Supper Menus
February 9th-14th

Monday
stuffed bell peppers, buttered corn, texas toast
Tuesday
cheese filled manicotti, rosemary bread, ceasar salad
Wednesday
out for sandwiches
Thursday
jalapeno chicken enchiladas, black beans, pico de gallo, tortillas chips
Friday
out for supper
Saturday
steak, sauteed shrimp, twice baked potatoes, caesar salad, french bread

Please visit Organizing Junkie at Menu Plan Monday for more menu planning ideas.

A Welcome Home

It has always been fun for me to prepare a welcome home for my husband when he has been away. If he has been gone for a week, one night or just for the day, I want him to know that his family has missed him in his absence. He works at home, from a home office, which we love, but we don't get the "Daddy's coming home from work" time each day. So, when he does leave the home, I want his return to be as pleasant as possible for him. Taking just a few minutes to think about his homecoming, and purposefully preparing for it, helps to make sure he is greeted with...

Good smells - something bubbling on the stove or something baking in the oven, a pot of coffee on, or just a good smelling candle burning

Good sights - a tidy home, or at the very least "his" areas tidy

Good sounds - minimal noise, television and radios off, washer and dryer stopped

Good tastes - a special treat, a stocked fridge of his favorite things is especially nice after a long trip away from home

If it is after dark - the porch light on, of course! soft lighting inside - a small lamp, nightlights

If it is cold outside - a fire in the fireplace, nothing says welcome home more than that! warm towels and bed clothes fresh from the dryer

And most importantly and probably most appreciated of all - a smile and a kind word!


What do you do to say welcome home? Please share your ideas in the comments if you would like. I would love to hear them. :-)

Linked to A Wise Woman Builds Her Home.

A quiet evening,

a little bit of patience, a lot of determination...
and I taught myself to crochet! :-)

First a chain,

and then my first rows of single crochet!

I like it!

Daisy's Play Date

During a quick visit from my parents this afternoon,

Daisy had a little time to play with her "sister" Lucy.

They were both very good little girls. :-)

Lucy, 7 months

A Camoflauge Hunting Scarf...

...finally finished - for my very patient son. :-)

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

This evening I served up

Ruthann's hillbilly spaghetti pie

Yummy! The men folk especially liked it.

The recipe can be found on her delightful blog

Warm Pie Happy Home! :-)

Thank you Ruthann!

BBQ Beef Sandwiches

BBQ Beef Sandwiches

12 servings

1 1/2 cups ketchup
1 cup beef broth
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried chopped onion
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

3 pound boneless roast*

soft sandwich buns

Combine first ten ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for thirty minutes. Brown roast on all sides and place in crock pot. Pour half of the sauce over roast; cook on low for 8 to 9 hours. Remove roast and shred. Remove cooking liquid from crock pot, leaving about 1/4 cup liquid in crock pot. Skim fat from remaining liquid, replace shredded meat and stir in reserved sauce. Using a slotted spoon, serve up on buns and enjoy!

*I usually use a chuck roast, but the last several times I've cooked a roast, I have purchased an "eye of round" roast. They are very lean and priced the same per pound as the chuck at my grocery.

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

~for today~

February 2, 2009

Outside my window...it is cold and clear.

I am thinking...about my plans for the day.

I am thankful for...my home.

From the learning room...we have daily lessons and a lot of reading to do.

From the kitchen...we had morning glory muffins for breakfast.
our supper menu ~ Heritage Schoolhouse Supper Menus ~

I am creating...Valentine's Day decorations.

I am going...nowhere today! Yay!

I am reading...picture books for co-op History class.

I am hoping...to finish knitting my son's camo scarf soon, so I can start a new project.

I am hearing...the washing machine, pencils on paper, and dogs barking outside.

Around the house...I will be working on some small daily organizing projects.

One of my favorite things...is cozy evenings spent at home.

A few plans for the rest of the week...include hosting a cub scout den meeting this evening, home school classes on Tuesday, co-op on Friday, and planning some Valentine's Day activities.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...of cub scouts learning boy things. ;-)

You can enjoy more daybooks at The Simple Woman's Blog.

