Sunday, April 29, 2012
Plan for today
so after last night's (this morning's?) marathon cooking session, it's continuing. We got home from church and I put the beans on to boil for 2 hours. I also need to make pie crust, but that will have to wait. The lawn people are coming this week and I need to mow short and get moss out in preparation for their visit. Of course today is the only day when it won't be actually raining. Valerie's about to go down for a nap-So, I guess I'll mow while the beans are boiling (grass will be wet, so it will be challenging) then I'll take the beans off to cool (Can't put them in the bags hot) then spread the moss killer all over the lawn that we got on the way home from church, then come in, clean up the house a bit, make some pie crust then get out there and start raking. Sigh.
Freezer Meals-Ham
It's nearly 3 in the morning, I'm so exhausted, but I got a TON of cooking done this evening and I'm just reflecting on a job well done. Don't get me wrong, I have a few leftover things to do tomorrow, but with just a few more steps (cooking beans, shredding chicken, making pie crust & labelling containers, this afternoon/evening I went to a grocery store with all 3 kids and made:
9 pans (1 large for church) pans of ham casserole
8 bags of ham & quiche innards (still need to make the pie crusts to freeze with)
8 bags of country ham & bean soup (beans are soaking overnight, need to cook 2 hours, cool and add to the bags, waiting in the fridge-no idea where they'll go after that, the freezers are FULL)
8 pans (equal to 32 full-size enchiladas) pans of chicken enchiladas in a homemade sauce
3 pans of potato, ham & cheese casserole.
That's 36 meals... over one month of meals almost completely done in one day.
We went to my parents' house to visit with my brother and his son. My brother kindly got swindled into watching my 3 kids so I could head to the store, mostly for sale items, including stuff for lunches and snacks for my pantry as well as a helluva deal on cheese. I usually consider $4 a pound a fair price for cheese. Safeway this week has 2 pound blocks OR shredded store brand cheese for $4.99, which is dirt cheap for cheese. We love cheese and the meals this time around were cheese heavy. I saved a ton of time by buying the shredded for the same price as block. Usually the block is so much cheaper, I just run it through my shredder blade on the food processer, but this time I saved time by buying the shredded for the same price as the block. I also discovered the clearance aisle at the Albertsons by my mom, including wine. I got $14 bottles of wine for less than $3. I figure if they are horrid, I can always use them to cook with!
My goal this time around was to use approx 30 pounds of ham I'd bought for 99cents a pound (with bone and fat attached-3 large shanks), mushrooms & wheat pasta; some tortillas I'd gotten a deal on, frozen corn that was 99c a pound, black beans and diced tomatoes I got on sale last month.
While Carter went outside after we got home to build and paint a birdhouse, Henri watched Him, Valerie napped, then wandered around outside in back while the boys rode bikes in the front, I got down to work. First up was ham casserole, a family favorite.
The ham casserole has no measurements
I used this soup base I made last night instead of cream of mushroom soup
canned shitake mushrooms that I got on sale last month
frozen peas-on sale this month and last for .99 a pound
shredded cheese
whole wheat pasta I got for either $1.00 or $1.25 a box last month
then we did dinner, bath, pjs and I then took all 3 to the grocery store. We crazily and with a good, fun attitude, grabbed the few things I was missing for my ambitious cooking plan. One funny thing about going to the store with all 3 on a Saturday night-no one judged my hoodlums, I got stopped by two women asking about the children and really happy about how happy they seemed even though they were hanging 1/2 way out the cart. It was nice and relaxed :)
Next I put on the 2 huge packs of chicken thighs/legs from the grocery store on the stove to boil with their skin mostly pulled off.
Then I moved on to the ham & cheese quiche. Oddly enough I had 2 dozen eggs on hand, used shredded cheese and this recipe from my friend Jacquie C:
1 c. half & half (purchased 1 quart regular & 1 non-fat and labelled the bags to give participants a choice)
2 eggs
1/4 tsp salt & 1/4 tsp pepper (I omitted)
1 tsp onion powder
1 cup ham
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Put in gallon bag together and freeze with a pie crust (I'll make those from scratch tomorrow and roll up in parchment paper). Directions: thaw, mush, pour into pie crust and bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, done when center is set, not jiggly.
