Meal Planning Monday

I know it seems like I have been gone forever but I'm back! I have a big post coming up this week about my absence so stay tuned!! But for now here is my menu for week..... Sorry it is a day late!!



Monday: Leftover homemade Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and corn



Tuesday: Zesty Italian chicken, veggies & bread



Wednesday: Taco salad



Thursday: Baked spaghetti, green beans & bread



Friday: Chicken fajita pizza



Saturday breakfast: Biscuits and gravy, sausage



Saturday lunch: Leftovers

It's a....

GIRL!! We are so excited that we are going to be welcoming a little angel into our lives in October. Her name will be Kinsley Rae. I kept having feeling that we were having a boy but I am thrilled about our little girl. I am a girly and girl and can't wait for all the ruffles and bows I get to play with. I am also so excited to see the role Kory gets to play with a daughter. From the day we found out I was pregnant he was reading things I should do or shouldn't do and is always checking up on me to make sure I am ok. He is going to be a great father and will do anything for his daughter. I am also excited about the relationship that I get to have with my daughter like my and my mom have. We are the best of friends and I can't wait to share the same experience. We found out at our 16 week appointment but I wanted to wait until our 20 week appointment to post anything to just to be sure.

Our little one

Here are some updated pictures of our little one. So I have been a little absent but this little one has sucked out every bit of energy out of me. I usually will come home from work, fall asleep on the couch until Kory walks in the door and then I try to get up and cook something for dinner. I am sure you have noticed a drop in my Meal Planning Mondays and it is because I can't keep up!! I have been very blessed and haven't got sick but I am starting to think that draining all my energy may be just as bad. But I am trying to get better so keep checking back.

I have been very lucky and have a great OB! I have had an ultrasound at each appointment so far! Here are some of the pictures!!

Week 12:

Strong heartbeat. It was crazy to see how much it has gown in 12 weeks. Kory went to the appointment with me and it was so much fun having him there sharing these moments together.

Week 16:

We went in for a regular appointment and actually got to sneak a look at our little one. My OB said she would send us back to see if we could see the sex since I was 16 weeks. It was a quick ultrasound but she found the sex fast. I had a strong feeling it was a boy and have felt that way for many weeks. Kory has felt the same way until the last week because he had a dream it was a girl. And it was a......

Our Family

...is growing!! We are so excited to announce that we are having a baby! We found out on February 6th after I took numerous pregnancy tests to verify. It was Kory's 25th birthday and I was going to wait so I didn't steal any thunder from his big day but by that evening I could wait any longer. After finding a couple positive pregnancy tests we decided we needed to tell our families. So on February 13th we had all of our parents and siblings over for a BBQ and to break the news. We gave all the parents Happy Valentines Day Grandparent cards and only a few caught on. It was fun and very exciting for everyone. We made a few phone calls that night to family but asked them to remain quite until our first appointment on March 1st.

Our first appointment was March 1st and here is our first picture of our little one. At that appointment we found out I was actually 8 weeks pregnant and little further along than expected.

Meal Planning Monday

We have had a crazy couple of weeks and I haven't been very good to sticking to my menu. I am determined to stick to it this month even though we have some crazy days this week. So here is our menu for the week

Monday: Grilled chicken, corn casserole and grilled veggies

Tuesday: Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo: Darius Rucker

Wednesday: Pizza

Thursday: Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo: Brad Paisley

Friday: Wings & sweet potato fries

Check back for a new post with lots of information on why I have been MIA for a while! Have a fabulous week!!

Delicious Dips

Here are 2 recipes that are really easy and my go to dip recipes when we are going somewhere. I have used them at get together with our Sunday School class, Bunko & our Superbowl Party. delicious dips

Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip

1 cup mayo
1 cup fresh parmesan cheese
1 can artichoke hearts, drained & chopped
1 box frozen spinach, thawed or 1 cup fresh spinach
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup monterrey jack or mozzarella cheese

Heat oven to 350. Mix mayo, parmesan cheese, artichoke , spinach and bell peppers together. Put in a 1 quart dish & sprinkle with cheese. Cover & bake for 20 minutes.
( I thought I had a picture of the dip after it baked but I guess not!!)


Salsa


2 cans mexican stewed tomatoes 1/2 onion
1 bunch of cilantro
2 garlic cloves
1 jalapeno pepper
1 serrano pepper
1/2 lemon- just the juice
1/2 package of fajita seasoning
Salt & pepper to taste


Combine all into a large pot and cook until veggies are soft. (about 10 minutes) Then put all in a blender and mix. It can be served hot or cold. I love it because it is quick & easy!

Meal Planning Monday

Life has been crazy lately!! I have lots of things to catch you up on but those will have to come later this week. (Hopefully!!) For now on to the menu....

Monday: Chicken Bistro Twist ( I didn't cook it last week so I did tonight! It was pretty good and I will share the recipe later!)

Tuesday: Enchiladas & Mexican rice

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Baked potatoes with chopped beef

Friday: Grilled Chicken & corn casserole

Meal Planning Monday

Wow! Another week has come and gone already in 2010! I have lots to blog about to catch up but for now here is the menu for the week!

