Horizontal CSS Menu

Showing posts with label Menus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Menus. Show all posts

Good Friday Meal, An Easter Tradition


When Charly was just a baby we started a fun yet very simple Easter week tradition. We start on Palm Sunday and talk/read about what happened each day the last week of Christ's life. We also enjoy finding videos about those same stories. And there is this Because of Him Easter site that was started this year that we have already been using.

Then on the evening of Good Friday we like to have a meal that may have been similar to what Jesus may have had for passover. We even sit on the floor to eat it. The kids love this simple little tradition.



Our meal typically consists of a lentil dish, dried fruit and nut mix, flat bread, hummus and grape juice. So simple but the kids look forward to it every year and always ask if we are going to do it again!

On Saturday the kids get a few fun small healthy "treats" in their Easter baskets. Usually there is something very practical like socks or flip flops and books. And then sometimes a very small toy like a yo-yo or lawn darts or something fun like that.

We hunt eggs and spend the day together and try to spend as much time together with family as we can. On Easter Sunday we go to church some of us sing in the choir as part of the Easter program. Then more often then not we have a spring type picnic meal with extended family and just enjoy being together and being grateful for our Savior.



Curried Lentils Over Rice
1 large onion, chopped
4 medium carrots, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons Olive oil
4 Tablespoons Curry Powder
3 cups brown or green lentils
6-8 cups water, divided
1 1/2 cups hummus
1 heaping teaspoon Vegetable Broth Powder
1 teaspoon Real Salt or to taste
pepper to taste
3-4 green onions, sliced
1 lemon cut into 8 wedges
cooked brown rice

Crock pot instructions:
In a warm crock pot, place the first 5 ingredients stir well and let warm up while preparing the rest of ingredients. Add lentils and 6 cups of water. Let cook on high for 3 hours or until lentils are tender. Add hummus, broth powder, salt and pepper and add more water to get desired consistency. Season to taste turn down crock pot and keep warm until ready to serve. Top with green onion just before serving. Serve over bowls of cooked brown rice, squeeze a wedge of lemon over each serving.

Stove Top instructions:
In a large pot heat olive oil then saute onion, carrots and garlic together. Add Curry powder and stir just until fragrant. Add lentils and 6 cups of water. Cover and let simmer for about 20-30 minutes or until lentils are done. Add hummus, broth powder, salt and pepper. Add more water if needed for desired consistency. Turn down to low and let heat through, stirring frequently. Season to taste. Top with green onion just before serving. Serve over  bowls of cooked brown rice, squeeze a wedge of lemon over each serving.
recipe adapted from Curried Lentil Soup

You will find my Totally Homemade Hummus recipe here.


Dried Fruit and Nut Mix
50% dried fruit
50% nuts

I just make a mix of about 50/50 dried fruit to nuts. I like to use what maybe would be maybe more traditional foods and that we don't very often eat in our other nut mixes. For fruit I will do figs, dates, raisins, apricots. Sometimes I will do dried cherries and cranberries. Usually I try to work with what I've already got. For the nuts I like to use walnuts, pecans, almonds and sometimes hazelnuts and pistachios.


Flat Bread

You can take about any dough and roll it into the flat shape you want and cook it like a pancake in a hot oiled pan or griddle. I have used My Best Yet Whole Wheat Bread recipe for this (I know not very traditional with the yeast and all;) or even this tortilla recipe just not rolled so thin would work.

This year though, since I have a sourdough start I am going to try a sourdough flat bread recipe. I have tried a few and they have all been eaten up but I haven't been super excited about any of them. So instead of posting an actual recipe I found this very cool sourdough flat bread link up that looks like it has lots of fun options. I'm going to choose one of those or a mixture of a few of them. ;) Hopefully I'll find something we love.

Rejoice for He is Risen and have a very Happy Easter!


My Weekly Meal Plan


Last week was great much needed rain and snow and everything has greened right up. I have some pictures and other fun memories from the weekend....that I will post here tomorrow. I just wanted to be sure to get the meal plan up today!



