Monday Misc.

Today is a very exciting day! Both Delaney and Brody had their first day of Vacation Bible School at our church. I am so excited for them! Brody looked a little apprehensive, but went right in. Delaney literally skips the entire way in. They are there for 3 hours. Three hours doesn't sound like too long, but man, I can get a lot done in those three hours when I am by myself! I went to Costco, Trader Joe's, Target and Pay less. Plus I was able to go home and unload the groceries before I went to get them! When I picked them up, they were both super happy and loved talking over each other to tell me about their day. I am so grateful for our church and the amazing children's ministry!

My mom is in Denver right now because sadly, one of my uncles passed away. I am so sad that we could not be there with everyone. I decided to make a little something for my grandma and grandpa. I painted the kids hands and just used regular old construction paper. After they dried, I cut them out, and ran them through the laminator. The original plan was to have a set of hands from each kid for each person, but my laminator decided to eat two hands and I was forced to compromise. I measured each child's "wing span" with yarn and then hole punched the hands and tied them on. And there you have it- a HUG. I hope this cheers them up a little bit.... Love you guys....

As far as this week's menu...we are still cleaning out our fridge, pantry and freezers but I went to Trader Joe's to get some random things like creamer, yogurt, and fruit. We are getting pretty creative with the food that we have left!

Monday:  Lemon Chicken with Snow Peas and Peppers, Brown rice

Tuesday: Eggplant Parmesan (will have the recipe posted later this week)

Wednesday: (carb free day) Grilled chicken and salad

Thursday: (carb free day) Chicken (again) and salad

Friday: Goulash  and salad

Saturday: Out for Eric's bday!!

Lemon Chicken with Snow Peas and Peppers:

*1 lb boneless skinless, chicken breasts, cut into strips

*1 cup snow peas, trimmed

*1 cup orange pepper strips

*1 tub Philadelphia Savory Lemon and Herb Cooking Creme

*2 tbsp. milk

*2 cups hot cooked rice

Cook chicken in large nonstick skillet on medium to high heat for 5 min, stirring frequently.

Add veggies, cook and stir 3-5 min or until chicken is done and veggies are crisp and tender. Add cooking creme and milk; stir 2 min or until heated through. 

Serve over rice.

Check back this week for more recipes! 

***If you have ever thought about working from home, tomorrow night there is a webinar at 9:00 pm CENTRAL TIME that will load you with amazing information. We are currently looking for people who want to work from home, love helping people, and are motivated!! Be a part of an amazing team! If you want more info, check out my Join My Team tab at the top. Be sure to register for the webinar (top right, a lady staring into the sky, click on her, register- that easy:)***

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Menu plan Monday: July 2, 2012

It's Monday. How in the world is it Monday already?! We have a busy week! It's Daylen's birthday, 4th of July, and just our normal crazy lives! We are still cleaning out our pantry, fridge and freezers if you can believe it! Last week we spent $60 on groceries....that included milk, creamer, fresh fruit and veggies, and some lunch meat for Eric's lunch (oh and pull-ups- I get nervous to send Brody to church for three hours in chonies- and those were $10)! This week we hope to spend even less!


Here is our menu:


Monday: Daylen's favorite: Costco Tilapia, green beans, rice
Tuesday: Roast, red potatoes, carrots, mashed potatoes
Wednesday: Burgers, tater tots, corn.
Thursday: Dinner at sister's-in-law:)
Friday: Sweet and Sour chicken (new recipe) and brown rice
Saturday: Date night maybe??




We've totally cut back on our 'snack food'. Delaney is obsessed with granola bars and the way we go through them, makes them expensive! So we searched Pinterest and found a great, simple recipe to actually make them! Check back tomorrow for the recipe (and pictures). 


Another way we have been saving money and getting healthier is we stopped buying sodas. I must admit, I do miss having soda in the house, but seriously, if it's in the house, I will drink. NO will power. When we are dying of thirst and have had enough water, we drink two different things.


One: Green tea with honey (in a mason jar, because everything is better in a mason jar)

Two: Shaklee's Cinch energy tea mix. It's got just what I need in the middle of the day to give me a little extra energy (without all the jitters). We sweeten it up with either Stevia or honey. It's great- gluten free, no artificial flavors, sweeteners, colors, or preservatives added. And of course, we drink it in a mason jar;)

I keep both the green tea bags and the Cinch packets in a sugar packet container right next to the stove:)

Super handy!

