What's for Dinner, Mom?

For more great menu ideas,
be sure to visit Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Last week's meal plan went reasonably well, though we did make two substantial adjustments. On Wednesday night I was too tired to cook and also not in the mood for eggs, so I picked up some pizza, which we ate with some apples, oranges, and bananas (because the cantaloupe, kiwi, and pineapple weren't ripe yet). The potluck at church on Saturday was postponed because of two funerals this week, one on Friday and one on Saturday. On Saturday I helped with a dinner for the family following the funeral (including preparation of a salad using some of my Bountiful Baskets produce), and after I got home we had "leftover buffet" for our own dinner.

This weekend's produce from the Bountiful Baskets Food Co-op included a pineapple, bananas, apples, oranges, a carton of blueberries, cucumbers, Romaine lettuce, kale, green onions, asparagus, Anaheim peppers, a bag of carrots, and a bag of mini sweet peppers. I am most excited about the mini peppers! (Aren't they cute?!) I haven't ever eaten kale. (Doesn't anyone actually eat kale?!)


This week is going to be a busy one - with the Democratic caucus meetings and a book launch party for Brandon Mull's Seeds of Rebellion on Tuesday, a Boy Scout Court of Honor on Wednesday, my literature class on Thursday, and a writing conference on Saturday - so I'm hoping to streamline dinner preparation a bit. I will admit that that is harder than it used to be, now that I'm trying to incorporate more fresh vegetables and fruits into our meals.

Here is this week's meal plan:

• Monday - Denver Sandwiches, Hash Browns, Cantaloupe, Kiwi, and/or Pineapple


• Tuesday - Leftover Buffet


• Wednesday - Hot Dogs, Potato Chips, Baked Beans, Blueberry-Mango Salad, Cucumber and Carrot Sticks


• Thursday - Steak and Veggie Fajitas


• Friday - Dinner Out


• Saturday - Chinese Chicken Salad


• Sunday - Beef Pot Pie or Fettucine Alfredo, Steamed Asparagus, Garlic Bread

What are you eating this week?

Week in Review

Days with Snowfall: 1. (Much of the week was quite springlike.)

Commutes to Downtown: 3.

Mornings Still in Bed Until After Sunrise: 2.

Trips to the Grocery Store: 3.
(One of those was to return a couple of items I had bought last week that were spoiled despite being many weeks prior to their expiration dates. I was quite frustrated!)

Gallons of Gas Purchased: 13.10.

Visits to the Temple: 1.

Names Indexed at FamilySearch: 25.

Other Opportunities for Service Taken: 1.
(I made a green salad for and helped serve and clean up at a funeral dinner.)

Packages of Hot Dogs Purchased for Sugar Bear's Overnight Ice Fishing Trip: 3.
(I am grateful for Boy Scout leaders who are giving him experiences that he'd never get otherwise.)

Opportunities Taken to "Break Bread" with Others: 3.
(On Tuesday, Sugar Plum had a late start at school because the juniors were taking the ACT so we had breakfast together at Mimi's Cafe before going to school and work. WhiteRabbit had to be downtown on Wednesday afternoon, so I met him for lunch at Blue Lemon. I love those sweet potato fries! On Friday I drove to Provo to help Jelly Bean with her federal tax return, and we at lunch together at the Cougareat. I am grateful for the chance to spend some one-on-one time with each of them this week.)

Books Finished: 1. (Year-to-date total is 15.)

Teams Left on The Amazing Race: 8. (Tonight was a non-elimination leg.)

TV Episodes Watched on DVR: 1 of The Good Wife. 1 of Being Human. 1 of Blue Bloods. 1 of Prime Suspect.

Movies Watched: 1. (The kids and I watched Monsters vs. Aliens. We thought it was cute.)

Time for Dinner!

For more great menu ideas,
be sure to visit Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

After surviving a week without a meal plan, I'm very ready to post this week's dinner menu! Life just goes more smoothly when I don't have to figure out dinner mere hours before we eat.

I'm still looking forward to making some Baked Apple Chips - and maybe some other recipes using apples too. I'm also thinking about making Carrot Cake Cupcakes and/or Creamy Lemon (or Lime) Bars.

This weekend we got some great fruits and vegetables from the Bountiful Basket Food Co-op. We have a pineapple, mangoes, kiwi, two cantaloupes, bananas, Lady Alice apples, cucumbers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green peppers, Anaheim peppers, butter lettuce, and a bag of butter gold potatoes.


That's a lot of fruit and vegetable goodness! After neglecting - because of the President's Day holiday - to make a contribution in time to get a basket last weekend, I'm particularly thankful for the bounty.

