Menu Plan

I can't believe its the first week of February although January seemed to drag on for me. Anyone else? I am a bit down in the dumps.. I think its cabin fever, or certain family members knocking me down whenever they can get a shot in. 

Monday- Cheese steak subs cooked with onions, and pasta salad.

Tuesday- Ranch parmesan chicken breast with leftover pasta salad (new recipe)

Wednesday- Sloppy joes, fries, and corn

Thursday- Sweet and sour meatloaf with twice baked potatoes and green beans (new recipe)

Friday- Homemade pizza, I am still looking for a good crust recipe.

Saturday- Homemade chicken noodle soup (new recipe)

Sunday- Superbowl Sunday!! Shrimp cocktail, cheese ball and crackers, teeny weenies.. whatever else I dig up..mmMMmm

New Recipe: Chocolate Eclair Cake

Chocolate Eclair Cake

Ingredients

• 2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 3 cups milk
• 1 (16 ounce) package graham cracker squares
• 1 (16 ounce) package prepared chocolate frosting

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, thoroughly blend the pudding mix, whipped topping, and milk.
2. Arrange a single layer of graham cracker squares in the bottom of a 13x9 inch baking pan. Evenly spread half of the pudding mixture over the crackers. Top with another layer of crackers and the remaining pudding mixture. Top with a final layer of graham crackers.
3. Spread the frosting over the whole cake up to the edges of the pan. Cover, and chill at least 4 hours before serving. ( Peel off foil wrapper and microwave for 30 seconds, that will help spread it, I just poured it evenly and used the back of a spoon smooth).          
4. Enjoy.
   

I will let you know how this goes tomorrow, when we have it for dessert after Mr. Bear's Mimi's birthday dinner. I might even get a picture in. Look for the update.

UPDATE: Cake was crazy good, all the teenaged cousins fought over it. Will definitely make this over and over.. yum! We rate this 11 out of 10 stars!! :)

                                                                                                                                                  

Family Date Night

Last Tuesday we had a family date night. I meant to write about it earlier and take a picture but I had forgotten. I decided since we like to eat out and its hard for us to get a hold on it, that we'd start a once a month we all go out as a family instead of random take out. So each month Mama, Daddy, or Little Bear will pick where we go as a family for dinner. This month we let Daddy chose since he has been really wanting a Stuffed Crust Pizza from Pizza Hut. They were running a 10$ any size, crust, and toppings deal. We paired it with their kid's night special which let little bear eat free between 5-10 with our order. Daddy got his pizza all to himself since I dislike Stuffed Crust. I got the buffet so we could pick and choose whatever we wanted. With drinks and a nice tip, it came in under 25. Next time I think we'll get a pitcher of ice water or pop to share. Individual glasses of pop really add up. It was a great time, and I look forward to our next date night with the kiddo, I just hope doesn't pick the golden arches!!

Weekly Goals

This weeks goals should be fairly easy since we don't have a whole lot planned.

• Keep on track with the menu plan.
• Get enough sleep, no sleeping till 10.
• Clean out the car.
  
• Keep up with house work.
• Work on letter "E" with little bear.
• Library time with little bear this week.
• No groceries unless its meat for the freezer or milk.
• Take pictures at Mimi's birthday dinner.
• Spend NO money unless its gas.
• Mop my floors.
• Go threw little bears room, sort threw clothes and toys for the shelter my mom works for. 

I think this is good for the week. We're suppose to get some snow again. It all melted off and we've been getting rain which I hate getting rain cause of all the mud. The weather man says we're to get more lake effect snow. The lake effect snow is the big wet heavy snow.. the boys will love it. Other than worrying about Mr. Bear going to work, it doesn't matter much to me. But I am looking forward to spring, since I'll officially become Mrs.Bear!!

Menu Plan

This week we stayed on track, other than we didn't do left overs because Little Bear was invited to a birthday party that had tons of food. So we ate there instead. 

Monday- Leftovers from Sunday. Chicken, mashed, gravy, corn, stuffing, sweet taters.

Tuesday- Sweet Italian sausages with salads

Wednesday- Stuffed chicken breast with broccoli and cheese (pre-made), baked potatoes, and green beans.

Thursday- Birthday for Mr. Bear's Mimi, I'll be bringing Chocolate Eclair Cake. (new)

Friday- BBQ cups, mac and cheese, and baked beans. (new)

Saturday- Pot roast with potatoes, carrots, and veggies, in the crock with cream of mush, and onion soup mix

Sunday- Roast beef sandwiches, fries, and peas.(using leftover roast)

Anthony's Favorite Bread

Anthony's Favorite Bread

Any reduced bread at the grocery store (frugal tip- store it in the fridge until ready to use, could be a couple days)

Butter at room temp.

Garlic salt

Parmesan cheese

Butter all the bread up with a thin layer of butter (real butter taste better and better for you). Sprinkle lightly with garlic salt, then parmesan cheese. Stick in 350* oven until butter is melted and bread is warmed threw.

We usually have this with spaghetti or the like. Enjoy.