Monday: Fish fillets & potatoes

Tuesday: Late staff meeting so Kory is on his own

Wednesday: Leftovers or sandwiches

Thursday: Smothered Chicken with rice & veggies

Friday: Bistro Chicken twist....First time to make this recipe so I will post it after I make it and let you know how it turns out!

Saturday: Breakfast- Cinnamon Rolls
Grill in the afternoon

Hope you have a great week!

Meal Planning Monday

For meals this week I went to my pantry & freezer to use what we have before I spend money! So here are the meals for the week....

Monday: Pasta bag & salad- Bunko night

Tuesday: Sloppy Joes & sweet potatoe fries

Wednesday: Leftovers- Church

Thursday: Grilled Chicken & grilled veggies

Friday: Kory's Birthday dinner with his dad & step-mom

Saturday: Kory's Birthday........Breakfast casserole, he will be golfing so no plans for lunch, Birthday dinner with his mom & step-dad

Sunday: Breakfast during Sunday School, Leadership Luncheon after church & Superbowl party with our Sunday School class

We had a party crazy weekend but I forgot to take my camera, so once I can find some pics I will post!!

Meal Planning Monday

Monday: Cornbread taco casserole & salad



Tuesday: Parmesean Chicken tenders & veggies ( I didn't make this meal last week so it got bumped to this week. Kory has been asking if I will make these!!)



Wednesday: Church- leftovers



Thursday: Tamales, rice & queso



Friday: Plans with friends

Weddings

I thought that I was going to be on break for weddings for a while. But in the last few months I have had 3 friends get engaged who will all be getting married this year. I have a feeling they will all be this summer since they are all teachers!! Congratulations to

Amber & Dustin

Trina & Ryan

Sarah & Josh


Congrats to all of you and enjoy planning your very special day!

Meal Planning Monday

Wow..I see that it has been a week since I posted last. I will let you know what has happened this last week but for now here is my menu.

Monday: Pasta bake & salad

Tuesday: Crescent chicken & veggies

Wednesday: Church- leftovers

Thursday: Lasagna roll ups, green beans & bread

Friday: Pasta bag

Thanks Katy for the recipes this week! I am sure they will be delicious!

Meal Planning Monday

Since we didn't eat all of our meals that were planned last week due to Kory's brother's birthday I have put them on the menu this week. ( I don't make my husband eat the same thing that often!)

Monday: Spaghetti & steam fresh veggies

Tuesday: Wild Rice & Shrimp casserole, corn and rolls

Wednesday: Church- leftovers

Thursday: Poppy seed chicken casserole & green beans

Friday: Erin- Out of town so dinner with the girls
Kory- On his own

Saturday: Erin- Out of town so dinner with the girls
Kory- On his own

Sunday: Parmesan chicken tenders & marinara sauce

My new kitchen gadget

I am in love with

my Foodsaver!!

My mom recieved one for Christmas and I decided that it would be a great investment. So I went and purchased one. Since one of my New Year accomplishments was to be more organized and stick to a budget, I figured this could help me with both. It helps me to not waste food and even find things on sale knowing that I can freeze them and they will stay fresh for a long time.

The Foodsaver system even makes canisters that you can suck the air out and baggies where you make your own steamable veggies. I have used it multiple times a week and I love it.

Marking things off my list

Remember my New Year's accomplishment list? I am happy to say that I can already cross something off.

Learn how to sew

I got a sewing machine from my mother in law not to long ago and I couldn't wait to try it out. It has been in her attic for years, I was wanting to learn to sew so she handed it over and now I have a new jewel. (And it is pink!!)

I was wanting an easy project to start with so I searched the internet and found this pattern. Here is my first project......a crayon roll up.

I found the pattern here and decided that it looked pretty easy as my first project. I didn't do the rick rack on this one but I am still glad the way it turned out and want to add it to my next one. I can't wait to try new patterns and I will post and let you know how they turn out.

Crock Pot Chicken Soft Tacos

This is one of the easiest meals I have made in a long time!



You will need:

• Chicken breasts (The number depends on the number you are feeding)
• 1 jar salsa
• Tortillas
• Anything that you like to put on your tacos
  

Place the chicken breasts in the crock pot, pour the entire jar of salsa over the chicken and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shred the chicken with a fork, serve on tortillas and enjoy!!

What made it even easier was Reynolds Sow Cooker Liners.


When dinner was over I was able to pick the bag and throw it in the trash!! Easy clean up makes me happy!!

Meal Planning Monday

So my awesome roommate from college, Katy, has been doing her own Meal Planning Monday for while now. I have wanted to join in but I can't seem to get things together in time to post on Monday for the week. But now that we have started a new year and one of my goals was to be more organized, I am going to try my hardest to post Meal Planning Monday every week. So here it goes....



Monday: Bunko Night- Crock pot chicken soft tacos

Tuesday: Italian turkey & noodles & salad

Wednesday: Adam's Birthday dinner at Kory's parents

Thursday: Spaghetti & Veggies

Friday: Hamburgers & Sweet Potato Fries