Menu Plan

I've found that although I am on the lazy side for certain things naturally (although marriage and having kids has changed me A LOT), I don't enjoy having to do nothing while my family picks up the slack.  So this partial bedrest is killin' me!  I am trying to be thankful for the time to rest, work on studying french (and catching up on a lot of french t.v. programs that I don't the time to watch), and mess around on the computer, its still hard knowing how stressful this time is on the rest of the family.  And to be honest I feel very isolated from the rest of the Christian community here right now.  Two weeks without being able to go to church plus missing a new Bible study and surprise birthday party for our new neighbor has been sad.  I guess you can say I am having to work really hard on not throwing myself a pity party right now.  So, to combat that I will mention what I am thankful for too!
~Time to catch my breath and think, a rarity with three little ones!
~Time to watch the final of "Top Chef" a french cooking competition show:)
~For the motivation to again cut back on sugar and eat healthier while I am in no-exercise mode.
~That yesterday my hip started improving finally..yay!

Anyway, one of the things Daniel has picked up doing is the cooking.  It is the biggest area of "stretching" for us besides child-care because I love doing it and it is just not natural for him.  Thankful that he is willing though!

Here is our simple menu, but with breakfasts and lunches specifically included since its better to more explicit when someone else is in charge!

Sunday:  B: leftover oatmeal, german pancake and yogurt.  L: picnic of leftover pizza, veggies, fruit (I had day 3 of white bean chili!) D: Black beans are in the crockpot for tacos(we have salsa and avocados that need to be used)
Monday:  B: Scrambled eggs, toast  L:  Leftover tacos  D: Sloppy Lentil and Beef Joes (I love these but always forget about sloppy joes!)  Super kid friendly, cheap if you use half lentils and easy if you use the crockpot...what's not to like?
Tuesday:  Green Smoothies, Oatmeal L:  leftover Sloppy Joes (if there are any!) green beans,  D: Spaghetti, bread from bakery, peas
Wednesday: B: Baked Oatmeal, yogurt L:  Spaghetti, D:  Crustless Bacon Quiche, bread
Thursday:  Scrambled eggs, green smoothies, L: Leftovers, popcorn, veggies D:  Brats & Cowboy Beans in the Crockpot
Friday:  B:  oatmeal (raisins, kefir, cinammon, bananas), L:  Leftover brats & beans D:  Burgers and Fries
Saturday:  B:  German Pancake or Zuchinni Bread  L: leftovers D:  BBQ at a prof's house!

Oh, I had to come back to edit this because we just made this chocolate chip (bean) cookie recipe and it is so healthy and delish!  I used unrefined cane sugar for the sugar and it was still tasty.  Try it!
What's on your menu?  Any good ideas for how to use time wisely on bedrest? 

Menu plan (in which I am getting old and injured my leg edition)

This weekend I managed to injure my right hip joint without knowing how I did it and am now in some pretty significant pain if I try to walk (or move...). I went to the Dr. but she seemed rather baffled. I have an x-ray scheduled for Thursday and some anti-inflammatory drugs for a possible joint injury or something. Hoping it gets better quickly so I can get back to actually being able to do stuff around the house and go to class!

Monday: Pakistani Kima (a kind of curry with meat, vegetables, potatoes, tomatoes and lots of spices) over rice

Tuesday: Chicken and Potatoes in the crockpot, side of broccoli and corn

Wednesday: White Chicken Chili, bread

Thursday: Taco Salad or another salad? We have a HUGE head of green leaf lettuce so I need to make salad soon!

Friday: Burgers, Homemade oven fries, salad (leftover)

Saturday: Pizza with friends (bring salad of some sort)

Sunday: Spinach Rice Casserole or egg salad sandwiches (we just scrambled eggs, toast some bread and put mayo on it)

Breakfasts are now a rotation of (mostly): scrambled eggs & green smoothies (I finally got a combo Daniel liked: kefir, frozen bananas and mache(greens), with another fruit added or some honey!), oatmeal, or German oven pancake (usually with yogurt or fruit).

In other news I am trying to start some sourdough...so now I have two weird things growing on my counter.

