Some Thoughts... My Walls

I am going to use this blog as an invitation to my house.  Come on over.  But beware of the scribbles. 

As you may or may not know, I have 3 children.  My first two children for the most part, I can keep up with.  I can match them move for move on most days.  (Note - the days you see me with them - those are my off days.  Ha!)  On the other hand, my third child, is a gift from God totally sent to ground me.  She teaches me daily that life is not always lists and label makers.  Sometimes life is chaos and just outright messy.   She doesn't just eat, she experiences her food.  She wears it, paints with it, eats it...  just loves every minute.  And when she decides it is time to create, hide your pencils, pens, markers, crayons....  No wall is safe from my little butterfly.

Before Little Miss was born, my hubby and I painted every room in our house.  And it was beautiful.  And that lasted for about 9 months until she learned to hold a writing tool.  Now every single room in my house has her art work in it.   And I must admit, it is driving the left brained, organized me nuts.  I wonder if she is an aspiring artist.  I wonder if I should photograph her work or cut the dry wall out and save it.  But honestly, all I want to do is paint over it.

I feel like this is a confession of me being a bad Mom.  She is only little once - enjoy her, enjoy them - and forget about the walls...  the scribbles...  I am hoping by showing off the art work on my blog, I won't worry about anyone stopping by and seeing her creations.  Maybe I should just buy frames and remove the backs and put them around the work.  Then it would look like I planned it...  And I am hoping that by putting it out there for everyone to see - I might be able to get over my Monkness and close my eyes when I get near the zigs and zags...

Kroger Ideas November 17 - 22, 2009

All I can think about this week is Thanksgiving.  And as I have said before what I am plan with the ad this week is what I am making for next week...  So I am thinking one BIG, meal next week and easy meals the rest of the week.  There are also a few items that are on sale this week that I plan to stock for quick meals later.

Idea #1 - Thanksgiving Dinner.   Even if you are not cooking, take advantage of the price of turkey's now.  Think about this - you can get a turkey that will feed your family for a few nights for less than if you and a friend went to dinner.  Get all the trimmings!  My Mom and I are planning to try baking our turkey overnight using this Southern Plate recipe.   I will let you know how that works.  I am also thinking about trying cornbread stuffing this year in addition to my Mom's traditional stuffing.  Southern Plate has a ton of Thanksgiving Ideas as does Deep South Dish.  Check them out!

Idea #2 - Stir Fry.  Kroger frozen vegetables are on sale.  Then use the meat of your choice.  Shrimp and pork are on sale... you may have chicken or beef in the freezer...  If you are like me, you have rice in your cupboard.   This meal is the best because it is one meal in one skillet. 

Idea #3 - Ham Barbecues.  This is one of my absolute favorite quick meals.  I buy Isaley's Chip Chopped Ham - because honestly there is no other kind.  I am not sure it is on sale - but everything else is.  I have a ton of bbq sauce from all the summer sales.  So here is the recipe...  Put ham in skillet; pour bbq sauce over ham (amount to your liking); heat.   Serve on hamburger buns!  Meal finished.  One skillet - less than 5 minutes.  If you don't want to deal with cleaning this skillet - get one of those plastic crock pot bags and pour everything in the crock pot and let it heat slow on warm.   You can get a 10lb bag of potatoes and make bake potatoes or fries with this meal.  Ore-Ida tater tots are on sale too.  I am going with a relish tray with this one.  I will buy celery, carrots, broccoli and serve with some ranch.  Know that I am going to use this relish tray for multiple meals.

Idea #4 - Stuffed Shells.  You have to have something saucy this week bc it is different than the normal Thanksgiving week fare...  I make my stuffed shells with mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese (ricotta works too), eggs, Parmesan cheese, Italian spices.  Kroger cheese are on sales as is cottage cheese.  So your only item at cost (and maybe it is on sale but not in the ad) is the shells.   Pick up some of those brown and serve rolls to accompany this meal.  (My Aunt Nancy used to dip those rolls in butter and then roll them in cinnamon and sugar.  OMG!  melt. in. your. mouth.)  Make a salad with this meal.  Use those veggies up!