Salisbury Steak

Salisbury Steak with Gravy

4 servings

1/2 cup milk

14 saltine crackers, crushed finely

2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes

1 teaspoon dried minced onion

1 pound ground beef

1 12 ounce jar brown gravy

2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Combine milk, saltines, onion and parsley. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into four patties. Place patties in greased baking dish. Combine gravy, worcestershire sauce, and pepper. Pour half the sauce over patties. Reserve remaining sauce for serving. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until done. Serve with extra gravy and fluffy mashed potatoes.

Muffin Monday

Morning Glory Muffins

2 dozen

2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
3/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups grated carrots
1 medium tart apple, peeled and grated
1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

In a large bowl, combine first five ingredients. In another bowl, combine eggs, applesauce, oil and vanilla. Stir in carrots, apple, pineapple, coconut, raisins and nuts. Add to dry ingredients and combine until just moistened. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 20-24 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Enjoy!

Supper Menus
February 2nd-7th

Monday
salisbury steak with gravy, mashed potatoes, baby carrots, tossed salad
Tuesday
bbq beef sandwiches, french fries, baked beans, coleslaw
Wednesday
chicken fajitas, spanish rice, refried beans
Thursday
Ruthann's hillbilly spaghetti pie, garlic bread sticks, green salad
Friday
homemade pizza, ceasar salad
Saturday
tba

"When I was a little girl,

I always wanted to be in the kitchen

because it was warm,

and that's where my mother was.

You never lose that feeling."

~Dolly Parton

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"Warm Memories" by Michael Humphries

Someone has been missing Daddy...

and she's not the only one! ;-)

Cheer up girl! He'll be home this evening! :-)

Show and Tell Friday

When Mr. H. surprised me over the weekend with my birthday present several weeks early, I just knew I had to share it for Show and Tell Friday! I was so excited over such an unexpected gift! Mr. H. really knows what I like, just look...

...brand new cookware! :-)

It is so pretty and I will enjoy using it so very, very much.

I can't wait to make Mr. H. lots of yummy meals using these very nice pieces -

the set includes everything I could ever need!

He also thought I needed a nice set of kitchen knives!

And when he saw these that were "labeled" ;-)
he knew they were the ones for me! Haha!

Thank you for letting me show and tell about my wonderful birthday present.

And thank you Mr. H. - you are too good to me. :-)

Please visit Kelli for more Show and Tell Friday!

"Love is missing someone whenever you're apart,

but somehow feeling warm inside because you're close in heart."

~Kay Knudsen

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"Coeur" by Thierry Verger

Pinewood Derby Day

Growing up without a brother meant that all things "little boy" were a mystery to me. I have since learned and delighted in many new things while raising a son. This weekend I got to experience my first Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. So fun! :-)

As we arrived, I quickly realized why my husband and son had taken the building of the derby car so seriously!

After registration, a little more weight was added.

Some graphite was used to dry lubricate the axles.

And, a final weigh in revealed the car to be a perfect five ounces.

The trophies were on display for the racers to admire.

The excitement built as the racing began.

Around forty five cub scouts from two packs participated.

After the official racing was over,
the host pack brought out the loops
for the scouts to try their cars on!

At the end of the day,
my son was lucky enough to have won
the trophy for 1st place overall in his pack!

Can't wait for next year's derby! :-)

"You can tell more about a person by what he says about others,

than you can by what others say about him."

~Leo Aikman

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"The Walk Home" by Ray Bianco

Casa Ole' Green Dip

4 avocados
1 (16 oz) container sour cream
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 (4 oz) can green chilis
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3 oz cream cheese

Combine all ingredients and mix until smooth using a blender or food processor.

This really does taste just like the green dip at Casa Ole'! I was amazed. :-) My friend Giggles brought it to our annual couples christmas party last month and it was very popular! Thank you for the recipe Giggles!

Olive Garden Salad

"Olive Garden" salad

6 servings

for dressing

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/3 cup white vinegar

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

2 tablespoons corn syrup

2 tablespoons parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons romano cheese

1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes

1 tablespoon lemon juice

for salad

american blend bagged salad mix
red onion slices
black olives
pepperoncini peppers
croutons
roma tomatoes, sliced
parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Mix all dressing ingredients in a blender or processor until well blended. Toss salad ingredients and top with dressing.

There are two different "Olive Garden" salad dressing recipes I found to be floating all over the internet. I chose to try the one that did not call for raw egg. The family didn't think it tasted too much like Olive Garden's, but it was very good and they ate the whole bowl very quickly!

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Recipe Round Up