Last week we decided to go camping Monday morning. There is a post coming about that soon, something always seems to happen when we go camping...this one was eventful and cold. So, here is what we ate:
Monday- Sloppy joes
Tuesday- Hibachi style steak, zucchini and rice
Wednesday Italian Sausage, potatoes and peppers (This was a new one, I will make it again)
Thursday Leftovers
Friday Sandwiches ( I worked)
Saturday Leftovers or clam chowder (I worked again)
Sunday Baked Ziti
I was planning to be out of town for family dinner so we cancelled but, I wound up coming home on Saturday night so I called everyone and uncancelled. Since I wouldn't have time to go to the store I just looked through my pantry to see what I have on hand to throw together. I decided on Baked Ziti, a family favorite. I didn't have any ground beef or Italian sausage so I pulled out a pound of pork sausage from the pig that we butchered. I have used it before in this recipe and it was very good. While I was browning the sausage I called my husband over to ask him if he thought the meat had an off smell to it. I thought it did, but we decided that it was just the pork itself and we were just used to the smell of beef. So, I was satisfied and went on cooking.
When It was all done I pulled it out of the oven and it looked so good with the cheese starting to brown on top. I dished it up with a side of buttered bread and took a bite. It was horrible! The pork gave it a greasy "off" taste. I couldn't even swallow the bite I took. So, we had carrot cake for dinner. That was good and we could all stomach it! I don't know what the problem was with the sausage. I hope it was just with that package because I have several more of it. We didn't even feed it to our dogs we just tossed it in the trash.
It's been a while since I have had a dinner fail like this!
Monday, November 23, 2015
Friday, November 20, 2015
What We Ate....Brisket Edition
I think I’ve mentioned in a recent post that since we have been home from our trip, I have been trying not to go to the grocery store and just use what we have on hand in our pantry and freezer. I have not meal planned and gone on a big shopping trip but, I have gone to the store several times to pick up some necessities like bread and milk and then some extra things that we wanted for a movie night and maybe a few impulse buys like pumpkin spice bagels. They are so tasty. Then we decided to go camping so that did require a shopping trip with a list. More on that later.
So, What have we been eating? Every Sunday my family has “family dinner.” My mom, brother and sister and their families come over and we eat and play cards (well the moms do). Last Sunday my mom made Beef Stew, it’s my grandma’s recipe and it’s one of the bests out there. I made some Roads Rolls, my new fave, to dip in the juice. So good! We ate that for two nights and then I had it for a few lunches as well. On Tuesday we went to Tucson to visit some of the best people in the world and they fed us and sent us home with a half of a smoked brisket. They smoked it themselves with a killer dry rub and it has the best bark on it! So we ate that for dinner for three nights. I know, but its that good. I made different sides to go with it like, mashed potatoes, rice and vegetables. Saturday night we had frozen ravioli, that was an impulse buy, it was by the Roads Rolls in the freezer section and it just sounded good, and easy. We all need some easy, right? Then it was Sunday again....More on that later
Sunday- Beef stew and rolls
Monday-Beef stew and rolls
Tuesday-Brisket and broccoli salad (the one with grapes, bacon and bow tie pasta)
Wed- Brisket on tortillas
Thursday-Brisket with mashed potatoes and corn
Friday- Brisket with rice and green beans
Saturday- Cheese ravioli and bread
Breakfasts were Chorizo (Mexican style) and eggs, oatmeal or bagels.
Lunches were beef stew, PB&J or brisket
So, What have we been eating? Every Sunday my family has “family dinner.” My mom, brother and sister and their families come over and we eat and play cards (well the moms do). Last Sunday my mom made Beef Stew, it’s my grandma’s recipe and it’s one of the bests out there. I made some Roads Rolls, my new fave, to dip in the juice. So good! We ate that for two nights and then I had it for a few lunches as well. On Tuesday we went to Tucson to visit some of the best people in the world and they fed us and sent us home with a half of a smoked brisket. They smoked it themselves with a killer dry rub and it has the best bark on it! So we ate that for dinner for three nights. I know, but its that good. I made different sides to go with it like, mashed potatoes, rice and vegetables. Saturday night we had frozen ravioli, that was an impulse buy, it was by the Roads Rolls in the freezer section and it just sounded good, and easy. We all need some easy, right? Then it was Sunday again....More on that later
Sunday- Beef stew and rolls
Monday-Beef stew and rolls
Tuesday-Brisket and broccoli salad (the one with grapes, bacon and bow tie pasta)
Wed- Brisket on tortillas
Thursday-Brisket with mashed potatoes and corn
Friday- Brisket with rice and green beans
Saturday- Cheese ravioli and bread
Breakfasts were Chorizo (Mexican style) and eggs, oatmeal or bagels.
