Menu Plan Monday, May 13th to 19th

 

 

It's that time of the week again, Menu Plan Monday.  I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day.  My day was filled with homemade cards and goodies from my kids.  I love the homemade cards, they are worth so much more to me than a store bought card.

 

This past week has been a pretty rough week around here as we have been passing a virus bug around the house, so a few of our meals got skipped.  I ended up making some homemade chicken noodle soup because we all know that you can't get better unless you eat chicken noodle soup.  I am trying to incorporate more real food into our diet, if you look at some of my menu items you may wonder how I can make that statement but we are working on it.  It's hard to break old habits and change your eating practices all at once so we are doing baby steps around here.  To make our homemade chicken noodle soup I turned to the Chicken Noodle Soup recipe from 100 Days of Real Food.  For those of you who know I don't like to follow instructions I will have you know that I followed the recipe 100% for the soup.  I started off on Saturday night by cooking the chicken in the crockpot, and then making the stock overnight in the crockpot.  We didn't eat the chicken on Saturday night so I just pulled it off the bone and put it in the fridge for use later.  Then on Sunday I made the chicken noodle soup adding in half of the cooked chicken and then I am using the rest of the chicken for our chicken pot pie this week.  I will also be using the extra chicken stock in that recipe as well.  It was a super easy to follow recipe and the whole family loved it.



 

This will be another busy week followed by the Little Man's 10th birthday party this Sunday.  We will be having to eat out again a couple of times this week, even though I am not too happy about it. 

 

Here's what I have planned for this week:

links to recipes are in red

 

Monday

Lunch: Slow Cooker Refried Beans, Pretzels, Crockpot Applesauce

Dinner:  Italian Vegetable Soup

 

Tuesday

Lunch:  Beef and Bean Burritos (skipped last week, recipe coming soon)

Dinner:  Chicken Pot Pie

 

Wednesday

Lunch:  Pork Chop Suey (also skipped from last week)

Dinner:  Eating Out

 

Thursday

Lunch:  Beef Fajitas, Slow Cooker Refried Beans

Dinner:  Potato Soup

 

Friday

Brunch:  Pumpkin Oatmeal

Dinner:  Salmon Cakes I will be using this recipe this week instead of my recipe to see what the difference in taste is  (skipped last week), Crashed Potatoes (recipe coming soon), Garlicky Mushrooms and Kale

 

Saturday

Brunch:  Pumpkin Pancakes (because I have some pumpkin puree to use up)

Dinner:  Eating Out

 

Sunday

 Pulled Barbecue Chicken (Recipe Coming Soon)
Slow Cooker Baked Beans (Will share this recipe soon as well)
Homemade Potato Salad
Garlicky Mushrooms and Kale
My Grandmother's Green Beans
Stewed Tomatoes
Bacon Deviled Eggs
Cooked Apples
Sweet Peas

 

 

 

Must Plant Herbs for Your Medicinal Herb Garden

I am enjoying this spring weather, and have been busy planning my garden for the upcoming season.  One of the areas that I have really been focusing on is my herb garden.  Did you know that herbs can be grown for more than just spicing up your food they can also be used for medicinal purposes?  Here are six herbs that you might want to consider adding to your herb garden for medicinal use.

Aloe Vera

 

One of the most popular plants that is grown for medicinal purposes is the Aloe Vera Plant.  Aloe Vera has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory compounds that help make it perfect for use when it comes to wound healing.  Simply break off one of the Aloe Vera plant’s stems and rub the gel found inside directly onto your wound, burn, or sunburn to take advantage of its natural healing properties.

Echinacea

 

Well known for its immune system building properties Echinacea is often used in the treatment of colds, flu, ear aches, and yeast infections.  All parts of the Echinacea plant can be used, and it is most often used as a tea.

Lemon Balm

 

 

As a member of the mint family Lemon Balm is used for the treatment of headaches, skin infections, and digestive problems.  Lemon Balm can be made into a tea, and has a distinct lemony scent.

Peppermint

 

 

Another member of the mint family Peppermint is often used in the treatment of digestive disorders or for calming an upset stomach.  Peppermint can be used as a tea or added to dishes for peppermint flavoring.

Burdock

 

 

As a plant that grows naturally in the wild Burdock can also easily be incorporated into an herb garden.  The leaves of the Burdock plant can be cooked up like spinach, while being used as a liver treatment, to stimulate the digestive system, and for soothing a cold or sore throat.

Plantain

 

While it is often considered a lawn weed plantain is actually a useful herb to grow in your garden.  Plantain is excellent when it comes to relieving the pain of beestings or poison ivy.  While some might not be able to get past how plantain is used in the treatment of beestings or poison ivy it is actually quite easy to use.  You simply chew up the plantain leaves while keeping the saliva and the leaves in the front of your mouth.  Once you have chewed up the leaves, place the chewed up leaves along with the saliva directly onto the affected area.

