Foody Friday

Hi!

Another week has gone by!

Here's what we ate:

• Fri- Tortilla Pizzas
• Sat- Leftovers
• Sun- Frozen SlowCooker Beans turned into Chili
• Mon-Victoria Day- Dinner at In-laws- Lobster and Hotdogs
• Tues- Something with leftover potato salad from Mon...
• Wed- Frozen Adobo Chicken made into Chicken Enchiladas (I used canned lentils, so that's what I had in mine.  I made the Sauce, but found it to be a bit too salty.  However, when mixed with the enchiladas it was ok.  But if I make it again, I think I'll decrease the salt since my chili powder has salt in it.
• Thurs-Macaroni and Cheese, Raw Carrots & Broccoli with Ranch

Have a great day! :-)

Foody Friday

Hi!  How was your week?  Mine was fine.  K and I have been working to clean up the yard.  The weather had been really nice!

Here's what we ate last week.

• Fri- Frozen Pizza
• Sat- Leftover Beans, Potatoes, Carrots, Sauteed Baby Spinach/Kale mix
• Sun- Mother's Day- Out at The Landing
• Mon- Coconut Curried Vegetable Stew (Vegetarian Family Cookbook, pg 58) made with Chickpeas
• Tues-Crunchy Baked fish (with Cracker, Parmesan coating), Rice, Beet Greens
• Wed-Rotini Pasta with Tomato Basil Sauce
• Thurs- Frozen Enchiladas, Mexican Rice (Leftover rice with Salsa), Chips, Salsa (N was gone to Pokemon)

So, that's it for this week!  Have a great day! :-)

Foody Friday

Hi!

The snow has been melting, but it's still around!

Here's what we ate last week.

• Fri- McCain Mini Pepperoni Pizzas
• Sat- Leftovers
• Sun- Roast Chicken, Microwaved Potatoes, Collard Greens
• Mon-Many Bean Soup (Slow Cooker: The Best Cookbook Ever (Library Book) pg 39)  I made it with pinto and black beans. Kids didn't like it very much. It cooked in slow cooker 8 hours on high, but still wasn't done, so K finished it on stovetop.  I boiled it down and now it's frozen and I think the kids will like it made into a chili probably next week!
• Tues- Tacos by K
• Wed- Whole Wheat Cheese Tortellini, Ragu Sauce- by N
• Thurs- Chicken Fingers, Microwaved Sweet Potatoes, Kohlrabi Greens

Enjoy your day! :-)

Foody Friday

Hi again!

Here's what we ate last week.

• Fri- Canned Lemon Tuna and Canned Red Pepper Tuna with Grated carrot, Grated Beet, Chopped Radish, Chopped Celery, Chopped Broccoli (C gone)
• Sat- Carrot Ginger Lentil Soup- made on stove, not in slowcooker.
• Sun- Dinner at in-laws- Turkey, dressing, potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, green beans, corn, jello salad, Banana/Orange pudding for dessert
• Mon- Leftovers
• Tues- Grilled Cheese, Tomato Soup
• Wed- Spaghetti Pie, Sauteed Kale and Garlic
• Thurs- Fish Tacos (from Old El Paso Kit), Slaw made with Kale Super Blend

So, that's what we've been eating.  I went shopping yesterday (I don't have to tutor on Thursdays anymore so I can shop then), but I didn't have a menu plan for the week!  I may switch back to posting our meals on Thursdays.  We'll see what I come up with to cook for this week!

:-)

Foody Friday

Hi!

What a funny week!  The kids were off school thru Wednesday, but then the roads still weren't cleared enough so we had to drive the kids to and from school on Thurs. and today (Fri).  

N's Science Fair was this week.  He did a project on Electromagnets.

At work, I copied a sign that was re-tweeted from @EPLdotCA (Edmonton Public Library) by @PEILibrary. 

When I was home for lunch yesterday, Paris came peeking in the kitchen window.  The snow has shrunk and the cats don't fall thru it as much, so they're getting out a bit more. 

Here's what we've eaten this week.

• Fri- Frozen Pizza
• Sat- Leftovers
• Sun- Chili, CornBread. I used butter instead of shortening and I used my Paderno skillet because my cast iron one doesn't fit into the little toaster oven with its handle!
• Mon- Poached Fish with Veggies (frozen oriental veggies), Rice, Egg Rolls, Ultimate Chocolate Cake. I made 1/2 the cake recipe for just 1- 9" pan. C and I sprinkled powdered sugar on top.
• Tues- Perogies, Hamburger, Raw Carrots
• Wed- K picked up pizza in town when he took C to dance
• Thurs- Frozen Vegetable Lasagna

It's been 2 years since I started posting our menus!  Wow, that's a lot of (boring) meals!

