Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

It's my first time and Lisa asked for quick meals. I try to remember to do a protein, veg and starch...usually the sides are no problem, it's the protein that gets me! Stop on by for other TMTT ideas!

Some of my favorite quick meals are:

Best Grilled Pork Chops, I freeze the marinade with the chops so all I have to do is take it out and defrost. By the time I cook the chops on the grill, I can cook off a box of rice pilaf and heat up some peas.

Crescent Dogs (Tube of crescent rolls, 4 slices cheese, some mustart and hot dogs. Cut cheese in half diagonally, unroll the crescent rolls, split them up into 8. A squirt of mustart on each, half a slice of cheese and roll up. Bake at 350 for 15-20 min, til done.)

Frozen ravioli or stuffed shells...cook according to directions, add some pasta sauce (doctor it up or use your own) and cook some garlic bread. Add a salad and you are set!

Hamburgers are easy, as are hot dogs or turkey cheddarwursts along with baked beans, tater tots, etc.

Sloppy Joes are quick and one of my faves!

Election Day & November Goal! (House Marathon too!)

Happy Election Day!

I'm excited to see how this turns out, but even more excited to get rid of all the political ads!!! I come into work to 3 or 4 voicemails by those "bots"...ugh! Like a phone call by a bot is going to change my mind on who to vote for!

Also, those snarky ads...who do they think they are kidding. McCain this, Obama that. Blech...though, I think the local ads are worse!

Anyhoo, I'm glad it will be over.

That being said, I never made it to the library yesterday. Made some cookies, cleaned the bathroom, did the dishes and a load of laundry, whoot for me!

I slept like poop too, didn't fall asleep til midnight, woke up 3 times and finally got up at 6.

Do you know what fascinates me right now? The blogs where I see people spend $25 a week for two people (Miriam, she seems sweet) and $50 a week for 6 (Gayle, awesome site!) on groceries! It blows my mind. I have problems keeping it at $100 or less a week! That is my goal, to keep it below that. I would love to be at $50-75 for the two of us...that is my goal this month I think! I'm going to get some ideas from $5 Dollar Dinners, she has monthly plans and recipes. Not everything is a dinner we would eat, but it gives me some ideas and I can go from there.

Come join me! Come on, we can all use the extra $$ for the holidays!

Oh yes, to complete my day, there is a House marathon on USA today. I love me some House!

Simple Woman's Daybook

Visit Peggy and the rest of us! It's so much fun to read everyone's daybooks!

FOR TODAY Monday, November 3, 2008

Outside My Window...
The leaves are on the ground, but not for long as the landscapers are here! It is kind of gloomy out.

I am thinking...
It’s November already??!

I am thankful for...
I remembered to turn back the clocks and I love “fall back”…I like waking up feeling like it is later!

From the kitchen...
BBQ beef in the crockpot.

I am wearing...
Light gray fleece pants, white socks and a blue long sleeve shirt, and under-roos!

I am creating...
My work invoices.

I am going...
To the library to pick up a book or 4 after work.

I am reading...
Nothing, I ran out!

I am hoping...
Everything goes a-ok with Obie and me at the doc’s this week. We both have appointments!

I am hearing...
Obie bark at the landscapers.

Around the house...
Dishes to be done! Two loads of laundry to do.

One of my favorite things...
Going to the library. I’m an addict!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
Library today.
Grocery shop on Thursday.
Laundry!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Biloxi baby! One of my favorite places! Went there for my birthday with Mom & Dad, this was a boat show we stopped by on a Saturday.

Peach Cobbler

I halved the recipes, made it in an 8x8. Shorter cook time too. It was good, but I have an old time recipe I love that I need to dig out! As always, changes in parentheses/bolded.

