June Meals

While cleaning out Brad's room at school (he is moving rooms and teaching a whole different class) I found a cookbook that a student had used in a marketing project and just left it.  Easy Weeknight Favorites by Southern Living.  I thought I would almost do a review of the cookbook and cook straight through it.  So if you are interested in the book, the link takes you to Amazon.  Real cheap and hard cover.  The recipes are easy and so far delicious.  It suggest what you should stock up on, what you need at the store, sides that you should put with it, etc.  I loved how it is laid out and that it is really user friendly with pictures!  The kids (and Brad) have loved most of them.  Of course I still have our pizza Fridays and another basic recipe thrown in, but for the most part, I am cooking straight from this book all month.  Wish me luck!
Sun 1st Paprika chicken and Parmesan crusted potato wedges
Mon 2nd Meatball hoagies
Tues 3rd crockpot roasted chicken
Wed 4th Peppered beef brisket and Pioneer Woman's mashed potatoes
Thur 5th crockpot saucy drumsticks and thighs
Fri 6th Pizza
Sat 7th Taco Salad and homemade guacamole
Sun 8th 3 pepper pork cutlets with broccoli and rice pilaf
Mon 9th creamy chicken casserole, green beans and mandarin orange salad
Tues 10th crockpot zipper barbecue pot roast
Wed 11th chicken avocado dagwoods
Thur 12th crockpot chicken barbecue
Fri 13th Pizza
Sat 14th Speedy chili dogs and coleslaw
Sun 15th Fathers Day-Steak and herbed shrimp and pasta
Mon 16th sweet pepper chicken stirfry
Tues 17th Turkey burgers
Wed 18th chicken Cesar salad
Thur 19th crockpot chuck roast barbecue
Fri 20th Pizza
Sat 21st Spaghetti
Sun 22nd Oven fried fish and lemon frappe
Mon 23rd Quick carbonara
Tues 24th Bratts
Wed 25th Grilled pizza sandwiches
Thur 26th Sloppy joes
Fri 27th Pizza
Sat 28th Molasses grilled pork tenderloin
Sun 29th crockpot sweet jalapeno ribs
Mon 30th

The baby is 6

Our Carsyn Joy is turning 13 (opps I mean 6).  Yes, still the most independent, strong willed and self determined child I have.  I have been having some serious issues with this blog and can not upload pictures, so many weeks after her birthday, I am finally posting this.  To get her to sit down and answer these questions, was like and I quote from her mouth, "The most boring thing ever!"  Here is to another year sweet girl.  We love you!
Mommy (M) What is your favorite color?
Carsyn (C) Silver
M-What is your favorite food?
C-Mac and Cheese and "Sam" and pizza
M-What is Sam?
C-You know that pink fish.
M-oh, you mean Salmon.
M-What do you want to be when you grow up?
C-A dentist like Brenna
M-What is your favorite subject in school?
C-Math (she loved kindergarten!)
M-If you could be any animal, what would it be?
C-A baby tiger because they are little and cute.
M-What do you like to do with your brother and sister?
C-I like to play dolls with Brenna and I am not sure about Aidan....(after some thought)...I like to tell him what to do.
M-Where would you like to travel?
C-New York because I have never been there.  (We are planning another big trip for next summer and that is one of the stops.)
M-What do you like to do with Mommy?
C-Cook dinner
M-What about Daddy?
C-Play outside and ride my bike
M-Do you want to get married some day and have kids?
C-Yes and 4
M-Who is your best friend
C-Georgia, MaryGail, Lauren and Izzy
M-What makes you happy?
C-Mommy and Daddy
M-What makes you sad?
C-When Brenna doesn't play with me and Aidan messes up my doll house and I have to set it back up
M-What is your favorite song? 
C-Any Frozen songs and Taylor Swift
M-What is your favorite memory from this year
C-Going on our trip last summer
M-What does mommy do all day?
C-Cooks dinner, puts clothes in dryer, puts clothes in washing machine.
M- What does Daddy do?
C-Writes papers (he is almost finished with his 3rd and final degree, an ED.S...HORRAY), builds my tree house (more on that later) and works out.
M-What is your favorite verse?
C-The end of a matter is better than its beginning.  So it's better to be patient than proud.  Ecclesiastes 7:8 (she has to work really hard at this!)
M-What is your favorite restaurant?
C-Chick-fil-a
M-What do you look forward to most this year.
C-Going to Michigan.

