Tuesday, May 25, 2010

This Week's Menu Plan


Monday: going to a friend's birthday bbq. Ribeyes, chicken, baked potatoes, salad, corn on the cob,....I'm making my Zucchini & Tomato Casserole

Tuesday: fixing Pony Shoe Casserole for my husband to pop in the oven...while I go to the Taste of Home Cooking Show!! I can hardly wait. Haven't been to one in yrs.




Wednesday: tacos

Thursday: grill night...polish sausage, potato fans, mixed veggies

Friday: Family Pizza & a Movie Night: Robust Italian Salad with homemade croutons. Cheesy garlic pizza for the kids.

Saturday: taking a day trip with another family. Visit & shop the mennonite community. Picnic at the park.

Sunday: breakfast for supper...pancakes & sausage


Thursday, May 20, 2010

Whole Wheat Pita Bread

I had never tried making pita bread before...I mean, WHO KNEW you could make your own pitas?! I tried this recipe a couple days ago and everyone who tried them absolutely LOVED them.

There are so many things that once I make them at home, I can never go back to store-bought: like granola, salsa, artisan bread and now definitely pita bread. Homemade pita is so soft and flavorful it makes its store-bought counterpart seem like a circle of cardboard.
Pitas are so very versatile...stuff it with sandwich or salad fixings, tear it up and eat with hummus, spread pb & j on it like my kids do. And they are freezer-friendly.
Tomorrow I am going to make us another batch to use with another new meal recipe...chicken gyros.






Whole Wheat Pitas

Ingredients:
2¼ tsp. instant yeast
1 tbsp. honey
1¼ cups warm water (105˚-115˚ F), divided
1½ cups bread flour, divided
1½ cups whole wheat flour, divided
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp. salt
Cornmeal, for sprinkling

Directions:
In a bowl, combine the yeast, honey and ½ cup of the water. Stir gently to blend. Whisk ¼ cup of the bread flour and ¼ cup of the whole wheat flour into the yeast mixture until smooth.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside until doubled in bulk and bubbly, about 45 minutes.

Remove the plastic wrap and add in the remaining ¾ cup of warm water, 1¼ cups bread flour, 1¼ cups whole wheat flour, olive oil and salt. Knead until the dough is smooth and elastic.

Transfer the ball of dough to a lightly oiled bowl, turning once to coat, and let rise in a warm draft-free place, about 1 hour, until doubled in bulk.

Place an oven rack in the middle position. Place a baking stone in the oven (if using) and preheat to 500˚ F.

Once the dough has risen, transfer to a lightly floured work surface, punch down the dough and divide into 8 equal pieces. Form each piece into a ball. Flatten one ball at a time into a disk, then stretch out into a 6½-7 inch circle. Transfer the rounds to a baking sheet or other work surface lightly sprinkled with cornmeal. Once all the rounds have been shaped, loosely cover with clean kitchen towels. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes, until slightly puffy.

Transfer 4 pitas, 1 at a time, onto the baking sheet. Bake 2 minutes, until puffed and pale golden. Gently flip the pitas over using tongs and bake 1 minute more. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely. Repeat with the remaining pitas. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Menu Plan Monday


Monday: Taco Loaf, creamy corn, bread


Tuesday: MOPS Tea & Testimony...I'm going to make some whole wheat Pita Bread and Roasted Garlic Hummus


Wednesday: Ham & Beans, Cornbread Muffins


Thursday: Chicken Gyros...and more pita bread :)

Friday: Family Pizza and movie night


Saturday: our church fellowship group...not sure what sidedish we'll make yet


Sunday: Breakfast for Supper - pancakes


Simple Woman's Daybook


FOR TODAY ~ May 17th 2010


Outside my window...its another dreary Monday.


I am thinking...how it would seem that I have not accomplished anything today! Do you ever have days like that??


I am thankful for...baby gates! Since over the weekend, the 8 month old discovered she is able to crawl up the stairs


From the learning rooms...wrapping it up. This is the last full week of school. But we'll continue to do a couple days a week through the summer.


From the kitchen... thawing some ground venison. I am going to make either regular meatloaf or a new taco loaf version I've been wanting to try.


I am wearing...black capris & a red shirt


I am creating...an attempt at a clean house.


I am going...to have to get off the computer and back at it pretty soon :(


I am reading..."Savannah Comes Undone" by Denise Hildreth


I am hoping... I am hearing...Jimmy Needham "Yours to Take" on the radio.


