Author: Lois Houston

I'm a sweet tea drinkin' southern gal who loves to cook, bake, crochet, and read. Check out my blog for posts about parenting, faith, books, crafts, planning, baking, cooking, and life in general.

Menu Plan Monday ~ 21 February

Slow start today.

SuperMan is off of work for President’s Day. Little Bit is home sick with a bad cold.

I am moving slowly thanks to an early-morning migraine headache.  It’s better now, thanks to Tylenol and a heating pad on the locked-up muscles in my neck and shoulders. 

Poor Big Girl is at school today, although she didn’t seem perturbed about going out in the world today without us. She is probably happy to be back in her routine.

We had a busy but fun weekend.  Circus on Saturday, church and the usual on Sunday. Lots of fun times with friends and exciting adventures.

I’m planning to try a few new recipes again this week – more from my e-mealz subscription.  I have to admit the past two weeks have been challenging to keep to our menu plan. Life has been hectic and we have had a few nights where dinner has been catch-as-catch can.  Thankfully, I have a well-stocked pantry and we have a lot of leftovers from more prepared days.  So, we have been eating well, just not eating what I’d planned.

This week will, hopefully, not be quite so manic.mealplanmonday_v2

Here’s what is on the menu:

  • Monday: SuperMan will  grill steaks, I’ll make twice-baked potatoes and roasted veggies
  • Tuesday: Slow Cooker Sticky Chicken
    (from my old Menu Mailer subscription)
  • Wednesday: this is becoming leftover night because SuperMan and Big Girl tend to eat late (after her late dance class) and Little Bit and I eat early.
  • Thursday: Lettuce Wraps
    (this will either be from this recipe that my friend shared with me – and cooked for us on Sunday night – SO good, or from my e-Mealz recipe. Most likely, a mash-up of the two! )
  • Friday: I’m thinking about trying the Bacon Cheeseburger pizza from e-Mealz or we’ll do our usual Friday Night Mexican deal.

Weekend? probably something quick and easy – maybe some BBQ pulled pork in the crock pot, roasted potato skins, stuff like that. There are quite a few e-Mealz recipes I’m dying to try. Saturday may be a good day to do that.

Sunday we’re hosting our Small Group from church, so I am still trying to decide what to make for that. Maybe SuperMan’s jambalaya, or some soup. Not sure yet. I found this recipe for a Coconut-Lemon loaf cake that looks good and I think I want to make a new chopped salad I invented last week. Beyond that, it’s still up in the air.

What about you?

Simple Woman’s Daybook – 19 Feb 11

FOR TODAY

Outside my window…I am watching the puppies chase the squirrels away from the IMGP2466bird feeder.

I am thinking…about the fact that Big Girl’s jeans are not that much smaller than mine anymore – I have shrunk and she has grown. Scary.

I am thankful for…the beautiful weather we’re having.

From the kitchen…SuperMan is whipping up a Saturday brunch

I am wearing…my too-big nightshirt

I am creating…a happy, peaceful home

I am going…to the circus today – and exploring downtown while we’re there

I am reading…The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry

I am hoping…the beautiful weather continues & SuperMan’s side work picks up

I am hearing…my girls playing Barbies

Around the house…laundry, spring decorations and lots of Kleenex

One of my favorite things…lazy Saturday mornings with the family

A few plans for the rest of the week… church on Sunday and on to the usual weekly routine of dance classes, school & work.

Join us at The Simple Woman’s Daybook and write your own entry.

Spring’s Tease

It’s been warm here this week.

In the 70’s the last couple days.IMGP2563_edited-1

It’s been wonderful.

I feel like a bear coming out of hibernation.

I want to sit outside and soak up the sun, feel the breeze on my face and listen to the birdies chirp.

*achoo*

and sneeze.

darn allergies.

But –

as I sit and soak up the rays and revel in the milder temperatures, there is a part of me that wonders if it is all really, truly happening…

or is this just a tease?

Will we have another spring “blizzard” like we did in ‘93 when we were snowed in for a week in April?

One never knows.

I’m kinda thinking we might.

But, until then, I’ll enjoy what we have.

What I’m Reading

I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately. I’ve pretty much given up on night time television.  There’s nothing on that I care about watching – not enough to give up sleep for, anyway! What I'm reading right now

So, instead of vegging in front of the TV, I’ve been reading. Once the monkeys go to bed, I snuggle up in my chair in our sitting room and read until I can’t focus anymore. Some nights, that’s five minutes, some it’s more.  It just depends.

I’ve been really lucky, too, in that I’ve found some really great books to read.

I think the last one I shared with you was Juliet or maybe it was Septimus Heap?

I thoroughly enjoyed Juliet. It was a really great book. One I would recommend to anyone.

I have taken a break from Septimus Heap because Big Girl is reading it, too, and she wanted to catch up to me in the story so we can talk about it. So, I’ve been reading other books while we get to the same point in the story.

Here are some of the books I’ve read in the past few weeks:

Prayers for Sale
by Sandra Dallas

This was a really, really good book. I gobbled it up in a matter of days, enjoying it like I would a delicious dessert for my mind.  The characters are really well-written and the story consists of an 80-something year old’s reminiscences of her youth in a gold mining camp in the mountains of Colorado and her current relationship with a young, newly-married girl.  I was hooked within the first few pages and couldn’t wait to sit down and read in the evenings. I was sad when the story was over, wishing I could spend more time with the characters (always a good sign, in my mind)

I would highly recommend it to you. Especially if you are in the mood for something a little bit different.

