FOR TODAY
Outside my window...well right now it is pitch black and I hear the wind battering the house.
I am thinking...about the many things that need to be done before Christmas and how on earth am I going to accomplish them.
I am thankful...for having a house to shelter us from this winter weather. I know even when things look bad we have so so much to be thankful for.
From the learning rooms...more nativity. Today the kids and I read stories and talked about the animals that were present at the birth of Jesus.
In the kitchen...I tried yet another new Christmas recipe...Eggnog Fudge. Haven't tried any yet, but if we like it I will make sure to post it.
I am wearing...I SHOULD be wearing something more comfy...time to break out the pj's
I am creating...nothing at the moment. Lots to get done before Christmas though...
I am going...to bed soon
I am wondering...if everything will work out the way I hope
I am reading...I am actually in between books right now! gasp! That never happens!
I am hoping...the same thing I am wondering
I am looking forward to...hubby's Christmas party this weekend. Haven't been on a "date" without the kids since the summer!
I am hearing...the iron chef
Around the house...Christmas mess everywhere. All the decorations are up, now to get all the boxes put away. Sigh...
One of my favorite things...my ipad, which I profess my love to daily
A few plans for the rest of the week: Music class tomorrow
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Homeschooling pre. K Christmas
Lately I been thinking lots about homeschooling. When I initially started researching it back when Avery was a baby, I was very much drawn to the Waldorf philosophy. Now that my kids are getting older and I have having a chance to watch how they learn, I have come to see than an eclectic mixture of many styles of homeschooling fit my kids and our family best. It is all about how your kids learn best and what you want them to learn that is important in homeschooling.
Now technically I am not homeschooling...not in every sense of the word anyway. Avery attends a 5 day a week morning Jr. K program, which he started attending last year for his speech. We were so impressed with his progress and his teacher was phenomenal! I truly believe we could not have done for him what school did for him last year. This year on the other hand being that he is in the same program again (he is too young for kindergarten here) with a less enthusiastic teacher I find he is not being challenged and getting quite bored. I have always been an active teacher in my child's lives but more recently I have started actually planning out a "curriculum" It has been difficult at times but very rewarding to be the one to not only decide what my kids learn but to be the one responsible for teaching them! Taylor has not been in any sort of preschool program thus far so it has been amazing for me to see her soaking up everything I throw at her. She has been watching her brother do his homework and has been begging for her own.
There are so many neat activities I wanted to do with the kids to celebrate Christmas, so I decided to plan out a December homeschooling plan. Basically we are studying the Nativity for the first week or so, then onto Christmas decoration and lots of crafts and baking. The last week before Christmas will be our gingerbread theme week. Can't wait till that!
For our nativity week we start our "lesson" with a story. Today we read B is for Bethlehem. After our story we do our table work. My kids LOVE LOVE LOVE worksheets...and I must admit I like them too! I found a great pack of work sheets at 1plus1plus1equals1. I printed the pack and have been using them how I see fit.
Yesterday we cut out what I called nativity cards and hung them up on the window by the kitchen table where we do our work to remind us of who the nativity story is about. We then did our J is for Jesus worksheets to practice our J sound and that is our letter for the week that we are talking about whenever we get the chance. The kids glued pom poms onto their letters and had a great time. Then they practiced writing their letter J.
Today after our story Avery practiced writing Mary, Jesus etc. and Taylor did some tracing activities. Then we played a fun game that I made up to use with the alphabet sheets in the printable pack. I called out a letter and they had to find that letter on their sheet and put a sticker on it. Big success! After that was done they drew pictures for baby Jesus.
So far the kids and I are having a blast with our learning and cant wait to keep going. Will keep you posted!
Now technically I am not homeschooling...not in every sense of the word anyway. Avery attends a 5 day a week morning Jr. K program, which he started attending last year for his speech. We were so impressed with his progress and his teacher was phenomenal! I truly believe we could not have done for him what school did for him last year. This year on the other hand being that he is in the same program again (he is too young for kindergarten here) with a less enthusiastic teacher I find he is not being challenged and getting quite bored. I have always been an active teacher in my child's lives but more recently I have started actually planning out a "curriculum" It has been difficult at times but very rewarding to be the one to not only decide what my kids learn but to be the one responsible for teaching them! Taylor has not been in any sort of preschool program thus far so it has been amazing for me to see her soaking up everything I throw at her. She has been watching her brother do his homework and has been begging for her own.
There are so many neat activities I wanted to do with the kids to celebrate Christmas, so I decided to plan out a December homeschooling plan. Basically we are studying the Nativity for the first week or so, then onto Christmas decoration and lots of crafts and baking. The last week before Christmas will be our gingerbread theme week. Can't wait till that!
For our nativity week we start our "lesson" with a story. Today we read B is for Bethlehem. After our story we do our table work. My kids LOVE LOVE LOVE worksheets...and I must admit I like them too! I found a great pack of work sheets at 1plus1plus1equals1. I printed the pack and have been using them how I see fit.
Yesterday we cut out what I called nativity cards and hung them up on the window by the kitchen table where we do our work to remind us of who the nativity story is about. We then did our J is for Jesus worksheets to practice our J sound and that is our letter for the week that we are talking about whenever we get the chance. The kids glued pom poms onto their letters and had a great time. Then they practiced writing their letter J.Today after our story Avery practiced writing Mary, Jesus etc. and Taylor did some tracing activities. Then we played a fun game that I made up to use with the alphabet sheets in the printable pack. I called out a letter and they had to find that letter on their sheet and put a sticker on it. Big success! After that was done they drew pictures for baby Jesus.
