Odd and Ends
One more ‘internet friend’ who I’ve confirmed isn’t a psychopath:
This week I finally got to meet Lucy. I’ve been friends with her sister for quite a few years, but her sister lives in the Great White North (canada). Lucy is kinda in the same situation we’re in, moving every few minutes, only here temporarily (not that we’re sure that Utah is temporary but our housing situation is). We’ve been talking about getting together for a while and finally did it. Lucy and her younger boys came up to help us break in the backyard. Once Megan and Sam decided it was okay to play together they had a blast! Yesterday Megan got up and got dressed quickly (which doesn’t happen very often) and informed me that she was ready for her new friend who was a boy to come play outside with her. We need to play again. Thanks Lucy!
My Stephen King book for October has been read:
I just finished reading Cell by Stephen King. Holy scary batman! I enjoy reading a pee your pants scary book in October as my nod to Halloween fun. Cell was a good, but scary read. I read a bunch of it after midnight last night by myself downstairs. I think this made it scarier. If you don’t like gory books this one isn’t for you- but if you can handle the gore (there is a bit of it) and the language of Stephen King I’d recommend it for a Halloween read.
I’ve done 1500 loads of laundry in the last week:
No really. Two of my four kids have been wearing pull ups to bed. They’ve passed the point of necessity and are now wearing them out of shear laziness. I lost it when both of them pooped in their pull-ups within minutes of getting ready for bed. We went commando. Not really, but now Megan and Annika are wearing panties to bed. There has been less pooping of panties. They’ve each had two nights of staying dry- but we’ve been doing this for a week and a half. Cori has also learned the fine art of dressing and undressing herself. This means that she’s stripping down to the buff several times a day, and then after I catch her and put a diaper back on her she changes her clothes to something else. Have I mentioned how much I hate laundry?
I bought my first birthday present:
I have a strict policy regarding birthday money. I can spend it however I like with no guilt. It’s not spent on anything practical. Ever. Steve’s parents and his grandma generally give me a very generous birthday gift. It’s usually gone fairly quickly. But this year we’ve been so busy that I’ve not managed to spend any of it. Until this week. I need a way to exercise that doesn’t involve leaving the house. So I bought an exercise bike. It’s the ‘machine’ I use most often at the gym. Since we’re too broke to afford a gym membership now it’s the second best thing. (I miss the classes at the gym though). I got it used off KSL a local classified website. $50 and it’s practically brand new. I’ll never buy new equipment for full price after seeing the costs of equipment there. Now I just need to find a cheap lawnmower (but certainly not with my birthday money.)
I’m tired of cooking dinner:
Nothing sounds good. Nothing sounds fun to make. Everything feels old and boring. I need some inspiration. Healthy meals are preferred. Even my ‘favorite’ desserts seem boring to make. Help me out?
Also:
How long is it acceptable to use ‘we just moved in’ as an excuse to the state of your house?
The Sheriff stopped by yesterday.
He was looking for the previous renter to server her with some court papers. I gave him the phone number I had. Even though I have nothing to hide from ‘the law’ my heart still skipped a beat when Ashley told me that there was a policeman at the door.
The coolest thing ever:
We’ve started getting milk delivered twice a week by the milkman. I feel like I’ve blogged about this before. But the great thing is that Sunday night we were down to one cup of milk left by the time we went to bed. Monday morning we had milk for cereal with no effort on my part! Woot! Plus I’m supporting local cows (and their farmers) and because they reuse the containers I’m not contributing to landfill waste (in that way). Makes me feel like an environmentally minded person a little. It’s also hormone free. Money wise it’s the same cost as buying the ‘not on sale milk’ at the store, but without the $50 of ‘other stuff’ I buy when I go ‘just for milk’.
Halloween goodness:
I’m not sure what Ashley wants to be yet. Megan wants to be Wendy from Peter Pan, that’s easy enough, long white nightgown that hopefully I can find. Annika wants to be Peter Pan. That doesn’t seem to hard either. I’m worried that she’s going to change her mind and want to be tinkerbell- after it’s too late to change her mind. So I’m making Cori tinkerbell and making sure both costumes fit both girls. I’m not sure what I’m going to be. I want to dress steve up like Hook but he doesn’t really want to dress up (ever) and I don’t want to spend the money on what sounds like and expensive costume. Not sure if I’m dressing up yet or not. I’m considering going as a piece of ABC gum- wearing all pink with a sneaker tied on my head…
I think that’s all. So- I’m serious on the dinner ideas. What do you do when you get in a dinner making funk? What’s your favorite dinner to make?
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This is some good stuff…especially the part about me not being a psycho. We must do it again.
I’ve always wanted milk delivered. We had it delivered when I was a young girl and I never appreciated the magic that it was. How fun to wake up to fresh milk with no effort.
Good luck with your exercise bike. Nice find.
I’ve been enjoying soups. So I’ll suggest trying jumblaya, minestrone and split pea soup.
