Monday Meals

Here's this weeks menu.  Hope you enjoy!

Split Pea Soup
Oatmeal Bread

New Years Eve Menu
Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken
Kung Pao Tofu
Egg Rolls (my husband makes them and I have no idea how)
Edamame (steam in bag)
Brown Jasmine Rice
Brownies (gf/df box mix)

Orange Pancakes (gf/df box mix)
Turkey Bacon
Hashbrowns
Fruit Salad

BBQ Tofu Sandwiches
Simply Ore Ida Fries
Kale Salad

Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas
Chips and Salsa

Homemade Pizza- purchased crusts and whatever topping we choose
Tossed Salad

Mom's Midweek Honey & Lemon Chicken (recipe below)
Brown Jasmine Rice
Green Beans (steam in bag)

Mom's Midweek Honey & Lemon Chicken (from Cook on a Shoestring by Sophie Wright)
2 Tbsp honey
3 garlic cloves, grated
Juice of two lemons
1 heaping tsp whole-grain mustard
1 Tbsp olive oil
Salt and freshly grout black pepper
8 chicken thighs, bone in and skin on

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a bowl, combine all ingredients except chicken.  Mix well.
2. Coat chicken in mixture and transfer to a baking dish, reserving remaining sauce.
3. Place dish in oven and cook for 25 minutes.  Halfway through cooking time, pour over rest of sauce.  Chicken should be cooked through and skin will be nice and crispy golden brown.
5. Serve with rice and green beans, and pour over sauce from bottom of baking dish.

Happy Birthday Myles

Happy 4th Birthday to you Myles.  You bring so much joy to our lives with your funny stories, adventurous spirit and many silly facial expressions.  You are one that loves to test the limits and are going to do great things.  Here's hoping that your 4th year is great!

Monday Meals

Here's another round of meals for all of you.  Happy Cooking!

Crockpot Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potato and Pumpkin Salsa (I had both of these on hand)
Butternut Squash
     Cut in half and scoop out seeds.  Place face down in a 9x13 pan and add 1/4 inch of water.  Baked in 400 degree oven for 40 minutes or until knife inserts easily.
Salad (spinach, tomatoes)

Hawaiian Sloppy Joe's
Fries (Simply Ore Ida or Alexia)
Honey Carrots
     Cut up carrots and place in saucepan over medium heat with some water.  When cooked to your liking add a little honey and stir.

Homemade Pizza
Salad (romaine, carrots and tomatoes)

One Pot Pasta Casserole
Green Beans (steam in bag kind)

Yellow Split Pea & Sweet Potato Soup
Oatmeal Bread

Monday Meals

Over and over again I see friends posting they need dinner ideas on facebook.  So, I thought I would start sharing a week of meals with you on Mondays, with the links to the recipes (when applicable).  Most of the meals I prepare are gluten and dairy free (or they are with substitutions).  Hope you enjoy these!

Balsamic & Honey Chicken Drumsticks in the Crockpot
Roasted Red Potatoes and Green Beans

Turkey Burgers (purchased ready to grill)
Fries (I like the Simply Ore Ida or Alexia brands)
Salad- basic with romaine, spinach, carrots and tomatoes

Chipotle Tofu Tacos
     We had tomatoes, cilantro, peppers, and black beans with them.

Homemade Pizza- purchased crust and whatever toppings we choose
Green Beans (Archer Farms brand is our favorite)

Slow Cooker Chicken & Dumplings

We had a couple of nights that we had leftovers this week.  Hope this helps with you meal planning.

Megan

Nativity

I love nativity sets.  Like, love LOVE!  Currently I have six sets, but I'm sure there will be many more in my future.  I love to walk around my house during the Christmas season and be reminded of what the true meaning of the season is.

Christ is coming.

My favorite, this was a gift from my parents.  I hope to add more to it.

One of the sets the boys play with.

I love that this one looks like a snow globe.

The other one the boys like to play with.  I find them all over the living room in odd places.  They're usually fighting bad guys.

A little gem that's missing pieces (ears, noses, hands),

The one that hangs in my kitchen window.

Do you have a nativity set, or two, or more?  Do you have a favorite?

Megan

Stop and Savor

The busyness of the holiday season is here.  I went to Target last week and it was packed.  I knew that Thanksgiving was just a few days away, but it was just chaotic.  And only to get busier as the holiday season continues.

I have an inner struggle that goes on during this time of the year.  I want to make memories and give gifts and share in the season, but I want to remember what the TRUE meaning of the season is.  The whole reason why I'm here and I'm free... Jesus.

He is the reason for the season.

His birth is what made way for Him dying on the cross so my sins, your sins, could be forgiven.

So friends, can we stop and savor this time?  This time to wait and anticipate what's coming.

He is the ULTIMATE gift.

The gift that continues to give every month.  Every week.  Every day.  Every minute.

Will you accept it and slow down or will you fall into the busyness?

He's waiting...

Peace,
Megan