Lunches were beef stew, PB&J or brisket
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Salem to Boston
This was the last real footage I got of our trip. I didn't want to make my family uncomfortable by filming them so I just enjoyed seeing family I haven't seen in a decade and enjoy the few hours I had with my grandson.
Boston. Oh how I loved Boston. I would never want to live there because there are just too many people and cars and people. But there is something about the energy of the place. It's a history thing like Washington I think. Our country is what it is because of a handful of very brave men who stood up for what they believed in and weren't afraid of starting some trouble. And I got to sit in a building were some of their meetings took place. Very cool. And I love, love, love the architecture and the tall buildings.
Parking was a huge issue for us though. Dave was too tall for most underground parking garages. At one point we had a very angry and rude garage attendant yelling at us in a very thick accent. And street parking was mostly two hour parking and we needed longer than that. We always found something eventually but it was a challenge.
We walked the Freedom Trail. It was very cool. Toured Paul Revere's home, the Granary Cemetery where 3 of the signers of the Declaration are buried and saw places like the Old South Meeting House and Faneuil Hall. The history of our country is amazing and I wish more people had the chance to walk the places these people walked and sit where they sat and learn what they did. I think things in our nation would be a bit different if they did.
Boston. Oh how I loved Boston. I would never want to live there because there are just too many people and cars and people. But there is something about the energy of the place. It's a history thing like Washington I think. Our country is what it is because of a handful of very brave men who stood up for what they believed in and weren't afraid of starting some trouble. And I got to sit in a building were some of their meetings took place. Very cool. And I love, love, love the architecture and the tall buildings.
Parking was a huge issue for us though. Dave was too tall for most underground parking garages. At one point we had a very angry and rude garage attendant yelling at us in a very thick accent. And street parking was mostly two hour parking and we needed longer than that. We always found something eventually but it was a challenge.
We walked the Freedom Trail. It was very cool. Toured Paul Revere's home, the Granary Cemetery where 3 of the signers of the Declaration are buried and saw places like the Old South Meeting House and Faneuil Hall. The history of our country is amazing and I wish more people had the chance to walk the places these people walked and sit where they sat and learn what they did. I think things in our nation would be a bit different if they did.
Monday, November 16, 2015
DC to Salem
We took an epic road trip, dubbed the "OCD Road Trip," from New Mexico to Boston, MA. We met up with my husbands mom and niece and hit the road.
On this leg of the trip we traveled from Washington DC to Salem. It was a long day and I was very happy to arrive at our overpriced hotel that night. We had a super hard time finding a place to eat. Not knowing the area, it being night time and dealing with not straight forward highway systems made it difficult. After about an hour of wrong turns and searching for a place that was still serving we ended up at a Sonic a block away from our hotel. We did get to see some nice residential areas though.
Salem was a neat place. I really enjoyed it. When I was in high school I did my Junior research paper on the Salem Witch Hunt. My paper was over a week late and I still got an A- on it. I was super proud of that paper. I wish I had it. We did not get to go to the Witch Museum, that was a bummer. Sam went back in 2001 and he said it wasn't great but I still would have like to have seen it. My daughters were so excited to go to it though and disappointed that we missed it. This was Halloween town to them. The place was decked out for the season. But what they didn't understand was what kind of witches it was about. They were thinking green face, hairy mole type witch. They couldn't get it. I found an age appropriate book for them on the subject that I may read to them, I need to read it first though.
We went on a cruise of the Wharf, it was a lighthouse and foliage cruise. That was awesome and right up my mother in law's alley. This trip was all about seeing the changing of the leaves and they were beautiful! Stunning. So far being on that water has been my favorite part of the trip. There was even brief talk of selling it all and buying a houseboat. Like I said, it was brief.
Enjoy!
On this leg of the trip we traveled from Washington DC to Salem. It was a long day and I was very happy to arrive at our overpriced hotel that night. We had a super hard time finding a place to eat. Not knowing the area, it being night time and dealing with not straight forward highway systems made it difficult. After about an hour of wrong turns and searching for a place that was still serving we ended up at a Sonic a block away from our hotel. We did get to see some nice residential areas though.
