Menu Plan Monday: July 31, 2011 Edition

Posted on July 30, 2011 by jmcoyan@gmail.com

Menu Plan

7/31 – Sunday – Chicken Burritos and Mexican Salad

Monday -working late – Spaghetti/ Meat Balls

Tuesday – Katie’s Party – Sandwiches – Potato Salad

Wednesday – Unstuffed Cabbage – Biscuits

Thursday – Working Late – Chef Salad

8/5 – Friday – French Bread Pizza

Saturday – Pulled Pork Sandwiches (crock pot) and Fried Green beans and Fries

Sunday – Meatloaf – Mashed Potatoes – Green Beans

8/8 – Monday – Book Group – Taco Salad

Tuesday- Mexican Skillet Dinner and Cheese Broccoli (e 388)

Wednesday – Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Thursday – Lemon Honey Grilled Chicken . Rice – Veggie / Cukes

Friday – Ham Sandwiches – (2/16 – pg 60) ( bake at 350 for 20 minutes)/ Cucumber Salad

Ham Sandwiches

1/2 cup stick butter, softened
8 onion rolls, split
1 small onion, chopped
2 TBSP poppy seeds
1 tsp dry mustard
1 pound shaved ham
8 ounces sliced Swiss Cheese

Spread butter on cut side of rolls and reserve 1 TBSP butter. Saute onion in remaining butter in skillet until soft, about 5 minutes. Add poppy seeds and dry mustard. Mix Well. Layer Ham, cheese slices and some of the onion mixture on bottom half of each roll. Replace roll tops and wrap in foil. Place on baking sheet and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Saturday – BBQ Chicken Legs/ Corn on the Cob and Beans

Preheat oven 375 degrees F.

Preheat a grill pan or an outdoor gas or charcoal barbecue to a medium heat. Take a few paper towels and fold them several times to make a thick square. Blot a small amount of oil on the paper towel and carefully and quickly wipe the hot grates of the grill to make a nonstick surface. Arrange the chicken pieces on the preheated grill and cook, turn once mid-way, and cook for a total of 10 minutes. Transfer the grill marked chicken to a cookie sheet and then place in the oven. Cook the chicken for 15 minutes, remove it from the oven and then brush liberally, coating every inch of the legs with the barbecue sauce and then return to the oven for 25 to 30 more minutes, basting the chicken for a second time half way through remaining cooking time. Serve with extra sauce

8/14 – Sunday – Smoky Grilled Pork Chops – Rice – Veggie

Making Bag Lunches Just Got Easier………….

Posted on July 25, 2011 by jmcoyan@gmail.com

Save Time and Money

I must make a very non frugal confession. I try to save money wherever I can as we pursue our dream of being debt free. But last year Tommy ate hot lunch nearly every day. I just could not get into the groove of making lunches and I would procrastinate each night. I would then say, “Forget it, he will have to hot lunch I have to get to bed”.

I am sure you are all thinking, well just make the lunch in the morning!! Well obviously you don’t know me! I am not a morning person and I just go through the motions until at least 9:00. It isn’t pretty nor pleasant for those that love me.

But this year I am off to a great start at being able to make lunches everyday! I discovered a new blog called Make 5 Dinners in ONE Hour, and the lightbulb went off after reading her article about Make Ahead Lunches. Of course, I kicked myself for not having thought of this before. I do everything ahead why would I not make lunches ahead. DUH!!

I wanted to share with you my adventures in making lunches this evening. I must say my oldest son (age 23) has already adopted this practice as well! I made 4 lunches for Tommy, 4 lunches and 4 breakfasts for myself. The money I am saving makes me giddy. I should have timed myself, but I didn’t think of it.

Our lunches include the following:

Tommy Lunches (4) : peanut butter sandwich, pudding, water, 100 calorie cookies and a peach.
Mom Breakfast:(4) bagel thins with strawberry cream cheese and blueberries.
Mom Lunches: Salad (2) and hard boiled eggs, 2 sandwiches, peaches and grapes for a snack.

Obviously the steps are simple, but you know me……..I love to share pictures of the obvious, so humor me!

Start by clearing a big surface to work on and gather all your supplies.

I make all the sandwiches at once – assembly line style.

I put all the sandwiches, bagels and fruit into my bin and take everything to the downstairs fridge. Now I have a shelf full of enough breakfasts and lunches to last all week! Completed in less than an hour. Life is good!! (took me a bit longer as I was taking pictures)

I am feeling more organized and back on track for school to start. It feels great to be blogging more again. I always get excited about getting ready for school to start and organizing.

This just makes me so happy for the time and money I am saving. Still kicking myself that I didn’t think of this on my own. ARGH!!

Happy Savings!!

Is Your Bedroom an Oasis??????????????

