Menu Planning Monday

This past month has been filled with a house full of sick kids and very little time for anything else. You can read about it below. This is what is on the menu this week.

Breakfast~
oatmeal raisin scones, happy honey bee tea
pineapple protein smoothie, 12 grain toast
pouched egg on English muffin, orange slices
granola & yogurt parfaits, whole wheat toast
steel cut oats with walnuts & figs, whole wheat toast
12 grain toast with cream cheese & strawberry slices, peppermint tea
gingerbread, applesauce, hot tea

Lunch~
broiled tomato slices with mozarella, apple slices
baked potatoes with chili topping, salad
multi grain waffles with bananas
peanut butter & jelly, celery & carrot sticks
pea & feta egg cups, salad
grilled cheese, tomato basil soup
leftover pork roast with saurkraut

Dinner~
Venison strips, mashed potatoes & gravy, peas
macaroni & cheese with broccoli, salad
pork roast with potatoes, carrots, & pearl onions
eggplant parmasan, garden salad, garlic toast
salmon sliders, cinnamon roasted butternut squash
shepherd's pie, steamed broccoli
sun dried tomato, mushroom & cheese pizza, garden salad

Have a brilliantly blessed week!

We May Be Down But a Rebirth is Around the Corner

This month has been very trying and tiring. Beginning January 30 the health of this household has spiraled down, down, down. The flu was going around at church and Collin (age12) was the first to catch the "little buggers" and bring them home.  Then on the 8th we received a phone call from our youngest daughter - our only grand daughter was in the hospital in ICU with RSV (a respiratory infection that can kill babies). Emma is 15 months old. Her son Baylyn (age8) would come stay with us  - he has the flu. 

The following week Joseph (age8) came down with the flu and ended up in the emergency room - he has infection in both of his ears. Nobody is sleeping. It's the second week in February and Emma is  finally getting better and might get to go home in the morning. Then Ashley calls in the morning the baby is running high fever again and they are icing her down. She's back on oxygen and having problems breathing. After testing she has contracted the flu while in the hospital. No one is sleeping. February 13 my head is killing me and I can hardly drag myself out of bed. But there is a silver lining here - really. We have been having large amounts of snow and below wind chills so hubby wasn't able to work. Normally we would look at this as a bad thing - no work means no money right?

Just so happens we has our taxes done the last week in January - early for us - our refund has been a great relief. The Lord knows what we need and when we need it. Hubby is at home while I spend the next two days in bed, however, being a mom once I am able to gain my bearings I'm up and about. Collin is back to normal so we sent him over to stay with mom so he doesn't get sick again. Baylyn is croopy but feeling better. Emma is on the mend. Joseph is still in the bed.

The week end of the third week Emma gets to go home and Baylyn is right as rain amd missing his mom and little sister - so he gets to go home. Joseph is feeling better and I'm still dragging around feeling one day good, two days bad. Hubby has gone back to work. I know but I just can't land yet. Kody is running fever (age14) so he comes home from mom's, it is the 23rd. He's down but this week he's getting better. During the day mom has Joseph and Collin with her and I take naps off an on during the day . I never knew I could sleep so much. I don't know if its the flu or I'm just plain bone tired.

We've purchased a ton of meds and made pots & pots of chicken soup, chicken & noodles, and drank gallons orange juice. Today is February 27 and the boys have been asking about school. The snow is gone like it never existed and the weather is in the 60's next week the 70's. We Missed Candlemas, Valentine's Day, Church and Rangers, and the boys a weekend camp out. But we're looking forward to  St. Patrick's Day dinner, the first day of spring, and Baylyn, Emma and my birthday party dinner.  We are truly looking forward to this years rebirth. Oh, as usual hubby has yet to show a sign of anything!

Snow Day

(Photo from last January 2010)


Today we woke up to a revolution of snow,

its white flag waving over everything,

the landscape vanished,

not a single mouse to punctuate the blankness,

and beyond these windows

the government buildings smothered,

schools and libraries buried, the post office lost

under the noiseless drift,

the paths of trains softly blocked,

the world fallen under this falling.

