Winter wrap up

I should be able to say happy Spring started last Wednesday, but this week it is back into the low 40's and it snowed last night, leaving a dusting and the flurries continue to fall!  Yuck! I love spring! It is my favorite season down south. Although, with spring comes lots of outside work!


Here is what has been keeping us so busy during the winter months that I have just enough time to post my meal plans...

1.  Brad and basketball.  Need I say more.  It takes up LOT'S of time.  I really love it though.  After growing up on a basketball court, it was only obvious that I would marry a basketball coach.  12 years after starting this adventure, WE are still loving it.  I say WE, because if you talk to any other coaches wives or husbands, it takes patience, organization, planning and dedication to keep you and your family together during those months.  Every year Brad brings his JV team up for a Christmas party at our house.  I cook...I mean...order pizza, play games, open presents and this year we made ginger bread houses.  One thing I learned this year..teenage girls make huge messes!  They really are a great group of girls and ended with a 12 and 2 record.  12 years in a row that Brad has had a winning team.  I would have to say that is pretty good! 

 2.  Christmas in South Carolina at my parents. 

We went downtown Columbia to go ice skating in an outdoor rink this year.  Fun to say you are ice skating outside in the south.  Loved every minute of it!



                                                  Our annual Christmas Eve family bowling.

                                                          My favorite picture right now! 

The girls got the American doll horses from my parents and my creative dad make the stable for them.  So cool!  It even folds to store when they are not using it.

3.  January 1st was Aidan's last day at gymnastics.  After 7 1/2 years we said goodbye.  It was too much this fall with travel football and him then wanted to play travel basketball.  My pocket book was happy.  With 3 kids at the gym, it can get mighty expensive!  When he ran into that gym at 15 months, I never thought he would have loved this so much to stay in it to the age of 9.  What a great thing for boys to participate in to gain so much strength and coordination. 

4.  Both Aidan and Brenna played basketball.  Aidan played 9-10 and Brenna played 7-8.  Proud of both of them for how hard they worked!  Aidan is still continuing to play now with a travel YBOA team he joined after his rec season.  He is loving every minute!  You can see his sport glasses on him now, but shortly into the new year, he was able to progress to contacts.  Oh how that makes our life so much easier.  He is doing a remarkable job taking care of them! 

 Brenna and her first year.  She did awesome.  Like those pink laces?!

 Brenna is not the tallest one considering she was playing girls that were her brothers age (notice girl she is guarding), but this girl has got the defense down!

5.  Both Aidan and Brenna received Principal Pal awards at school.  (I can't find the picture of Brenna) They get to have breakfast with the principal and Brenna even got to have lunch after reading over 300 minutes in one week.  Way to go kiddos!

6.  Birthday time.  Both Brad and I have our birthdays during these crazy months. 

7.  My season started in mid January.  Here are all my girls...what a great, talented group of girls!

 8.  The Varsity girls team made it to the sweet 16 for the second year in a row.  They broke multiple school records this year.  These are the fans rushing the floor after winning the first round at home. 

9.  More gymnastics.  Carsyn is on the Jr. Team (the same one Brenna was on last year).  They get to perform at local elementary schools and universities.  This year she performed before the University of Georgia vs. Auburn meet and at Auburn vs. the University of Maryland.  They are so adorable (ranging from age 4 (Carsyn) to age 7) and this girl is getting ready to compete next year as the youngest one on her team!

With Aubbie at Auburn. 

Brenna's level 2 team.  Girls ranging from Brenna's age 7 to age 9.

 She has been doing awesome in her meets.  This beam routine scored her a 9.2. 

We will have a birthday girl in the next couple weeks...she is counting the days.  Hope to post more later.  As Spring is trying to come, our schedules somewhat slow down.  We have an exciting 3 week trip coming up this summer that I will be posting on everyday.  Be looking for that! 

March Meals

A little late on this months meals.  We were gone all weekend, so I am now just getting to the grocery store and posting.  5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays make March a LONG month with Easter as the last Sunday and hopefully a little bit of spring!  Have a great one.
Friday 1st Pizza
Sat 2nd  Brad's birthday-out to eat
Sun 3rd  Barbecue chicken
Mon 4th  Tacos
Tues 5th  Pasta Alfredo
Wed 6th  slow cooker cheesy chicken and potatoes
Thur 7th slow cooker chicken strogenoff
Fri 8th  Pizza
Sat 9th  BLT's
Sun 10th  Basketball Banquet
Mon 11th  Spaghetti
Tues 12th savory chicken tacos
Wed 13th  slow cooker teriyaki pork tenderloin
Thur 14th  slow cooker turkey chili
Fri 15th  Pizza
Sat 16th  Grilled bratts
Sun 17th  Ranch chicken kabobs
Mon 18th  Chicken and dumplings
Tues 19th  BBQ pork sandwiches
Wed 20th  slow cooker lasagna
Thur 21st chicken spaghetti
Fri 22nd   Pizza
Sat 23rd   Hamburgers
Sun 24th  Sloppy joes
Mon 25th Mac and cheese
Tues 26th  Provolone chicken
Wed 27th  slow cooker beef and mushrooms
Thurs 28th  slow cooker chicken tetrazzini
Fri 29th  Pizza
Sat 30th  SC
Sun 31st  Easter-SC