Have a great weekend! :-)

March Break "Trip"/ Foody Saturday

Hi!

It's Saturday, and March Break is almost over!  We were supposed to go to Nova Scotia to visit K's uncle and aunt, but the bad weather prevented us from going.  Halifax got a whopping 50 cm (20 in) of snow Wednesday, so they were pretty much shut down.  The kids ended up getting storm stayed at their grandparents's for 2 nights and yesterday (Friday) we went to Charlottetown for the day.  K and I had already taken time off work so we both had the day off.

First, we took the kids to Seoul Food for lunch.  K and I got Dolsot Bibimbap, C got Gimbap (Korean Sushi Rolls) and N got Chicken Fried Rice.  Everybody liked it which was nice.  Although it's a bit pricey for lunch so I'm not sure how often we'll be going with all 4 of us!

After lunch, we went downtown.  N & K went to the Comic Book Store.  C and I went to the dance supply store to get new tights for C.  Then we went to the library to get some new books and magazines.  We met K and N at the mall, where we had Bubble Tea!  After that, we all went to Value Village.  N found a SNES, C got some slippers and I got 2 "new" pairs of boots.  (I had bought a pair of $20 boots at the Summerside Mall a couple years ago, which I really loved.  However, they were cheap and pleather and now the pleather is cracking and they don't look so good anymore.  So, I've replaced them with some genuine leather Aldo Boots and a suede pair of Cougar Boots.)  On the way home we drove by Brookvale Ski Park and here's what we had to drive thru! 

This is a secondary highway, with only one lane and drifts about 10 feet tall!

We stopped in Summerside to make some copies for N's Science Fair Project and to go to the Pawn Shop so he could buy a game for his SNES.  We made it home just in time to have some frozen pizza for dinner.

Speaking of dinner, here's what we ate last week.

• Fri- Leftovers
• Sat- Pizza with Pillsbury Dough
• Sun- Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Chops, Smashed Potatoes, Boiled Beet Greens (Storm Day)
• Mon- Slow Cooker Pinto Beans for Haystacks (Storm Day)
• Tues- Leftovers (1/2 storm day- although I called in my local library backup to fill in for me during the evening hours of 5:30-8:30)
• Wed- Leftovers (Another storm day!!)
• Thurs- Out to eat at Gentleman Jim's with the in-laws

Have a great weekend! :-)

Foody Friday

Whew, another week gone by!

Today there were snow squalls around the island so school was delayed an hour.  This gave everybody (except K) a chance to sleep in a bit.  I'm still getting used to the new "time".  It's nice though, that there's so much daylight in the evening.

K is working again this weekend and I work tonight so N and C are spending the night at their grandparents'.  Next week is March Break!!  We are supposed to get 15 cm (6 in) of snow in a snow storm on Sunday!  Plus more snow coming during the week and next weekend!

Here's what we ate last week.

• Fri- C & K- Chicken, Gravy, Fries (I was working and N was in Summerside.)
• Sat-Pizza Biscuits (I used Pillsbury Pizza Dough divided to fit into the muffin tins.)  They were pretty good, but had a lot of dough on the bottom.
• Sun- Leftover Frozen Gumbo, Frozen Rice
• Mon- What a "Dal" (Lentil White Bean Dal) (Fresh From the Vegetarian Slow Cooker, pg 103),  Cheesy Grits
• Tues- Hamburger, Fries (fixed by K)
• Wed- Tomato Sauce (FFVSC pg 133), Rotini (cooked by N)- Sauce turned out good, but I used blended chopped tomatoes instead of crushed and it was a bit juicy.  I ended up reducing it on the stovetop after so I can freeze it!  It made a lot.
• Thurs- A Melange- K had pork chop with Leftover Dal, I had Leftover Dal, C had Amy's Black Bean Burrito, N ate dinner in town at Greco with his friends.

That's it for now.  Have a great weekend (and March Break!) :-)

Tasty Saturday

Hi!  

Goodness, it's Saturday already!  Yesterday, there was no school (for Parent Teacher Interviews) so C was home with me and I forgot to do my Foody Friday post.

Here's what we ate this week.

