A Week of Recipes

K this will be a quick post but I just wanted to share something with you all!

Bryan and I are cracking down on our budget because as we roll into winter, he's pretty sure his sales numbers will be decreasing, meaning less commission, meaning less income.... meaning smaller budget. While having to "tighten our belts" is never a fun idea... I'm trying to find creative ways to save!

Well,  today I sat down in front of the TV to nurse Britany and clicked on The Nate Show (a total personal favorite :)) Nate was featuring a week of Mexican meals for $25! That's 5 different meals using 10 ingredients that you can purchase anywhere in the country for $25 bucks... um  hello! I'm all over it! I wrote up my shopping list today and I can tell you what will be on our menu next week.... MEXICAN! (how lucky for me that my husband is half-Mexican and therefore loooooooves Mexican food!)

I thought I'd share the link because I know I'm not the only one out there who likes to shrink their grocery bill! Here's the link with all the recipes!

A Week of Mexican Meals for $25

A Delicious Recipe for You :)

Hey!!! We had this wonderful stew for dinner! The great thing about this totally yummy stew is that you can whip it together in MINUTES... but it looks and tastes like you worked a lot harder on it ;) It also smells great while it's cooking!!! And it's great for the whole family... Bryan LOVES the meaty sausage, and Peyton can easily grab the beans with her fingers :)

My suggestion would be to try this recipe on a night when you're craving a yummy, homemade meal but you don't feel like slaving in the kitchen for hours!

Here's the recipe!

Sausage & Mixed Bean Stew

• 1 pound fully cooked smoked sausage (I use Hillshire Farms) halved and cut into 1/4 inch slices
• 2 (10 oz) cans diced tomatoes & green chiles (this does make it a little spicy, just a warning!)
• 1 (15.5 oz) can Great Northern Beans
• 1 (15.25 oz) can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 (15 oz.) can lima beans, drained
• 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed & drained
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. pepper

In a large sauce pan, combine all ingredients. Heat through. Serve in large bowls. Top with cheese if desired.

The Weekend is Here...

As much as I love weekends, this one is bittersweet. We're moving on SUNDAY! I can't believe it's so soon. I'm excited to start this next chapter, and I'm definitely excited to spend a couple days in Ohio with my sister and brother in law on our way down... but I'm so sad that I have to say goodbye to my parents in just two days. BOO HOO. I love them so much, and I'm soaking up every last second with them. We're going to have some great dinner tonight (LeAnn Rimes own Cabo Chicken recipe) and then enjoy a family game night... Hello Scrabble, Nertz and Phase 10!! I'm going to do my best to have fun in spite of the threatening tears :( Booooo... Remember me in your prayers through this sad time, puh-lease?

 For now, here's an adorable picture of Peyton in her gorgeous pink hat (made with love by one of my close friends, Susan!) Isn't she the most beautiful baby you've ever seen? 

Yummy Recipe for You!

We are fully in moving mode over here! It's our last week before our big move to Arizona, so we're working on packing bags and saying our goodbyes. I think one of the most difficult aspects of it all is juggling our excitement for this new adventure, with the heartfelt sadness of what this move means... leaving behind those we love. There always seems to be a downside to every upside. Although, I suppose you could look at that a little more positively... and see it as an upside to every downside, right?

Well, I thought I'd make a little time amidst the craziness to share a recipe with you! I'm cooking this great Pork dish tonight, and it seems like an interesting recipe!

Roast Loin of Pork stuffed with Dried Apricots & Plums

Enjoy this recipe! I'll let you know how it turns out ;)

Oh, and by the way, the husband and I went to the dentist today!! No cavities for either of us ;) I had been told in the past by a dentist that I had very soft enamel, which is genetic, and could only hope for MANY cavities throughout my future... but the dentist who we saw today remarked that I have GREAT teeth which seem very strong, and she has no idea why that other dentist told me I had soft teeth!

Because of going on the mission field Bryan and I have been praying that my teeth would improve. It obviously wouldn't be a good thing to have a lot of any sort of health problem overseas. It's so amazing to see that this is just one more way in which God has healed me and is preparing the way for His call on our lives!   

HE MAKES ALL THINGS NEW!

I'm Tired. Really Tired.

Do you ever feel like you have so much to write, that you're too overwhelmed to actually write it? And then it just builds up and builds up until it's EVEN more to write and you're even MORE overwhelmed? That's where I am.

And the bad news?

I'm too tired to tackle it tonight.

Forgive me, dear readers.

I was overly ambitious today I felt better when I got up this morning, so I jam packed my day full of activities, because, lets be honest... I was sick of sitting on my butt. Recovering from this surgery has convinced me that the life of laziness is NOT a life of luxury.

I got up early, fed Peyton her breakfast (which Bryan has been doing for the past week). I did laundry, cleaned the kitchen, took a shower, got ready to go out, went to the post office, stopped by the grocery store, came home, fed Peyton, fired up the stove tops and whipped up a gourmet dinner.

Despite the fact that I pushed it a little too much...

DINNER WAS GLORIOUS

I made Flat Iron Steak with Balsamic Reduction (quick side note, if you choose to make this dish, add about 1/2 cup of chopped grape tomatoes and add them just after you add the Balsamic vinegar... DELISH!) 

And then for my father, who just happens to hate steak... (it's a texture thing, he says) I made him his own Garlic Fried Chicken .

French Garlic-Butter Green Beans and Sun Dried Tomato Toast on the side... and Pecan Pie for dessert. Mmmm Mmmm good.

All in all, it was a great dinner.

But after all that work, I'm exhausted. And simply too tired to blog.

How sad is that? Especially considering the below facts:

1) I've already written a normal sized post. 

So much for my "too overwhelmed to write" bit.

2) Blogging doesn't take all that much work... 

...just your fingers have to move.

But to sum it all up, I'm absolutely exhausted and my first real day of feeling "recovered" and back to my normal life has left me RUNNING back to my resting place.. the couch.

I'm quickly headed for bed sores.

Surgery, you have bested me.... for now.

Friday Recipe

Whipping up this delicious Almond Mandarin Salad for dinner tonight! Enjoy the recipe!