So far the kids and I are having a blast with our learning and cant wait to keep going. Will keep you posted!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Advent 2011
So how has it happened that it has been a year already that I have abandoned my blog?! Why does it seem that as every winter season comes upon us I feel the urge to write and reflect? If only I could keep it up all year! This year will be the year! Who am I kidding!? Life is so busy in our neck of the woods. With Avery attending Jr. K every morning as well as soccer and skating, and Taylor doing ballet, and Reid terrorizing the house now that he is walking! I can't believe he is 14 months already...and oh yeah did I forget to mention I am expecting #4 this spring!We have so much fun here in this house or ours, amidst the chaos and I always find myself thinking, " why didn't I take a picture of that, or write that down!" I really want this blog to become just that. I always read such neat ideas on other blogs that I often tweak and try in our home and I want people to be able to do the same thing from mine. With advent just beginning I have so many awesome things for the kids to do as well as for all of us as a family. I would love to share them all with you. I am going to try!First I should tell you about what we are doing as a family to prepare for advent. And when I use the word advent I mean it in the catholic sense, not the store bought chocolate sense! For Catholics advent is suppose to be a time of quiet waiting and anticipation of the joyous event that lies ahead. We try to have all our Christmas shopping done prior to the start of advent because nothing can put you in a worse mood than being stuck in a crowded mall. Now that our kids are getting a little older, Avery being 4 1/2, we are Starting the tradition of the Jesse tree. Which in case you are not familiar with the term is a family tree for Jesus. I made mine out of felt and we hung it on the wall right by our kitchen table. Every night before we eat dinner we read the appropriate verse from the bible and the kids put on the matching ornament.
Tonight was the story of creation in Genesis and the ornament of the earth. We then then pose a question to the kids to get them thinking about what we read in the bible.seeing as I read from our adult bible I fell this part is important to help the kids understand the sometimes difficult language. Tonight I asked them what can we do to help take care of the earth that god created? Right away Avery said we could share with people that don't have any food. WoW! What a moment. Earlier today I gave him a grocery bag with peanut butter and jam in it to take to school and told him it was for the Christmas hamper. He said, "Christmas camper?" LOL! I then explained that the food in the bag was going in to a big box to be given to people who didn't have enough money to buy their own food for Christmas. I didn't get much of a response out of him and figured he either didn't really understand or that it didn't apply to him so he forgot it instantly. Boy was I wrong! It is so amazing what can happen when you really just sit down and talk with your child! They are amazing little people. Anyways, after we talked about helping to take care of the earth. We said a short prayer thanking god for creating the earth and then we lit the first candle on our advent wreath and ate our dinner. The advent wreath is another way we are celebrating advent. We light the candle every night during dinner and keep the wreath on our table at all times. The kids seem to always enjoy eating with candles, maybe it is the flickering of the flames or the mysterious glow but it always seems to make dinner a little more enjoyable.
During advent my kitchen is always a bustle of activity! I try to keep meals fairly simple or economical as a way to spend more time with my kids and in a way to not overindulge what with all the sweets I am busy creating! I love trying out new Christmas recipes to see which ones will become keepers and make it into the yearly repitorie . Today we made:EGGNOG CUPCAKES and they were fantastic!!! Seriously the best cupcakes!!
For the cupcakes:
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
¼ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg¼ cup
1 cup eggnog
¼ cup vegetable or canola oil
1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
For the frosting:
20 tbs. butter, at room temperature
2½ cups confectioners' sugar
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
2½ tbsp. eggnog
For garnish:Ground cinnamon or grated nutmeg Cinnamon sticks
Directions:To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nutmeg; whisk to combine. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the rum, eggnog, vegetable oil, vinegar, and sugar. Beat on medium-low speed until well blended. Add in the dry ingredients and mix on low speed just until incorporated. Divide the batter between the prepared cupcake liners, filling the cups 2/3 full. Bake 22-24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.To make the frosting, place the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until smooth, 20-30 seconds. Add in the powdered sugar, salt and nutmeg, and mix on medium-high speed until incorporated and smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add in the eggnog and whip on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 4 minutes. With the mixer on medium-low speed, blend in the rum. Fill a pastry bag with the frosting and decorate the cooled cupcakes as desired. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon or grated nutmeg, and garnish with cinnamon sticks if desired.
Nativity Carnival that I joined up to, feel free to do the same!
Tonight was the story of creation in Genesis and the ornament of the earth. We then then pose a question to the kids to get them thinking about what we read in the bible.seeing as I read from our adult bible I fell this part is important to help the kids understand the sometimes difficult language. Tonight I asked them what can we do to help take care of the earth that god created? Right away Avery said we could share with people that don't have any food. WoW! What a moment. Earlier today I gave him a grocery bag with peanut butter and jam in it to take to school and told him it was for the Christmas hamper. He said, "Christmas camper?" LOL! I then explained that the food in the bag was going in to a big box to be given to people who didn't have enough money to buy their own food for Christmas. I didn't get much of a response out of him and figured he either didn't really understand or that it didn't apply to him so he forgot it instantly. Boy was I wrong! It is so amazing what can happen when you really just sit down and talk with your child! They are amazing little people. Anyways, after we talked about helping to take care of the earth. We said a short prayer thanking god for creating the earth and then we lit the first candle on our advent wreath and ate our dinner. The advent wreath is another way we are celebrating advent. We light the candle every night during dinner and keep the wreath on our table at all times. The kids seem to always enjoy eating with candles, maybe it is the flickering of the flames or the mysterious glow but it always seems to make dinner a little more enjoyable.
During advent my kitchen is always a bustle of activity! I try to keep meals fairly simple or economical as a way to spend more time with my kids and in a way to not overindulge what with all the sweets I am busy creating! I love trying out new Christmas recipes to see which ones will become keepers and make it into the yearly repitorie . Today we made:EGGNOG CUPCAKES and they were fantastic!!! Seriously the best cupcakes!!For the cupcakes:
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour¼ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg¼ cup
1 cup eggnog
¼ cup vegetable or canola oil
1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
For the frosting:
20 tbs. butter, at room temperature
2½ cups confectioners' sugarPinch of freshly grated nutmeg
2½ tbsp. eggnog
For garnish:Ground cinnamon or grated nutmeg Cinnamon sticks
Directions:To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nutmeg; whisk to combine. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the rum, eggnog, vegetable oil, vinegar, and sugar. Beat on medium-low speed until well blended. Add in the dry ingredients and mix on low speed just until incorporated. Divide the batter between the prepared cupcake liners, filling the cups 2/3 full. Bake 22-24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.To make the frosting, place the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until smooth, 20-30 seconds. Add in the powdered sugar, salt and nutmeg, and mix on medium-high speed until incorporated and smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add in the eggnog and whip on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 4 minutes. With the mixer on medium-low speed, blend in the rum. Fill a pastry bag with the frosting and decorate the cooled cupcakes as desired. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon or grated nutmeg, and garnish with cinnamon sticks if desired. Nativity Carnival that I joined up to, feel free to do the same!Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Pantry Challenge wrap up!