 

 

Join us for Works-for-Me Wednesday at We Are That Family.

 

 

 

 

Apple Pancakes with Apple Cider Pancake Syrup

 

 

As I promised yesterday today I am posting my recipe for my Apple Pancakes with Apple Cider Syrup.  This recipe came about when I had a couple of apples in our fruit bowl that desperately needed eating and after a busy day I needed a super simple supper.  After searching online for a few apple pancake recipes I finally decided upon a mixture of a few recipes and came up with my own version.

 

 

 

Apple Pancake

 

Ingredients

 

2 cup all Purpose Flour

2 Tablespoons Baking Powder

2 Eggs

1/4 cup Brown Sugar

1 Teaspoon Salt

1/2 Cup Applesauce

1 cup Milk

1/4 cup Melted Butter

1 Tablespoon Cinnamon

2 small apples, peeled and diced

 

 

In a mixing bowl mix all ingredients in the order listed, and stir together by hand.

 

 

In a lightly oiled skillet over medium high heat drop 1 cup of pancake mix.

 

 

Flip pancakes when the mixture begins to bubble and cook until both sides are light golden.

 

 

Remove from heat and serve with pancake syrup.  The Apple Cider Pancake Syrup is delicious!

 

 

Apple Cider Pancake Syrup

 

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon Butter

2 Cups Apple Cider

1 Cup Brown Sugar

2 Teaspoons Cinnamon

 

Directions

 

1.  Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat.

2.  When butter is melted add in remaining ingredients.

3.  Continue to cook over medium heat until the mixture for fifteen minutes.

4.  Remove from heat.  Syrup will thicken as it cools off.

 

 

 

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Menu Plan Monday, May 6th to 12th

 

 

 

Join us for Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie

 

 

It's finals week for this busy momma, which means a week full of studying and a huge need for simple meals.  I can't wait for this semester to be over though because I am taking the summer semester off and it will be my first semester off in over a year.  I am desperately in need of that break.  With only two more weeks of homeschool co-op left, I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel for this school year. 

 

Here's what I have planned for this week:

links to recipes are in red

Monday

Breakfast:  Sausage and Biscuits, cooked on Sunday night

Lunch:  Roast Beef Sandwiches (we made our own lunch meat and will be posting the recipe this week), pretzels, and oranges

Dinner:  Chicken, mashed potatoes, lima beans

 

Tuesday

Breakfast:  Apple Pancakes (Recipe will be posted on Tuesday) with Apple Cider Syrup

Dinner:  Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches - I will be playing with a new recipe but for now here is the recipe for my Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches

 

Wednesday

Lunch:  Roast Beef and Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Bread Machine Bread (make two loaves - one for tomorrow's breakfast)

Dinner:  Eating Out

 

Thursday

Breakfast:  French Toast

Dinner:  Homemade Bean and Beef Burritos (working on a new recipe)

 

Friday

Lunch:  Pork Chop Suey

Dinner:  Old Fashioned Beef Stew (left over from last week), cornbread

 

Saturday

Lunch:  Seared Mahi Mahi with Zesty Basil Butter(left over from last week), wild rice

Dinner:  Eating out

 

Sunday 

Lunch:  Salmon Cakes I will be using this recipe this week instead of my recipe to see what the difference in taste is, Cheesy Hot Potatoes

Dinner:  Peppery Spiced Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes, Cabbage



Tips for Eliminating Mosquitoes From Your Yard

With the weather warming up, the mosquitoes will be coming out very soon, if they aren't already out in your area. Mosquitoes are not only a pest but can pass diseases with their bites. If you want to enjoy your outdoor area without having to constantly fight mosquitoes you might want to consider using one or more of these handy tips to help combat mosquitoes.

Eliminate Standing Water
The first thing you will want to do when it comes to combating mosquitoes in your yard is to eliminate any standing water that can be found in your yard. Standing, stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, by having standing water in your yard you are inviting mosquitoes to breed there and by eliminating the standing water you are taking away their breeding grounds.

Lemon Balm and Lemon Grass
The lemon scent of Lemon Balm and Lemon Grass is said to repel mosquitoes. Planting Lemon Balm or Lemon Grass along the borders of your yard, in the flower beds next to your house, and near areas where you want to sit outside at night will help to keep the mosquitoes away.

Lavender
Essential Lavender Oil is a natural mosquito repellant that can be applied to skin before going outdoors to repel mosquitoes and keep them from biting you. You can make your own Essential Lavender oil from the Lavender plants in your yard.

Bat Houses
If the idea of having bats flying around your property at night doesn't bother you than you might want to consider installing a bat house (or two or three) on your property. Seventy percent of bat species are insectivores, therefore they feed solely on insects. By having bats on your property you will greatly reduce the amount of mosquitoes on your property, it has been reported that some bats can catch up to six hundred or more mosquitoes in an hour.

