Kitchen Tip Tuesday: CROUTONS!

Don't you just love croutons?  I mean really, what's a garden salad without those little crunchy squares of flavored bread?  Luckily for me I almost always have a stash.  After all, there's always a couple of slices of left over bread or rolls to be dealt with.  With these little bits of bread, my freezer stays stocked with bread crumbs and croutons!

Here's last night's leftover sliced and buttered bread.  It sure was good!  Now, it just sits and waits to be forgotten and thrown away.  But not in this house!  I'll give it a second life as crunchy croutons.

This is so simple!  Just cut the bread into small 1/2" squares.  Spray the bread cubes liberally with non-stick spray and sprinkle with your favorite seasonings.  I used garlic salt and italian seasoning.  Mix the bread cubes with your hands to distribute the spices.  Spray some more and sprinkle some more, if you need to. 

Spread the bread cubes evenly on a cookie sheet, broiler pan, or any other flat pan that can go into the oven.  Set the oven temp at 250 degrees F.  Bake for about half an hour to 45 minutes.  Basically bake until the bread cubes looks like croutons!

Cool your croutons before storing them in a tightly sealed container.  I store mine in the freezer, just to be safe.  Can't wait to add them to my salads this week!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Menu Maker Mom ~

Makin' Yummies... Stuffin' Tummies

Menu Plan Monday:: Sun, June 27 - Sat, July 3

Welcome to Menu Plan Monday at Menu Maker Mom!  For those of you who are new, Menu Plan Monday is hosted by OrgJunkie.  Stop by and visit!

It'll be an easy week for the cook (that's ME!  Menu Maker Mom!) around here.  Taking the girlies to Camp Nana and Grandpa for a few days of fun and games, which will give MMM time to paint the hallway.  I love having a summer painting project, big or small.  It makes the house smell fresh and somewhat new for a couple of weeks.  When I head back to work in the fall, I will look back at my painted hall and feel like I really accomplished something.  It's proof that I was productive!

I'll be cooking just for my man this week, until the girls come home.  I say that I'll be cooking "for" him for two reasons:  First, truth be known, when the kids are gone I wouldn't cook at all if hubs didn't need to be fed.  I could survive on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and bowls of cereal easily!  Second, I LIKE doing this for him.  He appreciates it, and it makes me feel good to make him happy.  I hope he feels the same happiness knowing that I appreciate it when he mows the lawn or washes the dishes!

To those of you who aren't married, or maybe are newly married, it might seem rather silly to find so much joy in mundane tasks like cooking a meal or washing a dish.  It took my husband quite a few years to begin to understand that the way to a woman's heart is not by buying her expensive jewelry, even though a nice bauble here and there is VERY appreciated.  Truly, the way to her heart is through the dish water! 

Yes, it's those mundane tasks like cooking, mowing, washing dishes, and folding clothes that when done for each other can lead to warm, fuzzy, loving feelings... sometimes even HOT feelings!!  If so many couples would understand this concept, think of all the marriages would be saved.  :)

Sorry for being so sappy.  Hmmm....  Sappy rhymes with happy. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, here's what I'm servin' up this week:

Sunday - Homemade pizza made on crescent dough, Garden salad

Monday - Bean and Cheese Nachos with fresh, homemade salsa

Tuesday - Chef Salads with fresh rolls

Wednesday - Grilled Hamburger Patties, Country Green Beans and fresh New Potatoes

Thursday - Oven-Fried Chicken Tenders, sliced fresh tomatoes, macaroni-'n-cheese

Friday - Spaghetti and meatballs, salad, garlic bread

Saturday - Beef Tacos, Layered Bean Dip, fruit salad

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Coming next week:  My Camping Menu (includes breakfasts)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Menu Maker Mom~
Makin' Yummies... Stuffin' Tummies

9 Ways to Stay Cancer Free - from the Environmental Working Group

~Quoted from the EWG website~

"According to a new report from the President's Cancer Panel, environmental toxins play a significant and under-recognized role in cancer, causing "grievous harm" to untold numbers of people. EWG's own research has found that children are born "pre-polluted" with nearly 300 industrial chemicals, pesticides and contaminants that have been found to cause cancer in lab studies or in people."