Back at the beginning of January I joined up with the pantry challenge over at Life as Mom.
It is now February, and the pantry challenge is officially over.
Drum roll please...
This past month I have used up almost all of my canned goods and many things in my pantry that I just kept pushing to the back because I didn't know what to do with them! I tried to incorporate what I had in my pantry into every meal plan and this helped to lower my food budget for the month. My goal was $70 a week which was INSANE but I am proud to say it came out at $90 a week. I am VERY happy with that. I did take a closer look at what type of groceries I bought with my $90 a week and I am proud to report that I didn't buy a single convenience item this month. I cooked almost every meal from scratch and did a lot of baking with the kids.
The biggest portion of the money spent ($130) went to meat. I wasn't surprised at this, I didn't have much in my freezer to begin with and the hubby and kids LOVE meat. We do eat meatless usually once or twice a week so I am thinking one way to try to lower this in the coming months is to try out some more vegetarian/vegan cooking and use dishes that call for smaller portions of meat instead of meat being the focal point of the meal. If anyone has some great recipes for me send them my way.
The second largest portion of money spent ($77) was on fruits and vegetables. I was happy with this, as I think a large portion of your food budget should go to healthy, fresh food for your family. Unfortunately living in the north in the winter we pay more for fresh produce than elsewhere and there are no gardens or farmers markets to pick from. I look forward to the summer once again where I can get local, seasonal produce. Until then my kids will happily eat piles of cheap bananas from costco. Seriously, they are so cheap there.
Now the pantry challenge is over I am wondering where to go from here? This challenge has inspired me to take a hard look at what I am buying, how much I am paying for what I am buying, and what I am cooking with what I am buying. In the month to come I am hoping to restock our pantry with sale items, look for new vegan/vegetarian recipes to try and keep using coupons.
*On a note about the coupons, one of my goals was to use more coupons and I am getting better. Living in Canada we don't have near as many coupons as our neighbours in the states, but I tallied up and my coupons this month saved me...$9.25. It sounds lame but every little bit adds up right?
It is now February, and the pantry challenge is officially over.
Drum roll please...
The biggest portion of the money spent ($130) went to meat. I wasn't surprised at this, I didn't have much in my freezer to begin with and the hubby and kids LOVE meat. We do eat meatless usually once or twice a week so I am thinking one way to try to lower this in the coming months is to try out some more vegetarian/vegan cooking and use dishes that call for smaller portions of meat instead of meat being the focal point of the meal. If anyone has some great recipes for me send them my way.
The second largest portion of money spent ($77) was on fruits and vegetables. I was happy with this, as I think a large portion of your food budget should go to healthy, fresh food for your family. Unfortunately living in the north in the winter we pay more for fresh produce than elsewhere and there are no gardens or farmers markets to pick from. I look forward to the summer once again where I can get local, seasonal produce. Until then my kids will happily eat piles of cheap bananas from costco. Seriously, they are so cheap there.
Now the pantry challenge is over I am wondering where to go from here? This challenge has inspired me to take a hard look at what I am buying, how much I am paying for what I am buying, and what I am cooking with what I am buying. In the month to come I am hoping to restock our pantry with sale items, look for new vegan/vegetarian recipes to try and keep using coupons.
*On a note about the coupons, one of my goals was to use more coupons and I am getting better. Living in Canada we don't have near as many coupons as our neighbours in the states, but I tallied up and my coupons this month saved me...$9.25. It sounds lame but every little bit adds up right?
Monday, January 31, 2011
Home Organization binder
Well January is coming to a close, and am I organized yet? Maybe...halfway there. The pantry challenge was a success (will post on that fingers crossed tomorrow) and my other goal was to create a home organization binder. Seeing as I have never had one before I am starting off rather basic to see what works for us and what doesn't. In the past I have always used a giant wall calendar (which I LOVED), as well as an agenda off and on. Bills and important paperwork didn't really have a home (kitchen counter doesn't count!) until I filed it away.
My new binder starts off with a yearly calendar, then a school yearly calendar. Next every month I have a monthly calendar page where there is room to write notes, important dates and a list of all bills due that month and when they are due. Right after that page I am hole punching my bills and putting them in the order they are due in. I am liking this so far.
Next I have another monthly calendar page where I can see a monthly view of appointments, kids activities and whatever else. Then I start going by week. Every week I start of with a weekly to do list. I LOVE LOVE LOVE lists. I am much more productive when all my tasks are written down and I can check them off when I have completed them. I have even contemplated buying those little gold star stickers that teachers use just to use for when I complete my tasks. No I am not kidding! I am thinking in the weeks to come of starting chore charts with my 2 oldest so that will be my excuse to buy the stars.
Next I have a weekly overview which pretty much is like a weekly agenda page where I can view my week at a glance. I write more specific goals on this than I would on the monthly calendar. For example today Jan.31 Monday I have the following notes: AVERY- NO SCHOOL, BAKE: orange oatmeal bread (recipe in later post) Lunch: ?
My last sheet for the week is my grocery shopping list with meal plan, you can get your own here $5 Dinners
At the end of my binder I have some lined paper that I am using to plan out the themed crafts for the month and what materials I need, as well as any projects I have on the go. I really need to get started on curtains for the kids new rooms and book slings for them. I always have so many project ideas and NO TIME!
Things I still want to add to my binder are something for my coupons. I don't use too many so I think a simple envelope will work. Also something to write down our expenses every month, nothing complicated as a lot of our expenses remain pretty constant. Also looking for something to organize my thoughts on the activities I do in the home with the kids. I don't homeschool but I firmly believe that it is still the parents primary role to teach your child. Avery goes to Jr.K 4 or 5 mornings a week but in the afternoon it is quite common for us to do a craft, storytime, baking or other activity based on a theme that I have planned out in advance. Seeing as my kids are so young I keep the plan very loose and flexible dependent on time and the mood that day. If any of you homeschooling moms out there want to share some advice on planning pages for preschool children I would love to hear from you!