Menu plan (tuesday)

Monday: Leftover Lamb, scalloped potatoes and green beans (from Easter)

Tuesday: Lamb bone Broth soup (with potatoes, peas, mushrooms, onions and spices), fresh bread from bakery

Wednesday: Chili in the crockpot, chips, creme fraiche

Thursday: One skillet Mac and Cheese, Broccoli

Friday: Burgers, Homemade oven fries, salad

Saturday: Dinner with Friends

Sunday: TBD

Breakfasts are now a rotation of (mostly): scrambled eggs & green smoothies (I finally got a combo Daniel liked: kefir, frozen bananas and mache(greens), with another fruit added or some honey!), oatmeal, or German oven pancake (usually with yogurt or fruit).

Menu Plan

Monday: Baked Eggplant in the crockpot, smoked chicken, potatoes.

Tuesday: Chicken veggie & Quinoa Soup, bread

Wednesday: Beans in the crockpot (topped with lots of avocado, tomatoes, creme fraiche and cheese

Thursday: Pasta Carbonara possibly?

Friday: Burgers, Homemade oven fries (we just slice somewhat thinly lengthwise, lightly coat with oil and sprinkle sea salt and seasoning salt over it. Bake at 400 or higher until the outsides are a little crisp and the insides are soft! Salad

Saturday: Taco Salad

Sunday: Snacky meals, leftovers, or??

Making banana banana bread this morning...love this recipe!

Menu Plan

Monday: Smoked Chicken, Scalloped potatoes, peas (yum...everyone loved this meal, even the girls and louis) The girls don't like chicken except for this kind

Tuesday: Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole, Broccoli

Wednesday: Sausage and Bean Ragout, fresh bread, cheese

Thursday: Spagetti (mine is over zucchini), green beans

Friday: Burgers, Homemade oven fries (we just slice somewhat thinly lengthwise, lightly coat with oil and sprinkle sea salt and seasoning salt over it. Bake at 400 or higher until the outsides are a little crisp and the insides are soft! Salad

Saturday: Leftovers: we have a birthday party at some French friends house to go to this evening and a ladies' event in the mid-day so I won't cook much today.

Sunday: Maybe a picnic in the park? Baguettes, cheese, fruit and raw veggies!

Made these bean blondies tonight and they were terrific. I modified the recipes as I didn't have all the right ingredients.

Menu Plan

Monday: Split Pea Soup, leftover cornbread
Tuesday: Chimichangas (didn't get to this last week), fresh peppers/dip
Wednesday: Chicken, baked potatoes, and whole carrots in the crockpot, whole wheat bread & real butter, salad
Thursday: Chicken Noodle Soup, bread from boulangerie
Friday: Cheeseburgers, homefries, fresh veggies, dip
Saturday: Beef Rice Casserole, broccoli (didn't get to this last week)
Sunday: Clean out fridge, leftovers, or something else if inspiration strikes

Menu Plan

We're busy preparing for the new school term and on our newsletter for this month. We'll have some new pictures and videos up soon! We're hoping to get a few good ones tomorrow since we don't both have to be at school (just one of us).

Monday: Chicken, baked potatoes, and whole carrots in the crockpot, whole wheat toast & real butter
Tuesday: Italian Braid Bread
Wednesday: Zuppa Tuscana Soup, bread
Thursday: Baked oven tacos (forget what these are called...) with toppings, fresh veggies
Friday: Cheeseburgers, homefries, fresh veggies, dip
Saturday: Beef Rice Casserole, broccoli (didn't get to this last week)
Sunday: Clean out fridge, popcorn

Menu plan

Quick plan since this week started out crazy with a sick, constantly nursing or attached to mama baby boy. This morning Daniel had to skip class to go with us to the doctor, which thankfully went well despite the language barrier (althoughttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifh the barrier is getting smaller...we understood and spoke some!). Here's the slammed together menu plan for this week:)

Monday: Spaghetti with meatsauce (over zucchini for me), buttered toast
Tuesday: Taco Soup or another soup?
Wednesday: Crockpot curry over rice
Thursday: Tacos
Friday: Cheeseburgers, homefries
Saturday: clean out the fridge, popcorn, banana cocoa icecream

Menu Plan

We are halfway through our uber-busy both in school full time month. Thank goodness! Next month will be interesting because we may both be in group 2 (there are often only 4 groups for 8 +levels of French at our school) which means we'll have to have someone drop out for the month to do tutoring or split classes half the week (one of us likes that idea...the other not so much;). The good news is that the "problem" will force us to slow down a little!

Here is Louis "attacking" the moving box:) It really is true that a box can be the best toy!

