menu plan monday ~ january 23, 2012

Happy birthday to my sisters, Mary and Margaret! I hope you both have a lot of fun celebrating your birthday today!

Our son’s family came over for dinner yesterday. Afterward, the twins helped Pa make cookies. There was a little taste-testing going on, too…

Look what she's doing, Pa!

It’s 45* today, but windy. A good day to stay inside and plan the week. Here’s our menu.

Monday
Fridge Food / We have plenty of leftovers and tomorrow is clean-out-the-fridge day.

Tuesday
Ham and Potato Soup

Wednesday
Tacoritos
Celery / Carrot Sticks
Green Salad

Thursday
Baked Chicken
Steamed Sugar Snap Peas
Corn
Green Salad

Friday
Taco Salad with Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken

Saturday
Fridge Food

Sunday
Baked Chicken Parmesan
Baked Potatoes
Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Corn
Green Salad

You’ll find more menu and recipe ideas at Menu Plan Monday.

~~Rhonda

chicken linguine…with spaghetti

I’ve been trying some new recipes and gave Chicken Linguine a try last night. Everyone gave it a thumbs up, so we’ll be having it again. I did make changes to the recipe, though. You can find the original at the link, and I’ll post what I did below.

chicken "linguine" with broccoli

Spaghetti with Chicken and Broccoli (See? I’ve already changed it from linguine…)

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (I used thighs because that’s what I had on hand.)
water – just enough to cover the chicken in a large soup pot
1 T. dehydrated onion flakes
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. salt
16 oz. spaghetti noodles (I would have used linguine if I’d had it. Next time. Was good with spaghetti, though!)
3 broccoli spears, diced
2 cups chicken broth reserved from cooking the chicken, divided into one cup each
1 T. cornstarch
1 T. lemon juice
ground black pepper to taste
1/4 chopped fresh parsley (Use a tablespoon of dried if you don’t have fresh.)

Place the chicken in a stock or soup pot and add just enough water to cover the chicken.

Add the onion, thyme and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook 25 minutes.

When the chicken is done, remove it from the pan and let it rest for 5 or 10 minutes before dicing.

Bring to a boil the liquid left from cooking the chicken. No need to strain first. When it comes to a boil, add the noodles.

When the noodles are about half done, add the broccoli and cook together until noodles are al dente. Drain off the liquid, reserving two cups. Return the noodles to the pot.

Mix together one cup of stock, the cornstarch and the lemon juice. Whisk to combine well.

Add the diced chicken and the above mixture to the pot and cook on low to medium heat for a few minutes. Add some of the additional reserved liquid, if the noodles look like they need it.

Turn off the heat and stir in the freshly ground pepper and the parsley.

I served the spaghetti with a green salad, corn, steamed asparagus and homemade rolls.

I saved what was left of the reserved liquid and stirred it into the leftovers before putting them in the fridge. Noodles tend to absorb more moisture in storage, so adding a little extra liquid will help keep them loose.

I think this would be delicious made with sugar snap peas instead of broccoli. Or you could use asparagus. If I used asparagus, I would cook it separately and add it at the last with the chicken because it is so tender. Next time I make this recipe, I am going to add some minced garlic to it.

I had some of the leftover spaghetti for lunch today. Delicious. Definitely making this one again.

~~Rhonda

spring, is that you?

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow. ~ a proverb

I know the winter hasn’t seemed that long or harsh this year, but I am so ready for spring. The daffodils are already three inches tall, which is about two inches taller than this time the past few years.

daffodils

And soon, they will look like this…

daffodils

And this…

Daffodil 'Thalia' mixed with Poet's

And this…

daffodils

Not soon enough. ~~Rhonda

menu plan monday ~ january 16, 2012

The three grands stayed over night Saturday. The twins spent a lot of time cutting with Ma’s scrapbooking scissors. They had a ball! It was interesting to watch their totally different approaches to cutting.

scissor time

Always fun to have the grands. Following is the menu for the week. I’m trying a couple of new recipes. I’ve already made the Chicken Taco Chili for tonight, though I made it on the stove instead of in the crock pot. It’s very good. I left out the chilies, the taco seasoning, and the chili powder. And used fresh parsley instead of cilantro, because I do NOT like the taste of cilantro. The soup is very warming and delicious. It would be great with corn bread or with tortilla chips. Celery sticks would be good with it, too.