Do you have a household notebook or binder? I would love ideas and comments from you!
My new binder starts off with a yearly calendar, then a school yearly calendar. Next every month I have a monthly calendar page where there is room to write notes, important dates and a list of all bills due that month and when they are due. Right after that page I am hole punching my bills and putting them in the order they are due in. I am liking this so far.
Next I have another monthly calendar page where I can see a monthly view of appointments, kids activities and whatever else. Then I start going by week. Every week I start of with a weekly to do list. I LOVE LOVE LOVE lists. I am much more productive when all my tasks are written down and I can check them off when I have completed them. I have even contemplated buying those little gold star stickers that teachers use just to use for when I complete my tasks. No I am not kidding! I am thinking in the weeks to come of starting chore charts with my 2 oldest so that will be my excuse to buy the stars.
Next I have a weekly overview which pretty much is like a weekly agenda page where I can view my week at a glance. I write more specific goals on this than I would on the monthly calendar. For example today Jan.31 Monday I have the following notes: AVERY- NO SCHOOL, BAKE: orange oatmeal bread (recipe in later post) Lunch: ?
My last sheet for the week is my grocery shopping list with meal plan, you can get your own here $5 Dinners
At the end of my binder I have some lined paper that I am using to plan out the themed crafts for the month and what materials I need, as well as any projects I have on the go. I really need to get started on curtains for the kids new rooms and book slings for them. I always have so many project ideas and NO TIME!
Things I still want to add to my binder are something for my coupons. I don't use too many so I think a simple envelope will work. Also something to write down our expenses every month, nothing complicated as a lot of our expenses remain pretty constant. Also looking for something to organize my thoughts on the activities I do in the home with the kids. I don't homeschool but I firmly believe that it is still the parents primary role to teach your child. Avery goes to Jr.K 4 or 5 mornings a week but in the afternoon it is quite common for us to do a craft, storytime, baking or other activity based on a theme that I have planned out in advance. Seeing as my kids are so young I keep the plan very loose and flexible dependent on time and the mood that day. If any of you homeschooling moms out there want to share some advice on planning pages for preschool children I would love to hear from you!
Do you have a household notebook or binder? I would love ideas and comments from you!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Routine put on hold
Oh my, a week has gone by and I haven't blogged. I do have a very good reason. Last weekend our new baby Reid, came down with a little cough. Being that it is winter and both the other kids were down with colds in the previous weeks, I wasn't unusually worried. By monday night however it was obvious that this was no normal case of the sniffles. Reid was having trouble breathing and was inconsolable. I rushed him to the ER where we spent the night getting blood work, a chest X-ray and working with a respiratory therapist. The next day we found out he had tested positive for RSV which was causing bronchiolitis which was why he was having trouble breathing. He was put on inhalers and after 3 separate trips to the hospital we finally got his breathing under control. His fever finally broke yesterday and it seems like he is through the worst. He is still wheezy and needs his inhalers frequently but is back to his sunny self and we are so thankful for that.
We have company arriving tomorrow and so it might be a few more days before I get back to my regular posting.
We have company arriving tomorrow and so it might be a few more days before I get back to my regular posting.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Book Club 2011
The snow is finally lessening here...can you believe it? The sun made a rare visit today. The roads are still horrible but getting better. Thank goodness. We have been trapped in the house for far to long. Avery is getting over his cold and went back to school this morning, and tomorrow Reid has a checkup.
So I am officially joining Book Club over at Life as Mom.
I plan on reading the assigned reading as well as whatever else I feel like adding on. The first book is The Happiness Project which is due Feb.10. I just got lucky and ordered it from my library for my ipad e-reader and got it right away!! Can't wait to start. Please check out this book club and link up over at Life as Mom and leave me a link in the comments. I LOVE LOVE LOVE to read and would love to hear what everybody is reading.
This should be so much fun!
So I am officially joining Book Club over at Life as Mom.
I plan on reading the assigned reading as well as whatever else I feel like adding on. The first book is The Happiness Project which is due Feb.10. I just got lucky and ordered it from my library for my ipad e-reader and got it right away!! Can't wait to start. Please check out this book club and link up over at Life as Mom and leave me a link in the comments. I LOVE LOVE LOVE to read and would love to hear what everybody is reading.
This should be so much fun!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Weekly Menu Plan
I know I know, the week is half over and I am just now getting around to posting my menu plan...such is life!
A rather tempting book arrived in the mail and I got sidetracked ;)
Monday: Past:a with Salad
Tuesday: Zucchini Boats with Rice (vegan)
Wednesday: Meat Pie and Salad
Thursday: Chicken with mushroom sauce
Friday: Slow cooker chicken
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Roast and Mashed Potatoes
The kids and I have just spent another day cooped up in the house! Avery has a cold and the roads are STILL impassable. Just checked the weather and Environment Canada has put out ANOTHER heavy snowfall warning for tonight! This winter is becoming the snowiest one I can remember. The city was hoping to have our community roads ploughed by tomorrow, but now with this new snowstorm coming we might be stuck here awhile longer. We are very lucky hubby has a truck so we can get out if need be. The roads here are like driving on a glacier.
I do have one beautiful picture from the one day the snow stopped and before it started again...
Seeing as we have been stuck inside I have been catching up on the never ending pile of laundry and catching up on some baking.
Our favorite granola bars:
3 cups crisp cereal (we like the organic gluten free kind)
3 cups o-shaped toasted oat cereal (any type of cheerios works great)
1 1/2 cups raisins or craisins
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup honey
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
Grease a baking sheet.
In a large bowl, stir together the cereals, raisins, and sunflower seeds.
In a medium saucepan, combine the honey and sugar. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, then lower the heat and continue boiling for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Add the peanut butter and vanilla, stirring until the peanut butter is liquefied.
Pour over the cereal in the bowl and stir.
Pour onto the baking sheet, patting it down into a compact layer.
Place in the fridge until firm.
