Month: July 2010

Posted in Menu planning

Freezer cooking in preparation for school year

Posted on by traci

Breakfast Items:

Lunch/Dinner Items:

Side Dishes:

Bread:

Posted in Bread and muffins, Recipes

Homemade Hamburger Buns

Posted on by traci

A few months ago, I found this recipe for homemade hamburger buns. Since then, I’ve made them three times. My fourth attempt is currently in the bread machine. If I could describe them in one word, it would be delicious.

After making them, I wrap each in foil and place about five in a gallon-size ziplock freezer bag. Then I place them in the freezer. When I want to use one or two, I pull them out of the freezer, unwrap them, and defrost them in the microwave. My favorite sandwich with them is a chicken patty, muenster cheese, and a tiny bit of olive oil-based mayo. Yum!

Homemade Hamburger Buns

via Hun . . . What’s For Dinner??

Stars of the recipe:

  • 3/4 to 1 cup lukewarm water
  • 1 Tbsp. butter
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 and 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 T instant yeast

Steps:

  1. Mix and knead all dough ingredients—by hand, mixer, or bread machine—to make a soft, smooth dough. – I do it in the bread machine.
  2. If doing it by hand or mixer, cover the dough, and let it rise for 1 hour until it’s doubled in bulk.
  3. Gently deflate the dough, and divide it into 8 pieces. Shape each piece into a round 1″ thick (more or less); flatten to about 3″ across. Place the buns on a lightly greased baking sheet, cover, and let rise for about an hour until very puffy. – I divide mine into 12 pieces.
  4. If desired, brush the buns with melted butter. Or brush lightly with egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water), and sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds. – I omit this part
  5. Bake the buns in a preheated 375°F oven for 12 to 15 minutes, till golden. Cool on a rack.

Makes 8 to 12 buns.

To defrost, place on a microwave plate. Heat it up for a minute at 70% power. If not defrosted, heat it up for 30-second intervals at 70% power.

This post has been linked to Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays and Colleen’s Kitchen Recipe Swap.

Posted in Pictures

Pictures from the St. Louis Zoo

Posted on by traci

On Saturday morning, we decided to go to the St. Louis Zoo.  It’s free to the public; however, some exhibits cost money.  Between eight and nine o’clock, visitors can visit certain exhibits for free.  We rode the Conservation Carousel and petted the sting rays during that hour.

We loved the zoo and probably would have stayed longer if it wasn’t so hot (90-plus degrees).  By the time we left, the heat was beginning to become unbearable.  I was drinking liquids like crazy because I was so hot.

These pictures are the best of the pictures that were taken at the St. Louis Zoo.

 

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Posted in Menu planning

Menu planning week of July 26

Posted on by traci

Last Tuesday, I had a stomach virus, so I didn’t cook anything. So we didn’t have the almost famous chicken sandwiches. I am going to save the meal for the first week of August.

Since I’m returning to work in two weeks, I need to start planning our meals for certain days of the week so that hubby can help with the meal. Sometimes I will prepare the meal, and all he has to do is cook it. Sometimes I cook it in the crock pot, and he might have to do the side dishes or bread. It all depends on what we are going to have for supper. I assume since I will get home earlier in the day, it will be easier for me to get the meal on the table without rushing like I have been for the past two years. (For those who don’t know, I’m an Intervention Specialist (special education teacher) during the day and the primary caretaker in the evenings. My hubby is the primary caretaker during the day and a pizza delivery person in the evenings. He leaves for work soon after I come home. We eat supper before he goes to work.)

Dinners

Monday – pancakes or waffles, bacon or sausage, fresh fruit

Tuesday – 50’s Prime Time Meatloaf (in the freezer), mashed potatoes, pasta Roni, or mac and cheese, veggies

Wednesday – Skyline chili made in the crock pot. The chili will be served over spaghetti. I will use the extra spaghetti on Friday.

Thursday – chili dogs, chips, fresh veggies

Friday – spaghetti with meatballs (in the freezer), Italian bread sticks, salad, applesauce

Saturday – left-overs

This post is linked to Menu Planning Monday at I’m an Organizing Junkie.

