Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Fettuccine Alfredo

Fettuccine Alfredo
Fettuccine Alfredo is one of Tom's favorite pasta dishes.  If we go out for dinner, it has been one of his first choices.  I tried to make this once many, many years ago...but it was a huge flop.  Suffice it to say, it stopped me from trying to make it for a long, long time.

I saw this recipe from Ann Marie over at Cheeseslave shortly before Christmas.  I decided to give it a shot for Christmas Eve dinner.  I know, that was a gamble.  But, it was a gamble that paid off.  This was so good that Dane asked me to make it for his birthday dinner.

Iodine Deficiency Epidemic: NaturalNews Talk Hour

 
According to our next guest, David Brownstein, M.D. - "over 95 percent of people are deficient in Iodine".

This is a serious health warning - please join us for an important discussion about the connection between iodine and cancer risk plus much more.

We'll also talk about thyroid disease, ADD, fluoride and detoxification.  Dr. Brownstein believes that holisitic medicine IS the future of modern medicine.

You're going to LOVE this program!  Please share this information with your family and friends - encourage them to join us!

(2) ways to hear this show - LIVE!

Thu. Feb. 2, 2012 - 9:00 pm (EST) / 6:00 pm (PST)

Phone Number:      760-569-7676
Access Code:          815676#

or, listen to our LIVE Webcast - use the link below:

Talk soon,
Jonathan Landsman, Host
NaturalNews Talk Hour

Monday, January 30, 2012

Book Give-Away! "The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge"

Book Give-Away!!! 

Submit a comment below for a chance to win a copy of
 "The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge"

Have 2 Chances to Win:
1)  Leave a comment
2)  Sign up to follow Victory Homemaking by email.  Leave a comment that you did that or that you are a current subscriber.

Drawing closes Monday, February 6, 2012

Sports enthusiasts especially will appreciate "The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge" by Tony Dungy.  This daily devotional is full of sports analogies and experiences of the Super-Bowl winning coach/author.  Mr. Dungy's personal discipline is evident in his writing, yet as a reader, I didn't feel like I was attending boot camp.  Instead, his gentle urging, patient instruction, and Christian encouragement made me want to pick up this devotional every morning.

Menu Monday, January 30

Wednesday (February 1) marks the 21st anniversary of the night I met my wonderful husband.  We always celebrate both anniversaries, our wedding anniversary and the anniversary of when we met.  In all these years, I have never once second-guessed our decision to marry.  Yes, we might have gotten upset with each other from time to time, but I'm so grateful to say that I did marry my very best friend.

Monday:
Breakfast – Oatmeal w/ applesauce
Lunch – Leftovers
Dinner – Crispy fried chicken strips, rice-a-roni, green salad 

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Tartar Sauce

I've been wanting to post my tartar sauce recipe for a very long time.  But, I don't have a recipe for tartar sauce.  It's one of those things that I eye-ball, adding a little of this and a little more of that.  Well, I finally took the time to write down and measure the ingredients.  Homemade tartar sauce is so easy, tastes better and is far more economical.  We haven't purchased the stuff in the grocery store for years.


Saturday, January 28, 2012

Homemade Dehydrated Hash Browns

Weekends in our house are the time for bigger breakfasts like pancakes, waffles, or eggs with hash browns.

I had always been afraid to make hashbrowns because they never seemed to come out well.  Several months ago we purchased some dehydrated hasbrowns from Costco and really liked them except for all the uneccessary ingredients that were cohabitating with the potatoes.  So while I was re-seasoning my cast iron skillet the other day, I thought I'd throw in some potatoes to cook for a homemade version.  They are really easy to do and worth the effort.


Great Deals!

Happy Saturday!

I just wanted to share with you a couple of great deals I've run across!

 Tropical Traditions has FREE SHIPPING on all their fabulous products through 1/30/12.  This is my favorite place to get coconut oil.  I love their organic expeller-pressed coconut oil because it is flavorless and has no coconut scent.  They have a whole lot more than just coconut oil, so go ahead and take a little lookie-see.

I'm so excited!  I just signed up for a self-paced online class that teaches about sprouting, soaking and fermenting grains. 

If you are interested in learning more about turning those hard-to-digest grains into something nourishing then you may want to check out the Healthy Whole Grains e-course. This self-paced online class includes 50 videos and over 100 printable recipes to get you going.

Let me know if you signed up, too! 

