My living room is still a big, big mess…but we’re getting there. The insulation is in, now let operation drywall begin. Instead of showing you pictures of the mess, I decided to show you a more appetizing picture of Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins because pictures of plaster all over the floor does not inspire you to plan a lovely menu, does it? I’ll post a whole lot of living room pictures once I have more to show!
My father in law will only be here until Wednesday, so here’s hoping he and Matt get most of the drywall up in the next two days. They have been SUCH hard workers and I am just so appreciative.
Here’s what we’ll be eating this week:
Sunday, October 17
Oatmeal, apples
Chicken and Noodles, carrots, honey wheat muffins
Turkey cheese melts on biscuits, pears
Monday, October 18
Chocolate chocolate chip muffins, fruit-kefir smoothies
BBQ meatballs, baked squash, green beans
Tacos (on homemade tortillas and using the last fresh tomatoes of the season)
Tuesday, October 19
Honey whole wheat bagels, applesauce
Tuna salad on toast, cottage cheese and peaches, carrot sticks
Italian roast wraps with tomatoes and kreme fresh, strawberry-peach slushies
Wednesday, October 20
French toast, peach syrup, whipped cream
Popcorn chicken, ranch potato wedges, green beans
Cheesy beef and rice, tossed salad, corn
Thursday, October 21
Creamy orange cooler, peanut butter honey toast
Egg and turkey sausage casserole, orange muffins
Lamb chops, baked potatoes, peas
Friday, October 22
Fried eggs on toast, applesauce
Corn dog muffins, carrot sticks, fruit-kefir smoothies
Homemade pizza
Saturday, October 23
Whole Wheat Donuts
Leftovers
Fall Party at church
If you’re having a hard time coming up with good lunch ideas, you may want to listen to this Podcast…as well as download this free Healthy Lunch Ideas cheat sheet to stick on your fridge!!
Yvonna says
How many cups is 3 med. oranges? I want to use remaining orange juice thats in frig. I make my buttermilk by putting 1 Tbls vinegar or lemon juice in a measuring cup and add enough milk to 1 cup fill line. Just dble or triple for amount needed. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Laura says
Depending on the juiciness of the orange, probably about 1 cup or a cup and a half.
The creamy orange cooler recipe will work with a little less or a little more orange juice than called for. I rarely measure exactly and it’s tasty every time!
Yvonna says
Oh DD is thinking of a wedding cake size for immediate family. Maybe 3 tier, saving top for 1 yr anniversary. Including wedding attendants. She is thinking about cupcakes for guests. She and I want to be able to provide sugarfree cupcakes for those who are diabetic and those who are on a diet or do not give their children sugary treats. Do you have a healthy cupcake recipe w/frosting for both non & diabetic guests. Though the wedding is a year off this will give us time to make and taste. Groom loves his grandmothers strawberry cake. Though he will have a small slice from wedding cake I was wondering if it is still tradition to have a grooms cake? Of course my DH didn’t see the need, but Groom’s gma is aged and has not made in a while.
Laura says
I have a small section of recipes on my blog called Healthy Celebrations, which you’re welcome to look through for ideas but I don’t have many recipes there yet. I have plans to add to this section, it is just taking me time to get around to it. Hopefully before the wedding?
I often do see grooms cakes at weddings, but every bride/groom is welcome to do whatever they want!
Laura says
Oops, forgot the link: https://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/category/healthy-celebrations
FoodontheTable says
I was happy to see lamb chops on your menu. They’re a favorite of mine, but I always have to buy them on sale. They’re so little and can get pretty expensive. Do you have a good place to buy them at a good price?
Laura says
We actually buy a whole lamb all at one time from some local farming friends of ours, making the price very reasonable. The lamb chops are one of our favorite parts to eat, but yes…we wish they were bigger!
I’ve actually never seen lamb at our local grocery stores. Not sure if it’s there and I haven’t seen it or if our small town stores just don’t carry lamb.
Blair says
My husband and I were married in 2006 and he had a grooms cake. He LOVES chocolate, and the cake was white, so it worked out for us, because some of the crazy guests actually wanted chocolate cake instead of wedding cake!!! Lol
Jenna says
Sort of meal plan related, sort of not. In January our family switched over to all whole foods. Which radically changed what I was willing to feed my family. Which radically changed our grocery budget :). I do order dry goods from a bulk place and I belong to a natural foods co-op. Azure standard does not deliver in my area (Chicago), so I don’t have a great place to buy fresh organic produce. Ok, my point, and I do have one, is I am wondering how much you and your readers spend on groceries. The $40/week crowd just depress me, and I have no idea what is realistic anymore. We are a family of six right now, with baby #5 on the way, and we spend $800-$850 every month. Am I somewhere in the ballpark?
Laura says
Yeah, I hear ya. $40/week would NOT cut it around here! :)
We spend around $550/month (which you can read more about here: https://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/feeding-the-family-breaking-down-our-2009-food-budget). I think one reason we keep ours lower is that our sources for milk, eggs and meat are all quite reasonable. I know some people have to pay three times what we pay for milk; we are blessed.
I also think that because we garden and have access to Azure for great prices on produce, that helps a ton too. We get a lot of “free food” from our garden and from other people’s fruit trees each fall.
You may be able to get yours lower than $800/month, but if you don’t have the resources and you are financially able, then just know that you are investing in good health. Our personal grocery budget doesn’t have much room to grow, so sometimes I have to make do when I feel like I could EASILY spend more.
Becky@ Our Peaceful Home says
Ok, so I’ve made your chocolate Chip muffins at least twice or maybe three times. They always come out heavy and they don’t puff up at all. Your look so pretty in the picture. What am I don’t wrong?
Laura says
I really don’t know the deal on those muffins. I’ve made them over and over and they always turn out for me. Others have been like you and have said that the recipe doesn’t work for them. Then, there are others who comment who say that they are the best muffins ever. WHAT is the deal? I wish I knew!
Becky@ Our Peaceful Home says
Alright I have another question too :) I was reading the comment about lamb chops. How does Lamb compare to other meats. I’ve never had it. We have some local farmers that sell it along with grassfed beef. I want to try it but I’m afraid. I guess we could buy a couple of chops and see if we like it. Any descriptions of what it tastes like?
Laura says
I LOVE grass fed lamb. It’s fattier than beef and just has a really rich flavor. Yes, buy a couple of chops to try out the flavor. I cook it just like I would beef.