What's For Dinner? Menu Plan 9/24-9/30

This week's menu! Mmmm-tastic!

Day	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Sat. 9/24	Eggs, Bacon & Toast	LO BBQ/Salad	5 Spice Salmon w/Oriental Orange Spinach (SBD/MISC)
Sun. 9/25	Pancakes, Bacon	LO Salmon	Falafel Patties w/Tzatziki Sauce (FFF p.142)
Mon. 9/26	Granola w/Yogurt	LO Falafel	BBQ Beans & Rice (GHK p.147)
Tues. 9/27	Egg Scramble w/Toast	LO Beans	Seared Turkey Cutlets w/Roasted Brussel Sprouts (FFF p.303)
Weds. 9/28	French Toast	LO Turkey	Tricolor Pasta w/Meat Sauce (My Recipe)
Thurs. 9/29	Granola w/Yogurt	LO Pasta	Ginger Beef Stir-fry (BHG p.68)
Fri. 9/30	Cheese Omelets	LO Stir-fry	Seasoned Tuna Sands & Warm Spinach Salad (BHG p.134,MISC)

Key:  LO = Leftovers, FFF = Fresh Food, Fast Cookbook, GHK = Good Housekeeping Cookbook, SBD = South Beach Diet Cookbook, BHG = Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook, MISC - Some random recipe I've collected, MOM = My Mom's Recipe, GMA = Grandma's Recipe

Far Away From Home: Why Community Matters

I have a rather large family, which continues to grow.  Pictured above are my 5 sisters, 1 brother and 3 step brothers.  (Not shown is 1 brother and 2 brother-in-laws, 1 sister-in-law).  As crazy and ridiculous as it can be to have so many siblings, it is also a ton of fun.

When my sisters and I were younger we used to dream about living on the same street, raising our families together...growing old together.  We never anticipated that we'd end up spread out across the country, thousands of miles away from each other.

DIY: Homemade Spa Water

Photo from Laundryontheline.wordpress.com

While visiting Austin, Texas during the Summer, I discovered a way to truly enjoy cucumbers.  I personally have never really liked cucumbers - except when pickled.  While enjoying one of the best pedicures I have ever had, I was treated to cucumber water.

It is very simple to make, basically peel and slice a cucumber into rounds, place in a pitcher, fill with cold water, refrigerate for at least an hour.  Pour a glass and enjoy.  After 24 hours, toss the cucumbers and start over.   

Honestly, this is the best way to drink water, ever!!!  Rather than buying a sugary juice or tea mix, or something with artificial flavoring, you can create delicious naturally refreshing and tasty drinks using fresh fruits and veggies.  

Click below for my latest favorite Spa Water Recipe:

Body for God: My Home "Gym"

While Jerry is blessed with a complimentary gym membership including personal training three times a week, I have to be much more creative in my approach to physical fitness.  Being in good health is extremely important to me.  When you feel good and look good it shows, and it makes a huge difference in the life of a homemaker.  I have to keep all those cookie-baking, gourmet-recipe-trying, toddler-running-circles round me, lazy pajama day calories at bay, you know?

There are likely a million reasons out there for why you should get regular exercise, a few that are personally important to me are: stress relief, mood elevation and libido.  I also believe that God wants us to be good stewards of our physical bodies, taking the best care of them possible.  My cure for the no-time for a gym-membership blues is my ever-evolving home gym.  Lets talk about what I have created so far, and what I hope to gather in the coming months.

Whats for Dinner? Menu Plan 9/18-9/24

In this new weekly segment, I like to call "What's for Dinner?", I will be sharing my meal plan and recipes with you. I have a love of trying new recipes, so any time I am being adventurous (which is most of the time, ha!) you will see what cookbook I am using. I will also site online recipes by linking to them, and my own recipes by sharing them in the blog (and linking to the post). Just looking at this coming week my mouth is watering!!!

   Day              Breakfast                Lunch                                                     Dinner

Sun.9/18	Oatmeal	LO Pollo Relleno	Zesty Spinach Soup w/Crostini (FFF p. 13)
Mon.9/19	Yogurt Parfait	Frozen Entree/LO Soup	Mushroom Stroganoff (FFF p.174)
Tues.9/20	Egg Scramble	LO Mushroom Stroganoff	Arugula Salad w/Prosciuto & Pears, French Bread (FFF p.117)
Weds.9/21	Oatmeal	Frozen Entree/LO Salad	BBQ Beans & Rice (GHK p.147)
Thurs.9/22	Yogurt Parfait	LO Beans & Rice	5 Spice Salmon w/Oriental Orange Spinach (SBD/MISC)
Fri. 9/23	Pancakes & Bacon	LO Salmon	Falafel Patties w/Tzatziki Sauce (FFF p.142)
Sat. 9/24	Eggs Sandwich	On the Go	Seared Turkey Cutlets w/Roasted Brussel Sprouts (FFF p.303)

Key:  LO = Leftovers, FFF = Fresh Food, Fast Cookbook, GHK = Good Housekeeping Cookbook, SBD = South Beach Diet Cookbook, BHG = Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook