HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENUS week 42 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.289

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 week is supposed to be absolutely gorgeous with sunny mid 60’s to 70’s days after today’s rain is over. But, this is the Pacific North West and that could change by tomorrow 😀

There is so much going on around here and with family, but some of it I’m still processing.

On the Eagles front I was put in charge of a committee for an auxiliary event (the Ducks against the Beavers college game aka THE CIVIL WAR and it’s taken VERY serious around here) on the day after Thanksgiving and I love my committee members and what we are planning.

BUT, yet “that” woman started yesterday in trying to micromanage it all. :SIGH: Just when you think it’s safe to be positive again… Fortunately, I have a wonderful crew and we have a fun menu planned along with games and snacks.

Hot water and peach yogurt 😀 YUMMY insert sarcasm here

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have a couple loads of laundry to do, but am pretty well caught up otherwise.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Just a few groceries this week for here, but I am filling in for another woman on Tuesday at the Eagles and need to pick up some things for that meal.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I made great strides over the weekend on this category. I’m also almost caught up with my backlog of recipes that will catch me up on BLOG 365. I’ve been working on BLOGMAS 2023 and I’m also working on a new look for Happy Homemaker Monday in 2024. I’ve also been putting together a list of recipes to make for a Charcuterie Board contest on New Year’s Eve – I’ve signed up for a dessert board.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menu is done through this week, but I need to start thinking about November also

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • We’re finishing up the LARAMIE binge watching. We’ve also started season 2 of Shining Vale. I need to finish catching up on When Calls the Heart and Halloween cooking shows.

I’m finishing Heather Webber’s At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities and will be moving on to UnderTow by Jana DeLeon

10/16 MONDAY
10/17 TUESDAY
19/18 WEDNESDAY
10/19 THURSDAY
10/20 FRIDAY
10/21 SATURDAY
10/22 SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
LUNCH
 DIANA BURGERS
TACO TUESDAY
NELLIES
 ??
 ??
 ??
BLT’S
DINNER
 POTATO LASAGNA & SALAD
YOYO working at the EAGLES
 WHITE CHICKEN CHILI & CHEDDAR ROLLS
 ALMOND CHICKEN with APRICOT SAUCE & RICE
 DINNER with FRIENDS
 OUT with FRIENDS TIMBERWOLF
 CHEESEBURGER SOUP & BUTTER BISCUITS
DESSERT
 
CHERRY PEACH PIE BARS
 

Hubby and I took a play day on Saturday and did some antiquing, picked up a special order and had a yummy dinner out. One of the places we stopped at was 5th St. market and they have a really neat truck that they decorate for the seasons.

There was a fun coffee house that did this fun display for Breast Cancer Awareness month.

The sprinklers have been off for a few weeks now, but yet the mushrooms grow.

AUTUMN CASSOULET ~ COOKING THURSDAY ~ BLOG 365.285

Is it a soup or is it a stew? The French call it a casserole. Whatever you call it, it is a hearty warm dish for a cool fall evening!

AUTUMN CASSOULET

3 tablespoons butter or avocado oil
1 pound beef kielbasa, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 pound stew meat (or pork pieces, or chicken – it’s up to you)
1 small red onion, diced
2 medium carrots, small diced
2 cloves garlic, FINELY minced
2 cans petite diced tomatoes
2 cups homemade chicken bone broth
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
2 cans navy beans, drained and rinsed

  • Melt butter in saute pan.
  • Add onions and carrots. Simmer 3-5 minutes.
  • Generously season with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper and add garlic.
  • Add stew meat and kielbasa pieces, stirring well and simmering another 5 minutes or until meat is cooked through.
  • Add chicken broth, beans and tomatoes with juice. Simmer 10-15 minutes until heated through.
  • Serve over mashed potatoes or as a soupy stew.

NOTE: If you prefer a thicker stew like consistency, use a 3rd can of beans, but drain them well and run them through a food processor with a 1/4 cup of the broth making a paste. Add this paste along with the beans and tomatoes.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY & MENU week 41 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.282

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

We had a pretty weekend, but it’s finally time for FALL to really kick in around here. I FINALLY get a chance to wear my new flannels this week.

I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to get around to visiting much last week. Things came up that had to be dealt with and then my car ended up in the shop… well you know how those weeks go. This week is starting off a bit busy, but should settle down well by midweek.

