Category: MEMES & LINK PARTIES

FOOD and FAITH FRIDAY #7 ~ JET TILA inspired Fried Rice

I’m still featuring my Mary & Martha GRACE meal prayer box on Faith and Food Friday, hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

THIS WEEK’S PRAYER: Lord make us truly thankful for these and all other blessings. I ask this in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.

JET TILA inspired Fried Rice
3 tablespoons avocado oil
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup small radish matchsticks
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
3 LARGE eggs, lightly beaten 
4 cups day-old long-grain or jasmine rice 
1 tablespoon Bragg’s liquid aminos
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar 
1/2 teaspoon powdered chicken bouillon  
3 LARGE green onions, FINELY chopped  
1/2 teaspoons white pepper, optional 

  • In a large skillet, heat the oil until a wisp of white smoke appears.
  • Add carrots, radishes and green onions. Saute 2-3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon remove veggies from pan and drain on paper toweling.
  • Add and melt 1 tablespoon of butter to pan until a wisp of white smoke appears.
  • Pour in the eggs and add the rice immediately. Using a wide silicone spatula, work the rice into the egg in circular motions, making sure not to break the grains. After about 30 seconds, the egg will start to coagulate and surround the rice, the rice will start to dry. Keep scraping the pan and folding the rice back into the middle.
  • Add the soy sauce, sugar and chicken bouillon. Continue to fold for about a minute. Don’t be afraid to scrape up the rice stuck to the bottom of the pan. Cook until the rice absorbs the liquid and egg but is STILL fluffy.
  • Fold in the carrots, radishes, peas and green onions.
  • Season to taste with white pepper and cook for an additional minute.
  • Serve immediately.

NOTE: Make this pork or chicken by adding your favorite pieces 😀

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 28 of 2021

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up
with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

I hope that you all had a safe and wonderful holiday weekend full of fun and relaxation too. Our was a quiet weekend since I was down and out Friday night and Saturday so we took it easy yesterday. With living in the country and the high risk of fires we tends to stick really close on the 4th just in case of firework mishaps.

We’re in a traditional summer pattern now which seems wonderful after last week’s excessive heat from the heat dome. We’ve also been having very pleasant ocean breezes almost daily that make things really, really nice.

I had a bad week and a pretty bad reaction Friday night and Saturday so am really watching what I eat A LOT! Breakfast is hot water and baby food puree.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’ll be doing some laundry today.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have an appointment in town on Tuesday so will be doing my errands that day also.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS Still trying to get through last week’s pile
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I did get the next couple weeks of menus and grocery lists done over the weekend.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

I’m in the middle of A Fire Sparkling by Julianne MacLean

A Fire Sparkling by [Julianne MacLean]

 

This guy won the patriotism award at our favorite tavern yesterday.

Since we back up to a country highway with tons of brush, hubby was ready for the potential of fireworks mishaps yesterday.

I still have touch ups to do, but I’m pretty happy with this week’s painting 😀 And it was appropriate for the holiday.

I’m trying some new recipes this week from some of my current favorite chefs 😀

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
SKILLET CHICKEN LASAGNA & SALAD
ANTIPASTO SALAD YUM! (Valerie Bertinelli)
SNAP PEA & BACON SALAD (Molly Yeh)
CHICKEN FRICASSEE (Arron May)
Y.O.Y.O./C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
SLICED AVOCADO & LIME SALAD (Molly Yeh)
STEAK & FRIED POTATOES
DESSERT
CHERRY PINEAPPLE CRUMBLE

  • 49er CHILI & CHILI HOT DOG CASSEROLE
  • JET TILA inspired FRIED RICE
  • RESCUE WRAPS 
  • SPICY CUCUMBER SALAD 

CHICKEN PASTA SALAD ~ FAITH and FOOD FRIDAY #6

I’m still featuring my Mary & Martha GRACE meal prayer box on Faith and Food Friday, hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

THIS WEEK’S PRAYER:

Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts which we are about to receive, from Thy bounty through Christ our Lord. Amen.

