Routine

So today we spent about 2 hours focused on one room, this worked well as it looks done. There will be change but it looks done, no more random boxes around at least in the family room. It had become a catch all in many ways, as it's centrally located.

I did laundry, cleaned up the kitchen, made dinner (Bourbon chicken) cleaned as I cooked, set the dishwasher to run overnight, made coffee for the morning. Waiting for clothes to dry to put out my work pants and rest of my clothes for tomorrow...yep. I'm working some combination of Flylady, Messies, HabitHacker, etc. I've read them all and I love different aspects from them all. I get to hung up on stuff so combining and doing my "own thing" from them works best, I think. And as FlyLady was inspired by the Messies, they aren't too far apart overall. 

They all focus on keeping one spot clean, FlyLady says to shine your sink while the other approaches give you the choice. But you must keep that one small area clean, if nothing else, as an inspiration point. They all recommend doing one entire load of laundry a day, (washing, drying, put away). Another commonality is making a to do list, just writing down what you want/need to accomplish each day.  A daily quick clean 10-15 minutes depending which approach you read at the end of the day you spend a small amount of time picking up all those random things that got put down in random places. There are many, many more commonalities between the organization apporaches. I'm still figuring out what works for me, and as I now have a new house to learn in some things are different that my previous cramped apartment. Things now have a "place" they aren't just sitting somewhere as there is no other place to keep them. There are rooms with purpose, office and separate guest room for example. That now don't overlap and can each have specific things contained within each. Learning curve along with building new habits. Good times.

Side note, I never really drank coffee, but last week I was having a crazy craving for coffee, so I pulled out my old pot (I'd tried to drink it before and got a hand me down pot from my parents) and for the first time really enjoyed homemade coffee. But the pot being old and stored wasn't working great, luckily for me my parents had a "newer" spare pot. So I upgraded and have now been enjoying coffee in the morning. It's been pretty awesome so far. It helps wake me up, more than more energy drinks actually. I stay alert which helps with my job, so good times. ^.^ 

Unpacking and settling

Old apartment kitchen, that's all the counter space there was

It's been a slow process unpacking and whatnot. I feel the kitchen is just about done. Which is awesome. I must say I am totally LOVING the fact that I have counter space, an island and did I mention counter space. The storage is awesome too, I actually have empty drawers and cabinets. HAHA it's amazing. I have finally started cooking in there and it's awesome, and amazing. Things don't fall all over the place when I open a cabinet and they are organized. I have more than 3 drawers, etc. Space is just amazing. The rest of the house is still in disarray but as everyone tells me it takes time. I'm working more hours at work currently which is awesome, but gives me less time to unpack/organize. I need to tackle the master bathroom and my closet...they are a little scary. Reordered the parts to fix the master shower, as the initial set purchased was for "new" plumbing. And we have "old" plumbing. So that's fun to figure out, along with many other random quirks that come with a house as opposed to an apartment. But I feel it's perfect in so many ways, I'm so happy here. I don't miss anything about the old place, and I'm a pack rack sentimental type person so that says something in and of itself.

Part of the new kitchen. ^.^

Thanks to hand me downs, the entire place is furnished, thanks to living on my own for so long I have the rest of the necessary items. I have a wish list for the container store that's a mile long, slowly I will get the things I "need/want" and be able to really get the house in order. For now it's an adventure.

Moving

Moving is more work than I remembered. Getting closer to the organizing and unpacking portion everyday. Have to have everything out by the 30th, busy, busy, busy.

Life changes

Been busy, and not focused on blogging, obviously. But menu planning this evening reminded me that I hadn't updated in...forever. So I thought I was due. :-)

Meal plan this week, tentative as other things are going on but the current plan:

Taco Chicken Fiesta lasagna (have leftover chicken and refried beans from fajitas)
Cheese Tortellini Alfredo (make ahead recipe that's awesome and we got a ton of tortelinni at Sam's Club)
Chicken Burgers
Turkey Tacos
Something with ground beef, haven't decided., yet. :-)

This week will be interesting as we are preparing to move, have resided in the same apartment for over 5 years. So packing, and moving are slightly daunting but it's a new adventure with more space and bigger kitchen. :-) Among many other perks.

Stuffed shells

Tonight I made something new, broccolli and cheese stuffed shells. They were good, but the man noticed they lacked meat. But still tasty.

Baked Ziti, Jambalaya....good food.

Last weeks meals were:

Frozen Skillet (pre packaged meal)
Pan Burrito's
Crock Pot Jambalaya
Leftovers
Baked Ziti
more leftovers, lol

So since this is more reviewing last weeks meals I'll just talk about the one's I made.

Pan Burrito's - I've made a few times before the recipe is on the blog elsewhere, I'm feeling lazy and don't want to find the link. This time I added diced onion and jalapenos while browning the beef, and adding some pepper to give the meat a little flavor. I always use spicy refried beans and this time used medium enchilada sauce.