**Tomorrow night, there will be a FREE webinar that discusses all the awesomeness that is Shaklee. It will discuss the products a bit and answer any questions you might have about the amazing opportunity. It is a wonderful, non-threatening way to hear about the business. It's easy- you register (top right of the blog, a lady, staring at the sky....click on her) and then when the time comes, you log on, sit back and enjoy! If you are wondering if working from home really works, this is proof. Check it out.**


And don't forget to follow A New Normal on Facebook!!

Menu planning Tuesday:)

Menu planning this week took a bit of a turn....like a U turn actually. We are embarking on a new adventure called War on Debt and we have decided that our food budget is outta control. One of the things that Dani Johnson reccomends is eating until your pantry, fridge, and freezer(s) are empty and then shop for one week at a time. No more stockpiling, no more buying cuz it's on sale. Nope. So, I rearranged my calendar a bit and came up dinners based on what we had in our pantry. I will only be going to the store tonight for produce, milk and juice. Nothing else. Oh and I should also share that Eric and I have decided to cut carbs out two days a week, so Tuesday ad Wednesday are carb free days:)


Monday: Crock pot chicken with dry onion soup, red potatoes, and onion with green beans.


Tuesday: (carb free day) Dr.Oz chicken, normandy veggies (from    COstco)


Wednesday: (carb free day) Grilled chicken & brocolli


Thursday: We have friends coming in town so we will be eating out!


Friday: Hamburgers, tater tots, green beans


The weekend is still up in the air.


Yes, we have all that and SO much more in our home right now. Instead of wasting it and buying different stuff, we are going to use it til it's all gone:)


Recipe for Dr. Oz Chicken:


I don't really know what it's called, but my mom got it out of her Dr. Oz cookbook, hence the name.


*Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (however many you need)
*Chopped tomato (don't really know how much, we like to cover the chicken breast with both)
*Chopped onion
*1 tbsp. olive oil
*1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
*fresh basil or we will be using Italian seasoning


Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Make a tent out of tin foil, place individual breasts in each tent. Pour the olive oil and vinegar over the chicken breast, then pile on the tomato and onion. Sprinkle seasoning on top. Fold the foil into a tent and place in oven for 25 minutes (or until throughly cooked). Be careful when opening....super steamy people!!! It will hurt.


**BTW...if you are at all curious about joining our Shaklee team (which is uber awesome btw) then I highly recommend that you register and watch the webinar that is taking place tonight. It's from (9:00-10:00 pm CENTRAL TIME!! DON"T MISS THAT CRUCIAL PIECE OF INFO! just sayin'. Anyway, it will answer so many questions and help you make up your mind about Shaklee. All you need to do is register (top right corner of the blog, a girl staring into the sky- click on her) and then tonight, log on, sit back watch and see so many of your dreams come alive in this  informational webinar! Okay, thanks!

Menu Plan Monday- June 18th

Happy belated Father's Day to my awesome dad, my father's-in-law, my Granddaddy, my brothers-in-law and my super husband, Eric. Love you all!! This week is going to bring some major cleaning, goal setting, organizing and fun times with the kids. 
Here is our menu for the week:


Monday: Chicken roll-ups, brown rice, broccoli
Tuesday: Tater-tot casserole, salad,
Wednesday: Chicken Stroganoff, noodles, salad
Thursday: Chicken enchiladas, rice
Friday: French's chicken, red potatoes, green beans
Saturday: Hamburgers, corn, mashed potatoes




Chicken Roll-ups 
(This is from the Cooking with Grace cookbook)
*1 can of 8 refrigerated crescent rolls (we use two cans when the big kids are here)

*10 oz can of chunk white chicken or cook your own- 2-3 pieces, diced


*1 can cream of chicken soup (optional 2 cans for creamier taste- we do this)

*2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese- divided use


*Salt and pepper to taste


1. Pre-heat oven to 350.
2. Spread out some foil and lay out the crescent rolls
3. In each roll put:
     A little chicken
     2 T. shredded cheese
     salt and pepper
4. Roll them up and put in deep dish
5. Whip cream of chicken soup with 1 can of water, or simply use 2 cans without water for a creamier taste. Since its thicker, you'll have to spread it with a spoon)
6. Pour soup around the rolls
7. Cook for 30 minutes
8. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese and cook for 5 or 10 more minutes until cheese is melted.


