Heavenly Homemakers

Encouraging women in homemaking, healthy eating and parenting

Menu Plan for the Week – and a Pickle Tradition

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pickle ornamentWho’s heard of the German pickle ornament tradition (which may or may not be true)? I won a pickle ornament at a white elephant gift exchange last year, so our boys decided that we definitely needed to make this a part of our Christmas fun. Who wouldn’t want to find a pickle hanging on the Christmas tree, after all?

The long and short of the tradition is this:  Christmas Eve night, parents hide the pickle ornament somewhere on the Christmas tree. In the morning, the first child to discover it receives an extra gift. This explains why my kids were interested in this tradition, right? It’s all about a bonus gift.

All was well until Christmas Eve afternoon when it occurred to me that the boys were counting on us hiding the pickle, and I had forgotten all about providing an extra gift for the winner. Thinking quickly, I brainstormed for something that would make the winner feel special but that all the boys would enjoy (after all of their pickle searching efforts). I refused to go back out and buy something. I was done shopping, thank you very much.

Aha! I ran to the computer and created a certificate which entitled the finder of the pickle to pick all of the menu items for New Year’s Day. I made the certificate goofy (shocking) with a bunch of ridiculous disclaimers, printed it, and put it into a gift bag. There. Pickle present done.

Justus (13) was the winner. Here’s what he chose:

Wednesday, January 1
Whole wheat waffles (which the boys are now all calling “Super Mama Waffles” – I guess they are just that good?)
Tilapia, rice, steamed veggies
Spicy pasta (recipe from a friend), tossed salad

If you’re wondering what happened to Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday in our menu plan…I didn’t come up with plans for those days because we’re with family and working together on food prep. :)

Thursday, January 2
Snickerdoodle muffins, apples
Beefy vegetable soup, fruit
Alfredo sauce with pasta, steamed veggies

Friday, January 3
Poptarts, applesauce
Creamy mac and cheese, peas
Calzones, tossed salad

Saturday, January 4
Honey whole wheat bagels, clementines
Rice and veggie stir fry with broccoli, carrots, and chicken
Beefy enchilada bake, tossed salad

Tell me if you’ve heard of the Christmas Pickle!

Homeschool Convention 450X150

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The Recipes of Brunches Past

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Since we’ve held a Heavenly Homemakers Christmas Brunch for four years now, I thought it would be fun to re-post some of the recipes shared during brunches in the past. The yummy goodness never ends!

Orange Cranberry Scones

Orange Cranberry Scones

Homemade Healthier Eggnog

Homemade Healthier Eggnog

Whole Wheat Gingerbread Men

Whole Wheat Gingerbread Men

Sweet Pepper Fritata

Sweet Pepper Fritata

Christmas Spice Cookies

Christmas Spice Cookies

Quick Eggnog Muffins

eggnog_muffins_2

Vanilla Muffins with Cinnamon Crumb Topping

Vanilla Muffins with Cinnamon Crumb Topping

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Balls

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Balls

Christmas Brunch Punch

Christmas Brunch Punch {with 100 juice!}
I’m super curious to know how many years you’ve been around to join us for these brunches? Is this your first one? Have you been around for several years? I sure do love getting to know all of you!

Be sure to leave a comment on this post for a chance to win one of five $10 gift certificates to the Heavenly Homemakers Shop, good on anything of our eBooks or eCourses!

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Join Us!! It’s the Fourth Annual Heavenly Homemakers Christmas Brunch!

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It’s time once again to share our virtual Christmas brunch! There will be lots of yummy food (recipes), gifts, and encouragement as we enjoy the week before Christmas together. I always look forward to spending this time with you each year. Whether you live right next door to me or live all the way across the globe – I love that the internet has brought us together and that we can share in a special Christmas celebration!

Beyond all of the recipe posts I’ll be sharing, as an appreciation gift for coming to our Brunch, we’ll be having a drawing on the 26th for five $10 Heavenly Homemakers Gift Certificates! Each time you see the above Christmas Brunch Invitation on a post between now and December 24, leave a comment for a chance to win one of the certificates. I’ll draw five random winners and post them on the 26th. There will be several posts with the invitation attached, so you’ll have several chances to win! (This post counts, so let the comments begin!)

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Menu Plan for the Week

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It’s official – I don’t have any prepared food in my freezer as of right now. How did this happen?  Well, it would appear that we ate all I had prepared, which is, after all, what freezer food is for. This week, I’m hoping to find a little extra time to make a few items to freeze for upcoming busy days. Here’s what I’m thinking of making:

On another note, have you tried this Ranch Cheese Ball yet? It’s such an easy recipe, and a great snack to share at a holiday get-together. I’ll be making it at the end of the week!