Salem was a neat place. I really enjoyed it. When I was in high school I did my Junior research paper on the Salem Witch Hunt. My paper was over a week late and I still got an A- on it. I was super proud of that paper. I wish I had it. We did not get to go to the Witch Museum, that was a bummer. Sam went back in 2001 and he said it wasn't great but I still would have like to have seen it. My daughters were so excited to go to it though and disappointed that we missed it. This was Halloween town to them. The place was decked out for the season. But what they didn't understand was what kind of witches it was about. They were thinking green face, hairy mole type witch. They couldn't get it. I found an age appropriate book for them on the subject that I may read to them, I need to read it first though.
We went on a cruise of the Wharf, it was a lighthouse and foliage cruise. That was awesome and right up my mother in law's alley. This trip was all about seeing the changing of the leaves and they were beautiful! Stunning. So far being on that water has been my favorite part of the trip. There was even brief talk of selling it all and buying a houseboat. Like I said, it was brief.
Enjoy!
Friday, November 13, 2015
Washington DC
This was the day I was waiting for. I absolutely love Washington DC. This was my second trip there. Sam had a detail for work there in 2004 and I was able to travel with him. He worked most of the time we were there but I was able to tour around a bit with his mom and step dad who came to see the presentation Sam was making. We drove around Georgetown and walked the National Mall and went to the National Museum of American History. The power I felt in that city was pretty amazing. You felt it. It's a feeling that is hard to describe, I was in awe. This time was a little different, I didn't feel the same feeling of power and awe. A lot could be said here, but I won't go there. Just know that I am a patriot and I love my country.
It was still a great trip and although my girls were more interested in the squirrels on the grass, I am glad we had the opportunity to take them and hope to be able to take them again when they are older. I'd love to see if that first time feeling returns.
During the trip from Knoxville to DC we drove through New Jersey, my home state and stopped in the town my dad lives in. I haven't seen my dad in 10 years, I was hoping he would just happen to be at the WAWA where we were fueling up, but no luck. Good thing is we are going to stop in NJ for a few days on our return and I will get to see him. That's the day I am really waiting for!
It was still a great trip and although my girls were more interested in the squirrels on the grass, I am glad we had the opportunity to take them and hope to be able to take them again when they are older. I'd love to see if that first time feeling returns.
During the trip from Knoxville to DC we drove through New Jersey, my home state and stopped in the town my dad lives in. I haven't seen my dad in 10 years, I was hoping he would just happen to be at the WAWA where we were fueling up, but no luck. Good thing is we are going to stop in NJ for a few days on our return and I will get to see him. That's the day I am really waiting for!
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Arkansas to Tenessee
Next we traveled from Little Rock to Knoxville. We made stops in Memphis and Nashville.
I can't remember much of any great excitement on this leg of the trip, except for maybe the clowns that was pretty exciting...or scary depending on who you asked. It was Sam's birthday, that was pretty exciting. We also walked Beale Street. I had to stop into one of the stores and buy a t-shirt, it was so hot there. We were expecting cooler weather so we packed cooler weather clothes. That day I was wearing a long sleeve t-shirt and a flannel. Wrong choice. We went to the Antique Archaeology store, that was pretty cool, we we able to see some of the things that they picked. So, I guess it was kind of exciting. Enjoy.
I can't remember much of any great excitement on this leg of the trip, except for maybe the clowns that was pretty exciting...or scary depending on who you asked. It was Sam's birthday, that was pretty exciting. We also walked Beale Street. I had to stop into one of the stores and buy a t-shirt, it was so hot there. We were expecting cooler weather so we packed cooler weather clothes. That day I was wearing a long sleeve t-shirt and a flannel. Wrong choice. We went to the Antique Archaeology store, that was pretty cool, we we able to see some of the things that they picked. So, I guess it was kind of exciting. Enjoy.
Monday, November 9, 2015
Brownwood to Arkansas
The next leg of the trip which was to Little Rock, Arkansas. You will be able to tell in the video that I am NOT a morning person. I wish I was, I have tried to be, but it didn't work out. I am a night person for sure. You will also learn that I like my coffee. A LOT. Sam's mother on the other hand IS a morning person and we were on her schedule so we were in the car driving, yes DRIVING at 7 am. It was not fun. My normal morning routine is get up, head straight to the coffee pot, make coffee, turn on the news while waiting for coffee, hoping no one in my family talks to me until after I hear the delightful beep signaling the end of the brew and I see the bottom of my first cup. And hear the daily weather.
