Menu Plan Sunday

Due to Husby's family visiting this week, our Menu Plan is pretty boring. This weekend we cooked a bunch of large meals, so we will mainly live off leftovers until Wednesday evening when Husby's mom comes to town.

Saturday:
*Lunch*
Homestyle Chicken Tender Bake
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp. fresh chopped chives
4-6 chicken tenders (Tyson)
2 baked potatoes (cooked & mashed)
1/2 cup of milk (for mashed potatoes)
1 jar chicken gravy
1 can yellow & white corn
Aluminum foil
1 1/2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese

Preheat oven to 400.
Chop chives & cut chicken into bite-size pieces.
Boil potatoes and when soft, mash adding the milk to make them creamy.
Spread potatoes evenly into 2-quart baking dish.
Top with chicken, gravy, and then corn; cover with foil.
Bake 30-35 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Remove foil and top with cheese and bake 3-4 minutes longer to melt cheese.
Top with chives and serve.

*Dinner*
Family Dinner @ Sonny's BBQ


Sunday:
*Breakfast*
Apple Streusel Pizza
Ingredients:
Aluminum foil
2 medium golden apples
2 Tbsp cinnamon sugar, divided
1 tube of flaky cinnamon rolls with icing
1 cup vanilla almond low-sugar granola

Preheat oven to 400.
Line baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Cut apples into small pieces and toss with 1 1/2 Tbsp cinnamon sugar.
Open cinnamon rolls and unroll the entire dough on baking sheet to form crust about 9x13.
Sprinkle apples over crust and bake 6-7 minutes until edges are golden.
Top with granola and bake 6-7 minutes until center is cooked.
Let stand 3 minutes to cool.
Place icing in microwave-safe dish and microwave on medium for 20 seconds to make icing thin and pourable.
Drizzle pizza with icing, then sprinkle with remaining 1/2 Tbsp cinnamon sugar.
Slice & Serve.

*Lunch*
Leftover Baked Spaghetti


*Dinner*
Hearty Spooky Stew with Parmesan Bones Breadsticks
Ingredients:
1 pkg. meatballs
1/2 cup broccoli; chopped
1 cup cauliflower; chopped
1 cup carrots; sliced
2-3 potatoes; chopped
1/2 cup celery; chopped
2 cups Swiss Chard; chopped
1 pkg. grape tomatoes
2 cans kidney beans; drained
1 can (32 oz.) diced tomatoes
3 1/2 cups vegetable juice (V8)
4 cups beef broth (substitute vegetable broth)

After cooking:
Parmesan cheese
1 pkg. breadsticks

Add ingredients to crock pot and cook on HIGH for 6-8 hours.
Season with salt & pepper (to taste).
Dish out and sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese.
Follow breadstick directions and then sprinkle cheese on sticks before baking.

Weekend Plans---Impromptu Cooking & Baking & Football

Since the weather is less than stellar and I am still not feeling well...we are having a quiet, home day. This morning Husby had coaching so we all went; including our Little Lion. They had a little Halloween party, so we had some sweet treats after coaching and then headed to BJs & Publix to run errands.

After seeing a yummy recipe at Publix last night, Husby decided we would do that for lunch. So lunch today is Chicken Tender Bake (Chicken, mashed potatoes and sweet corn), while we watch some Gators Football. If the weather clears up and it is not too wet or chilly, we are planning to do the Halloween event at the zoo; "Boo at the Zoo". In the meantime, I am laying on the couch watching, Casper, Husby is carving our pumpkin, and B is napping. Depending how I feel, I was going to make an Apple Streudel Pizza later tonight and tomorrow make a pot of the Hearty Veggie Stew for weekly meals and tomorrow night's dinner.

Tomorrow, is food shopping and menu planning, as well as, league. Hoping tomorrow is a better day then today. Hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween weekend!!!

And the verdict is in...

The doctor's office finally called me back with the results of the pelvic ultrasound I had this past Tuesday. According to them, everything looks fine...nothing alarming, no growths or anything. However, it does not explain the unexpected/ "breakthrough" bleeding occurring or the immense pain I feel on the left side. They did note that one of the cysts is a follicular cyst and rather large, while the others are smaller and no cause for alarm.