We are so proud of this girl.  I say all the time that she is the "joy" in our family.  We love you so much sweet girly!

May meals

I did not have to plan meals for May because of all the wonderful families that brought meals to me in April and the first two weeks of May.  I was able to freeze all my meals that I had prepared prior to surgery and we ate them during the month.  We were more busy this month of May, than we have ever been, so we ate out 1 or 2 times a week.  Is this unhealthy...you betcha.  Do I care (because we are so busy and going in 20 different directions that was not planned), nope! 

I want to thank once again all the families that helped us out from my surgery on April 1st until the second week in May.  We are so blessed that you are all in our lives and we truly could not have made it with out you all.  I still have a long road of recovery, but I am out of my sling and rehab is going well.  Friends and families gave money for food, gift cards for food, their time by helping clean our house and watching the kids so they could just get out of the house.  We are forever grateful for everything you have done!  Thanks again to my cousin Angie and Doug, Cheek family, Hershey family, Johnson family, Hundt family, McFarland family, Smith family, Gliatta family, Jansen family, Decker family, Herrick family, Walkup family, my mom and dad, my boss Trish, Julie Lanni, my gym co-workers, and my hairstylist Shay Hubbard for doing my hair one time and week for free so I didn't have to wear a hat! 

We love you all!
We are glad summer is here!   

April Meals

This is the month I have been watching approach for the last few months.  In many ways I have been dreading it, and other ways I am ready for this injury to be fixed.  After about 10 years of on and off pain in my shoulder, on April 1st, I have have surgery to repair a torn labrum.  I am in sling for 6 weeks followed by months of rehab.  We have been preparing the kids on how to fold and put away laundry, wash dishes, clean bathrooms, etc.  They have been great at learning more advanced chores.  I will have Brad home with me for 2 weeks and then my mom will be here for a week.  I still have gymnastics meets, because I am still in season, girls have meets, Aidan has basketball tournaments and Aidan and I will be flying to California at the end of the month for him to compete at the World Championship Vex IQ competition with his school.  We are not slowing down even though I am having surgery.
I have tried to prepare a lot of this food ahead of time and froze it.  Most of the meals come from the same website for freezer meals.  During the week, we will have meals I have prepared ahead of time and weekends Brad will be able to cook.
Tues 1st  super easy chicken-fix it and forget it cookbook
Wed 2nd  honey balsalmic chicken
Thur 3rd spaghetti
Fri 4th  Pizza
Sat 5th  Hamburgers
Sun 6th  Cheek's bringing dinner
Mon 7th  chicken fajitas
Tues 8th  taco roast
Wed 9th  Julie L bringing dinner
Thur 10th Hunt's bringing dinner
Fri 11th  Pizza
Sat 12th  Grilled chicken
Sun 13th Steak kabobs
Mon 14th Always yummy beef
Tues 15th  Italian chicken
Wed 16th Roast beef-fix it and forget it cookbook
Thur 17thSalsa chicken
Fri 18th  Carsyn's 6th birthday!-Pizza
Sat 19th  Carsyn's party-grill hotdogs, mac and cheese, cake
Sun 20th  BBQ ribs
Mon 21st  Ruth's crockpot chicken-fix it and forget it cookbook
Tues 22nd Pepsi pot roast-fix it and forget it cookbook
Wed 23rdhoney chicken Aidan and I in CA
Thur 24th easy pot roast and veggies-Fix it and forget it cookbook-Aidan and I in CA
Fri 25th  Pizza-Aidan and I in CA
Sat 26thAidan and i in CA
Sun 27th Crockpot dijon chicken-Aidan and I come home
Mon 28thcrockpot creamy white chicken chili
Tues 29th cheesy chicken and noodle casserole by Anna
Wed 30th  left overs

Cheesy chicken noodle casserole by Anna

1 box spaghetti noodles
1 jar of cheese wiz
4 cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts cubed
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
crushed saltine crackers or bread crumbs for top
Cook chicken and cube. Cook noodles and drain. Combine cheese wiz and cream of chicken soup and warm on stove. Stir cheese mixture into noodles and combine everything into casserole dish. Top with crushed crackers or bread crumbs. Bake at 350 until warm and bubbling.

