This week is a little crazy. Besides being the last few days of the month and having only $9 left in the grocery budget...it's also Super Bowl weekend and Jake and I are getting the chance to get away for a night!! So we won't be at home as much...which is good, considering the limited grocery budget we have left :)
Monday - Crab salad with homemade french bread. We finally have a bread machine!! And I LOVE it!!I still need to train my taste buds a little bit...I have a tendency to not like something just because it isn't what I'm used to...so I'm working on it :)
Tuesday - Black Bean Soup
Wednesday - Pork Chops and Rice
Thursday - Tuna Melts and raw veggies
Friday - Night away!!
Saturday - Probably grab a pizza :)
Sunday - Super Bowl...we'll be watching the game at friends...and eating way more than we should!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Snow Days!!!
We had the pleasure of a winter wonderland around here the last few days. I absolutely LOVE the snow. I don't particularly like having to travel in it, or even be out in it for too long, but I love getting to watch the snow fall. And I love the peacefulness it brings. I know it tends to stress people out, but I love how everyone has to slow down...the roads are quiet, the stores are less busy (if we decide to venture out), and it is a great excuse for extra cups of hot chocolate and snuggles on the couch. We didn't have nearly as much snow as the rest of western Washington, but a good 4-5" is just perfect! It was also super cold with temps in the teens, and with the windchill, dipping down into single digits. So it wasn't necessarily playing outside kind of weather for too long.
We didn't have snow that stuck around for too long last year, so this was really Calvin's first time out in it. He also would have only been about 5 months old last time it snowed, so I don't know how much playing would have happened anyway :)
He loved it!! Well, unless it touched his hands. He would not keep his mittens on, which meant he only lasted a few minutes outside (which was the perfect length of time for me) and once we came in, there was much screaming as his hands thawed. But it was worth it :) We can't wait for next year's snow fall when Calvin is a little older and can play for a little longer.
Some proof we actually went out in the snow...
We didn't have snow that stuck around for too long last year, so this was really Calvin's first time out in it. He also would have only been about 5 months old last time it snowed, so I don't know how much playing would have happened anyway :)
He loved it!! Well, unless it touched his hands. He would not keep his mittens on, which meant he only lasted a few minutes outside (which was the perfect length of time for me) and once we came in, there was much screaming as his hands thawed. But it was worth it :) We can't wait for next year's snow fall when Calvin is a little older and can play for a little longer.
Some proof we actually went out in the snow...
Before the "big" snow came and we only had a dusting. Just checking things out...
Tasting his first snowball
Too cute!!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Meals...
I am so loving this day!! I LOVE snow!! The snow has been falling all day and it is so cozy in our little house. This is the first time it has snowed since we've lived here and I love having all the windows to watch the snow fall!! And since there is very little venturing outside (Calvin isn't too keen on playing in the snow for too long) it's a perfect day for menu planning!!
Monday - Spinach and Kale Soup
Tuesday - Honey Glazed chicken thighs and rice (from Fix, Freeze, and Feast...the BEST freezer meal cookbook)
Wednesday - Balsalmic Chicken and pasta (from the crockpot)
Thursday - Beef Stew. I've never made it before, but today, I am making beef broth in the crockpot from some pieces of meat left over from our Christmas roast. It smells SOOO good!!
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Salsa Chicken (from the crockpot). This is the only meal that I actually need to pick up a couple things for, and since we are supposed to be getting several inches of snow, I'm saving my grocery trip until the end of the week.
Sunday - Taco Soup with flatbread
It's a soup heavy week! And it's the perfect week for it!! I LOVE soup! And Jake and Calvin love soup! And we all love leftover soup. I've decided I am going to try and do one vegetarian meal every week. This week it's the Kale and Spinach soup. Just to save money and experiment with proteins other than meat.
Several of my recipes this week were found on Pinterest. If you haven't checked out...DO IT NOW!!! Yes, it is easy to spend hours "pinning" things you might possibly never look at again, but there are also some really helpful, useful things on it. It's great for getting ideas for meals.
Yesterday I made my first loaf of bread in a breadmachine and it turned out great!! I'm excited to do more experimenting with it and making other types of breads and doughs. I really love to bake, but for some reason, kneading and letting bread rise just isn't working for me. Some day it might click, but for now, the breadmaker is going to become my second best friend (the crockpot will forever remain my first).
Happy Meal Planning!!
Monday - Spinach and Kale Soup
Tuesday - Honey Glazed chicken thighs and rice (from Fix, Freeze, and Feast...the BEST freezer meal cookbook)
Wednesday - Balsalmic Chicken and pasta (from the crockpot)
Thursday - Beef Stew. I've never made it before, but today, I am making beef broth in the crockpot from some pieces of meat left over from our Christmas roast. It smells SOOO good!!
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Salsa Chicken (from the crockpot). This is the only meal that I actually need to pick up a couple things for, and since we are supposed to be getting several inches of snow, I'm saving my grocery trip until the end of the week.