Posted on July 25, 2011 by jmcoyan@gmail.com

I was reading an article on Flylady.net about how your bedroom should be an oasis. Well, my bedroom is where I dump things without a home. I decided on my last vacation day, I needed to spend time making our bedroom feel more like an oasis. I still have areas I need to de-clutter in each room, but this is a nice improvement overall in the condition of our bedrooms.

I forgot to take before pictures of my bedroom. I actually woke up this morning and looked around my room and thought how my bedroom didn’t feel relaxing at all. I started thinking I would just take care of the pile of magazines next to the bed. Then maybe I would just clean off my bedside table…..and on and on until my room was pretty clean. I didn’t clean hubby’s shelves or bedside table. Hopefully, I will be able to get him to do that soon.

BEDROOM AFTER PICTURES:

A manageable pile of library books on the bedside table
and the book I am currently reading on the headboard. I do try
to make my bed each morning. I changed my quilt and bedding.
I love the first night sleeping on clean sheets!

Good thing I cleaned out the corner between the dressers. I found
a Vikings jersey that I had bought for Tommy’s birthday last year,
which I forgot to give to him. Luckily, it will still fit him.

When I clean I totally clean off a area or shelf and then sort the items
into categories. I use the categories of toss, donate, return to another
area of house, and belongs here! This is my second “return to
another area of house” box from my bedroom. I also had one garbage bag full
of toss items from my bedroom as well.

TOMMY’S ROOM BEFORE:

The dresser is where I put things of Tommy’s that I find in the house.
I guess Tommy never got around to putting things away.

Actually, Tommy’s room was not too bad. You can see alot of floor and
that is generally not the case!

TOMMY’S ROOM AFTER:

I cleaned the floor up and tossed alot of junk out the room.
I decided not to tackle the shelving unit today. I didn’t want to
spend my entire day cleaning bedrooms.

His dresser is still a bit cluttered, but he likes to display some
favorite things.

Bedding, including comforter all washed!! I don’t think I have
shared pictures of the completed murals I painted in Tommy’s room.
I am finally done painting them just in time for him
to want a MN sports themed room now.

4 bags of stuff to be donated!

I love before and after pictures. Makes me feel like I accomplished something. I also look at the after more closely in a picture then in person. I know I have more to do, but I am looking forward to spending some time in my oasis with a candle burning, reading my book!

I hope you find your oasis from the chaos of day to day life. We all deserve a bit of pampering to rejuvenate our energies!

Be Well………..

How to balance it all………….

Posted on July 23, 2011 by jmcoyan@gmail.com

As a working mom, I find it hard to keep things as tidy as I want around my house and still relax on the weekend after a busy work week. How do you balance it all??

I am counting the days down until school starts and we are back into that busy routine. I am starting to get ready by trying to get my routines in place again. They have all flown out the window with summer. Who wants to scrub a floor when you would be outside? But this weekend I am going to get things caught up around the house and start following my routines again.

Every year I try to tweak my routines to keep them fresh and hopefully keep me following them. This week I discovered “Clean Mama’s” blog and I will be adapting her cleaning schedule to meet my needs. I am starting simple! I spent today getting my living room, dining room, kitchen and bathroom in order. I had not scrubbed floors or cleaned in a month! Now that these rooms are back in good order, I will implement my routines to hopefully keep them like that with little effort.

Hopefully tomorrow I will dig out the bedrooms and get caught up on laundry!

My infamous hot spot……………a constant struggle for me.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Do you have an area in your home that by the end of the week it is a mess??? A hot spot that burns uncontrollably?? Mine used to be the coffee table, until we got rid of it. Now, my hot spot each week is the kitchen table, which we use as our computer/office area.

These tasks will be completed each day.

1. Make Beds

2. Do at least one load of laundry and put away/

3. Take care of clutter on Kitchen Table, etc

4. Wash Dishes Nightly

5. Wipe down the Counters

6. Sweep Floors

Weekly Cleaning Schedule

I normally would just do all the cleaning in one evening, but I am going to try spreading my weekly cleaning over the week and see if that works better.

Monday – Dust House

Tuesday – Clean Bathrooms

Wednesday – Wash Floors

Thursday – Vacuum House

Friday – Menu plan/ Prepare Shopping List or Clean Bedrooms

Saturday – Wash Sheets and Towels – Pay Bills/Budget Meeting

Sunday – RELAX

I hope to start implementing these new routines next week. I am looking forward to having more order to our home again. I enjoy having my house ready for guests at a moments notice. These new routines may need some tweaking, but it is a start in the right direction.

Do you have a daily and weekly routine?? I would love to hear all about them!! How do you balance it all?