March Meals

We are hoping Spring is going to come soon.  We get hints of it here and there, but these cold blasts of air are still inviting themselves in.  It is time for the cold air to move on.  High school basketball is finished as well as the girls basketball season.  Does that mean that the Kudlas' as less busy?  Of course not!  We love to be on the go all the time.  Only 1 month until my surgery, so I am getting everything ready for that since I won't be able to use my right arm for at least 6 weeks.  Praying for a speedy recovery with great therapy over the next 4 months.
For now, here are the meals for March

Sat 1st  Grilled Steak-Brad's b-day dinner
Sun 2nd left overs
Mon 3rd crispy cheddar chicken
Tues 4th Spaghetti
Wed 5th  BLT's
Thur 6th crockpot rootbeer chicken
Fri 7th Pizza
Sat 8th Mac and cheese and hotdogs
Sun 9th Grilled hamburgers
Mon 10th sour cream and bacon crockpot chicken
Tues 11th Tacos
Wed 12th  Rosemary ranch chicken
Thur 13th honey BBQ chicken sandwiches
Fri 14th Pizza
Sat 15th Grilled turkey and cheese
Sun 16th Beef strogenoff
Mon 17th  sweet baby rays crockpot chicken
Tues 18th Sloppy joes
Wed 19th Mom's chicken noodle soup
Thur 20th crockpot chicken tacos
Fri 21st Pizza
Sat 22nd Tuna melts
Sun 23rd  BBQ ribs
Mon 24th  chicken bacon ranch enchiladas
Tues 25th Quesadillas
Wed 26th chicken wings
Thur 27th crockpot creamy white chicken chili
Fri 28th Pizza
Sat 29th Bean dip
Sun 30th
Mon 31st Spring Break-

Crockpot chicken tacos

1 envelope taco seasoning
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 16oz jar of salsa
Dump everything into crockpot, stir to blend. Cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 6-8. Shred chicken with fork and serve with tortillas and toppings.

Rosemary Ranch chicken kabobs

1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup ranch dressing
3 Tbls Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbls rosemary
2 tsp salt
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp white vinegar
1/4 tsp black pepper or to taste
1 Tbls sugar (optional)
5 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into strips or cubes
In medium bowl stir together all the ingredients and place chicken in bowl and coat with marinade. Cover and put in frig for 30 min or longer
Preheat grill for medium-high heat. Put chicken on skewers and discard marinade
Lightly oil grate. Grill skewers for 8-12 minutes or until no longer pink


Beef Stroganoff by Joy Belt

1lbs ground beef
1 medium onion
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
1 can beef broth
1/2 cup water
3 cups uncooked noodles (I use egg noodles)
In skillet brown beef and cook onion until tender. Drain and blend all ingredients into pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 10 min or until noodles are done. Stir often


Mom's chicken noodle soup
2 cups cooked chicken
4-5 cups water with chicken bouillon to taste
carrots
celery
parsley
Add all ingredients (add more if you wish) and simmer.
Homemade noodles
1 egg
2Tbls milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup flour
bring all ingredients together and bowl, kneed and roll out, cut into strips and drop into simmering soup.

February Meals

With all the snow days we had this past week, I had a little bit more time to prepare our February meals.  Links are provided and other recipes are posted below...
Sat 1st Beef Enchilada Dip
Sun 2nd Super Bowl (For the most part we are home during the game, but my family expects me to cook for about 20.  I like to do appetizers and a main course and of course all the healthy food goes out the window when you are a football loving family on Super bowl day!)  BBQ ribs, fried pickles, Mozzarella sticks, Apple dumplings
Mon 3rd Spaghetti
Tues 4th crockpot honey barbecue chicken sandwiches
Wed 5th creamy tomato tortellini soup
Thur 6th crockpot best pot roast ever
Fri 7th  Pizza
Sat 8th chicken wings
Sun 9th Beef Strogenoff
Mon10th BLT's
Tues 11thchicken noodle pot pie casserole
Wed 12th broccoli cheese soup
Thur 13th crockpot chicken tacos
Fri 14th  Pizza
Sat 15th Rosemary Ranch chicken kabobs
Sun 16th my birthday, we always eat at out at Provinos
Mon 17th cheesy chicken and bacon casserole
Tues 18th crockpot spicy pork chops
Wed 19th ranch cheddar chicken
Thur 20th  sloppy joes
Fri 21st  Pizza
Sat 22nd Mom's chicken noodles soup
Sun 23rd  grilled ciabatta sandwiches
Mon 24th cheesy chicken and rice bake
Tues 25th Grilled bratts
Wed 26th  Quesadillas
Thur 27th crockpot creamy chicken and dumplings
Fri 28th  Pizza

Crockpot chicken tacos
1 envelope taco seasoning
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 16oz jar of salsa
Dump everything into crockpot, stir to blend.  Cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 6-8.  Shred chicken with fork and serve with tortillas and toppings.

