Menu Monday ... And Another 30!

 Yes, I did complete another 30-minute "run" this morning,

but 30 refers to 30 different plants each week.

I have been reading a few different health books recently 

(Whole Body Reset and Forever Strong)

and they both are stressing a little more protein and 30 different plants a week.

Maybe that seems crazy - but the protein is needed to prevent muscle loss as one ages

and the plants help to keep the gut healthy.

So we have been trying to keep a variety of plants in the diet.

Quinoa, rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes

red pepper, yellow pepper, green pepper (yes, each pepper has different health benefits)

blueberries, strawberries, blackberries,

broccoli, radish, cucumber,

apples, peaches, bananas, grapes, cherries

chickpeas, lentils, black beans, navy beans

cucumber, tomato, carrot, celery

avocado, artichoke hearts, 

spinach, spring mix, sprouts ...

There's 31 without too much effort.

Challenge yourself this week - 

even coffee counts and herbs too!

Our lunch on Saturday knocked quite a few off the list.

We tried a "new to us" restaurant in the middle of our Saturday walk.

We also enjoyed their beautiful patio.

My bowl had quinoa, carrot, sweet potato, zucchini, summer squash, avocado, broccoli, cauliflower, greens and lemon tahini dressing.

That's at least 11 in one bowl!

This week's menu:

Fast Food Friday:  BLT's and Strawberry Milkshakes

Saturday AM: Smoothies and Seven Sundays Sunflower Cocoa Cereal

Saturday Lunch:  New Restaurant Burger & Bowl

Saturday Dinner:  Red Lentil Pasta, Sauce and Italian Sausage

Sunday AM:  Smoothies

Sunday Lunch:  Leftover Pasta

Sunday Dinner:  Eggs, turkey sausage and toast

Monday AM:  Smoothies

Monday lunch:  Quinoa Deli Salad

Monday Dinner:  Grilled Chicken and Broccoli Salad

Tuesday AM:  Smoothies

Tuesday Lunch:  Chef Salad with leftover grilled chicken

Tuesday Dinner:  Salmon, rice, Asparagus

Wednesday AM:  Smoothies

Wednesday Lunch:  Salad with chicken tenders and eggs

Wednesday Dinner:  Eggs, Turkey Sausage, Toast

Thursday AM:  Smoothies

Thursday Lunch:  Green goddess Salad with shrimp

    Thursday Dinner:  Beans and Rice

Friday AM:  Smoothies

Friday Lunch:  Perfect Burger or Sardines

Food Plan Friday: G-BOMBS

 Friday night:

Chicken Tenders and Waffle Fries

(Perdue gluten free and Ore Ida Waffle Fries)

Saturday:

Smoothies and Muffins

Avocado Toast

Turkey Sandwich

Sunday:

Smoothies and Muffins

Chicken Salad

Breakfast for Dinner

Monday:

Smoothies and Muffins

Leftover Chicken Salad

Grilled Chicken on Green Salad

Tuesday:

Oatmeal

PB and J with Apple

Vegan Power Bowl

Wednesday:

Oatmeal

Grilled Chicken and Side Salad

Breakfast for Dinner

Thursday:

Smoothies and Muffins

Perfect Burger

Green Salad with Chickpeas

Friday:

Smoothies and Muffins

Sardines and Green Drink

It is a pretty simple week,

I tried to do some "shopping" from the pantry, fridge, and freezer.

Of course there was some fresh greens needed,

but other than that, trying to clean out some older stuff.

And the food challenge?

I was recently reading a nutritionist who recommended

G-BOMBS

every day.

What are G-BOMBS?

Well, it is a helpful tip to eat some of the many cancer fighters available in the plant world.

Greens

Beans

Onions

Mushrooms

Berries

Seeds

4 in the list are easy for me,

but the other 2 are harder.

My morning smoothie has beans, berries and seeds.

My lunch is often a salad or includes a green drink.

I don't really like onions and mushrooms -

but, I see their value and am adding onions to my salads more often.

I don't mind a sauteed onions, so I include that a lot.

But, mushrooms?

I occasionally throw these on my salad,

but, I also make a commitment to add chopped mushrooms anytime I brown ground meat.

In this way, I can kind of hide their slimy texture :)

Food Plan Friday

 I have been meaning to get back to sharing a meal plan.

Though you may not like some or most of the plan,

 it may jog a memory of something that you haven't eaten in a while.