Crock Pot Jambalaya - this turned out good. I added a little garlic also to the mixture of ingredients. I made some rice and stirred that in for the last 30 minutes or so. I also added a little bit of cornstarch (mixed with water) to help thicken up the liquid which I should have done earlier but I wasn't home. But it turned out really tasty, it was spicy. But we like things spicy.

Baked Ziti - my first attempt at something like this, not that it was complicated but it was different. Mostly using ricotta cheese was new, as the only lasagna I've made is a Mexican variety. It was easy once all the ingredients were prepped and the prep wasn't bad either, boiling noodles, browning meat, etc. Nothing too difficult. It was tasty, but makes a TON, 8 large servings. So either cut the recipe or make it when you have company. :-)

Havarti Ham and Potatoes

So I made this tonight, and changed leftover buffet to last night as there was just too much food in the fridge. Good problem, but overwhelming at times too.

Recipe

The pot roast I made was good, although a little bland in comparison to most food I make lately. It was just basic American cooking with only salt and pepper as seasonings relying upon the flavor of the meat and veggies to enhance the meal. Good but needed something more for our taste buds.

Tonight I made the Havarti Ham and Potatoes casserole it came out awesome (minus some precooked potatoes, not being cooked all the way through). Not having eaten Havarti cheese it was an experiment that turned out awesome. It was flavorful and tasty. Will make again.

Finished and served

I took a picture of the meal after we'd eaten we obviously have some leftovers. But that's okay as it was tasty.

Zuppa

On Wednesday I went out with my Red Hat group (I'm a pink hat, and joined to go along with my mom) We ordered our desserts first, and then had lunch it was fun and enjoyable. It just goes to show you that you don't always have to conform to the norm, but enjoy life and all the little things.

Meal Planning Monday (opps) 02.21.2011

Time got away from me this evening, I intended to write this prior to midnight. Oh well better late than never. This will be short as I need to get to sleep sooner than later.

Highlights of past week:

Easy Cheese Tortellini - was awesome. Super easy to assemble and really tasty, approved by me and my man. Will definitely make again, and maybe vary slightly to increase frequency (meat filled, marinara, etc).

Ribs - awesome as always, made them spicier successfully by adding more hot sauce. Delish.

Pork chops with apple stuffing - this was okay, the meat was good. The stuffing was good just different, not bad, just different. So I might make this again but not for awhile.

The rest of the week was filled with leftovers, going out, birthday parties, etc. Good times.

This week:

• Tuesday: Easy Day (either something frozen, leftover, or going out)
• Wednesday: Favorite Pot Roast (crock pot)
• Thursday: Havarti Ham and Potatoes (make ahead)
• Friday: Leftover Buffet
• Saturday: Grillin' steaks and ?? (veggies or potatoes)
• Sunday: Something Simple, aka wild card
• Monday: Pan Burritos, these are great because it's easy to keep everything on hand or make from the pantry. Being in San Antonio especially, we always have tortilla's and enchilada sauce in the house.

Note: my Crockpot is a few years old but has a built in recipe book, the recipe for the pot roast is slightly different on the programmed option that I'm going to follow. I'm going to try to make a new crock pot recipe a week, or at least make one crock pot a week. For the simple fact that my work schedule, as previously mentioned is later in the evenings and coming home to dinner already made is awesome. Also why I keep making, "make ahead" dishes. I typically make them in the morning and they sit the minimum 8 hours in the fridge. I've enjoyed it so far, it's nice to have a ready made meal in the evening. It's been interesting to make them not all casserole's. As that would just get kinda old, to me and my man.

Meal Plan - 2.15.2011

Okay so my meal planning has gone to the wayside lately. But I have to get back on track as my work hours have changed and I don't get home till 7:30-8pm now. So I needed to rethink this whole dinner making process or end up with drive thru all week...which wouldn't be good for so many reasons. I'm still on a restricted soft diet for another month or so, which basically means I have to be careful not to include rough veggies or salads, things with seeds or that require lots of chewing. I can get away with some things as long as it's tiny bites.

So last night I planned, I just didn't post. I went grocery shopping today, so I'm ready. :-)

Meals in no particular order:

• Grilled Steaks w/ sweet potatoes
• Pork ribs (crock pot) w/ steamed veggies instead of beans
• Easy Cheese Tortellini Alfredo (make ahead recipe) 
• Pork Chops with Apple stuffing (make ahead recipe)
• Easy Night (frozen skillet meal most likely)
• Leftovers

I try not to plan for every night as something always comes up once a week where we end up out, or at someone else's house. So my plan is to make dinner in the mornings so it can sit for 8 hours as most of the recipes call for, I know I'll be too tired in the evenings. I don't go to work till the afternoon, so it will work with my schedule.