Serve over a bed of rice:)






Tater Tot Casserole:
*1 can cream of mushroom soup 
*1 bag of tater tots
*shredded cheese
*1  pound of ground beef 
(I usually double this recipe when Daylen is here- otherwise it makes one of the smaller square baking dishes- when I double it, I fill a 9 x 13 pan)


1. Brown meat/drain (duh)
2. Add cream of mushroom and stir continuously
3. Let simmer on low for 15 min
4. Place mixture in bottom. Lay tater tots on top
5. Place in oven on 350- don't really know how long- keep checking on them, ready when golden brown- then write down how long it took and let me know please:)
6. Sprinkle with cheese and let melt in oven


Chicken Enchiladas: (from Cooking with Grace cookbook)


*1 medium onion, shopped
* 1 Tbsp. butter
*4 oz. can chopped green chilies
*3 1/2 cups cooked, diced chicken
*8 oz cream cheese
*1/2 cup sour cream
*10 (8 in) four tortillas
*16 oz shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
*2 cups heavy cream


1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Saute onion in the butter in large skillet for 5 minutes on medium
3. Add green chiles and saute for 1 minutes
4. Stir in chicken and cream cheese
5. Cook until the cream cheese melts, stirring constantly
6. Stir in sour cream
7. Spoon 2-3 tbsp. of chicken mixture into each tortilla
8. Arrange in lightly greases 9x13 pan
9. Top with the Monterrey jack cheese and drizzle with the cream
10. Bake for 30-45 minutes or until bubbly and light brown


Check out I'm an Organized Junkie for more ideas!


For now I will leave you with the pure joy of a little boy learning how to do cannonballs with his family....

Don't forget to follow along on Facebook

Menu Planning TUESDAY:)

It's been forever since I posted my menu and I have changed the way I schedule things now so I thought an update was in order. One evening while  reading one of my favorite blogs, IHEARTORGANIZING, I came across a Reader Space that flipped my lid!! It was amazing- and yes, it is was a menu planning board. I was all excited to show Eric and ya know what? He totally did not have the reaction that I was hoping for. He actually didn't even care too much. What-ev. So, I follow the link, read all the directions and immediately order the magical MAGNETIC paper. That's right y'all. MAGNET PAPER. Consider my life changed. I printed all the necessary pages, picked up a swell magnetic calendar at good old Target and went home on a mission. When I finally had the board all finished the heavens opened and hallelujah was sung. I may have broken into the Roger Rabbit at this point. Now I plan a month at a time.... of course things change and that's fine, but at least now when I sit down to make my shopping list and cut coupons, I don't have the agonizing task of coming up with something wonderful.

SO here's my little organization station.... 

my menu planner, to the left I have a dry erase board and my list of MUST DOs for each day. I wrote down all the meals that we eat often and put them on color coded magnet rectangles and then I simply go through the magnets and place the name of the meal on the board! The rest of the meals are kept in a small plastic container ( I do have more than 30 recipes). 

Sorry for the blurry picture, a photographer I am not. I have magnets for when we know we will be going out for dinner or for when we will try something new. In additon , there are little squares that have the sides for the meals. Talk about sweet.

Anyway, The Homes I Have Made is a great blog:) She sure made menu planning for me easier and much prettier:)

Here is my menu for the week:

Monday: Costco Pizza
Tuesday:  Chicken Lo Mein and rice
Wednesday: Sweet & Sour Chicken (recipe below) and rice with salad.
Thursday: Hamburgers, Tater tots and corn
Friday:  French's Chicken (recipe on the French's fried onion container), mashed potatoes and green beans
Saturday: Out for my sista's bday:)


Sweet & Sour Chicken
*2 chickens cut up (or we use 4 chicken breast)
*1 bottle creamy Russian dressing
*1 pkg. dry onion soup mix
*1-10 oz jar apricot preserves

Place chicken pieces in a baking dish. In a separate dish, mix dressing, soup mix and preserves. Pour over chicken. Bake covered at 325 for about 1 hour. Remove cover and bake 20-30 minutes longer.
(We serve it over brown rice)

Have a super, fantastic week!

Menu Plan Monday

So this menu takes us all the way until Thanksgiving! I am doing all my shopping on Thursday night so that I don't have to go back during the crazy hours!

Monday:  Chicken tortilla soup (from Costco), tortillas and salad

Tuesday: Mustard Dill Chicken (recipe below) , broccoli with cheese sauce, salad

Wednesday: Crock Pot Lasagna

Thursday: Chicken with broccoli and garlic sauce

Friday: Penne with roasted asparagus and balsamic butter

Saturday: Crock pot: Salsa Chicken, rice and corn

Sunday: At a family party

Monday: Crock pot: chicken and veggies

Tuesday: At mom's house to find out the sex of Danielle's baby

Wednesday: Chilli, tortillas and beer

Thursday:  Monkey bread for breakfast and then Thanksgiving dinner at Mom's

Friday: Mikkelson Thanksgiving at our house (menu to come later)

Yummy yummy in my tummy- to quote Brody man.