It might also encourage you to try something new or to incorporate a new ingredient.

I make my meal plan for Friday night through the next Friday noon because I shop on Friday morning.

Wednesday and Sunday nights are always breakfast because it is quick and easy as well as mild for sitting through church or when heading to bed within the hour.

Friday night is always Homemade Fast Food night (more of that later).

This week's plan:

Friday night: 

General Tsos Chicken (from Aldi) and Rice

Saturday: 

Smoothies and muffins

Blaze Pizza (still using a Christmas gift card)

Brussel Sprout Salad

Sunday:

Smoothies and muffins

Leftover Brussel Sprout Salad 

Eggs, toast, and turkey sausage 

Monday:

Smoothies and muffins

Veggie burgers with sauteed mushrooms and onions 

Salmon Bites, Brussel Sprouts, Rice 

Tuesday:

Smoothies and muffins

Salad

Quinoa Pasta Salad (maybe some chicken on the side)

Wednesday:

Smoothies and muffins

Leftover Quinoa Pasta Salad

Breakfast for dinner

Thursday:

Smoothies and muffins

Salad

Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls and Side Salad

Friday:

Smoothies

Leftover (or sardines, crackers, and side salad)

One of our favorite routines is "fast food night."
In Oregon, it was often gluten-free breaded fish and fries (Long John Silvers).

We also do Chick-fil-A night with chicken tenders and waffle fries or chicken tender salad.

Sometimes we do an enchilda or burrito (Chipotle or Taco Bell).

Sometimes it is pizza night.

Last week, we had a delicious Big Mac Salad. (McDonalds).

Sometimes we have milkshake and fries (Wendy's frosty and fries)

And tonight was  General Tsos (PF Changs or Pei Wei).

Are there any great fast foods that we are missing?

By making the meal at home, we save a little money,

we can control some of the ingredients,

and portion control is much easier.

On The Second Day of Hanukkah...

... the homemaker made for supper ,,,

8 yummy latkes!

 Not only does Christmas celebrate a miracle,

but Hanukkah does as well.

The Jews celebrate the miracle of a one-day supply of oil that lasted 8 days.

They often celebrate with many fried foods.

While I would love to celebrate with sufganiyot (jelly donuts),

we decided we would celebrate tonight with latkes and lox.

It is "fast food" night, so some fried potatoes will be excused 😉

And we did break Jewish tradition with a green drink on the side!

Off Plan? Don't Make Assumptions!

 One thing that I am trying to work on is not making assumptions.

While it may be fun while people watching ...😊

(see, there is Matilda, she is a grandma from Texas entering Walmart to buy fruit snacks for her 80 grandchildren

or there is Annabelle, she is a teen entering Walmart to buy press-on nails and a cola),

it is not fair or helpful when critiquing others or assuming I know their motives.

I can easily assume the worst in others instead of giving the benefit of the doubt

or asking for clarification in a kind way.

Go not forth hastily to strive, 

lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, 

when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

Proverbs 25:8

A silly example happened this week as I made my meal plan.

Friday - fast food night at home (nuggets and french fries with a green drink)

Saturday - Spaghetti

Sunday - Corn Chowder

Monday - Chicken Jambalaya

Tuesday - TATER TOT CASSEROLE

Hubby stopped at Tuesday and said, 

"So we are going off plan?"

Why would he say that?

Ground beef

condensed soup

cheese

green beans 

and tater tots

would not typically be a weeknight meal.

Usually, we save these "comfort" foods for a Friday night.

But he assumed I was making the familiar,

when in fact,

I was making a vegetarian Tater Tot casserole.

Onions

mushrooms

red lentils

green beans

peas

corn

red pepper

and yes, the more processed tater tots on top

It was not far off plan.

Some of the rainbow - green beans and peas, yellow corn, red pepper, white mushroom and onion

lots of fiber and protein with the red lentils

and still gluten and dairy-free!

His assumptions did not hurt anyone.

In fact, he was just supporting me to help me make good decisions for our meals,

but my assumptions about others can be hurtful.

And not only can they be hurtful to others,

but they can bring shame and embarrassment to me!

Taste the Rainbow

There are some people who can forget about eating.

Some folks don't feel hungry in the morning.

Some folks can get so busy that they forget to have lunch.

Not in our house ...

I just put another batch of Peach Blueberry muffins in the oven.