Ranch Cheese BallHere’s what we’ll be eating this week:

Sunday, December 15
Raspberry oatmeal bars, bananas
Potato soup, carrots
Small group fellowship: I’m making Italian Pasta Bake, everyone else is bringing sides

Monday, December 16
Peanut butter Snack bars, apples
Rice and veggie stir fry with broccoli and carrots
Chicken tortilla soup, tossed salad

Tuesday, December 17
Peanut butter pancakes, applesauce
Meat and cheese burritos, cherry tomatoes, olives
Shepherds pie, tossed salad

Wednesday, December 18
Easy breakfast casserole, oranges
Snowflake quesadillas, fruit salad, carrots
Three cheese garlic chicken pasta, tossed salad, green beans

Thursday, December 19
Sweet Potato Streusel Muffins, bananas
Sloppy joes, fried potatoes, peas
Turkey sausage and red bean stew, tossed salad

Friday, December 20 (Malachi’s 9th Birthday – he chooses the day’s menu!)
Chocolate chip pancakes
Pizza, fruit
Hot dogs, chips, carrots

Saturday, December 21
Peanut butter chocolate chip muffins, clementines
Hoagie sandwiches, apples, carrots, olives
Eating with Asa and Justus’ basketball team

 

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Menu Plan for the Week

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snow 2013

We got our first big snow of the year! It’s the soft, fluffy kind of snow that is absolutely beautiful – perfect for the Christmas season!

Here’s what we’ll be eating this week:

Sunday, December 8
Homemade instant oatmeal, dried fruit
Lunch at church to raise funds for teen mission trip
Small group – I’m making Chicken noodle soup and everyone else is bringing sides

Monday, December 9
Oatmeal breakfast bars, pears
Pizza boats, green beans
Cheesy salsa enchiladas, tossed salad

Tuesday, December 10
Cream cheese pumpkin muffins, applesauce
Taco potatoes, oranges
Beef stew, quick mix biscuits

Wednesday, December 11
Snickerdoodle muffins, bananas
Homemade tomato soup, grilled cheese
Calico beans, fruit salad

Thursday, December 12
Fried eggs on toast, clementines
Hamburger cream cheese dip with chips, pineapple
Tuna casserole, peas

Friday, December 13
Whole wheat waffles, blueberries
Taco corn fritters, green beans
Homemade pizza, tossed salad

Saturday, December 14
Scrambled egg sandwiches, fruit
Leftovers
Tilapia, rice, steamed broccoli and carrots

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Menu Plan for the Week

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Hope you all had a family filled Thanksgiving weekend! Are you enjoying turkey leftovers? We’re still working on ours, and I’m loving that after cooking so much last week, my work load is a little easier because of leftovers!

Here’s what our menu looks like this week:

Monday, December 2
Creamy orange cooler, toast, scrambled eggs
Turkey noodle soup (using this chicken noodle soup recipe), carrots
Hamburgers, fruit salad

Tuesday, December 3
Breakfast burritos, clementines
Chili on baked potatoes with cheese, green beans
Cheesy beef and rice, tossed salad

Wednesday, December 4
Raspberry oatmeal bars, bananas
Easy noodle stir fry with broccoli and carrots
Homemade Pizza, tossed salad

Thursday, December 5
Quick mix pancakes, blueberries
Beefy vegetable soup, cornbread muffins
Lamb chops, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas

Friday, December 6
Vanilla muffins with cinnamon crumb topping, applesauce
Grilled cheese, tomato soup
Pizza casserole, tossed salad

Saturday, December 7
Whole wheat donuts (made with Christmas cookie cutters)
Leftovers
Teriyaki chicken and veggies over rice

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Make-Ahead Healthy Snack Recipes

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350x350_Challenge

It’s official. Our 16 year old is taller than his dad. That means Asa is measuring at 6’3″ as of yesterday. His legs are longer than his bed. His feet are bigger than his shoes. The bottoms of his jeans only reach his ankles for two weeks. His eyes are as big as his stomach. And it’s a good thing I love to cook.

Should I mention that our 13 year old is almost looking me directly in the eyes, our 11 year old isn’t far behind, and our 8-almost-9 year old must be going through a growth spurt? I promise that he ate six bowls of Easy Noodle Stir Fry in one sitting last week.

So let’s see. Did I need this Getting Ahead Snack Challenge? Why yes, I did. Somehow, I’ve got to stay ahead of these appetites. Have I actually gotten ahead during the past few weeks? Eh, only a little bit. We mostly eat snacks as quickly as I make them. But at least I’ve discovered some great, new, healthy snack recipes to fall back on. We are having so much fun with these new ideas!

