Sweet Potato Fries

Barbacoa Beef (linked below)

(Happy helper who needs to cuff her stretched out sleeves)

Here you go. . . Lent is a perfect time to simplify and clean out the winter foods from the freezer and pantry.  I thought it would be good discipline for me to actually make a meal plan and stick to it. I have scored a number of recipes from pinterest lately that have been a huge boost to our meal times.  (I love, love pinterest.)   Most often we have salad for our greens which works for us.  If we have leftovers, I will just scratch a meal and enjoy the night off.  (With this large group, that does not happen often.)  I waited to post this at the end of the month to ensure that I was not “promoting” something that was unrealitistc.  Here it is, a month later, on the brink of Holy Week and I can say it was a success. There have been a few modifications (company, activites, etc) but for the most part we are sticking to the schedule!  I love not having to think about what we should have.

To further simplify, I often prep in the morning and use my slow cooker and rice cooker as much as possible. The dinner hour is always more enjoyable when I am not stressed out from dinner making chaos.  I rarely make anything that is very fussy at the end of the recipe.  Please do not be intimidated if you have lots of littles and no kitchen help.  If I rewound the clock to ten years ago, most likely, we would have had leftovers at least twice a week.

I tried to link many of the recipes in case anyone was interested.  A few things I have made for what seems like forever and I do not have gorgeous pictures to accompany my recipes.  When the meal is read to be eaten, no one is willing to wait for pictures!  If you want more specifics, ask and you shall receive!

I hope that this blesses your family!  If you make something from here and it is a hit, I would love to know.

Mangia!  Mangia!

Week One

Sunday:  Braised Short Ribs, Mashed Potatoes,Caesar salad

Monday:  Spanish Rice with Sausage, Salad

Tuesday:  Sweet and Sour Chicken, Steamed Broccoli, Brown Rice

Wednesday: Lentil kale soup

Thursday:  Shepherds Pie (from left over mashed potatoes), Salad

Friday:  Clam Chowder, Salmon cakes, Salad

Saturday: Easy sausage veggie roast *

Week Two

Sunday: Roasted Turkey Breast, Grandma Ruth’s Stuffing, Salad

Monday:  Korean Beef, Rice, Peas

Tuesday: Turkey Tetrazzini, Salad

Wednesday: Pasta with Mary’s All Day Meat Sauce, Caesar Salad, Garlic Bread

Thursday: Mexican Chicken Chili, Corn Chips

Friday: Asian noodles

Saturday:  Beef and Black Bean Enchiladas

Week Three

Sunday:  Beef Fajitas, Peppers and Onions, salsa, Guacamole

Monday:  Chicken piccata, Arugula Salad, crashed potatoes

Tuesday:  Tequila Chicken, Salad, Garlic Fries

Wednesday:  Beans and Mexican Rice

Thursday:  Chicken Planks with Honey Mustard Sauce, Arugula Salad

Friday:  Madras Lentils, sliced red peppers, Naan

Saturday:  St. Patricks Day Salmon, Potatoes, Sauteed Green Beans

Week Four

Sunday: Garlic Lime Chicken, Sweet Potato Fries, Asparagus

Monday:  St. Joseph’s Day Steak, Mesquite Fries, Caesar Salad

Tuesday: Sesame chicken with Broccoli and Rice

Wednesday:  Crockpot Ziti, Salad

Thursday:  Lemon Chicken, Ina’s Quinoa Tabouli

Friday:   Kale and White Bean Pasta

Saturday: leftovers

Week Five:

Sunday:  Birthday dinner: Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Salad

Monday:  Chili, Corn Chips, Peppers

Tuesday:  Chicken Enchiladas, Salad

Wednesday: Skillet Potatoes, Black Bean Soup, Salad

Thursday:  Chicken Piri Piri, Mexican Rice, Green Beans

Friday:  Tostadas, Black Bean Soup left over

Saturday:  Birthday: Stuffed Shells, Caesar Salad

Holy Week:

Sunday: Barbacoa Beef, Salsa, Chips, Guacamole, Rice and Beans

Monday:  Chicken Parmesean, Arugula Salad

Tuesday:  Mexican Black Bean Burritos

Wednesday:  Korean Beef, Broccoli and Rice

Thursday:  Leg of Lamb, Quinoa Tabouli, sautéed Broccoli Rabe

Good Friday:  rice and beans

If you “pin”, come on over and say hello, www.pinterest.com/leslie_ann

A trip to the museum would not be complete without a quick stop in the gift shop.  (Well, I do intend for it to be quick!)  Ahh, all the “new” cool and creative things. We perused the games, gadgets and of course, the books.  I often use my phone to take pictures of things to help me remember what I might want to look into further. I made lots of notes for upcoming birthday ideas.   There are a few books that were pulled off the shelf upon our return or were recollected while we were there.  I thought that I would share some of them in case anyone was interested. . .