Monday
Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili

Tuesday
Spicy Shredded Pork in the Crock Pot ~ I follow the pork recipe’s ingredient list, but I don’t blend them. I put the roast in the crock pot and throw everything in on top. I know it’s not the same as roasting it, so it’s different than the meat the original recipe would produce, but it’s still delicious! And easier.

Homemade Buns
Veggies / Ranch Dip

Wednesday
Beef / Bok Choy Stir Fry
Rice

Thursday
Taco Salad

Friday
Chicken Linguine
Green Salad
Steamed Sugar Snap Peas

Saturday
Spaghetti
Homemade Sauce
Green Salad
Peas
Steamed Carrots

Sunday
Rosemary Ranch Chicken
Green Bean Salad I’ll add some edamame to the salad.
Stir Fried Zucchini and Yellow Squash
Cornbread

You’ll find more menu and recipe ideas at Menu Plan Monday.

~~Rhonda

decoupaged ornaments tutorial

In my last post I shared some of the decoupaged ornaments I’ve made over the past few years. This post is a tutorial to explain how they’re made in case you want to try them yourself.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Clear ball ornaments
  • Paper
  • Scissors
  • Mod Podge (or white craft glue, mixed two parts glue to one part water)
  • Paint brush
  • Cup of water for cleaning paint brush
  • Paper towel or paint rag for blotting/wiping paint brush
  • Clear acrylic sealer
  • Ribbon (optional)

    I use old glass ball ornaments, but you could use anything that can have paper glued to it. Craft stores have paper mache ornaments that would work. I just use what I have on hand. And old ornaments have nice toppers which give the ornament a finished look.

    decoupaged ornament

    Because I was making ornaments with family pictures on them, I used Print Shop to compose sheets of pictures to use. Here’s one I made for ornaments made with cookie cutters. Lots of little pictures on one page.

    decoupaged ornaments

    Here’s the ornament I made from that sheet of pictures…not a decoupaged ornament, but the page I used is the same as one I would make for decoupage. Of course, you don’t have to use your own pictures. Any paper can be used, as long as it is thin enough to conform easily to the curve of the ornament. Magazine pictures, newspaper, tissue paper, napkins, printed pages from old books, etc. For inspiration, google < decoupage ornament >, click IMAGE and peruse all the possibilities.

    cookie cutter ornament

    For ornaments that require a lot of little pictures right next to one another, I start in Print Shop with a blank page, divide it into 1″ squares with guides, then import pictures. I crop the pictures to just the portion I want to use. The guides help me place the pictures right next to one another and also help me size them. I like to keep them small, not more than two inches square. Most are one inch square. Once the page is filled (pictures can be duplicated, as it won’t take an entire page to make an ornament), I print the page on regular printer paper. It’s thin enough to mold around the ornament. Heavier paper and photo paper are more difficult to shape and also leave bigger ridges under the paper when overlapped.

    For an ornament that will have a large picture on it, like the ones I made of my parents’ high school pictures, I use print shop again.

    decoupaged ornaments

    I divide the blank page into two inch squares, import the pictures I want to use, crop them to circles, then put them in the two inch grid. They can be right next to one another. They will be cut on the edge, so there is no need for a margin. This way, I can get 20 picture to a page. As you can see in this sample, I duplicated photos, but each one can be different, of course, if you have that many to use.

    decoupaged ornaments

    In the same file, I have the image I used for the neutral background on the ornaments of my parents. I print a full page of it and cut it into pieces the size I need.

    decoupaged ornaments

    To begin, prepare the paper. Scissors can be used to cut the paper or the paper can be torn. For the ornaments with my parents’ pictures, I used deckle scissors to cut the paper/pictures. For this ornament, I used a decorative scallop scissor.

    exchange ornaments

    When the paper is cut into different sizes, snip the bits of paper all around the edge with regular scissors so they more easily form to the shape of the ornament.Here’s a picture of my Mom, snipped all the way around. When snipping pictures like this, try to cut in a way that won’t compromise the picture itself. In this instance it was pretty easy.

    decoupaged ornaments

    Sometimes the picture has parts that shouldn’t be snipped through. Try to cut so those parts are left whole. Like this example of my parents in high school. I cut between their heads and along the lines in the photo across the bottom.

    decoupaged ornaments

    Bits of clipped papers…the oval one has my parents’ names and high school graduation dates printed on the other side.