Then cut into bars and store in a container in the fridge.
A rather tempting book arrived in the mail and I got sidetracked ;)
Monday: Past:a with Salad
Tuesday: Zucchini Boats with Rice (vegan)
Wednesday: Meat Pie and Salad
Thursday: Chicken with mushroom sauce
Friday: Slow cooker chicken
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Roast and Mashed Potatoes
The kids and I have just spent another day cooped up in the house! Avery has a cold and the roads are STILL impassable. Just checked the weather and Environment Canada has put out ANOTHER heavy snowfall warning for tonight! This winter is becoming the snowiest one I can remember. The city was hoping to have our community roads ploughed by tomorrow, but now with this new snowstorm coming we might be stuck here awhile longer. We are very lucky hubby has a truck so we can get out if need be. The roads here are like driving on a glacier.
I do have one beautiful picture from the one day the snow stopped and before it started again...
 | ||
| A Moose behind our house trying her best to trek through the deep snow. |
Our favorite granola bars:
3 cups crisp cereal (we like the organic gluten free kind)
3 cups o-shaped toasted oat cereal (any type of cheerios works great)
1 1/2 cups raisins or craisins
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup honey
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
Grease a baking sheet.
In a large bowl, stir together the cereals, raisins, and sunflower seeds.
In a medium saucepan, combine the honey and sugar. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, then lower the heat and continue boiling for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Add the peanut butter and vanilla, stirring until the peanut butter is liquefied.
Pour over the cereal in the bowl and stir.
Pour onto the baking sheet, patting it down into a compact layer.
Place in the fridge until firm.
Then cut into bars and store in a container in the fridge.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Oh the weather outside is frightful...but the fire is so delightful
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| Our deck! |
 | |
| Out our living room window during the snowstorm. |
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| The kids playhouse! |
We had a record snowfall and it was below minus 30 C.
We spent pretty much the whole weekend digging ourselves out, and then just when it seemed we made some progress, Mother Nature showed us who was boss! Such is winter in the north.
We spent the weekend inside crafting:
For dinner that night I made chicken parmesan
3 chicken breasts
3 tbsp. bread crumbs
3 tbsp. parmesan
1 tsp. chicken bouillon powder
1 tsp. oregano
Coat the chicken and fry them up 4 min per side until browned, then turn down to low and cover for 20 min.
I was hoping on posting some of my household organizing ideas...but none of that got accomplished this weekend! Maybe next one...
I figured out my meal plan for the coming week...ALL DAIRY FREE just tonight and I will post it tomorrow.
Poor hubby got sent out on our HORRIBLE roads to go get some fresh fruits and veggies at the store tonight. Our roads are impassable right now for my mini-van and it looks like they will be that way until Thursday!! I am getting some major cabin fever!! How many days until spring?
One final picture thought of the weekend:
Stay warm friends!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Pantry Challenge: Week 2 Day 4
Well it is still snowing here and extremely cold. Minus 40 C with the windchill tonight. Needless to say, we have been staying close to home, warm by the fire. Good thing I have a well stocked pantry to avoid needless trips to the grocery store ;)
The kids and I are getting a bit of cabin fever so we decided to make Lime Meltaway Cookies. They were seriously addictive and I think all my hard work trying to get back in shape after baby #3 took a hit today with all the cookies I ate!!
For dinner I whipped together spaghetti with meat sauce with some of my pantry stockpiles. I used up my crushed tomato, tomato paste and one of my cans of mushrooms (think I still have 3 more of those to go).
Tomorrow night Avery has soccer right when we normally eat dinner. For the last few months that meant that we would just pick something up on the way home, but with my goal of lowering our food budget and trying to use up what we have I am going to use my slow cooker tomorrow. I must say I love the idea of the slow cooker- having a home cooked meal without having to rush around during the "crazy" hour, but I am never really happy with how my food turns out. How about you? Do you use a slow cooker frequently or hardly ever? If you have a favorite recipe that you would be willing to share please post it in the comments. I would love to use my slow cooker more.
The kids and I are getting a bit of cabin fever so we decided to make Lime Meltaway Cookies. They were seriously addictive and I think all my hard work trying to get back in shape after baby #3 took a hit today with all the cookies I ate!!
For dinner I whipped together spaghetti with meat sauce with some of my pantry stockpiles. I used up my crushed tomato, tomato paste and one of my cans of mushrooms (think I still have 3 more of those to go).
Tomorrow night Avery has soccer right when we normally eat dinner. For the last few months that meant that we would just pick something up on the way home, but with my goal of lowering our food budget and trying to use up what we have I am going to use my slow cooker tomorrow. I must say I love the idea of the slow cooker- having a home cooked meal without having to rush around during the "crazy" hour, but I am never really happy with how my food turns out. How about you? Do you use a slow cooker frequently or hardly ever? If you have a favorite recipe that you would be willing to share please post it in the comments. I would love to use my slow cooker more.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Week 2 Pantry Challenge: Day 2 and 3
So last post I said I was waiting for inspiration to strike before I wrote up my meal plan for the week...and guess what? Still hasn't happened. I am just winging it this week, using all the ingredients I have on hand.
On Tuesday I made one of my family's go to weeknight meals. It is quick, easy and I usually have all the ingredients.
Hashbrown Casserole
1/2 pkg. frozen hashbrowns
1 lb.ground beef
1 cup frozen corn
3 green onions
1 1/4 cup salsa
1 cup grated cheddar
Pour the hashbrowns in a 9x13 pan. Then top with 1/4 cup of the cheese.
Brown the ground beef, and put on top of the hashbrowns. Then layer the green onions, corn and the salsa. Then top with the remaining cheese and bake at 400F for 30 minutes.
EASY EASY!
Tonight (Wednesday) I made a stirfry. I cut up some chicken breast and cooked them up with some teriyaki sauce. Added a can of pineapple (I have 2 more still in my pantry that I want to use up before the January Pantry Challenge is over- Idea's anyone?) as well as some veggies from the fridge; red pepper, snow peas and zucchini. Served over rice it was MOST delicious!
I have no clue what I will be making tomorrow night...something with ground beef I think.
