Laundry Time

I hate to spend my hard earn money on things I really don’t care about and I don’t care about laundry. I wanna share my tricks of the trade with you.  Here is a powder recipe that I use;

1 Bar soap (Fels Naptha) finely grated

1 Cup of Washing Soda

1 Cup of Borax

½ Cup of Baking Soda

Mix Well and store in an airtight container

Use 2 tablespoons per load

Here are some tricks that I use;

1.     When starting the wash, use HOT water for 2 minutes so the powder soap dissolves then switch to warm.

2.     Once the washer fills up with water let the clothes soak overnight, this helps with the stains (My DH is a plumber, I know about stains)

3.     I use the warm/cold setting for most loads expect for my DH nasty work clothes which I use a warm/warm setting (also add a scoop of oxiclean)

4.     I air dry all my clothes overnight then toss in them in the dryer for 10 minutes to soften them up

The Pro’s

1.     Laundry soap cost $15 a year

2.     I work in a office and don’t need a dry cleaner

3.     I rarely iron, once the clothes come out of the dryer, fold nice and tight= no wrinkles

4.     We love wearing cotton and our clothes last years

5.     Saves money on gas, life of the dryer, and clothes

Con’s

1.     From start to finish one load of clothes takes 2-3 nights to do

2.     Yes it does take added time to do the laundry but I save so much money!

p.s. If I only do one full load a night, I don’t fall behind in laundry.

Happy Monday

It was nice having a week off with my family; we didn't do anything crazy we just spend every minute together, which I love.  I also love working, I believe me working makes me a better momma and wifey. This is what works for my family and God made every family different. My husband doesn't expect the world out of me and I have a lot of energy to play with Monkey when I get home from work. And the weekends, forget it I don't sleep on the weekend, that might be a reason why I love working, it's the only place where I can relax lol j/k

I have a lot of work to do, it's month end and I was off last week (I wish my clients were off last week too). Lucky I have my Christmas music, dinner cooking in the crock pot, and left over cheesecake in the fridge ;).  Happy Monday 

Just stopping by to say Hello

I am on a stayacation and it's just great, spending lots of time with my DH and son. This is the perfect way to start the holiday season.  I'm online right now to make sure I have all my recipe for Thanksgiving since I will be hosting it at my house this year.  This year's menu is finally done, we will have the usually to start our with, nuts, hummus, spinach dip, crackers, cut veggies, chips, bread, pigs-in-the-blanket. For dinner will be ham, turkey, mushroom stuffing, sweet potatoes, broccoli and cheese, mix veggie, cranberry apple sauce. To finish we will have pumpkin cheesecake, apple pie, and random cakes that people are bringing

Nativity Lent

It is easy to spend so much time externally fasting (dietary) that we forget how important it is to internally fast though prayer and strengthen our path with Christ.

Christmas lent (Nativity Fast) is similar to Great Lent (Easter Lent) where we keep life simple and less busy so we have time to focus on Christ. It’s a time be humble again, internal true joy, and have patience towards one another. 

I fast not just for Christ but for also the Theotokos (Holy Virgin). I think on how hard it must have been during her pregnancy with the Jewish council and the High Priest who denounced her with shame, as we all know she was proven innocence.  I couldn’t imagine traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem while being with child or giving a painless birth in such a humble way.

Some people roll their eyes when they see or hear the word “lent” but I look forward to those few weeks where I feel so close to our Savior and can thank our Lord for giving me another chance to prepare to participate in the mystery of our Saviour.

3 years

It's been 3 years since I said good bye

but I never really said goodbye, your in my dreams all the time

I still don't fully understand but I don't think I'm suppose to

you did change my world, you taught me to be true

I'm 3 years closer to saying hello again to you

PAN-FRIED SCALLOPS

1/3 c. flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. dried marjoram

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 1/2 lbs. scallops*

1/4 c. dry white wine

1/4 c. brandy

1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

Combine the first three ingredients in a gallon-size food storage bag. Add scallops and shake to coat.

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add scallops and cook till done, about 5 minutes each side. Remove to a platter and keep warm.

Over medium heat, add wine, brandy, and balsamic vinegar to pan and cook until heated through, stirring from time to time to get the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Stir in scallops, making sure they are heated completely. Serve immediately, I like to serve this over Garlic Pasta and broccoli!

*You can use either bay or sea scallops for this recipe. I prefer the smaller bay scallops, but the sea scallops are delicious also. If you don't like the size of the sea scallops, you can always quarter them before cooking.

This recipe require oil and wine so I will only make this dish on the weekend during lent 

Meal Planning during Lent

With Lent around the corner, I wanna get all my recipe together now because I will not be meal planner from now till the New Year.  It's really pointless to spend all that time creating a menu if we eat the same 10 dinners over and over again.