Monday: Chicken, baked potatoes, and whole carrots in the crockpot, whole wheat toast & real butter
Tuesday: Lentil Chicken spinach soup in the crockpot (using homemade broth from yesterday's chicken), fresh bread from bakery.
Wednesday: Taco Salad (make big crockpot of pinto/kidney beans to use for this and for tomorrow)
Thursday: Chili, cornbread, peas
Friday: Cheeseburgers, homefries, fresh veggies, dip
Saturday: Beef Rice Casserole, broccoli
Sunday: Clean out fridge, popcorn

Breakfasts:Breakfast cake, eggs (always...we eat 70+ eggs a week, crazy!), smoothies made with kefir, bananas, pineapple, oatmeal, eggs in a window

Menu Plan

The menus are getting pretty boring (almost the same every week!) but that's the way it'll have to be until our schedule changes.

Sunday: Crockpot Beef Stroganoff (on zucchini noodles for me:) over rice
Monday: Chicken in the crockpot, carrots, baked potatoes
Tuesday: Taco Soup (crockpot of course)
Wednesday: Mac n cheese in the crockpot (didn't get to this last or the week before?)
Thursday: Lentil something or other ....
Friday: Burgers and homefries, fresh veg or green beans
Saturday: Soup of some sort, fresh bread


Breakfasts:
French toast
Scrambled eggs
Eggs in a window
Zucchini Bread
Oatmeal

Menu Plan

And just for fun, another video of the boy:

He is truly "all boy" and thinks everything in the house needs to be conquered or destroyed. I routinely find things chewed up, pulled apart, or he's pulled himself and is trying to knock it over. So different from the girls!

Sunday: Chili in the crockpot and buttermilk cornbread. Dinner is something french: Pave de porc Savoyard with a cheesy potato casserole. Taking a one-day break from no-grains and also having some bread from the bakery:)
Monday: Leftovers: I made way too much food for my bday!
Tuesday: Chicken in the crockpot, carrots, foil wrapped baked potatoes
Wednesday: Making Chicken noodle soup w/bread for a new mommy, but we'll be having dinner at a friends house, so this will be Thursday's dinner
Thursday: See above
Friday: Burgers and homefries
Saturday: Stroganoff in the crockpot
Sunday: Lentils in the crockpot or clean out fridge

Breakfasts:
French toast
Scrambled eggs
Eggs in a window
Morning Glory Muffins

Menu Plan

Here's what's on the menu this week:

Monday: White Bean Chicken Chili in the crockpot (made with homemade stock from yesterday's chicken in the crockpot...pretty easy!), w/creme fraiche, avocados, cheese, tortilla chips & Fresh veggies
Tuesday: Pasta Dish (undecided) and I will have mine over zucchini strips
Wednesday: Taco Salad
Thursday: Split Pea or Lentil Soup in the crockpot, fresh bread from bakery
Friday: Burgers and homefries (class was moved to the morning this week)
Saturday: Clean out the fridge (also a bday snack/meal out for Daniel and I!)
Sunday: Birthday meal at home...possibly some seafood or some nice cut of beef as a treat!)

For breakfast we have eggs, fruit, toast or some combination of eggs & toast (ie eggs in a window, french toast, etc.). I've just started making kefir and sometimes we have that with nuts, raisins, fruit, honey and I'm making granola right now:). We'll be having squash pancakes in the morning, that are almost grain free.


What's on your menu? Merci!

Family update and menu plan

Our weekend is just ending and honestly I am glad its over! For some reason we just had a really rough time with the girls. It seems like they are both going through really difficult phases right now. Previously it seemed like they would take turns (one would be sweet and delightful the majority of the time and the other...not so much). Now we seem to be constantly breaking up fights, dealing with whining and disciplining for disobedience. We are praying for lots of grace right now and wisdom for how to deal! Anyway, so that is why I am glad to be getting back into the "routine" of the week. Sometimes it seems like the strong structure built into our week helps to alleviate a tiny bit of the struggles.

We're also trying to do more "winding down" at night to try to help with Liv's night terror issue. After bath we read books, pray and then they listen to classical music as they fall asleep. Hopefully it continues to help...last night went really well. No one woke up until 3am, which is amazing for Liv. Hopefully it helps again tonight!