"Four of every 10 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes, and two of every 10 will die from it. Beyond talking to your doctor about lifestyle changes that are known to make a difference -- stopping smoking, reducing drinking, losing weight, exercising and eating right -- there are things you can do to reduce your risk."

"Here are some simple ways you can reduce your exposure to potentially cancer-causing chemicals:"

"1. Filter your tap water. Common carcinogens in tap water include arsenic, chromium, and chemical byproducts that form when water is disinfected. A simple carbon tap-mounted filter or pitcher can help reduce the levels of some of these contaminants. If your water is polluted with arsenic or chromium, a reverse osmosis filter will help. Learn about your tap water and home water filters at EWG's National Tap Water Database."

















"2. Seal outdoor wooden decks and play sets. Those built before 2005 are likely coated with an arsenic pesticide that can stick to hands and clothing. Learn more from EWG."

"3. Cut down on stain- and grease-proofing chemicals. "Fluorochemicals" related to Teflon and Scotchgard are used in stain repellants on carpets and couches and in greaseproof coatings for packaged and fast foods. To avoid them, avoid greasy packaged foods and say no to optional stain treatments in the home."

"4. Stay safe in the sun. More than one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year. To protect your skin from the sun's cancer-causing ultraviolet (UV) radiation, seek shade, wear protective clothing and use a safe and effective sunscreen from EWG's sunscreen database."

















"5. Cut down on fatty meat and high-fat dairy products. Long-lasting cancer-causing pollutants like dioxins and PCBs accumulate in the food chain and concentrate in animal fat."  (Addition from MMM:  buy organic, grass fed beef and organic, free range chicken when possible.)

"6. Eat EWG's Clean 15. Many pesticides have been linked to cancer. Eating from EWG's Clean 15 list of the least contaminated fruits and vegetables will help cut your pesticide exposures. (And for EWG's Dirty Dozen, buy organic.) Learn more at EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides."

"7. Cut your exposures to BPA. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic estrogen found in some hard plastic water bottles, canned infant formula, and canned foods. Some of these chemicals cause cancer in lab studies. To avoid them, eat fewer canned foods, breast feed your baby or use powdered formula, and choose water bottles free of BPA. Get EWG's tips to avoid it."  (Addition by MMM:  Remove plastic from your kitchen.  I use good old-fashioned glass and pyrex containers.)

















"8. Avoid carcinogens in cosmetics. Use EWG's Skin Deep cosmetic database to find products free of chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer. When you're shopping, don't buy products that list ingredients with "PEG" or "-eth" in their name."

















"9. Read the warnings. Some products list warnings of cancer risks -- read the label before you buy. Californians will see a "Proposition 65" warning label on products that contain chemicals the state has identified as cancer-causing."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stay Healthy!

Menu Maker Mom ~
Makin' Yummies... Stuffin' Tummies

BEES!!!!

Take a look at that!!!  Do you know what it is?  BEES!!!!  Millions of them!!  And guess where they were?  On a branch of a tree in my front yard, right next to my driveway... where I had just parked my car!!!  Yes ~ They were right next to my car which held 3 noisy teenage girls, who poured out the doors, laughing, yelling, slamming those doors, and running.  YIKES!!!

The bees formed a dripping ball around the branch.  I'm assuming they were surrounding their queen.  They were calm and didn't to fly about much.  I prayed that if they decided to swarm about that they were not the aggressive type.  My mother-in-law had some bees chase her a couple of years ago.  She was mowing the lawn with the riding lawn mower, and the vibration must have aggravated some nearby bees.  As they began to swarm her, she hopped off the mower and ran toward the house.  All the while, the bees continued to chase her and swarm around her head.

She ran through the house toward the bathroom, still being chased.  A few bees still swarmed around her head as she ran.  After she dropped to the carpet and began to roll, the last remaining bees flew off.  My mother-in-law stood up shaken and stung.

As I looked at our buzzing, branch hugging bees, the thought of them possibly deciding to chase me gave me the chills, so I quickly went back into my house after snapping this photo!