Menu Plan

Ok, as usual things get jumbled up and plans change. Last week we did have Taco ring, Olive Garden, Sausage with onions, peppers, and potatoes. Thats all we managed to have that was planned, we did have Deer steaks with taters and peas, and we went over to Mr. Bear's mother's house. Saturday night Mr. Bear is going out with his Dad and brother so little bear and I went for dinner with my Dad and his family. Mr. Bear's Grandma took us for pizza earlier Saturday afternoon which was nice. So here is the weekly plan.. hopefully we'll get it all in.

Sunday- Shake-n-bake pork chops, parmesan egg noodles with peas, and broccoli salad.

Monday- Chicken stuffed with cheese and broccoli (store bought), still thinking up what to make with..

Tuesday- Stuffed cabbage rolls (New recipe)

Wednesday- Breakfast for dinner pancakes, sausage, and orange juice

Thursday- Spaghetti with meatballs, and garlic parmesan bread

Friday- Whole chicken, stuffing, mashed taters, corn and gravy.

Saturday- Leftover chicken for Chicken-n- biscuits.

Deals and Steals

I was looking threw the Staples flier since Mr. Bear's Grandma was looking for a lap top. While I was looking I found some one dollar in store coupons for some odds and ends. Apparently they don't put these in the Ads at the store only the newspapers that are mailed out. We were already headed to State College for dinner and Wegmans so I stopped in for this deal.

4pack of dry erase markers- 3.99
5pack ballpoint pens-           2.99
4pack glue sticks-                1.99
1 8.5 dry erase board-         6.99

Total                                   15.96 plus .06% tax

Minus 4 one dollar coupons (ones that make them a dollar each)

Total                                    4.24

YAY! The markers I use often, the pens as well. Little bear pastes a lot for preschool. And the dry erase is for his little goals/chore chart instead of printing a new one each week.

Family Favorite Recipe: Taco Ring

Taco Ring

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef, cooked, drained, and seasoned with taco seasoning

1 package taco seasoning mix 

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese 

2 Tbsp. water 

2 packages refrigerated crescent roll dough

Optional: (these are what we like)

Shredded lettuce

diced tomoatoes

taco sauce

sour cream

Directions-

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Arrange crescent triangles on a greased pizza pan. The bases will overlap and points to the outside. Scoop the meat mixture over the crescent rolls and sprinkle with cheese. Fold the triangle over filling and tuck under the base at the center. Filling will not be completely covered. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into wedges and top with your favorite toppings.

I won't be making this today since my MIL last minute invited us over for dinner tonight. Tomorrow will be different also since Mr. Bear's grandfather got a deer on Saturday, so we'll be having fresh venison steaks. I'll try to capture pictures of both.

Whats in the pantry??

Here's my menu plan.. instead of only eating from the pantry this week I thought I would kinda play along and list what I am eating that is already in my pantry.. those things will be highlighted and/or listed.

Monday- Olive Garden (Giftcard from my Dad and Stepmom)
Tuesday- Taco ring with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and cheddar.
Wednesday- Sloppy joes, pickles, and tots--I have tomato paste and mix for the sloppy joes already waiting.
Thursday- Homemade mac and cheese, salmon cakes, and peas--I do already have the cheese and milk for this.
Friday- Smoked sausage, peppers, onions, and potatoes
Saturday- Whole roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, gravy, stuffing--stuffing is homemade but I'll need a loaf of bread for it.
Sunday- Chicken n biscuits with leftover chicken

Menu Plan

Monday- Olive Garden (Giftcard from my Dad and Stepmom)
Tuesday- Taco ring with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and cheddar.-will post recipe
Wednesday- Sloppy joes, pickles, and tots-new method
Thursday- Homemade mac and cheese, salmon cakes, and peas-will post recipe on mac&cheese
Friday- Smoked sausage, peppers, onions, and potatoes-new recipe
Saturday- Whole roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, gravy, stuffing
Sunday- Chicken n biscuits with leftover chicken-will post method hopefully

List for shopping- Going to stock up at WM and Wegmans this coming week so my list is huge. Although I need the following for dinners...

Cresent rolls
Sour cream

Lettuce

Tomatoes
Rolls
pickles
tots
pasta
smoked sausage
peppers
gravy

Vikki's BBq Chicken Bites

Ok so I've gotten a bit of interest in my Bbq chicken bites. They are so simple and yummy.

As much chicken as you need.

3 Chicken breast
salt, pepper, garlic powder
your favorite bbq sauce (KC masterpiece for us)

Dice up your chicken into bite sized pieces. Fry in a lil butter, or olive oil, and season up. Once its cooked threw, coat the chicken with your sauce and let it simmer so it can thicken up... tada!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday- Take out (coming home from staying all weekend at my mom's about an hour and a half away).
Tuesday- Tacos with cheddar, sour cream, tomatoes, and lettuce
Wednesday- Ham sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, pickles, and baked beans
Thursday- Spaghetti w/meatballs, salads, and bread
Friday- BBq chicken bites, broccoli and cheese rice, and green beans
Saturday- Leftovers?
Sunday- Meatloaf, mashed taters, gravy, and corn

Desserts- jello, apple sauce, cantaloupe.