In a while I will put on some boots

and step out like someone walking in water,

and the dog will porpoise through the drifts,

and I will shake a laden branch,

sending a cold shower down on us both.

But for now I am a willing prisoner in this house,

a sympathizer with the anarchic cause of snow.

I will make a pot of tea

and listen to the plastic radio on the counter,

as glad as anyone to hear the news

that the Kiddie Corner School is closed,

the Ding-Dong School, closed,

the All Aboard Children's School, closed,

the Hi-Ho Nursery School, closed,

along with -- some will be delighted to hear --

the Toadstool School, the Little School,

Little Sparrows Nursery School,

Little Stars Pre-School, Peas-and-Carrots Day School,

the Tom Thumb Child Center, all closed,

and -- clap your hands -- the Peanuts Play School.

So this is where the children hide all day,

These are the nests where they letter and draw,

where they put on their bright miniature jackets,

all darting and climbing and sliding,

all but the few girls whispering by the fence.

And now I am listening hard

in the grandiose silence of the snow,

trying to hear what those three girls are plotting,

what riot is afoot,

which small queen is about to be brought down.

~Billy Collins~

Green Chili Stew

Here is a warming recipe for dinner after a cold day outside, Green Chili Stew served over polenta with mixed greens salad and baked apples. I have had the guys around here squabble over who is getting the last serving of this stuff.

Green Chili Stew

2-3 lb. pork loin
all purpose or brown rice flour for dusting
coconut oil for browning
salt and pepper to taste

1 teaspoon onion powder
2 cans of diced green chili peppers
3 teaspoon dried minced garlic
water to cover

1/3 cup all purpose or brown rice flour

Cut pork roast into 1-inch pieces. Mix the flour, onion powder, salt, pepper and dredge the meat to cover. Heat the oil in a large pot and brown the meat. Add 2 cans of diced chili peppers and minced garlic. Add water to cover. Cook in the oven at 350 degrees for three hours. Remove from the oven  whisk in the 1/3 cup of brown rice flour and return to the oven for 15 minutes to thicken the broth.

You can also add 1 can of drained yellow hominy or 2 cups of frozen corn.

Mom's Sour Cream Apple Pie

My mother has been making this pie my entire life for every special occasion and by request. It is my yummy favorite. It is simple and delightfully delicious.

Mom's Sour Cream Apple Pie

2 tablespoons all purpose flour
3/4 cup organic sugar
1 egg, beaten well
1 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups peeled, grated Granny Smith apples
pinch of salt

9 inch pie crust

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix all ingredients together except apples. Mix well, then add the apples. Put into an unbaked pie crust and bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees.  Mix a crumb topping  made of  4 Tablespoons sorghum flour, 4 Tablespoons organic sugar and 2 Tablespoon organic butter. Remove pie from oven after the 15 minutes and sprinkle the topping on top of the pie and bake for another 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool completely before serving.

Tofu House Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are hubby's favorite cookie.


1 cup unsalted non dairy margarine
1 cup organic sugar
2 Tablespoons molasses
4 Tablespoons firm tofu, pureed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 unbleached all purpose flour
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 ounces (2 cups) vegan chocolate chips

Preaheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream the margarine, sugar and molasses with electric beaters until light and fluffy. Add tofu puree and vanilla; beat for 1 minute more.

Mix flours, soda and salt in a small bowl.Add to creamed mixture and mix at low speed with the  electric mixture, blending in all flour. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Drop by the rounded teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 8 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Approx. 6 dozen cookies.

Oatmeal Applesauce Muffins

1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 1/4 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup applesauce
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 Tablespoons canola oil

Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl. Mix together the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. In a medium bowl, combine the brown sugar, applesauce, milk, vanilla extract, canola oil, and egg. Add to the flour mixture and stir just until the dry ingredients are moistened.  Fill the muffin tins.  Bake for 20 minutes or until a teaster comes out clean. Makes 12 muffins.