I’m looking forward to the rainy days this week and being able to catch up on some book work and blog posts as well as lots of visiting with you all. 😀

Hot Water and yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I finally got all the bed linens freshly laundered and changed over for fall.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Hubby has a POWER RED blood donation appointment that I’ll drop him off for and I’ll get gas and a few groceries while he’s there. We’re hoping to pick up my car after that if it’s ready. We had taken it in last Thursday, but they couldn’t finish it before the weekend. I also have an Eagles meeting tomorrow night.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I was able to get quite a bit accomplished over the weekend and will continue working on it during our rainy days this week.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’ve been revising my menu plans a bit as the weather is cooling down and my flavor palette has changed accordingly.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • Since there’s no real fall line-up yet, we’re binge watching old series shows we’ve never seen before and I’m catching up on Hallmark movies and cooking shows. We did watch a couple episodes of NBC’s new show IRRATIONAL and am liking it.

I’m still only about half way through Heather Webber’s At The Coffee Shop of Curiosities.

10/9 MONDAY
10/10 TUESDAY
10/11 WEDNESDAY
10/12 THURSDAY
10/13 FRIDAY
10/14 SATURDAY
10/15 SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
LUNCH
 ??
??
??
??
??
??
??
DINNER
SALISBURY STEAK & SWISS POTATO BAKE
 CREAM OF CAULIFLOWER SOUP & CHEDDAR BISCUITS
 MARSALA PORK CHOPS with  CRANBERRY RICE
 APPLE CIDER CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS
 PORK TENDERLOIN with SUN DRIED TOMATO SAUCE
 YOYO YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN or CLEAN OUT THE REFRIGERATOR
 ASIAN CHICKEN THIGHS & HEARTY RICE CASSEROLE
DESSERT
 PIE BARS
 

It’s FINALLY fall around here and I LOVE it!

TIMELESS CLASSIC SUGAR COOKIES ~ BLOG 365.278

TIMELESS CLASSIC SUGAR COOKIES
4 cups sifted flour (sift first, measure second)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened
1 1/2 cups extra fine sugar
2 LARGE eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons PURE vanilla

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Lightly grease baking sheets.
  • Sift together the pre-sfited flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy.
  • Add eggs and vanilla, beating well.
  • Stir in one third of the flour mixture until incorporated and repeat two more times until you have a smooth stiff dough.
  • Dust wax paper with powdered sugar.
  • Roll out a portion of dough until 1/4 inch thick.
  • Cut out cookies as desired and place on baking sheet.
  • Bake 10 minutes until cookies are firm and golden brown.
  • Allow to cool COMPLETELY before icing or decorating.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENUS week 40 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.275

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

The weather has been absolutely glorious lately. this week is supposed to be in the 60’s and then the 80’s for 2 days before dropping back into the 60’s. Night time lows are in the low 40’s so all is good by me.

This is a confusing category for me these days. SO much on my mind – much of which I have spilled out on the past few previous Mondays, but also some I’m just not sure about yet…

A couple of sips of coffee and a yogurt.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’m pretty up to date on most things.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I finally did a major grocery run and got caught up on errands. I do have a pedicure this week and a couple small errands I’ll do on that same day while I’m in town.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS No travels planned, but a few Eagles projects crept up yesterday that require work today :SIGH: it’s a never ending list there. I got through a bit of paperwork and will finish the rest later this week. I do have an after event meeting today for the Eagle’s conference so we’ll see how that goes.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menu is planned through the end of the month and in flux after that.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • We’ve been watching old Laramie reruns. I’d never even heard of it before 😀 We’re caught up on football and Nascar and most old cooking shows, but I need to catch up on holiday (Halloween) shows.

I’m about half way through Heather Webber’s At The Coffee Shop of Curiosities.

10/2 MONDAY
10/3 TUESDAY
10/4 WEDNESDAY
10/5 THURSDAY
10/6 FUN FRIDAY
10/7 SATURDAY
10/8 SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LUNCH
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DINNER
CHILI STUFFED JACKET POTATOES
CHICKEN WALDORF SALAD
TEX MEX RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE
GRILLED STEAKS & POTATOES
GRILLED RUM PINEAPPLE CHICKEN & CARAMELIZED PINEAPPLE
CHICKEN WINGS & POTATO SALAD
ALMOND CHICKEN with APRICOT SAUCE
DESSERT
 
 BLACKBERRY PIE PARS

I’ve been house/cat sitting for my neighbor and Kit Kat won’t let me leave without making sure she’s had treats.

I haven’t been taking many pictures other than food, but did capture this skyline a couple days ago that really makes me glad fall is here and the rain is back!