On Tuesday I made one of my family's go to weeknight meals. It is quick, easy and I usually have all the ingredients.
Hashbrown Casserole
1/2 pkg. frozen hashbrowns
1 lb.ground beef
1 cup frozen corn
3 green onions
1 1/4 cup salsa
1 cup grated cheddar
Pour the hashbrowns in a 9x13 pan. Then top with 1/4 cup of the cheese.
Brown the ground beef, and put on top of the hashbrowns. Then layer the green onions, corn and the salsa. Then top with the remaining cheese and bake at 400F for 30 minutes.
EASY EASY!
Tonight (Wednesday) I made a stirfry. I cut up some chicken breast and cooked them up with some teriyaki sauce. Added a can of pineapple (I have 2 more still in my pantry that I want to use up before the January Pantry Challenge is over- Idea's anyone?) as well as some veggies from the fridge; red pepper, snow peas and zucchini. Served over rice it was MOST delicious!
I have no clue what I will be making tomorrow night...something with ground beef I think.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Pantry Challenge Week 1 Wrap up!
Week 1 of the pantry challenge has ended and was a huge success. I only spent about $60 on groceries which is AMAZING! Ten dollars of that was probably on milk (my kids love the stuff) and twenty five dollars was spent on coffee. You might be thinking...WHAT!? $25 on coffee?? But we *love* our coffee. We got an espresso machine for Christmas so we have been making all sorts of yummy lattes. We bought some good espresso beans and a HUGE can of Tim Horton's coffee for the coffee pot. Saves me from making multiple trips a day to timmy's!! The remaining amount was spent on fresh vegetables and a few ingredients needed for meals.
On Friday I had written down that we were going to have leftovers but we ended up eating them all for lunches so instead the kids had grilled cheese (a favorite) and Greg and I had appetizers. We had loads of frozen appy's left in the freezer from new years.
On Saturday we were very busy running errands (on a day where we got hammered with snow, up to our knees!) so we had lunch out at the mall. This was our only meal that wasn't cooked at home this week.
For dinner that night I picked up a roast chicken at the deli and we had it with some rice and nice organic salad.
On Sunday we spent the day cleaning and making snow forts.
Greg made crepes for breakfast. We had crepes filled with berries, apples and cinnamon and my personal favorite, nutella and banana.Top that off with a soy latte and it was a pretty perfect start to a snowy Sunday morning. For lunch I made one of our favorites, Tuna Cakes. I will try to post this recipe in a separate post if I have time. For dinner Greg cooked his signature meal, breaded pork chops, his gourmet potatoes and corn. It is becoming somewhat of a Sunday tradition!
So here we are on Week 2 of the pantry challenge. I don't have my meal plan done yet, I am still waiting for inspiration to strike, but I did make a delicious pot pie for dinner tonight to use up the leftover roast chicken as well as the vegetables I had on hand. I am finding that this pantry challenge is really helping me create more meals without a recipe. I have been relying more on my cooking sense and tasting what I am creating and it has been turning out wonderfully.
Dairy Free Chicken Pot Pie
3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
2 cloves of garlic
1 cup diced carrots
Salt and pepper
Heat the oil in a large pan. Add your diced carrots (I had some organic baby carrots that were going to go bad soon so I just sliced them up.) and garlic with some salt and pepper to season and cook for 3 to 5 minutes.
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup white wine
1 3/4 cup chicken stock
2 potatoes peeled and diced
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup frozen corn
Dash of Thyme
Sprinkle the flour over the carrots, scraping up all the brown bits in the pan. Then add the wine and chicken stock and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and add the rest of the vegetables and the thyme. Let simmer for 5 to 10 minutes until it begins to thicken and the potatoes start to soften.
Then pour into a casserole pan. Cover with your favorite pastry crust. Bake at 400 for about 40 minutes .
On Friday I had written down that we were going to have leftovers but we ended up eating them all for lunches so instead the kids had grilled cheese (a favorite) and Greg and I had appetizers. We had loads of frozen appy's left in the freezer from new years.
On Saturday we were very busy running errands (on a day where we got hammered with snow, up to our knees!) so we had lunch out at the mall. This was our only meal that wasn't cooked at home this week.
For dinner that night I picked up a roast chicken at the deli and we had it with some rice and nice organic salad.
On Sunday we spent the day cleaning and making snow forts.
Greg made crepes for breakfast. We had crepes filled with berries, apples and cinnamon and my personal favorite, nutella and banana.Top that off with a soy latte and it was a pretty perfect start to a snowy Sunday morning. For lunch I made one of our favorites, Tuna Cakes. I will try to post this recipe in a separate post if I have time. For dinner Greg cooked his signature meal, breaded pork chops, his gourmet potatoes and corn. It is becoming somewhat of a Sunday tradition!
So here we are on Week 2 of the pantry challenge. I don't have my meal plan done yet, I am still waiting for inspiration to strike, but I did make a delicious pot pie for dinner tonight to use up the leftover roast chicken as well as the vegetables I had on hand. I am finding that this pantry challenge is really helping me create more meals without a recipe. I have been relying more on my cooking sense and tasting what I am creating and it has been turning out wonderfully.
Dairy Free Chicken Pot Pie
3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
2 cloves of garlic
1 cup diced carrots
Salt and pepper
Heat the oil in a large pan. Add your diced carrots (I had some organic baby carrots that were going to go bad soon so I just sliced them up.) and garlic with some salt and pepper to season and cook for 3 to 5 minutes.
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup white wine
1 3/4 cup chicken stock
2 potatoes peeled and diced
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup frozen corn
Dash of Thyme
Sprinkle the flour over the carrots, scraping up all the brown bits in the pan. Then add the wine and chicken stock and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and add the rest of the vegetables and the thyme. Let simmer for 5 to 10 minutes until it begins to thicken and the potatoes start to soften.
Then pour into a casserole pan. Cover with your favorite pastry crust. Bake at 400 for about 40 minutes .
 | ||||
| It smelled SO good we couldn't wait to eat it! Everybody loved it, what a perfect winter meal. |
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Pantry Challenge Day 4
Pantry Challenge Day 4
Today on the menu was pork chops with mustard crumb crust.