Here is this week's meal plan:

• Monday - Pasta with the Works, Breaded Yellow Squash, Garlic Bread


• Tuesday - Chicken Broccoli Casserole, Green Salad, Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes, Country French Bread


• Wednesday - Denver Sandwiches, Hash Browns, Cantaloupe, Kiwi, and/or Pineapple


• Thursday - Roast Beef with Gravy (in Crock Pot), Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Green Salad, Rolls


• Friday - Fend-for-Yourself Friday


• Saturday - Church Potluck


• Sunday - White Bean Chili, Rice, Key Lime Pie

By the way, I haven't yet decided what to make for the church potluck dinner on Saturday. Maybe Twice-Baked Potato Casserole. Maybe a salad of some sort. Maybe something with apples. Hopefully I can come up with something delicious using some of the fruits and/or vegetables I have here at the house.

Happy eating!

Week in Review

Days with Snowfall: 5.
(Sugar Bear and I spent an hour-and-half on Friday morning shoveling the driveway and sidewalk - but fortunately that was the only day we had to shovel. The forecast for the coming week is much more spring-like.)

Commutes to Downtown: 2.

Mornings Still in Bed Until After Sunrise: 3.

Teachers Met at Parent-Teacher Conferences: 17.
(I talked with Sugar Bear's eight teachers on Tuesday evening and Sugar Plum's nine teachers on Wednesday afternoon.)

Trips to the Grocery Store: 1.

Gallons of Gas Purchased: 15.75.

Visits to the Temple: 1.

Names Indexed at FamilySearch: 50.

Nights Worrying Whether Sugar Plum Was Safe and Happy at Youth Conference: 2.
(She had a great time learning to cross-country ski, although she's got some bruises. I'm grateful for the caring adults who accompanied the kids on this excursion!)

Opportunities Taken to "Break Bread" with Others: 3.
(On Monday I had lunch at the Red Iguana 2 with my "book lunch girls." On Friday night WhiteRabbit and I ate at the counter at the Market Street Broiler before seeing Emma at Pioneer Theatre Company. On Saturday I ate breakfast at Kneaders Bakery & Cafe with some of my sisters and our mom.)

Books Finished: 2. (Year-to-date total is 14.)

Teams Left on The Amazing Race: 8.

TV Episodes Watched on DVR: 2 of Blue Bloods. 1 of Hawaii 5-0. 1 of Being Human.

Boxes of Girl Scout Cookies Purchased: 16.

One-Sentence Journal Entry

Now that it's almost March, winter seems to have arrived, with snow falling for the third day in a row - and tonight I think it really means it.

Week in Review

One-and-a-Half Mile Commutes: 1.

Mornings Still in Bed Until After Sunrise: 3.

Trips to the Grocery Store: 2.

Gallons of Gas Purchased: 8.26.

Women's Retreat Registration Forms Processed: 48.

Sunday School Classes Taught: 1.

Visits to the Temple: 1.

Names Indexed at FamilySearch: 67.

Opportunities Taken to "Break Bread" with Others: 2.
(On Thursday night I ate at Pei Wei with my book club. On Saturday I ate lunch at Mimi's Cafe with Jelly Bean.)

Books Finished: 3. (Year-to-date total is 12.)

Teams Left on The Amazing Race: 9.

TV Episodes Watched on DVR: 1 of Blue Bloods. 1 of The Good Wife. 1 of Nikita. 5 of Being Human.

Come and Get It!

For more great menu ideas,
be sure to visit Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

The menu plan for the past week worked out very well. I made a few adjustments to side dishes, but otherwise I followed the plan - and we enjoyed every meal. I particularly liked the Roast Veggie Enchiladas I made (even though Sugar Plum wouldn't touch them). (I plan to post a recipe and some photos in the next few days.) I also made the Valentine M&M Cookies I wanted to make, but I've decided that I don't like the recipe as much as I remembered liking it in the past. I'm still looking forward to making some Baked Apple Chips. I'm also thinking about making Carrot Cake Cupcakes and/or Creamy Lemon (or Lime) Bars.

The produce basket from the Bountiful Basket Food Co-op on Saturday was a little more "exotic" than it sometimes is. It contained Romaine lettuce, spinach, English cucumbers, yellow squash, Jerusalem artichokes (also known as sunchokes), Roma tomatoes, Braeburn apples, bananas, mangoes, key limes, oranges, and blackberries. I also contributed for two "add-on" items - a bag of granola and a case of Junami apples (which I think are the best apples I've ever eaten). I love the color combination!



I'm planning this week's meals - except for the take-out pizza we ate to conclude our relaxing and restful holiday today - around the fruits and vegetables I have in the house. That can be challenging, but it's fun too - and we're definitely eating fresher and healthier!

Here is this week's meal plan:

• Monday - Take-Out Pizza


• Tuesday - Tortilla Soup (My idea is something similar to a cross between this recipe and this one. I hope it turns out yummy!)