Idea #5 - Chicken Noodle Soup.  Didn't expect this one did you?   I love soup!  In the winter, I usually have it once a week - all different kinds.  I made up a recipe that I love and it is quick.  First, I am going to buy a Park Farms Whole Roaster Chicken (get one big enough for 2 meals).  I will bake that the day before I make the soup.  Let it cool and de-bone it.  (Or pray I time it right and my Mom shows up just in time to do it for me).  Then about 1 hour before dinner, I first chop onions, celery, and carrots (have fun with the amounts to make it to your liking).  Put 2-4 T of butter in the bottom of your soup pan and melt.  Throw in the veggies.  Let them simmer until they are almost cooked.  Then place about 6-8 cans of chicken broth in the pot (Kroger brand is on sale - but if you have coupons Campbell's may be cheaper).  If you have bouillon, that works just as well with water.  Add one can of cream of chicken soup to the pot.  Mix it all up and throw in the chicken.  Season as you like - I use a bit of salt and pepper.   Don't forget the noodles.  Serve this with your relish tray as well.  Mmmmmmm...  

Idea #6 - Chicken Lettuce Wraps.  I had the opportunity to have these at PF Changs.  They are delicious.  So I was pretty excited to try these at home.  I used Christy's recipe on Southern Plate as stated.  Maybe a bit too much soy sauce for me - but overall it was great.  This will be a quick meal because you have the chicken finished from the soup.  You are going to need water chestnuts, head lettuce, onions (I used a regular white onion), and rice noodles.   You need oil to fry the rice noodles and Kroger brand is on sale.  The items I have listed you needing are not necessarily on sale - but you can make this meal for under $10 for your family.   Serve this meal with rice and finish the relish tray.  Get ready to run your vacuum after this meal.  It is a messy one!  But so worth it.  ~ A side note - my little one is not into new meals.  So for her - I rolled ham and American cheese in lettuce and gave it to her.  She did just fine with that.~

Idea #7 - Leftovers.  Seriously - soup, shells, wraps, bbqs, Thanksgiving, stir fry....  you have to have some leftovers.   

OK - things I am going to buy to stock are chicken Stove Top, beef Stove Top, and beef gravy.  When thin steaks go on sale, I will use the beef gravy and stuffing to make this quick beef wraps.  When chicken breasts are on sale, I will make a chicken and stuffing bake.  These are all on sale for $1 each.  Generics may be cheaper - those are fine too.
 
Need a nice Thanksgiving morning treat to eat while you are watching the Parade?  I am so going to try these cinnamon rolls.

Smells of Home...

Scents are such a powerful thing.  They can transport you into another time almost immediately.  They can make you think of someone you love.  And they can make you miss someone so much it hurts...

I often wonder what scent my children will associate with me...  I mean I don't wear a certain lotion, a special perfume, or use one type of soap.  So I am going to guess..  I have to think that my kids will always think of me when they smell cloves and oranges - independently or together.

You see, I love the smell of cloves and oranges.  Nothing makes me happier than to peel an orange and throw it in some water along with some whole cloves...  I even have one of those little crock pots for dips.  But for me that is my special orange and clove pot.  That smell just flat out makes me happy.  It is a cozy day at home.  It is sunshine on a cool day.  It is all things good to me.

I have also been known to sprinkle ground cloves on my carpets and then run the vacuum.  My vacuum bag holds the smell and you can always tell what room I just cleaned...  I can't figure out how to get the orange peel scent into this one - so the cloves go it alone.   

Just as I have been known to buy Dove soap to remember my Little Noni and Safeguard soap to remember my Big Noni...  And just as I spray my sweaters with my Mom's perfume so my closet smells like her...  I hope one day my kids with think of me and smile when they are baking a pumpkin pie or garnishing a ham...  Or even tossing oranges and cloves into their own crock pot...

Kroger Ideas November 10 - 15

So it seems like I have a pattern of posting my ideas for Kroger every other week.   Sometimes I find it hard pressed to get inspired when I am planning off of my personal grocery store at my house versus Kroger.   But here are some ideas I have based off of the ad that is currently running. 

Idea #1 - Potato Soup.  I love this stuff!  I love to serve it with a loaf of bread and a salad.  It is one of those heavy soups that eat like a meal.  Hash browns are on sale so that is why I chose this recipe.   Hormel bacon is also on sale.  Kroger cheese is on sale - don't be afraid of your grater to save a few pennies.  Because I always cook for an army - I would double this recipe.

Idea #2 - Adult Taco Salads.  When I was in college, we had taco salads - a lot.  My sister loved them and I kind of overdosed on them because of that.  So now, I eat them sparingly.  But I really love a more sophisticated version of one!  So I gather spring lettuce, browned ground chuck seasoned with taco seasoning, black beans, fresh salsa (the kind you get in the produce section), sliced avocados, sliced banana peppers, and grated cheddar cheese - and I toss it up!  I serve the salads in tortilla bowls - but chips work well with them too.  Every thing I mentioned for this is on sale except for the beans, banana peppers, and salsa.  You might have them at home - and they might be on sale just not mentioned in the ad.  Obviously, make this to your liking - olives would be good with this as would other types of beans.