After about an hour, I went back outside to take another look at our buzzing bees.  They were gone.  I guess our tree was just a rest stop for them as they travelled to their final destination.  Wherever they ended up, I hope the honey was good!

In honor of our flying guests, I offer my favorite bread recipe.  I make my bread in a automatic bread maker, and it makes my whole house smell so yummy.  Once done, it doesn't last long around here, as my hubby and daughters quicly slice the warm, yeasty bread and slather it with real butter and local, organic honey.  YUMMM!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HONEY WHEAT BREAD

1 pkg. yeast

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

2-1/2 cups bread flour

1 tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. honey

2 Tbsp. butter

1 egg (room temperature)

1 cup plus 1 Tbsp. warm water

Put dry ingredients into automatic bread maker.  Mix wet ingredients in a small bowl.  Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet mix.  Bake the bread on the Whole Wheat setting of your bread maker.

Serve with butter and honey!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you enjoy making this bread, you might consider getting several Zip-Lock baggies and filling each with the measured out dry ingredients.   You can be making bread every few days, if you like, and your family will once again give you the MAMA!!!  (Don't forget ~ that means Most Awesome Mother Award!!!)

There are lots of bread makers on the market, and you can spend a little or a lot.  Here are a couple of examples:

SO YUMMY!!!! 

And Soooo  M-M-M Good!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Menu Maker Mom

Makin' Yummies...  Stuffin' Tummies

Father's Day Shrimp Boil

Hello, my old friends! It's me, Menu Maker Mom!!

I'm sorry it's been so long since I've shared. As an apology, I offer you my recipe for our shrimp boil!

This is such a fun party, and everyone has a great time. You can never go wrong when you offer shrimp and cold beer to your family and friends! Oh, and don't forget the mimosas... That's what we had, and they were so very refreshing!

This is a fun activity for a summer evening, and really pretty easy to do.  The aroma is very strong, so I recommend that you do this outside in a turkey fryer, and not in your kitchen with a large stockpot.  The most important part of the process is the timing.  Follow the timing that I list and it will all be cooked to perfection!

SUPPLIES:
Gallon-size zip lock bags
Kitchen Timer
Boiling Basket
Turkey Fryer
















INGREDIENTS (I put the meat and veggies into large Zip-Lock bags, so they are ready to be emptied at the right time) :

2 Crab 'n Shrimp Boil bags by Zatarain
1 bottle Crab 'n Shrimp Boil oil by Zatarain
1 cup salt
3 large onions, peeled and cut in half
2 bulbs garlic, top cut off (don't separate the cloves, leave whole)
2 lemons, cut in quarters
10 ears corn, shucked and cut in half (can use frozen halves)
3 pounds link sausage (down here we like Polock's Wedding Sausage!)
4 pounds raw shrimp, large size without heads
3 pound bag small red potatoes

FOR SERVING:
Cocktail sauce
Lemons, cut into wedges

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Set up the turkey fryer with the boiling basket. Fill with water and set it on the fire. Bring water to a boil.
2. Once water boils, add the 2 bags of Crab 'n Shrimp Boil, the bottle of Crab 'n Shrimp Boil oil, the salt, and the garlic. BOIL 15 MINUTES.
3. Add the potatoes. BOIL 7 MINUTES.
4. Add the corn. BOIL 5 MINUTES.
5. Add the sausage. BOIL 5 MINUTES.
6. Add the lemons and onions. BOIL 3 MINUTES.
7. Add the shrimp. BOIL 3 MINUTES.
8. Strain out the water and empty all the goodies in one of the following two ways:
     (a) If you are serving from a buffet-type table, pour the shrimp and goodies into the aluminum turkey pan. You can see from our photo that we served this way, as we had other salads and sides that required a plate and fork.
     (b) If you are serving the traditional way, cover a table with several layers of newspaper. Pour the shrimp and goodies down the table. Everyone eats with their hands! When done, wad up the paper and all the mess and toss into the garbage can! Easy!

Be sure to have cocktail sauce and fresh lemon wedges on the table.  A little Tobasco sauce is good too!