CHICKEN PASTA SALAD
2 cups dry rotini pasta
1/2 pound snap peas, trimmed and halved
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
2 cups rotisserie chicken pieces
1 LARGE shallot, small diced
1/4 cup FRESH chopper parsley
4 ounces mozzarella cheese, diced or rough grated
1 small jar marinated artichoke hearts, diced (optional)
3 tablespoons tarragon rice vinegar (or flavor of choice)
Juice of 1 LARGE lemon
1/2 cup avocado oil
1/4 cup Italian dressing
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste

  • Cook pasta according to package directions.
  • Drain and rinse with cold water. Drain well.
  • Whisk together the oil, vinegar, lemon juice, Italian dressing, mustard (if using), salt and pepper until emulsified.
  • In a large mixing bowl toss cooled pasta, snap peas, shallots, Parsley, artichoke heart pieces and chicken pieces together.
  • Pour vinegar mixture over and toss again.
  • Fold in tomatoes and cheese, tossing to coat well.
  • Chill several hours before serving.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 27 of 2021

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up
with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

I hope everyone had a great weekend. We did, but it was a hot one! Summer is obviously here with a vengeance and we all need to stay hydrated and avoid heat exhaustion.

We have some friends who are catastrophe insurance adjusters and were leaving to spend the summer in the southeast for hurricane season so I baked them some super easy, but tasty snack cakes for the road trip. These are super refreshing and easy to make snack cakes so thought I’d share the link so you can make it too. 😀 This is one of the only snacks that I don’t make from scratch 😀  PINEAPPLE ANGEL FOOD SNACK CAKE

We have been having record setting excessive heat here in the Pacific North West, especially this past weekend. Yesterday was 115!, which is VERY hot for here. It has been breaking a lot of records and stressed 🙁 a lot of refrigeration units and swamp coolers which are popular here because of the lower humidity. The restaurant we decided on last night had their compressor freeze up and had to turn the A/C off mid dinner so it was pretty miserable.

Unfortunately I had already signed up for a painting class for yesterday so I HAD to venture out in the heat 🙁 hence why we decided to eat out.

The heat is supposed to last through Thursday, so here comes July! I can’t stress enough to stay hydrated and avoid direct sun when possible! I grew up in this kind of summer heat, but it’s been many years since I’ve dealt with it on a regular basis so as I get older it seems hotter.

Hot water and black cherry yogurt.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Since I was spending the bulk of the weekend indoors I got caught up on laundry and cleaning.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I do need to get a few groceries and run a few errands this week, but have no specific plan at this point.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS  I also got most of the paperwork out of the way over the hot weekend.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m working on July’s menu plan and looking for some lighter more refreshing recipes for the summer.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • TUBI Not sure how we missed it the first time around but we watched Wyatt Earp with Kevin Costner and a whole slew of other big name celebrities. We also saw SNITCH with Dwayne Johnson and Murder By Numbers with Sandra Bullock. I also found a really old show called Sky King and watched several episodes.
  • DISNEY+ Looking forward to watching The Mysterious Benedict Society later this week.
  • CABLE Guy’s Grocery Games is back “post” COVID with a major remodel, new games and carrying over the at home version of scoring that I’m enjoying A LOT! I also finally got caught up on all the shows I missed while we were on our trip. We’ve also been watching some old Night Court episodes and 3rd Rock from the Sun.

I’m in the middle of A Fire Sparkling by Julianne MacLean

A Fire Sparkling by [Julianne MacLean]

I signed up for two painting classes this week. One was yesterday and the other will be Friday. I think they will make good companion pieces to each other. The first one is theirs and the second one is mine. I’ll re-post next week after I finish the background, the bow and finish touching up the stars as I’m not happy with any of them, but I had to leave early as the heat was really oppressive.

 

It was so hot this week that even the sunflower that thrives in the heat and sun was panting!