Here is a list of lenten meals that I will be cooking; if you have ANY recipe to share my DH would love you lol

Pan-Fried Scallops with Garlic Angel Hair Pasta
Over Baked Fish with veggies
Tune Pita Pockets
Potato Pancakes
Eggplant Pesto Pasta
Split Pea Soup (hamless of course)
Black Bean Enchiladas
Slow Cooker Three Bean Chili
Navy Bean Soup
Veggie Gyros
Black Bean Nachos
Fisherman's Stew
Fish Tacos
Veggie Lo Mein

Amanda’s Potato Pancake

2 lbs of Potatoes

1 Red Onion

1 clove of garlic

2 Eggs (unbeaten)

2 tbsp of flour

1 teaspoon of salt

½ teaspoon of pepper

Grated potatoes, onion and garlic. Squeeze out excess water. Combine with Eggs, Flour, S&P into a large bowl. Heat pan with oil and fry like a pancake.

TUNA PITA POCKETS

1 1/2 c. romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces

3/4 c. sliced grape tomatoes

1/2 c. green pepper, chopped

1/2 c. carrots, shredded

1/2 c. broccoli, chopped

1/4 c. onion, chopped

2 cans (6 oz.) solid albacore tuna in water, drained

1/2 c. lite Ranch dressing

3 whole-wheat pita pockets, cut in half

Put the lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, broccoli and onions in a large bowl. Toss lightly to mix evenly.

In a small bowl, combine the tuna and ranch dressing. Stir to mix well. Add the tuna mixture to the lettuce mixture and stir to combine.

Scoop the tuna salad evenly into each pita pocket half and serve immediately.

Chit Chat Time

I used to be a huge texter (texter is a person who has over 500 texts in one month) because I am so busy and have a lot of friends and family that I stay contact almost daily.  I am not a fan of talking on the phone while other people are in the room; I just find that rude to no end. And when I am home I give all my attention to my DH and son. I thought by texting was the perfect solution but then I saw how much I was paying for a  texting plan and it made me sick to my belly and I friend reminded me that you lose something when you have to type, you can’t really express yourself and truly enjoy a good laugh.  I have a 15 minute commute from the office to my house so now I call a friend or family member and just chat about whatever; Chit Chat Time. Today start a new billing cycle and with God’s help I pray I will have less than 200 texts which means I can lower my text plan and save $10 a month, that’s $10 more I can give to tithe.  

Thanksgiving Menu

This might sound shocking but I don’t make our Thanksgiving menu…my DH does! I give him a long list of dishes and ask him to pick. First I have to get a guest list done so I know how many dishes I need to make.

This year’s choices are

Appetizers (2-4)

Stuff mushroom

Shrimp Cocktail

Hot crab dip

Spinach Dip

Pigs-in-a- blanket

Stuff cherry tomatoes

Raw Veggie Platter

Will ask someone to bring Cheese & Crackers

Stuffing: (1)

Cornbread Andouille Dressing

Cranberry-Apple Dressing

Squash-Shiitake Stuffing  (trying this week)

Vegetables: (2-3)

Green Bean Casserole

Broccoli and Cheese

Fried Cream Corn

Glazed Carrots & Pecans

Potatoes: (1)

Baked Mash Potatoes with Parmesan Cheese and Bread Crumb topping

Sweet Potatoes Casserole with a marshmallow topping

Relish and whatnot:

Apple-Cranberry-Orange relish (trying this week)

Homemade Gravy

Dessert: (2-4)

Pumpkin Cheesecake (trying this week)

Ricotta cheesecake with Cran-Rasberry sauce

Apple Pie

Pecan Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Cranberry upside down cake

Will ask inlaws to bring pineapple-upside-pie (dave’s favorite)

What will be on your Thanksgiving table??

Christmas is only 50 days away

But before Christmas, we have birthdays, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, little vacation for DH and me, Christmas lent, and one wedding… I’m starting to feel a little sick, J/K I love this time of year.

Looking at my To-Do list from last month; I have completed my budget (less than $500) Santa is coming; he will just have a smaller sack this year.  I have brainstormed and gather ideas for gifts. My Christmas cards are filled out (need to add holiday picture).

What I need to do this month

1)     Make homemade gifts

2)     Wrap gifts

3)     Take Christmas picture (11/22)

4)     Enjoy Lent, read the scriptures, prayers, and fast

Pumpkin Head

Songs: MR. PUMPKIN HEAD   Tune: "The Muffin Man"

 

Come and meet Mr. Pumpkin Head,

Mr. Pumpkin Head, Mr. Pumpkin Head,

Come and meet Mr. Pumpkin Head.

With a red hat (or whatever color it is) on his head.

SONGS: LITTLE PUMPKINS (Sing to the tune of "Ten Little Indians")
One little, two little, three little pumpkins,
Four little, five little, six little pumpkins,
Seven little, eight little, nine little pumpkin,
All found on the farm.

