Zucchini Muffins..yum.

Zucchini Bread
Courtsey of Smitten Kitchen

Yield: 2 loaves or approximately 24 muffins

3 eggs
1 cup olive or vegetable oil (I used veggie)
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 cups grated zucchini
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg(I hate nutmeg so I left this out)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
1 cup dried cranberries, raisins or chocolate chips or a combination thereof (optional) (I used chocolate chips, next time I might add raisins in stead although the chocolate was good too)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Grease and flour two 8×4 inch loaf pans, liberally. Alternately, line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk. Mix in oil and sugar, then zucchini and vanilla.

Combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt, as well as nuts, chocolate chips and/or dried fruit, if using.

Stir this into the egg mixture. Divide the batter into prepared pans.

Bake loaves for 60 minutes, plus or minus ten, or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Muffins will bake far more quickly, approximately 20 to 25 minutes.


These muffins were really really good. Even better fresh out of the oven. Here's some pictures of my little helper.

Menu Plan

Sunday- Ham, cheesy bacon potatoes, green beans, and stuffing. YUM.

Monday- Leftovers. Ham and cheese sammies. Salads

Tuesday- Sweet and sour Kielbasa with sweet tater fries. I'll use this recipe with half the sauce and no crock pot. I'll just simmer on the stove top.

Wednesday- Date night for Mama and Daddy. <3 Daddy's pick.

Thursday- Burgers and fries with salads

Friday- Barrel Chicken with rice or noodles, and corn.

Saturday- Meatloaf with kc masterpiece bbq sauce, mashed taters or baked, steamed broccoli.

Desserts this week are- Blueberries, watermelon, and strawberry jello with fruit and whipped cream. :)

Check out http://orgjunkie.com/ for lots more menu plans. :)

Our 4th of July and Menu Plan.

We had a pretty good 4th of July. It was the first day all week that it didn't rain. We've been having a very rainy summer this year, with very unseasonal temps. Yesterday was perfect though, it wasn't cold, nor uncomfortably hot. The kids had a great time playing together, and the adults had a good time chatting and eating of course. I love the 4th, it kinda makes me sad its over already.






Here's what our menu is looking like for the week..

Sunday- Leftover cookout buffet. Burgers, dogs, bbq chicken, pasta, mac and potato salads.
Monday- Cheese stuffed ravioli with meatsauce
Tuesday- Smoked sausage with cabbage and potatoes (new recipe)
Wednesday- Chicken or steak gordita
Thursday- MIL's, I think for potroast
Friday- Fried pork chops with pierogi and a veggie that Anthony picks.
Saturday- Calzone with pepperoni and maybe green peppers
Sunday- Chicken and rice with veggies.

Not a very exciting week..

Blessings at the Thrift store

Do you know what this is? Its a 1.25$ worth of fall clothes for my 4 year old. Yep.. 1.25. Today at the thrift store they had a few racks marked at .29 cents. I figured that since I hardly make it to the store I might find something.. well I found a lot of somethings. I told myself that if I kept it at 30 items I would stay under 10 bucks and Mr. Bossman wouldn't have a fit.. Well most of my loot I found was for my sister Karlee who will be 6 and entering Kindergarten this year. Someone must have had a very neat daughter out grow her clothes and they were there just for me to find and for Karlee to enjoy. They were in great condition, I can't believe a child could have worn them. So I ended up snatching up 15 shirts for her and a pair of blue jeans. There were some good brand names, Union Bay, Target, GAP, Redtab, Old Navy.. there were plenty. I managed to get my little brother whose 9 a few shirts too. I even found a starter jersey and some FUBU for Anthony! So with my 29 items in tow, I go up and get my things check out to be told that they are all half off too! SCORE! Thank God that I was there at the right time and place. I got some great stuff for almost free!! I was so excited I had to post about it!

Here's 2 happy recipients.

Birthday Party & Summer fun

Here's my precious, beautiful, and amazing 4 year old. Yes, he's now 4... I can't believe it.

