WFMW: Measuring Spoons

This idea is definitely not revolutionary or creative but it is what works for me.

I cook most nights and usually bake something during the week so my measuring spoons get a lot of use. I also like to have several sets of measuring spoons which is so helpful when you are doing a lot of baking.

Instead of storing them in the drawer with the rest of my cooking tools, I have removed them from the rings they come on and put them in a little flowerpot I have. The flowerpot was given to me by my daughter a few years ago for Mother’s Day. It originally contained a plant which I more than likely killed within days. I have a talent for that.

This makes finding the spoon I need hassle-free. Plus the pot is a cute keepsake from my daughter that I get to use daily.

For more fabulous ideas please visit We Are THAT Family.

 

Menu Plan Monday

Here is my menu plan for the week. Almost every Monday is Spaghetti Night (or some other shaped pasta). I have done this for years because it is such a no brainer meal. Everyone eats spaghetti without complaint which makes for a happy momma.

Monday: Spaghetti w/ Meat Sauce, Tossed Salad and Artisan Bread

Tuesday: We have late dentist appointments so I will be picking up pizza on the way home.

Wednesday: Hamburgers w/ Homemade Buns, Roasted Potatoes, Cauliflower (doesn’t really go with hamburgers but I never made it last week so I need to make it before it goes bad.)

Thursday: Asian BBQ Chicken, Fried Rice, Egg Rolls

Friday: Sausage Pasta (see recipe below), Broccoli, Artisan Bread

Saturday: Church function:  Hay ride and cookout

Sunday: Chicken Quesadillas, Spanish Rice, Carrot Sticks

Baking this week: Homemade Hamburger Buns (never made these before so this will be an experiment) Brownies, Pumpkin Bread, Cookies – not sure what kind yet.

Last week I tried making Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day and it was so easy and tasted so good! My husband said it was the best bread he ever had. So now it is my new dinner bread which is something my husband has to have any time we have pasta. There are several things I really liked about this bread besides how easy it was to mix up:

It makes 4 loaves.

The dough will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

You do not have to knead the dough.

It makes a small loaf so that it is just enough for our family of 5 to each have a slice or two.

If you have never made bread before I would highly suggest this recipe.

Sausage Pasta

This is a super easy recipe to throw together and, with the addition of different vegetables, can make lots of variations.

Source: allrecipes.com

Course: Main Course

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• ³⁄₄ pound pasta
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound spicy Italian sausage
• 1 onion chopped
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (10 ounce) package fresh chopped spinach
• ¹⁄₂ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and reserve.
2. In a large skillet, heat oil and sausage; cook through until no longer pink. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, add onion and garlic to skillet. Add broth, basil and tomatoes with liquid.
3. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes to slightly reduce. Add chopped spinach; cover skillet and simmer on reduced heat until spinach is tender.
4. Add pasta to skillet and mix together. Sprinkle with cheese and serve immediately.

View recipe at plantoeat.com

For more Weekly Menu Plans please visit Organizing Junkie.

 

Clutter Busting: The Spot Where Everyone Dumps Their Stuff

Everyone has one of these spots, you know, the spot where everyone dumps their stuff when they come in the house. Mine happens to be in the kitchen on the counter near the phone. Below is a picture of the area.

 

Usually the mail and papers that need to be dealt with land in this spot. But today there are books, notepads, phone books, coupons, a box with sink parts from the past weekend when my husband changed out the faucet, a staple gun and a few miscellaneous items. You can’t see it in this picture but on the wall to the left (you might be able to see the bottom of keys hanging down) we have one of those mail organizers that is basically useless except for the fact that it does hold our car keys.

I removed everything including the mail organizer. I had a metal double basket thing from Southern Living that I wasn’t using anywhere else. I decided this would be a great spot to put it. On the top I have a little flower pot for pens and some note paper. On the bottom I put my phone books, clipper magazines and paper work that needs immediate attention. Where the mail organizer was I put some decorative items on the wall.  And below are the results.

I wish I had thought to take a picture of the mail organizer. I had planned on just cleaning up the counter space but the organizer was just so hideous and really just about everything in it was junk or needed to be filed in our file drawer anyway.

This spot will definitely be an area where I will have to be continually on top of. But now that it is prettified (is that a word?) it will be a little bit easier.

 

WFMW: Pre-Made Pancake Mix

A long time ago, before kids, I would attempt to make pancakes for my husband using a store bought baking mix and they just never, ever tasted very good. The problem was more with the texture of the pancake than anything else. Then a few years ago I found a recipe for Buttermilk Pancakes and lo’ and behold they were good and people in my family actually enjoyed them!

My girls, in particular LOVE pancakes. But sometimes when they want pancakes I just don’t feel like getting everything out and mixing it all up. I mean really, why can’t they just get a bowl of cereal and leave me be!

So in order to combat my laziness what I like to do is make up 5 to 7 containers of Pancake Mix (dry ingredients only) to have on hand. For example, this morning when I made pancakes I measured all the dry ingredients into the bowl and I also measured them 5 times more into my containers.

Doing this only added about 10 minutes to my prep time this morning but will save me time for the next 5 times the kids want pancakes. Just dump the dry ingredients into my bowl, add the wet ingredients and pancakes are just minutes away!

This is what works for me! To see more Work For Me Wednesday ideas visit We are THAT Family.

 

Live in the Moment

Covered Bridge in Indiana photo credit B. Schultz

” Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the
fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.” Henry David Thoreau

 

Menu Plan Monday

Here is this weeks menu plan:

Breakfasts: eggs and bacon, cereal, buttermilk pancakes, grapefruit

Lunches: sandwiches (ham or PBJ) and fruit, quesadillas, toasted cheese sandwiches and apple slices, mini pizzas

Monday: Rigatoni with Meat Sauce, Tossed Salad and Homemade French Bread

Tuesday: Slow Cooker Round Steak, Roasted Cauliflower

Wednesday: Batter-dipped Chicken Sandwiches, Tater Tots

Thursday: Grilled Steak, Sauteed Zucchini, Garlic Toast

Friday: Homemade Pizza

Saturday: Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie

Sunday: Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Corn, Slaw

Goals: Instead of French Bread I may try Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a Day .

For more menu plans, check out Organizing Junkie.