Savory chicken tacos
1 Rotisserie chicken deboned and shredded
12 oz steamable white or brown rice uncooked
1 cup shredded quesadilla cheese
1 can fire roasted tomatoes
1 cup sweet corn
1 jar enchilada sauce
taco shells
sour cream optional
 Preheat oven to 450 degrees and spray a 13X9 baking dish.  Mix all ingredients together except for taco shells into a large bowl and spread into baking dish.  Bake at 450 for 20 minutes or until bubbling.  Spoon into taco shells and serve with sour cream.

Rosemary Ranch Chicken Kabobs
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup ranch dressing
3 Tbls Worcestershire sauce
1 tbls minced fresh rosemary
2 tsp salt
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp white vinegar
1/ tsp black pepper
1 Tbls white sugar optional
5 boneless skinless chicken cubed into 1 inch pieces

Combine all into a bowl and place chicken into marinade.  Cover and refrigerate for 30 min to 1 hour.  Preheat grill.  Put chicken on skewers and discard marinade.  Lightly oil grate and grill skewers for 8-12 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. 

Provolone chicken
4-5 chicken breasts
4-5 provolone cheese slices
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup white wine (I use white grape juice)
1 cup stove top stuffing chicken flavor
1/4 butter

Put chicken breasts in casserole dish.  Top with cheese slices.  Mix cream of chicken soup and wine spread over chicken.  Sprinkle stuffing over top.  Drizzle 1/4 c. melted butter on top.  Bake at 350 for 55 minutes.

February Meals

Hope you are all staying warm or cool depending on what crazy type of weather you have at your house for the day.  My lilies in all my flower beds have been up for a couple weeks.  They think it is spring.  Mr. Groundhog says it is still winter.  He went back to bed.

February is the busiest month in the Kudlas house.  You may be thinking, "Isn't every month busy in your house?"  Well, yes it is, but this month especially.  Lot so repeat recipes, links below as well as extra recipes.  So here it goes...

Friday 1st           Mom out of town-Father daughter dance for Brenna and pizza
Saturday 2nd      Mom out of town-basketball out to eat
Sunday 3rd         Super bowl-chicken wings
Monday 4th        Senior basketball dinner
Tuesday 5th        basketball game dinner
Wednesday 6th   crockpot applesauce barbecue pork (this is a chicken recipe, but I am adding pork loin)
Thursday 7th       crockpot chicken tacos
Friday 8th           Pizza and mother-son night
Saturday 9th       BLT's
Sunday 10th        Brenna's gym meet out of town-out to eat
Monday 11th      spaghetti and meatsauce
Tuesday 12th      baked crockpot chicken
Wednesday 13th  crockpot cheesy chicken and potatoes
Thursday 14th    crockpot chicken fajitas
Friday 15th         Pizza
Saturday 16th     mom's birthday-out to eat
Sunday 17th       broccoli cheese soup
Monday 18th      weeknight enchiladas
Tuesday 19th      goulash
Wednesday 20th crockpot chicken and dumplings
Thursday 21st      chicken spaghetti
Friday 22nd        Pizza-father daughter dance for Carsyn
Saturday 23rd     sloppy joes
Sunday 24th        cheesy chicken ranch lasagna
Monday 25th       beef strongenoff
Tuesday 26th       chicken potpie
Wednesday 27th  slow cooker adobo chicken bowls
Thursday 28th    

Weeknight enchiladas from Southern Living

1 lb ground chuck
1 small onion
1 10 oz tomato soup undiluted
1 10 oz mild enchilada sauce
8 flour tortillas
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
sour cream optional
olives optional
Cook beef and onion in large skillet until meat is browned, drain and return to pan. Stir soup and enchilada sauce into meat mixture. Spread 1/4 c meat mixture onto each tortilla, sprinkle with 1c.cheese evenly. Roll up tortillas and place seam down in a greased 13 x 9 baking dish. Pour remaining mixture over tortillas. Cover and bake for 350 for 20 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake 5 more minutes. You can serve with sour cream and olives.

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

Beef Strogenoff 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.

