Blog Frog Friday 10-29-10

I am happy to have you all here for Blog Frog Friday: a weekly stop at my Blog Frog community:-)

Today, hop on over to my pad for a conversation about a baker's out reach for help:-)

Batten Down the Hatches

No gardening this week because I am too busy cleaning up from this week's storm. It knocked over our brand new grill!! I could hardly pick it back up but the wind knocked it over!! Holy Crap! And, look what it did to our shed:

Totally blew the doors off!!!! Granted, it wasn't the most sound structure but geeeeezzz!

Cutest Bat Girl Ever!

Happy Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordful Wednesday on parenting By dummies!

Right?

Tackling Bone Soup

It's time for Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom . Last week, I volunteered to bring treats to the costume party at school. Of course:-) This is what I came up with:

I was inspired by Cookies and Cups' skeleton cupcakes. Mine didn't come out nearly as good as hers but I was happy with my presentation:-)

Texas Hold-Ums Mini Chipotle Beef Burgers with Warm Fire Roasted Garlic Ketchup

I am doing more menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie and finding more deals at Pick N Save for $5 Dinners and putting them together with great recipes:-)

This week is busy as always:-) I have a PTO meeting, an echo and a couple doctor's appointments for my mom and a Bug Bash party that I am running in my youngest's classroom. Not to mention that my youngest has 2 days off this week for a teacher's convention. Lot's to do!

Thank goodness Pick N Save is helping me out with my menu planning! They have ground beef on sale for $1.99/lb. (normally $2.93/ lb.)AND you get free buns with it so, it must be burger time! I bought a bunch to make Rachael Ray's Texas Hold-Ums Mini Chipotle Beef Burgers with Warm Fire Roasted Garlic Ketchup. Check out the recipe below:-)

Here is everything that I am serving this week:

Monday: Spaghetti (Cleaning Day)

Tuesday: Texas Hold-Ums Mini Chipotle Beef Burgers with Warm Fire Roasted Garlic Ketchup(PTO Meeting/Doctor Appointment) (See Recipe Below)

Wednesday: Chicken and Rice (Bug Bash Party)

Thursday: Leftovers (No School for Teacher's Convention)

Friday: Eat Out (No School for Teacher's Convention/Echo/Doctor Appointment)

Texas Hold-Ums Mini Chipotle Beef Burgers with Warm Fire Roasted Garlic Ketchup
Ingredients:
2 lbs ground beef
1 medium onion, peeled and cut in 1/2
2 Tbs Worcestershire sauce, eyeball it
2 chipotles in adobo and 2 tablespoons of adobo sauce
2 Tbs grill seasoning, a couple of palm fulls, (recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning by McCormick)
1 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil, plus some for drizzling
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 Tbs brown sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
1 (15-ounce) can crushed fire roasted tomatoes, about 2 cups
Salt and pepper
12 slices, 1/2-inch thick, brick-cut smoked Cheddar or sharp Cheddar, (recommended: Cabot), optional
12 small round rolls, split

Directions:
1. Preheat grill pan to high.

2. Place the meat in a bowl. Cut the onion in half. Grate half the onion into the meat using the small grate on a box grater. Chop and reserve the other half onion. Add Worcestershire, chipotles and sauce and grill seasoning to burgers. Drizzle a little extra-virgin olive oil over the bowl and mix meat. Score the meat into 4 sections. Make 3 mini-burgers, each 3 inches wide, 1-inch thick, from each half-pound of meat.

3. Heat a small sauce pot over medium heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil and garlic. Cook garlic 2 to 3 minutes then add sugar and vinegar, cook 2 minutes more and stir in tomatoes. Season sauce with salt and pepper and allow it to reduce 5 to 6 minutes more.

4. Grill meat 2 to 3 minutes on each side and top with cheese, if you like.

5. Place burgers on buns and top with raw chopped onions and warm fire roasted ketchup and serve.

Servings: 8

Cooking Times
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 16 minutes

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/8 of a recipe (9.4 ounces).
Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients. One of the recipe's ingredients was not linked. This ingredient is not included in the recipe nutrition data.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 685.45
Calories From Fat (47%) 321.36
% Daily Value
Total Fat 35.2g 54%
Saturated Fat 14.88g 74%
Cholesterol 107.36mg 36%
Sodium 956.4mg 40%
Potassium 670.96mg 19%
Total Carbohydrates 56.36g 19%
Fiber 2.64g 11%
Sugar 10.84g
Protein 34.3g 69%

Recipe Type
Beef, Main Course

Source
Author: Rachael Ray
Source: The Food Network
Web Page: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/texas-hold-ums-mini-chipotle-beef-burgers-with-warm-fire-roasted-garlic-ketchup-recipe/index.htmlRecipe

Cost: $12.98 ($9.12 with sale!!!)
Serving Cost: $1.62 ($1.14 with sale!!!)

