Our annual white elephant Christmas party last night was some crazy, good fun!  And from the sound of things, people have already started planning for next year.  I love it when my house is filled with good friends!

Here's our menu for this week:
Monday:  Homemade Pizza, Green Salad and Apricot Smoothie
Tuesday:  BBQ Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Green Peas and Fruit
Wednesday:  Chicken Cordon Bleu, Brown Rice Pilaf, and Spinach Salad
Thursday:  Landon's Birthday dinner, looks like we're headed to Carl's Jr. (yikes!)
Friday:  Tuna Melts, Chips and Carrots
Saturday:  Mom's Night Off! :)
Sunday:  Family Fiesta!

It was fun to reconnect this week with some of our friends from Dental School days.  Was that really twelve years ago?  Hard to believe, but then again our kids keep laughing at us as we start every other phrase with, "I remember when....."

Here's my menu for the week:

Monday: Roasted Rosemary Chicken with Sausage and Potatoes Caesar Salad and French Bread
Tuesday:  Shredded Beef and Tomatillo Enchiladas, Spanish Rice, Green Peas
Wednesday:  Bagel Melts, Veggie Tray and Chips
Thursday:  Chili with Cornbread and Spinach Salad
Friday:  Egg in a Boat and Incredible Hulk Smoothie (1 sm. container vanilla greek yogurt, 1 banana, spinach up to the top of the blender, add some juice and a tray of ice cubes, and a sprinkle of stevia)
Saturday:  Mom's Night Off!
Sunday:  Garlic Alfredo Tilapia, Angel hair Pasta, Green Salad and Parmesan Cheese Toast

Tonight was the making of our yearly Santa Trains.  Jud's family had a great tradition growing up of making these fun trains out of candy to give to friends and neighbors.  We have carried it on, with our own little twists.  And tomorrow, we will be out delivering the goods!

Here's my menu for the week:
Monday:  Tacos Supreme with Apricot Smoothie
Tuesday:  Chicken Tortellini Bake with Lemon Citrus Salad Greens
Wednesday:  Slow Cooker Sesame Beef over Rice with Egg Rolls
Thursday:  Garlic Alfredo Tilapia with Parmesan Toast and Sauteed Green Beans
Friday:  Christmas Party!
Saturday:  Mom's Night off!
Sunday:  Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Carrots and Rolls

Monday:  Glazed Salmon, Purple Rice and Kale Waldorf Salad
Tuesday: Roast Chicken, Sweet Potatoes and Salad with Honey Lemon Vinaigrette
Wednesday:  Ham and Asparagus Fritatta with Spring Greens and Muffins
Thursday:  Five Spice Hangar Steak with Rice Noodles
Friday:  Jud's Birthday Dinner--We'll find a great restaurant!
Saturday:  Puffed Oven Pancake
Sunday:  Dinner with Extended Family

Judson and I spent the last week in sunny, beautiful Florida.  While we were there we missed a huge snowstorm in Utah, darn!  Haha!  I really wasn't too sad about that ;).  I thoroughly enjoyed some much needed relaxation and time to myself.  Judson learned a lot at his surgical seminar, and applied his new techniques the day after we arrived home.  I guess now it's time to get myself put back together and on a schedule.
Here's my menu for the week:
Sunday:  Beef Stroganoff over Egg Noodles, Steamed Broccoli and Fruit Salad
Monday:  Toast Cups with Ham Bechamel Sauce
Tuesday:  Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas with Cilantro Rice and Spinach Salad
Wednesday:  Corn Chowder with Cheese Toasties
Thursday:  Thanksgiving!!!  I'll be bringing Sweet Dinner Rolls, Cranberry Sauce, and a Vegetable Tray
Friday:  Holiday Leftovers, Appetizers and Snacks (refer to my previous post)
Saturday:  Holiday Leftovers, Appetizers and Snacks (refer to my previous post)
Sunday:  Wall Family Dinner

Here are some appetizer type recipes I plan to make over the next week for Thanksgiving break.  Yum!

Thanksgiving Cheese Ball
Deviled Eggs
Green Salad with Pears, Feta and Cinnamon Pecans
Cheesy Pesto Pull Apart Bread
Meat, Cheese and Spinach Roll ups
Hot Artichoke Dip with Vegetables
Pecan Bars

To save me some time, I'm putting two weeks worth of menus up!  I'll explain later....

Monday:  Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole, Rice, Spinach Salad
Tuesday:  Eggs, Bacon, Toast and OJ
Wednesday:  Chicken Tortilla Soup and Cornbread

Thursday:  French Dip Sandwiches, Chips and Carrots with Dressing
Friday:  Pizza Night!
Saturday:  Burrito Bar
Sunday:  Lasagna, French Bread and Spinach Salad
Monday:  Orange Chicken, Rice and Veggies (Yes, Costco....)
Tuesday:  Chicken Fettucine Alfredo with Caesar Salad
Wednesday:  Taco Soup  (I can't find my recipe anywhere online.  Basically I brown a pound of ground beef or turkey, add a packet of McCormick's mild taco seasoning, add a can of corn (undrained), a can of petite diced tomatoes, an undrained small can of sliced olives, a drained and rinsed can of dark red kidney beans, and a cup of chicken broth.  I serve it with tortilla chips, shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream.  The kids love this meal!)