• Fri- Leftovers
• Sat- Frozen Buitoni Spinach Pizza- good!
• Sun-Canned Vegetable Soup with crackers and Cheese
• Mon- Roast Chicken Breasts, Microwaved "Baked" Potatoes, and Spinach, Tomato, Carrot salad- cooked by N :-)
• Tues- "Dry" Red Lentils (World Vegetarian, pg 68), Stewed or "Red-Cooked" Daikon (W.V. pg 176), Kohlrabi Greens cooked with Garlic (W.V. pg 223), Brown Rice- This was a snow day off school because of blowing snow.  It snowed on Monday a bit, but the wind really picked up on Tuesday, so there were a lot of white-out conditions.  School and provincial offices were closed.  Here's C looking out a snow window in her fort she built. She didn't stay out very long because, even though she was slightly sheltered, the snow was still blowing a bit too hard. Anyway, I hadn't cooked in so long (see above menus for the week!) that I felt like cooking a lot of stuff.  K and I liked it all, but the kids not so much.
• Wed- Cheese Raviolis with Tomato Sauce, Broccoli- cooked by N
• Thurs- Out- N went to Pokemon so he ate at Greco Pizza with his friends after; C had a dentist appt. in town so she and I ate at Pita Pit; K was on his own at home.

We are supposed to get no snow this week!  Yay!  It's Spring Forward tonight, so it'll take a bit used to get used to that.  Already, it's still light out at about 6:00.  

Have a great weekend! :-)

Foody Friday

Hi!

The schools are still cancelled today. We got 10 cm (4 inches) of snow last night.  K had to clear the driveway again, but it didn't take long.  Now the snow is blowing around and there are some white-out conditions on the roads.

Here's what we ate on this "February Snow Break".

• Fri- Leftovers
• Sat- Valentine's Day- Canned Beans in Tomato Sauce, Toast (very romantic, huh? ;-)
• Sun- Chicken Gumbo and Rice- fixed by K
• Mon- Islander Day- Roast Beef with Potatoes and Carrots- fixed by K
• Tues- Snow Day- Curry Chickpeas with Potatoes, Raisins, Peanuts (based on Curried Potatoes with Peas, Raisins and Cashews, Vegetarian Family Cookbook pg 180) Kids had plain chickpeas, mashed potatoes and raisins and peanuts on the side.
• Wed- Pizza from Dominoes picked up by K & N
• Thurs- Baked Scallops ( I just used crushed crackers and croutons and Old Bay Seasoning. It was a bit blah, but we ate it with cocktail sauce so it was pretty good.) leftover potatoes, leftover rice

Have a great weekend! :-)

Foody Friday

Hi!

The week has gone by fast!  We are expecting a major blizzard on Sunday with 40-50 cm (15-20 inches) of snow!  Monday is a holiday, Islander Day, so it's a day off for everybody.

Here's what we ate last week.

• Fri- Leftovers
• Sat- Skillet Tortilla Pizzas.  The first one didn't get cooked enough on the bottom, so after broiling it, I put it back on the stove top on high heat and it got burned in the middle.  Then I was scared to use high heat on the second, so it was pretty much like a tortilla pizza we normally do in the oven.  The third one was a bit better, but still, everyone liked the first one's crispy crust (with the burnt parts taken off).  I still need to figure out the stove temps for this one.
• Sun- K made Red Beans and Rice.  K & I liked it, and the kids kinda did.
• Mon- Ginger Soy Poached Salmon, Roasted Potatoes, Green Beans.  The salmon was good. 
• Tues- Homemade Macaroni and Cheese (made by K- I missed dinner because of work)
• Wed- Chicken Fingers (Leftover Rice and Beans for me), Mashed Potatoes, Corn (made by K)
• Thurs-Sushi & Fries- Easy dinner because K went to store. ;-)

It seems we've eaten a lot of potatoes this week and not so many veggies...:-(

Have a great weekend!  Stay warm and Happy Valentine's Day! :-)

Feed Me Friday

Hi!

Here's what we ate last week.

• Fri- C went to grandparents', N went to BBall game in C'town, K & I were working
• Sat- Frozen Pizza
• Sun- Hawaiian Pizza from Michael's (yes, pizza 2 days in a row!)
• Mon- Slow Cooker Adobo Chicken -similar to this recipe, but I made it in the slow cooker and topped it with bok choy during the last 30 minutes of cooking. I really like the sauce and bok choy, but nobody else really liked it. :-(
• Tues- K fixed Hamburgers
• Wed- N fixed Frozen Pasta with sauce
• Thurs- What a Crock Fish Chowder (from the book, Eat Cheap but Eat Well pg166).  This was good, but the kids didn't like it.

Have a great weekend! :-)

Tasty Thursday

Hi!

Here's our fixin's for the week.