Sunday - Taco Soup with flatbread
It's a soup heavy week! And it's the perfect week for it!! I LOVE soup! And Jake and Calvin love soup! And we all love leftover soup. I've decided I am going to try and do one vegetarian meal every week. This week it's the Kale and Spinach soup. Just to save money and experiment with proteins other than meat.
Several of my recipes this week were found on Pinterest. If you haven't checked out...DO IT NOW!!! Yes, it is easy to spend hours "pinning" things you might possibly never look at again, but there are also some really helpful, useful things on it. It's great for getting ideas for meals.
Yesterday I made my first loaf of bread in a breadmachine and it turned out great!! I'm excited to do more experimenting with it and making other types of breads and doughs. I really love to bake, but for some reason, kneading and letting bread rise just isn't working for me. Some day it might click, but for now, the breadmaker is going to become my second best friend (the crockpot will forever remain my first).
Happy Meal Planning!!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Meal Plan!!
Well, now that the craziness of the holidays are over, it's time to get back in the swing of meal planning. Ok...the holidays have been over for a little while, but I'm still getting organized :)
Week of January 9
Monday- Grilled Cheese and veggies...we have a young married event at church, so dinner needs to be simple!
Tuesday- Lentil Soup...I'm going to try this recipe
Wednesday- Chicken Divan...a classic in the Eschbach house
Thursday- Sweet and Sour Chicken...I've been craving this for some reason, so I found this recipe on Pinterest
Friday- Breakfast for Dinner!! I think I'll make pancakes...
Saturday- Tacos
Sunday- Homemade pizza...with whatever toppings I happen to have on hand.
Some other homemade things I am excited to try out...and I'll share if I have any success...are: cleaning products, pancake mix, season mixes (like taco seasoning and onion soup mix), pitas, and english muffins.
Week of January 9
Monday- Grilled Cheese and veggies...we have a young married event at church, so dinner needs to be simple!
Tuesday- Lentil Soup...I'm going to try this recipe
Wednesday- Chicken Divan...a classic in the Eschbach house
Thursday- Sweet and Sour Chicken...I've been craving this for some reason, so I found this recipe on Pinterest
Friday- Breakfast for Dinner!! I think I'll make pancakes...
Saturday- Tacos
Sunday- Homemade pizza...with whatever toppings I happen to have on hand.
Some other homemade things I am excited to try out...and I'll share if I have any success...are: cleaning products, pancake mix, season mixes (like taco seasoning and onion soup mix), pitas, and english muffins.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Another New Year!
Like everyone else, I am spending my day sweetly remembering this past year, and hopefully anticipating what is to come! We have had such an amazing year. Nothing too monumental happened, but sometimes, that's a good thing :) We celebrated three years of marriage, Calvin turned one, we camped for the first time as a family of three, we tagged along through many "firsts" for Calvin...walking, running, climbing, Mama, Dada, and figuring out how to get in to just about everything! And we made and shared memories with many friends and family!
God continues to bless us with good health. And we are so grateful Jake has steady work. It isn't his dream job, but in today's economy, we are beyond grateful. It's easy to hope and dream about what the next year may hold, but one of my "goals" is to leave more in the hands of the Lord and do less planning on my own. Now, don't get me wrong, there will still be plenty of planning going on. But there will hopefully be more leaning on the Lord's wisdom rather than my own and seeking His will above ours.
Here are a few other "resolutions"...
God continues to bless us with good health. And we are so grateful Jake has steady work. It isn't his dream job, but in today's economy, we are beyond grateful. It's easy to hope and dream about what the next year may hold, but one of my "goals" is to leave more in the hands of the Lord and do less planning on my own. Now, don't get me wrong, there will still be plenty of planning going on. But there will hopefully be more leaning on the Lord's wisdom rather than my own and seeking His will above ours.
Here are a few other "resolutions"...
- Always have a dining table ready to be eaten at. That may sound silly, but I hate it when we can't sit down to eat because the table is covered with junk. I guess I'm hoping to be more organized :)
- Be more aware of what we are eating. Specifically the ingredients in the food we are eating. I really like to cook, and I do make a lot of things homemade (spagetti sauce, tortillas, refried beans, croutons, etc.) but I want to do more! I want to start baking my own bread and rolls, and pizza dough. Not only to be healthier, but to try and save money!
- Of course exercise more! I have been somewhat of a lazy slug since Calvin was born. Oh, I've gone through phases of being really motivated, but I need to get my rear in gear!
Happy New Year from the Eschbachs!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
A Favorite Recipe...
For our wedding, a family friend gave Jake and I a recipe book of their "family" recipes. In it was this jewel! So, so easy, and SOOOO delicious, and I usually have all the ingredients on hand. In fact it's so good, I had three helpings of it last night...and Calvin had two helpings tonight for dinner!
Paprika Chicken
2 T Butter
1 1/2 T Oil
1 onion, finely chopped
3 T paprika
1/2 t salt
6 cups chicken stock
Frozen chicken (as many as you need for your family)
2 cups sour cream
1 T flour
Melt butter and oil in a heavy pot or dutch oven. Add paprika and onion and simmer until glossy and red. Add salt and chicken stock. Once ingredients come to a boil, add frozen chicken (how awesome that you can put the chicken in frozen! I love it!)