I pulled the chicken off the stove to cool and also bagged up the chicken stock in 2 cup increments after cooling it (important!)
Then I assembed the Country Bean soup except the beans that need to soak overnight , another recipe I think from Jacquie:
2 cups milk
4 Tbsp butter (melted)
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp salt (omitted)
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp sage
1/4 tsp pepper (omitted)
2 cans canellini beans (I'm doing them from dried for less than 50% of the cost of canned)
1 1/2 cups ham-diced
1/4 cup onions (had some in my produce drawer and frozen-when I have just a little left of peppers or onions, I dice them, measure them and throw them in the freezer to put in recipies when I don't have fresh).
Mix all and paste to thaw and put in crockpot for 4-6 hours in low or bring to boil and simmer 20-30 minutes.
Then I made a few potato, ham & cheese casseroles I found on pinterest.
Then the chicken had cooled, so I pulled it off the bone and mushed it with my fingers to separate it. I then made this enchilada sauce while I mixed up the filling in this recipe for enchiladas.. Assembled and done until tomorrow when I still have to do a ton of dishes waiting in the sink, cook the beans, cool and put in the soup, make the pie crusts to freeze, label everything (everything just has name, not directions on right now).
I'm off to bed!
9 pans (1 large for church) pans of ham casserole
8 bags of ham & quiche innards (still need to make the pie crusts to freeze with)
8 bags of country ham & bean soup (beans are soaking overnight, need to cook 2 hours, cool and add to the bags, waiting in the fridge-no idea where they'll go after that, the freezers are FULL)
8 pans (equal to 32 full-size enchiladas) pans of chicken enchiladas in a homemade sauce
3 pans of potato, ham & cheese casserole.
That's 36 meals... over one month of meals almost completely done in one day.
We went to my parents' house to visit with my brother and his son. My brother kindly got swindled into watching my 3 kids so I could head to the store, mostly for sale items, including stuff for lunches and snacks for my pantry as well as a helluva deal on cheese. I usually consider $4 a pound a fair price for cheese. Safeway this week has 2 pound blocks OR shredded store brand cheese for $4.99, which is dirt cheap for cheese. We love cheese and the meals this time around were cheese heavy. I saved a ton of time by buying the shredded for the same price as block. Usually the block is so much cheaper, I just run it through my shredder blade on the food processer, but this time I saved time by buying the shredded for the same price as the block. I also discovered the clearance aisle at the Albertsons by my mom, including wine. I got $14 bottles of wine for less than $3. I figure if they are horrid, I can always use them to cook with!
My goal this time around was to use approx 30 pounds of ham I'd bought for 99cents a pound (with bone and fat attached-3 large shanks), mushrooms & wheat pasta; some tortillas I'd gotten a deal on, frozen corn that was 99c a pound, black beans and diced tomatoes I got on sale last month.
While Carter went outside after we got home to build and paint a birdhouse, Henri watched Him, Valerie napped, then wandered around outside in back while the boys rode bikes in the front, I got down to work. First up was ham casserole, a family favorite.
The ham casserole has no measurements
I used this soup base I made last night instead of cream of mushroom soup
canned shitake mushrooms that I got on sale last month
frozen peas-on sale this month and last for .99 a pound
shredded cheese
whole wheat pasta I got for either $1.00 or $1.25 a box last month
then we did dinner, bath, pjs and I then took all 3 to the grocery store. We crazily and with a good, fun attitude, grabbed the few things I was missing for my ambitious cooking plan. One funny thing about going to the store with all 3 on a Saturday night-no one judged my hoodlums, I got stopped by two women asking about the children and really happy about how happy they seemed even though they were hanging 1/2 way out the cart. It was nice and relaxed :)
Next I put on the 2 huge packs of chicken thighs/legs from the grocery store on the stove to boil with their skin mostly pulled off.
Then I moved on to the ham & cheese quiche. Oddly enough I had 2 dozen eggs on hand, used shredded cheese and this recipe from my friend Jacquie C:
1 c. half & half (purchased 1 quart regular & 1 non-fat and labelled the bags to give participants a choice)
2 eggs
1/4 tsp salt & 1/4 tsp pepper (I omitted)
1 tsp onion powder
1 cup ham
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Put in gallon bag together and freeze with a pie crust (I'll make those from scratch tomorrow and roll up in parchment paper). Directions: thaw, mush, pour into pie crust and bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, done when center is set, not jiggly.