Hope you have a chance to try this out. It is so much fun and gets everyone involved in some way. Be sure to have lots of ice cold beer on hand and take plenty of photos.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Menu Maker Mom ~
Makin' Yummies... Stuffin' Tummies

Happy New Year!

Wow! 2010!!! Seems like life just seemed to zip by this year. The faster it goes by, the more I realize that I need to 'stop and smell the roses', as the old saying goes. Last year was so full of family fun, and I just love thinking about all the events that we shared. Since I haven't posted since October, I thought I'd show you what was going on in our household!

During September and October we attended a slew of volleyball games. Being that we live in a rural area, going to a game in another school's gym means traveling, which means we had a few late nights out during the work/school week. No matter... I just love watching my girls play!

Another happening this Fall was my birthday. I turned 45. OMG! That sounds soooo old! Here's the boots my wonderful hubby bought me. I LOVE them! The last time I had a new pair of boots was for my 16th birthday. YES, 16!! I think I was due for a new pair!

Halloween was so much fun. We carved pumpkins and went trick-or-treating. This year was interesting, as it was the first year that I didn't make the girls their costumes. They got together with a friend and designed their own costumes and put it all together themselves. They were "catnappers". No, they didn't fall asleep. They were some type of burglar that takes cats. Don't ask.

In December, the twins showed their animals in both our local Chapter Show for our FFA, and at a prospect show. "B" (pictured on left) won her first showmanship buckle and was so proud of herself! They both have done a fab job raising, caring for, and training their animals.

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas volleyball came to an end and basketball started, the girls participated in their school band concert, club volleyball startted for Baby B, there were tryouts for Winterguard for Baby A and then practices stared, there were family events to participate in, and finally thyroid surgery for me... More on that later.

Through it all I managed to stay pretty well organized, and I had all my shopping and planning done by December 13th. My surgery was on the 17th, and recovery was very quick. We ended up sharing a very relaxing holiday, and we all spent two full weeks at home together. It was a wonderful Christmas!

We ended the year on a high note by adding a new member to our family. We're so excited to introduce our new little girl, Trixie!

As the new year begins, I'm thinking about the changes and growth I hope to experience this year. Do you make resolutions? I usually make a resolution or two, and while I don't think I've ever succeeded 100%, having a plan sends me on the path of positive change. Change is good.

Here's what I'm planning this year:

1. Go to bed earlier. It's amazing how much better I feel when I get 7 hours sleep versus 6!

2. Scrapbook all our photos this year.

3. Have friends over for game night at least once every 2 months.

4. Pay off at least 3 debts.

5. Complete the Jillian Michael's 30-Day Shred (do all 30 days!) and the Slim in 6 program. I have both sets of DVDs, so there's no reason not to exercise!!

6. BLOG REGULARLY!! I have so many more menu plans to share!

It's going to be an awesome year with so much to look forward to!

Menu Maker Mom ~

Makin' Yummies. Stuffin' Tummies.

"USDA Certified Organic" - What it means...

A few words about what "USDA Certified Organic" really means and you can expect when you see this seal on products (from Delicious Living):

1.) Prohibits the use of GMOs, most conventional pesticides and herbicides, sewage sludge, antibiotics, growth hormones, and irradiation.

2.) Organic producers record procedures and maintain cropland free of prohibited substances for three years before earning the seal, which varies in price based on the certifier.

3.) The seal is permitted on commodities that are 100 percent organic or made with at least 95 percent organic ingredients. The USDA’s National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances identifies synthetic substances that may be used and nonsynthetic substances that cannot be used in organic production and handling operations.

4.) For meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs to be USDA Certified Organic, animals must have been fed 100 percent organic feed; never given growth hormones or antibiotics; and not have been routinely confined. Cloned animals or their offspring also cannot qualify for the seal.

5.) You'll see the seal on : Produce, dairy, eggs, beef, poultry, body care products comprised of plant ingredients, wine, and processed or packaged foods.

For more information, click here.

***********************

Menu Maker Mom ~

Makin' Yummies. Stuffin' Tummies.

DAY 2 - Update on our change to organic

Hi Friends!