I decided to compile all of the new Healthy Snack Recipe ideas here for us as we conclude this Getting Ahead {Snacks} Challenge. All of these recipes can be made ahead of time. They are delicious, low in sugar, hearty, and easy to make.

~  Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites

pretzel_bites

~  Easy Homemade Nacho Cheese Pretzel Dip

nacho_cheese_pretzel_dip_1

~ Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

~ Raspberry Oatmeal Bars

Or, if you want to change it up, follow that recipe but make Mix and Match Bars!

Raspberry Oatmeal Bars 11

~  Cranberry Nut Trail Mix

Cranberry Nut Trail Mix

~  Easy Peanut Butter Snack Bars

peanut butter snack bars

~  Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffins

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffins
Did you try any of these recipes? Which are your favorites? Do you have any other fun, healthy Make-Ahead Snack Recipes to share?

 

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A Nourishing Way to Warm Up

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warmvanillasoother2sm

Cold? Hungry? Need some energy? I have the magic potion.  And there are three variations to the recipe!

Have you tried my Warm Vanilla Soother? It’s the first of the three soothing drink recipes I concocted. Drinking this is like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold day, and I always feel nourished and energized afterward.

Once I realized how wonderful the vanilla drink was, of course, I had to try making a chocolate variety. Thus, the Warm Chocolate Soother was born. It’s like drinking a brownie that is warm right out of the oven. (Be careful that you don’t trip on the kids while rushing to make this. Yes, it’s that good. But your kids might need dinner or a diaper change first.)

Last, I created a Warm Pumpkin Soother.  It’s a holiday party in a mug. Ahhhhhh…..

So, let’s review. Delicious, satisfying, warm, nourishing, filling, chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. Or pumpkin. Or vanilla. Take your pick.

Which is your favorite?

Warm_Pumpkin_Custard

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Free!! New and Improved “For the Love of Pie” eBook

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Can you believe it? Heavenly Homemakers has been around for over six years now. Time flies when you’re meeting new people, learning to be healthier, trying new recipes, and eating lots of butter.

Some of you may remember that a long, long time ago my readers and I worked together to put together a Pie eBook. The book is filled with tried and true pie recipes – recipes that YOU sent me. I compiled all the recipes into an eBook, and offered it to everyone for free.

The good news? This eBook is still free!  The better news? I’ve updated the eBook to make it easier to read and nicer to look at!

Just in time for the holidays, I am thrilled to present to you the new and improved For the Love of Pie eBook:

fortheloveofpie_sm

Download For the Love of Pie Recipe Ebook

Please tell everyone you would like about this free resource. When there’s pie involved, the secret’s too good to keep to yourself. :)

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Menu Plan for the Week

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No Knead Rolls

The countdown to Thanksgiving is ON! It is around this time every year that I realize just how much I love everything about food. Cooking it, planning for it, shopping for it, staring at it, and eating it. I have a gigantic turkey in my freezer that I will be pulling out soon to cook (to get ahead). Read how I cook my Thanksgiving turkey here.

The One Hour Whole Wheat Yeast Rolls (pictured above) might be a great addition to your Thanksgiving meal. Even if you’ve never made yeast rolls before, even if you’ve made them before and not had success – you will find this recipe so easy! In fact, we had a college student over last week who had never made rolls before. I handed her this recipe, and she turned out perfect rolls – her first try!

Here’s what our menu looks like this week:

Sunday, November 17
Instant oatmeal packets, fruit
Italian pasta bake, tossed salad, green beans
Small group – Sloppy joes on one hour whole wheat yeast rolls (others bringing sides)

Monday, November 18
Scrambled eggs, creamy orange cooler
Tuna salad on pita bread, fruit salad, carrots
Chicken pot pie, tossed salad

Tuesday, November 19
Simple whole wheat pancakes, blueberries
Hamburger cream cheese dip, tortilla chips, veggies
Chicken noodle soup, tossed salad

Wednesday, November 20
No knead whole wheat bread, smoothies
Easy noodle stir fry with broccoli and carrots
One dish meat and potato casserole, tossed salad

Thursday, November 21
Pancake and sausage muffins, apples
Pigs in a blanket, oranges, carrots
Beefy vegetable soup, whole wheat butterhorns

Friday, November 22
Homemade poptarts, applesauce
Leftovers
Chicken fried steak strips, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas

Saturday, November 23
On the road for Asa and Justus’ first basketball games

Are you getting excited about Thanksgiving? Do you have big plans? 

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