My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Roasted Veggie Bowls

Tuesday:
Tacos

Wednesday:
Sweet and Spicy Cabbage

Thursday:
Baked Potato Bar

Friday:
Quinoa, Potatoes and Steamed Veggies

Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Mushroom Stroganoff

My Weekly Meal Plan



I didn't take many pictures this week and if there are any it seems that something is wrong with my memory card and I may have lost them.....hopefully not but if so it will remind me that I better be backing up my pictures more often.

Last week was a pretty fun week with lots of outside time. Lots of weeding, watering and working more on the garden. We are getting very excited about our wall/fence getting finished but still waiting.....they said next week two weeks ago....you know how that goes. ;)

Ryan took the boys camping on the annual Father's and Son's camp out. It sounded like they all had a good time. Missy text Matt on Saturday night to see if he wanted to come hang out and play games with their group of friends. He had been telling her that he was missing that since it hasn't happened as often since she moved out.

He was excited to go and said he had a great time. I'm so glad they have such a good friendship with each other.


My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Flatbread Falafel Sandwiches

Tuesday:
Minestrone Soup

Wednesday: 
Quinoa Stir Fry

Thursday:
Sukiyaki

Friday: 
Black Bean and Sweet Potato Taco Packets

Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Philly Cheese Steak, My Way

My Weekly Meal Plan

We got some much needed rain last week along with plenty of wind (not sure about the need level there). It got pretty cold this weekend which is why we always wait until after the 20th of May to plant anything that can't take frost because around here we can get a late frost.


Because of the rain outside, Ryan did a little gardening indoors. I'm trying to learn more about Instagram since Missy has her own phone now and doesn't take mine. But I'm not very familiar with it. If you can't see the picture you can find it on Instagram here.

We have been surprised at how well our seeds have germinated. The seeds we have are easily over 5 years old....probably closer to 8 and we seem to be getting nearly 100% germination with most things.


On Saturday we went and celebrated my Grandpa's baby Sister's 99th Birthday. On her 90th birthday someone asked her if she would make it to 100 and she told them to not say such negative things. This birthday when asked.....she said that she probably will.

She is a funny and spunky lady and I sure love her. Sometimes she says that she is sure Charles (her deceased husband) must have a girlfriend up in Heaven because she is taking so long to get there. I'm confident though that he's just "Waiting on Her (a Woman)".



Missy and Kenzi came over for dinner last night. It's so fun to see how excited all the kids are to see them whenever they come. It has been an adjustment but I think it has been good for all of us. Change can be hard but I see growth happening in all of us. Fun times!


My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Mushroom Stroganoff

Tuesday:
Tacos

Wednesday:
Sweet and Spicy Cabbage

Thursday:
Baked Potato Bar

Friday:
Loaded Veggie Nacho Soup

Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Black Bean and Sweet Potato Taco Packets



My Weekly Meal Plan

Last week was full of weeding, cleaning up the yard, getting the water turned on, fixing any leaks, a funeral, a scout camp, some homemaking and lots of sunshine and a snowstorm in between.


Ryan worked really hard in the yard and got it ready to get our wall finished and to put some gravel down by the driveway. We hope to put cement one day but for now gravel should help with the mud and weeds. I spent some time weeding my flower/herb bed and Matt got the sprinklers turned on and any broken pipes fixed. There wasn't too much to fix mainly just a dripper to one of our apple trees that Ryan had stepped on and broke when he was tilling the garden.



I was able to preserve some lemons this weekend! I follow a recipe from the Lacto-Fermenting course that is part of Traditional Cooking School. It was super easy and I'm excited to see how they turn out. They need to set for about a month then they will be ready to use. The cool thing is that they keep this way for a really long time. A great way to use up the abundance of lemons that I had!

My cousin Mike passed away last week after a very long fight with Huntington's Disease. It was a beautiful service.