Friday, January 27, 2012

Crock Pot Potato Bean Soup

This odd sounding little concoction has become a winter family favorite.  I know it sounds strange to have potatoes and beans together, but was inspired by my desire to add protein to our potato soup.  If you use a very mild-flavored bean you can't even taste them.  And, if you mash them enough, you can't even see them.  Your pickiest eaters never even have to be told...


Lentil Gratin

Lentil-Gratin.jpgDo you eat lentils?  I've never been a big fan.  I think part of it is when I think of lentils, I think of curry, cumin, and other spices that dominate Middle Eastern cuisine.  Like I said, not a a big fan... 

Recently, I ran across this recipe and what I saw were ingredients I normally liked.  Hmmmm.  Could I possibly like lentils?


Well, I made it for lunch and it was really good.  Not only that, it was really filling.  This is dish is perfect for a meatless dinner (or lunch) or would be a great side dish, too. 

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

"The World According to Monsanto": Movie Review

This weekend, Tom and I sat down to watch a documentary titled "The World According to Monsanto".  I first learned about this DVD while looking through a great heirloom seed catalog from the nice people at Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.  (Check your local library for DVD availability.)

Once again, the big business of food is spotlighted and the disturbing fact that many from these food-related businesses, and in this case Monsanto, have direct ties to our federal government.  Many instances, Monsanto execs have gone on to FDA (Food and Drug Administration) positions or vice verse.  I find it a frightening conflict of interest.

Mercury Detoxification: NaturalNews Talk Hour

Passing this on in case you are interested!  Live in Victory!


Our next guest - Dr. Chris Shade has much to offer those interested in mercury detoxification.

In other words, this program is for everyone!

Even the natural health world has been giving out poor (and misleading) information about how to safely remove mercury from the body.

We'll talk about (proper) testing procedure, how to activate our natural detoxification pathways plus much more! Make time to join us.

And, please tell your family and friends about this program.

(2) ways to hear this show - LIVE!

Thu. Jan. 26, 2012 - 9:00 pm (EST) / 6:00 pm (PST)
Phone Number:      760-569-7676
Access Code:          815676#

or, listen to our LIVE Webcast - use the link below:

Talk soon,
Jonathan Landsman, Host
NaturalNews Talk Hour

To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate...That is the Question

This article, from Dr. Mercola's newsletter, gives some truly thought provoking information.  I'm sharing this with you not to make any of us feel bad about decisions we may have made in the past, but to open discussion and consideration for different future choices...


STOP! Read This Before Vaccinating for Anything
by Barbara Loe Fisher
vaccineThere are three basic facts you should remember when you are exercising your right to make an informed, voluntary vaccination choice for yourself or your child in America:
  1. Informed Consent is a Human Right: The right to voluntary, informed consent to a medical intervention, including use of a pharmaceutical product such as a vaccine that can injure or kill you or your child, is a human right.
While the State may have the legal authority to mandate use of vaccines, nobody has the moral authority to FORCE you to get vaccinated or vaccinate your child without your voluntary, informed consent

Monday, January 23, 2012

Menu Monday, January 23

Dane's birthday is this Saturday.  It is so hard to believe that nine years has passed since he joined our family.  He has been such a blessing.  Although I am his teacher for school, he continues to teach me so much.  He is bold and authentic.  He is an incredibly gifted artist.  He loves his chickens and is a phenomenally limber athlete.  Dane is all boy, yet he has lovingly taken care of a yellow "pet" water balloon, named Bulgey, for the past 27 days...in the house...and it hasn't popped yet.  *fingers crossed*

In our house, the birthday boy/girl gets to choose their birthday meals.  Dane has chosen what he wants and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at his decisions...

Monday:
Breakfast – Oatmeal w/ blueberries
Lunch – Leftovers

Dinner – Chicken Cordon Bleu, red potatoes, green beans 

Cocoa Fudge aka Chocolate Cake

Originially posted 11-2-11.

Tom's birthday is next week and everyone's excited because we'll have chocolate cake in the house!

I've been making this recipe for a very long time.  It has been Tom's favorite since the first time I made it, probably around 20 years ago.  Reilly and Dane love it, too.  This cake has become our family's default birthday cake.  Unless the birthday boy or girl requests something different, this is the cake.

This recipe is from my good ole Betty Crocker cookbook that I purchased in the late 80's.  That cookbook has been well-used and has been a great source of inspiration over the years.  I still use it from time-to-time but do make real food substitutions where I can.  This past year or so, this recipe has morphed and now incorporates real food ingredients...and you can't taste the difference at all.  I will say, though, that I still use powdered sugar for the frosting.  I've been given strict instructions NOT to use powdered sucanat.  Well, alrighty then.