PROJECT 1:Pumpkin Head

Materials: Black and Green construction paper- Glue - 1 paper plates- Orange Paint- and paint brush

DAY 1:            Mommy- Set up the night before, (plate, paint, brush, water for brush, rag for mess)

Monkey- Paint the plate orange (let dry over night)

DAY 2:         Mommy- Set up the night before, cut out black triangles and one green square

Monkey- Glue black triangles on to create a face.  Then use this pumpkin head for the pumpkin head song.

PROJECT 2: Pumpkin Prints

Materials: Black and Green construction paper- Orange Paint-Paper Plate- Pumpkin shaped sponge- Glue- Black Marker

Day 1: Mommy- Set up the night before, (black paper, paint, sponge (cut into pumpkin shape), paper plate for paint, rag for mess)

Monkey- Take the pumpkin sponge and dip it into the paint then stamp onto the black paper. *Let Dry over night*

Day 2: Mommy- Cut little green squares for the pumpkin prints (I also created made pumpkin faces)

Monkey- Glue green leaves onto pumpkin. Then count the pumpkin prints.

We also went pumpkin pickin and painted pumpkins but still after a month long love of pumpkins Monkey still hasn’t said the word “pumpkin”

Meal Plan for week of 11/06-11/12

Thanksgiving is 22 days away! For the next few short weeks I will be making some of my side dishes (I love side dishes) and dessert.  I hardly make these dishes, so I hate to make them for the first time in a year on Thanksgiving Day.  This week I will be making a new meatless stuffing recipe, cranberry relish, and pumpkin cheesecake.

Dinner:

Saturday London broil with Squash-Shiitake Stuffing and cranberry relish $5.5 serves

Sunday Dinner over a friend’s house $0

Monday Sausage Lentil Soup with homemade biscuits $2.50

Tuesday CrockPot Roast with potatoes and carrots $3

Wednesday LeftOver/Cereal Night

Thursday Mexican Chicken Casserole with tortilla chips $5

Friday Order In

Sweet-n-Snacks

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Blueberry Muffins

Chicken Noodle Soup

Broth

 12 bone-in, skin-on chicken leg quarters

2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 tablespoon vegetable oil  

1 medium onion , chopped 

3 quarts water  

2 bay leaves  

Soup

 1 tablespoon vegetable oil  

1 medium onion , chopped fine 

1 carrot , sliced thin 

10 ounces of mushrooms

1 rib celery , halved lengthwise, then sliced thin 

1 chicken bouillon cube

2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves   

6 ounces wide egg noodles  

1/4 cup minced fresh parsley leaves  

For the broth: Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until smoking. Cook half of chicken side down until deep golden brown (5 mins). Turn chicken and lightly brown second side (2 mins). Repeat with remaining chicken. Pour off fat from pot, add onion, and cook over medium heat until just softened (3 mins).  Add chicken, water, bay leaves, and 1 tablespoon salt to pot. Cover and cook at a medium heat until the meat will fall off the bones (2-3 hours)

Strain broth into large container, let stand at least 10 minutes, then remove fat from surface. Meanwhile, transfer chicken to cutting board to cool. Once cooled, remove thigh meat from bones, shred, and reserve for soup and other dinners (can refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 1 month).

For the soup: Heat oil in now-empty Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onion, carrot, celery, and mushrooms and cook until onion has softened (3 min). Stir in thyme and broth and simmer until vegetables are tender (15 mins). Add noodles and shredded breast meat and simmer until noodles are just tender (5 mins) Off heat, stir in parsley and season with salt and pepper. Serve.

BookClub: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

I was finally done reading this book november 1, took a little longer than I planned but glad that took my time and really enjoyed this book. It had a lot of history in it as well as Vampires (pretty gruesome and bloody).  The author was so good; that I kept asking myself was this real??  Did Abe Lincoln really chase Vampires?  I had to Google on how Abe’s mother and son died, if Abe really meet Edgar Allan Poe, the curiosity got the best of me.  Abe viewed people as individuals of course was true, on how he felt in regards to slavery and was the whole reason why he became our 16th president.  His pure thought was if he can

get rid of slavery he can get rid of vampires.  I enjoyed growing with the character Henry I loved the ending how Henry has used his powers to turn Lincoln into a vampire, believing that "some men are just too interesting to die".

No more books for me until the new year, Lent starts in two weeks so I will spend all my extra time reading the scriptures.

Do you think God laughs?

When Monkey crosses himself? He touches his forehead and his belly and will repeat that move 3 times, he will never touch his shoulders. I am sure God is smiling when Monkey kisses everything that has a (Orthodox) cross on it; books, jewelry, and yes even play-doh. I am sure God joins enjoys when we are in a moment of prayer and Monkey screams AMEN, which of course echoes thru out the church.  I know God is proud of Monkey when his two favorite books out of 30ish are his Child’s Bible and Thank you Prayers. Speaking of his bible, he read his bible for 45 mins this past Sunday service, which gave me time to Thank God for giving me a funny-spiritual little Monkey. I love my Monkey and I love my God.