Thanks so much for joining me on this new food adventure ~ eating whole, organic foods as much as possible. I added "as much as possible" because I discovered yesterday that finding products that fit that category can be a challenge! We live in a small town, in a rural area. I shop at HEB and Wal Mart. I hit Wally World yesterday and was surprised to find that the organic items were few and far between.

Here's how things are going so far:
1.) During my trip to Wal Mart, I was able to purchase organic milk, crackers, and yogurt.
2.) I ordered a meat grinder attachment for my Kitchen Aid mixer. We'll be grinding our own beef from here on out.
3.) I signed up with Mambo Sprouts for some great coupons. Also found a couple of blogs, that I've listed below. Also went to Delicious Living for some more coupons!
4.) The kids returned to carrying their own lunches to school starting today. They are grossed out by cafeteria food as much as I am.
5.) Thanks to a local reader, Misty, I checked out www.localharvest.org to investigate sources of locally grown, organic veggies and meats. I'll continue that investigation and share what I learn as time goes on.

I'll go to HEB this weekend looking for organic foods, where I anticipate having a much easier time finding what I'm looking for. The last trip I'll make is to Whole Foods. Whole Foods has fabulous foods and personal items, but they are a full hour's drive from my home.

I love the comments that you've made! Thanks for reading! Here's what Karin said, followed by my reply:

Karin:
"I really like your blog, and I am doing the same for my family. I am anxious to hear what you do. My only concern is that buying organic, etc. is so much more expensive, and I am an extensive coupon-user."

Menu Maker Mom:
While my first hurdle is to FIND the food items in the desired category, the next hurdle is to find COUPONS!!! After all, the organic Stonyfield Farms yogurt I bought yesterday was over $3.00 for a 4-pack at Wal Mart, compared to the ultra low price of Yoplait, when combined with a coupon.

I'll be visiting the following blogs to find the latest and greatest sales and coupon matches for Whole Foods and then decide if it's worth the drive.

MyDallasMommy.com
TheThriftyMama.com
MyBatonRougeMommy.com

We will definitely have some major adjustments to make!!!
*******************

Menu Maker Mom ~
Makin' Yummies. Stuffin' Tummies.

No, Minnie Mouse Doesn't Live Here

But two tweenagers do! And they love to paint their nails just like Minnie Mouse!

I just love having girls. I'm sure if I had boys I'd say that I love having boys. But, I don't have boys. I have girls. It's cool.

Here's a few things I love about my girls:

My Girls are really silly. Almost always. I like that.

My Girls like to shop. Sometimes. I like that.

My Girls like to cook. Sometimes. I like that too.

My Girls like to talk. Sometimes. I like that.

My Girls like to have their nails done. Sometimes. I like that... sometimes.

My Girls share their emotional side. ALWAYS... I SOMETIMES like that!!!

Yes, having girls is a good thing.

Menu Plan Monday

What a busy weekend! Sleepovers, Junior High Dance, Saturday shopping trip, hubby and I went to a dinner/dance, then took the kids for a fun-filled day at Sea World. Glad I’m at work so I can get some rest!

I’ll be cooking a couple of meals from my new favorite cookbook, Southern Living’s “Busy Moms Weeknight Favorites”. I just love all the delicious recipes from this picture-filled cookbook. Everything is super-easy and very quick, while being extremely flavorful and kid-friendly. If you’d like a copy, I’ve got a link to the left.

Our week will start off super-busy, but then will ease up after Wednesday. The girls have volleyball games tonight, then I’m going to see the musical, Rain, on Tuesday (YIPEE!!!), and to wrap it up the girls have the usual showmanship practice followed by CCD on Wednesday. Looks like we have no scheduled activities for the rest of the week! WOW!!!!

I hope you’ve been sticking with me long enough to learn how important your menu planning is. On busy days, if I didn’t have a menu and ingredients, I just wouldn’t be able to get anything on the table and we'd be eating at Dairy Queen!

