pan to make flatbread. It turned out fine.

http://caloriecount.about.com/easiest-flat-bread-recipe-ever-recipe-r1315580

I just scrambled some eggs and served them up with ketchup or salsa. Pretty easy.

Easy Dinner Last Night

Written yesterday: Yay, easy dinner tonight Hamburger Soup:

Hamburger Soup
1 lb. Ground chuck
1 28 oz. Can of tomato sauce
4 cups of water or broth
2 carrots sliced
2 potatoes cut up
1 onion chopped
1 bag of frozen mixed vegies
1 tsp. Salt
¼ tsp. Pepper
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. Soy sauce

Saute onion, set aside and brown ground beef. Add onions, carrots potatoes, bag of mixed vegies, water and the rest of ingredients. Bring to boil, turn down and simmer for half an hour to 45 minutes. Serve over noodles.

We ate more Hamburger Soup than I thought yesterday, so today I extended it .  I added a can of chopped tomatoes and a little more salt, pepper, soy sauce and Worcestershire and made more macaroni to pour the soup over.
It was better today.

Menu for September

Menu: Sept. 17^th - 30th

17^th Tuesday

Oatmeal

Lunch meat

Chili

18^th Wednesday

Oatmeal

Lunch meat

Tuna Casserole

19^th Thursday

Sausage/biscuits

P-nut Butter samwich

Tuna Casserole

20^th Friday

Toast/Jelly

P-nut Butter Sandwich

Hamburger Soup

21^st Saturday

Pancakes

Lunch?

Hamburger Soup

22^nd Sunday

Leftover Pancakes

Tuna Sandwich

Tacos (Make crockpot beans)

23^rd Monday

Oatmeal

Tuna Sandwich

Tacos

24^th Tuesday

French Toast

Lunch?

Mac 'n Cheese

25^th Wednesday

Breakfast Bread

Bean Soup

Mac 'n Cheese

26^th Thursday

Biscuits/Sausage

Spaghetti

27^th Friday

Sausage gravy/Biscuits

Pizza

28^th Saturday

Leftover Pizza

Spaghetti

Snacks

Quick Breads

Cookies

Popcorn

Pepperoni

Ramen

Recipes: Campbell's® Tuna Noodle Casserole

Rated: Submitted By: Campbell's Kitchen Photo By: Allrecipes Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 35 Minutes Ready In: 45 Minutes Servings: 8

"Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup flavors a creamy sauce that is mixed with tuna, egg noodles and peas, topped with a crunchy bread crumb topping and baked to perfection."

INGREDIENTS:

2 (10.75 ounce) cans Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (regular or 25% Lower Sodium) 1 cup milk 2 cups frozen peas

2 (10 ounce) cans tuna, drained 4 cups hot cooked medium egg noodles 2 tablespoons dry bread crumbs 1 tablespoon butter, melted

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Stir soup, milk, peas, tuna and noodles in 3-quart casserole.
2.	Bake at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes or until hot. Stir.
3.	Mix bread crumbs with butter in bowl and sprinkle over tuna mixture. Bake for 5 minutes more.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2013 Allrecipes.com

Printed from Allrecipes.com 9/18/2013

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Meatballs

2 lbs. ground beef
2 tbsp. oil
1 cup of Italian Bread Crumbs
2 eggs (beaten)
1/2 a large onion finely chopped
1/4 cup of milk
1 tsp. salt (or whatever you like)
fresh ground pepper to taste
1 tsp. Mrs. Dash (original)

Mix bread crumbs, eggs, milk, onion, salt, pepper and Mrs. Dash.
Form into about 40 meatballs. Brown meatballs in oil in skillet about 10 to 12 a time. Drop into sauce.

Sauce
2 28oz. cans of tomato sauce
2 28oz. cans of tomato puree
1 large can of paste
1/2 large sweet onion
1 tbsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried basil
2 garlic cloves pressed

Saute onions in skillet after you brown meatballs, add to large pot where you have added sauce, puree and paste, add meatballs, and spices, garlic. Let simmer for an hour or two. (cook until nice and thick)

....this recipe is doubled so that I can freeze one or give away.

Chili Con Carne

2 lbs. of Ground Chuck
1 red onion (processed or chopped)
2 28oz. cans of tomato sauce
4 cans of kidney beans
2 small cans of hot peppers
2 green peppers cut into chunks
2 to 4 tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. salt
fresh ground pepper to taste

Saute onions and pepper in oil about 10 minutes, remove from pan and add ground beef and brown. Add sauce, chili powder, onion and peppers and beef to large pot. Cook for an hour or two, depending on how thick you like your chili.

