menu plan monday ~ october 5, 2009

October 5, 2009 – 2:43 pm

We just got back from a five day weekend with family. Got to see two of our daughters and our older son and his family. Here are our three daughters and grand-daughters. The grands are the almost two-year-old twins and their sister in the pink shirt.

aunts, sisters, nieces

Now we’re settling back into a routine again, including the weekly menu.

Monday
eat out

Tuesday
pizza with homemade crust
homemade vanilla ice cream with strawberries

Wednesday
Crock Pot Orange Chicken
rice
romaine salad

Thursday
Cheesy Potato Sausage soup
rosemary crackers

Friday
Cheeseburger Buns
carrot / celery sticks with Ranch dipping sauce
tomatoes / cucumber slices

Saturday
fridge food

Sunday
BBQ ribs
coleslaw with peanuts and Craisins
steamed sugar snap peas
corn
cornbread

You will find more menu ideas at Menu Plan Monday. Check it out for menus, as well as recipes.

~~Rhonda

By ~~Rhonda | Posted in menu | Comments (1)

pizza night

October 4, 2009 – 9:51 pm

We decided to have pizza for supper Friday night. I made the crust from the recipe found here.

Pizza Dough

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast (2 tsps. yeast)
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 cups bread flour [I didn’t have bread flour at hand, so used all purpose flour.]
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons white sugar

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine 2 cups bread flour, olive oil, salt, white sugar and the yeast mixture; stir well to combine. Beat well until a stiff dough has formed. Cover and rise until doubled in volume, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Spray a cookie sheet or round pizza pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle flour around the ball of dough and turn out onto cookie sheet. The dough will be soft and loose. Sprinkle flour on it if it sticks. Form dough into a round and use your fingers to push it into a pizza crust shape.

pizza

pizza

pizza

Cover with your favorite sauce and toppings, sprinkle with basil and oregano if you like, cover with shredded mozzarella cheese, and bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes.

pizza

pizza

The crust was perfect. Crispy on the bottom, soft inside.

pizza

I doubled the recipe for two cookie sheets. The pizza was delicous! We added pepperoni to one and green peppers and pepperoni to part of another one.

pizza

I will make this pizza dough again. Soon. ~~Rhonda

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play day

October 3, 2009 – 1:45 pm

We started the day with a big breakfast at IHOP.

yummy breakfast

And a game or two of peek-a-boo!

peek-a-boo!

Then we were off to the park for some play time.

determined

It’s a beautiful day. Sunny blue skies, a slight breeze, about 60*, though it doesn’t feel cold.

beautiful day for a slide

in the round

It was tons of fun to watch the kidlets running from one play station to the next. Even the big girls joined in the fun.

three at a time!

sliding, two by two

You have to keep a close eye on this little one. She isn’t afraid to try any of these fun playthings.

I know I can do this!

Grandpa can swing two! two! two twins at once! First the right hand, then the left hand, then the right hand…

right handed swing left handed swing

And Grandpa makes a good horsie, too.

grandpa ride

Now nap time, then a trip to the pumpkin patch and the corn maze!

~~Grandma 🙂

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daughters

October 1, 2009 – 7:43 pm

Our youngest daughter is having an overnight with her older sisters. Movies, computer games, junk food, soda…should be lots of fun!

our daughters

And fudge. DH made some for them. Did you notice the lamp? DD found it at the Salvation Army store for $4. 🙂 We also found a nice recliner for their living room.

fudge man

They need a “Have you hugged a Presbyterian today?” apron. 🙂

~~Rhonda

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bridge therapy

September 30, 2009 – 10:53 pm

Taking pictures of the bridge helps me not think about crossing the bridge.

triangles

I guess I was too young when I read a Reader’s Digest article about a bridge falling into a river, taking cars with it…left a negative impression on me that lingers to this day…but this looks like a strong bridge, doesn’t it?? Did I mention I can’t swim?

~~Rhonda

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macro mondays

September 28, 2009 – 11:07 pm

This week’s Macro Mondays theme is “childish.” Here are my submissions.

