Recipes I Want to Try

I found some recipes that I'd like to try that also include directions for freezing. Great for making 2, and freezing 1!

Vegetable and Orzo Soup

Basil Vegetable Soup

Chicken and Vegetable Pasta au Gratin

Anytime Bran Muffins

As mentioned in this post, my mom has a great little muffin recipe book from Gooseberry Patch. During her visit this spring, we had marathon muffin making days to restock my freezer with baked goods. I'll be sharing our favorites! This is from the Country Friends Collection, Book #6 Muffins. I'm not sure if it's still available for purchase. (The wonderful folks at Gooseberry Patch left a comment on my Ten Little Muffins post and said that it's fine to share their recipes, provided I link back to them - thank you!)

For more great recipes and kitchen tips, visit the home of Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed with Grace.


Anytime Bran Muffins

3 c. whole bran cereal
1 c. water, boiling
2 1/2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2 c. buttermilk
1/2 c. oil
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. raisins or chopped dates

In a separate bowl, pour boiling water over the bran cereal. Stir until blended and set aside to cool. In the meantime, stir together the dry ingredients in a small bowl. Add oil, eggs, and buttermilk to the cooled bran mixture. Combine bran mixture with the dry ingredients and fold in raisins or dates. Pour batter into greased muffin cups until each cup is 2/3 full. Bake at 425 degrees for 18 to 22 minutes or until to springs back when touched lightly.

Oops. Forgot to mention why these are called "anytime" muffins. You can store the batter in the fridge up to 2 weeks and make muffins as you need them. Fresh muffins!

Menu Plan 4/5

I'm late getting to my menu plan for the week because of Easter. Boy, did we have a feast!


Monday - Easter leftovers, homemade mac and cheese, grilled asparagus

Tuesday - grilled kielbasa, skillet potatoes, steamed veggies

Wednesday - grilled chicken, something with barley (I need a good recipe, got one?), steamed veggies

Thursday - grilled cheese, carrot/celery sticks (back to our usual busy Thursday night meal)

Friday - pasta with sauce and meatballs, steamed veggies

Saturday - pork tenderloin, baked potatoes and toppings

Sunday - homemade pizza


Don't forget to visit my main blog for more posts about my journey to better health!

Menu Plan 3/28

I do have some new recipes to share. Life has been so hectic, I haven't had time to post them. I'll try to get to that soon!

Anyway, here is our healthy menu plan for the week!

Sunday - homemade pizza, salad (my mother-in-law brought taboulleh - it was wonderful!)

Monday - pork tenderloin, roasted potatoes, steamed veggie

Tuesday - Italian wedding soup

Wednesday - goulash

Thursday - FIFI (Find It, Fix It)

Friday - baked tilapia, brown rice, steamed veggies

Saturday - whatever is easy as we'll be spending a lot of time prepping for Easter

Our Easter dinner plan is: pulled pork BBQ, ham, mashed cauliflower/potatoes, roasted green beans, broccoli salad, cole slaw, homemade rolls, homemade pastries

If you have a chance, hop over to my main blog to read my Mamavation (health and fitness) updates. Thanks!

Menu Plan 3/21

Sunday - homemade pizza

Monday - garden lasagna

Tuesday - pumpkin soup (it is SO good, and I have pumpkin puree in the freezer), and for those less adventurous family members, rice noodles w/ tomato sauce & meatballs

Wednesday - goulash

Thursday - tomato-veggie soup, grilled cheese sandwiches on homemade whole wheat bread

Friday - grilled steak, quinoa pilaf, steamed veggies

Saturday - Hubby & I have a date, so we'll be eating out; Grammy & Ladybug have yet to decide what's on the menu for them

Menu Plan 3/14

Is it really halfway through March already? My mom is coming for a 3 week visit starting this week, so the menu plan this week will be very flexible, depending on when we get to the grocery store, and what we want to make. Mom and I love being in the kitchen together, even if we sometimes get in each other's way.

Here's our healthy menu plan for the week:

Sunday - FIFI (Find It, Fix It, a.k.a leftovers)

Monday - birthday dinner for my niece

Tuesday - skillet hash, steamed veggies

Wednesday - egg/sausage muffins, skillet potatoes

Thursday - tomato-veggie soup, grilled cheese on whole wheat bread, carrot & celery sticks

Friday - grilled whiting filets, brown rice, steamed veggies

Saturday - (drawing a blank, I'll have to rely on Mom for suggestions!)

Menu Plan 3/8

I'm so excited to find a bloggy menu carnival that focuses on REAL food! We've moved away from processed foods in the last few years, at first to help with the budget, then because it's just healthier!

Here's the plan for the week. Some meals from last week's plan are up again because we had to makes changes last week.


Monday: venison crockpot meal - venison, tomatoes, tomato sauce, squash, green beans, peppers, cook on low all day, served over whole wheat pasta or homemade bread (Hubby's choice as I have to leave early for a meeting.)

Tuesday - salmon casserole, quinoa pilaf (Hubby LOVES the quinoa!)

Wednesday - chicken and vegetable stir-fry

Thursday - grilled cheese sandwiches (using homemade whole wheat bread and REAL cheese; I eliminated the processed cheese a few months ago - real cheese tastes SO much better!), carrot and celery sticks

Friday - chicken tortillas with homemade tortillas and lots of veggies

Saturday - breakfast for dinner, we haven't done this in a while, it always makes an easy meal!

Sunday - homemade pizza with my pizza dough recipe; we usually have chicken and broccoli as toppings