To Do List

OK, I need a To Do List.  The number of things I have floating around in my head to get finished in the next week is more than a bit overwhelming.  I also have a number of WANT To Dos that are conflicting with My NEED To Dos.  So, a MUST Do List is in order. 

MUST DO LIST

1.  Stain bookcases for office - I had these unfinished bookcases made and they have been sitting in my garage, taking up valuable real estate, since April.  I even have the stain and brush too.  This must get accomplished....

2.  Get started on my Mom's calendar for Christmas.  This will involve a call to my sister today as well.  The only thing my Mom asks for each year is a scrapbooked calendar of her grandkids.  I ordered most of the pictures this morning, but my sister  has yet to send me her contributions. 

3.  Cut felt ornaments and get supplies ready to travel.  Boo Boo and I are making throwback 70's felt ornaments and she wants to work on them while we are at my parents house for Thanksgiving.

4.  Make reservations to see Santa and dinner at Maggiano's.  This is a family tradition and I am hoping to get this done early this year.

5.  Take down fall decorations and begin the Christmas transformation.  Once the Thanksgiving holiday is over I won't have much time to decorate, so hopefully I can get all but the trees dones this weekend.

6.  Put together cheer coaches gifts for banquet tomorrow.  This should be super quick, just need to make myself sit down and do it.

7.  Finish the last 2 loads of laundry before they start dirtying clothes again....  As you know, this is a never ending cycle, but I feel a sense of accomplishment if there are 4 hours in which there are no dirty clothes anywhere in my house.  It's the little things folks.

8.  Menu for the week with grocery list.  This keeps me sane.  If you don't do this, you really should try it.  Makes the world of difference around here.

9.  Returns to Kohl's and Target - shoes for Boo Boo while we are out - better check Bubba's dress shoes while we are out and get his too, if he needs them.  What am I talking about, he is 11 and has grown 2 inches in the past 3 months, of course he is going to need new shoes. 

10.  Mail Thanksgiving cards.  I know, many will arrive after Thanksgiving, but its the effort that counts right? 

11.  Finish the layouts for the family Halloween album.  I need to do this so I can get the pictures and supplies off my desk to start my mom's calendar.

There is so much more, but this will get me started.... 

Friday Favorites

I have bee home all week with a very sick child, so I have spent a good deal of time cruising the holiday ideas everyone has been posting this week.  Here are a few I plan on trying out.

This Spaghetti Ham Bake from Taste of Home via I'm An Organized Junkie is on the menu for tonight to use up some ham left over from the Delicious Ham and Potato Soup I made last week. 


We made a quick trip to Hobby Lobby earlier in the week to get the supplies to make these Felt Ornaments from Bugs and Fishes.  We have completed 6 already.  Be on the lookout for pictures soon.


We had a bumper sweet potato crop this year and I need some new ways to cook them so my family won't mutiny on me.  I'm pretty sure these Honey Nut Crunch Sweet Potatoes with Cranberries from All Home Cooking. All Year Long. will be a  hit. 


My kids will be making a few of thee Button Wreath Ornaments from Lets Go Fly A Kite for our handmade tree. 

I have already started on this adorable poncho from Lion Brand Yarn for my daughter for Christmas.  Had some great purple varigated homespun yarn in my stash already, just need to pick up some fun fur for the trim.  I might even make one for myself. 

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How To Eat At Home Week 7 - Rice Bowls

Welcome to Week 7 of How to Eat At Home on the Go, a series where I offer my tips, tricks and recipes to eat at home, even when your family is on the go for sports, church, school, work or anything else that may come up.  You can check out the rest of the series here - Week 1, Week 2 , Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, and  Week 6. 

Before school started I completed a HUGE, mega freezer cooking session.  You can read about that adventure here.  One of the items I made were grilled chicken strips.  I marinated boneless, skinless chicken breasts, grilled and sliced them, then froze in meal size portions. 

Here they are in the freezer, waiting to be used in a quick, delicious, homecooked meal.

I usually thaw these and use in salads, wraps or thow them on top of homemade pizza, but I wanted something different last night.  We love the bowls you can get at Moe's and Chipotle, so I decided to make my own.  This was a super quick dinner, completed in 20 minutes - perfect for eating at home on the go.

Rice Bowls
modified from Big Oven

3/4 c long cook rice ( I use jasmine rice)
1 1/2 c water
1 bouillion cube (you can use chicken broth, but mine was frozen and I didn't have time to thaw it)
1 T olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 c diced onion
2 c cooked chicken strips, thawed (mine were marinated in Asian Sesame Dressing before cooking) - cut into bite sized pieces
1/2 c frozen peas, thawed
1/2 jar baby corn, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 t low-sodium soy sauce
2 t water

Cook rice in water with boillion cube according to package directions. (Takes 20 minutes)

Heat olive oil in non-stick skillet.  When hot, cook garlic and onion until tender.  Add chicken and cook until warm through.  Add peas and baby corn cook until hot.  Add soy sauce and water.  Simmer until rice is done. 

