Summer Meal Plan

6/6 - 6/12

M - Fish sticks, salad, mixed berries

T - Chicken and Zucchini Alfredo, HM bread


W - Leftovers

R - Chicken Ravioli, baked asparagus, strawberries

F - Brats, mac & cheese, spinach salad

S - Spaghetti, steamed veggies, garlic bread

S - Leftovers

Jello Jam -- Genius!

I carted myself + 4 kids to the OP farmers market today and we had a blast!  We came back with some great organic finds - zucchini, red potatoes, asparagus and green onion.  We also bought some perfectly ripe peaches.  When I got home I realized there was no way we would eat all of them in time so I started cutting them up for jam.  After cutting most of the peaches and about 3 cups of strawberries I realized I didn't have any pectin.  I googled for some solutions and came across a recipe that uses jello instead of pectin.  I must say, it's pretty darn good!  It's not as "homemade" as a recipe without jello, but still a good recipe!  Here is my version of what I found:

Peach Berry Jam

3 C. sliced strawberries
2 C. peeled and sliced peaches
2 C. crushed pineapple, drained
6 C. sugar
1 pkg. strawberry jello


1.  Place fruit in large pot.  Mash with potato masher. 
2.  Add sugar.  Boil fruit and sugar for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3.  Add Jello.  Blend well.
4.  Ladle into prepared jars, leaving 1/8 inch space at the top
5.  Cover with 2 piece lids, screwing bands on tightly
6.  Process in hot water bath for 5-7 minutes
7.  Remove and let cool standing upright

Mid-Week Meal Plan

Just put the house on the market, so things are getting crazy around here!  I think it's time to start escaping to the farm more often for some quiet time!  Here is what we're eating this week:

5/4 - 5/10

W - BBQ chicken sandwiches, fries, salad

R - Baked parmesan tilapia, wild rice, green beans

F - Spaghetti, hm bread, spinach salad

S - Leftovers

S - Happy Mother's Day!  We're grilling out - not sure yet, but I'm not cooking it!

M - Happy birthday to my darling daughter!  She wants to go out for Mexican. 

T - Grilled pork tenderloin, roasted potatoes, steamed veggies

Mid-Week Meal Plan

4/27 - 5/3

W - Leftovers

R - Pizza, caesar salad, grapes

F - Bacon cheddar hamburgers, sweet potato fries, salad

S - Out to eat

S - Grilled tilapia, roasted red potatoes, asparagus, hm bread

M - Leftovers

T - Grilled chicken, mac & cheese, steamed veggies

BUYcott Chick-fil-A This Week!

 Recently Chick-fil-A has come under attack for donating food to a marriage seminar that supported marriage between a man and a woman.  The fact that Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy built his highly successful restaurant chain on biblical principals and chooses to support people who uphold those same principals bothered some people enough to attack the restaurants and what they stand for.

I know I'm not alone when I say I applaud Chick-fil-A and thank them for their dedication to providing a clean family friendly environment that both kids and adults enjoy. 

If you support Chick-fil-A I encourage you to participate in this buycott. Follow the link to The American Family Association to learn more and print out a thank-you card to take with you to their restaurant in the next couple days.  Enjoy and "Eat Mor Chickin"!

Mid-Week Meal Plan

I was hoping to be excited by the grocery store ads this weekend, but I was not.  So, off to Costco I go to stock up!

W - Baked Ziti with turkey Italian sausage, steamed veggies

R - Costco for dinner!  Pizza, hot dogs, fro yo, mmmmmmmmmm!

F - Leftovers so we can attend church.

S - Trying a new Roast Chicken recipe, potatoes, HM bread, salad

S - Easter Dinner at the In-Laws

M - Pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, fruit

T - Crock pot cream cheese chicken, brown rice, spinach salad

Easter Cookies

Easter is almost here!  My very favorite day of the entire year.  Why, you ask?  Not because of the bunnies or the eggs, although that is a fun part of how we celebrate.  Easter is the day that Jesus rose from the dead.  I mean really, how cool is that?  It's an amazing thing to celebrate.  If you're looking for a way to share this story with your kids try this recipe:

Empty Tomb Cookies

• 1 C. whole pecans
• 1 t. vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• pinch of salt
• 1 C. white sugar
• Ziploc bag
• wooden spoon
• tape
• Bible

1.  Preheat oven to 300. Place pecans in zipper baggies and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read
 John 19:1-3.

2.  Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

3.  Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

4.  Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

5.  So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

6.  Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa.1:18 and John 3:1-3.

7.  Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

8.  Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.

9.  GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in there overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

10.  On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9