Menu Monday/ Mother's Day

Menu Monday

Monday~  Looks like summer colds/allergies are affecting #2 son and manly man this morning.  I KNOW #2 will request Hot and Sour Soup to help him 'feel' better.  Maybe I should make some Smoked Turkey Noddle Soup as well.

Tuesday~  Salmon Burgers on homemade buns, french fries, cole slaw

Wednesday~  Chicken Fried Rice with lots of vegetables, spring rolls. 

Thursday~  Vertical Roasted chicken on the barbecue, Spaghetti Salad

Friday~  Manly Man turns 42 today!  We want to go see Iron Man 2...not sure what the meal request will be but he always requests German Chocolate Cake.  I like making German Chocolate cupcakes.

Saturday~  spaghetti squash with chorizo, parmesan zucchini, sliced tomato

Sunday~  Taco's (hard shell) Fish Taco's in corn tortilla's, fresh salsa, fresh chips, homemade guacamole

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I enjoyed a wonderful drive yesterday, together with my family.  This is the neighborhood of the church in Astoria (Queens), New York that we attended yesterday.  We were blessed and refreshed by the church and the preaching.  After church we drove east and searched for a place to eat lunch and ended up at T.G.I Fridays (not my favorite!)  We were all so hungry we just went to the first place we came to.  We joked that we would see about 15 nicer places to go after we left that restaurant.  Almost right next door was a Cheesecake Factory restaurant!

This is a good representation of what we saw the most of.  I was expecting more of a rural area covered in farms.  There were a few farms.  If we had more time, it would be worth it to spend more time exploring the sights.  Traffic eats up so much time around here.  A simple drive of 50 miles may take two hours!  It was also very cold and very windy yesterday.  We didn't venture out to walk on beaches or do any hiking as we were all still dressed for church.

(farm ground)

(that's an airport for those of you who know my husband well...you will understand why we stopped there!)

(Pretty scenery.)

(these pictures do not do the water color justice.  It was such a pretty turquoise blue!)

(Montauk Point Lighthouse)

Beautiful Scenery

(Wisteria vines are in full bloom all over this area.  They are so pretty trained as patio covers.  I also saw some growing on the roof of a restaurant.)

That's all for now.  I pray all the Mother's had a great Mother's Day like I did.

~~Have a great day!~~

 

Flasback Friday

 

#1 son!

(My two guys are both on the right.  The fabulous flowers are arranged by betheelou!)

Have a great weekend! 

It's Thursday!

 

Outside My Window~  Looks like it's going to be a good day.  I think the fire pit is calling for hotdogs and marshmallows.

 I Am Thankful For~    Protection. Wisdom. Answered prayers. 

I Am Wearing~  A purple robe, my nightshirt...bare toes.  Will be changing soon to a pair of capri's and a short sleeve tee and my tennis shoes.

  On my Prayer List~  The safety of my husband.  He has been busy this week working here and here.

I Am Creating~ Nothing is going on today.  I made some more watches over the weekend, gold with black and a bright blue one.  Bought some batteries for other watches.  Sent the package to my Mom.  I need to have pictures made and purchase photo albums for that photo project.

 I Am Enjoying~ sealedbygrace has been reading and recommending The Mitford Series.  I finally succumbed to the recommendation.  I am almost done with the first book.  I LOVE IT!!

 

From The Kitchen~ Meatloeaf and macaroni and cheese...yummy.

 From The Learning Room~  Lots of review.  Some new reading practice books.  (They are books that came with his curriculum.  the I Can Read and I Do Read series.)  Not too much left.  About three days of papers left!

   I am looking forward to~  My husband has all hands training coming up (May 17th-21) in which we will be allowed to go with him.  We wont attend the training but we will be hanging out relaxing.  I am sooo looking forward to this!!

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Leaving You With~  I am so thankful for the children God gave me.  I can't imagine my life without them.  I wouldn't turn down any more babies even though I am creeping into my 40's.  There is just something totally delicious about newborn babies...yum!  I was walking around my house this morning and chuckling to myself.  Even as I write this I am listening to thumping, jumping and war play from my 7 year old!

“A little boy is the only thing God can use to make a man.”

~Unknown

"Boys are beyond the range of anybody’s sure understanding, at least when they are between the ages of 18 months and 90 years."

~ James Thurber, writer

 

"There is an enduring tenderness in the love of a mother to a son that transcends all other affections of the heart."

~Washington Irving , writer

Little Boys are Treasures

Little boys are treasures
Who are worth their weight in gold
And charm everyone around them
From the time they're hours old.

They're Mommy's little darling,
They're a special pal to Dad,
And they bring the very happiest days
A family's ever had!

My Son

Sticky fingers,
dirty face,
Rugs and pillows
out of place,

Cars and tractors
here and there,
Blocks and boats
everywhere,

Gold and silver
have I none,
But worth a million
is my Son.

Why God Made Little Boys

God made a world out of His dreams,
of magic mountains, oceans and streams,
Prairies and plains and wooded land.
Then paused and thought
I need someone to stand, on top of the mountains,
to conquer the seas, explore the plains
and climb the trees.
Someone to start out small and grow,
sturdy and strong like a tree and so
He created boys, full of spirit and fun
To explore and conquer, to romp and run
With dirty faces, and banged up chins
With courageous hearts and boyish grins.
And when He had completed the task He'd begun,
He surely said, "That's a job well done."

The Mother of Boys

Praise to the High One for giving me joys
Peculiarly sweet, I'm the mother of boys!
Mud puddles, torn blue jeans, toads, whistles and worms.
The furred and feathered and whatever squirms.

Black knuckles, bats, arrows and thundering noise.
They're all in a day for the mothers of boys.
But, ah, 'tis a dear joy to turn the blue eyes
To the manifold wonder of earth, sea and skies.