 It was so nice to see and visit with so many loved ones. This is me with my Sisters, my dear cousin and he beautiful daughters.


Me with my Sisters and more cousins! I only wish I had been able to stay longer and catch up a bit more with the many wonderful people I just don't see often enough.





My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Lentil Soup

Tuesday:
Chimmys

Wednesday:
Hawaiian Haystacks 

Thursday:
Nachos Supreme My Way

Friday:
Artichoke Tomato Alfredo

Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Mongolian BBQ






My Weekly Meal Plan



There was much that went on last week and lots of pictures taken that I need to post but I am quite a bit behind and slow as usual today....but instead of waiting to post my meal plan just because I don't want to take the time to post the update and pictures I will do the update later this week and post the meal plan now so I wont be quite so far behind.

I hope everyone is having a great spring time with hopefully less wind then we are having today. ;) And I hope you all had a lovely Easter "see" you later this week!

With Sweet Potato and Black Beans




My Weekly Meal Plan


Monday:
Curried Cauliflower with Sweet Potato and Black Beans

Tuesday:
Baked Potato Bar

Wednesday:
Split Pea Soup

Thursday:
Mushroom Stroganoff

Friday:
Taco Sundays

Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Lentil Sloppy Joes


My Weekly Meal Plan

My Weekly Meal Plan

It has been a crazy but great week! We have been loving the perfect sunshiny days. We have been trying to get Missy prepped and ready to move but mostly I am glad that she will be able to just run home if she needs anything because she seems to be a lot like her father and is okay with just taking things as they come.....aka waiting to the last minute.....I'm learning to roll with things better thanks to being married to her dad for nearly 20 years. ;)

Honestly I'm glad she hasn't been packing boxes or emptying her room.....things that would make it seem empty. I'm not sure my heart is ready for all that reality. Ryan says he thinks the band-aid method is easiest when it comes to things that are painful but I'm glad it has been a gradual process even though it has come much faster then I anticipated.

Her Favorite thing to do

Over the past couple of years she has done more and more things that have required her to be away from home a lot more and the last few weeks she has only been here a few hours a day.....I'm falling apart a little bit but I think I have kept it together fairly well. I have leaned a lot on my Heavenly Father and said a few extra prayers for my sweet girl and I'm just so glad that I know how quickly he answers a Mother's prayers and that he will help watch out for her.

Ryan was able to get the garden tilled this weekend and tonight we hope to plant a few things. We are getting so excited for another season of gardening and the bounty that comes with it.


Easter Menu Plan
It has been such a beautiful Spring.....there have been some windy days but so far mostly just beautiful perfect days. I'm starting to get a bit of a Spring cleaning itch but unfortunately it's not a very big itch. Hopefully I will get a bit of purging and cleaning done but I seem to want to just get outside.

I have been itching though to get some of my recipes perfected and really wanting to share more with you but it is just taking quite a bit of time to get them perfected just how I want.  My current creation is a mint chip ice cream.....you wouldn't think that would be very hard but I'm trying to keep it high in healthy fats and low it sweetener and still have a perfect sweetness and creamy consistency.

You see I have cut way back on the amount of sweet (even healthy whole food sweeteners) and my body seems to be happier with me. But of course I still get a few cravings once in a while and for some reason I was wanting really good mint chip ice cream.....maybe it has something to do with green and March I don't know. All I know is that no one seems to be complaining about all the different versions of mint chip they have had to eat up. It just isn't quite blog worthy yet.....but soon!



Dairy free Macaroni and Cheese



My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Chilaquilies

Tuesday:
Tacos

Wednesday:
Mac and Cheese

Thursday:
Minestrone Soup

Friday:
Good Friday Meal, An Easter Tradition

Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Chickpea Salad Sandwiches, Potato Salad, Crunchy Cabbage Salad, Carrot Butter with Fruit, Brownies (another recipe I'm working on) or maybe these Blondies, Hibiscus Lemonade Sorbet (another creation in my head) or this Berry Lemonade 

My Weekly Meal Plan


Not sure what it is but I haven't picked up my camera much at all the past few months.  I think I overdid the blogging thing for a while and since photography isn't something I'm very passionate about (although I really appreciate good photos and photo editing) it's just not really something I enjoy doing myself.