Goulash by Joy Belt

1lb ground beef
1 medium onion
1 large can of crushed tomatoes
3/4 box of elbow macaroni
cheddar cheese for top
In skillet brown beef and cook onion. Drain and blend all ingredients into pan. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 10 min or until noodles are done. Top with cheese and let melt before serving

Chicken potpie Parenting magazine 06


2 skinless boneless chicken breasts cubed
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 jar of chicken gravy
1/2 tsp pepper
1 cup frozen veggies (I used mixed bag)
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
9 inch refrig pie crust
In bowl, combine all ingredients except pie crust. Pour into 8 or 9 inches round foil pan. Place pie crust on top and tuck edges under. Cut steam bent in crust. Cover with foil and freeze until you need to use or bake covered at 400 for 45 minutes. If frozen, bake for 1 hour and uncover and bake for 20 more minutes. Cool for 10 min, before serving.

January Meals

Happy New Year 2013 everyone!  Here is this months meal plan with links to recipes and those without links (and are not obvious recipes, ie BLT's) recipes are below meal plan.  Have a great month!

Tues 1  chicken wings (I just by a bag of frozen chicken wings and add barbecue sauce, marinate for a couple hours and grill)
Wed 2  chicken quesadillas
Thur 3  BLT's
Fri 4  Pizza
Sat 5  Grilled bratts
Sun 6  flank steak with mushroom sauce
Mon 7  Spaghetti with meatsauce
Tues 8  garlic pesto chicken with tomato penne
Wed 9  crockpot cream cheese chicken chile
Thurs 10  crockpot pot roast and veggies
Fri 11  Pizza
Sat 12  Sloppy joes
Sun 13  Simply parmesan chicken
Mon 14  Lasagna soup
Tues 15 crockpot creamy chicken and tomato soup
Wed 16  crockpot teriyaki pork tenderloin
Thurs 17  crockpot chicken cacciatore
Fri 18  Pizza
Sat 19 cheesy chicken noodle casserole (already made and in freezer)
Sun 20  Ranch chicken tacos
Mon 21  Brocolli and pasta alfredo (I use store bought sauce)
Tues 22  Baked ziti
Wed 23 crockpot chicken and dumplings
Thurs 24  crockpot turkey chili
Fri 25  Pizza
Sat 26  Mac and cheese and hotdogs
Sun 27 weeknight enchiladas
Mon 28  cheddar chicken bacon ranch pasta
Tues 29
Wed 30  ranch cheddar chicken
Thur 31

Crockpot chicken cacciatore  from Fix it and Forget it cookbook
2 onions, thinly sliced
4 boneless chicken breasts cubed
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
2 15 oz cans diced tomatoes
8 oz tomato sauce
4 oz can sliced mushrooms

Place onions in bottom of slow cooker and add remaining ingredients.  Cover and cook on low for 8 hrs.  Serve over hot spaghetti.

Crockpot pot roast and veggies  from Fix it and forget it cookbook
3-4 lb chuck roast
4 medium sized potatoes cubed
4 medium carrots sliced or 1 lb baby carrots
2 celery ribs sliced thin
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
3 cups water

Put roast, potatoes, carrots and celery in crockpot.  Add soup mix and water.  Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

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.

Baked ziti from slice of Forsyth cookbook
1 lb dry ziti pasta
1 onion
1 lb ground beef
2 jars spaghetti sauce
6 oz provolone cheese sliced
1 1/2 c. sour cream
6 oz mozzarella cheese shredded
2 T parm cheese
Preheat oven to 350.  Cook ziti on stove top for about 8 minutes or until al dente.  In a skillet, brown onion and ground beef.  Add spaghetti sauce and simmer 15 min.  Grease 9 x 13 dish and layer 1/2 of ziti, provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture.  Top with parm cheese and bake for 30 min or until cheeses are melted.

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.

Weeknight enchiladas from Southern Living
1 lb ground chuck
1 small onion
1 10 oz tomato soup undiluted
1 10 oz mild enchilada sauce
8 flour tortillas
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
sour cream optional
olives optional

Cook beef and onion in large skillet until meat is browned, drain and return to pan.  Stir soup and enchilada sauce into meat mixture.  Spread 1/4 c meat mixture onto each tortilla, sprinkle with 1c.cheese evenly.  Roll up tortillas and place seam down in a greased 13 x 9 baking dish.  Pour remaining mixture over tortillas.  Cover and bake for 350 for 20 minutes.  Uncover and sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake 5 more minutes.  You can serve with sour cream and olives. 

Interview with a 9 year old

My annual, always anticipated interview with the kids.  They are always excited to answer these questions and his consistency over the last few years is interesting!  I won't let the kids see their answers from the previous year, but after I am finished we get a good laugh over what they said the year before. 