 
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
SANDRA’S CHILI DOG CASSEROLE with 49er CHILI
HUNGARIAN CHICKEN & SALAD
CHICKEN WRAPS & SALAD
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
Y.O.Y.O.
CHICKEN FRIED STEAK & MASHED POTATOES with ROAST CARROTS
BAKED BBQ CHICKEN & SALAD with FARMHOUSE BUTTERMILK DRESSING
DESSERT
VALERIE BERTINELLI’S CHOCOLATE MARBLE LOVE CAKE

  • CHICKEN, CORN & BLACK BEAN SALAD with BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE
  • CHICKEN PASTA SALAD
  • ASIAN KETCHUP MEATBALLS aka HOISIN MEATBALLS

FAITH and FOOD FRIDAY #5 ~ CHERRY BBQ CHICKEN THIGHS

I’m still featuring my Mary & Martha GRACE meal prayer box on Faith and Food Friday, hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

THIS WEEK’S PRAYER:

God, We thank You for this food, for rest and home and all things good, for wind and rain and sun above, but most of all for those we love. God our Father, Lord, and Savior, thank You for Your love and favor. Bless this food and drink we pray and all who share with us today. Amen.

CHERRY BBQ CHICKEN THIGHS

1/2 cup Sweet Baby Ray’s original BBQ sauce
1/2 cup Smuckers Tart Sour Cherry Jam or Orange Marmalade
garlic powder, to taste
1 tablespoon Bragg’s liquid aminos
6-8 boneless skinless chicken thighs

  • Combine jam or marmalade and BBQ sauce in a medium saucepan.
  • Whisk in liquid aminos and garlic powder to combine.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking.
  • Grill chicken on a oiled grill 4-5 minutes per side, turning to get grill marks until cooked through.
  • Brush with sauce during the last few minutes of cooking.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 26 of 2021

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up
with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

I hope everyone had a wonderful Father’s Day weekend with lots of family, fun and relaxation! Our was quiet with a couple small projects and errands. We also went for pizza (hubby’s choice) at one of our favorite restaurants.

Hello Summer! Bring on the sunshine! I know it’s hot just about everywhere, but it’s really been tolerable here with refreshing breezes – just don’t stand out in the direct sun too long!

Hot water and strawberry banana smoothie

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I got caught up on laundry yesterday
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I do need a few groceries for this week’s menu and hubby and I both have doctor’s appointments
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I have some paperwork I have to get done this week
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menus are made through the first week in July and the heat has really set in so I may reevaluate it a bit

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX Tried to watch Black Summer, but not my kind of Zombie series
  • DISNEY+ Hoping to try LOKI this week
  • TUBI We’ve been watching Petticoat Junction which were before my time, but kind of cute for a black and white sit com from the 60’s and have started HIGHLANDER with Adrian Paul 😀 We also saw SNITCH with Dwayne Johnson and an old Jerry Stiller/Anne Meara movie, A Fish in the Bathtub
  • CABLE Just catching up on cooking and baking shows

I’m between books and will be starting one of these this week. A Fire Sparkling by Julianne Maclean, The CookBook Club by Beth Harbison, Seaside Manor Bed and Breakfast by Lilly Mirren or What We Find by Robyn Carr

When we re-did the flower beds, garden beds and whiskey barrels last year we purchased all new garden soil to fill the new beds. While it can’t be explained, evidently there were calla lily bulbs ground up into the new garden soil somehow. We have NEVER planted calla lilies before, but now have them coming up like volunteers beautifully everywhere we placed the new soil 😀

The bees have been having a hey day with the pink mallow and heather especially.

The hummingbirds have been flitting about everywhere with all the flowers in bloom.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
RIBS with PINEAPPLE HABANERO GLAZE, CORN on the COB and FRIED POTATOES
TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE
HOISIN MEATBALLS and SLAW
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN and SALAD with BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE
LEMON THYME CHICKEN and FRIED POTATOES
ALFREDO MEATBALLS and CUCUMBER SALAD
DESSERT

  • CHICKEN MADEIRA
  • CHERRY BBQ CHICKEN THIGHS
  • ORANGE BEEF LETTUCE WRAPS
  • GRILLED SPICY LIME PORK CHOPS

FAITH & FOOD FRIDAY #4 ~ INSTA POT STICKY PORK LETTUCE WRAPS

I’m still featuring my Mary & Martha GRACE meal prayer box on Faith and Food Friday, hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

THIS WEEK’S PRAYER:

God, You’re great! God, You’re good! Now we thank you for our food. By your blessings we are fed. Give us, Lord, our daily bread. Amen