On to the menu plan:

Monday: Beef stew chunks in the crockpot over turnips, carrots, leeks and potatoes
Tuesday: Macaroni and Cheese in the crockpot
Wednesday: Thai or indian dish in the crockpot (I got cheap coconut milk this week)
(need recipe)
Thursday: Twice Baked potatoes or Mashed potatoes, beef gravy, green beans
Friday: Need something fun/easy crockpot or make ahead for this night...I have class in the evening and our usual isn't working right now (Hamburgers and homemade fries). We'll save that for Sat.
Saturday: Burgers and Fries
Sunday: TBD (grilled cheese maybe?)

What's on your menu? Any menu ideas for me (or parenting wisdom?;) Merci!

Menu plan

My trip to the saturday market pictured with my super cute helper eating an apple. (and our new big and sturdy table and chairs...yay!)

The vicious cycle of too busy to menu plan, but too busy not to have one has begun! So I am going to at least get a rough idea of what we'll have this next few days (mostly crockpot) sketched out to save us all further headaches:).

Monday: Fortunately this afternoon I pulled out a win with the crockpot at the last minute: italian zucchini/green beans. Sliced zucchinis, leftover green beans, chopped tomatoes, italian spices, olive oil and a jar of spagetti sauce mixed with a couple eggs cooked on high for 3 hours. I served it over noodles for the rest of the fam with shredded cheese. Daniel said that we could make it again, which is major for me! Also made homemade dressing for our salad (Smoked Paprika Vinaigrette).
Tuesday: Twiced baked potatoes ("bake" in the crockpot), smoked chicken, cooked carrots
Wednesday: Chili (in the slow cooker of course:), cornbread, mixed veg.
Thursday: Slow cooker corn potato chowder, fresh bread
Friday: (our tradition now) Hamburgers, homemade fries and fresh veggies

What's on your menu?

Menu Plan (and my trip to the Saturday market)

We are trying to only grocery shop once a week (very tricky with a family of five and no wheels except a bicycle!) and because Daniel is a rockstar he has really taken over that task. He is the master of packing a bike or a stroller chock-full of groceries and getting them home in record time. That's why I can't complain when he occasionally buys something that isn't quite right (zucchinis instead of cucumbers for example) since not only does he have to figure out what it is in French, but he almost never gets something that isn't on the list. He's not the guy who brings home a bunch of junk when I send him out with a list. He's pretty awesome:) Anywhoooo...so yesterday we did our weekly shopping and I thought we might try it a little different to be able to fit in a trip to the Saturday market too. I volunteered to bring the two littlest with me to the market and he went with Marianna to LIDL. It worked out pretty great and I was super excited that I was able to ask for the raw milk pictured below totally in French*all*by*myself:) Woot! Also got the equivalent of about 13 lbs of apples (mostly good for cooking/applesauce) for 4 Euros ($5-$6), so pumpkin-like squash (for my crustless, made w/honey pie and Louis food), and some pears. Yum yum!

We had a super busy Saturday so I am thankful that our Sunday has been fairly restful. We went to a new church today but I don't think we'll be going back. It wasn't what we were hoping for doctrinally so we're kind of struggling with what to do. The options for churches here are VERY limited, but we don't feel like we should just stay home and do church ourselves at this point.

On a different note: raw milk is SO good and I am going to have to exercise much self control to keep myself from drinking all of it! Still doing the no-sugar, no caffeine and no grains (well almost...we had two get-togethers yesterday-one at our house and a friends' bday where some grains may have snuck into my mouth accidentally;).

Here's our menu plan for the week:
Sunday: Lentil meatloaf, roasted red potatoes, green beans (very suprised that the girls and Louis ate their lentil loaf w/no problems)
Monday: Chicken in the crockpot, fresh bread, carrots and zucchini
Tuesday: Spagetti (mine with zucchini noodles...didn't have this last week)
Wednesday: Chicken stir-fry over rice
Thursday: Soup of some kind (or maybe white chicken chili!), fresh bread (we'll be traveling to get our visa made official today so the crockpot is a lifesaver!)
Friday: Hamburgers, fries (our new friday tradition to replace the pizza)
Saturday: Open...clean out the fridge maybe?

Menu Plan (for my first week of school!)

I started school today and so did Marianna! It went really well for both of us. I really didn't start "class" yet, but did spend most of the day at the school getting oriented and placed into a level. Plus two 50 minute (round trip) bike rides to and from school and a 2 hour tour of the city...exhausted. Tomorrow morninghttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif I http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifwill be in my beginners class and I am looking forward to it! Daniel and the littles did great with their first day without mommy...Daniel even fixed dinner that I planned!

