Our family's website, PeacefulHome.net, is in the process of changing hosting companies and is currently inactive. Our plan is to move this blog over once construction is complete. Please stay tuned for updates!
The freezer and pantry are getting low as I'm trying to deplete it as much as possible before we leave in a mere 12 days. While I still have the ingredients for all my planned main dishes, I'm starting to get more creative in the side dish department. Lots of peaches and rice (not together!).
I intend to work out our menu plan for October and November during our road trip. We'll see if that happens! This week we'll be enjoying:
Monday - Chicken Delish
Tuesday - Green Chili Casserole
Wednesday (AWANA)- Hot Dogs, Popcorn
Thursday - Sloppy Joes (made with black beans instead of hamburger)
Friday - Baked Hashbrown Casserole, Peach Cobbler
Saturday (Our Anniversary) - Baked Stromboli Sandwiches
Our menus for last year can be found at our website. Breakfast menu is here; lunch menu is here.
Find more menus at:
The mom blogs, and sews, and probably does some laundry.
Bryan and the children are having a camp-out at some friends' this evening. Hunter (1) and I hung around for the hot dog roasting before cutting out for the bug-free bliss of home.
Hurl all the names at me you wish (I've already heard them from my children), but sleeping outside on the ground has zero appeal! Besides with Hunter in bed now, I can do whatever I want without interruption. Happy Dance!!
Em just texted me that Ted was doing a noogieman dance?! We can only hope that there's a video. Sure to become a YouTube classic! The dads are sitting around the fire telling scary stories about Hot Pockets. Good times, good times!
Corn Casserole is one of my "go-to" side dishes. It goes together quickly, everyone loves it, and the leftovers reheat beautifully.
The only negative is the fact that if has to bake for an hour. Many an evening dinner has been late because I forgot to pull the corn casserole together in time. Until now!
Last week, with little time to spare, I needed something to round out our dinner. I wistfully looked at the clock. Only 20 minutes until Bryan got home. And corn casserole would be so tasty with our Mexican dinner. Hmmmmm....
And then, employing the cooking times Emelie used in making her 4,693 microwave coffee cakes for 4-H this year, I was able to serve the casserole on time!
Here's the traditional recipe:
JIFFY CORN CASSEROLE
1 can whole kernel corn (juice, too)
1 can cream style corn
1 c. sour cream
1/4 c. sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 c. melted butter
1 (8 oz.) box Jiffy corn muffin mix
Mix together adding muffin mix last. Bake in large casserole or 9x13 pan at 350 degrees 50-60 minutes until set. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
To microwave:
Grease 2 - 2 qt. round microwave safe bowls. Pour half the batter in each. Microwave (one at a time) on 50% for 4 minutes, then high for 3.5 minutes. Rotate bowl during cooking if you don't have a turntable. It should knife-test done. Broil for 2 minutes or until golden brown.
The first casserole is on the table in just over 10 minutes. We eat both bowls, but you could try freezing the second for a later time!
My use of M&Ms as a training tool is well-known, perhaps approaching legendary :-). Here are some more “sweet” ideas to motivate children to accomplish some of YOUR organizational and cleaning objectives!
In getting ready for school, I challenged the children to a “Battle of the Trash.” I gave the boys and girls each a big trash bag and told them to fill it with stuff from their rooms and closets. I think in the end, combined, they filled 5.
I got out my spring scale and weighed the results – boys vs. girls. The end result was 62 pounds of trash left my home. The girl team won and they were each rewarded with a mini candy bar. The boys received a few M&Ms as a conciliation prize (I just can’t get away from those M&Ms).
For two weeks I announced that we would be having school bin inspections at an undisclosed time. The objective was to remove anything from their totes that were not directly needed to accomplish schoolwork. Those that heeded my words received (in their now impeccable bins) a mini candy bar. I also threw in a few silly bands because I’m the coolest mom ever! They were as surprised and delighted as Christmas to wake one morning and see the treats.
When I saw this pattern for a Bandana Military Style Hat from YouCanMakeThis.com, I knew that it would be perfect for our trip to Florida next month.
The pattern can be made from a bandana or any 22" square of fabric. They went together very quickly from the fabric the children selected. I did have to slightly enlarge the pattern for the older children. As printed it fit the 3- & 5-year-old girls perfectly!
We're getting excited about the low numbers on the Disney Countdown! Only 11 schooldays left.
Our dinner for Thursday, Layer Supper, is quite the crowd pleaser around here. And it scores double points for being filling, economical, and super-easy! Cook up some brown rice, pinto beans (try our Pinto Bean Mix) and peas. Make up a simple cheese sauce, use nacho cheese, or even a handful of shredded. Layer each plate with beans, peas, rice and cheese (most of mine opt for peas on the side). Talk about an all-in-one dish!
Monday - Broccoli Cheese Chicken
Tuesday - Taco Ring
Wednesday (AWANA)- Frozen Pizza, Boxed Mac 'n Cheese
Thursday - Layer Supper
Friday - Bible Study
Saturday (My Birthday) - Out to Dinner!!
Our menus for last year can be found at our website. Breakfast menu is here; lunch menu is here.
Find more menus at:
One of our weekly family entertainments is reading through the police blotter in the local paper every week. It's usually a far cry from what Bryan and I grew up hearing about in Southern California! This week there were a few tidbits so good I had to share:
12:55 pm - Someone drove through caller's corn...
8:15 pm - Pigs running loose at Ind. 47 and US 421...
8:21 am - Canada goose blocking entrance to Marsh grocery store...
8:48 pm - Large, grey pig walking down the road...
Why am I hearing the theme to "Green Acres" running through my head?
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