Menu Plan Monday - Week of 3/4/12

Well, things have been so busy and so exhausting that I just haven't posted in between Menu Plan Monday posts. :( We are hopefully going to get the playroom set up this week, so *hopefully* the blogging will also increase. But we will see! The good thing is that I am still menu planning, and it is still going well :) This week is a regular week, the last for more than a month!


Monday: Pizza Sloppy Joes (freezing leftovers)

Tuesday:  Bacon Chicken

 Wednesday:  We are supposed to get  snow! Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup will be on the menu! (that links to Pepperplate... not sure if you will be able to see the recipe)

Thursday: leftovers

Friday: Easy Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing

Saturday: leftovers


Sunday:  hopefully dinner out with the in laws!

Dessert of the week: Banana Muffins (from last week) and Lazy Cake Cookies (with Reese's mini cups!)


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Menu Plan Monday - Week of 2/25/13

You might have noticed that there was no menu plan last week - and once again I realized just how important having one is! Especially because I was sick, so making meals didn't happen!! Feeling better, but i think this week will include a few leftovers from the freezer!

Monday: Baked Mac and Cheese


Tuesday:  leftovers

 Wednesday: Pepperoni Cheese Bread


Thursday: leftovers

Friday: leftovers

Saturday: We are going on a cupcake tour!!! Can't wait! Don't think we will be hungry for dinner.

Sunday: leftovers


Dessert of the week: Banana Muffins.... just need to buy some bananas lol


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Menu Plan Monday - Week of 2/11/13

Wow, where is the snow Menu Plan Monday banner? lol! My town clocked in at 29 inches! That's almost as tall as my toddler! Yikes! So much has melted already with the rain today :(


Monday: leftover Parmesan Chicken served over pasta

Tuesday:  Indiana Chowder

 Wednesday:  leftovers

Thursday:  Valentine's Day!! We are getting take out, and I have a surprise dessert planned for Jeff!

Friday: Stove Top One-Dish Chicken Skillet

Saturday: Dinner out with the in-laws (postponed from last week!)

Sunday: Dinner at the in laws

Dessert of the week: Finishing up some cake with marshmallow fluff frosting. Recipe to come soon!

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Menu Plan Monday: Week of 2/4/13

What a game :) I am not a football or sports fan, really, but I do enjoy the Superbowl. I am a 49ers fan too, and was glad they rallied back at least after the blackout! How crazy. I enjoy the commercials the best - I thought the ones the first half were ok, and they were better the second half. The farmer one was my favorite - so powerful. I am glad that football season is over, though, no more football games messing up my Sunday TV shows ;)



Monday: leftovers from yesterday

Tuesday:  Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken - did not get to it last week  

 Wednesday:  leftovers

Thursday:  pizza quesedillas

Friday: Parmesan Chicken Bake

Saturday: Dinner out with the in-laws

Sunday: leftovers

Dessert of the week: I have some cupcakes and frosting in the freezer that need to be eaten!

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Radical Review Wednesday: Goody QuikStyle Brush

Goody QuikStyle brush. photo by ivillage

I don't think I have ever coveted a brush until I saw the Goody QuikStyle brush. Being the mom of a 21 month old, I don't have the time to do a blow dry every day (or even most days!). Some mornings, I barely have time to shower! So to find a brush that removes 30% of water from wet hair to help speed my drying time? Yes please! That it is from Goody just makes it more desirable!

Goody QuikStyle brush closeup. photo frombeautezine

This brush works great! My hair is long and very thick, and it takes forever to dry. The Goody QuikStyle does help it to dry faster. If I want it even more dry, I flip my hair over to make sure that the underneath gets dry as well. I feel so much better about going outside with wet hair because it is not as wet as it used to be! You can also use it to brush your wet hair, then continue using it as you dry and style your hair.

Goody QuikStyle in action!

The only downside is cleaning it. Because it is so absorbent, it didn't dry very quickly, so it was still wet when I went to use it the next day. However, it did dry again, and works just fine!

For more information, check out the Goody website: http://bit.ly/REp8ue  or the QuikStyle Product Page: http://bit.ly/Sis8Oi


*I received this product complimentary to test through Influenster’s VoxBox program*

Menu Plan Monday Week of 1/28/13

Happy last week of January! One month closer to spring :D We are getting out of our 20s and below temps and into warmer weather - supposed to be 53 one day this week!