....this recipe is doubled to freeze half or give away to friend

Hamburger Soup

1 lb. Ground chuck

1 28 oz. Can of tomato sauce

4 cups of water or broth

2 carrots sliced

2 potatoes cut up

1 onion chopped

1 bag of frozen mixed vegies

1 tsp. Salt

¼ tsp. Pepper

1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 tbsp. Soy sauce

Saute onion, set aside and brown ground beef. Add onions, carrots potatoes, bag of mixed vegies, water and the rest of ingredients. Bring to boil, turn down and simmer for half an hour to 45 minutes. Serve over noodles.

Tacos

1 lb. Of ground beef

1 onion

10 tortillas

1 jar of Pace salsa

1 small container of sour cream

1 pkg. Of grated Mexican Cheese

1 packet of taco seasoning

or: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Taco-Seasoning-I/

1 tablespoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

Use 1- 2tbsp.

Saute half the onion, add ground beef and brown, add taco seasoning.

Cook until ground beef is done. Warm tortillas in tin foil in oven for 6 minutes. Assemble tacos with ground beef mixture and add pace, cheese and sour cream on top. You can serve with crockpot beans and a salad.

Make your own tortillas: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/05/26/recipe-whole-wheat-tortillas/

How to Cook Dried Beans

http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2010/12/how-to-cook-dried-beans-in-crockpot.html You can season beans after they are cooked to add to tacos or have with tacos.

How to Make Bean Soup

Beans you have cooked (above)

1 onion chopped

2 stalks celery

2 potatoes cut up

2 carrots cut up

3 cups water, add boullion, or use chicken stock

1 tsp. Salt

¼ tsp. pepper

Saute onion and celery, add beans, potatoes, carrots and water, bullion or stock. Add seasonings, you can add some parsley or cilantro if you like.

Let cook for about an hour and serve with Italian bread.

Pizza Recipe
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/04/01/recipe_homemade_whole_wheat_pizza/

Lemon Thyme Quick Bread

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons lemon rind, divided
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon granulated Sugar

• How to Make It

  Step 1

  Beat softened butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add 1 cup granulated sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
  Step 2

  Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beating at low speed just until blended, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in 1 tablespoon lemon rind. Spoon batter into greased and floured 8- x 4-inch loafpan.
  Step 3

  Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center of bread comes out clean. Let cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and cool completely on a wire rack.
  Step 4

  Stir together powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth; spoon evenly over top of bread, letting excess drip down sides. Stir together remaining 1 tablespoon lemon rind and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar; sprinkle on top of bread.

  Step 5

  Lemon-Almond Tea Bread: Stir 1/2 teaspoon almond extract into batter. Proceed as directed.

RECIPE:
*adapted source recipe, Cinnamon Applesauce Bread, McCormick

WHAT YOU NEED

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup chunky applesauce
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

MAKE IT

PREHEAT oven to 350F
SPRAY a large loaf pan with baking spray (preferably the kind with added flour)
IN LARGE BOWL, whisk together first 4 ingredients
IN MEDIUM BOWL, whisk together remaining ingredients
FOLD WET INGREDIENTS into dry ingredients blending just until combined
POUR into loaf pan and smooth top
FEEL FREE to sprinkle with some turbinado sugar now if you like
BAKE 55-60 MINUTES or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean
(For mini loaves, I baked eight at a time for about 30 minutes, and it was perfect!)
-If I make this again, I would add sugar to the batter, perhaps ½ cup.

After-School Cookies

• 3/4 c butter or margarine
• 1 1/4 c brown sugar
• 1 T ground flax + 2 T water
• 2 c whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 1/2 t baking soda
• 1/2 t ground ginger
• 1/2 t cinnamon
• 1/2 t kosher salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix the flax and water in a small bowl and set aside.

In a mixer with a paddle attachment (or with really strong arms and a spoon), mix the butter (or margarine) and sugar until smooth. Add the flax/water and mix again. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the remaining ingredients. Mix until smooth.

Drop large teaspoons of dough onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake until the edges are brown – 8-10 minutes.

Ingredients

1. 1 stick Challenge Butter
2. 2 cups Sugar
3. 3 tablespoons Cocoa
4. 2/3 cup milk
5. 3/4 cup *Toasted pecans
6. 3/4 cup *Toasted coconut
7. 3 cups Oatmeal
8. 1 teaspoon vanilla

Recipe Directions

In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, bring butter, sugar, milk & cocoa to a simmering boil

Continue to cook 1 1/2 minutes

Quickly stir in remaining ingredients

Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed or parchment paper

*Toasting isn't completely necessary but it sure does make a difference. Place pecans and coconut on parchment paper lined cookie sheet. bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until coconut is golden brown.

That's it!!!! Quick and Easy!

- See more at: http://heritage.challengedairy.com/recipes/dessert/chocolate-oatmeal-after-school-cookies?print#sthash.OkLay687.dpuf