Prayer Tips from NDOPTF

I don't know about you, but sometimes prayer just flows.  More often, though, I find that it is helpful to have a focus... like remembering to pray for our country, our military and our elected officials.

This week's prayer tips from the National Day of Prayer Task Force:

 
SCRIPTURE  
"He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." - Titus 3:5 

REFLECTION
Christ seeks to change our moral character so we can become holy in heart and righteous in life... prayer drives us toward this specific end.

PRAYER
Dear God, thank You for the mercy and grace you show me every day... help me to share Your light in this dark world. Amen

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Vegetable Beef & Barley Soup

Originally posted 4-6-11

It's cold and wet outside.  That means...it's time for soup!


Last night I made a beef roast in my crock pot.  Love it...easy.  Because I end up with a lot of great beef broth and normally lots of great roast left over, it makes a wonderful, hearty soup that my whole family loves.


Monday, January 16, 2012

Family Farmers vs. Monsanto! Let Your Voice be Heard!

Yes! I Stand with Family Farmers vs. Monsanto!

Dear Lynette

We have some exciting news.

On January 31, family farmers, organic seed growers and sustainable farm advocates will travel to New York City to take part in the first phase of a lawsuit filed to protect farmers from genetic trespass by Monsanto’s genetically engineered seeds (GMOs), which often contaminates organic and conventional farmers' crops and exposes them to abusive lawsuits by the world’s largest biotech seed and chemical corporation: Monsanto.
In March 2011, Food Democracy Now! joined the lawsuit Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA) et al v. Monsanto during the first round of plaintiffs, in what could be an historic lawsuit that protects family farmers and challenges the legitimacy of Monsanto’s patents on their genetically engineered (GMO) seeds and their right to sue farmers indiscriminately. There are now 83 plaintiffs in the lawsuit, including sustainable and organic farmers and food, agricultural research and environmental organizations collectively representing more than 300,000 farmers and citizens across the country.

Video: Why I Hate Religion but Love Jesus PLUS John 3:16

Tom and I thought these videos were so well done...  I thought I'd share them with you.  What do you think of them?



10+ Reasons to Drink Your Raw Milk

Should you drink raw milk?  Well, the article below by Jenny from Nourished Kitchen is a great explanation of the benefits. 

First of all, let me say that my family has been enjoying raw milk for several months now.  One thing my husband noticed right away is how much more satisfying it is.  He now drinks about half as much milk as he did when we were purchasing the pasteurized stuff.  Also, my kiddos love it and I love knowing that we are all consuming something that is easier for our bodies to digest and packed with lots of healthful goodness.


Menu Monday, January 16

Goldie
We got a little snow over the weekend.  The kids had a great time playing out in it and we enjoyed watching the chickens' tentative approach about venturing out in the white stuff.  It's a nice change of pace.  For now.


Saturday, January 14, 2012

"Tyndale"


 
"Tyndale" by David Teems is an incredibly detailed biography on the man who translated the Bible into the English language.  I had no idea how he was hunted and persecuted.


Friday, January 13, 2012

Too Much Talk?

What do you like to talk about?  Ideas?  Events?  People?

Well, if it's people, we need to be especially careful.  Gossip is an evil monster.  It can't live by itself.  It needs people...people to talk...people to listen.

  • "Sharing information" about others can be gossip.  

  • Telling someone of another's circumstances (sometimes followed with "Bless her heart...") can be gossip.  

  • Even telling of another's misfortune, followed by "We really need to pray for her/him/them" can be gossip.   

Proverbs 10:19

New Living Translation (NLT)

19 Too much talk leads to sin.
Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

Just found this interesting and reminded me to think before I talk..."and nobody'll get hurt."

Transgender Girl Scouts?

Okay...  Just in case you purchase Girl Scout cookies you might like to know about this...or maybe not.

This Girl Scout Is Calling for a Cookie Boycott Over the Inclusion of a Transgender Child

Posted on January 12, 2012 at 5:29pm by Madeleine Morgenstern
This Girl Scout is Calling for a Cookie Boycott Over the Inclusion of a Transgender ChildThis California teen is calling for a boycott of Girl Scout cookies after the organization accepted a transgender child to a Colorado troop. (Image source: YouTube)

A California teen calling for a Girl Scout cookie boycott after the organization accepted a transgender child to a Colorado troop in October.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

"The Christmas Singing"

The simplicity of the Amish culture has always intrigued me.  When I read the description of the book "The Christmas Singing" by Cindy Woodsmall, I was hoping that as part of the story I might learn more about the Amish.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Please Go Check for Eggs

This is the first winter we've had chickens, so we weren't sure just how many eggs we would get daily with the lack of sunshine.  And it's been a dark fall and winter.