Mommy (M)-What is your favorite color?
Aidan (A)-yellow and neon yellow
M-What is your favorite food?
A-I guess I would say probably Salmon..I don't know, I like everything!
M-Really?? There isn't any that you dislike?
A-Well, probably green bean casserole and red peppers
M-What do you want to be when you are daddy and mommy's age?
A-I will be a coach probably.
M-What kind?
A-High school football
M-What is your favorite subject in school?
A-Social Studies
M-Why? 
A-I love history and learning new things everyday.
M-If you could be any animal, what would it be?
A-Cheetah

M-What do you like to do with your sisters?

A-We like to play this tag games outside with points.

M-If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

A-Australia, because I like their accents and it is across the world.

M-What is your favorite thing to do with me?

A-Play games

M-What about with daddy?

A-Play football or basketball.

M-Do you want to get married some day?

A-Yes.

M-How many kids do you think you will have?

A-2

M-Who is your best friend?

A-David

M-What makes you happy?

A-When I make my friends laugh, especially David.  He has a funny giggle.  That makes me laugh and smile!

M-What makes you unhappy?

A-When Brenna hits me.

M-What???

A-Well what else am I suppose to say?

M-What is your favorite song?

A-Home by Phillip Phillips

M-What do you like about your sisters?

A-At least there is someone to play with.

M-HA!

M-What is your favorite memory from this year?

A-When we beat Lambert, postseason, under the lights.

M-What does mommy do all day?

A-Pretty much works or does chores.

M-What does daddy do all day?

A-Teaches all day and coaches and drivers ed

M-What is your favorite restaurant?

A-Cheddars

M-What are you looking forward to most about being 9 and the year 2013?

A-Not having an problems at amusement parks..I am already 54 inches and have been.  Now that I am 9, hopefully we won't have any problems.

M-(Let's just say that we had a couple problems at Six Flags last summer.)

M-What is your favorite verse?

A-Phil 4:13

Happy Birthday Mr. Aidan

Happy 9th Birthday to our first born, Aidan Bradley.  Mr. Math reminded me that this was his last year in single digits.  Yeah, yeah, don't remind me is all I could think.  I know I say this all the time, but Brad and I are so proud to be this boys parents.  I mean who couldn't resist those dimples?      

 

This kid loves Life!  Get it?  This is one of the things he asked for his birthday.  This involves some of his favorite things...competition, math and strategy. 

He lives and breathes not just football, but competition in any kind of sport.  His drive to do better and be the best he can be is really amazing to see in a boy that age.  It is not only his strength, but something that he will have to work on all the time.  He is his biggest critic!   

He loves the Big House!  The Big House meaning University of Michigan football stadium.  He has never stopped dreaming of going to school there!  His teachers believe he is well on his way. 

This boy loves to have fun no matter what.  Give him a challenge and challenge will be accepted.  He is loyal to all his friends although will get his feelings hurt easily.  He loves routine and is my melancholy choleric if you know anything about personalities.  When you meet Aidan, you know exactly who he is. 

Happy Birthday son!  May you continue to shin your love of life and determination on the rest of the world!  Here is to another year! 

Fall review

The girls and I had the opportunity to go to Michigan for a few days for a wedding and to visit family.  They sure didn't mind me pulling them out of school!  It was the first time that I drove by myself overnight with the girls.  They did great and slept the whole time.  We arrived in Detroit just in time to have lunch with Brad's Grandma Kudlas. 

While in Detroit, Grandma K made us a lovely lunch.



At Kelly Jo's wedding. 



The girls admiring Kelly while she got changed.





Mr. Tom walking his daughter down the isle.



The big kiss!







Dance time with the bride.



Some of my cousins, my Aunt Lisa and two more babies on the way!



The cousins minus Aidan.  What a cute bunch of kids.  Next time there will be 2 more added to this picture. 
Ages from 7-1.



Brenna, Carsyn and Sadie.



Aidan and his team had an awesome football season.  We took on a huge challenge and went to play in a travel league.  These boys grew so much this year.  They exceeded every goal they had for themselves this year, including this late night win vs Lambert.  Way to go Eagles!



Even though they lost the championship, Aidan was more than excited to know how much they learned and how far him came a quarterback including throwing for a 30 plus yard touchdown pass in this game.  We are so proud of him! 



For the week of Thanksgiving, we took another trip to Shreveport, LA to surprise Brad's brother Devin and all the kiddos.  My sister in law was in on the surprise and it was so much fun to plan.  The kids played hard all day including this big kid in the picture!



Love this swinging shot.



Can't leave out their dog Lou Lou.  She got wrapped up in some bows.



Our silly kiddos after we celebrated Christmas.



Bren and Aidan



Carsyn and Aidan



Jackson, Brenna, Brooklyn, Kaia, Carsyn, Aidan and Zoe



Devin Kudlas family



Brad Kudlas family




These are some of the best moments of my life...




Love, love my sweet babies!



Brenna's first gymnastics meet.



My little beamer.  Taking after her mommy.  That little hot shot got 2nd and scored a 9.2.  Way to go Bren!



Her level 2 team.