Menu Monday - Must Knows

It's Thanksgiving this week. All roads lead to Turkey. And Grandma Mac's stuffing. So as I prepare my menu this week I sort have very little interest in

Monday

Tuesday or
Wednesday.

Seriously, let's just talk Thanksgiving.

So this week for Menu Monday, instead of highlighting my menu I thought I would share with you my secrets to surviving busy weeks.

There's one thing you need to know: OVERprepare

for example:

1. Make more biscuits than you'll eat for dinner. Because if you fry and egg, slap some cheese on it - and maybe some ham the next morning - you have a hot breakfast.

2. Frying hamburger? Make more than you need. Keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks for tacos, sloppy joes, etc in a snap! (I do this with sausage too!)

3. Make your own Yogurt Parfaits the night before. Your favorite frozen fruit + your favorite vanilla yogurt in lil mason jars lined up in the fridge are way easier to take on the fly. Forget the drive-thru.

4. Left over roast? Becomes Stroganoff or Beef n Noodles! and all you have to do is take the time to boil noodles.

5. Use your crockpot! I love throwing chicken breasts in with water or broth and letting it cook all day. Then every recipe in the world that calls for cooked chicken is no problem! Chicken and rice. Yep. Chicken enchiladas. Sure! But always, we serve the chicken the first time as shredded chicken sandwiches. With toasted buns and montery jack cheese? Get in my belly.

visit OrgJunkie for Awesome Menu Plan Link UP!

6. Potatoes. Roasted reds or Yukons are my favorite. But I always make too many. That's because red potatoes quesadillas or omelets? Yes, please. Also, potato soup. 

Seriously, why cook twice? Over cook once and you can spend half as much time in the kitchen later. Every short-cut counts. I hope these tips help make your time in the kitchen more enjoyable too.

Click over to my Pinterest Recipe Box for all my Family's favorites!

Follow Stephanie Sikorski's board For My Recipe Box on Pinterest.

Menu Monday 11/10/14

This weekend afforded me the luxury of thoughtful grocery shopping and menu planning. Which is a relief since fall tends to be an active season for the members of our family.
Now, a lull.
Which I appreciate. However, now that some of our activities our coming to an end, that means more family members will be home in the evening for dinner. So, what will this working mom of 5 feed her Tribe? Well check out the menu below - chock full of links - including a link to my favorite Pinterest board For my Recipe Box. That board is full of all these recipes and all the Tribe approved recipes the family has approved!

Follow Stephanie

Whatever your week brings I hope you get a chance to share a meal, swap some stories and nourish your family!

Sunday - Fluffy French Toast with Texas Toast (the flour really does make a nice difference!) with strawberries & whip cream

Sunday Crockpot - because I had leftover roast I tried this Crockpot Homemade Vegetable Stew recipe from Stockpiling Moms. because I tried this recipe I wanted bread to go with it. because I wanted bread, I broke my usual habit of staying out of the kitchen on Sundays. the honey butter alone, made this totally worth the work.

Monday - Crockpot Meatloaf, potatoes, corn casserole & the remainder of the rolls from Sunday. Also, I made a new dessert. I didn't tell my kids it was coconut and they snarfed it up! Check it out on  Stockpiling Moms.

be sure to check out this huge recipe link-up

Tuesday - Meatball Subs (for the kids) & Frisco Melts (made with thinly sliced leftover meatloaf) for the grownups. Served with Onion Rings.

Wednesday - Mozzarella Penne from liluna with Texas Toast from Six Sisters' Stuff and a nice salad.

Thursday - One Pot Chicken Dinner (this is a new recipe to the family. I hope they like it!)

Friday - Pizza Night (we might order out to celebrate - IF my son gets released from the doc to eat!)

Saturday - Haystacks from Taste of Home.

What are you cooking this week? I'd love to swap recipes! 

Follow Stephanie Sikorski's board For My Recipe Box on Pinterest.

10/27 Menu Monday

I'm using the crockpot this week. And the blender. Sometimes both. Here's hoping jawbone gets a good report at the doctor this week. He's got to be tired of milkshakes. 

The rest of us still need to eat so here's what's the Tribe is eating (with links) this week:

Sunday: Hootinany Pancake and Apple Cinnamon Rolls from YourCupcake

Monday: Maid Rites & French Fries

Tuesday: Roast with Potatoes, Carrots, Stick of Butter Rice (so so good!)  & Blueberry Muffins

Wednesday: Chicken n Noodles

Thursday: Taco Soup & Quesadillas

Friday: Bread Dough Pizza

Bonus:

Pumpkin shaped Sugar Cookies that I will ice like this thanks to a site called Created by Diane

Pumpkin Bars

S'more Snack Mix

What are you cooking this week?