I pulled the chicken off the stove to cool and also bagged up the chicken stock in 2 cup increments after cooling it (important!)
Then I assembed the Country Bean soup except the beans that need to soak overnight , another recipe I think from Jacquie:
2 cups milk
4 Tbsp butter (melted)
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp salt (omitted)
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp sage
1/4 tsp pepper (omitted)
2 cans canellini beans (I'm doing them from dried for less than 50% of the cost of canned)
1 1/2 cups ham-diced
1/4 cup onions (had some in my produce drawer and frozen-when I have just a little left of peppers or onions, I dice them, measure them and throw them in the freezer to put in recipies when I don't have fresh).
Mix all and paste to thaw and put in crockpot for 4-6 hours in low or bring to boil and simmer 20-30 minutes.
Then I made a few potato, ham & cheese casseroles I found on pinterest.
Then the chicken had cooled, so I pulled it off the bone and mushed it with my fingers to separate it. I then made this enchilada sauce while I mixed up the filling in this recipe for enchiladas.. Assembled and done until tomorrow when I still have to do a ton of dishes waiting in the sink, cook the beans, cool and put in the soup, make the pie crusts to freeze, label everything (everything just has name, not directions on right now).
I'm off to bed!
Friday, April 27, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
This Old House...
So we did all our little fix-it projects last summer when we were going to try to sell the house. I had one more project in mind... we have a peninsula in our kitchen that has cabinets under it and one is cornered with the dishwasher, so it's a huge space...that is pretty unusable. My mom has a very similar set up but since my dad built hers, she was able to request a door into that space. So I decided I wanted one too.
THE space where I was envisioning a cabinet.
This is the other side, see that corner?
look at all that space back there! I wanted it!
I started off at Home Depot where I learned such a door would put me out $114 including hinges and I'd have to wait 3-5 weeks. Well anyone who knows me knows... I'm cheap and I'm impatient. So I headed home to think about things and have some lunch and looked online and found Re-Store in Seattle which is a non-profit that takes usable remodeling materials and resells them. Cabinet doors there are $5. Mine was in excellent condition and solid oak and unfinished, so I got it for $7. In fact, I picked up a couple to try because at $5 and the fact I could return them for store credit, I could well afford to try a few. I also found some other treasures there, but I'll post about them when I use them. Let's just say it is a pinterest person's haven.
By the time I stained it with $6 of stain and heavy duty hinges for $13 from McClendon's hardware, I'd already saved myself about 3-5 weeks of wait time and $90 (if you don't count the 3 doors I bought to try that didn't work out that I plan on exchanging).
So first off, I drew a line around where I wanted the door to go. I then made a few mistakes. I started by trying to cut right on the line when I should have gone about 1/2 inch at least, esp on the top, bottom and right sides (my hinges were to be on the left). Also, I started cutting with drilled holes in the corners, which was correct to do because I then used a jigsaw, however, I used a 3/4 inch drill and promptly drilled in places that weren't really ideal. My top left was not even into the cabinet and also into a cabinet square holder, my bottom left was almost below the cabinet. Note to those wanting to try this... drill tiny pilot holes where you think you want the corners of your hole to be and then have someone shine a light in them while you peer into the cabinet and make sure that these are indeed proper places for the corners. THEN you can cut bigger holes if you like.
So then I used my jigsaw to cut my hole out. I evened things up and went looking for my iron-on stainable veneer from my laundry room project, but couldn't find it. You'll see in the picture the outter cap of the cabinet and the inner back cabinet wall which make the inside of my hole (that no one can see) a little rough. As soon as I find the veneer, I plan on installing it (cut it down to the width with scissors, Iron it on flat, then stain. It will look much nicer-it's really easy)
look at all that space!
Then I took scrap lumber I got from McClendon's (they also gave Carter a free birdhouse kit!) and cut it down to about 4 inches by 26 inches and used 3 drywall screws to screw it into the cabinet wall
I then installed my hinges per directions in the package. I did also find hinges for about $1 a pair at Re-store, but since the cabinet door already had holes drilled in it for the regular hinges, I sprung for the $13 ones as then I won't have exposed hinge. I also, very classily took a minute to open a bottle of wine to try to solve my hole problem and wouldn't you know, the cork fit right in there (Paul is hoping I'll put a strip of veneer over that as well, I probably will punch a 3/4 inch hole out with my hole punch in my craft room and put it over the cork :) ) you can't see it in the picture, I think because the drill cord is in the way...