• Wednesday - Fried Egg, Bacon, Tomato, and Avocado Sandwiches, Cheesy Cauliflower Soup, Cucumber-Radish Slaw


• Thursday - Tostadas, Fresh Fruit


• Friday - Fend-for-Yourself Friday


• Saturday - Either Cheesy Spinach Dip with Oven-Roasted Tomatoes, French Bread, Veggie Burgers, Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes or Leftover Buffet


• Sunday - Jambalaya with Ham, Mango-Strawberry Salad, Garlic Bread

Here are a couple things I'm thinking about for next week (or beyond):

• Chicken with Mango Black Bean Salsa


• Boneless BBQ Ribs, Twice Baked Potato Casserole


• Pizza Pasta


• Eggplant Sandwiches

Happy eating!

Week in Review

Commutes to Downtown: 3.

Self-Study Courses Ordered: 1.

Trips to the Grocery Store: 2.
Trips to Target: 1. (Among other things, I bought the immersion blender that I've been thinking about for several weeks. I'll be trying it out in the coming week!)

Dozens of Valentine Cookies Baked: 2 1/2.

Gallons of Gas Purchased: 13.21.

Level of Anxiety After Dropping Off Sugar Bear on Friday Afternoon For Scout Overnight Camp: Immeasurable. (He says he had fun and that the gloves and hat I bought him kept him warm. Yay!)

Hours on Saturday Spent Cleaning Out the Refrigerator with Sugar Plum's Help: 3.

Visits to the Temple: 1.

Names Indexed at FamilySearch: 75.

Other Opportunities for Service Taken: 1.
(Sugar Plum and I took dinner to a couple with a new baby on Thursday.)

Opportunities Taken to "Break Bread" with Others: 2.
(On Friday night I ate at The Cheesecake Factory WhiteRabbit and Sugar Plum; this is an almost-monthly outing for WhiteRabbit and I, with Sugar Plum along this time in honor of her 4.0 report card. On Saturday night we ate taco salads and cupcakes with many extended family members in celebration of the nieces and nephews with birthdays in January, February, and March.)

Books Finished: 0. (Year-to-date total is 9.)

Teams Left on The Amazing Race: 10.

TV Episodes Watched on DVR: 1 of Blue Bloods. 1 of Hawaii 5-0. 2 of Nikita.

Movies Watched: 1.

Snowflakes That Fell on Saturday Night While I Slept: Countless.
(Unlikely as it may seem, this was the first real snowfall of the winter.)

Gratitude Journal

It's actually quite an amazing thing that, when my alarm goes off at 5:40 and it's still pitch black outside, I can flip a single switch and cause my bedroom to be flooded with light.

I am grateful for electricity.

I am also grateful that the sun is now starting to come up by 7:00 when Sugar Bear and I are leaving the house. The days are definitely getting longer!

One-Sentence Journal Entry

Some days I think that being a mom is the hardest thing in the world.

Other days I know it is!

(That was two sentences. Oh well.)

What's for Dinner, Mom?

For more great menu ideas,
be sure to visit Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

The menu plan for the past week worked out quite well - I do love Clam Chowder! - and I even made Oven Roasted Tomatoes as well as German Chocolate Brownies. I do still want to make some Baked Apple Chips, so maybe that will finally happen this week. I'd like to make Valentine M&M Cookies this week too.

The produce basket from the Bountiful Basket Food Co-op on Saturday contained the following items: corn on the cob, Romaine lettuce, asparagus, celery, broccoli, baby bella mushrooms, an eggplant, Fuji apples, oranges, pears, a bag of clementines, bananas, and a lemon. The fridge is certainly overflowing with fruit and veggie goodness! We'll be incorporating as many of these items - and those left over from previous baskets - into our meals this week as possible.

On Thursday we'll be sharing part of our dinner with a couple in our neighborhood who just had their first baby. I am trying to find inspiration for a salad with Romaine lettuce that isn't our usual Caesar; do you have any ideas?

On Fend-for-Yourself Friday - as Fridays almost always are around here - WhiteRabbit and I are planning to go to The Cheesecake Factory. We generally go out on a Friday night about once a month, while the kids are left to their own devices. This Friday, however, Sugar Bear will be at an overnight Boy Scout camp, so Sugar Plum is lobbying to be included in our dinner plans. Since I do owe her an outing to The Cheesecake Factory for her 4.0 report card, she just may prevail.

On Saturday night, we will all be attending an extended family birthday celebration. This year we're having these quarterly to honor those nieces and nephews with birthdays during that quarter. (Sugar Plum will be one of those we celebrate on Saturday!) My sister Emily is hosting the get-together - and we'll be eating Taco Salads, with everyone contributing part of the fixings.