Blog Frog Friday 10-22-10

I am happy to have you all here for Blog Frog Friday: a weekly stop at my Blog Frog community:-)

Today, hop on over to my pad for a conversation about mental health breaks:-)

Back Inside

The cold temperatures have prompted my crew back inside:-)

Nature Center Fun

Happy Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordful Wednesday on parenting By dummies! This week, my youngest's class went to the nature center again. It is always fun watching the kids learn and explore but...sometimes....it's GROSS!!

There were bugs (real and fake)...



...and yucky pond water with creatures...

I must have looked pretty disgusted because the teacher asked me, "Best day ever?"

You know what, gross things aside...it really was:-)

Tackling Apples

It's time for Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom . My MiL brought me a bushel of apples from the apple orchard. So, I spent the weekend tackling this...

...into this...

...which in turn became this:

An Apple Pie Sundae!! Vanilla ice cream with apple pie filling syrup topped with whipped cream and garnished with peanuts and Poor Man Cookie:-)

White Chili

I am doing more menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie and finding more deals at Pick N Save for $5 Dinners and putting them together with great recipes:-)

This is my 600th post. I really wanted it to be more exciting than this but with all my mom's health problems, I just couldn't muster anything. I guess that means 700 is going to have to be even more special:-)

This week is busy as always:-) I have a field trip, I committee meeting, a Daisy meeting, an ultrasound, a doctor appointment and a fall costume party. Not to mention, my oldest is coming home for a visit! I really miss her and I can't wait to see her.

Thank goodness Pick N Save is helping me out with my menu planning! They have chicken on sale for $1.99/lb. (normally $4.79/ lb.)I bought a bunch to make White Chili (a recipe submitted by a fellow Girl Scout Leader who also needs quick and easy recipes on meeting nights:-). Check out the recipe below:-)

Here is everything that I am serving this week:

Monday: Spaghetti (Field Trip)

Tuesday: White Chili (Committee Meeting/Girl Scout Daisy Meeting) (See Recipe Below)

Wednesday: Chicken Pesto

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Eat Out (Ultra Sound/Doctor Appointment/Fall Costume Party/Oldest's Visit)

White Chili
Ingredients:
15 oz can chickpeas or garbanzo beans, undrained
15 oz can small Northern beans, undrained
15 oz can pinto beans, undrained
1 quart frozen corn, or 2 1-lb bags frozen corn
1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken
2 Tbs minced onion
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 tsp.minced garlic
3 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried oregano
2 15-oz cans chicken broth
2 tsp chili powder
or chopped jalapeno peppers (I used canned chopped green chilies)

Directions:
Cook on low 8-10 hours or high 4-5 hours in slow cooker.

Servings: 6

Cooking Times
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours and 5 minutes

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/6 of a recipe (19.3 ounces).
Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients. One of the recipe's ingredients was not linked. This ingredient is not included in the recipe nutrition data.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 607.13
Calories From Fat (7%) 44.08
% Daily Value
Total Fat 5.05g 8%
Saturated Fat 1.09g 5%
Cholesterol 32.89mg 11%
Sodium 1425.02mg 59%
Potassium 1995.87mg 57%
Total Carbohydrates 100.28g 33%
Fiber 23.87g 95%
Sugar 4.96g
Protein 44.5g 89%

Recipe Type
Chicken, Main Course, Slow Cooker

Tips
My kids love this chili, and its a good way to sneak in some healthy legumes. We serve it with warmed tortilla chips topped with melted cheddar cheese or sour cream.

Source
Author: Betsy Krakauer
Source: Fix It and Forget It Recipes

Recipe Cost: $8.29 ($6.69 with sale!!!)
Serving Cost: $1.38 ($1.11 with sale!!!)

Tackling Illness

It's time for Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom . This week, I am tackling my mother's illness. She had a catherization on Friday which resulted in upping her diuretic and then, discovering some issues with her liver. So, it is specialist hopping we go. Wish me luck.

Black Bean Soup

I am doing more menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie and finding more deals at Pick N Save for $5 Dinners and putting them together with great recipes:-)

Well, last week kind of fell apart with my mom getting a catherization. She is at home and fine now but it is really throwing me off and clogging up my schedule. This week, I am going to be running to and from 3 doctor appointments, a Girl Scout Service Area meeting, a PTO meeting, a hair appointment AND my youngest starts piano lessons this week. Pray for me!

Thank goodness Pick N Save is helping me out with my menu planning! They have beans on sale for $.89. (normally $1.09.)I bought a bunch to make Black Bean Soup. Check out the recipe below:-)

Here is everything that I am serving this week:

Monday: Spaghetti (Cleaning Day)

Tuesday: Chicken Pesto (Doctor Appointment/Girl Scout Service Area Meeting)

Wednesday: Black Bean Soup (See Reicpe Below) (PTO Meeting/Doctor Appointment)

Thursday: Leftovers (Doctor Appoitment/Piano Lessons)

Friday: Eat Out (Hair Appointment)

Black Bean Soup
Ingredients:
2 (15 ounce) cans BUSH'S® BEST Black Beans, undrained
1 (16 ounce) can reduced sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup salsa
1 Tbs chili powder
Shredded cheese (optional)
Sour cream (optional)
Chopped onion (optional)
Parsley (optional)

Directions:
Mash one can of beans with potato masher or food processor. Pour both cans of beans into medium saucepan. Add chicken broth, salsa, and chili powder. Bring to a boil. If desired top with shredded cheese, sour cream, onion, and cilantro.