We had been getting between one or two eggs a day.  I was beginning to wonder if this whole chicken thing was worth it.  Organic feed is about $25 for 40 pounds and we go through about one of those bags a month.  If we got two eggs a day, that makes them just about as valuable as something that came out of that golden-egg-layin' goose. 

Well, this morning as Tom went out to the coop to let the girlies out, he took a peek inside.  He found a couple of eggs up in the nest boxes...

...and then he happened to look in an unusual place...

NaturalNews Talk Hour: Fixing a Toxic Home



Passing this on in case you are interested!  Live in Victory!


Dr. Edward Group, CEO of Global Healing Center is our next guest on the NaturalNews Talk Hour.

We'll talk about how to identify and eliminate toxins from your home using organic methods.

Cleaning your home is easier than you think with the right information.  Join us for a great program!

(2) ways to hear this show - LIVE!

Thu. Jan. 12, 2012 - 9:00 pm (EST) / 6:00 pm (PST)
Phone Number:      760-569-7676
Access Code:          815676#

or, listen to our LIVE Webcast - use the link below:

Talk soon,
Jonathan Landsman, Host
NaturalNews Talk Hour

Monday, January 9, 2012

Wisconsin Judge: No “Fundamental Right to Produce and Consume Foods”

 What in corn on the cob is goin' on around here???  This kind of stuff just gets me all kinds of worked up.  Be careful, you garden-growing vigilantes...  They're coming from your squash.


Wisconsin Judge: No "Fundamental Right to Produce and Consume Foods"

Mountain Dew Can Dissolve...Mice?

Uh, make mine a water.
(NaturalNews) While drinking Mountain Dew, have you ever seen (or perhaps felt on your tongue) a thick, jelly-like substance? Maybe you assumed the ingredients in the soda had gelled. According to Mountain Dew manufacturer Pepsi, you may have been ingesting some extra protein with your beverage in the form of a liquified rodent.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Soaked Whole Wheat Pancakes

If you take a close look at our family's weekly menu, some things don't change much.  Take for instance our weekend breakfasts.  Normally we have pancakes one morning, waffles for the other.  Real rocket science goin' on here.  Everyone once in a while I might really mix things up and make eggs and hash browns.  I know... crazy stuff.

This is another recipe I've been making for years. 

Menu Monday, January 9

This week, Reilly and Dane will receive their orange belts in Karate.  They tested last week and both passed, so this week they will actually celebrate their achievement by getting their new belts.  They have been studying Karate since late August at a great Christian dojo.  They absolutely love it and I love that they have something active to do that can have lasting benefits.

Monday:Breakfast – 

Menu Monday, January 2


Photo source: livegreentwincities.com
 Today we are taking down the Christmas tree.  Although I really enjoy the decluttering of packing up decorations and getting the house back to normal, it still leaves me feeling a little melancholy.  January can be like that for me.  The lights are down, the parties are over...it just seems to make this time of year so much darker.  Add to that the cloudy days of the Pacific Northwest and you've got yourself an emotional Molotov cocktail.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about ways to help get through these dark days in better spirits.  One of those ways is by getting lots of Vitamin D from sunshine as well as eating butter and other fats rich in Vitamin D.  I'm still looking for a Vitamin D supplement that I believe is worth the bucks so if you are taking one that you think is the stuff, please let me know!

By the way, if saving money on your grocery bill is on your radar for the new year, menu planning can save you a lot of money.  Running into the grocery store more often the once a week gets expensive...especially if you are doing it while you are hungry.  Research has shown that if you go shopping while hungry, you buy more.  Also, when you have a meal plan, you don't panic because you know what you are making for dinner, and that keeps you from getting take-out or going to a restaurant for dinner.  By far, meal planning has got to be one of the things I do that relieves the most stress!