INSTA POT STICKY PORK LETTUCE WRAPS
PICKLED ONIONS
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup seasoned rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
FRESH ground sea salt, to taste
1 pinch of red pepper flakes
1 small red onion, halved and sliced thin

  • Bring the water, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper flakes to a boil in a small saucepan.
  • Place onions in a tempered bowl.
  • Pour vinegar mixture over onions and toss gently.
  • Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

PORK AND SAUCE
1/2 cup PACKED brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon Chinese 5 spice
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon FRESH ground ginger
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into 3-4 pieces
2 tablespoons avocado oil
2/3 cup homemade chicken broth
1/4 cup Hoisin sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons seasoned rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
1-2 tablespoons Sriracha
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Bibb Lettuce leaves
Toasted sesame seeds
1 bunch green onions, sliced diagonally

  • Whisk together 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar, ground ginger, Chinese 5 spice,
  • FRESH ginger, 1/2 of the green onions, garlic, salt and pepper in a large bowl.
  • Add pork pieces, turning to coat well.
  • Add the oil to the insta pot and set to saute’.
  • When hot, add pork pieces and brown 2 minutes per side. Remove to a plate.
  • Add broth to insta pot, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom.
  • Whisk in the Hoisin sauce, vinegar, chili sauce and Sriracha.
  • Return the pork to the pot.
  • Place lid on and set to lock. Make sure the valve is in the sealed position. Set to pressure cook on high for 45 minutes.
  • Allow pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes.
  • Turn the valve to the venting position to vent any remaining pressure.
  • Turn the insta pot off and remove lid.
  • Remove pork to cutting board and shred.
  • Set insta pot back to saute and stir in remaining brown sugar.
  • In a small bowl whisk together the cornstarch and 3-4 tablespoons of the liquid from the insta pot.
  • Pour cornstarch mixture into the insta pot and whisk until smooth, stirring and cooking 10 minutes until thickened.
  • Season to taste.
  • Return the pork pieces and stir to coat.
  • Serve on lettuce leaves with pickled onions.
  • Top with green onions and sesame seeds.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 25 of 2021

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up
with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Good morning dear friends! I feel like I’ve been gone from blogland for months instead of just days, but I’m back!

How was your weekend? We helped my mom with her garage sale for the citywide community sales. The weather was horrible on Friday – cold (50’s), windy, rainy and then great on Saturday at almost 80 and almost sunny. We had more people on Friday by far and in the end did quite well with sales. That said I have at least 3 loads of things to drop off to Salvation Army this week, but at least it’s over and mom’s house is cleaned out.

It’s supposed to cool and even a little rainy today and tomorrow and then we’re supposed to head into Father’s day weekend and the beginning of summer with a serious bang in the 80’s and 90’s.

Hot water and peach yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I was able to get caught up a bit yesterday with what I didn’t get done prepping for the sale. I got the bed changed and caught up on laundry, but I have to be honest I’m exhausted!
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have appointments Monday (pedicure), Tuesday (hair) and Wednesday (endocrinologist) mornings where I can also work in a couple errands (groceries, walmart and post office) each day and dropping off a load of Salvation Army each of those days too. Thursday we need to do a few long distance errands and I have baking to do for the Eagles dinner my friend is hosting on Friday night. She’s making French Dip sandwiches with individual Angel Food cakes topped with a strawberry & blueberry sauce.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I need to sift through a pile and get quite a few things done.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I was able to get the meal plan done for the next 10 days and have several recipes set aside to make the plan through mid July, but haven’t had the energy yet to get it done.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX Outside the Wire, Beyond Skylines, Time Trap and a couple episodes of Outlander
  • REDBOX The Marksman with Liam Neeson, The Little Things with Denzel Washington, American Traitor, the Trial of Axis Sally and The Courie
  • DISNEY+ We didn’t have a chance to get to Mandalorian this last week.
  • CABLE Most shows have finished up for the season, but Christmas in July is coming to Hallmark soon! 😀

I finished THESE TANGLED VINES by Julianne MacClean which I really enjoyed and am following it up with her THE COLOR OF DESTINY.