So now, I wait until Nov. 7th for another appointment to discuss my options and I guess for the doctor to convince me to get a D&C. I am still in pain and with the other symptoms, but as Husby says, it's only a week to wait (since according him this week is pretty much over). So I guess, I wait and remain in pain and such until that appointment or unless it all stops on its own. What a lovely thought!

Halloween is next week, with many events/festivities this weekend. I am hoping to feel up to doing some stuff this weekend, but we shall see. Then, next week, Husby's mom and stepdad come for a visit. I am excited to see them, but with how I am feeling, I'm kind of bummed to be feeling miserable (as I do now) with people visiting (especially since we never get to spend time with them/they rarely get to see B-other than pictures). I am not getting my hopes up, but am hoping I feel better for their visit, since we do not have plans to see them through the holidays...unless they make it up to Michigan for the family wedding around New Year's.

In other news, I am still waiting to get my transcripts from Tech and waiting to hear back from UMD-CP if I got into the program....slight nerves!

Brantley's 1st Year Photos & Family Photos

This past weekend, we got together with Valerie Dickens Photography to do our new tradition of yearly family photos and then also get some pictures of B for his 1st year.

You can look at a slideshow of them: Here

Menu Plan Sunday

Sunday:
Grilled Cheese Paninis & Tomato Bisque Soup*
Bowling night, so a quick dinner

Monday:
Baked Spaghetti & Garlic Bread
Ingredients
1 box spaghetti pasta
1 lb lean ground turkey
1 cup diced onions
1/4 cup diced bell peppers
3 large eggs
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp seasoned salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 cups shredded Italian-blend cheese, divided
1 jar tomato basil pasta sauce

1. Cook pasta as directed.
2.  Brown ground turkey, as directed.
3. Combine in large bowl: ground turkey, onions, peppers, 1 egg, oregano, seasoned salt, and garlic powder until well blended.
4. Spread mixture evenly in 13 x 9 baking dish.
5. Wash hands.
6. Drain pasta.
7. In medium bowl, whisk remaining 2 eggs until well blended and then stir in 1/2 cup cheese.
8. Add pasta & toss to coat.
9. Spread pasta evenly over meat & cover with pasta sauce.
10. Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 cups of cheese and Bake 30-35minutes or until 165 and meat is fully cooked.
11. While in oven, spread butter on French loaf bread and sprinkle with garlic powder. Layer with cheese and heat until bread browns and cheese melts (~10 mins...but check after 5 mins.).
12. Let dish stand 5 minutes and then serve.


Tuesday:
Chicken & Rice Casserole

Ingredients
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups frozen sweet peas, thawed
1 1/2 cups uncooked instant rice

1. Place chicken in slow cooker and add the 2 soups and water.
2. Stir and make sure to spread over chicken.
3. Cover and cook on low heat for 4.5 to 5.5 hours.
4. 15 minutes before serving, add thawed peas and uncooked rice to crockpot.
5. Re-cover and cook 15 minutes until rice is tender. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Wednesday:

Leftovers


Husby starts a new class this week; so this week is a "quick" week

Thursday:

Tuna Casserole

Ingredients
1 can of Tuna in water (Low-fat/ Low-Sodium)
1 box of Tuna helper
1 cup of Steamfresh peas

1. Follow directions for Tune Helper, adding in the can of Tuna and peas right before serving.

Friday:
Hearty Stew & Bones Breadsticks


Ingredients:
1 package of Italian seasoning meatballs
4-6 potatoes, cubed
1 cup cauliflower, chopped
1/2 cup broccoli, chopped
1 cup carrots, sliced
1/2 cup celery, chopped
2 cups Swiss Chard, chopped
2 cups cherry tomatoes
2 cans kidney beans, drained
1 can (32 oz.) diced tomatoes
2 cups vegetable juice
2 cups beef broth
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tube of Pilsbury breadstick dough 


1. Add ingredients to crock pot and cook on high for 6-8 hours.
2. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Dish out and sprinkle with parmesan cheese on top.
4. Bake breadsticks according to package except shape them into long bones. Right before placing in oven, sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.