Here is this week's meal plan:

• Monday - Broccoli Cheese Soup in Bread Bowls, Corn on the Cob


• Tuesday - Roasted Veggie Enchiladas (with red pepper, green pepper, onion, and baby bella mushrooms), Spanish Rice, Fresh Guacamole


• Wednesday - Denver Sandwiches, Hash Browns, Fruit Salad or Fresh Fruit


• Thursday - Green Salad, Roast with Mushroom Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus, Country French Bread


• Friday - Fend-for-Yourself Friday


• Saturday - Extended Family Birthday Celebration


• Sunday - Green Salad, Cheese Sticks, Cheese Ravioli with Marinara Sauce, Cooked Carrots, Herb & Garlic Rolls

Here are some of things I'm thinking about for next week (or beyond):

• Jambalaya with Ham


• Spinach Cheese Dip with Oven-Roasted Tomatoes


• Boneless BBQ Ribs, Twice Baked Potato Casserole


• Cheesy Cauliflower Soup


• Pasta with the Works


• Eggplant Sandwiches

Happy eating!

Week in Review

Commutes to Downtown: 2.

One-and-a-Half Mile Commutes: 1.

Classes Attended: 1.

Trips to the Grocery Store: 3. (Two in one day.)

Gallons of Gas Purchased: 14.55.

Visits to the Temple: 1. (The second temple of the year.)

Names Indexed at FamilySearch: 94.

Other Opportunities for Service Taken: 1.
(Sugar Plum and I took dinner to neighbors on Wednesday.)

Opportunities Taken to "Break Bread" with Others: 1.
(On Friday night WhiteRabbit and I ate at our long-time favorite Japanese restaurant.)

Books Finished: 1. (Year-to-date total is 9.)

TV Episodes Watched on DVR: 2 of Blue Bloods. 1 of Hawaii 5-0.
TV Episodes Watched via NetFlix: 1 of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Packets of Theraflu Consumed: 12. (But none since Thursday.)

Time for Dinner!

For more great menu ideas,
be sure to visit Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

I came down with a cold on Thursday, and that really wreaked havoc on the menu plan for the second half of the past week. Two nights of take-out food plus some fending for one's self - followed by a much-appreciated dinner at my parents' house on Sunday - means I've got Veggie Stir Fry and Beef Stroganoff still in the queue - and I also still want to make some Baked Apple Chips and Oven Roasted Tomatoes.

This weekend's produce basket from the Bountiful Basket Food Co-op contained the following items: Romaine lettuce, asparagus, red peppers, tomatoes, celery, russet potatoes, onions, broccoli, radishes, Junami apples, Asian pears, a pineapple, and strawberries. I also received an "add-on guacamole pack" that contained avocados, garlic, onions, green onions, jalapeno peppers, cilantro, lemons, and key limes. I need to be diligent about incorporating all of these items - plus those left over from the past few weeks - into this week's dinner plans, as well as focusing on fruits and vegetables for snacking.

By the way, we'll be sharing Wednesday's dinner with a neighbor who is recovering from hip replacement surgery.

Here is this week's meal plan:

• Monday - Veggie Stir Fry (asparagus, cauliflower, green beans, carrots) with Tofu, Rice, Fruit Salad (strawberries, apples, pomegranates)


• Tuesday - Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Tomato, Crunchy Coleslaw, Carrot Sticks


• Wednesday - Caesar Salad, Pot Roast with Potatoes, Carrots, and Onions, Rolls


• Thursday - Black Bean Nachos, Fresh Guacamole


• Friday - Dinner Out


• Saturday - Clam Chowder, Breadsticks, Fresh Fruit (maybe pineapple, maybe a fruit salad)


• Sunday - Beef Stroganoff, Egg Noodles, Green Salad, Steamed Broccoli, Country French Bread

While I'm thinking about it, here are some ideas for next week (or beyond):

• Jambalaya with Ham


• Minestrone Soup


• Vegetable Enchiladas


• Boneless BBQ Ribs, Twice Baked Potato Casserole


• Broccoli Pie with Tomatoes


• Cheesy Cauliflower Soup


• Denver Omelet Sandwiches

Happy eating!

Week in Review

Days My Alarm Went Off Before 5 o'Clock: 1.

Commutes to Downtown: 3.

Gallons of Gas Purchased: 7.29.

Sunday School Classes Taught: 1.

Opportunities Taken to "Break Bread" with Others: 2.
(Sugar Plum's friend David joined us for beef stew and biscuits on Tuesday night.
Today we were invited to dinner at my parents house, where my mom prepared a turkey dinner in honor of WhiteRabbit's birthday.)

Books Finished: 3. (Year-to-date total is 8.)

TV Episodes Watched on DVR: 3 of Hawaii 5-0. 2 of The Good Wife. 1 of Nikita.
TV Episodes Watched via NetFlix: 2 of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Packets of Theraflu Consumed: 12.

One-Sentence Journal Entry

I've got a cold, and I just want to sleep and drink more TheraFlu.