Join the Link Up at www.orgjunkie.com

Menu Monday 10/20

The good news about working full time - I'm relying on weekly menus more than ever.

The bad news - I have no time to write about my weekly menus.

Aren't you sad?

No?

Ok. No problem.

However, if you're looking for new recipes, kid friendly dinners and yummy fall food let me tell ya ... my kitchen is the place to be. 

Oh, and if you're on a liquid diet? Well I can hook you up. The biggest challenge our Tribe is facing these days is our 16 year old son's broken jaw. He's wired shut for a month! A MONTH! My blender has been promoted from hanging out at the bottom-shelf-in-the-back-of-the-dusty-pantry to front and center on my kitchen counter.

So, there's that.

Other than liquids, here's what's cooking in our kitchen:

Sunday Brunch - Eggs, sausage links, biscuits and gravy and Taste of Home's Pecan Pumpkin bread

And since college kid is home, I'm breaking the Cereal Sunday to cook up a batch of her favorite Cheeseburger Soup with fresh from the oven bread. (Thank you freezer dough, you rise very well!)

Monday - Mostly Homemade Mom's Oven Chili Dogs and french fries

(last weekend I made a batch of chili and a little is hanging around so I'm working it in tonight) (p.s. my kids won't do chili dogs, so regular ol wieners for them)

Tuesday - Crockpot Shredded Chicken Sandwiches and baked potatoes (place frozen chicken breasts in crockpot, dump a box of Chicken broth, 2 packages of dry Italian dressing and the juice from a jar of Pepperochinis - sometimes I skip the pepper juice - cook on low 6 hours or until easily shredded with a fork. Put on a toasted bun and serve with delicious provolone cheese if you want!) 

Wednesday - Roast, Carrots, Potatoes, Freezer corn and blueberry biscuits.

Thursday - Campbell's Creamy Chicken Enchiladas (made from the leftover chicken sandwiches! another kid favorite!!)

with  (a new recipe) Damn Delicious' Mexican Rice

Friday - Pizza night or our soccer team will be at a Sectional game & we'll eat on the road! We'll see. 

Just Because:

Cake Pops - Remember how migraine inducing the Easy Bake Oven was? Yeah, my twins destroyed my kitchen while making these lil gems. Do you know how hard candy melts are to scrape of a flat top cook surface? Do you??

Snack Mix - Pretzels, Cheerios, Nuts, M&Ms tossed with melted vanilla chips & 1 tablespoon of Vegetable Oil. Addicting!

Also, check out www.orgjunkie.com for a HUGE menu plan monday link up! As always, thanks for stopping by.

Wordless Wednesday - Not My Nonni @ the Fair

Menu Monday

Happy Labor-Day Monday! 

In previous years, I use to grieve Labor Day as the official end to my pool filled summer days. However this year, as a full time working mom, I covet the extra day off it gave me!

You'd think I would use the extra time to organize and plan ahead and do all sorts of overachiever type activities.
But not me.
Not this year.
Despite my inerrant need to organize (it's a coping mechanism, I know it and if I had a therapist she'd confirm it) I'm chillaxin this holiday.

After all, how can I ever get ahead if I don't take care of my overused brain? I fear it might fry up and be good for nothing if I don't take the time to rest, relax and BE A PARTICIPANT in my own life. I'd hate to organize everyone and everything only to look back and see that I never DID anything, just PLANNED everything!!

So thank you Sabbath. Thank you Mr. Labor Day. Thank you BBQs for your flame licked burger goodness - cuz that is what we're eating to end summer grilling season!

Now, if I could only find a pool to lounge next to .....

Here's the Tribe's menu for this week:

Sunday Brunch - Overnight Ham & Egg Enchiladas (my kids love these! and I love the make-a-head option!)
Cereal Sunday - our weekly tradition; eat leftovers or cereal ... I don't care, just don't make a mess! (would totally hang this in my kitchen if I could cross stitch or knitted or painted)

Monday - Labor Day, Baby! Cheeseburgers, hot dogs, brats and foil pack potatoes on the grill (plenty for lunches this week too!) fresh tomatoes, deviled eggs (have I mentioned I buy fresh eggs every Friday? Love!)