Rosemary Ranch chicken kabobs
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup ranch dressing
3 Tbls Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbls rosemary
2 tsp salt
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp white vinegar
1/4 tsp black pepper or to taste
1 Tbls sugar (optional)
5 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into strips or cubes
In medium bowl stir together all the ingredients and place chicken in bowl and coat with marinade.  Cover and put in frig for 30 min or longer
Preheat grill for medium-high heat.  Put chicken on skewers and discard marinade
Lightly oil grate.  Grill skewers for 8-12 minutes or until no longer pink

Beef Stroganoff by Joy Belt

1lbs ground beef
1 medium onion
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
1 can beef broth
1/2 cup water
3 cups uncooked noodles (I use egg noodles)
In skillet brown beef and cook onion until tender. Drain and blend all ingredients into pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 10 min or until noodles are done. Stir often

Broccoli cheese soup

4 c chicken broth
1 c water
1 c half and half
4-6 slices cheddar singles
1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c finely diced onion
1/4 tsp ground pepper
4 c broccoli florets-bite sized
Garnish with cheddar cheese and parsley
Combine chicken broth, water, half and half, cheese, flour onion and pepper in a large sauce pan. I use a pot because I double this recipe. Although this will feed a family of 5 comfortably. My family just loves left overs. Whisk to combine and break up any lumps of flour, then turn to medium/high heat. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low. Add broccoli to soup and simmer for 15-20 min until broccoli is tender but not soft. Serve with garnish

Ranch cheddar chicken from slice of Forsyth cookbook

1/2 c original ranch dressing
1 T flour
4 chicken breast, boneless, skinless
1/4 c shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 c grated parm cheese
Preheat oven to 375. Mix together dressing and flour. Coat each chicken breast with mixture. Arrange on a baking sheet. Combine both cheeses and sprinkle over chicken breasts. Bake 25 minutes.

Mom's chicken noodle soup
2 cups cooked chicken
4-5 cups water with chicken bouillon to taste
carrots
celery
parsley
Add all ingredients (add more if you wish) and simmer.
Homemade noodles
1 egg
2Tbls milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup flour
bring all ingredients together and bowl, kneed and roll out, cut into strips and drop into simmering soup.

Cheesy chicken and rice bake by Campbell's kitchen
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 1/3 cups water
3/4 cup rice
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Mix soup, water, rice, onion powder, black pepper into a 2 qt baking dish.  Top with chicken.  Bake at 375 for 45 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink.  Top with cheese.
Also, you can add fresh, canned or frozen veggies before topping with chicken.  Our family fav is green beans.

January Meals

Opps!  I just realized that I never posted my January Meal Plan.  January is our house is called H#** month.  We are more busy in this month than any other month.  The crazy weather we had in the beginning of the month, the snow we are having now, mixed in with lots of other stuff we have going on, makes for one H#** of a month!
This is what we ate this month...
(I am not putting links...if you have questions or can't find a recipe, let me know and I will send you the recipe.)
Wed 1st Louisiana
Thur 2nd Louisiana
Fri 3rd bball
Sat 4th Pizza
Sun 5th Creamy tomato tortellini soup
Mon 6th chicken noodle pie casserole
Tues 7th cheesy chicken spaghetti
Wed 8th chicken bacon ranch enchiladas
Thur 9th quesadillas
Fri 10th Pizza
Sat 11th Beef Enchilada Dip
Sun 12th Lasagna Soup
Mon 13th honey balsamic chicken tenders
Tues 14th crockpot ranch porkchops
Wed 15th Tacos
Thur 16th crockpot rootbeer BBQ chicken
Fri 17th Pizza
Sat 18th chiabatta sandwiches
Sun 19th BBQ ribs
Mon 20thchicken tortilla bake
Tues 21st crockpot best pot roast ever
Wed 22nd bacon mushroom honey dijon chicken
Thur 23rd crockpot porkloin
Fri 24th Pizza
Sat 25th Spaghetti
Sun 26th cheesy chicken and rice
Mon 27th BLT's
Tues 28th sloppy joes
Wed 29th white chicken chili
Thur 30th
Fri 31st Pizza