Blessings…………

Menu Plan Monday – July 18th

Posted on July 17, 2011 by jmcoyan@gmail.com

Week # 1: 7/17/11 – 7/31/11

It’s Monday……Menu Plan Monday! My hubby and the family are ready to be grilling!! This two week menu is heavy on summer fare and grilling! I have the meat already marinading in the freezer! It makes for a quick supper during the week. It is a tad hot this week in Minnesota, so I planned meals that are grilled or stovetop in nature. If I have to bake something, I simple set up the roaster oven on our deck and bake in there! Sure helps to keep the house cool on this hot and sticky days!!

17th – (Saturday) Apricot Pork Ribs / Corn / Seasoned Tater Tots

18th – Sticky Asian BBQ Chicken (new) – Chinese Cabbage Salad

Marinade (makes 1 cup)

In a small bowl, whisk 1/2 cup sweet & Sour sauce, 1/4 cup hoisin sauce, 2 TBSP ponzo or soy sauce, 2 tsp grated ginger, and 1 tsp minced garlic.

19th – BLT’s and potato salad

20th – Chicken Caesar Salad

21st – Make Your Own Sandwhich Night – Chips

22nd – Ham Sandwiches – (2/16 – pg 60) ( bake at 350 for 20 minutes)/ Old fashioned Pea Salad/ Cucumber Salad

Ham Sandwiches

1/2 cup stick butter, softened
8 onion rolls, split
1 small onion, chopped
2 TBSP poppy seeds
1 tsp dry mustard
1 pound shaved ham
8 ounces sliced Swiss Cheese

Pea Salad

160z Frozen Peas, Blanched
1-3/4 c mild cheddar Cheese, diced
3 hard boiled eggs, peeled and diced
1/2 cup celery, diced
1/8 c. green pepper, diced
1-1/2 T. onion, minced
salt and pepper to taste
2 to 4 T. mayo

Gently combine all ingredients; cover and chill until serving. makes 4 to 6 servings.

23rd – Marinated Grilled Steak (new) (7/4 cookbook – pg 200) Country Fried Mushrooms, Vermicelli with Garlic (second marinade used for steak – Grilled Marinated Flank Steak with grilling directions) – Both Marinades were good – add to online cookbook

1 Lemon
1/2 cup soy sauce
3 Tablespoons Oil
2 TBSP Worcestershire Sauce
1 Clove garlic, minced
Chopped Green Onion
2 lb Flank Steak

Squeeze juice from lemon. Mix all ingredients except steak with pepper with taste. Marinate steak, turning occasionally, for 4 to 12 hours in refrigerator. Broil meat over hot coals as desired.

Country Fried Mushrooms – Good add to site.

1 pound mushrooms
3 eggs
1-1 1/2 cups flour
1/3 cup butter

Wash mushrooms. Gently pull stems from caps. Dry on towel. Beat eggs in a small bowl. Dip mushrooms and stems in egg. Roll in flour. Fry slowly in melted butter and stir gently. Salt and pepper to taste. Brown on both sides, put lid on loosely and turn down heat. Cook until mushrooms are done, about 20 minutes.

24th – Marinated Pork Chops (new) (Honey Mustard Rosemary)/ Macaroni and Ham Salad /Green Beans
makes 1 cup of marinade. (very good marinade add to site!!)

In a small bowl, whisk 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/3 cup creamy Dijon mustard, 2 TBSP honey, 2 TBSP apple cider vinegar, 2 TBSP minced shallots, 1 TBSP chopped rosemary, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.

25th – (Monday – off) Grilled Tuna w/ Mediterranean Salsa (new) (July 19th – pg 215) – Broccoli Salad

Grilled Tuna w/ Mediterranean Salsa

6 (1-inch) thick tuna steaks
1/2 tsp minced garlic

Mediterranean Salsa:
1 (4 ounces) can chopped ripe olives, drained
1 tomato, chopped
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup feta cheese
1 tsp dried basil

Sprinkle tuna steaks with minced garlic and 1/2 tsp each of salt and pepper. In small bowl, combine ripe olives, tomato, oil, feta cheese and basil. Brush Salsa mixture over tuna steaks and refrigerate any leftover mixture. Grill tuna steaks over medium-high heat about 3 to 5 minutes. Gently turn tuna steaks and continue grilling 3 to 5 minutes. When serving, top each steak with remaining salsa.

26th – Pancakes / Sausage / Scrambled Eggs

27th – Taco Salad

28th – Book Group – Brats with chips

29th – Hamburger -Fries

30th – (Jakes Grad party) – Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

31st – Chicken Burritos and Mexican Salad

For more Menu Planning inspiration stop by and visit Laura at Organizing Junkie. and participate in Menu Plan Monday.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!!!

Happy Grilling!!

grandma’s Menu………..with help from Jen and Susan.