Halloween is on it's way! Yay!  I can't say I have any special tradition for our Halloween meal.  My kids are always so excited to go out trick or treating, that they don't pay much attention to what's for dinner.  Generally whatever is quickest to eat is best, in their estimation.  So, for the past several years I've just done pizza.  Easy, quick, everyone likes it, and I can add the greens in with a spinach 'Frankenstein' smoothie on the side.

Here's the menu for the week:
Monday:  Hearty Chicken Vegetable Soup with Golden Sweet Cornbread
Tuesday:  Shepherd's Pie with Green Salad and Orange Slices
Wednesday:  Pizza and 'Frankenstein Smoothie'
Thursday:  Roasted Chicken, Carrot and Sharp Cheddar Gratin and Green Salad
Friday:  Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Saturday:  Mom's Night Off!
Sunday:  Extended Family Dinner

Lunches:
Tuna, Crackers, Clementine and Yogurt
Turkey Sandwich, Chips, and Apple Slices
Chili and Cheese sticks (Making tons of Chili for Oktoberfest at Jud's work!)
Leftover Pizza
Quesadillas, Cucumbers and Yogurt

Judson and I just got back from a fabulous trip to Washington DC.  He was asked to present at a Conference out there, and they paid for me to come and hear him.  He was great, and the other presenters were really good as well.  I especially liked hearing Dr. Joseph Mercola, he is a great force for good and is really trying to make a difference in the healthcare industry.
We visited with Jud's brother and his family while we were there.  They live in a beautiful area in Virginia.  The trees were at their peak autumn colors, and the drive out to their countryside home was beautiful.  We loved spending time with them, and enjoying their beautiful home.  We came back home to happy boys, thanks to Jud's mom and dad.  They stayed at our house and the boys played, played played.  A winning trip for all of us!

Back to school, dinner and schedule!
Here's my menu for the week:
Monday:  Lettuce Wraps, Pot Stickers and Rice
Tuesday:  Beef Enchiladas, Mexican Bean Salad, and Chips and Salsa
Wednesday:  Chicken Pot Pie Crumble with Spinach and Kale Salad
Thursday:  Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Cottage Fries and Vegetable Plate
Friday:  Chinese Chicken Salad
Saturday:  Mom's Night off!  :)
Sunday:  Roast, Potatoes, Carrots and Sweet Dinner Rolls

Lunches:
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Kale Chips, yogurt, chips
Tuna fish with crackers, orange slices, yogurt drink
Leftovers
Macaroni and Cheese
Turkey Sandwich, Chips, Carrot sticks

As promised last post, I'm going to make an accounting of the Harvest for the year.  You know, I actually get really excited when the garden starts to produce and I know it's time to put up the food.  I did a lot this year, and it was a lot of work, but I'm always so satisfied afterward.  I know exactly where my food came from, that it was grown without chemicals, and that it is nutritious and delicious!  Here's what I figure that I did this year:

24 quarts Tomato Vegetable Soup, 14 pints Salsa, 24 quarts Spaghetti Sauce, 5 quarts Freezer Spaghetti Sauce, 7 quarts Freezer Tomatillo Enchilada Sauce, 24 quarts Pears, 18 quarts Applesauce, 15 quarts Grape Juice, 14 pints Green Beans, 14 quart bags Freezer Green Beans,  14 quarts Apricots,  7 pints Apple Cinnamon Syrup,  freezer strawberry jam from 42 pounds of strawberries,  and several quarts of homegrown popping corn.  Still to come are the beets....

Here's my menu for the week:
Monday:  Crunchy Homemade Chicken Nuggets, Cheesy Risotto and Green Beans
Tuesday:  Tacos Supreme
Wednesday:  Tuna Melt Sandwiches with Chips and a Relish Tray
FALL BREAK!

Lunches:
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches,  Yogurt and Edamame
Meat, Cheese and Spinach Skewers, Chips and Mandarin Oranges
Turkey Wraps, Carrot Sticks, and Goldfish Crackers

I think I'm getting close to the end of the Harvest for the year.  The frost has hit the garden, and it's time to dig up the beets and carrots.  So, I guess that means I'll be doing beets sometime this week.  Right now I've got two 10 -gallon buckets of Concord Grapes in my garage just begging to be juiced!  I LOVE the smell of juicing grapes in my kitchen--can't wait!  So, next week I plan to document the canning/freezing that I've done this year.  More to keep track of what I'm doing and how much my family is going through during the year than anything else.  But I'll also share my recipes if anyone's interested!
Have a happy week!
Here's my menu:
Monday:  Delicious Ham and Potato Soup with Cheese Toasties and Spinach Smoothie
Tuesday:  Spaghetti and Meatballs with Breadsticks and Spinach Salad
Wednesday:  Garlic Alfredo Tilapia with Butternut Squash Risotto and Asparagus
Thursday:  Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Wraps with Chips and a Relish Tray
Friday:  Macho Nachos
Saturday:  Mom's Night Off!
Sunday:  Ultimate Barbecue Chicken, Napa Cabbage Salad, Sweet Dinner Rolls and Sliced Watermelon

Lunches:
Egg Salad Sandwiches, Chips and Cucumbers
Parmesan Pasta with Chicken, Grapes and Cookie
Chicken Salad Croissants, Apples, Carrot Sticks
Meat and Cheese Skewers, Crackers, Boiled Egg and Grapes
Leftovers

I'm looking forward to this week...LDS General Conference, Chase's Swim Meet, Family Get Togethers, and the Beautiful Fall Weather.