They complement a breakfast smoothie,

can be a healthy mid-afternoon snack,

or provide a breakfast on the go.

To me, food is a comfort,

it is social.

I suppose that is normal in our society.

I am trying to enjoy it more for its value to my life and health.

What is my food doing for me?

So while one of my siblings is assuming that my blog post today is about Skittles,

I am referring to a challenge to "Eat the Rainbow."

Each color in our food provides different vitamins and minerals.

We do not eat all of the colors every day,

but we definitely try to throughout the week.

Yesterday was a travel day,

so I didn't do too well on my colors.

I got red - strawberries (on my peanut butter sandwich) and an apple

orange - pumpkin in my gingerbread muffins

green - peas in my soup (they weren't in the recipe - but they were so good)

white - onion and potato in my soup

Today I did much better

red - strawberries (smoothie), red pepper (casserole), tomato (on casserole), raspberries (just a snack)

orange - orange juice in smoothie (whole fruit would be better)

yellow - lemon (drink at lunch), ginger (drink at lunch)

green - spinach (drink at lunch), green pepper (sauteed on hummus sandwich), zucchini (casserole)

avocado (on casserole)

blue - blueberries (smoothie)

purple - onion (sauteed on hummus sandwich)

white - onion (casserole)

So here is how I got them today:

Morning smoothie

1/2 c oj

1/2 c almond milk

3 oz tofu

1/3 c oatmeal

1 scoop coconut protein

1 cup blend of blueberries and strawberries

Lemon drink (for 2)

1 1/2 c water

a handful or two of spinach

1 lemon peeled

a squirt of honey

a squirt of ginger (I buy my ginger pureed in tubes)

Hummus Veggie Sandwich

toast

spread with hummus, any flavor

peppers and onions sauteed in olive oil sprinkled with italian seasoning and garlic salt

Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Quinoa Casserole

Are you up for the challenge?

Give it a try.

Let me know what colors you got today.

You can even give me a challenge of your own -

or wait for another challenge next week.

 

A Good Kind of Tired

 Usually, my Monday simply involves cleaning the house.

Today, I did get the house cleaned (minus the kitchen),

but I also spent much of the day with applications and phone calls.

Phew!

What a process home buying is!

But I have to remember the prize at the end - Right?

This will be my last week of regular cleaning.

From here on out, I will clean the house

but also button up at least one room a week.

Next week will be the guest bedroom and guest bath,

which do not get used much.

The following week will be the bonus room and wall art

along with totes in the garage.

Then it is crunch time, but I really hate to box things up too early and live like a vagabond.

I guess we are also getting to the days where I have to start using things up.

Yesterday we had stuffing mix ... just because it was there.

This weeks menu:

Monday:  Teriyaki pork stirfry and noodles

Tuesday:  Tuscan Bean Soup

Wednesday:  Breakfast for Dinner (Frittata)

Thursday:  Veggie Rice Bowl

Friday:  Fish and French Fries

Saturday: ?

When the "Last Man Standing" Falls

 Covid has been a part of the world around us for 2 years now,

and we believe it finally came knocking on our door.

I have been absent from the blog because I have been sick

and have been nursing my partner when I have been well enough.

It is not surprising to have it now.

It has gone around both sides of the family.

And it was finally our turn.

It pretty much wiped out our church in the span of a couple of days.

The timing was not great (at least in our eyes),

but God knows and has a better plan.

It was special to watch how God has provided.

When mom was in her final days,

she enjoyed ice pops (the kind in the plastic sleeves).

I had just refreshed her supply when she passed.

Now my freezer was full of them.

I don't eat ice pops ...

except when I am sick with a fever and sore throat.

What a blessing to have the freezer stocked with something I never buy!

I decorated some jars at Christmas with Epsom salt.

I almost threw the extra away because it would be a mess to move.

But I didn't because God knew that it would help soothe the aching muscles in a bath.

I have already been working on cleaning out the pantry, 

so the stockpile of "sick" food was small,

but there were 2 boxes of jello,

2 cans of chicken noodle soup,

and extra OJ in the fridge.

We had enough to get through until I could get to a store.

And God knew that this would cancel and/or delay a survey trip,

but ...

one employer is going to give a virtual interview.

God doesn't need a survey trip to provide.

And remember that survey interview I mentioned 2 weeks ago.

I received another interview for tomorrow that also pays well.

God knew that these two surveys would cover a day of unpaid leave

if the sickness drags on for too long.