Posted on July 5, 2011 by jmcoyan@gmail.com

Wed – BBQ Pork Chops / Rice a Roni and Corn on the Cob

Thurs – Easy Ham Bake/ Broccolli and Apple Sauce – E-Mealz 384

Friday – Echiladas, Chips and Salsa, with Spanish Rice

Posted on June 18, 2011 by jmcoyan@gmail.com

Sunday – 19th – King Tut – Steak/ Baked Potato and Corn

Monday – 20th – Working Late – Chicken Salad Sandwiches – Potato Salad

Tues 21st – Whiskey Ham Steak , Glazed Carrot, Baked Potatoes (Banana Bundt Cake for tomorrow)

Wednesday 22nd – Easy Grilled Chicken/ Pasta Salad/ Corn

Thursday 23rd – 5:30 Book Group – Lasagna Roll Ups / Garlic Bread

Friday 24th – Guacamole Burgers/ Vegetable Macaroni Salad (Simple and Delicious – July/August -2008)

Saturday – 25th – Murder Mystery – Mom’s Macaroni Cheese /Brats

Sunday – 26th – Rivertown Inn – Sandwich Night on Hoagies Buns

Monday – 27th – Camping Food – Hot Dogs/Beans
Pancakes/ Grilled Spam
Soup x 2

28th – Grilled Pork Chops (TOH June/June 2010) pg 81 /Fabulous Green Beans (TOH June/June 2010) pg 81 / Rice

29th – Parmesan Crusted Chicken, Lemon Butter Broccoli, Chicken Rice (E-mealz 379)

30th – Easy Cheeseburger Pie/ Corn/ Apple Sauce (E-mealz 379)

Friday – 1st – OFF – Apricot Pork Ribs Cornbread/ Corn / Seasoned Tater Tots

Family Update: May- June 2011

Posted on June 12, 2011 by jmcoyan@gmail.com

Man, life is speeding by and I am not living up to my goal of blogging a weekly review. ARGH!!

Highlights from May /June:

May has been very busy with end of the school year events!! I wish everything would not all happen in May!

May 5th was the Beyonds Words Event at Tommy’s School. The children showcase their work related the years theme for all the parents to see. This year’s theme was Literature.

Tommy’s Art Project – The Lost Hero

Tommy’s Drawing of the Lorax

Tommy showing us the various books he made as part of Literature Week.

On May 15th – Joshua celebrated his 23rd birthday! He was happy to receive a kindle for his gift from the family.

Culminating event 013

My Boys……

Tommy particpated in the Read A Thon at his school and won a prize for the most minutes read in 3rd grade. He also won a skate board in the prize raffle. He was very excited, since I have been refusing to purchase a skate board for him. He has discovered the Happy Potter books and is starting the 4th book.

On May 22nd, a tornado touched down in our sister city, Minneapolis, MN. Luckily, over in White Bear Lake we only had some rain and wind, but we did heed the warnings/sirens and headed to the basement. The damage in Minnesota is nothing compare to Joplin, Missouri. Our hearts go out to the victims of the tornado in Joplin. It is a reminder to us in the Midwest to not take severe weather lightly.

Tommy also participated in the Culver’s Fundraiser. He really enjoyed working at the restaurant.

Over Memorial Weekend, my brother came to visit with his family. He and his wife were taking their daughter, her hubby and children to Walt Disney World. Tommy was so excited to see his cousins! I really enjoy seeing my great nephews.

Tommy and my great-nephews. Love these guys!

My brother, Dan and grandson Gracen.

Tommy had his acting debut in his first play every, The SuperPlay. He had a small part, but had a great time and is looking forward to participating in the drama club again next year.

Tommy was the Statue of Life in the play.

All the Statues….

Good golly, Miss Molly. We miss you.
We said good bye to another family pet in June. Molly’s life ended due to recurrent cancer.

This week my brother in law, Pete is visiting from Virginia for the week.

bookline

New posts at Reading in White Bear Lake (my book blog) include:

Occassionally particpate in the Friday Book Blogger Hop hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-For-Books.
Library Loot: What did you find at the library this week?
Summer Fun: Keep Your Kids Reading and Learning!
It’s Monday! What are You Reading??

Books read in May/June:

Sing you Home – Jodi Picoult – 4/5 (review)
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford – 3/5 (review)
The Secret Kept – Tatiana de Rosnay – 3/5
Night Road – Kristin Hannah – 4/5
The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels – 4/5
The Cross Gardner – Jason F Wright – 3/5
Promise Not to Tell – Jennifer McMahon – 3/5

Be Well………………….

MENU PLAN MONDAY: June 6th

Posted on June 5, 2011 by jmcoyan@gmail.com

Week # 1: 6/5/11 – 6/12/11

It’s Monday……Menu Plan Monday! My hubby and the family are ready to be grilling!! This two week menu is heavy on summer fare and grilling! Most are recipes we tried and loved last year. It feels great to break out the cedar planks again and start grilling. Last night we disregarded our menu and made Grilled Alaskan Salmon to official kick off the grilling season!