Here's my menu:

Monday:  Creamy Swiss Chicken Bake over Wild Rice with Salad Greens
Tuesday:  Crustless Spinach Quiche with Sausage, Fruit and Muffins
Wednesday:  Lasagna, Spinach Salad and Crusty French Bread
Thursday:  Chicken and Vegetable Dumpling Soup
Friday:  Mom's Night Off!  (Actually, it's Chase's swim meet and I'm feeding all the Officials and Coaches--so I guess it's not my night off at all!)
Saturday:  Larson Family Get Together
Sunday:  Wall Family Get Together

Lunches:
Cheese, Crackers and Lunchmeat, Edamame and Strawberries
Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwiches, Chips and Carrots
Cheese Quesadillas, Cucumbers and Mandarin Oranges
Turkey Wrap, Boiled Egg and Kale Chips
Dinner Leftovers in a Thermos

Morgantown memories

We spent the evening watching 15 year old family movies, reliving the days in Morgantown, West Virginia.  So many great people and fun memories.  It was especially fun to see Keaton as a baby again, a lot of the footage we watched he had never seen before.  It made for some good laughs...

Here's my menu for the week:
Monday:  BBQ Glazed Meatballs with Cheesy Polenta and Vegetable Stirfry
Tuesday:  Tomatillo and Chicken Enchiladas with Mexican Rice and Green Beans
Wednesday:  Bon Appetit's Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Homemade Tomato Soup
Thursday:  Cub Scout BBQ (Bring Peanut Butter Oat Bars for dessert
Friday:  Scrambled Eggs, Bacon and Toast
Saturday:  Mom's Night Off! :)
Sunday:  Beef Stroganoff over Egg Noodles with a Spinach Salad

Lunches:
Monday:  Breadsticks with marinara, cheese stick and carrots
Tuesday:  Tuna fish sandwich, chips and orange slices
Wednesday:  Meat and cheese roll ups, edamame and strawberries
Thursday:  School Lunch (the one thing they love at school--Orange Chicken)
Friday:  Pasta Salad with chicken and vegetables and orange slices

The Aftermath...

My title is referring to....the aftermath of a broken dishwasher!  Urgggg!  Dishes everywhere, no clean forks, and a very grumpy woman!  Monday can't come soon enough (the soonest the appliance repair man can get here).  On a positive note, it was a lovely weekend spent with family and friends.  My siblings and I had a fantastic family retirement party for my dad, and it couldn't have been any better.  Oh, and the ward Primary Sacrament Meeting program went over great today.  Phew!  Primary Chorister + Primary Sacrament Mtg.= Pressure.  DONE!

My menu for this week:
Monday:  Jamaican Jerk Chicken Kabobs, Couscous, Green Salad and Cinnamon Apple Cake
Tuesday:  Seven Layer Tostadas
Wednesday:  Chicken Broccoli Supreme over Angel Hair Pasta
Thursday:  Caesar BLT Wraps
Friday:  Mom's Night Off
Saturday:  Spaghetti and Meatballs and Spinach Salad
Sunday:  Turkey Breast, Cranberry Sauce, Rolls and Green Beans

Lunch, Dinner and Downtown Abbey

Yes, it's happened.  I watched my first episode of Downton Abbey, and I'm hooked!  Jud and I didn't get to sleep before 1am all weekend--thanks to Netflix and our new show.  I'm tired.  I guess I'll have to give it a rest for the week...sleep is necessary!

Here's my dinner menu for the week:
Monday:  Chinese Chicken Salad with croissants
Tuesday:  Chicken and White Bean Chili with salad and bread (we didn't get to this last week--you know, Downton Abbey)
Wednesday:  Porcupine Meatballs with Thyme and Seasons Rice and Green Beans
Thursday:  Turkey, Sweet potatoes and Carrots in the Crockpot with Homemade Cranberry Sauce and Spinach Salad
Friday:  Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Saturday:  Mom's Night Off!
Sunday:  French Dip or Roasted Vegetable Sandwiches with Chips and Dip, Fruit Tray and Veggies

So, that's my dinner menu.  I'm going to start something new (which I hope I can keep up) and post my lunch menu that I'll be packing for my kids for the week.  I found a website that has some nice new ideas here.   Planning is the key for me!

Monday:  Breadsticks with marinara sauce, cheese stick and sugar snap peas
Tuesday:  Meat,Cheese and spinach skewers (on toothpicks), fresh pineapple and fishy crackers
Wednesday:  Turkey Wraps, chips and sliced cucumbers
Thursday:  Chicken and Veggie Pasta Salad with mandarin oranges
Friday:  Egg salad sandwich, celery sticks and sliced apples

School's starting

I loved how our school year started the day after Labor Day this year!  Since our elementary school doesn't have air conditioning (yikes!) it will make for fewer unbearably hot days.  My camera/computer are not cooperating, so no pictures yet.  They'll be coming shortly....

Here's my menu for the rest of the week:
Tuesday:  Lettuce Wraps and Pot Stickers
Wednesday:  Stromboli with Spinach Salad and Chips with Fresh Peach Pie for dessert
Thursday:  Neighborhood Party
Friday:  White Chicken Chili, Romaine Salad and Homemade Bread
Saturday:  Mom's night off!
Sunday:  Dinner with friends

We're back from a fantastic trip up the Northeastern Coast.  We started in Massachusetts and ended on a private lighthouse island in Maine, with New Hampshire and Lake Winnipesaukee in between.  I fell in LOVE with the northeast.  I started begging my dh for a house on the amazing Lake Winnipesaukee,  the one we looked at was a mere million.  One can dream, right?  The boys fished to their hearts content, both on the lake and the Atlantic Ocean.  I had some much enjoyed 'beach time,' and Jud loved being in the outdoors with the family.  My promise to Jud of no amusement parks this trip held true--although I was sincerely tempted at Old Orchard Beach in Maine.  They have a fun carnival looking amusement park right on the beach!  I'll post pictures soon.