From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Fun story of a brother and sister who \run away and hide in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  A tale of mystery and adventure quickly enfolds the reader!  This is a chapter book but a quick and most entertaining read.  A family favorite that is soon to be read aloud again.

13 Artists Children Should Know

Quality publishing that is part of a series.

Degas and the Little Dancer

Beautiful pictures and story by a talented author and illustrator.

Leonardo and the Flying Boy

Museum ABC

An alphabet book that uses quality art for each letter.  Adorable.

We do not have these, but they are on my wish list to read.  Don’t they sound great?

 Sargents Daughters

Recommended by a good friend whose husband is a fabulous artist.

 Carnation, Lily, Lily and Rose.

Sweet.  The story of the little lovelies in the painting.

Nest for Celeste.  

We have not read this but discovered it on the shelves at the museum gift shop.  Intriguing plot.  Wondering if it is as good as it sounds.  Has anyone read it?

This is hardly a conclusive list, just what we looked at when we arrived home .  Do you have any to add to the list?

Full disclosure here folks, I have linked these above books to amazon for ease of description and shopping.  If you actually bought something from this link, I would probably get a few cents.  Please get the best deal possible!

Long ago, when I had the time and energy, we used to take trips to museums galore.  Driving in New York City did not intimidate me and we often spent the day traipsing around.  With the arrival of our third child when our oldest was an wild active 5 year old,  even grocery shopping wore me out, which necessitated museums being placed into the “later” category.  Sadly, not everyone in my family enjoys museums.  Weep, weep.  We manage the big ones here and there but the attention span and the patience for detail is not a universal family quality.  Oh well.

When we met Gail and John several years ago, Gail told me how much she loved art of all kinds and had just happened upon a fantastic curator while at the National Gallery of Art. She ended up jumping in the tour and taking copious notes on all of the religious art.  Gail generously offered to take us on a tour and share her knowledge with us.  As the mother of four grown children, numerous grandchildren and a former kindergarten teacher, Gail is a natural with children . My children love whenever she and John come to visit.  Full of joy and smiles, she always brings a jigsaw puzzle and helps the girls get started.  John is equally as generous with his love and time, reading books to the little ones and happy to hold the baby.  They were crazy enough to invite us to spend the night so that we could get an early start in the morning for the museum tour.  The children were so excited!  When you have seven children, most people do not invite you over for dinner, let alone a sleep over!  Without telling the girls, I invited their BFF to join the fun and they were squealing with delight when she got into the car.  The evening was delightful and a treat for all of us.

The museum was a blast!  Gail was so knowledgeable and we all learned so much. Everyone is clamoring to return soon.

Daniel in the Lions’ Den.  I can relate.  This picture captures how I feel after a bad day of homeschooling while potty training.  Lord, please help me now!

This painting by Fra Angelico was like an I Spy.  We hunted for various images and then she told us what they symbolized.  For example, the peacock, the eagle, pheasant, pomegranate, the dog.

I have always loved Della Robbia but I did not know that his son was accomplished as well.  When we came home and attempted to research the characteristic blue that is most often present in his work, I realized that this guy isn’t the same as the the one I thought.  You know, the one that you see everywhere with the image of Our Lady, in white, the beautiful blue all surrounded by colorful fruit.  (Michael, if you are reading this, know that I have always wanted this outside.)   We are going to research why the dark blue is in everything.  Jane, can you help out here?

The day after our the museum, the younger children decided to have their own art show.  Here is the gallery of art work.

The blue guy is my favorite but I recused myself from the judging!

Thank you Gail and John for sharing your time, talent, and yourselves!  We appreciate your generosity!