Wordless Wednesday

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” - Michael Jordan

Menu Monday

Oh boy, here we go! Its time to get serious around here. School is beginning again and here's what's on the schedule for this week alone: We move our first born to college for her second year, school for the other four begins (I have 2 in high school - what!what!), hubs starts his student teaching ... Soccer ... Sports ... Homework ... Routine ... aaannnnd I work full-time!

It's insanely busy. That's why I preplan meals and in this week's Menu Plan Monday I'll be doing some double cooking; cook once, make twice the meals. So far I have 3 prepared meals in my deep freezer after this week will add 2 more.

Here's what the Tribe is eating this week! With links for you to try:

Sunday: French Toast Bake & Crockpot Chicken Wings
(I was out of soy sauce & substituted with Teriyaki Sauce)

Monday: Chicken Parmesan Casserole x2 
(I cooked 2 bags of chicken breasts in the crockpot on Sunday  to prepare)

Tuesday: BLTs because its August and tomatoes are a plenty! 

Wednesday: Texas Toast Turkey Melts
(this open face sandwich is a fav among my kids!) (also, I already have the bacon made from last night!)

Thursday: the Pioneer Woman Pasta alla Ladd x2
(new to my family, hope they like it because I'm making twice the sauce for a future recipe)

Friday: Bread Dough pizza
(we'll make this individual pizzas as I bought dinner rolls)

Also, p.s. stop going through the drive-thru for Yogurt Parfaits! Make these and take these ... they're just as good + you can keep your $ in your pocket!

p.p.s. You don't have to buy Sweet Tea either. Check out this recipe for making a gallon of that delicious southern nectar for your fridge!


Follow me on Pinterest - I have boards for Tribe approved meals, food I want to make and crockpot dishes.
Visit Stephanie Sikorski's profile on Pinterest.

As always, go check out www.orgjunkie.com on Mondays. She has the biggest Menu Plan Monday linkup I've seen! 

Wordless Wednesday

"Perched"

Menu Monday

Here's what our Tribe had on the menu this week! Check it out:

Monday - Chocolate Chips or Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes

Tuesday - Deli Ready Pizza & Bread sticks (please make these - they are delicious!)

Wednesday - Taco Night! Cheesy Rice and Mud and Chips too!

Thursday - Chicken Strips & French Fries

Friday - Pizza Night (a special treat!)

Saturday - Hamburgers & Squashed Potatoes

Sunday Brunch : Hootinany Pancake (family fav! easy to make!), Scrambled Eggs, Bacon (have you cooked it in the oven? So easy!!), Sausage Links, Doughnuts (my family thinks I'm the bomb when I make these)

Coffee w a friend is my fav!

Bonus:

Beverages: Blueberry Lemon Water &

Coffee Ice Cube Frappe's

(leftover coffee in the pot? No prob. Freeze it in an ice cube tray and throw in the blender with milk, creamer or sweetener ... however you like it! What are the proportions? Who cares? Trial & error, baby! After all, you're using leftover coffee so ... bonus!)

Breakfast Parfait to-go

Texas Sheet Cake

Snicker Doodle Blondies Bars!!

Be sure to follow all my Tribe-Approved recipes on Pinterest

and check out orgjunkie.com for a HUGE! Menu Monday link up! 

As always, thanks for reading To Write a Better Story!

Follow Stephanie Sikorski's board For the Recipe Box - Sweets on Pinterest.

Wordless Wednesday

My first Wordless Wednesday post.

These photos are my life. My reality. My little surprises. My twins.

Menu Monday

Mom of 5 (thats me!), went to work full time in June.  That's JUNE! The month school got out and our daughter returned home from her freshman year of college. JUNE where DH had a semester off before the final push towards graduation. And yes, JUNE where even the other four kids were released from the confines of school yard only to wander aimlessly between the pool and my pantry.   Yep, everyone got home the same time I went to work. So ......  depending on how one looks at it you could say I have the world's best or worst timing. 

That said, Menu Monday has been a wee bit challenging but no worries! I know eventually we'll find our groove. For summer I tried something different. I relinquished planning menus and transferred that responsibility to my family. 

I ask each member to pick a meal they like, I make a corresponding grocery list and DH (bless his heart) does the shopping. Then each evening, who ever choose the meal for that day, would begin dinner prep for me and in return, I teach them how to prepare that meal. 

It's been great! I get some one on one time with the kids, they learn how to do a little cooking and I'm not slaving away all day and all night! 