1 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard
1 Tbsp. Mayo
2 green onions, minces
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 Tbsp. parsley
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 pork chops
In a small bowl combine, mustard , mayo, and onions. In another bowl, combine bread crumbs, parsley, 1 tbsp. of the oil and garlic.
Sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper. Heat oil in skillet and brown the chops.
Transfer to ovenproof pan and spread mustard mixture over chops and top with bread crumb mixture. Roast at 425F for 15 minutes.
We served ours with rice and steamed vegetables
Today on the menu was pork chops with mustard crumb crust.
1 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard
1 Tbsp. Mayo
2 green onions, minces
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 Tbsp. parsley
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 pork chops
In a small bowl combine, mustard , mayo, and onions. In another bowl, combine bread crumbs, parsley, 1 tbsp. of the oil and garlic.
Sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper. Heat oil in skillet and brown the chops.
Transfer to ovenproof pan and spread mustard mixture over chops and top with bread crumb mixture. Roast at 425F for 15 minutes.
We served ours with rice and steamed vegetables
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
2010 in Books & Pantry Challenge Day 3
I am joining in on 2010 in books on Amongst Lovely Things
I LOVE to read and have devoured countless books over the past year. I haven't really kept track of what I have read and I get most of my books from the library but thought this post seemed like so much fun! I think I will keep record of what I read this year a bit better so I can share all the great reads I find with you.
If anyone is interested in participating please link to me on your page, and leave me your link in a comment, I would love to see what you are reading ;)
What was the best new (to you) author that you discovered this year?
Stieg Larsson
What was you favorite new (to you) series?
Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire Mysteries Novels These are the books that the TV show True Blood is based on
Book that made you cry?
hmmm....nothing comes to mind. I read mostly non-fiction this year...
Books that made you laugh out loud?
Twenties Girl I have read all the books by Sophie Kinsella, they are quick entertaining reads that always make me smile. They are the perfect bathtub book ;)
Book that totally changed your perspective on something?
Well I wouldn't say these books changed my perspective but they helped reinforce what I already believe and made me contemplate the choices I make everyday.
Playful Parenting
You are your Child's First Teacher
Best homeschooling book?
I didn't read a whole lot on homeschooling this year but I read quite a few books centered around Waldorf education. One of my favorites was Understanding Waldorf Education
Worst book that you managed to finish?
Finish a book that I don't like? Whats the point? I have such a small amount of time on a daily basis to read, why would I waste it? Enough Said!
Most disappointing book?
Nothing comes to mind, I read so many GREAT ones!
Best feel good book of the year?
The many many, and I mean MANY books that I have spent countless hours reading to my children. Can't think of a better way to feel good than to spend quality time reading to them.
Best Children's book of the year?
I really enjoyed reading my children Jan Brett books and I think our favorite was The Mitten
Book you've been meaning to read for years, and finally got to?
I didn't?! Better luck in 2011...
Best Non-fiction?
I really enjoyed Living Simply with Children I would love to have it for my home library.
Favourite fiction of the year?
The Girl who played with Fire This was the second book in the Steig Larsson series and it was my favorite. I couldn't put it down. I am currently reading the third one The Girl who Kicked the Hornets Nest and so far it is just as good!
Book that you feel is so integral to your library, that you would even pay full price for it?
I DID! I'm a little Teapot is my go to book for story, fingerplay and song ideas for the kids. It never fails!
Now on to my Pantry Challenge Day 3.
On the menu today was Chicken Fajita Pizza
It turned out to be....DELICIOUS! Day 3= SUCCESS!
I changed a few things in the recipe. First I made my own tried and true pizza crust recipe. Maybe I will share it in a later post :) Also instead of making homemade ranch I used up some of the caesar salad dressing that was in my fridge (in keeping with the pantry challenge) The only thing I had to buy for this was the peppers!
On the menu for tomorrow is Pork Chops with Mustard Crumb crust.
I LOVE to read and have devoured countless books over the past year. I haven't really kept track of what I have read and I get most of my books from the library but thought this post seemed like so much fun! I think I will keep record of what I read this year a bit better so I can share all the great reads I find with you.
If anyone is interested in participating please link to me on your page, and leave me your link in a comment, I would love to see what you are reading ;)
What was the best new (to you) author that you discovered this year?
Stieg Larsson
What was you favorite new (to you) series?
Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire Mysteries Novels These are the books that the TV show True Blood is based on
Book that made you cry?
hmmm....nothing comes to mind. I read mostly non-fiction this year...
Books that made you laugh out loud?
Twenties Girl I have read all the books by Sophie Kinsella, they are quick entertaining reads that always make me smile. They are the perfect bathtub book ;)
Book that totally changed your perspective on something?
Well I wouldn't say these books changed my perspective but they helped reinforce what I already believe and made me contemplate the choices I make everyday.
Playful Parenting
You are your Child's First Teacher
Best homeschooling book?
I didn't read a whole lot on homeschooling this year but I read quite a few books centered around Waldorf education. One of my favorites was Understanding Waldorf Education
Worst book that you managed to finish?
Finish a book that I don't like? Whats the point? I have such a small amount of time on a daily basis to read, why would I waste it? Enough Said!
Most disappointing book?
Nothing comes to mind, I read so many GREAT ones!
Best feel good book of the year?
The many many, and I mean MANY books that I have spent countless hours reading to my children. Can't think of a better way to feel good than to spend quality time reading to them.
Best Children's book of the year?
I really enjoyed reading my children Jan Brett books and I think our favorite was The Mitten
Book you've been meaning to read for years, and finally got to?
I didn't?! Better luck in 2011...
Best Non-fiction?
I really enjoyed Living Simply with Children I would love to have it for my home library.
Favourite fiction of the year?
The Girl who played with Fire This was the second book in the Steig Larsson series and it was my favorite. I couldn't put it down. I am currently reading the third one The Girl who Kicked the Hornets Nest and so far it is just as good!
Book that you feel is so integral to your library, that you would even pay full price for it?
I DID! I'm a little Teapot is my go to book for story, fingerplay and song ideas for the kids. It never fails!