Dryer Sheets
Many people report that putting dryer sheets in your pockets when you are outdoors will help to keep mosquitoes away. They say that this works best with the stronger smelling dryer sheets, as mosquitoes do not like the smell of them.

Homemade Mosquito Traps
There are several Homemade Mosquito Traps that you can use to help reduce the amount of mosquitoes in your yard. Erin Ringwald, an Ehow Contributor, has step-by-step instructions for creating your own homemade mosquito trap using brown sugar. You can find Erin's homemade mosquito trap by visiting the Ehow website.

 

Join us for Works-for-Me Wednesday at We Are That Family.

Menu Plan Monday, April 29th - May 5th

 

 

 

Join us for Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

 

Things have been kind of crazy at The Modern Day Mom house, as the end of most school years are.  The good news is there is only a few more weeks left for the majority of it.  Since the weather is warming up and we are so busy, I am in need of some majorly easy recipes to get me through the week.  We don't eat much once the weather warms up so light meals are perfect for us.  And yes, we are eating out way more than I want to this week.  If I had to guess some of those eating out trips will become sandwiches on the go instead. 

 

Here's what I have planned for this week:

links to recipes are in red

 

Monday

 

Lunch - Turkey wraps, pretzels, pineapple

Dinner - Eating Out

 

Tuesday

 

Lunch - Beef Stir Fry

Dinner - Mayo Clinic Beef Stroganoff

 

Wednesday

Lunch - Old Fashioned Beef Stew, Cornbread

Dinner - Eating out

 

Thursday

Lunch - Seared Mahi Mahi with Zesty Basil Butter, Wild Rice

Dinner - London Broil, mashed potatoes, lima beans, mushrooms

 

 

Friday

Lunch - Salt and Pepper Pork Chops, mashed potatoes, green beans

Dinner - Eating Out

 

Saturday

Lunch - Foil Pack Chicken Fajita Dinner, Easy Slow Cooker Refried Beans (making extra for tomorrow)

Dinner - Turkey Wraps, Fresh Fruit

 

Sunday

Lunch - Bean Burritos (Recipe to Come)

Dinner - Sausage (Make extra for Monday Morning), Omelets

Kenutcky Derby Party Menu Ideas

With the Kentucky Derby just a few short weeks away now is the time to get busy planning your Derby Day party.  One of the biggest parts of any party is the menu, and with the Kentucky Derby there are plenty of traditional Kentucky foods that you will want to incorporate.  Here are some great ideas to keep in mind when planning the menu for your Kentucky Derby Party this Derby Day.

Kentucky Burgoo

 

A Kentucky Derby party would not be complete without Kentucky’s famous burgoo.  For those who don’t know it is a stew that consists of a little bit of everything including rabbit, chicken, and ham.  To find the recipe to make Traditional Kentucky Burgoo you can visit the Courier Journal Newspaper website.

 

 

 

Kentucky Derby Horse Shaped Cookies

 

These adorable Kentucky Derby horse shaped cookies are sure to be a hit at your Derby party.  Do you want to know what the best part is?  You don’t have to be a kitchen whiz to make them, in fact there is no baking involved.  They are made using Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies, Mini Nilla Wafers, Tootsie Rolls, Red Licorice, and caramel.  Find out how to make these horse cookies yourself by visiting the blog Party Pinching.

 

Kentucky Hot Brown Bites

 

While Kentucky Hot Browns are delicious they aren’t exactly a party friendly food, however these Kentucky Hot Brown Bites give you all the flavor of a Kentucky Hot Brown in a miniature party-friendly bite size.  To find out how to make these Kentucky Hot Brown Bites made with refrigerated crescent rolls visit the website Plain Chicken.

 

Mint Julep

 

A Kentucky Derby party is just a party unless you are serving the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, the Mint Julep.  This delicious bourbon based drink is a snap to make, with just bourbon, mint leaves, sugar, water, and some ice being all that you need.  Find out how to mix up some Mint Juelps for your party by visiting the Babble website.

 

Mint Julep Cupcakes

 

If you would prefer to eat your Mint Julep instead of drink it than these Mint Julep Cupcakes from The Pink Peony is just for you.  Learn how to make these “adult only” cupcakes by visiting The Pink Peony blog for the recipe.

Kentucky Derby Pie

While the official Kentucky Derby Pie recipe is said to be a well kept family secret there are plenty of recipes around claiming to be the best Kentucky Derby Pie recipe.  The best recipe that I have found that most closely resembles the official Kentucky Derby Pie can be found by visiting the About.com Food website.

 

 

Kentucky Bourbon Ball Pops

 

If you have noticed we here in Kentucky love our Bourbon, and it is closely associated with all things Derby.  These Kentucky Bourbon Ball Pops succulently display that great taste of Bourbon that says its Derby time like nothing else.  You can find out how to make them by visiting the blog Mirabella Creations.