• Thurs-  New Year's Day- For Lunch- Cajun Black Eyed Peas, Frizzled Cabbage, Cheesy Grits
• Fri- Meat Pie from Bakery, Salad
• Sat- Home-made Pizza with Anchovies
• Sun- (More) Meat Pie, Mac & Cheese, Salad
• Mon- Whole Roasted Chicken (leftovers used for lunches) Japonica Rice, Spinach
• Tues- Haystacks with canned romano beans
• Wed- Frozen Pasta filled with spinach and cheese, Basil Sauce- some with hamburger

:-)

Tasty Monday

Hi!

Happy New Year!!!!  I forgot to post this on New Year's Day.

Here's what we've eaten during the Christmas Break.

• Thursday- Christmas Dinner- Turkey, Stuffing, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Turnips, Carrots & Green Beans
• Fri- Leftover Perogies, Cabbage Rolls
• Sat- Tortilla Pizzas, Creamy Organic Tomato Soup
• Sun- Morrocan Salmon, Red Lentils with Cumin Seeds (World Vegetarian, pg 68)
• Mon- Sushi, Miso Soup
• Tues- Kale, Spinach, Chard Salad with Craisins and Cornbread Croutons, Warmed Honey Mustard Dressing (from Dole) and (frozen cooked) Chicken, Sweet Potatoes, Pan-fried Polenta (this is the first time I've seen packaged polenta in Summerside- haven't had it in a while!), Roasted Broccoli & Olives.  This was a meal K and I enjoyed, but the kids didn't like it too much.  However, once C finally tried the broccoli, she decided she liked it!
• Wed- Dinner at In-laws- Duck (from a farm down the street from us- C is friends with the granddaughter of owner!), Tilapia, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Turnip and Mexican Cake with pineapple & coconut for dessert

:-)

Homemade Christmas Gifts

Hi!

Along with home-made presents for the kids, we also do home-made for others.  For the past few years, the kids have given home-made jam to their teachers and bus driver.  However, this is made by my MIL!  She makes great jams.

The kids and I have made wreaths


 and wooden trees,


Along with these, I've made a couple things in the kitchen to go with them-

Crockpot Granola 

and Pecan Praline Sauce.

I've also made a

Coconut Sugar Scrub.

This year we made wooden snowmen from Birch branches that got cut last winter when our power went out.  Here's one that C made.

They turned out to be pretty delicate.  This one is already missing an arm!

N made a crazy one.

Also missing its arms!  We gave the "nicer" ones to my in-laws and N didn't feel like making another one for us to keep!

C also got in on the home-made band wagon and did her first cross stitch!  I glued it on a birch round to make an ornament.

We mailed it down to my dad and step-mom with a picture calendar that we do for the grandparents. I think that kinda counts as home-made too!

:-)

Tasty Thursday

Hi!

Another busy week and only 7 more days til Christmas!

Here's what we ate last week.

• Thurs- Vegetable Soup- from a can with a few additions- basically what we had last Sunday, but N wasn't here so it was "new" to him
• Fri- Frozen Pizza- C had friend over.
• Sat- Dominoes Pizza (kids gone)
• Sun- Gumbo from mix with Sausage, Rice
• Mon- Chicken Fajitas, from a chicken roasted that afternoon.
• Tues-Frozen Tuscan Beans, Leftover Rice, Steamed Sugar Snap Peas, Raw Carrots & Raw Sugar Snap Peas with Ranch dressing
• Wed- Macaroni & Cheese, Peas

Enjoy the rest of your week! :-)

Tasty Friday

Hi!

Here's what we ate last week.

• Thurs- Kale Super Mix Oriental Stirfry, Quinoa (?)
• Fri- Out for dinner for my in-laws' anniversary
• Sat- Roast Chicken, Leftover potatoes, Black Beans, Raw Sugar Snap Peas & Carrots
• Sun- Veggie Soup- started from canned soup with extra carrots, onions, canned tomatoes, frozen peas, green beans, chicken broth
• Mon- Tamale Pie (More Easy Beans, pg 97), Salad with Sugar Snap Peas and Carrots, Chips and Salsa
• Tues- Frittata Muffins with Frozen Spinach, Toast
• Wed- Frozen 4 Cheese Raviolis, Tomato Sauce for the kids, Green Olive Pesto for the Adults

:-) 

Tasty Thursday

Hello!

Here's what we ate last week.