That's it! All in all, with all our bungling and not the driving around time to get supplies, I'd say it's a 2-3 hour project.
How the final product turned out from the outside
I know it looks a little wierd because it's darker than the back of the cabinet, the back plate has been in the sun side of the house for 15 years, it's a bit bleached, but look at the other side and you'll see it fits well with the rest of the kitchen...
Updated to add the final touches:
I found the veneer! You can just cut with scissors or exacto knife or box cutter to cover the edges, I did have to remove the door to do this because my hinges were covering one edge.
Then use an iron to heat set it. The iron activates the glue on the back. Be very careful as you are ironing in a tight corner and can burn yourself as I did, ouch!
I was wondering what to put in this space. My neighbor girl came over this morning for carpool and says, "oh, yeah, we have a place like that at my house, that's where we keep the art supplies." BINGO! I've stored them in the pantry & the lazy susan in the corner because I need the supplies over the more washable flooring (not carpet) and where I can keep an eye on my little buggers, but both places had a large flaw. They were right where I'm trying to cook. 4-5 pm is insane in my house. All 3 are home, I'm trying to make dinner, they are hungry and getting a second wind and trying to get in their art stuff while I'm tired, cranky and hungry and inevitably I step on a marker and use profanity. Now, it can be on the other side, still in the kitchen, but not where I'm trying to cook :)
Then varnish (I just took a rag and rubbed some on)
Put the door back on and look how nice that looks!
I also added a few screw hooks (make sure they aren't too long that they go through your door) to add some art bibs for painting.
This is the other side, see that corner?
I started off at Home Depot where I learned such a door would put me out $114 including hinges and I'd have to wait 3-5 weeks. Well anyone who knows me knows... I'm cheap and I'm impatient. So I headed home to think about things and have some lunch and looked online and found Re-Store in Seattle which is a non-profit that takes usable remodeling materials and resells them. Cabinet doors there are $5. Mine was in excellent condition and solid oak and unfinished, so I got it for $7. In fact, I picked up a couple to try because at $5 and the fact I could return them for store credit, I could well afford to try a few. I also found some other treasures there, but I'll post about them when I use them. Let's just say it is a pinterest person's haven.
By the time I stained it with $6 of stain and heavy duty hinges for $13 from McClendon's hardware, I'd already saved myself about 3-5 weeks of wait time and $90 (if you don't count the 3 doors I bought to try that didn't work out that I plan on exchanging).
So first off, I drew a line around where I wanted the door to go. I then made a few mistakes. I started by trying to cut right on the line when I should have gone about 1/2 inch at least, esp on the top, bottom and right sides (my hinges were to be on the left). Also, I started cutting with drilled holes in the corners, which was correct to do because I then used a jigsaw, however, I used a 3/4 inch drill and promptly drilled in places that weren't really ideal. My top left was not even into the cabinet and also into a cabinet square holder, my bottom left was almost below the cabinet. Note to those wanting to try this... drill tiny pilot holes where you think you want the corners of your hole to be and then have someone shine a light in them while you peer into the cabinet and make sure that these are indeed proper places for the corners. THEN you can cut bigger holes if you like.
So then I used my jigsaw to cut my hole out. I evened things up and went looking for my iron-on stainable veneer from my laundry room project, but couldn't find it. You'll see in the picture the outter cap of the cabinet and the inner back cabinet wall which make the inside of my hole (that no one can see) a little rough. As soon as I find the veneer, I plan on installing it (cut it down to the width with scissors, Iron it on flat, then stain. It will look much nicer-it's really easy)
look at all that space!
Then I took scrap lumber I got from McClendon's (they also gave Carter a free birdhouse kit!) and cut it down to about 4 inches by 26 inches and used 3 drywall screws to screw it into the cabinet wall
I then installed my hinges per directions in the package. I did also find hinges for about $1 a pair at Re-store, but since the cabinet door already had holes drilled in it for the regular hinges, I sprung for the $13 ones as then I won't have exposed hinge. I also, very classily took a minute to open a bottle of wine to try to solve my hole problem and wouldn't you know, the cork fit right in there (Paul is hoping I'll put a strip of veneer over that as well, I probably will punch a 3/4 inch hole out with my hole punch in my craft room and put it over the cork :) ) you can't see it in the picture, I think because the drill cord is in the way...