Saturday:

Family Day/Night Out

Grad School...again

So I was going to take some time and let Husby get his Master's done, but since he is now halfway through and I am feeling the pressure to get my Biology credentials completed, I applied to University of Maryland-College Park to pursue a Master's of Science in Chemical & Life Science (with an emphasis in Biology). Thankfully the program is predominantly online, except for the necessary laboratory experience (which I might have previously fulfilled between my undergrad work and my post-undergrad work at the Medical Entomology lab) and the scholarly paper (again may previously been fulfilled). It is a 30 credit program, so probably another 2 years down the road. Between the economy and the poor job market and sadly the deterioration of the Higher Education system here, I figure I might as well get ahead of the curve as soon as I can.

Stay tuned on updates as I hear if I have been officially accepted, and as we journey down this road with both of us in school. Thankfully my Spring schedule is super flexible and we have an awesome sitter now, so I should have time to concentrate on schoolwork and gradwork at work (and at home on some days B goes to the sitter "early").

And not that I want to lean too heavily on Husby's sister, but she will be moving this way in another month. She, too, will also be going to school, but I guess if Husby & I get in a pinch, she may be able to take B for a few. She would be the last option since I do not want her to feel we are using her for childcare, but I also think we will be able to handle B and our work (especially if I continue to keep my week open for homework).

Menu Plan Sundays

Since we typically plan our week on Sundays, including our meals and do our weekly grocery shopping, I am going to try to post our menu for the week. Since Husby & I both work full-time lunch is almost always leftovers and breakfast is either cereal, fruit and/or oatmeal for all three of us, I am only doing our dinner plans.

Sunday:
Italian Sausage & Cheese Tortellini with Rad Sauce and Texas Toast*


We use pre-packaged tortellini boil until the "pouches" float (10-15 minutes) and then stir in a jar of Prego Roasted Garlic Parmesan sauce and then either make Texas Toast with 2 piece of french loaf bread, spread lightly with butter and sprinkled with garlic powder. Right before placing in the oven, Husby covers the top with Italian mix cheese for cheesy garlic toast. Otherwise, I cheat and use frozen Texas Toast again coated with a thin layer of chese.

Monday:
Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Baby Back Ribs & Corn Risotto with French Cut Green Beans 
 *Dessert*
Chocolate Pretzel Parfaits

Ribs Ingredients
1/2 cup apple cider
1 1/4 cups Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce, divided
3 lbs pork baby back ribs
2 sheets of aluminum foil (# varies on how many 'pouches' you make)
1 Tbsp Cajun blackened seasoning

1. Preheat oven to 450F.
2. In small bowl, mix together apple cider and 3/4 cup of BBQ sauce.
3. Place ribs on foil in single layer. Season ribs by rubbing the seasoning into them on both sides. (Make sure to wash hands afterwards).
4. Cover ribs with sauce mixture.
5. Make a pouch with the foil and double-fold seal the pouch.
6. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes. (If you like tender, fall of the bone ribs, cook them an extra 15 minutes....it smells sooo good and the meat melts in your mouth).

Risotto Ingredients
1 bag of Steamfresh corn
32 oz. of reduced-sodium/reduced fat vegetable broth
1 cup of risotto rice
1 cup fresh diced onion
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 tsp dried basil
2 Tbsp fresh grated Parmesan cheese

1. Microwave corn as directed on bag.
2. Place corn and remaining ingredients (except the Parmesan cheese) into large microwave safe bowl and Microwave on High for 10 minutes.
3. Stir once and then microwave 10-15 more minutes until rice is softened.
4. Stir in cheese and let stand for 10 minutes to allow rice to thicken before serving.

Dessert Ingredients
6 coconut macaroon cookies
1/2 cup thin pretzel sticks
1 (3.4 oz.) box of instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups cold milk
1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread

1. Chop cookies and pretzel into bite-size pieces.
2. Whisk pudding mix and milk together in medium bowl for 2 minutes. Whisk in chocolate spread; and chill 5 minutes to thicken.
3. Layer in dessert dishes, one-half of each of the pudding, cookie pieces and pretzels pieces then repeat layers to finish the layers. Serve.

Tuesday:
Apple Cider Stew & Grands Biscuits


Ingredients
1 lb beef stew meat
8 carrots sliced
6 potatoes sliced
2 apples diced
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp thyme
2 Tbsp onion minced
3 cups apple cider
1 cup celery
2 Tbsp cider vinegar

1. Place all ingredients in slow cooker and set Crock pot to High for 5-6 hours.
2. Stir occasionally.
3. Ten minutes before serving, preheat oven and follow Grands Biscuit package directions for baking.