I hadn’t even picked up a camera this week with all the garage sale prep, but I did do a little Pinterest surfing and fell in love with this kitchen! so thought I’d share the picture with you.

And then yesterday evening there was a group of #Teenagers that showed up at the #Front door and wanted to trade new tires or $25 for #ANYTHING. They were on a #ScavengerHunt. They started with a single #Penny and had to go #DoorToDoor trading up to larger and #Odder items. Having just had a #GarageSale Friday and Saturday my car and garage were full of the #Leftovers that I need to haul off to #SalvationArmy starting today. So I told them to keep their tires and their $25 AND take whatever they wanted from the pile of donations. They took the #MudFlaps for a #Bounder #MotorHome a #ChristmasCookieJar a #Vacuum 2 #BeachChairs a #BeachUmbrella #Honda #TireChains and … have fun #FamilyChurch #YouthGroup I hope you won😉
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
SHEPHERD’S PIE & SALAD
CHERRY BBQ CHICKEN THIGHS & PASTA SALAD
KUNG PAO CHICKEN with FRIED RICE & CUCUMBER SALAD
CHICKEN, CORN & BLACK BEAN SALAD
EAGLES dinner (French Dips & Angel Food cakes with Strawberry Blueberry Sauce
BEEF & GREEN BEAN STIR FRY & FRIED RICE
HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN with SALAD & BALSAMIC DRESSING
DESSERT
ANGEL FOOD CAKES

  • SHEET PAN BAKED HAMBURGER STEAKS with MUSHROOMS AND ONIONS
  • INSTA POT STICKY PORK LETTUCE WRAPS
  • BETTY WHITE’S CHICKEN WINGS 

F3 FAITH & FOOD FRIDAY #3 ~ TEX MEX a.k.a. MEXICAN MANICOTTI ~ BEEF or CHICKEN

I’m still featuring my Mary & Martha GRACE meal prayer box on Faith and Food Friday, hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

THIS WEEK’S PRAYER:

Some days are busy- we have lots of things to do, and we might not always take a break just to stop and talk to God. But most of us still find the time to eat even when we’re very busy. Taking time to pray before our meals gives us a great opportunity to connect with God. Next time you have a really busy day, enjoy a few minutes in prayer with God before your meal.

CHICKEN MEXICAN MANICOTTI
1 box Uncooked manicotti shells
2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
1 1/2 cups salsa, divided
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup FRESH chopped parsley
1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2-1 teaspoon Frank’s hot sauce, as desired
1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Cook manicotti per package directions, al dente.
  • In a medium bowl combine the chicken pieces, 3/4 cup salsa, parsley, most of the green onions, garlic, hot sauce and ricotta cheese.
  • Spread half of the remaining salsa on the bottom of baking dish.
  • Gently fill manicotti shells with chicken mixture and layer on top of salsa in baking dish in a single layer.
  • Spread the remaining salsa on top of manicotti.
  • Cover and bake 40 minutes.
  • Uncover and sprinkle shredded Mexican cheese over top.
  • Bake 10 minutes more.
  • Garnish with remaining green onion and olives.
  • Serve with sour cream.

BEEF MEXICAN MANICOTTI
1 box Uncooked manicotti shells
2 cups browned ground beef
1 1/2 cups salsa, divided
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup FRESH chopped parsley
1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2-1 teaspoon Frank’s hot sauce, as desired
1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Cook manicotti per package directions, al dente.
  • In a medium bowl combine the chicken pieces, 3/4 cup salsa, parsley, most of the green onions, garlic, hot sauce and ricotta cheese.
  • Spread half of the remaining salsa on the bottom of baking dish.
  • Gently fill manicotti shells with chicken mixture and layer on top of salsa in baking dish in a single layer.
  • Spread the remaining salsa on top of manicotti.
  • Cover and bake 40 minutes.
  • Uncover and sprinkle Mexican cheese over top.
  • Bake 10 minutes more.
  • Garnish with remaining green onion and olives if desired.
  • Serve with sour cream.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 24 of 2021

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up
with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

This time last week we were unseasonably high in the 90’s. This week not so much and it looks like it will be on the cooler side all week with a chance of rain for the garage sale days 🙁