I am thankful for a body that can fight sickness.

I am thankful to be on the road to recovery again.

I am thankful that I was able to get the house disinfected today

and that the weather was warm enough to open the windows for a bit.

God is good - All the time!

And because we have been eating oddly,

I have no menu plan for this week.

We have been eating oatmeal a lot,

eggs, 

smoothies,

salads,

and comfort foods!

And in a moment ... it's gone ...

 Was it a fast month for you?

It was for me ... at times.

The month had its share of hard grey days,

but has ended with quite a bit of sun.

And now - Valentine's decorations are up

and Valentine's boxes and bags are ready to be assembled.

Happy Day!

We are to February and things will hopefully start to get a little busier:

a survey trip, house hunting, and moving.

It is exciting.

We enjoyed a special treat this weekend.

While searching for gluten-free tortillas all around town on Friday (which did not exist),

I landed at some of my less-frequented stores.

One store that I landed at was Wheeler Dealer.

It is basically a "bent and dent" store.

As I wandered through the store,

I saw this in the freezer.

As I said, it is a bent and dent store,

so freshness is questionable,

but I bought one.

Who can resist a crusty loaf of bread.

We enjoyed it the next day with our Thai Crunch Salad.

It was delicious and amazingly soft.

So good in fact that hubby took me back on Saturday to buy the last 3!

We enjoyed it with our soup on Sunday as well.

And the menu for this week:

Sunday:  Korean Chicken Soup (with toasted cheese sandwich)

Monday:  Salmon Cakes, Roasted Brocolli, and Cole Slaw

Tuesday:  Chicken Tacos

Wednesday:  Breakfast for Dinner

Thursday:  Jackfruit Sloppy Joes

Friday:  Something with French Fries :)

The Human Pin Cushion (or Dart Board)

 Hubby and I successfully gave blood on Saturday.

It was a little bit of a frustrating event, but successful nonetheless.

The blood bus was short-staffed,

the appointments were running about 30 minutes behind,

and then ... the girls could not find my veins.

So I am a little bit bruised on both arms,

BUT

we did not feel the drain in energy that we felt last time - 

so I will claim that the choice of foods was a success.

And we will not wait so long next time between donations.

We are socked in with cold fog.

Yesterday it broke for about an hour

and it was the same today.

I did get out for a run, but it was a little dreary.

The solar-powered girl (me) is struggling,

but it makes a move to a different climate that much more exciting.

I just pulled a batch of gingerbread cookies out of the oven.

I made a similar batch of sugar cookies yesterday - and they did not last long.

In all fairness - the recipe only makes a dozen.

It does make the house smell good.

And this cookie is so good with a cup of tea.

We also enjoyed a warm pot of Cod Chowder tonight.

Hubby's brother had brought us Alaskan cod and it worked perfectly.

I just love the potatoes in a milky broth - but the fish was ok too.

And this week in family dining ...

Sunday:  Leftover Vietnamese Beef Soup

Monday:  Cod Chowder

Tuesday:  Tuscan Skillet

Wednesday:  Breakfast for Dinner

Thursday:  "Chicken" Pot Pie (Substitute White beans for the chicken)

Friday:  Chicken Nuggets and French Fries

Getting Ready to Donate ...

 This week, I had a definite goal while making the meal list ...

we needed a lot of vitamin C and to maintain a good level of iron.

We needed real food that would truly nourish us.

We are giving blood again this weekend.

It has been a while,

but last time we hadn't really taken care of ourselves before giving,

and the recovery was a little longer than we expected.

So crack down a little more on the sugar

and just do right this week.

Did you know?

that donating blood can lower blood pressure

that donating blood can reduce the chance of cancer

This week's meal plan:

Sunday:  No-Chicken Noodle Soup

Monday: Sesame Ginger Bowl (shrimp, broccoli, peppers, rice noodles)

Tuesday:  Rosemary Salmon with Veggies

Wednesday:  Breakfast for Dinner

Thursday:  Lentil Taco Skillet

Friday:  Power Bowl

Saturday:  Vietnamese Beef Soup

50% Reduction!

 On Friday, we had a huge answer to our prayers

(and hopefully yours too).

I was checking Penske rates - and our "all in" across the country was reduced by 50%!

Not only that ... it was the bigger truck which will cut down on last-minute decisions and sales

(and possibly stressed-wife tears).

I booked a truck - for our best guess date to our best guess town.