So here's our menu for the week:
 
Monday:
Breakfast – Oatmeal w/ peaches
Lunch – Tuna melts, carrot sticks, apples
Dinner – Leftover black-eyed peas, brown rice, cornbread, greens from New Year's Day dinner (I know...it wasn't on last week's menu plan.  But it was so good, I'll share the recipe with you soon!) 
Tuesday:
Breakfast – Fried eggs, blueberry muffins, oranges
Lunch – Leftovers
Dinner – Porcupines, brown rice, green beans 
Wednesday:
Breakfast – French toast with applesauce and maple syrup
Lunch – Leftovers
Dinner – Crustless salmon quichehash browns, green salad
Thursday:
Breakfast – Oatmeal w/ cranberries
Lunch - Leftovers
Dinner -  Harvest apple pork chops, boiled red potatoes, peas
Friday:
Breakfast – Scrambled eggs, cinnamon bread toast, grapes
Lunch – Cheese, raw veggies & apples
Dinner – Cheeseburger macaroni, coleslaw, fruit salad
Saturday:
Breakfast –  Soaked whole wheat pancakes, maple syrup, sausage, orange slices
Lunch – Homemade summer sausage, cheese, raw veggies & fruit
Dinner – Homemade pizza, green salad
Sunday:
Breakfast – Soaked whole wheat waffles w/ strawberries, bacon
Lunch - Leftovers
Dinner – BBQ burgers, homemade french fries, green salad, mock frozen yogurt
 

A Time to Plan: Goal Setting 101

 There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens: 
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
   a time to plant and a time to uproot,
 3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
   a time to tear down and a time to build,
 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance,
 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
   a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
 6 a time to search and a time to give up,
   a time to keep and a time to throw away,
 7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
   a time to be silent and a time to speak,
 8 a time to love and a time to hate,
   a time for war and a time for peace.  Ecclesiastes 3

I am grateful that every year, God gives us a clean slate and we get a "do-over".  Goodness knows, I could use one!  With the new year approaching, now is the time when I ask myself what did I do well and what could I have done better?  What is working and what's not?  Am I spending time doing unnecessary things or should I be investing my time in other places?  I am more concerned with the way my house looks or the people in it?

It seems like as the new year approaches, most people make obligatory resolutions.  I know I've done it.  You, too?  You know, resolutions like:
This year I'm going to ________:
  • lose weight
  • quit smoking
  • read the Bible from cover to cover
  • spend more time with my family
  • exercise
  • cook more meals at home
  • get organized
  • get out of debt...
If any of those are on your list, you are not alone.  But how many times do we have big plans for the new year only to lose our resolve after a few short weeks...or maybe even days?

So how does someone accomplish their goals?

Well, first of all, be sure it's something you really want.  Give yourself some time to determine that.  Don't be in a huge rush.  If you are not truly committed, you are setting yourself up for failure.  And failure stinks.  But that's not really so bad, because what's worse is if you make a habit of making resolutions, goals, promises, or whatever you want to call them, and then don't keep them, you teach yourself that you are a person who can't achieve them.  And that's a lie you don't want your subconcious to believe, cuz most likely that will include therapy to get past that one.

Pray about it.  Your goal might be something you really want, but is it something God wants for you, too?  Ask for Him to make it clear to you and for His blessings and assistance with your goal.

Choose only one thing to focus on.  Trust me, you can't chase two rabbits.  Don't stretch your focus too thin.  But, your goal may have sub-goals that help you reach your desired outcome.  Example: If your goal is to become more physically fit, that might include working out X number of times a week and cutting back on sweets, etc.  But doing the other things will help you become more fit.  Make sense?

Write it down.  This is big.  Keep your goal in front of you.  Maybe you'll have it written down in several different places.  Just make sure you don't forget about it.

Write down all the things that could cause you to fail.  Identify them up front.  Create a plan to circumvent them.  It's like talking to your kids about peer pressure and encouraging them to have a plan of action...just in case.  Being prepared is a key to success.

Write down all the reasons you want to achieve your goal.  Be sure to include how you will feel.  What will those closest to you say?  Visualize.

Break your goal down.  "You can eat a whole elephant...one bite at a time."  If your goal is to get out of debt, start with your smallest debt first and focus on paying any extra money you have on that one until it is gone.  Then move on to the next one.  Focusing on that small goal will get you moving in the right direction and take away (or at least minimize) the feelings of overwhelm.

Share your goal with someone or people you trust.  You have balcony people in your life (your cheerleaders) and basement people (those that want to drag you down).  Share your goal only with balcony people...

Start!  Fear of failure can hold us back from starting something.  It's okay, just get started.  Every action toward your goal just puts you that much closer to achieving it!