But since I'm back, and I don't see anymore big vacations in the near future, it's time to start posting my menus again.  I do SO MUCH BETTER with making dinner when I've planned and posted them.  So, here's the menu for the week:

Monday:  Cold Thai Noodle Salad with grilled Thai Chicken
Tuesday:  Open Faced Bagel Sandwiches and Relish Tray
Wednesday:  Bistro Dinner Salad
Thursday:  Middle Eastern Quinoa Salad with Tilapia
Friday:  Backyard BBQ and Movie Night
Saturday:  Grilled Pizza Caprese style
Sunday:  Roast, Carrots, Potatoes and Sweet Dinner Rolls

I Love Summer!

I'm loving the hot weather, the water fights, the family vacations, the garden goodness, the light nights, the visiting friends, and no homework!  Stop going by so quickly, summer!

This week's menu:
Monday:  Grilled Pizza, Green Smoothie and Fruit Salad
Tuesday:  Chicken Fettucine Alfredo with Garden Salad
Wednesday:  Shredded Beef Enchiladas, Spanish Rice and Garden Green Beans
Thursday:  Honey Grilled Salmon, Double Tomato Bruschetta and Sauteed Beet Greens
Friday:  Cheese Quesadillas Bar (Make the quesadillas and then have refried beans, guacamole, sour cream mixed with taco seasoning, etc. to top them with)
Saturday:  Mom's night off :)
Sunday:  BBQ Glazed Meatballs, Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Sauteed Green Beans

Fourth Of July Fun!

This past week I spent WAY too much time on the couch.  I had some surgery on my jaw, and it really was not very fun.  Happy to be feeling better and looking forward to a fun fourth of July week.  I truly love our great country.

My menu this week:
Monday:  Wraps, Veggie Tray, Chips, Apples and Dip
Tuesday:  Family Fourth of July BBQ---Burgers, chicken, the usual.
Wednesday:  Chicken Tortilla Soup with the fixings
Thursday:  Pasta Bar with Green Salad
Friday:  Louisiana Red Beans and Rice with Steamed Veggies
Saturday:  Mom's night off
Sunday:  Dinner with friends

Family Time is Quality Time!

This past week was full of adventures.  Jud's siblings and their families came in from all across the country to go to family reunions and celebrate their parents 50th Wedding Anniversary.   Virginia, Massachusetts, Arizona, California, and Utah were all represented.  We enjoyed spending time with everyone, and loved getting dirty and dusty four wheeling in Fairview, Utah for three days.  Jud and I hosted the 50th Wedding Anniversary Party at our home, and besides some untimely winds, everything went great.  It was a special night I think we'll always remember.

Here's my menu for the week:
Monday:  Chicken Curry with Cashews, Basmati Rice, and Sauteed Green Beans
Tuesday:  Loaded Baked Potato Soup with Cheese Garlic Biscuits
Wednesday:  Pasta with Marinara Sauce, Green Salad and Fresh Fruit
Thursday:  Grilled Chicken with Potato Salad and Vegetable Tray
Friday:  Pizza Night!
Saturday:  Mom's Night Off!
Sunday:  Dinner with family

Better Late Than Never

Here's my menu for the week:
Monday:  Spaghetti, Garlic Cheese Toast and Garden Salad
Tuesday:  Verde Chicken Mexican Lasagna and Sauteed Brussel Sprouts and Strawberries
Wednesday:  Smoked Turkey Club Panini, Veggie Tray and Chips
Thursday:  Cheesy Skillet Chicken and Rice
Friday:  Raid the fridge for leftovers!
Saturday:  Mom's Night Off!
Sunday:  Dinner with Family

Ninny....

Today was almost laughable.  I'm glad my fifteen year old has a sense of humor.  He's taking his first long distance trip without his parents, and I wanted to make sure he was ultra prepared (of course).  I wonder how many times I asked him if he had packed his deoderant?  What about extra socks?  And the swim shirt for the beach?  How about the toothbrush?  Floss?  Sunblock?  I had to stop after I got the severe 'roll of the eyes' for asking if he had enough briefs?  Yes.  I'm that bad.  I miss him and he's only been gone four hours.  This thing about kids growing up is for the birds....

Here's my menu for the week:
Monday:  Lettuce Wraps (I use ground turkey with this recipe), Potstickers and Rice
Tuesday:  BBQ Glazed Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes, Sauteed Lime and Garlic Brussel Sprouts and Sweet Garden Strawberries
Wednesday:  Mediterranean Tuna Casserole and Caesar Salad
Thursday:  The Ultimate Barbequed Chicken, Couscous Salad and Garden Greens
Friday:  Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Soup
Saturday:  Mom's Night Off!
Sunday:  Grilled Steak and Salmon, Hasselback Potatoes, Green Salad and Fruit Plate

Isn't it ironic?

I actually quite like that song, 'Isn't it Ironic?'.  It popped into my head as I was thinking that last week was one of my least busy weeks in a few months, yet I didn't take time to make a menu, I really didn't cook anything for dinner all week and I was pretty pathetic about grocery shopping.  Hmmm....