Peach Cobbler

Batter
1/2 cup melted butter (I used 1/4 c)
1 cup flour (I used 1/2 c)
1 cup sugar (I used a little over 1/3 c...cut in more than in half)
2 teaspoons baking powder (I used 1 tsp)
1/4 teaspoon salt (I used 1/8 tsp)
2/3 cup room temperature milk (I used 1/3 c)
1 room temperature egg (I used 1 egg)

Filling
1 (28 ounce) can sliced peaches, drained (I used a 15 oz can packed in juice, drained)
1 cup sugar (I used a little over 1/3 c again)
1 teaspoon cinnamon (I used 3/4 tsp)
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (omitted)

Directions:
1. Melt butter in a 9 x 13 inch pan. (I used 8x8)
2. Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder & salt.
3. Stir in milk & egg.
4. Pour evenly over melted butter.
5. Combine peaches, sugar & spices and spread over batter-DO NOT STIR!
6. Bake 35-45 minutes at 350°F until batter comes to the top and is golden brown.

Serve warm with ice cream.

The Best Apple Pie Muffins Ever

Ok, I have to say...don't know if these are the BEST, but they are good! I could eat the topping after it's bakes on it's own...chewy and yummy. I made a dozen regular and I think about 18 minis. The topping kind of ran off a bit, I was sad. These need a bit more oomph to them...more spice. If you ever don't have enough batter to fill your muffin tins (as was the case for my minis, just fill the empty holes with water.)

As always, my changes are in bold or in parentheses.

The Best Apple Pie Muffins Ever

Topping
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Muffins
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2/3 cup vegetable oil (I used 1/3 c applesauce and 1/3 c oil)
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups diced peeled firm tart apples (such as Spy, Granny Smith)
1 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

Topping: In a small bowl toss together sugar, flour, butter and cinnamon until crumbly; set aside.

Muffins:
1. Prehaeat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl whisk together brown sugar, oil, egg and vanilla until smooth.
2. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, soda and salt.
3. Stir oil mixture into flour mixture alternately with buttermilk.
4. Fold in apples, mixing just until combined.
5. Spoon into greased muffin cups filling 3/4 full.
6. Sprinkle topping over evenly.
7. Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and tops spring back.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies

My changes are in parentheses or bolded.

I get about 28.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter (a MUST for chewy/crispy cookies)
3/4 cup chunky peanut butter (sometimes I mix chunky and creamy)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed (I use light too, whatever I have on hand)
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips or bittersweet semisweet chocolate chunks (I use semi-sweet chips, just stir in chocolate chips until it looks good)


Directions:
1. Cream the butter and peanut butter together until fully incorporated.
2. Add the sugars and cream on medium speed.
3. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until completely incorporated.
4. Add the flour and baking soda, mix until no white remains, then add the chocolate and mix on low just until everything comes together.
5. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto parchment-lined baking sheets. (I actually make 1" balls.)
6. Bake at 350° for 9 minutes or until golden brown. (They might look a little light, don't bake more than 10 minutes.)

Menu Plan Monday!

Swing by Organizing Junkie and check out the over 200 menu plans!

Just so you know, I've made Sharon's beef about 6 times...it is good! I just dump the frozen roast in the crockpot with the sauce ingredients, cook it all on low.



For November 3, 2008 thru November 9, 2008


Monday, November 3
Sharon’s Ono BBQ Beef (Just so you know, I've made Sharon's beef about 6 times...it is good! I just dump the frozen roast in the crockpot with the sauce ingredients, cook it all on low for most of the day. I then drain it and make the sauce again, put it all back in (beef & sauce) for another hour or two. I just don't like the grease it sometimes makes.)
Tater Tots
Salad


Tuesday, November 4
Bacon Cheeseburger Wellingtons (Will post later.)
Mac N Cheese
Salad


Wednesday, November 5
Mama’s BBQ Chicken (New recipe!)
Rice Pilaf
Green Beans


Thursday, November 6
Beef Patties in Onion Gravy (Tried and true--weren't sure we'd like the onion, onion, onion...but it's good!)
Mashed Potatoes
Peas


Friday, November 7
Chili (Will post later.)
Butter Bread


Saturday, November 8
Chili Dogs (made with leftover chili)
Oven Fries


Sunday, November 9
Chicken Croquettes (Will post one of these days!)
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Corn


Breakfast/Snacks/Etc.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pumpkin muffins
Best Apple Pie Muffins
Peach Cobbler
Oatmeal Coconut Cookies