I sometimes find myself dreaming that my blog was big enough to employ a food photographer. (And a V.A. and a social media guru and a SEO pro and a designer and and and......;) But then there is the side of me doesn't want to even start to think about spending that kind of time running such a venture ...although maybe one day it could be fun. But it's just not where I want to spend such a large chunk of my time right now.

But I love sharing yummy and healthy recipes and I think recipes are just better with pictures so I need to be better and just snapping those pictures and not feel bad if they don't look professional because quite frankly......they aren't! ;)

So I guess that was my long way of saying I didn't take any pictures last week......not. a. one.

We have been enjoying the nice weather though.....that is before the crazy wind picked up. We also got some seeds planted indoors that are already growing like crazy.....we should have lots of plants to put in the ground come planting time.

Squash, cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes, and a few kinds of peppers. We wanted to get some peas and lettuces and other cold hearty things planted last week but we ran out of time.......hopefully this week.

Missy found an apartment and plans to move out in just over a week. I think I'm still in denial and feel like that was just me moving out of my parents house just the other day. I can't be as old as my parents where then, can I? ;) Not sure who is taking it harder me or Ryan......we are trying to be brave about it though.

For a long time things where mostly the same for our little fam......but as it has grown we are quickly approaching a new round of changes and firsts I pray that I will manage. Letting them go seems harder than getting them here. ;)


Lettuce Wraps
My Weekly Meal Plan:

Monday:
Chili Cheese Fries

Tuesday:
Chimmy's

Wednesday:
Artichoke Tomato Alfredo

Thursday:
Lettuce Wraps

Friday:
Quinoa Burgers

Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Taco Sundays


My Weekly Meal Plan

Simply Scheduled

My goodness last week went by really fast I can't believe it's Monday again already! I'm not ever sure what we did this week.  I think we read a lot.....Ryan finally took a sick day....cause yeah he was actually sick but in just over 24 hours he was up and running again and busy as ever.


We had another storm that brought lots of really wet snow and the kids tried again to build an igloo. They said it was great packing and put it in the backyard (on the north side) so it would last longer than a day. They almost made it to the top when it started to cave in on them.



They tried to fix it by have Charly hold it up with her back but it just didn't stay. The little ones gave up after being out there for hours and starting to soak through. Their older brother followed not too long after them.


My Sister gave us some lovely cabbage from her garden and Ryan made sauerkraut this weekend it's fermenting nicely on my counter right now.....we tried a new method with the perfect pickler you can see a picture of them on my instagram. Our last few batches of kraut have not turned out so good so we hope this method will work better for us. So far they are looking really good and nice and bubbly which they say is a good sign. ;)

This week it looks like lovely sunshiny Spring time weather. We have already enjoyed some fresh air and sunshine today and are looking forward to a week of outdoor time. We were starting to get a bit of cabin fever.



My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Quinoa Chili

Tuesday:
Taco Sundays

Wednesday:
Curried Cauliflower with Sweet Potato and Black Beans

Thursday:
Quesadillas with Quinoa Salad

Friday:
Chickpea Salad Sandwiches

Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Baked Potato Bar


My Weekly Meal Plan

Meal Planning Made Simple
I am usually very tired of Winter come the beginning of March but since January and February had more Summer/Fall like days I'm okay that it's been snowing lots this past week. It's a blessing and we need it. Matt even enjoyed building and "igloo" last week!

I am getting ready to start some seeds indoors and looking forward to planting season but if the snow promises to stay away during Spring it can keep snowing now. ;)

Last year we had a really late frost and it killed one of our peach trees and the others had to struggle to make it back. They did make a awesome come back and I just pray it doesn't do that again this year. They fair cold temps just fine unless they are budded and the sap is flowing I think once our wall is up across the back where the trees are they will fair the cold spring times better.