Celebrate the victories.  This doesn't mean that if you lost 5 pounds that you can eat half a cheesecake to reward yourself.  But doing something to celebrate those milestones is a really good idea!  Have coffee or tea with a friend, light the Victory Candle, take a hot bath, give yourself a pedicure...you get the idea.  Make it enjoyable and you'll want to achieve the next step!
 
Photo sources: kpprobst.blogspot.com, honestspeaks.wordpress.com; fezigeku.com;

Christmas: Planning for Next Year

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qrOn7bJi4I-hKf_pv4J2g4PPh27m5lJAnlcN9hKddTr6JZJcD4G8oWDbPVvbUoyp3SFCL62teTLkrABYPqYbM7IcLMqC_VKG38kAQH4Vr_HLNnEWo2jpWzHPZoXWBkXiLzvUsLmqdBU/s1600/christmas+planner.jpgDidn't we just celebrate Christmas?  Yes, we did.  But having a successful event requires planning.  And having a wonderful, Christ-focused Christmas is no different.  So now is the time while memories are still fresh to think about what went right, and what you might want more or less of.

Here is a free printable from Organized Home you can use to "debrief" yourself.  I think it's a great start but here are some additional questions I found really useful from Bernice at Living the Balanced Life.
  1. What events turned out great?
  2. Is there something you wish you had NOT participated in?
  3. What activities brought joy to you and your family?
  4. What turned out to be more stressful than it was worth?
  5. Which dishes were a big hit? Were there some that didn’t turn out so great?
  6. Is there a new dish you want to be sure to try next year?
  7. What do you wish you had MORE of in the Christmas season?
  8. What do you wish you had LESS of?
You might want to also add to that list who you sent Christmas cards to and who you received them from.

Keep this information somewhere you can get to it when you need it.  I know I've done exercises like this in the past, only to forget where I've put it.  What has worked best for me is putting this information in a computer file.  Then I link that file to an alert on my Outlook calendar for the date I'll want to access this information, normally around mid-November.

I hope this helps you to have a great Christmas next year.  The more I can make Christmas about Christ, the happier and more content we are!

Josh Garrels: Free Music Download

Christianity Today's top pick for 2011 Album of the Year is from Josh Garrels, Love & War & the Sea In Between.
The album is being given away, as well as all proceeds that it generates, because of all the blessings Mr. Garrels received during the making of it.  So, you can download it for FREE here.  And, to read a little more of the story

Menu Monday, December 26

Photo source:  Mike Weissenborn
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!  Ours was really great this year, filled with a few new traditions that I'll be sure to share with you at the beginning of next year's Christmas season.  How about you?

This week, we have a break from home schooling.  The kids and I have been looking forward to it and plan to use the time to relax, visit with friends and get ready for the new year.  I'll be posting more on that later.

Our traditional day after Christmas takes us shopping.   Reilly and Dane were blessed to have received some money as Christmas gifts and are looking forward to heading out and seeing what deals they can find on things they may have wanted, but didn't get for Christmas.  I normally despise going shopping but have to admit that now that the kids are getting older, it can be pretty fun.

In the meantime, I hope this menu helps to take the stress off of meal planning for you and allows you to enjoy this last week of 2011!
 
Monday:
Breakfast – Oatmeal w/ peaches
Lunch – Leftovers
Dinner – Ham & bean soup, green salad,
Tuesday:
Breakfast – Fried eggs, zucchini bread, oranges
Lunch – Leftovers
Dinner – Ham & corn frittata, hash browns, fruit salad 
Wednesday:
Breakfast – French toast with applesauce and maple syrup
Lunch – Leftovers
Dinner – Beef enchiladas, Spanish rice, green salad
Thursday:
Breakfast – Oatmeal w/ raisins
Lunch - Leftovers
Dinner -  Fresh fish, oven-roasted potato wedges, green beans
Friday:
Breakfast – Scrambled eggs, cinnamon bread toast, grapes
Lunch – Bean & cheese tostadas, raw veggies & fruit
Dinner – Hamburgers, homemade french fries, green salad
Saturday, New Year's Eve:
Breakfast – Soaked whole wheat waffles w/ strawberries, maple syrup, sausage
Lunch – Homemade summer sausage, cheese, raw veggies & fruit
Dinner – White chicken chili, cornbread, green salad
Sunday, New Year's Day:
Breakfast – Soaked whole wheat pancakes, orange slices, bacon
Lunch - Leftovers
Dinner – Grilled steak, baked potato, green salad, mock frozen yogurt