Serve rice in a bowl, top with chicken and vegetables.  Serve hot. 

These can also be made with any left over meat you might have in the refrigerator - pork, beef, turkey, or vegetarian by adding a varity of vegetables.    I am going to try them next with the buffalo chicken strips in my freezer - subbing regular corn for the baby corn and buffalo sauce for the soy sauce and thowing some fresh cilantro and cheddar cheese on top before serving. 

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Meal Plan Monday - November 15, 2010

Last week's menu was an abyssmal failure.  Nothing went the way it was supposed to and I did not cook one single yummy meal I had planned.  Hopefully this week will go smoother and I will get to cook at least a few of the meals I plan.


Sunday - Italian Sausage and Potato Roast, Lima Beans, Cheddar Biscuits, Pumpkin Crisp

Monday - Chicken Rice Bowl, Sauted Apples
Tuesday - Broccoli Cheese Soup, Ham Sandwiches, Fruit 

Wednesday - Chicken Pot Pie, Fruit

Thursday - Football Banquet

Friday -

Saturday - Cheerleading Banquet

Friday Favorites

What great things to be seen around the 'net this week.  So many wonderful Christmas projects I don't know how I will get to do them all, but I most certainly am going to try.  

These homemade sugar scrubs from Tidy Mom just look so luxurious and less expensive than buying them at the spa.

I have always wanted to make a ribbon wreath, but was too intimidated by the process.  She's Kinda Crafty has a great tutorial.  I think I'm heading to the craft store today....

I am a fan of everything cranberry and these Cranberry Bars sound delcious.  Thanks to Red Couch Recipes for posting.  These just might show up at the coffee station at work this week.

As my daughter gets older, she is not as enamoured of hair bows as she used to be, but she still needs something to keep her hair out of her face.  These embellished bobby pins from Honey Scrap might just make us both happy! 

This is another project I have in mind for my daughter.  We are in the planning stages of re-decorating her room and this pom pom pillow from 3 Punk Mom will have a prominent place in it. 

That's it for this week.  Let's see if I can accomplish any of these fantastic projects.

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How To Eat At Home Week 6 - Delicious Ham and Potato Soup

Welcome to Week 6 of How to Eat At Home On The Go, a series where I offer my tips, tricks and recipes to eat at home, even when your family is on the go school, sports, work, church or anything else that might come up.  You can check out the rest of the series here - Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, and Week 5. 

This is a cold weather favorite.  In fact it has been on the menu twice in 3 weeks since Hotlanta finally saw temps below 80.  Whenever my kids see it on the menu board, they can't wait.  This is one of those recipes where I should have lots of leftovers, but it never happens.  Originally from allrecipes.com, I have changed it just a bit.  It is a very forgiving recipe and can be put together in 30 minutes or less, plenty of time before or after you participate in your evening activites.  I cook the soup as soon as I get home from work, refrigerate it and just warm it up after football, lacrosse, gymnastics or cheerleading.   This is a very thick soup.  I have been know to stretch it by using more water and milk.  Works great.


Delicious Ham and Potato Soup

3 1/2 c peeled and diced potatoes
1/2 c finely chopped onion
1 c diced cooked ham (I use about 2 cups)
3 1/4 c water
1 chicken bouillon cube
1/2 t salt
1 t freshly ground black pepper
5 T butter
5 T all purpose flour
2  c milk


Combine potatoes, onion, ham and water in a stockpot.  Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 10 - 15 minutes.  Stir in bouillon, salt and pepper.

In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.  Whisk in flour and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute.  Slowly stir in milk as not to allow lumps to form.  Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick, about 4 - 5 minutes. 

Stir milk mixture into the stockpot, and cook soup until heated through.  Serve immediately topped with shredded cheddar cheese and bacon bits. 

Enjoy with a piece of warm crusty bread on a cold night. 

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Meal Plan Monday - November 8th

No new meals last week, but we did have two of our favorites, Sloppy Joes and Ham and Potato Soup.  Once the temperature drops, we have these alot.  My kids just never get tired of them.  I will be posting my version of the Potato Soup recipe tomorrow. 

This week, we are home most nights, so we are going to add a little variety to our menu.

Sunday - Pizza and Wings

Monday - Chinese Dumplings, Egg Rolls and Fruit (all from Costco)

Tuesday - Dirty Rice (a Zatarains's mix I found lurking in the pantry) and Fruit

Wednesday - Italian Sausage and Potato Roast, Lima Beans and Cheddar Biscuits

Thursday -  Grilled Chicken, Saffron Rice and Asparagus

Friday - Ravioli with Roasted Tomato Sauce, Salad and Garlic Bread

Saturday - Going to a 40th Birthday Party