Here’s the lineup for the week:

Monday – Porky Stew and biscuits, baked apple dumplings

Tuesday – Crocked Polish sausage, white rice, steamed green beans, cookies

Wednesday – Chicken Burritos (from Southern Living’s Busy Moms Weeknight Favorites cookbook), Spanish Rice, Black beans and pinto beans (from cans), ice cream

Thursday – Chicken & Rice Bake, steamed carrots, sliced tomatoes

Friday – BBQ Muffins (from Southern Living), garden salad, corn on the cob, quick apple pie

Saturday – Chicken Paninis (from Southern Living), potato soup, Root Beer floats

Sunday – Pork Loin Chops with Cinnamon Apples, buttered & parsleyed noodles, steamed peas & carrots, warm brownies with ice cream.

*********************

Menu Maker Mom ~
Makin' Yummies. Stuffin' Tummies.

Apples, Apples, Apples! It's an Apple Party!!

Apples sometimes get a bad rap. Didn't the serpent give one to Eve, who gave one to Adam? While we don't know that it was actually an apple, as a child I remember that pictures always showed Eve standing at an apple tree. So unfair. Poor apple tree.

Let's take poor little Snow White, for instance. Wasn't she tricked by that mean 'ole witch, who used an apple as her weapon?

Even the English language has attacked the humble apple. When women have a figure that is somewhat round, aren't they said to have an "apple" shape?

Yes, apples have taken a bad rap. Apples... who have magical qualities. Yes, "magical"! I mean, what other food, when eaten once a day, can keep the doctor away??? What other food is said to represent the American lifestyle: "Baseball, hotdogs, and apple pie".

Fall around much of the country means it's apple-pickin' time! Even here in South Texas, the apples are ready to be picked. My favorite place to visit during the fall is Love Creek Orchards up in Medina, Texas. During the month of October they host a fun Pumpkin Patch and Harvest Celebration that includes a pumpkin patch for the kids, storytellers and other entertainment, pumpkin painting, a petting zoo, hayrides, a hay maze, scarecrow building, TONS of CUTE photo opps for you and your little ones, and of course lots of yummy apple goodies! My favorites are the apple pie (of course) and the apple ice cream. MMM-Good!

If you'd like to check out Love Creek Orchards, click here for more info.

Yes, it's Apple Season! But besides for the daily healthy munch, what else can we do with all those apples? Well here's a list of ideas:

Apple Chip Cake
Apple Dumplings

Applesauce

Fried apples served with Pork Loin

Apple Enchiladas

Apple Ice Cream

Crockpot Apple Butter

Apple Pie Filling (fill the freezer with this stuff for year-round apple pies!!)

Dried apples for snacking or for MYO (make your own) Instant Oatmeal Packets

Apple Vodka

Fresh apple salads

Apple Chutney

The list could go on and on! In fact, click here for even more recipes, ideas, kids coloring pages, and general information about the good 'ole apple!

Do you have any recipes or ideas to add? Please comment with your links!

Since apples are on sale this week at HEB, I'll be posting a few YUMMY recipes. Think I'll include the freezer Apple Pie Filling recipe (use for pie or Enchiladas), instructions for drying apples (and a recipe for the Instant Oatmeal Packets), Apple Vodka recipe, and Apple Ice Cream recipe.

*********************************

Menu Maker Mom~

Makin' Yummies. Stuffin' Tummies.

SHROOMS!!!

Does anyone out there know what kind of mushrooms these are??? They just sort of popped up over the last couple of days. They are so weird!

These 'shrooms are huge! I wear a size 7 shoe, and look at how big those fungi are!!!

*********************

Menu Maker Mom ~
Makin' Yummies. Stuffin' Tummies.

The MAKE-A-MENU Summary

Hi Friends,

For those of you who have been using my Make-a-Menu system, and for those of you who are new to the Make-a-Menu way of life, I thought I'd offer up a quick summary. Sometimes having just a few abbreviated steps helps to keep it all in order. You can print this out and hang it on your fridge or put it in the front of your Make-a-Menu Notebook.

By the way, I'll be starting a quick series next week on cooking for the holidays. You can either add this to your Make-a-Menu Binder or you can create a separate binder just for holidays. Hang with me and we will make life in the kitchen easier step-by-step!