Simmer, covered, until chicken is tender and cooked through (about 45 minutes)
Stir flour and sour cream together in a small bowl. Stir mixture slowly into the pot and simmer about 5 minutes until thickened and smooth. Do not boil.
Serve at once over rice or noodles.
So good!! Enjoy!!
Paprika Chicken
2 T Butter
1 1/2 T Oil
1 onion, finely chopped
3 T paprika
1/2 t salt
6 cups chicken stock
Frozen chicken (as many as you need for your family)
2 cups sour cream
1 T flour
Melt butter and oil in a heavy pot or dutch oven. Add paprika and onion and simmer until glossy and red. Add salt and chicken stock. Once ingredients come to a boil, add frozen chicken (how awesome that you can put the chicken in frozen! I love it!)
Simmer, covered, until chicken is tender and cooked through (about 45 minutes)
Stir flour and sour cream together in a small bowl. Stir mixture slowly into the pot and simmer about 5 minutes until thickened and smooth. Do not boil.
Serve at once over rice or noodles.
So good!! Enjoy!!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
"Just Wing It" Dinners
So, as I mentioned before, the end of the month seems be the time to scrounge in the freezer and cupboards and just hope there are enough decent ingredients to put together a few meals. And I'm happy to say, we made it to the start of a new month rather successfully. I hate reading recipe books and getting discouraged by not having the ingredients, but I'm not usually creative enough to adjust it for what I have. And I really like to cook, but I often lack inspiration. We have our favorite meals and I tend to make them, or a version of them, on a regular basis.
Here are a couple of "just wing it" meals that I'm pretty proud of this month :)
Dinner 1: Apple Cider Pork Roast
(I didn't take exact measurements of the ingredients...so hopefully this is close)
Pork Roast
2 cups of apple cider (ours was homemade and I'd already added some cinnamon and mulling spices)
Garlic (as much as you can handle...we like alot)
salt and pepper to taste
1 onion, chopped
Throw everything in the crockpot and cook on low about 6-7 hours. I threw my roast in straight from the freezer, so if it's thawed (which in my house it rarely is), it would probably cook less.
This came out AMAZING!! The subtle sweetness from the apple cider was so good, but it still left enough pork flavor. I did end up dipping mine in bbq sauce because I'm a total dipper and I'm falling madly in love with bbq lately :)
Dinner 2: Taco Casserole.
I've had a few different versions of this, but I'm pretty sure this was a unique creation :)
Tortilla Chips
1 can chili beans (I randomly had this in the cupboard, next time I'll just use pinto beans)
1/2 pound of ground beef, cooked and seasoned with Taco seasoning
1/2 an onion, diced
1-12 oz can of diced tomatoes
1/2 cup salsa
1/4 t. cumin
Grated cheese
Crush tortilla chips to line the bottom of pan (I used something like a 10x8 casserole dish). Mix remaining ingredients and spread 1/2 over the crushed chips. Top with grated cheese, then repeat with another layer of chips, filling, and cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
This turned out really yummy too! I was afraid that the leftovers were going to be mushy and disgusting, but they were actually pretty good! The chips just tasted like a corn tortilla. I am blessed to have a husband who will eat just about anything, including leftovers, so I usually only have to eat it once or twice :)
Here are a couple of "just wing it" meals that I'm pretty proud of this month :)
Dinner 1: Apple Cider Pork Roast
(I didn't take exact measurements of the ingredients...so hopefully this is close)
Pork Roast
2 cups of apple cider (ours was homemade and I'd already added some cinnamon and mulling spices)
Garlic (as much as you can handle...we like alot)
salt and pepper to taste
1 onion, chopped
Throw everything in the crockpot and cook on low about 6-7 hours. I threw my roast in straight from the freezer, so if it's thawed (which in my house it rarely is), it would probably cook less.
This came out AMAZING!! The subtle sweetness from the apple cider was so good, but it still left enough pork flavor. I did end up dipping mine in bbq sauce because I'm a total dipper and I'm falling madly in love with bbq lately :)
Dinner 2: Taco Casserole.
I've had a few different versions of this, but I'm pretty sure this was a unique creation :)
Tortilla Chips
1 can chili beans (I randomly had this in the cupboard, next time I'll just use pinto beans)
1/2 pound of ground beef, cooked and seasoned with Taco seasoning
1/2 an onion, diced
1-12 oz can of diced tomatoes
1/2 cup salsa
1/4 t. cumin
Grated cheese
Crush tortilla chips to line the bottom of pan (I used something like a 10x8 casserole dish). Mix remaining ingredients and spread 1/2 over the crushed chips. Top with grated cheese, then repeat with another layer of chips, filling, and cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
This turned out really yummy too! I was afraid that the leftovers were going to be mushy and disgusting, but they were actually pretty good! The chips just tasted like a corn tortilla. I am blessed to have a husband who will eat just about anything, including leftovers, so I usually only have to eat it once or twice :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)