Disclaimer: I love my family. A LOT. More than coffee even, but, I love them a lot more after I have a cup. You will hear my poem on the matter several times during the series.....
Anyway, I got over it, but after we parted ways we had a little bit more relaxed mornings and it was amazing.
We made a stop in Dallas and went to Dealey Plaza on our way. It was there that I made the crock pot meal. This was the last one for the trip. On day one it was the last. Sad really. I wanted to do more but we had really long days and the last thing we wanted to do at the end of an 8-10 hour day of driving is to find a grocery store in a strange area. It really was more trouble than I had imagined.
Disclaimer: I love my family. A LOT. More than coffee even, but, I love them a lot more after I have a cup. You will hear my poem on the matter several times during the series.....
Anyway, I got over it, but after we parted ways we had a little bit more relaxed mornings and it was amazing.
We made a stop in Dallas and went to Dealey Plaza on our way. It was there that I made the crock pot meal. This was the last one for the trip. On day one it was the last. Sad really. I wanted to do more but we had really long days and the last thing we wanted to do at the end of an 8-10 hour day of driving is to find a grocery store in a strange area. It really was more trouble than I had imagined.
Friday, November 6, 2015
Menu Plan?
I don't have a monthly or a weekly menu plan! Since we just got back from an awfully expensive trip I am trying to hold out going to the store as long as I can. We got home October 24th, so it will be two weeks tomorrow. I have gone to the store twice to get some basics, milk, bread, eggs and fruit. I went today to get snacks for movie night and eggs and a few other household items like a furnace filter only to come home and find out we had 28 eggs outside in the coop! The chickens have either been laying double time or our daughter has been forgetting to get them. I will let you guess which. We were able to bless someone with two dozen eggs so it worked out wonderfully.
What have we been eating you ask?
Salisbury steaks, mashed potatoes and corn
Pizza-- twice
A ham steak and scalloped potato casserole-twice
Ranch chicken thighs with roasted potatoes and green beans (a new favorite!)
Spaghetti with meat sauce
Easy Red Enchiladas with beef and topped with an egg (YUM)
White turkey chili-twice
Rump Roast, mashed potatoes and green beans-twice
Sandwiches
Broccoli Soup
Breakfasts have been:
Instant Oatmeal
Chorizo and eggs
Pancakes
Lunches have been:
Left overs
Spam Sandwiches (Sam's favorite)
PB&J's
Pizza
I am using a lot of my pantry items and stuff form my freezer. I think I am going to see how long I can go before doing a big shopping trip....just for fun. Of course not sacrificing nutrition. I have a ton of pork left from when we butchered our pig, but I have to say I am not a fan of fresh ham steaks and I have a lot of them and fresh bacon and ham roasts. I don't know what to do with them, maybe smoke them??
What have we been eating you ask?
Salisbury steaks, mashed potatoes and corn
Pizza-- twice
A ham steak and scalloped potato casserole-twice
Ranch chicken thighs with roasted potatoes and green beans (a new favorite!)
Spaghetti with meat sauce
Easy Red Enchiladas with beef and topped with an egg (YUM)
White turkey chili-twice
Rump Roast, mashed potatoes and green beans-twice
Sandwiches
Broccoli Soup
Breakfasts have been:
Instant Oatmeal
Chorizo and eggs
Pancakes
Lunches have been:
Left overs
Spam Sandwiches (Sam's favorite)
PB&J's
Pizza
I am using a lot of my pantry items and stuff form my freezer. I think I am going to see how long I can go before doing a big shopping trip....just for fun. Of course not sacrificing nutrition. I have a ton of pork left from when we butchered our pig, but I have to say I am not a fan of fresh ham steaks and I have a lot of them and fresh bacon and ham roasts. I don't know what to do with them, maybe smoke them??
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Off to Brownwood!!!!
The day had finally arrived! We had this trip planned for a year and the day to leave was here! We were planning to be gone for a month or maybe more. I had arranged my work schedule in a way that I didn't have to be back to work until November 14th. We left on October 8th so we had lots of time to do and see whatever we wanted. We have never been able to take a trip anything like this. I think our longest vacation ever was 11 days and that was our wedding, almost 15 years ago. And I wouldn't even call it a vacation. It was mostly wedding prep, we didn't even go on a honeymoon. The runner up vacation was a trip to San Antonio, we were there for 5 days I think but we had 6 kids, 4 of them foster children. I think I can say we have never had a real vacation, but we have gone places.
