Menu Plan 6/28/10

Last week was a get back into town and hit the ground running and try to recover at the same time sort of week.  I finally finished unpacking yesterday!  For dinners, we used meat from the freezer like bacon cheddar burgers from Whole Foods (which were really good), sloppy joes, and of course our standby, quesadillas, with salad for a side.  I just made a big trip to Costco for essentials, but nothing very exciting.  We splurged on some treats over vacation so now we need to get back in the wholesome groove.

Breakfasts:
Granola with Milk (I may experiment with a new granola recipe.)
Fruit (bananas, strawberries, blueberries)

Lunches:
PB&J Sandwiches
Cheese or Yogurt
Carrot Sticks
Fruit

Dinners:
I don't know what we are having what day, yet, but here are my ideas based on what is in the fridge and the pantry...
Baked Pasta with Chicken
Oven Nachos
Homemade Crispy Crust Pizza
Tuna Cheesies
Salmon Burgers from the freezer
Fried Eggs and Toast
Nitrate-free Hot Dogs

Dessert:
Vanilla Milkshakes
Fresh Strawberry Cake

Easy Butterscotch Bars

So.  If you are craving something sweet, but don't have much in the house, you can probably still make these easy butterscotch bars.  Only 5 ingredients.  I was out of sucanat, so I used regular brown sugar.  Be sure not to overbake.  They are best when a little warm and gooey.

You probably should plan to immediately give some away... or else you may as well just apply the butter and sugar directly to your thighs.  No offense, I am talking to myself here :)

Hello!

Whew!  We are back from a weekend at the lake.  I have been neglecting writing, lately, and I miss it.  I helps to sort out my thoughts, as I've mentioned before.  You probably think I have disappeared!  I am reminded of the SNL German coat advertisement skit where they are like, "Family, where are you?" (but in an accent, of course) And the others answer, "We are here, we are here!"

I should be sleeping, but anyways.

I was overwhelmed by my Google reader of people's blog posts just tonight - it stares at me like a giant to-do list and I have trouble ignoring it until it is cleared out.  So I went through it all, reading some, and skipping some.  Then I went and weeded out some subscriptions - of ones I rarely laugh at, sympathize with, save recipes from, or gain insight from.  None of YOU, of course.  Just some uber generic ones that are very helpful to many people but I feel like I've outgrown at this stage in my life, if that makes sense.  Streamlining, that's what I'm aiming for.  And, I just ended that sentence in a preposition.  And, I just started that sentence and this one with "and".  It's not slowing me down, though :)

I'm just going to wing-it on the meal plan this week (since we just got back in town) and will be back with posting it next week.

So.... my  summer of no projects?  Not happening.  I've got some.  But it's by choice.

I totally see why old ladies do water aerobics.  Water is so soothing and a deceivingly good workout.  In college, my marathoner friend and I (just a runner, not a marathoner) used to go to the natatorium and put on the floatation belts and go deep water jogging in the diving well at the pool when it was too wintry outside to run.  I tried some of that this weekend at the lake with a life jacket on, because I don't like touching the bottom of lakes.  I probably looked like a goofball, not that anyone was watching.  But it is so relaxing!  And when you get out, you feel like you have done something!  Or in a pool where you can touch, try jogging in like 3-4 feet of water for 10-15 minutes.  That'll work your calves.  Or just tread water or swim laps.  I like those things, too. :)

I read Dear John.  Bittersweet.  Now I need to see the movie.

Ok, no more.  Goodnight!

Menu Plan 6/14/10

Breakfasts:
Granola with Milk
Bananas

Lunches:
PB&J Sandwiches
Carrots Sticks
Fruit

Dinners:
Monday - Homemade Sausage Pizza
Tuesday - Cheesy Shells with Spinach
Wednesday - Leftovers
Thursday - Tuna Cheesies
Friday - Dinner with Family
Saturday - Out to Eat
Sunday - Leftovers

On totally another note: I haven't watched much TV in the past few months, other than the (riveting) Grey's Anatomy finale.  But I am looking forward to hopefully watching some more of the World Cup and as much as I can of So You Think You Can Dance!

Menu Plan 6/7/10

Breakfasts:
Waffles (from the freezer) with Syrup
Whole Wheat Banana Muffins
Milk

Lunches:
PB&J on Homemade Bread
Cheese
Carrots
Fruit

Dinners:
Monday - Chicken & Cheese Ravioli, Peas
Tuesday - Soft Beef & Bean Tacos, with Homemade Salsa and Guacamole
Wednesday (making dinner for girls' Bible study) - Chicken Salad on Croissants, Carrots, Chips, Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Thursday - Salmon Burgers (from the freezer), Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, Green Salad
Friday - Cobb Salad
Saturday - Leftovers
Sunday - Leftovers

Snacks:
Popcorn

Find more meal plans at the Organizing Junkie!

Peanut Butter Goodness

That's what is going on in my kitchen tonight.

The ever easy and always a hit: Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars...

and a new experiment: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies (with peanut butter frosting.)

Blackberry Cream Cheese Pie

I saw this recipe in an article about a berry patch, and it looks enticing to me.  Cream cheese, blackberries, and graham cracker crust?  Right up my alley.  Let me know if you try it!

Blackberry Cream Cheese Pie

8-inch graham cracker crust (I like this recipe.)

Filling:
8 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 ounces whipping cream

Topping:
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons water
3 cups blackberries
1/2 cup sugar
dash salt

To make the filling, mix the first 3 ingredients until smooth. Beat in whipping cream for 2 minutes. Pour into the crust.

Combine the cornstarch and water to make a paste, and stir until the lumps dissolve. In a saucepan, combine the paste, berries, sugar and salt. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes or until the mixture is thick and bubbling and the syrup is clear. Let cool, and then pour over the cream cheese filling. Chill several hours before serving. Makes 6 servings.