Monday: Jeff's turn at the dentist! Today will be taco pasta from the freezer (LO will have plain pasta)

Tuesday:  Crockpot Beef Stroganoff (will change this recipe to reflect what I have)

Wednesday: Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken


Thursday:  leftovers

Friday:  Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Braid

Saturday: Dinner will be at a baby shower

Sunday: SUPERBOWL!!! It starts so late, though, hard to fit apps, main course and dessert in! So dinner will be "hot apps" aka pretzel dogs (Jeff's request! I'll use this recipe and wrap it around the dogs). We'll have "cold apps" during the game - chips, cheese, dip, etc. and pizza for halftime.


Dessert of the Week:  Not sure!! I will make something for the Superbowl, but nothing has struck my fancy yet! Any suggestions???

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January Daring Bakers' Challenge: Gevulde Speculaas

Guevlde Speculaas almond paste between spiced dough

Francijn of Koken in de Brouwerij was our January 2013 Daring Bakers’ Hostess and she challenged us to make the traditional Dutch pastry, Gevulde Speculaas from scratch! That includes making our own spice mix, almond paste and dough! Delicious!

This was a fun and easy challenge. I had never made almond paste from scratch, but I would again. Mine did not taste too almond-y, but it was probably the quality of my almonds.

nekkid almonds and their skins

The paste was jut almonds, sugar, an egg and lemon zest in the food processor. Really simple, and it did not take too long to make.

homemade almond paste

The dough was also easy to make. The first step was to mix the speculaas spices. According to Francijn, "Speculaaskruiden contain at least cinnamon, cloves, mace and ginger, and these spices to taste: pepper, cardamom, coriander, anise seeds and nutmeg." Unfortunately, I did not have mace. The mix of spices I used is in the picture below.

speculaas spices

The dough consists of flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, spices and butter that you mix together by hand in a bowl, then roll in a ball. The dough and almond paste should be refrigerated from a few hours or a few days. I left mine in the fridge for a day to help the flavors meld.

The dough then gets divided in half and  rolled out. I had some issues with that and ended up just pressing the dough into the bottom of my pan, then pressing in the almond paste and then the rest of the dough - it totally crumbled. The top is supposed to be smooth but oh well! you also brush on egg in between each layer and on the top.

Crumbly speculaas

Add some almonds on top, bake and EAT!!! The speculaas was crumbly and light. Jeff said the psice tasted like gingerbread, but to me it was cinnamon with a hint of other spices. so good. It was the best on the day one, but today is day 3, and the spices have really come together. It is much more flavorful today.

Gevulde speculaas before and after

This was a great challenge! Thanks Francijn!

Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal+ Review

Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal+ Peach Almond

 I am an oatmeal fiend! I love it in every way possible. I eat it several times a week and E. does too. I was excited to see Quaker Real Medleys Oatneal+ in my VoxBox.

Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal+ - chunks of fruit and nuts

I loved this oatmeal. The peaches were plentiful and big AND they tasted just like peaches. No freeze dried bits that taste like nothing. Lots of almonds too, plenty of taste. The portion size was just right, and it filled me up. This would be great for traveling or just when you are on vacation and need a quick and filling breakfast.

Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal+ Peach Almond - delicious!

My only issue is that 45 seconds was not long enough to cook it in the microwave. It was still really runny, even after I stirred it (and waited). I had to cook it for 45 seconds more, and it was perfect.

For more information, visit the Quaker Web Site.




*I received this product complimentary from Influenster*

Influenster Holiday VoxBox Unveiling Video

In December, I received my very first VoxBox from Influenster! I was so excited, and seriously, every product looks great, and I can't wait to try them all!

I posted a video for the unveiling of the box. Check it out on Youtube.

Menu Plan Monday - Week of 1/21/13

This week I do not feel like making a meal plan! I should, as we are all stocked up on meat and other items, except veggies, so there is a lot to choose from. But not feeling it. I haven't even updated my blog all week! So I decided this week would be leftovers from the freezer mixed in with some easy meals.

Monday: Skillet Mac and Cheese

Tuesday:  Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Wednesday: leftovers

Thursday:  Ham and Cheese Pockets

Friday:  leftovers

Saturday we are going out to eat with the in-laws and Sunday will be leftovers!

Dessert of the Week:  Finishing the gingerbread cookies I made from a mix (shh don't tell ;) ). I need to make this month's daring baker dish as well.


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