Win/Win

Now more than ever I treasure family dinner. It can be a struggle to make it happen but it's worth it as this article from The Atlantic recently reminded me. The stats don't change, folks. Breaking bread together is a tremendous way to keep ourselves mentally, AND physically nourished!

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/07/the-importance-of-eating-together/374256/

 Here's what we had to eat this week with links!

Also, as always, I'm linking my Menu Monday up with orgjunkie. She has the largest linkup I've

seen! Its a great resource if you love gathering recipes.

Sunday - Chili Sauce Chicken, Roasted Potatoes, Broccoli Salad & Cheddar Biscuits

Monday - Blue Cheese Burgers & Potatoes on the grill

Tuesday - Fettuccine Alfredo 

Wednesday - (Family Fav!!) Cheeseburger Wraps & Tator Tots

Thursday - General Tao's Chicken & Fried Rice

Friday - Chicken Patty Sandwiches & Macaroni & Cheese

Bonus: Zucchini Bread, Blueberry Cream Pie

Be sure to follow me on Pinterest! All our Tribe approved recipes are on my 'For My Recipe Box' linked below. Enjoy!

Follow Stephanie Sikorski's board For My Recipe Box on Pinterest.

Menu Monday - 3 Steps to the Best Ice Cream Sandwich You'll Eat all Summer

Happy Menu Monday!

Three weeks ago I went from a part time working mom to a full time working mom! As I’m working through that transition I’ve put a few things on hold, including writing. So before the cob webs appear on my blog I thought I could at least help my readers out and share with you one of my family's favorite summer treats. Make them and your kids might think your awesome! Maybe ......

Recently I made a double batch of the Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe but I was sure to set some cookies aside for this little bit o’heaven.

To Make Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches:

1. Take your favorite cookie and spread peanut butter on the bottom.
2. Top with a smidge of your favorite flavor ice cream.
3. Smoosh another cookie and make a sandwich.

Place in freezer and viola! Your family will think you are ah-mazing!

P.S. You don't have to make cookies from scratch - the refrigerated cookie dough works very nicely for these!

Enjoy!

For more of my family’s favorite tried and true recipes check out my Pinterest Board

but also, if you like collecting recipes check out www.orgjunkie.com and her Menu Plan Monday link up!

It’s the biggest I’ve seen!

I linked up too!

Thanks for reading and keep writing a better story! 

Follow Stephanie Sikorski's board For My Recipe Box on Pinterest.

Menu Monday

I hope you enjoy taking a peak into my kitchen today!

All my dinner's are made with "real" food, adhering to a strict budget & usually come together in a snap.

Even if you're not a menu planner, I hope some of the recipes will encourage you to bring your family around the table.

It's a busy, demanding world out there..... putting it all on hold so I can sit in the presence of my loved ones makes all the prep, planning and cooking worth it.

Here's what the Tribe is eating. Enjoy! Click to tweet

SUNDAY BRUNCH - Hootinany Pancake (with 4 ingredients you just HAVE to try this delish dish!), sausage & fried apples

SUNDAY DINNER - Stroganoff (so easy when you have leftover roast! optional: saute mushrooms & onions & add your 2 favorite cream of ___ soup & heat through, add sour cream just before serving. serve over mashed potatoes/egg noodles/toast)

Mexican MONDAY - Taco Bar (which included everything you imagine but instead of chips I offered tator tots for those of us who wanted Tat-chos)

'Talian TUESDAY - White Cheese & Chicken Lasagna (so, so good but I did make ahead of time!) with Six Sisters Cheesy Garlic Texas Toast

WEDNESDAY -  Roast from Stockpiling Moms, Mashed Potatoes, Corn Casserole & Roasted Carrots

THURSDAY - Chicken Fried Rice (easy just save leftover chicken from last week's Italian Chicken)

FRIDAY - (at the ball park) Chili Dogs, Potato Chips & Sugar Cookie Bars

SATURDAY BREAKFAST - French Toast (I love this recipe w Texas Toast, strawberries optional)

SATRUDAY- Grilled Sausage, Southern Fried Red Potatoes, Asparagus (except I broil mine) & Pasta Salad

Also, if you love the idea of Menu Monday be sure to check out OrgJunkie! She has the biggest link up I've found!

Follow all my Tribe-approved recipes on my Recipe Box Board on Pinterest!

Follow Stephanie Sikorski's board For My Recipe Box on Pinterest.