Tues: Ratatouille with rice
Wed: Spagetti (I will be having zucchini "noodles" instead of actual noodles) with fresh bread and broccoli
Thursday: Taco soup in crockpot
Friday: Cheeseburgers, homefries, veggie sticks
Saturday: Green Mashed potatoes, meat and gravy

Menu Plan

Been awhile since I made a menu plan! I've really struggled to figure out the best way to eat/shop/budget since here (in France). I've actually been menu-planning still for the most part, but haven't been posting it here. To make it even more complicated I am going grain/sugar free until the end of January (then to re-evaluate at that point). This is the first time I've significantly changed my diet that hasn't been for weight loss or pregnancy related. I've been struggling with a number of health issues that may or may not be related and thus far medical tests have been really really expensive and have yielded absolutely no answers. I am thinking it is related to my thyroid and/or something to do with adrenal fatigue. and have been reading some about how diet and lifestyle can really affect those.

So...I decided it really couldn't hurt (and really don't know what else to try at this point!) to try some drastic dietary changes.
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Today is my second day of no caffeine, no sugar, and no grains. Yesterday I had MAJOR caffeine withdrawal headaches, but today has been much better. I need to work on some good breakfast options because although I love eggs...I like some variety too. Yesterday was also great timing in that our "family" Christmas present arrived: a brand new crockpot (from amazon.fr). This will make things a lot easier when I start school (and yes, we decided finally that I would start in January rather than Daniel). So I have some delicious lentil soup in the crockpot right now!

Here is our menu plan, or at least what I have so far:

Thursday (tonight): Lentil ham soup (crockpot):

Friday: Cheeseburgers and Fries, cooked carrots (I'll just skip the buns)
Saturday: Ratatouille
Sunday: Stuffed Peppers in the crockpot (stuffed with onions, ground meat, tomatoes and topped with cheese

What's on your menu this week? Any good grain free recipes for me to try (especially breakfasts or snacks...I'm hungry!;)

Menu Plan

Our two family visits (first Daniel's folks, then mine) are done now:(. We miss them already! We'll still be eating though, so I had better figure out some meals!

Sunday: Beef stew in the crockpot with rolls, banana cake
Monday: Had: tacos with all the fixings, spinach salad
Tuesday: Spagetti, meatballs, rolls with pesto, salad
Wednesday: Whole Chicken in the crockpot w/ carrots. Mashed potatoes
Thursday: Stir fry w/chicken, rice
Friday: Homemade pizza, cheese sticks, veggies
Saturday: Snack or fun food night, or leftovers.

What are you eating? Anything new (I think we're in a rut!:)

Menu plan for first week of Oct. 2011

I have a fussy baby chewing on my arm and am ready to menu plan! I've made it two weeks with only tiny shopping trips (to make up for huge ones when we first moved here!) so the meals are getting a little boring. Some things are repeats that I bumped from last week when we were unexpectedly given some friends' extra food and got a few things for cheap from the day old bread store (which also has other stuff like produce or chicken salad in a cooler these days).

Sunday: Bean dip with chips/cheese
Monday: Chicken, Rice and Broccoli Casserole, whole grain bread, butternut squash
Tuesday: Quesadillas
Wednesday: Spaghetti, green beans, garlic bread (probably meatballs and a nice dessert too since we're having company)
Thursday: Soup and Bread or Fried Rice
Friday: Hot Dogs, veggies
Saturday: Breakfast for Dinner

Lunches: leftovers or pb&j, or grilled cheese

Breakfasts will be toast or yogurt, french toast, eggs, fruit, banana bread

What's on your menu this week?

Menu Plan

Back to Rosetta Stone and booking tickets to France this week! Plus looking at buying things we'll need for Cameroon. Whew!

Sunday:
Monday: Peach Chicken in crockpot, mashed potatoes, green beans, french bread
Tuesday: Taco Soup
Wednesday: Spaghetti, green beans, garlic bread (didn't get to this last week)
Thursday: Fried Rice
Friday: Homemade Pizza Pockets, green beans
Saturday: Hot Dogs or Homemade Chicken Nuggest, snacky foods (popcorn, smoothies)
Lunches: leftovers or pb&j

Breakfasts will be toast or yogurt, french toast, eggs, fruit, banana bread

What's on your menu this week?