• Thurs- Pork chops with scalloped potatoes. I got this "recipe" from N's teacher.  It's just thinly sliced potatoes in a baking dish covered with a can of cream of mushroom soup, then more potatoes and another can of soup  Place pan-seared pork chops on top and bake at 350 for 45 min or so.  
• Fri- Out- K and I got to go to Johnson Shore Inn for the night (a combined birthday gift to K and me from my in-laws) where we had a delicious dinner of pan-fried haddock, potatoes and baby bok choy.
• Sat- Frozen Pizza
• Sun- K's Mac & Cheese (N had a friend over for dinner.)
• Mon- Frozen Enchilada Casserole
• Tues- Baked Lemon Sole, Frozen Spinach, Whipped Potatoes
• Wed- Quesadillas, Raw Carrots

I heard on the news that the average family of four in the maritimes spends $900/month on groceries.  We spend less than that, so I feel better about my food budget now.  K heard from his co-workers that meat prices have increased a lot, so serving a lot of vegetarian meals must help with keeping our prices down.  The news also said that food prices have increased 35% since 2004 and are going to keep rising in the next year!

:-)

Tasty Friday

Hi!

Here's what we ate last week.

• Thurs- Leftovers- N had dinner in town after Pokemon & C spent night at friend's- there was no school Friday!
• Fri- Hamburger Enchilada Casserole, "Super Veggie" Pre-made Kale Salad. Usually when the kids are home for the day, I don't feel like cooking dinner, but this came together fairly easily.  I used only black beans for my part of the casserole.  Everybody liked it, and we have leftovers that I froze!
• Sat- Homemade Pizza- I told the kids, "This is my best dough yet!".  N said, "You say that every week."  And I replied, "Because every week it's getting better!"
• Sun- Asian Chicken Soup.  I made the broth like the Bone-in Chicken Soup.  I used seasoned rice vinegar (about 2T) and found it a bit too vinegary.  I also used veggies we had in the crisper and no noodles. K & I liked it, but the kids just kinda thought it was ok.
• Mon- Salmon Soft Tacos, Quinoa, Krispy Kale
• Tues- Tuscan Beans (All About Vegetarian Cooking, pg 85), Rice.  Our rice cooker that we got when we lived in Dallas in 1996 finally broke.  I'm kinda looking for a new one....  I made instant brown rice on the stove-top, but it didn't cook all the way so then I had to microwave it.
• Wed- Spicy Tomato Peanut Kale Pasta (La Dolce Vegan, pg 134), Green Beans.  I used canned chopped tomatoes with spices instead of the tomato juice.  I also blended the tomatoes and kale together to chop the kale.  I think I was the only one who like this!

:-)

Tasty Thursday

Hi!

Here's what we ate last week.

• Thurs- Broccoli Frittata, Blueberry Muffins (K had meeting so he wasn't here.)
• Fri- Pizza (N was gone for the night, but C had 2 friends over)
• Sat- Out to UPEI Alumni Dinner; Kids at in-laws
• Sun- Baked Chicken, Perogies, Broccoli
• Mon- Mung Bean Lentil Soup (More Easy Beans, pg 32- recipe below!)
• Tues- Cod Poboys
• Wed- Rotini Pasta with sauce

K and I really enjoyed the soup on Monday (of course the kids didn't really like it, but N ate a small bowl).  The recipe is from a library book, More Easy Beans.  I thought I'd share the recipe.  K thought it kinda tasted like split pea soup.

Lentil Mung Bean Soup:

1/2 c. mung beans- soaked in 3 cups boiling water for 15 min. Saute 1 med. onion, chopped; 3 celery stalks, chopped; and 2 med. carrots, chopped in 1 T oil over med. heat for 5 min. Add 1/2 c. lentils, drained mung beans and 6 c. veggie stock..  Simmer 45 min.  Add 2 t. cumin; 1 t. coriander; 1 t. turmeric; 1/2 t. chili powder; and 1/2 t. salt.  Simmer 15 min.

I used chicken stock.  I thought it was funny that you didn't add the spices til the end, but it turned out ok!

Enjoy your day!

:-)

Tasty Thursday

Hi!

Here's what we ate last week.

• Thurs- I forgot what we ate last Thursday
• Fri-Mac & Cheese and Peas (C & K weren't here, so it was just N and me)
• Sat- Homemade Pizza dough, with cheese and pepperoni- my dough is getting better, but this time when I was heating up the toaster oven, it was on broil instead of bake!  So the first pizza didn't turn out as well as the second.
• Sun- Dinner at in-laws- Apple Smoked Salmon, Broccoli & Cauliflower Casserole, Potatoes, Carrots, Blueberry pie for dessert (K's sister was in town)
• Mon- Romano Bean Enchiladas (with homemade enchilada sauce- I used about 1/2 the chili powder and double the cumin, garlic and onion salt), Mexican Rice (leftover rice with salsa) and Corn
• Tues- Remembrance Day- Chicken Soup (no noodles), Biscuits
• Wed- Leftover Mac & Cheese, Frozen Soft Lentils, Swiss Chard

:-)