Mustard Dill Chicken (serves 4)

4 tbsp Dijon mustard
4 tbsp plain fat free yogurt
Dash of garlic salt
4 tsp dried Dill or rosemary
4 boneless, skinless, chicken breast

Preheat over to 350. Combine mustard, yogurt, garlic powder, and dill in a small bowl. Thoroughly coat chicken with mustard sauce. Tear off a large piece of aluminum foil. Place chicken in center of foil; gather foil loosely around chicken and fold to seal. Place on baking sheet; bake 20 minutes. Using oven mitts, open foil, keeping face away from steam. Broil chicken until lightly browned, 3-4 minutes more.



Let me know if you want any other recipes:)

Menu Plan Monday November 7-12

It's Monday and I am proud to say that I have had all our meals planned since last Friday! I am trying really hard to stay organized and not spend ANY money on fast food or restaurants. Here is my menu for the week!

Monday:  Chicken roll- ups, rice, broccoli with cheese sauce

Tuesday:  Cilantro Lime Pesto Tacos, Spanish rice and salad

Wednesday:  Baked Parmesan Garlic Chicken, Normandy veggies and butter noodles

Thursday: Chicken Lo Mein

Friday:  Crock pot meal:  Italian Chicken

Saturday: Tortellini and salad

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the kids have either cereal or a pop tart and some fruit. On Tuesday and Thursday, they have waffles, french toast, eggs, etc. The weekends we make a big brunch:)

Lunch is usually leftovers, chicken nuggets, hot dogs or mac and cheese:)

Now I am so ready for dinner!

What's for dinner?

Here is my menu for this week:

Monday:      Ranch Parmesan Chicken, corn and rice

Tuesday:      Roast with potatoes, carrots, onions

Wednesday:  Chicken and wild rice

Thursday:     Tater Tot casserole, Normandy veggies

Friday:         Sweet and Sour Chicken and rice

Saturday:      Tortellini and salad

I am happy to say that I am back on the coupon bandwagon! I went shopping last night and my original bill was $110.40 and I paid $69.45 plus I got a $5 gift card back! Not super, but for a family of 6 I am happy!

Ranch Parmesan CHicken:

Ingredients: 
*6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
*1 cup dry breadcrumbs
*1/4- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
*1 t. season salt
*1/2 -1 t. ground black pepper
*1/2-1 t. garlic powder
*1 cup ranch dressing

Directions:
1. In a ziploc, marinade chicken in ranch for at least 30 minutes
2. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees
3. Lightly grease a 13 x 9 pan
4. Mix (in a bowl) breadcrumbs with Parmesan, seasoned salt, black pepper, and garlic powder
5.Remove chicken from marinade
6. Coat in the breadcrumb mixture
7. Place in a single layer in pan
8. If desired you can sprinkle black pepper on chicken
9. Bake uncovered for about 30-35 minutes

Tater Tot Casserole:

*1 can cream of mushroom

* 1 bag of tater tots

*shredded cheese

*1 lb. ground beef

Directions:

1.Brown meat. Add cream of mushroom and stir continuously

2. Let simmer on low for 15 min.

3. Place mixture in bottom of pan

4. Lay tater tots on top

5. Place in oven at 350 degrees and let brown.

6. Sprinkle with cheese and let melt in oven

** We usually double this when the big kids are here**

Chicken and Wild Rice

**THIS ONE TAKES A LONG TIME IN THE OVEN**

Ingredients:

*2 cups long grain rice (we use the Uncle Ben's Original Long grain in the box)

* 1/4 c. diced white onions

*small jar of mushrooms

*small amount of celery

*optional: green bell peppers*

*1 can cream of mushroom soup

*1/3 can of water

*1 can beef consume

*6 chicken breasts

Directions:

1. Saute: onion, bell pepper, mushrooms and celery in butter

2. In a bowl, mix the soups and water together

3. Line 9 x 12 baking dish with rice

4. Cover with saute mix, followed by soup mix

5. Lay chicken on top- add salt and pepper to each and a slab of butter (yummy calories)

6. COVER and bake 1 1/2 hours at 350.

7. LAST 15-30 min. uncover and let brown

Menu Planning Monday!!(Posted on Tuesday:)