Around the house...three loads of laundry done, but only one folded so far. Three kids having quiet time or napping.


One of my favorite things...sonic ice & Dr Pepper


A few plans for the rest of the week: tomorrow night is our last MOPS meeting til fall; moving some furniture around upstairs to make room for Keira's big crib instead of the little pack n play.


Here is picture for thought I am sharing... my new blue :D


Monday, May 10, 2010

Menu Plan Monday



Monday: Matzo Ball Soup

Tuesday: Cheesy Ham & Pasta Bake

Wednesday: Sausage Gravy, biscuits, scrambled eggs, and cantaloupe

Thursday: Fish & Chips

Friday: Family pizza & movie night

Saturday:

Sunday: going to a church bbq....thinking I'll make a baked potato salad




Monday's Simple Woman's Daybook


FOR TODAY ~ May 10th 2010


Outside my window...rain is pouring down. We woke up to a nice spring thunderstorm.
I am thinking...what a nice Mother's Day weekend we had. The entire family together in Illinois.



I am thankful for... grace.

From the learning rooms...we took a couple days off with the trip, so will try to do a little extra this week. It shouldnt be hard. Phonics & reading is super-easy for Ashleigh and she has been enjoying math - money & telling time.

From the kitchen... popcorn snack to go along with a rainy day veggie tale's marathon.

I am wearing...black scrub pants & a track t shirt

I am creating... this week's menu plan.

I am going...to not think about how much I would love to take a nap right now!!

I am reading...the Old Schoolhouse's new "Homeschool 101" that I downloaded for FREE.

Homeschool 101 Digital Supplement



I am hoping...for some nice days this week so the wild things can go outside to play!

I am hearing...Logan and Ashleigh playing with his "new" matchbox cars. My older brother passed down his collection. They havent counted them yet...but there is a ton! Most from the late 70's.




Around the house...luggage that still needs unpacked, laundry to washed.
One of my favorite things...Crayola's new Window Markers. We bought a set for the trip and the kids loved getting to color & draw on the car windows while riding along. Wipes right off with a damp paper towel.
A few plans for the rest of the week: planting some herbs & making some upside down tomato planters.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing... my sister's flower bed. Reminds me of Grandma's.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Menu Plan Monday

This weeks' menu is pretty simple. We have a ton of leftovers from the in-laws being here. And its a short week at home for us...leaving friday to take Mom back to Illinois for Mother's Day, and pick up my husband's new motorcycle.





Monday: Grilled chicken & zuchinni tossed with pasta

Tuesday: leftover Carnitas for Fred & the kids, taking Cucumber Shrimp Spread & whole grain crackers to MOPS

Wednesday: leftovers

Thursday: Breakfast for Dinner - scrambled eggs, sausage, and biscuits with honey butter

Friday: leaving for Illinois--probably McDonalds drive thru on our way through Osage Beach
Saturday:

Sunday: Mother's Day--


Monday's Simple Woman's Daybook



FOR TODAY: Monday May 3rd 2010


OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: The sun is shining...and the pollen must be blowing.
I AM THINKING: How early we were up this morning to see the in-laws off. After a long weekend visit, the kids are really going to miss them.

I AM THANKFUL: that God always has a plan that is much better than mine!

I AM WEARING: Black yoga capris & a grey tshirt
I AM REMEMBERING: All the fun we had yesterday with some of our family. Fixed a big pot roast, and had sunday dinner with my in-laws, mom, & sister.

I AM GOING: to run a few errands this morning and pick the house up a little bit. Oh & help Ashleigh with schoolwork.

I AM CURRENTLY READING: through a stack of cooking magazines that my sister & I found saturday at a garage sale. Taste of Home, Quick Cooking, Kraft's Food & Family, Rachael Ray. They were 5 for $1. Now wishing we had bought the lady out!

I AM HOPING: to get some container gardens planted this week.

ON MY MIND: My sister, who is having spinal injections done today...and whose husband was deployed to Afghanastan yesterday.
NOTICING THAT: this morning's coffee has yet to clear the fog out of my head!

PONDERING THESE WORDS: "Even after all you have been through, attitude is still a choice! What kind of attitude do you choose today?"
FROM THE KITCHEN: Getting ready to make the week's menu plan. Thinking some grilled chicken & zucchinni to toss with pasta tonight.
AROUND THE HOUSE: kids are dragging dining room chairs around...making a house or tent or something.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: smelling spring

FROM MY PICTURE JOURNAL: an early-riser


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