Menu for the week:
Monday:  BBQ with Friends.  We're grilling Rosemary Ranch Chicken!
Tuesday:  French Dip Sandwiches with a Vegetable Platter and Fruit Salad
Wednesday:  Honey Lime Enchiladas with Sweet Pepper Rice and Garden Salad
Thursday:  Sliced Ham, Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans and Morning Glory Muffins
Friday:  Pizza Night!
Saturday:  Mom's Night Off!
Sunday:  Lasagna, Breadmaker Bread, and Garden Salad

Mother's Day!

What a great day I had today.  I admit, I am hard core spoiled!    My husband made sure that every nook and cranny of today was wonderful, what a guy!  I hope I fit into my exercise clothes tomorrow, I did some serious eating today!  Ha!  Yes, he made this amazing breakfast and this delicious dinner with a fantastic pineapple upside down cake for dessert.  I know, he's dreamy!

Here's my menu for the week:

Monday:  Chili and Cornbread (I love the chili recipe in the BHG cookbook)

Tuesday: Teriyaki Chicken and Vegetable Fried Rice

Wednesday:  Smoked Turkey and Artichoke Paninis  with Kale Chips and Apple Slices

Thursday:  Beef Enchiladas with Garden Salad and Fresh Fruit

Friday:  Mom's Night Off :)

Saturday:  Scrambled Eggs and Toast

Sunday:  Dinner with friends

Couples Retreat

Judson and I received a gift to go on a 'Couple's Retreat' this past weekend.  It was so nice to get away and spend some uninterrupted quality time together.  I think the highlight for me was dancing on Friday night.  The retreat had a professional come in and teach the couples some country dancing--so much fun!  I used to country dance 4-5 times a week before I got married (yes, the grades suffered!).  The dancing took me back to my college days, and I loved it!  The best part....Judson declared afterward that he'd love for us to go on some dancing dates!

Here's my menu for the week:

Monday:  Bourbon Chicken, Brown Rice and Stir-fried Vegetables
Tuesday:  Taco Pie
Wednesday:  Panini Caprese Strata (2nd place with the casserole contest) with Strawberries and Salad
Thursday:  Marinated Turkey Cutlets, Sweet Potatoes and Spinach Salad
Friday:  Pasta Bar!
Saturday:  Mom's Night Off!
Sunday:  Mother's Day Dinner--I'll let my family take care of this meal :)

Casserole anyone?

Honestly, I'm not a huge casserole lover.  But for the next couple of weeks, I'm going to be brave and try some casserole recipes I ran across from ldsliving.org.  They had a casserole contest a while back, and they posted the first, second and third place winners on their website.  This week, I'm going to start with the third place winner.  Also, if you want a yummy lemon cookie recipe, use this one:  Lemon Crinkle Cookies (but use the juice of one whole lemon instead of just 1 Tbsp. and bake them for only 8 minutes and let them set on the baking tray for about 5 minutes).  Delicious!

Monday: Chicken Cordon Blue Florentine Casserole, Caesar Salad and Fresh Fruit
Tuesday:  Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup with Tortilla Chips and Garnish
Wednesday:  Sloppy Joes with Cottage Fries and Veggie Plate
Thursday:  Smothered Pork Chops with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans
Friday:  Mom's Night Off!
Saturday:  Pizza Night!
Sunday:  Chicken Fettucine Alfredo with Spinach Salad and Garlic Bread

Brooks' Birthday!

Brooks' birthday was this past week. Don't you just love birthdays? I keep them simple, but that way I can be consistent. I always hang up a poster the night before that says 'Happy Birthday, _________' and surround it with balloons. During their birthday day they don't have to do their jobs, they get to choose any dinner they want, and then after dinner we open presents with cake and ice cream. Because Keaton had a mandatory festival he had to attend the night of Brooks birthday, we had pan'cakes' for breakfast which got lit up with candles. He was so excited he got to open his presents before school instead of after dinner. That way, he got to wear his new 'Bountiful Lacrosse' shorts to school on his birthday!

My menu for the week:
Monday: Steak Fajitas 
Tuesday: Chicken Fettucine Alfredo, Spinach Salad and Fresh Fruit
Wednesday: Turkey and Quinoa Meatloaf, Fresh Asparagus, and Strawberries
Thursday: French Dip Sandwiches, Cottage Fries, and Vegetable Plate
Friday: Omelets and Muffins
Saturday: Mom's Night Off!
Sunday: Lemon and Garlic Roast Chicken with Sauteed Vegetables and Crusty French Bread

The return from Belize!

I have to admit some jealousy here. The 'boys only' Spring Break vacation has come to an end and it was phenomenal! Jud and Keaton returned from Belize earlier this week and had an amazing experience sailing, diving, fishing, snorkeling, and sailing some more. Beautiful weather, beautiful scenery and as I have reminded Jud time and again, the only thing missing was ME! Maybe next time....