Glitter glue…sticky, messy fun.

glitter glue

Love to mom. This (and one for dad) hangs on the fridge.

love to mom

A childish urge…don’t you just want to dip your finger in the sweet frosting goodness of it all?

a childish urge

Three posts instead of five to Macro Mondays this week, but I’m tired and am headed for bed, so three it is. Night, all! ~~Rhonda

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menu plan monday ~ september 28, 2009

September 28, 2009 – 8:13 am

Last week seemed to fly by.

DD had riding lessons.

ready for a trail ride

We drove north to visit my mother who was hospitalized following surgery. On the way, we passed the first corn harvesting I’ve seen this fall.

corn harvest

And Saturday was apple butter day. The last two kettles were canned at the same time in an effort to beat the rain.

two apple butter lines

I didn’t follow last week’s menu too closely as our fridge was not working. It’s still out of commission, so we are keeping this week’s menu easy, too.

Monday
eat out

Tuesday
tortellini w/ white sauce and ham
Greek salad

Wednesday
chicken salad sandwiches
mozzarella sticks

Thursday
BBQ chicken / buns
veggies / chips / dip

Friday
eat out

Saturday
pizza

Sunday
roast beef sandwiches
spinach salad with strawberries
corn

You can find more menu ideas and recipes at Menu Plan Monday. Laura has a giveaway this week. Check it out. To participate, read about it here and leave a comment on her post. You don’t have to submit a menu for this giveaway. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make one! Do you have your menu for the week??

~~Rhonda

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apple butter day!

September 26, 2009 – 7:58 pm

Each year, our church makes apple butter as a missions fund project. This year, we made four kettles. I’m not sure what the final count was, but somewhere around 250 quarts and 120 pints.

apple butter day

Laurie checks to see if it’s ready.

checking...is it ready?

Shawn had some studying to do.

has to study

The kids climbed the old stump.

siblings

More checking…

two of four kettles

More stirring…

stirring the apple butter

And everyone wanted to hold the baby. Unfairly, I had just one turn. ::pout::

did everybody get to hold the baby?

More stirring, more checking…

scraping down the kettle

Everyone pitches in.

DH takes his turn

Then it was time to set up the apple butter line.

setting up the apple butter line

Once the jars are poured, they have to be processed quickly.

apple butter line

filling the jars

Kettle full of yum!

kettle of apple butter

The weather was beautiful all morning, through lunch, and into the afternoon. Until we were about ten minutes from being done! We thank God for holding off the rain while we finished.

hurry! it's gonna rain!

solitary seat

Then it was a mad dash for the gym!

caught in the rain

caught in the rain

Apple butter day is always a lot of fun for our church family. We have a great time together…working, playing, eating, talking. I’m already looking forward to next year!

~~Rhonda

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menu plan monday ~ september 21, 2009

September 21, 2009 – 4:22 pm

It’s Monday again, and time for Menu Plan Monday. I’m trying to keep it simple this week. We’ve had some trouble with the fridge, so I’m not planning on items I can’t keep in the freezer or the cooler. Hopefully the repairman (who is here now) will have it fixed today.

Last Monday night, there was a beautiful sunset. I cropped the picture, but there was no other post camera processing. The colors are true. So pretty!

sunset

Monday
eat out

Tuesday
Chicken Caesar wraps
We use whole wheat tortillas instead of pita pockets.

Wednesday
grilled shrimp and scallops
grilled veggie packets

Thursday
hamburgers / homemade buns
chips / veggies / dip

Friday
salmon
steamed red potatoes
stir fried snow peas
corn

Saturday
fridge food

Sunday
spaghetti
garlic bread
peas / corn on the cob
Mexican chopped salad

Check out more menus and recipes at Menu Plan Monday.

~~Rhonda

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97 days

September 19, 2009 – 10:13 am

Did you know there are only 97 days left until Christmas??? 🙂

white Christmas

I took the above picture for 7 Days of Shooting, a flickr site I take part in. There is a weekly theme with daily assignments. The theme this week is “white” and the picture is for “Fill the Frame Friday.”

Thanks, Genny, for the ornaments! 🙂 ~~Rhonda

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