Meal Planning Monday

Meal Planning Monday--

This week I am keeping it really easy and simple and not designated precise days for what I am cooking.

Tonight will be roasted stuffed red peppers

The rest of the week will include:
-roast chicken
-pasta/sauce
-roast
-vegetarian meal - portobellos
-soup (maybe roasted vegetables)

Sunday- Organizing Tip

There are many tips I could offer for organizing in the Kitchen --

So here are a few....

• Use a dish dryer as a holder for baking pans or pot lids.
• Create zones in your kitchen, for example I have a baking zone where all my baking ingredients such as flour, different sugars, baking powder and soda among others plus my mixing bowls, my electric mixer, rolling pin and baking pans.
• Under the kitchen sink can be a dead zone. I use mine for cleaning supplies which are contained in smaller containers that can easily be moved from room to room.
• Only have daily used items on the countertop such as toaster or coffee maker but the once in awhile used sandwich maker or waffle maker.

It's Monday but lets share a recipe anyway (Crockpot baked beans and skillet Cornbread)

Okay I know its Monday but I want to catch up and add a couple of recipes that I actually tried yesterday for supper.

CROCK POT BOSTON BAKED BEANS

2 lb. dry small white or pea beans

1 med. onion

1/4 lb. fat back salt pork; optional

1 tsp. dry mustard

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1 c. molasses

1/2 c. dark brown sugar, packed

1 tsp. salt

Soak beans overnight in gallon of water. Mix together onion (finely chopped), molasses, brown sugar, mustard, cloves, salt, and pork (cut in 1 inch cubes); and add to 5 quart slow cooker. Add beans and water to cover.
Set cooker on low and cook 10-12 hours, stirring once after first hour.
If desired substitute 4 strips crumbled crisp bacon for salt pork.

Cornbread

1 x stick or (1/2-cup or 8 tablespoons) of butter
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups coarse cornmeal
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 x eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place an 8-inch cast iron skillet in the oven to preheat.
Combine the butter, milk cornmeal and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a slow, steady simmer and whisk for a few minutes until thickened.
Add eggs, baking powder and salt to a medium bowl and whisk lightly. Add cornmeal mixture and stir until well combined.
Oil cast iron skillet and pour in batter. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until cornbread is golden around the edges and cooked through.

Last week came and gone

Well folks.........last week came and gone and I never managed to post. Ack...........I can't believe it. So what does this mean??? It means I need to set up a designated time each day to post.

Share my recipe Sunday- Easy Vegetable Minestrone Soup

Easy Vegetable Minestrone Soup with Garlic Bread

1 tsp Canola Oil
· 1 large onion
· 2 stalks celery
· 2-3 carrots
· 2 tsp prepared garlic (from a jar)
· 4 cups (900 ml) Vegetable Broth, Low-Sodium
· 1 can diced tomatoes (14 oz / 398 ml)
· 1 can mixed beans (19 oz / 540 ml)
· 2 tbsp tomato paste
· 2 tsp Italian Seasoning
· 1/8 tsp fresh pepper
· 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
· 1/4 cup basil pesto (from a jar)
· Water

· 1 x baguette or French loaf
· 2 tbsp butter (1 tbsp per side)
· 1/2 tsp garlic powder
· 1/2 tsp parsley flakes
· 2 cups macaroni

Directions:
1. Take out equipment and ingredients.
2. In the morning:
3. Heat oil in a large stove-top pot at med-high. You can also omit the oil and prepare this soup in a slow cooker.
4. Finely chop onion adding to pot as you cut.
5. Slice celery and carrots thinly and add to pot as you cut.
6. Add garlic.
7. Gradually add vegetable stock, tomatoes, mixed beans, tomato paste, spices, Parmesan cheese and pesto.
8. Cover with lid and simmer on low heat until dinner.
9. When you get home for dinner:
10. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Fill a large stove-top pot with water and bring to a boil for macaroni.
11. Meanwhile: Slice bread lengthwise, lightly butter and sprinkle with garlic powder and parsley.
12. Put bread in oven butter side up and turn oven off.
13. Add macaroni to boiling water. Set timer for 7 minutes. Once macaroni is ready, rinse and set aside.
14. Serve macaroni in the bottom of each bowl and pour hot soup overtop.
15. YUUMMMM!!!! Don't forget to take the bread out!

Organizing Tip for the Home Office

Home Office

In the office there are many items that you can use to organize that don't cost alot of money either.

This week's suggestion:

Use an old shoebox covered with wall paper samples, scrapbooking paper, or fabric to hold chargers for all the electronics in the house (especially cell phones and pagers) with holes cut out for the cords. You will never lose another charger again!

I'm back...........and posting again

Hi everyone, I'm back and ready to be posting again.

I am going to set myself up with a schedule for my posting....

Sunday: Organizing Tip
Monday: Meal Plan for the Week,
Tuesday: Decorating Tip
Wednesday: New Recipe
Thursday: Housekeeping Tip
Friday: Money Saving Tip
Saturday: Organizing Article