The girls were so excited to go. Rhileigh, who is my child that is not a morning person sprung out of bed that morning! It was great to see them so excited. The really cool part about this trip is that we just got finished studying the Mid-Atlantic states and they had a poster board project they had to do. The project required them to plan an imaginary trip to the Mid-Atlantic states, map out three places they would like to visit, find pictures online of the places and describe what they would see and do at each location. They didn't have to imagine it, they got to actually go to the places! It was perfect and accidental, really. We bought them each a camera to document the trip and take pictures of whatever they wanted to. They took a lot of pictures of squirrels. A little side story for you: We were in Washington D.C. surrounded by all things that make up Washington D.C., incredible buildings, history, it really is an amazing place to visit. As we were walking down the street there was a family stopped on the sidewalk and as we walked closer we saw that their kid was feeding two squirrels and they were really, really close to the boy feeding them. Half and arm's length I'd say. The girls could hardly stand it they were so excited by this! We watched for a while and then thanked the family for making not only our kid's day but their whole trip! Anyway, back to the school project. Poor Harper left her camera in a Cab in D.C. But, we took enough pictures for her to choose from.
We had a bit of crock pot drama......
The girls were so excited to go. Rhileigh, who is my child that is not a morning person sprung out of bed that morning! It was great to see them so excited. The really cool part about this trip is that we just got finished studying the Mid-Atlantic states and they had a poster board project they had to do. The project required them to plan an imaginary trip to the Mid-Atlantic states, map out three places they would like to visit, find pictures online of the places and describe what they would see and do at each location. They didn't have to imagine it, they got to actually go to the places! It was perfect and accidental, really. We bought them each a camera to document the trip and take pictures of whatever they wanted to. They took a lot of pictures of squirrels. A little side story for you: We were in Washington D.C. surrounded by all things that make up Washington D.C., incredible buildings, history, it really is an amazing place to visit. As we were walking down the street there was a family stopped on the sidewalk and as we walked closer we saw that their kid was feeding two squirrels and they were really, really close to the boy feeding them. Half and arm's length I'd say. The girls could hardly stand it they were so excited by this! We watched for a while and then thanked the family for making not only our kid's day but their whole trip! Anyway, back to the school project. Poor Harper left her camera in a Cab in D.C. But, we took enough pictures for her to choose from.
We had a bit of crock pot drama......
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
I'm Back!!
Back to the Blog and back to real life. We took an epic road trip, that was dubbed the "OCD Road Trip," traveling from New Mexico to Boston! My husband's mom wanted to see the changing of the leaves, it was a bucket list kinda of thing for her. So, we left on October 8th, headed for Texas to meet up with Sam's mom and niece then we started out on our trip. The original plan was to go to Maine but, somehow that changed to Salem, MA. We made stops in Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville, Washington D.C., and Salem of course. Once our time with his mom and niece was up we continued on with our little family. We went to Boston, back to Washington for another day then to New Jersey to visit my family I haven't seen in a decade, then we headed to Mississippi to visit our daughter, her boyfriend and our grandson. We had planned on making two more stops in Texas before heading home but the hurricane (Patricia?) cut our plans short. We were on the road for 17 days and honestly I was ready to come home anyway so it worked out!
I vlogged the whole thing and will be sharing it with you! This first video is us prepping to leave. I had the great idea (I am saying "great idea" in a mix of, it really was a good idea and sarcasm) of cooking food in a crock pot along the way to save money and to be able to eat healthier on our trip. I told my husband my idea and he loved the idea and put a two battery system and inverter on Dav (said, Dave, he is our van) so we could do it. I have to say it wasn't my idea, I saw it on Pinterest, it really is a good idea, it was just harder to pull off than I thought. I got some other good ideas on Pinterest too, you'll have to watch to find out what they are.....
I vlogged the whole thing and will be sharing it with you! This first video is us prepping to leave. I had the great idea (I am saying "great idea" in a mix of, it really was a good idea and sarcasm) of cooking food in a crock pot along the way to save money and to be able to eat healthier on our trip. I told my husband my idea and he loved the idea and put a two battery system and inverter on Dav (said, Dave, he is our van) so we could do it. I have to say it wasn't my idea, I saw it on Pinterest, it really is a good idea, it was just harder to pull off than I thought. I got some other good ideas on Pinterest too, you'll have to watch to find out what they are.....
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