Ryan was busy part of last week up the mountain with business meetings. The kids and I enjoy time together mostly indoors getting over some colds.......Yep we did all get some runny noses....some worse than others.....some not much at all. Curt did cough some but not at all the "The Cough" he used to get. It's mostly been loose and I am so glad for that. He never seems to get wheezy anymore but has still had a pretty barky cough at times but not this time.....in fact it has been so loose I'm wondering if he is cleaning up old gunk.

We have really not even felt bad just a little stuffy. There are still a few sniffles around here this morning but I certainly can't complain......No fevers....no earaches......no throw-ups....no worries! ;)

By the way have you been wondering if I'm ever going to post new recipes?  I promise I have quite a few more in the works and as they are perfected I will share but for some reason there has just been a lull. I bet there are lots of fun things on here that you haven't tried yet. When it's cold outside sometimes I just like looking through my Comfort Food Section and making something that we haven't made in a while. Or this time of year with dry skin and runny noses I also like making things from my Natural Healing/Living Section.

Have a great week and don't worry there will always be more recipes!


Philly Cheese Steak

My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Chow Mein 

Tuesday:
Lentil Sloppy Joes

Wednesday: 
Taco Salad


Thursday:
Sweet Potato Soup

Friday:
Quinoa and Sweet Potato Grilled Wraps

Saturday:
Leftovers


Sunday:
Philly Cheese Steak


My Weekly Meal Plan

Mars and Venus can you see them both?
Last week was simply beautiful! It got me thinking lots about getting going on our garden....there was also daily picnics in the front yard, roller blading, bike rides, reading in the sunshine and the boys even went on a overnight scout camp on Friday.


ccamping with scouts
We have loved the amazingly beautiful weather we have had this winter and frankly we had lots more than I ever expected. It seemed as though we had moved down south by my Sister. ;) Then in the middle of the night (after being startled awake by one of my kids) Saturday I noticed that snow was falling just as predicted.

This weeks menu and lots of snow!
And has been coming down ever since! (I just took this picture a few minutes ago) Although we were very much enjoying the perfect weather we know that good snowfall (especially in the mountains) is just what we need to keep us from too severe of droughts. So all this snow is a very timely answer to our prayers.

Really I would rather have it now while it is still winter then in the Spring when everything is already planted....although that could happen too it has happened before. But if I get to choose I think now it better.

(The first two pictures Ryan took while camping with the scouts last weekend.....good thing they weren't planning to go this weekend ;)



Easy Healthy Tacos


My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Lentil Soup

Tuesday:
Tacos

Wednesday:
Yummy Potatoes

Thursday:
Hawaiian Haystacks

Friday:
Best Burritos

Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Sukiyaki

My Weekly Meal Plan


I haven't had much time for blogging lately don't worry I do have more recipes to post and other fun things I'm working on.....sorry again to be a day late. Ryan and I took advantage of the holiday weekend and had a little getaway!

Hope you all have a great week and are getting through February without the typical colds and flu. I know we have been doing great and to keep it up I took a few minutes yesterday to make another batch of Elderberry Syrup since we were out.

I really feel like Elderberry has been the added thing that just helps us keep sickness at bay. February was in the past a month that I was glad was short because it seemed the kids would always get sick and it was so cold and just made winter feel like it would never end.

This year has been different for sure as far as the weather goes.....but we have been using the elderberry syrup for a few years now and I think it helps us get through the winter months and more importantly the dreaded February. Which by the way isn't so dreaded after all! ;) I honestly don't remember the last time someone was sick in bed for more than just a few hours. It has easily been 2 years or more.