Idea #3 - Hot Sausage.  This is going to be my crock pot meal for the week.  Brown the sausage wither in the oven or on the stove.  Add to your crock pot - the sausage, sliced onions, sliced peppers, and tomato sauce.  Let them simmer on low all day!  Serve this with hoagie rolls - and for me fresh veggies are a must.  Relish tray it is!  Don't forget cheese if you like to top your sandwiches off with it!

Idea #4 - Quiche.  I love quiche.  I love it because I am a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad omlet maker.  I have never mastered the flip.  Almost every omlet I have tried has turned out to be scrambled eggs.  So...  quiche or fresh tomato pie from Deep South Dish it is!  Eggs, bacon, cheese, tomatoes are all on sale.   I would pick up some fresh parsley for this one if you don't have it.  Flour is on sale if you feel like making a pie crust - but if you don't Pillsbury pie crusts have lots of coupons out there now.  To me there is no buying generic pie crusts.  I am going to serve this with salad and bread again.  (See how I am repeating some of my sides and ingredients to get the most bang for my buck!)

Idea #5 - Grilled Pork Chops.  Every now and then I like to have pork chops with the bone in them.  And just my luck - these are on sale.  I like to make a rub with olive oil and Chef Paul's seasoning for pork - rub them down and then let them sit in the fridge for a bit.  As sides, how about Kroger frozen broccoli and baked potatoes?   Bananas are on sale - you could try grilled bananas for dessert!!!!  or your could make some homemade banana bread.  For me banana bread = Betty Crocker!

Idea #6 - Mary's Favorite Hamburger Soup.  This is a recipe I am trying this week.  Kroger mixed veggies are on sale.  Ground chuck is on sale (which I am going to buy in bulk and use for the taco salad, this, and then hunky hamburgers).   You will need baby carrots, celery, and onions - but I am guessing you are going to get those for that relish tray and salads this week anyway.   You are also going to need 2 cans of stewed tomatoes and some egg noodles (I keep both stocked when they go on sale).  Everything else you probably have sitting in your pantry.  I probably will substitue garlic powder for garlic; just use regular bouillon, and eliminate the kitchen bouquet.      If soup just isn't enough - this is definitly a meal that screems - add grilled cheese!  (which Sara Lee bread and Kroger American Cheese will make nicely!)

Idea #7 - Hunky Hamburgers.  How do you like that name?  Really this is meat loaf but in the form of bulky hamburgers.  When I was young, my sister drove my Mom nuts with her pickiness.  So Mom would make the same meals and just name them different.  My Mom's meatloaf has been meatloaf, hunky hamburgers, Swedish meatballs...  you get the point.  It took Aimee quite some time to catch on.  Ha!  In my meatloaf, I add ground chuck, eggs, milk (just a bit), bread crumbs, onions, and a bit of green pepper.  Definitely a sale meal!  How you sauce this is personal.  I love my hamburgers with cream of mushroom soup poured over them in the last 10 minutes of cooking.   But Hunt's has a meatloaf sauce that works too!  Use up the rest of the bag of poatotes here by mashing some.   Double this one and freeze what is left!  When you are in a rush one day - you will thank me!

Kroger List Coming

I am a bit slow on the Kroger list because of work lately.  But I promise to have it by Friday.

Home

 Do you ever think about places that just make you know you are at home? Every time you see them - you just get happy? Perhaps knowing you are minutes away from your real home? Maybe just the general setting offers comfort? I have two places like that... Every time I see them, my heart warms and I have to smile.

The first place is coming back my lane to my house. There is this awesome canopy of trees that covers a very small stretch of road. It is the best tunnel out there - a secret hiding place if you will. There are many days when we or I will walk to the crest of that little tunnel - touch the stone columns (they are kind of hard to see) and then walk home. Just awesome.

My second place that reminds me that I am home is on a stretch of Route 2 right before you hit Warwood, WV. As you are driving north and looking left - the river bends and the trees open clear for a great view. I am not a master photographer going 45 mph... but you get the point... The peace that overwhelms me every time I see that river in that particular spot is undeniable. It takes me back to coming home on weekends in college - I just always knew I was home. Fantastic.