Hello Friends – another week has whisked by in the Coyan house.   I can’t believe how quickly the weeks go by or the years for that matter.   My baby, Tommy will be 10 years old next week!! 

Last weekend was pretty busy.  Saturday, Josh, Amy and I went to the Twin Cities Book Festival.  It was my first time going to this festival.  While it wasn’t geared to bloggers, I did meet a number of new authors.  I purchased two books from a new author and will be reviewing those on my book blog, Reading in WBL.    You can check out my blog post about the Festival on my book blog.  It was fun to attend and I hope to go again next year. 

Sunday, Tommy sang in church with his Wednesday night, Kid’s First group.   I had a nominating committee meeting for a bit in the afternoon.   We cleaned up around the house and made an early supper so we could go roller skating.   We skated at Saints North with Tommy’s school as a family event/fundraiser.  Tommy loves to skate.  I decided not to skate this year, since last year I bruised my tail bone and could not sit for weeks!  OUCH!   

My work week went buy with little excitement, which is good.  I did feel like I accomplished alot.  I worked extra hours so I could have Friday off to complete some needed things.   Paul and Josh were busy at work with the student computer buy back. 

Tommy was off of school on Thursday and Friday of this week.  Thursday, he went to work with Daddy and stayed at the daycare on campus.  Thursday night, Tommy stayed over night at the neighbors and spent all day Friday with them.  I can’t believe how much I missed him on Thursday night.  He was able to go skating with the neighbors during the day.  He has some pretty sore legs from all the skating he has done this week. 

Friday, I woke up early and got started on my weekly menu.   I then went and purchased our groceries for the next two weeks.  I am still trying to figure out our grocery budget now that we added a new member to our household, my father in law.  I tried to just increase our weekly grocery budget by only $20/ week, but am still tweaking our budget to meet everyone’s needs. 

After grocery shopping, my father in law and I went to his apartment to work on getting everything moved out of the apartment.  My sister in law met us there and we went through most things.   Once my other sister in law goes through the remaining items, we will box up what is left and donate it.   We are suppose to be out of the apartment by the end of the month.   There will be still be cleaning to be done as well.   It is great to have alot of help to get this overwhelming project done as a family. 

Last night, after Tommy went to bed we watched the movie Bride’s Maid.  A very funny movie, though a bit inappropriate at times.   Definitely not a Tommy movie. 

Recipes this week that were a hit with my family. 

Pecan Crusted Fish –

2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups finely chopped pecans (used pampered chef grater)
8 fish filets
1 Tablespoons chopped Shallots
4 tsp Butter
1/2 cup wine
2 tsp cornstarch
1 Cup Orange Juice
2 tsp dijon mustard

Place egg and pecans in separate bowls. Dip fillets into egg, than coat with pecans. Place in a greased cookie sheet. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, saute shallots in butter until tender.  Add wine.  Bring to a boil; cook for 2 minutes or until liquid is reduced by 1/2.  In a small bowl, combine cornstarch, Orange Juice and mustard until smoothed; stir into wine mixture.   Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Serve with fish. 

Herbed Green Beans

1 lb. fresh green beans
4 tbsp. butter
1/2 c. minced onion
1/2 clove garlic, minced
1/4 c. minced celery
1/2 c. minced fresh parsley
1 tsp. fresh rosemary, or 1/4 tsp. dried
1/4 tsp. dried basil
3/4 tsp. salt

Coyan Cafe is how we make leftovers exciting in our house.  We make a menu for the evening meal by listing each item we have as leftover.  My youngest son, Tommy plays waiter while I am the short order cook.  We serve each item until we run out.  Our restaurant guests always make comments similiar to “Hells Kitchen” and the need to return food to the kitchen.  It is fun and we use up all the leftover in the fridge.   A great way to make my family excited about leftovers!

Slow Cooker Chili  – a family favorite.  It is chilli weather in MN!  

A new family favorite – Loaded Baked PotatoSoup and Cheese Pull Aparts

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

4 – baking potatoes
2/3 cup butter
2/3 cup all purpose flour
4 – cups milk
2 – cups chicken broth
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
12 – slices bacon, cooked & crumbled
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 – cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 – 8oz container sour cream

Bake potatoes in the oven or microwave. Scoop out the inside of the potato and set aside. Cook bacon in the oven while the potatoes bake at 350 degrees until crispy. Crumble and set aside. Melt butter in a large pot over medium low heat. Stir in flour to make a roux. Cook about one minute stirring constantly. Gradually pour in the chicken broth and milk while stirring. Turn the heat to medium and cook the soup until it starts to thicken. Add the potatoes, salt, pepper, bacon and cheese. Stir well and continue to heat for about 15 minutes allowing the flavors to blend. Mix in sour cream until well blended. Serve immediately. Garnish with green onions, additional bacon and shredded cheese.