Now on to my Pantry Challenge Day 3.
On the menu today was Chicken Fajita Pizza
I changed a few things in the recipe. First I made my own tried and true pizza crust recipe. Maybe I will share it in a later post :) Also instead of making homemade ranch I used up some of the caesar salad dressing that was in my fridge (in keeping with the pantry challenge) The only thing I had to buy for this was the peppers!
On the menu for tomorrow is Pork Chops with Mustard Crumb crust.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Pantry Challenge: Day 2
Day 2 of the pantry challenge = SUCCESS
On the menu today was Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy. I had all the ingredients on hand except the beef stock (which I bought at the store this week, seeing as it is a pantry essential that I just happened to be out of) Also the recipe calls for fresh mushrooms but I had canned ones to use up.
1 lb. ground beef, turkey, lamb or pork
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1 egg
salt and pepper
1 tsp. vegetable oil
1 med onion, chopped
8 oz. mushrooms
1/2 tsp. thyme
1 tbsp. flour
1 cup beef or chicken (use chicken broth if patties are turkey; otherwise beef)
In a bowl combine the meat, bread crumbs, egg, salt and pepper. Mix well and form in patties.
Heat the oil in large pan over medium heat. Add the patties and brown them on both sides (about 3 min)
Remove them from the pan.
Add the chopped onion to the pan and cook stirring for 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and thyme. Cook another 3-5 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour and stir well, then add the broth. Cook, stirring constantly to eliminate lumps, until sauce starts simmering and begins to thicken.
Return patties to pan, nestling them into the sauce amid the mushrooms.
Reduce heat to low, cover the pan and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
I also made some mashed potatoes (used up the remaining potatoes in my pantry-YAY!) to go with all the yummy gravy, and we had some organic peas from the freezer.
Enjoy!
On the menu today was Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy. I had all the ingredients on hand except the beef stock (which I bought at the store this week, seeing as it is a pantry essential that I just happened to be out of) Also the recipe calls for fresh mushrooms but I had canned ones to use up.
1 lb. ground beef, turkey, lamb or pork
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1 egg
salt and pepper
1 tsp. vegetable oil
1 med onion, chopped
8 oz. mushrooms
1/2 tsp. thyme
1 tbsp. flour
1 cup beef or chicken (use chicken broth if patties are turkey; otherwise beef)
Heat the oil in large pan over medium heat. Add the patties and brown them on both sides (about 3 min)
Remove them from the pan.
Add the chopped onion to the pan and cook stirring for 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and thyme. Cook another 3-5 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour and stir well, then add the broth. Cook, stirring constantly to eliminate lumps, until sauce starts simmering and begins to thicken.
Return patties to pan, nestling them into the sauce amid the mushrooms.
Reduce heat to low, cover the pan and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
I also made some mashed potatoes (used up the remaining potatoes in my pantry-YAY!) to go with all the yummy gravy, and we had some organic peas from the freezer.
Enjoy!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Pantry Challenge January 2011!!
Happy New Year!
I am not much of a resolutions person, but have been thinking about trying really hard to live more deliberately
With the craziness of having a new baby in October, and now having 3 kids under 4 we have fallen away a little bit from our simple living goals.
Where to begin?
This is where the pantry challenge comes in. I know a few other bloggers are doing this as well.
The goal for every family may be different.
Mine is to lower our weekly food budget by:
1) Using up what is in our pantry stockpile
2) Planning our menus around what is in the pantry as well as what is on SALE at the grocery store
3) COUPONS (My favorite site for coupons is www.save.ca where you order the coupons you will use and they mail them to you for FREE)
Your goals might be to focus on buying healthier foods or cooking more from scratch.
I am going to keep track of every dollar and cent that I spend on groceries (not including baby items, toiletries, cleaning items etc.) My goal is to feed the 4 of us for $70 a week. Yikes! I normally menu plan and watch for sales but am not used to constricting our food budget so tightly. I am excited to try.
This year I really want to stay on top of our budget. The less we can spend on the day to day the more we have to save for things that really matter to us like travel.
Every Monday I will post my menu plan, and will post the recipe on the day I make it. Keep in mind these are not necessarily frugal recipes but are using up what is in MY pantry.
Monday: Pasta with Chicken and Alfredo Sauce and ceasar salad
Tuesday: Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes and peas
Wednesday: Chicken fajita pizza
Thursday: Pork chops with mustard crumb crust, rice and steamed vegetables
Friday: Leftovers/ Sandwich night
I invite you to please join me on your own pantry challenge, and I would love to read your comments on your menu plan ideas and grocery saving money ideas.
I am not much of a resolutions person, but have been thinking about trying really hard to live more deliberately
With the craziness of having a new baby in October, and now having 3 kids under 4 we have fallen away a little bit from our simple living goals.
Where to begin?
This is where the pantry challenge comes in. I know a few other bloggers are doing this as well.
The goal for every family may be different.
Mine is to lower our weekly food budget by:
1) Using up what is in our pantry stockpile
2) Planning our menus around what is in the pantry as well as what is on SALE at the grocery store
3) COUPONS (My favorite site for coupons is www.save.ca where you order the coupons you will use and they mail them to you for FREE)
Your goals might be to focus on buying healthier foods or cooking more from scratch.
I am going to keep track of every dollar and cent that I spend on groceries (not including baby items, toiletries, cleaning items etc.) My goal is to feed the 4 of us for $70 a week. Yikes! I normally menu plan and watch for sales but am not used to constricting our food budget so tightly. I am excited to try.
This year I really want to stay on top of our budget. The less we can spend on the day to day the more we have to save for things that really matter to us like travel.
Every Monday I will post my menu plan, and will post the recipe on the day I make it. Keep in mind these are not necessarily frugal recipes but are using up what is in MY pantry.
Monday: Pasta with Chicken and Alfredo Sauce and ceasar salad
Tuesday: Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes and peas
Wednesday: Chicken fajita pizza
Thursday: Pork chops with mustard crumb crust, rice and steamed vegetables
Friday: Leftovers/ Sandwich night
I invite you to please join me on your own pantry challenge, and I would love to read your comments on your menu plan ideas and grocery saving money ideas.
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