Ooooo…cool doings in the Amberlicious household!
Just moved in works for 1 month for an apartment, 3 months for a small house, and 6 months for a large. You can be bumped up a few weeks for every kid you have.
I’m in a recipe funk too. Want to trade repetoires?
Our favourite dinner is a cheating version of ‘tetrazini’.
Brown some chicken, cook some noodles, cook some peas and carrots and corn, stir it all up with cream of chicken (or cream of mushroom if you like cream of mushroom) soup. Shred some cheese on top, and brown in the oven.
Num-nums.
Oh the milkman! Lucky! I have searched long and far for a milkman in my are. And even luckier for getting to play with Lucy.
Cold cereal fills in the low inspiration gaps for me.
We didn’t totally move in the last time for about a year!!!
We make homemade pizza when nothing else sounds good. Other recent meals at our house include enchilada casserole, tacos, shredded roasted pork sandwiches on rolls (we just put a pork roast in the crock pot and let it simmer all day long) or you could use the meat for tacos/burritos. Also minestrone soup (someone brought it over) and pizza rolls (like cinnamon rolls, but with pizza toppings.)
Another option I like is hamburger stroganoff, brown the ground beef with garlic and onions, cook up your noodles. When the meat is ready for the sauce use cream of mushroom soup, you can add some fresh or canned mushrooms depending on your kids taste, and then add about 1 cup of sour cream when you are almost done heating the sauce up. To make it tast extra good add a tablespoon of white wine to the sauce.
Serve with salad and vegetables.
Also, as a super easy option, bean and cheese burritos. Brien swears he had those at least once a week while growing up.
I hope at least one of my ideas is helpful!
ps - meatloaf is always easy.
Whenever I get tired of cooking dinner, I let my husband do it!! jealous?! Yeah. Actually, he makes dinner more often and I try to do it when I feel “inspired”
Bummer! I had this list of dinner ideas and I couldn’t find the file. I actually retyped it, then my computer had a run-time error and killed it! I am much too lazy to type it again. Maybe I will make a photocopy and mail it to you. Of course I have also lost your address by accidentally deleting all my emails that I had saved. I’m not doing too well, technologically speaking this week! If you email me your address I will send it.
I don’t believe it. I looked at my LJ and it was the second entry I looked at!
Possible dinner dishes
Dinner Ideas
Stews/ Soups
Beef stew
Chicken noodle soup
Lentil Soup
Cream of potato soup
Cream of vegetable soup
Vegetable beef soup
Vegetarian vegetable soup
French onion soup
Chili/ vegetarian chili
Pasta Dishes
Meat lasagna
Vegetable Lasagna w/ red sauce
Vegetable lasagna w/ alfredo sauce
Pasta alfredo, plain or with chicken
Pasta w/ sausage, onions & peppers
Regular old spaghetti w/ meat sauce
Chicken/ Beef/ turkey and Noodles
Casserole Type Dishes
Chicken and rice
Mock lasagna (faster than the real thing)
Cheesy potatoes w/ ham
Macaroni and cheese (add ham or tuna)
Salad type stuff
Oriental chicken and cabbage salad
Italian pasta salad
Broccoli salad
Pasta salad w/ feta (Good w/ chicken added for a meal)
Chef salad
Tomato Salad
Misc.
Traditional Ground beef or chicken enchiladas
Chicken/cream cheese enchiladas
Pot roast
Roast chicken
Meatloaf
Salisbury steaks
Pork chops
Mashed potatoes
Green beans, sausage and potatoes
Coleslaw
Chicken, baked or fried
Chicken nuggets or strips
French bread pizza
Grilled/ steamed salmon
Creamed eggs – good on biscuits or toast.
Creamed turkey
Sausage gravy w/ biscuits
Hawaiian Haystacks
Burritos
Hot Italian Ham sandwiches
Sloppy Joes
Pulled Pork
Barbecued Chicken
Salad with grilled chicken, eggs, etc..
Tomato salad
Cheesy tomato bread
Deviled eggs
Grilled cheese sandwiches
Hamburgers/ Boca burgers
I honestly can make most of these in half hour or less. My goal is to have dinner on the table by 6:00 each night and that is AFTER work.
The dishes that take longer are the ones that require lots of assembly, like lasagna or lots of baking time, like roasts - those are saved for weekends or sometimes I put things together and Michael puts them in the oven when he gets home. I use shortcuts too - like to make cheesy potatoes and ham I use boxed potatoes and do it in the microwave. I don’t do a lot of casserole type dishes because Michael doesn’t like them. When I am completely uninspired there is always Papa John’s or Pizza Express!
I am jealous of the milk man. I wish we had one. That would be so nice.
Just so you know I tagged you on my blog!
Italian Zucchini Stir Fry (Healthy and my kids love it. Also, great with stuff fresh out of the garden.)