It can be canceled for free and changed for free - though any changes could incur rate changes as well.

I will continue to check prices ... and we can all continue to pray, 

But we are thankful for a prayer-hearing God and His answers.

My dear friend left her earthly body on Friday night.

We are thankful that she is out of pain and rejoicing in heaven tonight.

Though we are still in the winter fog and grey.

We have also had some breaks in the rain - Happy Day!

Hubby and I were able to run together on Saturday

and then separately today!

What a difference that makes in our health and dispositions.

Hubby has also been helped by having at least 2 weeks to teach.

It is a life-giving activity for him as it is for me.

It is also good to hear feedback of people taking things to heart

and being convicted by God's Word.

This week has little out of the ordinary.

One trip to Eugene with a friend,

but primarily cleaning around the house.

I also get to mail some "happy mail" this week to the winners of the Saran Wrap Game.

And now for this week's menu ...

SUNDAY:  Leftover Winter Vegetable Soup

MONDAY:  Salmon with Fennel and Chickpeas

TUESDAY:  Blackened Chicken Bowl

WEDNESDAY:  Breakfast for Dinner (Quinoa Patties, Eggs, Avocado, Smoothies)

THURSDAY:  Minestrone

FRIDAY:  Fish and French Fry Fix

SATURDAY:  Power Bowls and Leftover Minestrone

Lunches included leftover Chicken Soup, Burritos, Twice Baked Potato and Chili, Homemade Pizza.

Happy New Year!

 Welcome, 2022!

It is always nice to have that "fresh" start.

2021 was full of new experiences and 2022 will be as well.

I am treating 2022 as a new adventure!

I hope you have made some plans for the new year.

I have not made any "resolutions" per se, 

but there are always things to work on.

We have a goal to purchase our first home after a move back across the country.

I desire to read more in the evenings.

I want to keep writing notes to others and sending them the old-fashioned way.

Of course, there are always goals as a homemaker.

I want to continue to build my plant-based menu ideas.

I want to be more aware of my spending.

Today, the Christmas tree came done.

The ornaments were put away and the tree was prepared for the dumpster.

Tomorrow, I will put up some winter decorations or jump directly to Valentine's Day decor.

Tomorrow will also bring a focus on Zone 2 - the kitchen!

That is hubby's favorite zone for me to clean

and my least because the "clean" lasts for such a short time.

And the meal plan for the week ...

Sunday - leftover turkey and gravy (frozen from Thanksgiving) with mashed potatoes and peas/carrots

Monday - Veggie Burgers and French Fries

Tuesday - Vegetable Stew

Wednesday - Breakfast for Dinner 

(Rice and Sausage Breakfast Casserole - without Sausage and cheese add black beans)

Thursday - Asian Pad Thai

Friday - Winter Veggie Soup

The only experiment this week was tonights veggie burgers.

I often eat frozen veggie burgers, but hubby hasn't enjoyed them.

Tonights meal was a success.

The burgers were moist and flavorful.

We enjoyed with pickles and either may or mustard.

Next time we will put some guacomole on top!

SNOW!

The snow arrived as predicted.

After we went to bed on Christmas day, the snow began.

By the time we woke up on Sunday, the snow was 4-6 inches.

In this part of Oregon, we are in another area that just "shuts down" when the snow comes.

There are very few plows or sand trucks.

The department of transportation does 3 main roads in town,

and some crew locally sands only major intersections.

So we had a snow day on Sunday!

It was a welcome recuperation day.

Sunday morning at dawn

Hubby and I enjoyed a longer Bible study time,

we enjoyed 2 long walks in the snow,

and listened to sermons from our perspective church online.

We also tried the chowder that did not get made on Christmas day (not a hit)

as well as a ham dinner that evening (a definite hit).

We are supposed to get another 1-3 inches overnight tonight.

Hubby had little to do at work, so he is taking tomorrow off.

I see more walks in my future and probably a garage workout.

And now the menu for the week:

Sunday:  Salmon Chowder and Ham dinner

Monday:  Zesty Lime Chicken Bowl (homemade spin on Chipotle chicken bowl)

Tuesday:  Tuscan Skillet

Wednesday:  Breakfast for Dinner

Thursday:  Veggie Burger

Friday:  Salad and French Fries

Still A No Go

 Well, you are quite curious, aren't you?

How was the TOFU?

Well, I did try...

and hubby gratefully ate a good serving ...

but it was not good.