    decoupaged ornaments

    Remove the topper from the ornament and use small pieces of snipped paper to glue around the top of the ornament. Larger pieces won’t fit very well around the sharper curve of the top of the ornament.

    decoupaged ornaments

    When the topper is replaced, it will cover the top of the paper where it is pulled apart.

    decoupaged ornaments

    When gluing paper to the ornament, I first apply glue to the space to be covered, apply the paper, then glue over the top of it. I use the end of the handle of my paint brush to roll over the glued picture which helps remove air bubbles and flattens the paper. If I’m not reusing the paint brush immediately to apply more glue, I immerse it in the cup of water to keep it wet. Otherwise the glue will dry and the paint brush will be useless. Just blot the water before applying more glue to the ornament.

    decoupaged ornaments

    It’s helpful to work on more than one ornament at a time, because you can go back and forth between them, letting one dry before you continue. Some kind of holder is helpful. I use small paper cups.

    decoupaged ornaments

    decoupaged ornaments

    When gluing down a larger piece, I apply glue from the center out, in four places, like a plus sign. Straight up and down, and across from side to side. Then I finish gluing the remaining bits down. Doing a large piece this way helps the whole piece fit more precisely.

    decoupaged ornaments

    When finished with the decoupage, I topped the ornaments with some tinsel, by hot-gluing it down around the topper. The ornaments can also be finished with ribbons.

    decoupaged ornaments

    When finished, the ornaments can be sprayed with a clear acrylic sealer to prevent tackiness.

    The Graphics Fairy is an excellent source of vintage images and would be a great resource for a decoupage project.

    ~~Rhonda

  • decoupaged ornaments

    I’ve made several different decoupaged ornaments over the past few years. I enjoy crafting them and I keep thinking of new kinds to make. Here are a few samples.

    These are ornaments I made for the Christmas Notebook ornament exchange in 2006. They were decorated with pictures of our home decorated for Christmas and pictures of our family enjoying the holidays. I also used prints of vintage postcards for filler on the ornaments.

    exchange ornaments

    I made family ornaments for the kids in 2008. I used prints of Christmas pictures from when they were younger to cover the ornaments.

    family ornaments

    In 2008, I also made garden ornaments, using pictures of our yard and gardens.

    fountain

    swallowtail

    These ornaments were made this past Christmas (2011) for a small group of women, friends of my sister, who came for an afternoon house tour. The picture was decoupaged to the back, then glitter was glued over the picture and along the edge of the ornament. You look through the ornament to see the picture.

    Christmas ornaments

    I made ornaments for this year’s Christmas Notebook exchange using the same kind of base ornament as above. It’s a flattened glass ornament. For this one, I decoupaged on both sides of the ornament instead of just one, as above. This is the front:

    front of the exchange ornaments

    And this is the back:

    back of the exchange ornaments

    My side of the family has an exchange for our Christmas party, with a limit of $5. I like to make something for that, so I made two decoupaged ornaments using pictures of my parents in high school and pictures of their wedding. These went home with my youngest sister.

    ornaments using my parents' high school pictures

    I’ll post directions in a day or so. ~~Rhonda

    house concert 2011

    During December, we were delighted to host Nathan George, Ross Sermons, and Mark Stoffel for the fifth year as they presented a house concert of wonderful Christmas music.

    house concert

    house concert

    Nathan

    Nathan George

    With 62 guests, some had to find seats on the staircase, which is actually a great vantage point.

    overflow concert guests

    After the concert, guests had time to speak with the musicians, buy CDs and help themselves to appetizers and beverages in the kitchen.

    appetizers for after the concert

    after the concert buffet

    The menu included:

    Vegetable Tray with Beau Monde Dip
    Three Cheese Spread with Crackers
    Cheese Tray
    Antipasto Platter
    Chex Mix
    Spicy Meatballs with Cranberry Sauce
    Red and Green Seedless Grapes
    Appetizer Wreath

    We served Chocolate Cream Truffles, Peanut Butter Truffles and Candy Jumble on the buffet in the dining room.

    desserts

    Nathan, Mark and Ross always present a wonderful (and fun!) evening of worshipful Christmas music. While we host several large gatherings at Christmas, the concert is my favorite. We’re already looking forward to next year’s concert!