 

The Lace Makers of Glenmara
by Heather Barbieri

This one just captured me from the very beginning.  It is the story of a heartbroken young woman who is traveling through Ireland trying to recover from being jilted by her fiancé (for another woman, of course).

She ends up in a small village that has a lace making group – middle-aged women who each have stories of their own.  The book weaves their stories, and Kate’s (the main character) together beautifully, and the imagery is spectacular.

I finished this one last night and am hoping to find more stories by this author.

Another one I’d highly recommend.

 

Now, I’m starting The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry.

It’s the story of a young psychotherapist, Zee Finch, who is thrown in a tailspin when one of her patients commits suicide.

She travels back to Salem, where she is from, and finds her father in poor health and needing care.

I’m not much further into the book than that, but I loved The Lace Reader, another book by Barry, so I am looking forward to reading this one.

I’ll let you know how it turns out.

 

 

 

And what about you?

What are you reading these days?  Any recommendations?

Some favorites

I thought I’d share some of my favorite (recent) blog posts with you –

There have been quite a few with some really good information in the past couple weeks and I thought I’d pass them on to you.

So, if you have a few minutes, take a look around – and I’d love it if you’d share some of your favorite blog posts with me in the comments!

Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

I mentioned on Facebook yesterday that I was cooking Chicken & Dumplings last night for dinner. And I did make them. However, I made them a little differently than I normally do.  

Usually, I follow this recipe, which my family loves.

But yesterday, I had a leftover "rotisserie chicken" that was supposed to be Sunday night's dinner and wasn't eaten due to a change in our evening plans. I wanted to make use of that already-cooked chicken, but didn't have the broth that usually is made when I cook my Chicken & Dumplings the "normal" way.

So, here's what I did:

I decided to make use of my old friend, Mr. Crock Pot (the big daddy)

I dropped the deboned, diced chicken in and added a can of cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup (the low fat versions), a chicken boullion cube, some low-salt chicken boullion and about five cans of water.  I diced some celery and carrots, added some onion and garlic, and turned the crock on High for about four hours.

Closer to dinnertime, I made my dumplings and transferred my broth/chicken mixture to a large stock pot and brought it to a rolling boil.   I dropped the dumplings in and let them cook for about 30 minutes.  

SuperMan and the kids loved it. And I loved that it was so easy. I may make my chicken & dumplings this way forever.  So much less to baby-sit and still full of flavor and rich goodness. I can't wait to have some for lunch today.

Here's the recipe:

Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

1 whole chicken, cooked, deboned & cubed
1 can cream of mushroom soup (low fat)
1 can cream of chicken soup (low fat)
1 chicken boullion cube
1 low-sodium chicken boullion packet (or another boullion cube)
4-5 cans warm water
1 cup chopped carrot
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
salt/pepper or Houston House Seasoning to taste

Add all ingredients to crock pot and cook on high 4-5 hours (or low 6-8 hours)

About 30 minutes before serving, transfer to a large stockpot & bring to a boil. Make dumplings.

Dumplings:

2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup + 2 Tbs milk
more flour for dusting

Mix all ingredients. Allow dough to rest 5-10 minutes. Turn half out onto floured work surface. Roll  to approx 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into strips approx 1/2 inch wide and 1 inch long (or cut with a small cookie cutter) Do the same with the remaining dough.

Drop dumplings into the broth (which should be at a rolling boil). Cook for about 30 minutes. When you drop the dumplings in, they will float to the top and then sink as they cook.  They'll also give your broth a creamy richness.

Stir often while they cook so that they all cook evenly and don't stick to the bottom of your pot. 

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Menu Plan Monday ~ 14 February

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I hope you find some time today to spend with the ones you love.

I know I will be working on some special treats for my family. Nothing big, but hopeful that they make them smile.

Here’s what’s on my menu this week – in no particular order. Some are repeats from earlier weeks because we’ve veered off the menu a few times. I also reserve the right to change up a little mid-week because I’ve subscribed to e-Mealz.com and I’m going to give a few of their recipes a whirl. It’s a great program, on the surface. $5 a month gets you a weekly menu and shopping list. What I like are the variety of choices you get – including ones that take advantage of grocery sales for Publix, Kroger, Aldi or WalMart.  There are also Weight Watchers friendly menus. 

I’ll let you know how it goes after we try our first month.

A couple of the items on my menu this week are from the first two menu plans I’ve downloaded, so I’m jumping in right away with some new things to try.

I like mixing it up a bit, while keeping my family favorites in the rotation.

Anyway, here is our menu:

For lunches this week:

  • Veggie Chili
  • Chopped Blue Cheese Salad
  • Tortilla soup (if I don’t do the chili)

Check out more menu ideas at orgjunkie.com

Ten years ago…

Ten years ago, I was walking the square in Dahlonega, perusing the shops and enjoying a cold, but sunny Sunday afternoon with SuperMan.

Ten years ago, I was a silly girl who had no idea what was in store for her.

Ten years ago, I was given one of the greatest blessings in my life.

I was given a challenge and a responsibility.

I was given a gift so precious words don’t do it justice.

I was given something I had been longing for for as long as I could remember.

Ten years ago, I became a mom.

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Happy Birthday, sweet, sweet girl.

I love you more than you will ever know.