Posted in Bread and muffins, Recipes

Easy Rolls

Posted on by traci

A while ago, I was looking for a recipe for biscuits or rolls on Paula Deen’s website.  I found this recipe for Easy Rolls.  They looked easy, so I decided to try them.  Once I tried them, I was hooked.  They have a slightly sweet taste and are so tender.

The Imaginative one tasted one, and his response was “M-M-M.”  After you try them, I’m sure you will say the same thing.

IMG_1723[1]

Easy Rolls

Stars of this recipe:

  • 2 cups of Self Rising Flour
  • 1 cup of milk
  • 2 Tbsp. of sugar
  • 4 heaping Tbsp. of mayonnaise

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix together flour and milk.
  3. Add sugar and mayonnaise.
  4. Bake in lightly greased (I use cooking spray.) muffin tins for 12 to 15 minutes or until brown.

This recipe makes 12 rolls.

This recipe is linked up to Mommy’s Kitchen for Potluck Sunday.

Posted in Pictures

Pictures of the Gateway Arch

Posted on by traci

This weekend, hubby and I went away without the boys.  Our destination was St. Louis.  He had driven through the city many times when he went on super trips with the Explorer Post (Boy Scouts).  They would go on long trips to places like Yellowstone National Park.  They never stopped, so he was fascinated with the Arch. 

On the other hand, I had only been to the Arch once in my entire life, which was almost 25 years ago.  I had flown out to Colorado to visit my aunt.  We then drove home and went past the Arch.  I fell asleep soon after seeing it.

Here are some pictures of the Arch, inside it, and then the view from it.  Enjoy!

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Posted in Recipes, Side Dishes

Brown sugar carrots

Posted on by traci

My mom gave us various vegetable seeds last April. My hubby decided to plant some of them.  One of the vegetables was carrots.  Last night, I harvested some of the carrots.  I decided to make brown sugar carrots for dinner.

This recipe is so simple, but the taste is superb.

Brown Sugar Carrots

Stars of the Recipe:

  • carrots cut into circles (about 2 cups)
  • 2 Tbsp. of butter or margarine
  • 3 Tbsp. of brown sugar (You can add more if you want it sweeter.)
  • 2 tsp. of ground cinnamon

Steps:

  1. Cut up the carrots.  Put in a microwaveable bowl.
  2. Put the rest of the ingredients in the bowl.
  3. Place the bowl in the microwave and cook for 3 to 5 minutes.  You want them tender, crisp, and not mushy.
  4. After they are finished, take the bowl out of the microwave and then stir the syrup up.
  5. Serve and enjoy!

This recipe is linked to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed with Grace.

Posted in Menu planning

Menu for week of July 19 – with recipe

Posted on by traci

Welcome to my kitchen.

On Thursday of last week, the Imaginative One and I ventured to a local fruit/vegetable stand for their delicious corn on the cob.  While there, I got some fresh green beans, so I changed my menu for the next day.  Instead of making the quick pork lo mein, I made green beans, potatoes, and ham, which my grandma often made.  It’s budget-friendly and easy, which are two positives.  I’m moving the quick pork lo mein to this week’s menu.

Later in the week, my hubby and I are going on a long-awaited trip to St. Louis.  We haven’t gone on a vacation by ourselves for nine years.  So I don’t need to plan for much this week.

Green beans, potatoes, and ham

Stars of the recipe:

  • Green beans – two pounds of fresh greens or two to three cans of green beans, drained
  • peeled and diced potatoes – I used four potatoes when I made mine.  You can use more or less.
  • 2 c. diced ham
  • salt to taste

Steps:

  1.  Put the potatoes, green beans, and ham in the crockpot.
  2. Fill the crockpot with water to cover the potatoes, green beans, and ham.  Add salt
  3. Cook on low for 8 hours.  Enjoy!

Menu for this week:

Breakfasts:

Cereal, mini pancakes, mini bagels

Lunches:

sandwiches, leftovers

Dinners:

Desserts:

Grandma’s White Salad
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies – I found this great recipe on Mommy’s Kitchen blog.  I decided this would be great to take along my road trip.  That is, if they last until Friday!

What is on your menu for the upcoming week?

For more great menu plans, please visit I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday!  Have a great week.