Bringing Dinner to the Table Week 3

Well last week was a bit challenging. I forgot to take pictures of our meals, which might be a good thing cause nothing was prepared as I had originally planned. Oh well, just gonna dust myself off and try again this week. So here is what I have planned for the week of Dec 7^th-11th:

Day 1 Spaghetti Carbonara, Italian Zucchini & Peach Banana Freeze

Day 2 Chicken and dumplins & Apple Crunch

Day 3 Easy Chili, Sour Cream Cornbread & brownies

Day 4 Pork Chops over Rice, Skillet Corn & ice cream

Day 5 Broccoli Chicken Quiche & Melt-aways

FYI, Day 6 is usually a Homemade Pizza or eat out night and Day 7 is my use it up night.

 

I am sadly learning that I still spend way too much time out of the house. And honestly it has been a bit hard trying to reason with myself about the importance of being at home. Let's face it, it's not all fun and games and everything doesn't always smell like roses but I know this is where I need to be. I have finally come to the conclusion that if I need to be home then I'm going to do it MY WAY. As in not trying to keep my house the same way other moms might or keeping the same school schedule that others do. Because we are traveling a path less taken, although more frequent these days, I have to realize that means I've got to figure a lot out on my own and not try to find someone else who has the answer. I was having a discussion during a hormonal day with Big Daddy where I told him "Instead of looking at what hasn't been done, focus on what I have done." And you know what? I really should have told myself that. I get so overwhelmed by what I don't get done; I don't get a chance to enjoy what I have accomplished. And when you really think about it, comparing ourselves to others isn't fair to them or ourselves because we are comparing the best of what they are showing to the worst of what we know about ourselves. Isn't exactly a fair playing ground when you think about it that way is it? So if you would like to play along I would love for you to write three things you like most about yourself, in my comments and I just might be able to send that wonderful you, you are, a little something just in time for the New Year!!!!!

My list:

1. I have a lot of patience

2. God has gifted me with mercy. And although this can seem like such a burden to carry at times, I would not trade being able to be so sensitive to others needs for anything in the world!

3. I don't buckle under stress

 

And the winner of 20 Thank You Note Cards is……….

Bringing Dinner to the Table Week 2

So last week was very successful, I think.

I had to rearrange some meals, as we were sick on Thanksgiving Day, but all in all my family was delighted in my efforts to put a little more time into our dinners. And to be honest, it felt really good to put more thought and effort into our meals as well!!! So while I'm on a roll, here are another 5 meals for Nov 30 ~ Dec 4:

Day 1: Leftover Turkey Casserole, Carrot Soufflé }I didn't fix on Thanksgiving Day Oatmeal Cookies

Day 2: Turkey `a la king over Cheddar Biscuits, Salad, Pink Strawberry Cloud

Day 3: Turkey Picante pie } veggies inside, Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Day 4: Honey Pork Chops, Yellow Squash Pie, Chocolate Pudding

Day 5: Shrimp, Tomato-Corn Bake, Alfredo Pasta, Citrus Mini Cakes

Drum roll please…………. And the winner of my Note Worthy Give away is:

Email me with your mailing address and I will pop an OAPN notepad in the mail for ya!!!

And my question for this week is: What are you doing this December to prepare for Christmas? Leave a comment and I will put your name into my drawing for 20 Note Worthy Thank You cards; just in time for Christmas!!!

Bringing Dinner to the Table

Most of this year I strived to get dinner to the table the fastest way possible with as little work on my part. It has "worked" but I'm a bit tired of short changing my family to have more time for other things. Most of those "other things" do include service at my church, homeschooling, bible study, and the occasional moments spent on Face book, cough, cough. But when all is said and done I am left wondering do I really want to short change the most important meal in our family's lives? And my answer is "NO!" So starting this week I am going to work on providing at least 5 well thought out meals with a main dish, vegetable or fruit, and desert. Seeing that this is the week of Thanksgiving I could really use your help in the department of turkey leftovers. I would love for you to leave me your favorite recipe to use up turkey leftovers. I will pick 3 to serve to my family and whichever dinner they like the best I will send a special thank you gift all the way from Okinawa, Japan.

But the main reason for blogging is to get people to read your blog, right!!
And in that spirit, I have a chance for those who blog about my "Bring Dinner to the Table" and link back to my blog to win a personalized notepad. Just leave a message in my comments letting me know you linked up and I will enter you in my give-a-away from my new home business Note Worthy!!! Come on, we could all use some extra writing stationary around this time of year and I could use all the blog love I can get!!!!

 

Since it is Saturday here and I don't plan on doing grocery shopping on Sunday I've got to get it in gear for next week and here is what I have come up with for Nov 23-Nov 28:

Day 1: Beef Ragout with buttermilk corn bread and caramel cookies. {veggies are in the main dish}

Day 2: Chinese pepper steak, orange glazed carrots, white rice and ice cream.

Day 3: Turkey, potatoes au gratin {boxed}, carrot soufflé, green bean casserole and bread rolls. {desert TBD}

Day 4: Turkey Tetrazzini, parmesan zucchini and sugar cookies.

Day 5: Steak stroganoff, skillet corn, Italian rice, and apple crumble.

Thankfully we have most of next week off from our normal routine and since my husband will be coming home from the Philippians I want to treat his tummy to food American style!!! Check back in next week to see some yummy food pictures, the winner of the Note Worthy give-away and my three turkey leftover choices to serve my family for the week of Nov 30-Dec 4.