My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Taco Sundays


Tuesday:
No-Fuss Potato Soup


Wednesday:
Fettuccine Alfredo


Thursday:
Cauliflower and Curry Soup


Friday:
Stir Fry with Quinoa


Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Roasted Veggies



My Weekly Meal Plan

menu plan

Sorry I'm slow this week because I have not been home and I left my laptop at home on purpose. ;)

We went and visited our good friends over the weekend and attended their son's baptism and their other son's ordination. As usual it was way too short but so good to spend a little time with some of our dearest friends!

Then on Monday the kids and I zipped down to my Mom's to spend time with her and my Sister's and to let the kids all make Valentines and jut enjoy the day together. It was a wonderful day and I have decided that I need to make more time in my schedule for such things. It's way to easy to put off just spending some good time with those we love. It's so easy to just get caught up in busyness that doesn't really have any long term meaning.

On a fairly frequent basis I have to readjust and see where I am spending my time and see if it matches my priorities. Every time I make a list it's people who are at the top. But when I look at where I spend my time I find I'm not focusing on those people like I want to be. So then I adjust and hope that I continue to do better and learn to keep my priorities and where I spend my time congruent. I don't think I will ever regret leaving my sink full of dirty dishes to go spend extra time with those I love! ;)


Crock-Pot Sloppy Joes


My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Mexican Pizza

Tuesday:
Sweet Potato Black Bean Burger

Wednesday:
Curried Cauliflower with Sweet Potato and Black Beans


Thursday: 
Black Bean, Butternut Squash, and Bulgur Chili

Friday:
Leftovers

Saturday:
Valentine's Day Dinner


Sunday:
Lentil Sloppy Joe's

My Weekly Meal Plan

Lately our family has been working on being more intentional with our time. We have been working on having a good productive morning routine and then trying to not let too much time go by in front of a screen and actually putting effort into spending more time face to face with people.

That's hard for a family of mostly introverts but we are working at it. We actually love spending time with people just not all at once. ;) We have some sweet widows in our neighborhood that we have enjoyed spending time with and getting to know better.

One in particular we have spent quite a bit of time with the past few weeks. She has been teaching us some things and showing us how to make some yarn God's Eyes. She has such a history and we love hearing all her stories and experiences. It has been a pleasure spending time getting to know the people that live near us!

I wish I could sit down on a one-on-one basis with each of you!


My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
No-Fuss Potato Soup

Tuesday:
Sweet Potato and Mango Tacos

Wednesday:
Mac and Cheese Better Than I Remember

Thursday:
Quinoa Burgers


Friday:
Taco Sundays


Sauturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Taco Soup


My Weekly Meal Plan


I am pretty much in hibernation mode lately. I am doing lots more reading than usual and if the sun does manage to peek out for a few hours I love to take my book outside and catch some rays. (As long as it's not too cold of course!;)

Also with that I'm noticing that I haven't been taking pictures really at all. I did get the Instagram app on my phone though finally so maybe I will post there a bit more if I can remind myself.....I'm one of those people who does NOT carry my phone with me everywhere so I will have to get intentional about posting. You can Follow me on Instagram here and see how I do.

We did get out this weekend and take the family down to a homeschool conference. I think the kids had a good time and where inspired! Ry and I have gotten to where we feel like we could be teaching many of the classes....not trying to brag we are just realizing that we are not new to this anymore and are now considered "experienced" homeschoolers. We still had a great time together and did learn a few fun and interesting things.





I listened to the replay of the first Mastermind Yoga class this morning from Stay at Home Yoga. (It's not to late to start!) I am excited to go through this class again and improve my posture and work even further on resetting my bad habits and turning them into correct posture habits that come automatically. I love Jen's slow and simple approach that is totally doable!


Home made Chili Cheese Fries
My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Sukiyaki

Tuesday:
Chili Cheese Fries


Wednesday:
Stir Fry with Quinoa

Thursday:
Curried Cauliflower with Sweet Potato and Black Beans

Friday:
Roasted Roots

Saturday: 
Leftovers

Sunday:
Lentil Soup