 Okay, for awhile now I have been planning our meals on a weekly basis, but have not posted any! My dear friend, Ami, recently asked why I don't post them... so here I am. I haven't been blogging as much because I have seriously been on the organizing war path. When we moved, I was damned and determined to have a small part of the old, anal retentive Nicole back. I needed her back!!! I am happy to report that all my work is finally starting to pay off. I have most of the rooms organized (although I am in the middle of a 30 day purge thing, which is SO fun) the way I like them and I have routines for the kids as well as myself. I have a new household binder, a coupon binder and a budget box. The main thing I am lacking is the stupid laundry skills. Man, what is it with laundry?? WHY does it suck so bad???


Here is my routine for meal planning and grocery shopping.....
1. Sunday's I sit down and figure out all the meals for the week (of course taking into consideration whether or not the big kids are with us that week)


2. I write down all the meals on my personalized shopping list (thanks Jen at http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/)

3. I then figure out all the ingredients needed for each meal, including sides, then I write out whatever else I need from the store.

4. I then transfer the meals onto this calendar (again http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/) and it sits next to the stove so I never have to hear, "What's for dinner?"

(I just put it in a frame so I could use it as a dry erase board)

5. The final step is coupons......:)


Here are my meals for this week (April 10-16):


Monday:          Crock-pot chicken


Tuesday:          Chicken Roll- Ups

Wednesday:     Mesquite chicken (we use the Weber marinades.... so yummy) on the grill with a medley of fresh veggies (zucchini, squash, peppers & onions)


Thursday:          Pasta with veggies  (bow tie noodles with cut up zucchini, squash, mushrooms and covered in Philadelphia cooking creme- Italian Cheese and Herb)


Friday:              Salsa chicken


Saturday:          Creamy Dijon herb chicken.




Here are some of the recipes:
Chicken Roll-ups (This is from the Cooking with Grace cookbook)
*1 can of 8 refrigerated crescent rolls (we use two cans when the big kids are here)
*10 oz can of chunk white chicken or cook your own- 2-3 pieces, diced
*1 can cream of chicken soup (optional 2 cans for creamier taste- we do this)
*2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese- divided use
*Salt and pepper to taste

1. Pre-heat oven to 350.
2. Spread out some foil and lay out the crescent rolls
3. In each roll put:
     A little chicken
     2 T. shredded cheese
     salt and pepper
4. Roll them up and put in deep dish
5. Whip cream of chicken soup with 1 can of water, or simply use 2 cans without water for a creamier taste. Since its thicker, you'll have to spread it with a spoon)
6. Pour spoon around the rolls
7. Cook for 30 minutes
8. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese and cook for 5 or 10 more minutes until cheese is melted.

Serve over a bed of rice:)



Salsa Chicken:
*4-6 chicken breasts
*1 Taco seasoning package
*1 cup salsa
*1 can cream of chicken soup
*Sour cream

1. Place chicken breasts in the bottom of a crock pot
2. Cover with taco seasoning
3. Follow with cream of chicken soup
4. And then salsa (I usually use more than a cup....)
*Cook on high for 4 hours*
5. About 10 minutes before serving, put in sour cream. We usually put in about 1/2 cup or so.....

You can serve it with Spanish rice and Mexican corn!!

I Just Want To Watch Jon & Kate For Crying Out Loud

I was going to do two posts today, one regular one and one with the menu plan for the week. Change of plans. I am beyond exhausted with a headache that won't quit. My day consisted of carrying a fussy, fussy baby around on my hip ALL DAY and that same baby, weighs about 24 pounds. My day also consisted of projectile vomit twice, a smooshed banana between my toes and an extremely hyper 2 year old times 2! Oh and I FOUND a sippy cup in the couch cushions that had milk in it.... from last week. Gross. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with the upcoming stuff and all I really want to do is take a shower, put on my jammies and watch the series finale of Jon & Kate. So I am going to bed with a lame post, but since my computer hates me so much, this short, lame post took an hour to accomplish. That's right folks.... it's been a great day:) Now off to take a shower and wash the day off and go to bed. Maybe tomorrow Jon and Kate....

So basically, I am just doing this:


Monday: Spaghetti, salad and garlic toast
Tuesday: Ranch chicken, rice and green beans
Wednesday: Pizza at the park
Thursday: Chili and cornbread
Friday: (we celebrate Thanksgiving today instead) Turkey, mashed potatoes, etc. All the Thanksgiving fixin's
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Whatever my mom makes:)