    ~~Rhonda

    menu plan monday ~ january 9, 2012

    My side of the family came over for our family Christmas party yesterday. The party had been scheduled for December, but my mother was hospitalized the day before we were to have the party, so we canceled. She passed away a few days later. We missed her at the party, but were glad for the chance to get together again. We did miss one sibling whose husband is having surgery this week, so the circle was minus her family. We are planning a sisters’ weekend for this spring. Hopefully, we’ll all make it for that!

    My sister and her husband handed out the gifts.

    sock monkey game

    presents!

    My brother and his wife enjoyed looking at scrapbooks of clippings, cartoons, etc., that my mother had collected.

    looking at albums

    After dinner, we went through a few boxes of Mom’s things, including many hats. Twin1 loves hats and blue is her favorite color. She’ll enjoy wearing her Great-Ma’s hat.

    watching videos

    Following is the menu for the week. Have you planned your meals? It’s a great time saver to plan ahead. Give it a try!

    Monday
    Fridge Food

    Tuesday
    Tacos

    Wednesday
    Spaghetti
    Green Salad
    Homemade Rolls
    Sugar Snap Peas
    Corn

    Thursday
    Pecan Crusted Salmon
    Crash Hot Potatoes
    Asparagus
    Green Salad

    Friday
    Chicken Cordon Bleu in the Crock Pot
    Steamed Green Beans
    Corn
    Green Salad

    Saturday
    Sloppy Joes
    Veggies / Ranch Dip

    Sunday
    Crock Pot Turkey
    Mashed Potatoes
    Steamed Carrots and Peas
    Green Salad

    You’ll find more menu and recipe ideas at Menu Plan Monday.

    ~~Rhonda

    savoring every cup

    D&J gave me a package of Ballard Blend coffee from the Java Bean Coffee Company for Christmas. It’s the best coffee I’ve ever had. Seriously. It’s organic, fair trade and salubrious, no less. Or so they say. …I had to look that one up…

    This morning I brewed a pot and now I’m down to just enough beans for one more round.

    morning coffee

    It’s been a hectic morning, with the furnace man here to do a seasonal check up, DH in and out, the twins running free, putting together lesson plans and assignments… But now DD is doing schoolwork. DH is outside swinging with the twins. I’m somewhat alone.

    swingin'

    A quiet moment for me and I’m contemplating which direction I want to take this year.

    A delicious cup of coffee makes the process delightful.

    ~~Rhonda

    Update…DD went out to take pictures of the twins with Pa and came back with this one…

    sawin'

    I’m not feeling so quiet and peaceful! I texted DH to ask him to put that away where they can’t get to it when they are done. I can see the girls helping themselves, if they found it within reach! D&S have been heating the farmhouse with wood. Maybe the twins will take their “logs” home for the fire.

    Bye, again… ~~Rhonda

    small group tour

    Each year, we host a large number of people during the holiday season. The annual Christmas Open House is a big draw, as well as the house concert with Nathan George and friends. My family will be here next Sunday for our Christmas party. That’s another large group. We also host small groups from time to time. This year, we will host a house tour and dinner for eight which was an item in the local library’s fund raising auction. The dinner has been postponed due to my mother’s death, but we hope to have it soon.

    This season, we also hosted another special group. Five women from my sister’s church drove about 3 1/2 hours for a tour and an afternoon of Christmas fun.

    my sister and her friends

    After a tour of the house, the trees, and the decorations, we gathered in the dining room for a Christmas craft. I taught the ladies how to make small gift boxes from Christmas cards. It’s an easy craft project and always a fun way to wrap a small present.

    making gift boxes from Christmas cards

    making boxes from Christmas cards

    making boxes from Christmas cards

    A few weeks prior to the party, I made a set of twelve ornaments showing pictures of our holiday decorating. Each guest chose the one she liked. The ornaments were made from flat glass ornaments, so they fit nicely into the crafted boxes.

    Christmas ornaments

    Now that everyone had something to put into her Christmas card box, it was time for dessert.

    Christmas treats

    Besides the truffles, Chex Mix and holiday punch, we served Ginger Cake Trifles.

    ginger cake trifle

    Delicious! I made the same trifle in a bowl for our Christmas Day table. My entire family loved it. We had one left over after the party and DH and DD shared it.

    sharing the last trifle

    Thanks, ladies, for coming all that way to visit our home. Genny and I had a great time and we hope you will come again!

    ~~Rhonda