1 ½ lbs. Chicken Tenders
2 Zucchini
1 Sm. Onion
3 Roma Tomatoes - chopped
½ Sm. Bag of Peas
3 Cloves Garlic
2-3 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning
3 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese
Salt
Pepper
3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
Bag Bowtie Pasta
Cook Pasta according to package directions.
In a large skillet, cook chicken in oil thoroughly. Add zucchini, onion and garlic. Cook until onion and zucchini are tender. Add peas, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and parmesan cheese. Salt and Pepper to taste. Serve over pasta and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Egg Rolls (OK, not so healthy, but for a change these are REALLY YUMMY!)
3 Tbsp oil
½ lb lean pork (ground)
¼ lb sm. raw shrimp
2 cups bean sprouts
1 cup chopped celery
4 green onions, chopped
½ tsp salt
1 tsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp soy sauce
Oil for frying
Heat 3 Tbsp oil in large skillet over high heat. Add pork. Cook, stirring until meat loses its color. Add shrimp; cook 1 minute. Add vegetables and seasoning. Cook 2 minutes, stirring often.
Sprinkle with cornstarch; mix well. Stir in soy sauce. Cook 1 minute. Stir into colander and set in bowl. Cool completely. This recipe can be made to this point the night before.
Place on skin with corner pointing towards you. Put 2-3 Tbsp of filling on skin slightly below center. Brush edges of skin with beaten egg. Fold corner nearest you up and over the filling. Fold left corner over, then the right one. Roll to top corner to form cylinder. Repeat with rest of the squares.
Heat oil to 375 degrees in heavy skillet. Cook rolls 3-4 at a time till crisp and golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
Cheese Cake – (You said deseert…. This is THE best cheesecake ever. It’s a sacrifice to give up the secret, but here you go….)
1 plastic wrapped package graham crackers
2 Tbsp sugar
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
6 Tbsp melted butter
Roll Crackers very fine. Add other ingredients; mixing well. Line 10 inch spring form pan.
1 ½ lbs cream cheese (only Philadelphia)
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
½ tsp vanilla
Place softened cheese in electric beater and beat well. Add sugar gradually and then eggs one at a time. Add vanilla. Pour into pan and bake 20 minutes at 375 degrees.
1 pint sour cream
3 Tbsp sugar
½ tsp vanilla
Whip cream lightly, add sugar and vanilla. Pour carefully over baked cake, starting around the edges. Bake in 500 degree oven for 5 minutes. Cool and refrigerate.
I have “Cell” on my shelf waiting to be read. I am working on two other books right now, but with your recommendation it is next in line!
PS - I found ISC and am hopie33 on there too. We will have to arrange a time to play.
It’s fun to peek in on you and your life. Your new place looks gorgeous (what a backyard!). Best of luck on all your big changes.
Because I am an ober geek, I have an Excel document with menu items, divided by meat, country of origin and favorites. Yeah, maybe I should get out more. But what I most like to have for dinner (besides making my hubby cook) is one of those Hormel Roast Beef Au Jus dinners (find in the meat department). It’s precooked. Just have to warm it up. Bake up some Pillsbury crescent rolls, open a can veggies, and you’ve got dinner!
And so glad you finally got to do something you wanted to do with your birthday money!
My favorites are spaghetti and Chili… even though I get tired of those.
Spaghetti:
Brown Meat with Chopped Onion
Add Jar of Favorite Sauce
Add Pasta
(Sometimes I add a can of Mushrooms.)
Chili:
Brown Meat with Chopped Onion
Add Can or Two of Tomato Soup
Can of Mexican or Kidney Beans
Can of Chopped Tomato (Or Slightly Spicier, Can of Rotel Tomatos and Chilis. They also have a Chili starter that’s good.)
If you leave the beans out, it’s concidered a diabetic “Free Food” according to Hope.
Make your own “Chili Bar.”
Add Tortilla Chips, Sour Cream, Salsa, Pasta, Chili Sauce (The Ketchupy stuff), Sliced Onions, Shredded Cheese, ect.
I have a real hard time being single, and remembering to freeze individual servings imediately. I end up at taco bell a lot, because it’s easier than making a meal.
There’s also Chicken and Noodles… Pechin Style. Pot Roast.
The only thing is I think you I have diet restrictions, and I don’t remember what they are.
And that reminds me, I would LOVE to have a milk man, but I’m lactose Intolerant. IS there a Diet Pepsi Man? That would be AWESOME!
OK, enough of my Ramblings.
Thanks for stopping by! I love the Peter Pan theme idea for your kiddlings. I bet their going to have so much fun. How about the rain last night? Hubby said that the forecast changed. I’m not surprised. For the past few years we’ve lived here, it’s rained on or around Halloween. I don’t think the kids care too much…bundle up and get that candy!
I have loads of yummy, low-fat, low-cal, high-taste recipes, if you’re interested. Drop me a line!
Happy Halloween!!