And, ah, 'tis a dear joy to watch a small hand seize
The hand of God in the knowledge of these.
Spare me, oh High One, to praise Thee more when
This mother of boys is the mother of men.

Have a great day friends!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

 

PRETTY!

I'm not sure why, but my Christmas cactus decided to bloom.  Just one really beautiful flower in a hot pink color.  This is the first time in eight years it's bloomed.  I think it means it's feeling pretty good.

 

Tea Lady

Menu On Tuesday... with Recipes!

 

Monday~  Ate out of a fridge full of leftovers!

Tuesday~  Apple Sausages, Fried Apples, onion roasted potatoes, garlic snow peas, cottage cheese and fruit

Wednesday~  Alfredo Lasagna Roll Ups, Green Salad, Rosemary Bread, Dessert (Making double batch to take to a needy family at church tomorrow night)

Thursday~  Meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, broccoli, fruit ambrosia salad

Friday~  Hawaiian chicken, rice a roni wilted spinach salad

Saturday~  Spaghetti squash with chorizo, sliced tomatoes

Sunday~  Mother's Day!  We are spending the day TOTALLY away from home.  Going to the city to attend church here and taking a drive on Long Island, NY.

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Broccoli Salad

1 head cauliflower, washed, drained, dry,sperate into small florets

1 head broccoli, washed, drained, dry, separated into small florets

1/2 C chopped red onion

1 cup raisins

1/2-1 C roasted sunflower seeds

Mix these ingredients together in large bowl.  Set aside.  (may omit cauliflower if desired.  Made according to this recipe it makes a huge amount.  Good for potlucks)

**DRESSING

1 C mayonnaise

1/2 oil

1/3 C vinegar

1/2 sugar

In small bowl whisk to together ingredients for the dressing.  Add to broccoli mix in large bowl.  Toss to coat.  Refridgerate until serving.  Toss before serving.

Oriental Salad

6 T. butter

2 package Ramen style soup, crushed, seasonings set aside for dressing

1/8-1/4 C sesame seeds

5 1/2 oz. slivered almonds

1 head very green cabbage, shredded (such as Napa Cabbage)

4-5 green onions, sliced fine

**Dressing

3/4 C oil

3/8 C. vinegar

2 T soy sauce

2/3 C sugar

1-2 seasonings packets from the noodles you toasted

Melt butter in medium non stick skillet.  Add broken noodles, almonds and sesame seeds.  Toast on medium heat until golden.  (Watch carefully, will turn fast!)  Set aside pan to cool.  Meanwhile, add shredded cabbage to large bowl with green onions.  Toss.  Set aside.  Meanwhile in sperate small bowl mix together sauce ingredients.  Combine all ingredients together.  Let stand about 10 minutes before serving.  This salad wilts down like cole slaw upon standing.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

2 1/2 C finely chopped graham cracker crumbs

1 C chunky peanut butter

1 C butter, melted

2 3/4 C powdered sugar

1 package semi sweet chocolate morsels

In medium bowl stir together, cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, peanut butter and melted butter.  Combine well.  Press into a 9X13 pan.  Melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler.  Spread melted chocolate over the top of cracker mixture.  Cover 9X13 pan with plastic wrap.  Chill until firmly set.  Cut before serving.  Store chilled.

**TASTES LIKE A RECEES PEANUT BUTTER CUP!!

Hamburger Buns

4- 4 1/2 cups flour (I use 1/2 whole wheat and 1/2 unbleached white)

1 package active dry yeast

1 C milk

1/3 C sugar

1/3 C butter

1 t salt

2 eggs

In large bowl, combine 2 cups of the flour and the yeast.  In medium saucepan heat milk and butter till just warm (115 degrees) and butter is almost melted; stir constantly.  Add to flour mixture.  Add eggs.  Beat at low speed with electric mixer for 1/2 minute, scraping sides of bowl constantly.  Then beat 3 minutes at high speed.  Stir in as much remaining flour as you can mix in with wooden spoon.  Turn out to floured surface.  Knead in enough remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic.  (6-8 minutes total)  Shape into a ball.  Place in large greased bowl.  Cover with plastic wrap.  Place in warm area.  Let rise until double in size. (about 1 hour)

Punch down.  Divide dough into 12 equal portions.  Cover.  Let rest 10 minutes.  Shape in portion into a circle, folding edges under.  Press flat between hands.  Place dough onto greased baking sheet.  Cover.  Let rise until nearly double. (30 minutes)  Bake in a 375 degree oven for 12-15 minutes or until golden.  Remove buns to cooling rack.  Let cool.

***For onion topping...

I also added about 1/8 C. finely minced onion to the tops.  I minced the onion then put it in a dry nonstick skillet to cook on low heat about 2 minutes.  I removed the onions from the pan and let them set on the counter in a bowl until I was ready to use them, about 2 hours. I sprayed the top of the rolls with non stick spray and sprinkled on the onions and baked according to the recipe.

 

Super Sunday

 

I promised a certain young man I would do this post...last Sunday, it totally slipped my mind.  I know of a certain young lady who will enjoy these pictures!

Last Saturday #1 son was enlisted to help Mom's yard become beautiful.  We have some rotten wood that needed splitting and the wood pile also needed neatening up.  Got all that done... and I snapped a few pictures to memorialize the moment.

#2 son and I enjoyed some relaxing days this week soaking in our vitamin D supply.  We took a picnic outside Friday for our lunch; crackers and cheese with veggies, dip and ice cold lemonade.

This is the happy face that greets me most every morning.  Always cheerful and ready to cuddle.  I could lean a thing or two from his disposition. 

 

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!