That's it! All in all, with all our bungling and not the driving around time to get supplies, I'd say it's a 2-3 hour project.
How the final product turned out from the outside
Updated to add the final touches:
I found the veneer! You can just cut with scissors or exacto knife or box cutter to cover the edges, I did have to remove the door to do this because my hinges were covering one edge.
Then use an iron to heat set it. The iron activates the glue on the back. Be very careful as you are ironing in a tight corner and can burn yourself as I did, ouch!
I was wondering what to put in this space. My neighbor girl came over this morning for carpool and says, "oh, yeah, we have a place like that at my house, that's where we keep the art supplies." BINGO! I've stored them in the pantry & the lazy susan in the corner because I need the supplies over the more washable flooring (not carpet) and where I can keep an eye on my little buggers, but both places had a large flaw. They were right where I'm trying to cook. 4-5 pm is insane in my house. All 3 are home, I'm trying to make dinner, they are hungry and getting a second wind and trying to get in their art stuff while I'm tired, cranky and hungry and inevitably I step on a marker and use profanity. Now, it can be on the other side, still in the kitchen, but not where I'm trying to cook :)
Then varnish (I just took a rag and rubbed some on)
Put the door back on and look how nice that looks!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Recent Videos
Valerie's just getting so cute! I made some videos of her doing everyday stuff...
This is what she did instead of looking for eggs at the church egg hunt.
opening the Easter baskets (buckets)
This is what she did instead of looking for eggs at the church egg hunt.
opening the Easter baskets (buckets)
She's not talking a lot but she does like to make herself known.
It was really nice yesterday so we pulled out the bubble machine.
Valerie was looking for Eggs at my parents' house. I love this video because it shows her very distinctive strut (she rarely just walks, lol)
Drinking from a glass
Children's museum
eating strawberries. I think she ate her weight in them...
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Just an update
So things are still busy here as usual. We're gearing up for Carter's SEVENTH birthday party! Not one of my usual fancy, crazy things, but he's having some kids over, on his actual birthday, after school, they'll eat pizza and build with the 5,000,000 legos we have and everyone will go home with a little lego set (assuming they arrive from Toys R Us in time)
I've been busy putting Valerie's crazy hair that I have yet to cut into pig tails...
I've been busy putting Valerie's crazy hair that I have yet to cut into pig tails...
We went to the Tacoma Children's Museum, which was awesome and also to the Pike Place Market on a rare sunny Saturday and bought some awesome king crab legs and ate like kings on the back deck.
I've been making a new bread recipe that's lighter than the whole wheat one I'd been making. I've been making only 1/2 the recipe for one loaf, but everyone seems to like it enough I may start making 2 at a time. I'm still making my crazy Amish bread in every flavor I can think of and stashing it in the freezer. I'm still cooking 8 meals at a time and swapping with people.
I'm also still on my Jillian Michael's/Green Smoothie kick. Amazing things are happening... I'm losing pounds, my belly is starting to slim down and I'm getting stronger. I am back up to doing 5 pound weights and I'm making it through all my workouts. Even the advanced levels. No one has really noticed except myself and Paul. I'm not buying smaller clothes yet, but my current clothing fits better and I'm needing a belt more often than not.
I'm still adjusting my afternoon as I'm STARVING in the late afternoon... I either need to add some protein or a 3rd smoothie to get me through until dinner.
I think we're also doing well on our grocery budget. I'm sticking to my $500-$525 a month, which, Paul realized with me is $25 per person per week, which is pretty darned good when you think about it.
Even with all the produce for the smoothies. And the last few months we haven't gone over, but we are WELL stocked, in fact, I have lots of diced tomatoes, tortillas, whole wheat pasta, rice and possibly black beans that I need to get cooking into freezer meals except that the freezers' pretty darn full. So most of my grocery stopping is fresh fruit/veggies and milk, esp now that we're making our own bread.
So, same old same old domestic life.
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