Servings: 6

Cooking Times
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/6 of a recipe (13.4 ounces).
Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 390.93
Calories From Fat (36%) 140.87
% Daily Value
Total Fat 16.04g 25%
Saturated Fat 9.36g 47%
Cholesterol 36.41mg 12%
Sodium 946.53mg 39%
Potassium 987.46mg 28%
Total Carbohydrates 42.32g 14%
Fiber 14.53g 58%
Sugar 2.3g
Protein 22.1g 44%

Recipe Type
Side Dish, Soup

Source
Author: Bush's Baked Beans
Source: http://vegetablewithmore.allrecipes.com/Recipe/Recipe.aspx?nprid=146466

Recipe Cost: $6.47 ($6.07 with sale!!!)
Serving Cost: $1.08 ($1.01 with sale!!!)

Blog Frog Friday 10-8-10

I am happy to have you all here for Blog Frog Friday: a weekly stop at my Blog Frog community:-)

Today, hop on over to my pad for a conversation about caregiving:-)

Confused?

It has been so beautiful that this little guy is confused:



You are supposed to bloom in July!

Go Pack Go

Happy Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordful Wednesday on parenting By dummies! As you can see...



...Packer Fever is back in our house:-)

Tackling a New Chair

It's time for Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom . This week, my recliner took a crapper. It was 15 years old so, we got our money's worth out of it. However, we were not looking forward to plopping down $700 for a new one. I hate that bulky recliner look but I love to recline. So, what is a girl to do in that conondrom? Wel, we found this little number at Steinhafel's:

It's cute. It goes well with the room. It was $265 AND it is a recliner! AWESOME tackle, don't you think?

Orange-Sesame Pork Chops with Teriyaki Whole-Wheat Noodles

I am doing more menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie and finding more deals at Pick N Save for $5 Dinners and putting them together with great recipes:-)

I don't know how this happened but all I have is a Fun Run and a Pampered Chef party. I have to be missing something!

Thank goodness Pick N Save is helping me out with my menu planning! They have Whole Boneless Pork Loin on sale for $1.99/lb. (normally $4.79/lb.)I bought a bunch to make Rachael Ray's Orange-Sesame Pork Chops with Teriyaki Whole-Wheat Noodles. Check out the recipe below:-)

Here is everything that I am serving this week:

Monday: Spaghetti (Cleaning Day)

Tuesday: Orange-Sesame Pork Chops with Teriyaki Whole-Wheat Noodles (See Reicpe Below) (Fun Run)

Wednesday: Bean Night (Pampered Chef Party)

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Eat Out

Orange-Sesame Pork Chops with Teriyaki Whole-Wheat Noodles
Ingredients
Salt
1 lb whole-wheat or whole-grain spaghetti
5 Tbs vegetable or light oil
5 boneless pork loin chop 1 1/2-inches thick
Freshly ground black pepper
3 Tbs orange marmalade
6 Tbs teriyaki sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced on an angle
1 cup shelled, frozen edamame
1 Tbs black sesame seeds or toasted sesame seeds, optional

Directions:
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for pasta, and cook pasta to al dente.

2. While pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chops with salt and pepper and cook 6 minutes on the first side, 4 to 5 on the second. Remove chops to a plate and reserve, cover with foil. Add 3 tablespoons orange marmalade, a couple tablespoons teriyaki sauce and a 1/4 cup of water to the pan, bring the sauce to a bubble and combine 1 minute, stir in sesame oil remove from heat.

3. While the chop cooks, heat a second skillet with 3 tablespoons oil over medium high heat. Stir-fry the scallions and edamame a couple of minutes. Drain pasta and toss with scallions and edamame and remaining teriyaki sauce, about 1/4 cup. Sprinkle noodles with sesame seeds, if desired.

4. Slice pork or leave chop whole and top with orange-sesame glaze. Serve teriyaki noodles alongside.

Servings: 4

Cooking Times
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/4 of a recipe (12 ounces).
Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 822.17
Calories From Fat (25%) 209.16
% Daily Value
Total Fat 23.75g 37%
Saturated Fat 2.81g 14%
Cholesterol 63.94mg 21%
Sodium 1408.21mg 59%
Potassium 1044.21mg 30%
Total Carbohydrates 110.53g 37%
Fiber 4.31g 17%
Sugar 11.8g
Protein 48.63g 97%

Recipe Type
Main Course, Pork

Source
Author: Rachael Ray
Source: The Food Network
Web Page: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/orange-sesame-pork-chops-with-teriyaki-whole-wheat-noodles-recipe/index.html

Recipe Cost: $9.02 ($6.27 with sale!!!)
Serving Cost: $2.26 ($1.57 with sale!!!)