Here's my menu for the week:
Monday: Rosemary Ranch Chicken Kabobs and Mediterranean Rice Salad and Fresh Fruit
Tuesday: Loaded Baked Potato Soup with Cheesy Garlic Biscuits
Wednesday: Taco Pockets withCorn Salsa and Apricot Smoothie
Thursday: Brooks' Birthday Dinner! In and Out Burger...here we come!
Friday: Chicken Tikka Masala (in the slow cooker), Cucumber Relish, Basmati Rice and Green Beans
Saturday: Mom's Night Off!
Sunday: Larson Family Dinner

Lehi...land of adventure

The younger boys and I took a 'mini' Spring Break vacation and adventured to the land of Lehi, Utah! I know, we are very exciting around here. But seriously, we had such a fun time. The hotel we stayed in had a huge indoor pool and hot tub along with a hot breakfast buffet. Landon was so funny, one morning he announced proudly as he was eating some Lucky Charms, "Now I have had Lucky Charms two times! I'll remember this forever!" (I obviously don't buy sugared cereals around here). We went to Trafalga, a REAL Soccer game, Boondocks, Tepanyaki, the movies and Provo Beach resort over our three day get away. We were all exhausted when we arrived home. My bed never felt so good! (Okay, that's a lie. It felt even better when I got home from Trek!) And our great week was topped off by a spiritual feast at church today.

Here's my menu for the week:
Monday: Chicken Tortellini Bake, Steamed Veggies, and Fruit Salad
Tuesday: I hate to say it, Leftovers from Easter dinner.
Wednesday: Smoked Turkey Baked Chimichangas, Green Salad and Bottled Fruit
Thursday: Chili, Corn Muffins and Spinach Salad (I use the chili recipe out of the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook)
Friday: Grilled Cheese and Soup
Saturday: Mom's night off!
Sunday: Lasagna, Spinach Salad and French Bread (This is the sauce I use with my lasagna--yummo! Bottled Spaghetti Sauce)

An UPlifting weekend!

I really enjoyed the down time that General Conference weekend brought. It was so nice to sit and be still. I was inspired by the beautiful messages and now I am determined to be better!

Here's my menu for the upcoming week:

Monday: Chinese Chicken Salad with Potstickers and a Fruit Plate (I have a bunch of leftover salad from our family get-together today and decided this would be the perfect way to use it! I love salads!)
Tuesday: Rachel Ray's Sloppy Joes, Deviled Eggs and a Vegetable Tray
Wednesday: Spring Break Restaurant Night!
Thursday: Pizza with Green Salad and Apricot Smoothie
Friday: Baked Omelet Pie, Blueberry Muffins and Bottled Pears
Saturday: Leftovers! (I say yay! But my kids pretty much hate leftover night!)
Sunday: Easter dinner with Grandma and Grandpa!
Barbecued Boneless Beef Ribs, Potato Casserole, Sweet Dinner Rolls, Sauteed Green Beans and Molten Chocolate Cakes with Sugar Coated Raspberries

Shout out to my kiddos!

I'll take a little moment to give a shout out to my kids, they've been working really hard lately. Both Keaton and Chase had Piano Federation on Saturday and worked so hard to prepare. They both did a great job at the performance. Keaton has barely had time to breath, he's been so busy with school, lacrosse and his other activities. He brought home a first place in State at the State TSA (Technology Student Association) competition on Friday. He's been invited to Nationals which are in June in Nashville, TN. Chase continues to swim and swim and swim. He's increased his times tremendously and is really loving the sport. He's looking forward to Junior High come fall. Brooks is becoming a great pianist and even accompanied the entire singing time in Primary a couple of weeks ago. He is so smart, his teacher at school is always complimenting him. Landon is becoming a good reader and is really loving Kindergarten (although he tells me he can't wait for First Grade because that means he gets to be with his friends all day at school). We're all doing our best to find joy in the journey.
Here's my menu for this week:
Monday: Toastcups
Tuesday: Build Your Own Burrito Bar
Wednesday: Beef Stroganoff over Pasta with Asparagus
Thursday: Coconut Chicken Curry, Brown Rice, Green Beans and Mango Lassi
Friday: Crepes (I set out a variety of things to fill the crepes with, anything from scrambled eggs, cheese and spinach to fresh berries)
Saturday: Mom's Night Off!
Sunday: General Conference BBQ with the Wall family

A sad thing....the end of birthday week

There are a few weeks I love each year. Topping the list would be the week of our 'unique' family vacation, the week of Christmas, and the week of my birthday. There's just something awesome about people bringing you gifts, sending you notes, expressing love, taking you out to lunch, making your meals and feeding you cake! Pretty fantastic. I felt so loved this week. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, everyone. The only bad thing about birthday week is that it has to come to an end. :(

Here's my menu for the week:
Monday: Chicken Cacciatore, Angel Hair Pasta, Olive Garden Salad
Tuesday: Stromboli with Marinara Sauce, Spinach Salad, and Chips
Wednesday: Chili Verde (I cut this recipe in half) with Cheese Quesadillas
Thursday: Chicken Curry with Basmati Rice and Peas
Friday: Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Saturday: Mom's Night Off! :)
Sunday: Roast, Potatoes, Carrots and Sweet Dinner Rolls

Is it gardening time already?

On Friday I came home to an absolutely giddy husband. "Guess what?" he asked. I don't know. "I planted peas, carrots, kale and spinach in the garden today!" Huge smile on his face! Wow, really? Isn't there still snow in the backyard? "Yup, but I chose a really warm spot in the garden." Okay, great. Wondering to myself, "Isn't it a bit early to start planting outside?" I guess we'll see! But downstairs, we have an indoor garden. All sorts of things under the grow lights, I'll have to take photos. Never did I ever imagine that I'd married such an earth enthusiast. But I love it, and most of all, I love fresh garden produce. I'm already looking forward to the harvest!