The good news was that a Chipotle restaurant had opened in our town just 2 days before :)

And it was a good opportunity to visit for the first time

(though the first few days of a restaurant opening are usually a zoo).

The tofu was a nice idea, but there is a texture thing going on.

I thought that by baking the tofu, it would be more crispy,

but alas, it was not.

So I will at least take a month off before trying that ingredient again.

This week ...

Saturday:  Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Sunday:  Potluck at church ...  Cranberry Meatballs, Scalloped Potatoes, Cranberry Waldorf Salad

Monday:  Salmon (a Christmas gift), sesame lime cabbage salad, fried potatoes

Tuesday:  Red Lentil Soup

Wednesday:  Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas

Thursday:  Chicken Tacos

Friday:  Breakfast for Dinner (Church Christmas Eve Service)

Saturday:  Smoked Salmon Chowder

Short Days

 Is anyone else feeling the effects of the shorter daylight hours?

With the shorter days and the grey skies, I surely am!

It was a cold damp weekend and today there was even some "slush" in the air.

I looked ahead and right now they are even predicting "slush" on Christmas day.

I don't know if that adds to the festivity or is just depressing 😀

With the presents all purchased and shipped,

I have a few cards to finish up tomorrow 

and then it is time to focus on Christmas Eve.

We get very excited about doing some special things for our church friends

and making a night that celebrated the true meaning of Christmas

and allows folks to just take a breath.

The children's choir is ready for a few special pieces,

the primary church pianist may be well enough to "duet" with me,

and there may be a few student piano pieces.

And now for the week's menu.

I have 4 new recipes this week.

That is a little unusual, but I guess I was feeling a little tired of the same old same old.

We tried 2 on Saturday - 

one was a hit and one was a miss.

I attribute the "miss" to the fact that you have to develop a taste for nutritional yeast.

I may come back to it someday and may try to add a little more spices to complement the odd flavor.

So, if you are interested in following the adventure ...

Here is this week's menu:

Saturday:  Brown Rice Casserole (not a hit)

Jackfruit, Chickpea, Root Vegetable Soup (a surprising hit)

(would also be good without jackfruit)

Sunday:  Leftover Soup

Monday:  Singapore Noodles and Egg Rolls (freezer section)

Tuesday:  Roasted Red Pepper Quinoa and Lentil Soup

Wednesday:  Breakfast for Dinner

Thursday:  Sticky Orange Sesame Tofu

Friday:  Salad and Fries

As for the tofu - well that is a definite experiment.

I have used it in smoothies, but not as a main dish.

I have typically avoided it and will probably only try it about once a month.

Tofu is a high source of plant protein,

but it also can affect hormones,

so I am taking it easy on this one.

End of Day

 It is just about time to wrap it up for the day.

In typical Monday fashion, the house got a thorough cleaning.

I worked in "Zone 3" today.

That included focusing on the guest room and 3 bathrooms.

Primarily I worked on wiping down walls,

washing shower curtains,

and using a little extra baking soda on the shower walls.

I still need to go through the bathroom cabinets, but that will wait for tomorrow.

Hubby had only a half-day today.

We are both fighting a little something.

I feel like our immune systems are working well,

we have not succumbed to it,

but whatever is attacking is wearing us down a little.

I just took a batch of peanut butter white bean cupcakes out of the oven

and then returned supper to the oven so it would be a little softer for leftovers.

Yes, we ate some slightly crispy scalloped potatoes because we were ready to eat and it wasn't.

Tomorrow is a change of pace for both of us.

Hubby has jury duty.

I was excused from mine earlier this fall,

but he at least has some time tomorrow.

I have a zoom interview for a survey company.

These are my favorite because the remuneration is the best.

This one is on TISSUES!

And now for the Week Menu

Sunday:  Biscuits and Cauliflower Sausage Gravy

Monday: Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

Tuesday: White Bean and Potato Soup

Wednesday:  Breakfast for Dinner

Thursday: Spanish Rice and Refried Beans Skillet Burritos

Friday:  Salad and French Fries

After a slight reprieve from the gray skies last week,

we are definitely back into it today - just cold and rainy.

Now it is time to curl up with a tea and a good book!

Back to the Schedule

 I do hope that you enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday.

We had a lovely praise service on Tuesday night at church.

It was a small group, but everyone participated.

On Wednesday, I prepped food for Thursday.