Hot water and black cherry yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’ve been helping my mom the past couple weeks get ready for a garage sale and last minute decided to try and get some things together for it also so have a real need to do some deep cleaning.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I need to head into town and pick up just a few groceries as I’m out of eggs and a few things and will drop off a few Amazon returns and get gas while I’m there. I also have an opthalmologist appointment on Wednesday, need to get the radiator and transmission service done on my car and blood drawn for my annual endocrinologist appoint next week as well as my mammogram on Friday morning. WHEW who planned this week? When I originally planned this week the garage sale was NEXT week and then we found out there was a city wide garage sale THIS week that the chamber of commerce is doing a digital map for so we moved it up.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I have a list of things I need to get accomplished in this category, but honestly don’t think I’ll have time to get to anything until after the garage sale next weekend.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I need to start planning the last of the month, but have been lacking in energy!

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX Finished Stargate SG1 and was hoping to watch Stargate Atlasntis, but NETLIX isn’t carrying it. We’re also finishing Season 1 of The Crew with Kevin James. We also started Sweet Tooth – looks interesting.
  • DISNEY+ Mandalorian
  • CABLE Finally caught up on everything we missed while we were traveling and am watching cooking shows now.

I’m just finishing up THESE TANGLED VINES by Julianne MacClean and will follow it up with her THE COLOR OF DESTINY.

We went to a car show on Saturday and I was really surprised at the wonderful turn out for the first local outdoor event.  There were quite a few really cool cars and some with some great signage too. But, this dog really made me laugh. So I stuck with a “dog” theme – the hot dog vendor, Hound Dog Salvage and the dog relieving himself. 😀

While cleaning out the attic and going through all of mom’s Christmas decorations we ran across these. She thought I made them, but they were made by kid brother who wants no part of them so this is the last the world will see of these macaroni ornaments.

Hubby found this cute little dragonfly hanging out in the garage and brought him outside before closing the door.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
MELISSA’S SHEPHERD PIE
POTATO TOPPED MEATLOAF
CHICKEN PASTA SALAD
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
CHICKEN, CORN & BLACK BEAN SALAD
BETTY WHITE’S CHICKEN WINGS & 2 POTATO OVEN FRIES
BEEF & GREEN BEAN STIR FRY
DESSERT
ANGEL FOOD CANDY

  • PICKLED CARROTS
  • BARNYARD PIE
  • COWBOY COOKIES
  • BAKED HAMBURGER STEAKS & ONIONS
  • LEMON CAKE with LEMON CURD FILLING, LEMON BUTTER FROSTING and CANDIED LEMON SLICES

F3 ~ FAITH & FOOD FRIDAY #2 ~ AVOCADO & PICKLED RED ONION SALAD

I decided to feature my Mary & Martha GRACE meal prayer box for the next several weeks on Faith and Food Friday, hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. These prayers just seemed apropos for the topic 😀

This week’s prayer:

In a world where so many are hungry, May we eat this food with humble hearts; In a world where so many are lonely, May we share this friendship with joyful hearts. Amen

AVOCADO & PICKLED RED ONION SALAD
2 RIPE avocados, sliced
1 LARGE beefsteak tomato, sliced thick
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced 
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped 
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar 
1 LARGE lime, juiced 

  • Pour apple cider vinegar over the onion slices and set aside for 15-30 minutes while you prep the remaining ingredients.
  • Make a single layer of tomatoes on the serving platter.
  • Generously season with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Place the avocado slices on top of tomatoes.
  • Evenly pour lime juice over avocado slices and generously season with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Drain onion slices of excess vinegar and arrange over avocados.
  • Garnish with chopped cilantro and lime slices.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 23 of 2021

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up
with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

I hope you have had a great weekend so far. Being military, Memorial day is quite somber for us as hubby becomes quite affected by having lost friends while he was in country.

There has been quite a bit of discussion on the significance of Memorial Day recently. This meme spells it out quite well.

We did have a couple nice lunches out and did some antiquing yesterday. I kept meals simple and was able to score a fantastic watermelon for the warmer weather we’re having.