*********************

How to Make-a-Menu:

1.) Print out a blank calendar.
2.) Make a list of what everyone in the family likes. Don't guess. Ask them.
3.) Using your calendar, assign a theme to each day of the week. (Mon is soup, Wed is Mexican, etc.)
4.) Using your list of favorites, start filling in your calendar, taking your busy schedule into consideration.
5.) On shopping day, check to see that you have all the ingredients necessary. If not, add them to your shopping list.

*********************

If you'd like to learn more details about the Make-a-Menu Calendar or the Make-a-Menu Notebook, click here. I'll teach you to start saving time in the kitchen and how to save mucho dinero by shopping the loss leaders.

Menu Maker Mom ~
Makin' Yummies. Stuffin' Tummies.

Menu Plan Monday

Okay, Okay.... Please forgive me... I'm sorry... I never posted those blasted chicken recipes! My day job really gets in the way of my recipe posting! I just wish I'd win the lottery... Okay... I know... You have to actually play the lottery if you expect to win!!!

Well, I promise to get you some new recipes this week. Really!

In the meantime, here's what we'll be eating around here this week:

Monday - Volleyball Game Day - Venison Chili (Thanks, Deanna, for the venison!!)
Tuesday - Spaghetti and meatballs, garden salad, garlic bread
Wednesday - Enchilada Casserole, green beans, tortillas
Thursday - Chix 'N Dumplin's!
Friday - Stuffed Taters and Salad, lemonade!
Saturday - Mom & Dad are going out!

*********************

Here's a recipe I think you'll enjoy:

Enchilada Casserole

Ingredients:
2 lb. ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 (10-3/4 oz.) can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 (10-3/4 oz.) can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 (15-oz.) can Enchilada Sauce
2 cups Cheddar cheese, grated
1 pkg. (12) corn tortillas

1. Brown ground beef and onion.
2. Stir in Enchilada sauce and soups.
3. In a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish, layer the tortillas, sauce, and cheese. Be sure to start with a thin layer of sauce. Ending with cheese.
4. Bake at 325, covered, for 45 minutes; uncover and bake 15 minutes longer. Makes 8-10 servings.

** You can make this in two 9 x 9 pans and freeze one for eating later. Just thaw and bake as directed.

Menu Plan Monday

This week we're going healthy at Menu Maker Mom's house. I've started the Flat Belly Diet, or as I'll call it, the FBD, and I'm looking forward to some tasty and healthy MUFAs. "What in the world is a MUFA," you ask? Well, it's monounsaturated fat, but it's more FUN to call it a MUFA! You say it like this: "moo-fah".

I just love saying it. It's so much fun!!...

"MUFA, MUFA, MUFA"

Mufas are yummy, delicious foods like avacados, olives, nuts and seeds. Oils like olive oil and canola oil are also included. These fats are good for you and make foods taste yummy. Two of the principles of the Flat Belly Diet are that you consume one MUFA with each meal and that you consume four 400-calorie meals per day. Cool. I can do that!

I started the FBD this morning, and I'll re-evaluate it in 32 days, which will be on November 5th. Hopefully by then I will have lost at least 15 pounds and be almost near my goal of 25 pounds of weight loss.

I hope you'll follow me over the next few weeks! Be sure to comment with ENCOURAGEMENT, as I will need it. If you want to join me, let me encourage you too! If you want more information about FBD, you can pick up the diet book or cookbook. (I have a link in the "MMM Favorites" section of my sidebar).

******************************************

Monday: Marinated and Grilled chicken breasts, steamed green beens, oven-roasted red potatoes (MUFA - olive oil)
Tuesday: Pan-seared tilapia, herbed brown rice, sauteed mushrooms, steamed English peas (MUFA - olive oil)
Wednesday: Leftover/freezer buffet! (Busy night)
Thursday: Grilled herbed salmon in foil packets, sauteed yellow squash and onions, herbed brown rice, yellow corn for kids (MUFA - olive oil)
Friday: Chicken Tortilla Soup (MUFA - avacado)
Saturday: Out to dinner with hubby and kids (I'll choose wisely!!)
Sunday: Chix n' Dumplin's, Walking Salad

**********************************

Menu Maker Mom ~
Makin' Yummies. Stuffin' Tummies.