Thursday, we had a lovely fellowship with our friends.

It was the loudest Thanksgiving that we have had in many years,

but we enjoyed the company ... and too much food.

Of course, all that food meant plenty of leftovers,

so on Friday and Saturday, we had a simple breakfast, leftovers, and then a simple supper.

I enjoyed having someone in the house all day with me for 4 days!

There is always a letdown after vacation with hubby,

but there is also much work waiting after taking some time off.

Our Thanksgiving did include our personal Turkey Trot.

We did our traditional walk/run in the morning and on the walk home enjoyed chatting with family.

We also walked after Thanksgiving dinner with our host family.

On Friday night, we dug out the Christmas decorations.

Only the tree is up, but I am thinking of some other trimmings.

I threw away some staples last year because they had just served their purpose,

but that does leave a hole ... and this year is not the year for purchasing new decorations.

In fact, even the Christmas tree is telling us that it does not want to move again - 

its wire limbs have folded in and out so many times that 3-4 broke off in setup this year.

Because we used a lot of leftovers last week,

I will make it through this week with more simple meals.

You will see some repeats from last week that we just didn't get to.

I should only have to walk to the store for fresh foods like salad greens, spinach, and bananas.

Using pantry items and not doing a large Walmart run will be a budget boost this week.

Menu Plan for the Week:

Sunday:  Power Bowls (no chicken)

Monday:  Leftover Pot Pie Soup

Tuesday:  Spanish Rice (Substitute black beans for ground meat)

Wednesday:  Breakfast for Dinner

Thursday:  Salmon Cakes 

Friday:  Green Salad and French Fries

Saturday:  Miners Minestrone 

(a mix my sister-in-law bought me when we delivered a car to her)

Derailed

 Well, yesterday's food post was derailed.

I am sure that you have had those days ...

you know, the one where a piece of news just steals your strength.

It was one of those days.

I did finish the general weekly house cleaning,

finished some more account closings for the estate,

and got in my run for the day.

You probably know what the week will entail as far as meals,

but we are a little "lighter" in the early part of the week

knowing that the Thanksgiving "feast" will be a little out of our normal eating patterns, 

especially since our hostess is a great cook.

We will celebrate Thanksgiving with friends and split the work.

I have gluten-free stuffing, sweet potato casserole, veggie tray with dip, and pumpkin pie.

I may also take a cranberry Waldorf salad and some squash.

And for the rest of the week:

Sunday: Fried potatoes and peppers, eggs, avocado, and smoothie

Monday:  Vegan Pot Pie

Tuesday: Breakfast casserole and smoothie 

(church on Tuesday instead of Wednesday means breakfast night got moved for a lighter supper)

Wednesday: Power Bowls: Greens, toasted garbanzo beans, dried cranberries, and pistachios

Thursday: Thanksgiving Dinner

Friday: Make a Turkey at home

Saturday: Turkey Pot Pie Soup

Usually, I shop on Fridays ... but not this week,

so we will be creative for next week using what is in the house

or making a walk or two to town for fresh vegetables as necessary.

Quick Jaunt

 Home Again, Home Again ...

Hubby and I took a quick trip this weekend. 

We headed to the Tri-cities area of Washington state.

We were passing off the last vehicle in his mom's estate.

He kindly took us part of the way on Friday night

and we stayed at a lovely motel for the night.

The motel had a gourmet, beautiful, made-to-order, allergy friendly breakfast - 

including gluten-free toast, gluten-free granola, and even dairy-free yogurt!

Breakfast might have been the highlight of the trip!

God gave us safety and clear skies on Saturday 

and we were very glad the trip home was in the same car.

It is nice to have the driveway back and to be a one-car family again.

And now back to routine ... at least as much routine as we have.

I had Saturday off from cooking - 

Motel breakfast of Granola Parfait.

Lunch at Chipotle - Veggie Burrito Bowl

Dinner at Burgerville - Kids burger meal

It is nice to be back to homemade, healthier food.

And here is the plan for the week ...

Sunday - Mongolian Noodles loose interpretation - primarily use a bag of broccoli slaw for veggies

Monday - Mashed potato, Turkey gravy, Roasted Broccoli, Sliced Beets

Tuesday - Thai Tacos (again loose interpretation)

Wednesday - Breakfast for Dinner

Thursday - Chicken Picatta (extra broth instead of wine) and Peas

Friday - French Fry Fix with Chef Salad