It is supposed to be in the 90’s here the next couple days (pretty unusual for the Pacific north west in May) and then cool back down to our more normal 70’s for a few days before heading back towards the 80’s.

I’ve been helping my mom get ready for a garage sale father’s day weekend and we have been cleaning out attics, sheds etc… so it’s been hot, dusty, musty and sweltering at times getting things down and out for her to sort through. 

So far it has been quite productive!! with many boxes of 20-30 year old files to go to the shredder, several bags going to e-waste, the trash barrel and recycling almost full (the trash man just came Friday 😀 ), but we’ll make it work. Whatever is left is getting priced and what doesn’t sell will get donated 🙂

Hot water and peach yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Laundry is caught up and everything is pretty tidy, but need to pull out some summer clothes. Also, please tell me why it is that ALL my favorite blouses need ironing and are in the ironing pile all at once??
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS No grocery shopping today since it’s a holiday, but I will head into town tomorrow for a Walmart run and groceries.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS still working on a stack of paperwork, but hope to make some serious headway this week.
  • PROJECTS, CRAFTS & PAINTINGS I have been restoring an old hope chest. Hubby sanded it down for me, uncovering 3 coats of paint (white, black and yellow) and a layer of contact paper on the outside before reaching wood. 😀 Fortunately, they never marred the inside and the cedar is in pristine condition. I did oil the inside with orange oil and have relined the cubbies with new felt on the swing shelf. Unfortunately, I forgot to take before pictures! I painted it with a primer coat followed by a coat of the same candy apple red I had left from when I painted the last chest and then 3 coats of the Milano Teal blue.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I have made the menu plan through mid June and am researching a few celebrity recipes (Molly Yeh and Valerie Bertinelli) for later in June.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX Finish season 10 STARGATE SG1, Army of the Dead, Looking forward to Sweet Tooth that begins on the 4th
  • DISNEY+ Mandalorian
  • CABLE All caught up on what we missed while we we’re gone and now we’ll reevaluate all the streaming services

I finished Jana DeLeon’s Frightfully Fortune. I’ve been so tired by the time I go to bed at night lately I have hardly been reading at all 🙁 though I have several titles in que to begin, just not sure which I’ll read first 😀

  • The Lost and Found Book Shop by Brenda Novak
  • While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky

I wish I’d remembered to take before pictures, but I didn’t 🙁 The first box here I found in an antique store for $10. It was painted in the ugliest black and duck tole pattern, but I loved the shape and feel of the box. When I opened the box though I saw the most beautiful wood on the inside so I took a chance and bought it. Hubby sanded it for me and we found a nicely made box with pegwork and dovetails. After 2 coats of English Chestnut stain this is what I have 😀

In a nearby antique store on the same trip I found an OLD cedar hope chest that had been painted white, yellow and black at different times as you can see from the side of the drawer that still needs repair and hubby is working on fixing it before he sands it. I’m also going to add a knob of some sort to the drawer as it is hard to open. At first when the entire thing was white you couldn’t even tell there was a drawer there. 😀

I was able to pick it up for $60! which was an awesome deal.  With the new lock, paint and repairs we still have less than $100 in it. Most of it has been elbow grease 😀

It is difficult to find the right depths of wood cuts sometimes and he has become a champ at modifying new pieces to fit 😀 Our bedroom is done in teal and gray so I am absolutely LOVING this Milano Teal blue color (though the picture makes it look more robin egg’s blue) on this chest. It will be used solely as a blanket chest.

The inside was in beautiful condition and with a little new orange oil looks like new!

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
BBQ PORK TENDERLOINS
CHICKEN in HERB SAUCE & BALSAMIC CARROTS
BBQ PORK SANDWICHES & COLESLAW
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
LONDON BROIL NIGHT @ the EAGLES
BARNYARD BREAKFAST PIE HAMBURGER STEAKS & TATER TOTS
Y.O.Y.O.
DESSERT
CHOCOLATE CHIP SCONES and LEMON CAKE

  • AVOCADO & PICKLED RED PEPPER SALAD
  • PORK SCHNITZEL
  • GERMAN BRAISED RED CABBAGE