Cheesy Pull Apart Bread

2 – 7.5 oz cans refrigerated biscuits
8 – oz shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 – tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp oregano (optional)
1/4 – cup melted butter or margarine

Cut each biscuit into fourths. I find that this is a lot easier if you use scissors. Mix the shredded cheese, garlic powder and oregano in a large bowl. Add the biscuit pieces and toss to coat. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish and pour in the biscuit mixture. Do not smooth out the lumps the lumpier the better for pulling apart the bread. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes then cover with foil and bake a additional 10 minutes. When done drizzle with melted butter and serve.

Optional – melted butter can be added just before placing the foil over the bread and baking the additional 10 minutes.

Book blog happenings ……….

Post about the Twin Cities Book Festival

Review – Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

Review – That Day in September by Artie Van Why

It’s Monday! What Are you Reading??  post

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!!  It is a beautiful fall weekend here in MN, which should allow us time to get outside and clean up the yard the before the snow flies.  

Last week, I worked 42 hours in four days, so I had Friday off. YEAH. I did not do much on Friday. I was just too tired.  I did go shopping and bought some work clothes. Saturday morning we headed over to my In Laws apartment to get the last of my FIL things. We cleaned out a lot of stuff, though there is still a lot left. My SIL is working on cleaning out my MIL’s things. We have to be completely out of the apartment by October 31^st.

Sunday, we ran all our errands and went grocery shopping. I have decided I need to come up with a way to fit these tasks into my week. I hate giving up 2-3 hours of my weekend every two weeks to buy food. While we were gone Grandpa fell while walking outside. Josh and Tommy saw him so were able to go to him and help him. Another scrap, thankfully he was fine. It always makes me nervous to have him go for his walks.

This week has been busy as well. Tuesday, my book group,” Wine, Women and Words” met. We discussed “Still Missing” by Chevy Stevens.  The book received missed reviews after having already read an abduction story this year,  Room by Emma Donoghue.  It is always a great time to be with friends. Two of the member recently had babies so I was able to enjoy those sweet new little lives. What a great group of mothers.

Wednesday, we were all going in different directions it seemed. Amy picked up Tommy and took him to Wednesday night programming at church with her. Amy is interning at our church with Children’s Ministry. Josh took the confirmation small group he is teaching to PINZ. It sounded like they had a great time. Paul and I went to the movie “Courageous”. Not great acting, but a powerful message. Courageous was produced by Sherwood Productions, who also produced Fireproof. I highly recommend this movie.

Courageous Movie Trailer:

My favorite quote from the movie:

Adam Mitchell: I don’t feel like I started well. I want to finish well.

Isn’t that how it is sometimes, we look at our past and think “I don’t feel like I started well” . But we can all finish well. It certainly does take courage to do so, but life is full of second chances. I have my second chance and I sure do plan on finishing well.

Casting Crowns – Official Movie Video

Great song…..great movie.

Tonight we hade Tommy’s school conferences. He needs to put his Harry Potter book away the first time he is asked and listen.  Hmm….sounds familiar.     4^th grade is a huge transition for him and a bit of a struggle with the added responsibility.  His teacher suggested we buy him a dated assignment planner.   So I guess we will try that and see if he writes in it.   

 Friday, my other book group, Books and Babble is meeting. We will be discussing “Stormchasers” by Jenna Blum. I am still trying to get the audio finished of the book. I have about 4 more hours left. The author is originally from MN and was going to be in town. She had agreed to stop by our book group, but she ended up being at the MLS convention in Duluth longer than planned.

My reading has been really reduced lately. I really need to renew my commitment to making more time to read. I have been neglecting my book blog as well. So I really need to focus on getting some book reviews done. Both of my book groups are selecting their reading schedule for next year so I am getting excite about the new titles.

Saturday, Josh and I are planning on going to the Twin Cities Book Festival in Minneapolis. I hope to see a few authors present and check out all the venders. Josh made me up some great business cards with my book blog on it. I am looking forward to the experience, I have never gone to a Book Convention before.  I am looking forward to the new experience.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!!