Here's my menu for the week:
Monday: Herbed Chicken Nuggets (I use milled flax rather than wheat bran and add 1 tsp. salt), Pumpkin Pie Muffins, Arugula Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette
Tuesday: BBQ Glazed Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans
Wednesday: It's My Birthday!!! I think I'll let my hubby take care of this meal!
Thursday: : Sweet and Sour Chicken, Fried Rice, and a Spinach Smoothie
Friday: Pancakes and Eggs
Saturday: Mom's Night off!
Sunday: Birthday dinner at Grandma's house!

Ready to dive in!

Today, as I look at my upcoming week, I feel like I need to just hold my breath and dive right in and hope I resurface by the end of the week. It's gonna be a busy one....thus, simple meals are in order!

Monday: Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Potatoes, Carrots and Onions
Tuesday: Artichoke Chicken with Steamed Rice and Sauteed Garlic and Lime Brussel Sprouts
Wednesday: Easy Bagel Melts, Veggie Tray and Chips and Salsa
Thursday: Taqueria Style Tacos (I'm going to cheat and cook the meat in the slow cooker)
Friday: Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Saturday: Mom's Night Off :)
Sunday: Dinner with friends

Delicious Cookie Recipes

This blog has become my "recipe saver." So, here are some cookie recipes that I really don't want to lose. We love them!
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies (for this recipe I use coconut oil, brown sugar, and add shredded coconut and an egg).
Coconut Macaroons (I cut the almond flavoring to 1 tsp.)

Scuba Diving and Swim Team!

This past weekend was fun! On Saturday Keaton continued getting Scuba certified for his upcoming spring break trip. I remember my first time breathing under water, it was absolutely exhilarating! He has his four open water dives, and then he's complete. Chase did fantastic at his swim meet on Saturday. He beat his personal best by 20 seconds. Doesn't sound like a lot, but in swimming it really is. He came in 2nd place in his heat for free-style, and 3rd in his heat for breast stroke. I had a fun concert on Saturday night. I've been loving singing with the Salt Lake Choral Artists, here's a review of the concert if you're interested. reichelrecommends.com

Here's my menu for the week:
Monday: Barbecued Boneless Beef Ribs, Quinoa and Broccoli with CheeseSauce
Tuesday: Gourmet Chicken Sandwich, Potato Chips, Veggie Tray
Wednesday: Turkey Taco Soup, Tortilla Chips, Avocadoes, Cheddar Cheese and Sour Cream
Thursday: Puffed Oven Pancake with Berries and Spinach Smoothie
Friday: BLT Pasta with Spinach Salad and Apricot Smoothie
Saturday: Mom's night off! :)
Sunday: Dinner with the Wall's

I slept in on Friday!

Yes, the headliner is about me sleeping in! I was nearly giddy on Thursday night because I have been craving a 'sleep in' for several weeks now! The kids had no school on Friday, Jud had no work on Friday, I had no commitments on Friday morning! I didn't get out of bed until 8:30am--it was heavenly! Random, I know. But one of life's little pleasures.

Here's my menu for the week:
Monday: Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce and Spinach Salad
Tuesday: Thai Chicken Satay, Mango and Coconut Rice Salad with Stir Fry Vegetables.
Wednesday: Broiled Parmesan Tilapia, Quinoa Cakes, Vegetable Platter and Apricot Smoothie
Thursday: Tomatillo and Chicken Stew, Quesadillas and Cobb Salad
Friday: French Toast, Scrambled Eggs and Spinach Smoothie
Saturday: Mom's night off!
Sunday: Chicken Cordon Bleu, Jasmine Rice, Green Beans and Fruit Salad

The Lacrosse season is upon us....

Highschool Lacrosse starts this week, with full-fledge practices every day from 3:45pm to 6. Will we survive??? I think so! But, I'll tell you what, I CAN'T WAIT until Keaton can drive!!!

In other fun news, Chase got braces and looks adorable (and really hasn't complained much:), Brooks' basketball team is undefeated and really fun to watch, Landon was star of the week last week and is still beaming from all of the attention, and Keaton was selected to go to the District Science Fair and District Solo and Ensembles for trombone. Fun stuff!

My menu for the week:

Monday: Beef Stew with Corn Muffins and my Incredible Hulk Smoothie
Tuesday: Lasagne (I use my bottled spaghetti sauce from the garden, yum!), Valentine Cheese Toast (Just cut the toast out with a heart shaped cookie cutter), Spinach Salad and Strawberries
Wednesday: Turkey Burgers and Homemade Tater Tots (yup, we like the tots!)
Thursday: No Cream of Soup Hawaiian Haystacks, Berry-Spinach Smoothie
Friday: Federation Celebration! It's our tradition to go out to dinner after piano Federation is finished. Tonight's the night!
Saturday: Ham, Cheese and Spinach Omelets
Sunday: Larson Family Dinner

Food Moods....

I think I've changed this menu about 4 times now. I don't know what kind of food I'm in the mood for, but I think this is the final change. Although, I just noticed I have two 'coconut' dishes in the same week. Grrrr... I hate it when I'm not food decisive!

My menu this week:

Monday: Thai Style Coconut Chicken with Steamed Jasmine Rice
Tuesday: BBQ Glazed Meatballs, Quinoa Cakes and Broccoli
Wednesday: Calabaza Corn and Coconut Soup with Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
Thursday: Tacos Supreme
Friday: Pizza Night!
Saturday: Mom's night off!
Sunday: Dinner with Grandma and Grandpa!

This week's menu

This is a repeat from last May, it was nice to just copy and paste my menu for the week, the only problem is that I lost the links in the process. I'll fix it tomorrow, I'm too tired tonight!