His birthday party was scheduled to be at the local park that we used last year, but here in PA, we've been having a cool and rainy summer. His party was on a Saturday, and on Thursday and Friday it was pouring, so I figured the park would be flooded, I called all our guest and had them come to our Grandparents basement. They have a nice basement that could hold all our family and friends we invited. Now that we live in a little country cottage, having 30+ people wouldn't go over well. Plus, it was much easier to clean up the concrete floors and borrow chairs and tables from our Grandma's church.

The birthday party went pretty well, other than I didn't get the pictures I'd liked to get, thats what happens when you let the Daddy run the camera,they just don't understand all the aspects. I am hoping some family members will e-mail me the pictures they have taken, they come out nice too, since its from their angle on things. The cake place that we ordered from last year messed up this year, I was very disappointed and did file a complaint. Last year they did a great job, this year they forgot to write on it, and it was very sloppy.. good thing it tasted good.

Anthony was blessed with many gifts and some money. This year was nice cause he could finally get some outdoor toys. We've lived in an apartment all his life with no yard, so this was a real treat. He got a 3 lane slip-n-slide, a sprayer that shoots balls out, and a skip it sprinkler. All 3 are great! With his birthday money he went to DelGrosso's amusement park, which is now only 20 mins. away from us. Its just a small place, but he had a great time. The weather was great, likely the hottest day we've had this year, it was 94* out when we left the park that evening. We had a great time with our little no longer 3 year old. He says he can't wait till he is 5..I sure can!



He's not that skinny, he's sucking it in.



Getting shade from Daddy :)



Riding the train that circles the park :)

Where has the time gone?

Tomorrow we'll celebrate Anthony's 4th birthday! He won't be 4 until the 24th, but we're having his party during the weekend, its just easier that way. I just can't believe my little one isn't much of a little one anymore.. it hasn't seemed like 4 years have gone by already. He's grown up to be quite the cutie pie, with a hint of sassyness in him too, I am not sure where he gets that from. He's a smart little fella, who fills all of our hearts with love and pride. Here are some little quips about Anthony:

He loves butter butter sandwiches which are really pb&j. I could feed them to him for all 3 meals and he'd be fine.

He loves Apple juice the best, but really always ask for sweet tea, which I allow him to have a small amount here and there.

He loves to be running around outside.

He loves his tubby time too.

He crawls up on my lap in the morning and at night to snuggle.

He loves Max & Ruby, and Calliou the most.

He's a skinny and tall little fella, which makes it hard to find clothing that fits right.

Lastly, we have little sayings we do.. I love you to the moon, I love you to the stars, I love you to the sun..and back :)

Menu Plan For The Rest of June :)

Ok so I have been menu planning just not posting lately.. we moved, working on the house, having family in, enjoying all the weather.. and lastly a recipe slump.. so that is why. :) Here goes for the rest of the month, since we moved the grocery store is no longer 2 mins. away, more like 30 mins away, so I decided to plan most of it for the rest of the month, then when I go in for milk I can grab some fresh produce along the way. Here goes..

Sunday- Grilled steaks, BLT Cesar salads.
Monday- Daddy has to cook we'll be gone, Tuna helper, with peas.
Tuesday- Homemade pizza
Wednesday-Picnic for DelGrosso's amusement park.
Thursday- Tacos with chips and salsa
Friday-BLT's with zesty fries
Saturday- Anthony's 4th Birthday BASH! Potluck picnic style..
Sunday-Father's day Homemade shrimp scampi and maybe some steak tips
Monday- Chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. *easy since daddy's not home for dinner*
Tuesday-Smothered chicken with rice and corn
Wednesday- Anthony's 4th Birthday Anthony's choice, we'll likely go out for pizza
Thursday-Sweet and sour chicken, rice, and broccoli (homemade chinese night)
Friday- Mini meatloaves, tater salad, baked beans
Saturday-Fried chicken legs, lo sides
Sunday-Pulled pork sammies, with hot crash potatoes or tater wedges
Monday-Sloppy joes, with taters tots.
Tuesday- Smoked sausage with pasta or something..

Desserts- Jello with fruit, strawberry short cakes, ice cream, if there is a cooler night I'll make a cake.

I am thinking up some yummy 4th of July stuff too. Chris and I went on our first date on July 4th, 2004 :) 5 years ago.