Wednesday:


Chicken & Veggie Stir-fry

Ingredients
1lb. Chicken breasts (Diced)
1 cup fresh diced onion
1 package of stir-fry veggie mix (in produce area)
1 cup cut celery
1 cup of rice
1/2 cup Kikkoman Stir-fry sauce

1. Add ingredients to Asian wok pan and heat until chicken is browned and fully cooked and veggies are tender.
2. Using a rice cooker (if you own one), make rice to desired texture.
3. Serve chicken and veggies over rice.

Thursday:


Tuna Casserole*


Ingredients
1 can of Tuna in water (Low-fat/ Low-Sodium)
1 box of Tuna helper
1 cup of Steamfresh peas

1. Follow directions for Tune Helper, adding in the can of Tuna and peas right before serving.

Friday:
Tomato, Pesto, and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwiches


4 slices of thin-sliced French bread
4 slices of fresh mozzarella
1/2 Tbsp Classico basil pesto spread
1 cherry tomato, thinly sliced

1. Spread bread with basil pesto spread.
2. Layer Mozzarella and Tomato onto bread and set in sandwich press.
3. Remove when cheese is melted and bread is lightly brown.
4. Serve with a side Cesear salad.

Saturday:


Family Day/Night Out


*Quick Dinner


This week I also have a batch of brownies and possibly muffins to make, on either Monday or Tuesday depending on weather and outside temperatures.

Family Weekend

Since our last few weekends (ok, who am I kidding...months!!!) have been crazy hectic, we decided this weekend to be our relaxing weekend. It was great to just spend quality time with the guys doing stuff around the area without being on a strict time schedule.

On Saturday, Husby, B and I got up to watch Husby coach Youth Bowling, and then we headed up north to do an errand. Since the weather was absolutely gorgeous and we were already beachside, we decided to grab lunch at a small eatery on the water and enjoy the weather some more. We went to Grills Waterside and had a nice tropical family lunch.

After lunch and the drive back, B crashed for his afternoon nap, so we took the time to get some stuff around the house done. When he woke up, it was time to get out in the fresh air. We went a few blocks down the road from our place to the park and went for a Nature Walk as a family.

 *All ready for the walk*

 *Turtle # 1*

 *Turtle #2*

 *B watching the turtle as it crossed the path*

*The turtle was going home & B was fascinated with it*

Since the Gator game was not on until 8, and we still had some daylight, we decided to go to the playground down the road and let B burn off some of his energy. Husby rarely goes to the park with B (it's a Mommy thing B and I do during the days when I am home), I figured it would be a fun experience for him to see B interact at the park.

*B sliding on the little slide*

Which he then tried to climb back up since he saw Daddy do it 

 *At the top of the playground pavilion waving at Mommy*

*Sliding down the "big" slide with Daddy* 

*Swingset Time*

After the park, we headed for home so B could get in dinner and then we could settle in to watch the game. B made it through the 1st quarter and then he crashed for the night. He enjoyed what little of the game he watched (I think Husby & I should have followed B's lead and stopped watching after 1st quarter...but we sat through the agonizing defeat).

On Sunday, we did a quick family photo at a local portrait studio and then quick grocery trip. After the morning errands, we decided to again take advantage of the beautiful weather and went to the beach. Husby used to be an avid surfer in college and really has not found the time to go lately (in the last year-year and half), so it was his first time out in a LONG time. B and I hungout on the beach watching Husby paddle out and try to catch some waves. Then B decided to investigate the water's edge and play in the waves. After our beach visit, we grabbed a quick lunch and headed home to clean up (B passed out before we even got to lunch...hence the quick part) and then we had our routine bowling league night complete with our dinner routine at LD's. 

Although some things did not go as planned, it was a great quiet weekend for some beautiful weather and family bonding. In 2 weeks we will be starting a new tradition of yearly family photo sessions at the Botanical Gardens of Husby & my alma mater. I'll be sure to post sneak peeks of what we'll be coordinating/wearing, a well as, the goodies once they are complete.

In the coming week I need to update the videos of B's "channel" and also start ironing out Christmas wishlists, as well as, discuss our holiday plans as these are my 2 stress points lately.

Oreo Stuffed Brownies

Saw these on the web, and since Husby & I have been craving brownies, these seemed to be calling ours name to make.

And they are delicious!

Grab a glass of milk and enjoy!