Monday: Crustless Quiche, french cheeses and breads, fresh fruit salad
Tuesday: Shepherd's Pie, spinach salad, fruit smoothie
Wednesday: Stromboli, Marinara and Ranch dipping sauce, Caesar Salad and chips
Thursday: Grilled Fish Tacos with Chipotle lime dressing
Friday: Mom's night off :)
Saturday: Oat Waffles, eggs, bacon and fruit
Sunday: Dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Birthdays and our 16th Anniversary!

The third week of January is always an exciting one around our house! Keaton and Chase both have birthdays, and Jud and I have our anniversary. We had a great week. Keaton turned 15 and is chomping at the bit to get his Learners Driving Permit and get behind the wheel. Chase turned twelve and is 'finally' out of Primary! We had a neat experience as he received the Priesthood today. Jud and I celebrated 16 eventful years! I must say I was quite spoiled, which is what he does best. Not only did I get tickets to the musical "Wicked", I also got an awesome Ipad set up next to my stove (since I almost always use the internet for my recipes), and heated gloves for our ski trips (my hands are ALWAYS cold!). He also took me on a weekend getaway to a beautiful Bed and Breakfast in SLC. We had a fantastic time!


Here's my menu for the week:
Monday: Sweet Lime Chile Enchiladas with Sweet Pepper Rice and a Spinach Salad
Tuesday: Slow Cooker Apricot Glazed Pork Tenderloin, Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans
Wednesday: Chicken Fettucine Alfredo with Caesar Salad
Thursday: Chicken Corn Chowder with Popovers
Friday: Silver Dollar Pancakes and Eggs
Saturday: Mom's Night Off! :)
Sunday: Wall Family Dinner

A few great recipes

I didn't post my menu last week, but I used some great recipes that I don't want to lose. These are both five star recipes that I would highly recommend!

Molten Chocolate Cake with Sugar Coated Raspberries ( I used this recipe for Chase's birthday cake! I made individual cakes in custard bowls. Truly delicious!)

Chicken and White Bean Chili ( I have crashed and burned on all other white bean chilis, and thought I didn't like them, until I tried this one. Seriously, it is excellent! I used three cans of Great Northern Beans instead of soaking my own, cut the broth to three cups, and used only 1 1/2 tsp. of chili powder and no cayenne pepper. Try it, you'll thank me!)

A pretty uneventful week....

Sometimes no news is good news! It's been an uneventful week. The boys went back to school, Brooks started basketball practice, and I had a morning all to myself shopping at the Gateway! It was actually quite nice to have some "me" time.

Here's my menu for the week:

Monday: Chicken Parmesan (I use almond flour instead of breadcrumbs), Quinoa Pilaf, Caesar Salad
Tuesday: Coconut Curry Beef, Basmati Rice, Green Peas, and Orange Slices
Wednesday: Chicken Noodle Soup, Corn Muffins and Spinach Salad
Thursday: Italian Chicken and Tabbouleh
Friday: Pizza Night!
Saturday: Mom's Night Off!
Sunday: Grilled Steak, Sweet Potatoes, Popovers and Spinach Salad

A great holiday and gluten free cooking!

It has been a great holiday season! My husband had the entire week off after Christmas, and we played and played! We took the boys on a ski/snowboarding trip for a few days and had a blast! My youngest is hilarious on skis! He's quite good and has no fear. You can always tell which run he's on because he yells at the top of his lungs as he skis straight down the mountain, "Yee-haw!" The other boys are close to surpassing me with their skills! But they've got a long ways to go before they'll surpass their dad (is that possible? I don't know, he's REALLY good!) We had fun hanging out together, watching silly movies, and eating good food. I'm not sure if I'm ready for school to start again, although a schedule and routine sounds nice. And now we have to wait a whole year for Christmas to come again!

I have a lot of people ask me about how I cook gluten-free for one of my children. Is it hard? Sometimes. But for the most part, I just have to be organized with a menu and it's not too inconvenient. This particular child is not a celiac, just gluten intolerant. I don't have to be ultra careful to make sure that nothing has been gluten contaminated, but I do my best. In my recipes, if something uses pasta, I uses 'Brown Rice Pasta' by Tinkyada. It tastes great and my family cannot tell the difference. It's also whole grain, so it's better for all of us. If I make enchiladas, I always make several with corn tortillas for my gluten-free guy. I also buy him special bread for toast. Baked goods are really the most different part of gluten-free eating. I bake a lot of things with almond flour, such as muffins and cookies, and I use whole grain oats a lot. I love Elana's Pantry and get a lot of my goodie and baking recipes from her. I also love my cookbook 'Eat Free' by Rhiannon Lawrence. Really, the most difficult part is making his lunches. I'd love suggestions for gluten-free brown bag lunch ideas. I'm always searching for ideas!

Here's my menu for this week:
Monday: Chicken Cordon Bleu, Brown Rice, Sauteed Lime and Garlic Asparagus
Tuesday: Slow Cooker Lentil and Ham Soup, Corn Muffins
Wednesday: Shredded Beef Tomatillo Enchiladas, Mexican Rice, Green Salad
Thursday: Spaghetti with Marinara (I made a huge batch of this yummy sauce in the summer and it frozen into quart bags), Parmesan Toast, Green Salad
Friday: Pizza Night! (I make a huge batch of this Gluten Free Pizza Dough for my gluten-free guy. I shape it into several mini pizza crusts and bake it for about 8 minutes and then freeze it)
Saturday: Mom's night off!
Sunday: Crockpot Barbeque, Baked Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli