Sunday, September 28, 2014

Crockpot Italian Chicken


This was yummy and the recipe couldn't be simpler.
It's really good for Sunday dinner and a nice change of pace from our usual roast.

I followed the recipe except I left out the carrots.
A lot of recipe I cook in the fall have carrots,
and I don't want to "over carrot" my family 
who isn't as found of the carrot as I am... ;-)

It was a hit and the chicken was fall apart good.  Try it!

Menu Plan

Supper Menus
September 28th - October 4th

Sunday
crockpot italian chicken, garlic bread sticks, green salad

Monday
lasagna, garlic knots, ceasar salad

Tuesday

Wednesday
out for supper

Thursday 
meatballs, mashed potatoes, sautéed vegetables

Friday
leftovers

Saturday

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Happy first day of Autumn!

"Listen!  The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves,
We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!"
~Humbert Wolfe





"No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace, 
as I have seen in one autumnal face."
~John Donne


"For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together.
For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad."
~Edwin Way Teale



"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house.
So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air."
~Nathaniel Hawthorne





"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile."
~William Cullen




"Autumn begins with a subtle change in the light, 
with skies a deeper blue 
and nights that become suddenly clear and chilled." 
~ Glenn Wolf



"Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird
I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."
~George Elliot



"The hazy, cloudless skies of Indian Summer.  
Leaves scurrying down the street before the wind.
The cold shiver from an arctic blast.  
Indian Summer.  The last warmth of the sun.
Chilly mornings and glorious warm afternoons.  
The Harvest Moon.  The Hunter's Moon.
The Rainy Season.  
Dry corn stalks clattering in the wind.  
The touch of frost on glass and windowpane. 
The smell of burning leaves."
~Keith C. Heidorn



"Everyone must sit and watch the leaves turn."
~Elizabeth Lawrence 




"The leaves fall, the wind blows, and the farm country slowly changes 
from the summer cottons into its winter wools."
~ Henry Beston, Northern Farm

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Menu Plan

Supper Menus
September 21st-27th

Sunday dinner
philly cheesesteak sandwiches, potato chips, carrot and celery sticks

Monday
steak fajitas, trimmings, pinto beans, chips and guacamole

Tuesday

Wednesday
leftovers

Thursday 
chicken and dumplings, pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

Friday
out for supper

Saturday


Monday, September 15, 2014

Fall Inspiration and a Favorite Fall Meal


I always look forward to the first supper we have in the fall after I put out 
my fall table linens and dishes.
That supper was tonight this year!

I started getting out some of my fall things over the weekend after I was inspired by this sweet little gift.


One of my college-aged nieces came over to eat supper with us on Saturday 
and watch the Aggie game.
She walked in the door talking about how much she loves fall 
and how she wanted to share her excitement with me.  
Then she handed me a goody bag. :-)
How precious and thoughtful she is!


Our supper tonight was made up of two of my favorite recipes to make together -
and

I like to make them together because the oven time and temp is the same for both recipes. 


Doesn't that bread look like that expensive "artisan bread" you can by at the grocery?!
You have to plan ahead a little to make it, 
but it's just SO easy to make at home.


The lemon chicken and vegetables always smell so good while baking.


We couldn't wait to dig in tonight!


What are some of your favorite fall meals? 

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Pumpkin Granola


Pumpkin Granola
Servings - approximately 10

4 1/2 cups oats
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup sunflower seed kernels
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup syrup
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 can pumpkin puree
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon maple flavoring
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon all spice
1/2 cup craisins
1/2 cup golden raisins

Combine oats, nuts, and seeds in a large bowl.  In a separate bowl combine syrup, applesauce, pumpkin, brown sugar, vanilla, maple seasoning, and spices until well blended.  Combine wet and dry ingredients.  Spread granola onto two, parchment lined cookie sheets.  Bake at 300 for 45 minutes.  Let granola cool.  Add craisins and raisins.  Store in an airtight container. 

Makes - about 7 cups of granola  
Servings size - 3/4 cup

Based on this recipe, adapted to my taste.

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Menu Plan

Supper Menus
September 14th-20th

Sunday

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
swiss steak, mashed potatoes, lettuce and tomato salad

Thursday
tuscana soup, garlic bread, olive garden salad

Friday
out for supper

Saturday
chicken pot pie soup, apple cinnamon scones

Linked to Menu Plan Monday.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Menu Plan

Supper Menus
September 7th-13th

Sunday
pot roast, dinner rolls, lettuce and tomato salad

Monday
chicken fajitas, spanish rice refried beans

Tuesday
lemon pepper tilapia, coleslaw, french fries, cheddar bay biscuits

Wednesday
buffalo grilled chicken sliders, potato chips

Thursday
angel hair pasta with marinara sauce, garlic bread, ceasar salad

Friday
out for supper

Saturday

Saturday, September 6, 2014

First sign of fall...


american beauty berries popping out all over the yard.

Mini Zinnias Blooming



Our family received some devastating news week before last.
My mother-in-law was diagnosed with a large brain tumor.
The day that my husband told me the news the first mini zinnia blossomed in my fall cutting garden.
I knew that the first blossoms were meant to be for her.


Right after her surgery I was able to take ten blossoms to her.  


We are waiting for the pathology report to come back.


We know that God is in control.

Working on sister's car...


My son helped Mr. H. do a little work on my daughter's car.


He's a lucky boy...


learning from the best!

Moving Day!


 The chicks spent two weeks in my laundry room and 
then we moved them into a brooder in our front shed for a few more weeks.


But they quickly grew out of  the brooder and today we moved them into the backyard chicken coop.








Me and "Anne Murray." :-)