The week has arrived. The YC soccer teams are in town, enduring three-a-day practices, and I have the privilege to help feed the ladies’ team! Last year I fed them six meals – this year I’m only needed for three – so it seems “much easier” this time! :)
Added into the mix this week is a Baby Shower I’m helping host on Thursday. Also, a dear friend from church went to be with Jesus last week after battling cancer. Therefore, I’m helping provide a meal for her family on Monday, plus helping with food for a congregational meal following her funeral on Tuesday. We feel very blessed to serve in this way and have been having fun cooking all weekend in preparation! Yes I’m a little tired, but no I’m not overdoing it. If you didn’t know this already – I love cooking. Put me in a kitchen with a bunch of ingredients and I’m a happy girl. Our boys have also been a tremendous help! (They’ve also had the good sense to scram and make haste to the trampoline during the harried moments when Mama is carrying a huge pot of sauce across the kitchen, while the oven timer is beeping and the pasta is boiling over, which has also been very helpful.)
My goal while feeding others (especially in large crowds) is to keep the meals as simple as possible, while at the same time providing very tasty dishes so that the recipients know they are loved by our family.
Friday, we bought half of Walmart then went home to brown hamburger meat, bake cookies and put together lasagnas. You should have seen my shopping cart – I was wishing I had my camera with me! I don’t think I could have fit one more item in without it all falling out over the cart.
We unloaded groceries onto the floor of the kitchen and then worked together to get them
organized and put away. This is about half of what I bought.
As you can see, I do compromise when I’m cooking for a large crowd,
making most of the food from scratch but buying a few boxes and cans too. ;)
Cookies, cookies and more cookies. The sugar over-floweth from my kitchen this weekend.
The following menu plan probably won’t offer you much in the way of suggestions for feeding your family this week, unless you personally have 43 children (in which case, I beg you to please let me come help you wash dishes sometime). But, I needed for myself a very thorough “feeding the masses” plan so that I’m able to knock this week out efficiently. I’ve typed out everything I’ll be making and serving for others, but I didn’t actually take the time this week to type out the remaining meals for our family. For meals that include just the six of us, we’ll likely be eating leftovers from the larger meals or scrambled eggs, pancakes, hamburgers and veggies from the garden.
Sunday, August 14
Meal for Soccer Team (50 people) – Tammy’s Chicken Pasta Salad (x7), Grapes, Angeled Eggs, Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies (x4), Sugar Cookies (x2)
Monday, August 15
Lunchtime Meal for the P family (15 people) – Sloppy Joes (x3), Cheese Slices, Angeled Eggs, Sliced Watermelon, Carrot Sticks with Ranch Dressing, Frosted Brownies (these brownies, this frosting)
Dinnertime Meal for Soccer Team – Lasagna (x7), Tossed Salad, Green Beans, Honey Whole Wheat Bread (x4), Butterscotch Bars (x3)
Tuesday, August 16
Take to Funeral Meal – 4 dozen Chocolate Chip Cookies
Meal for Soccer Team – Beef Roast, Potatoes, Carrots, Gravy, Cream Cheese Corn, Homemade Dinner Rolls, Apple Crisp with Homemade Ice Cream
Thursday, August 18
Take to Baby Shower – Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies, Coconut Flour Muffins, Lemons (for water), Diapers, Cards and Gifts
(Yes I know diapers and gifts are not part of a menu plan, but I don’t want to forget anything so they’re going on this list!)
All other typically accomplished tasks such as science lessons and laundry folding are pending this week. I’ve mentioned before that it is more important to us that our children learn to serve than for them to learn their states and capitals. They’ll still find some math and reading time this week I’m sure. And really, matching socks are over-rated, don’t you think?
I love making lasagnas assembly line style – so easy!!
My posts may be irregular this week as I haven’t been able to spend much time this weekend writing. I do have a guest post and some fun giveaways lined up, as well as a big sale in the Heavenly Homemakers Shop to tell you about!! Watch for news on that soon. :)
I think matching socks are overrated too! We shoot for similar colors and call it good. ;) What a fabulous example you’re setting for your kids with your service. Have a blessed week!
glad you mentioned what the diapers were for… I was thinking “is she keeping a baby for someone this week too?”
Oh my, that would push me over the edge! :)
Half walmart LOL
Thank you so much for making cooking easy! I’m not that good in the kitchen but you’ve helped me so much!
I’m curious how you bake seven lasangas? Do you have a super giant oven? Do you pre-bake and then microwave?? Some other magic trick??
Ah, I’m baking them in our church kitchen and feeding them there. I WISH I had a super giant oven!
I just don’t know how you do it, Laura! You inspire me! :)
For wedding presents we received 7 9×13 pans. I returned and re-gifted some, so now we are down to 3, which have served us well for the past 7 years. Now I can see that there actually is a reason to own 7 pans! Great work!
I’m so happy to see that you buy half of Walmart when you need to feed a crowd. I’ve always felt kind of guilty knowing that I feed my family mostly organic/natural foods, but when I feed a crowd I buy less expensive brands too. I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one who does that.
Loved the Lasagna photo! Lasagna is best made “assembly line” style:) I agree-matched socks are over rated! We always had a “sock bin” when the kids were younger. I only bought white socks and always the same kind. All you had to do was pull 2 socks out of the bin an you were good to go. By the time the kids wanted different socks they were doing their own laundry and took care of their own socks!
HI!
I was wondering if the chocolate stars are healthy… and where do you get them… and do you get them in bulk? thanks for this post, Laura! I have many opportunities to feed my hungry crowd and lots of extra people….. God is good!! And… just so you know, my daughters and I spend a lot of time baking and cooking your wonderful recipes! Thanks, Laura!
In Christ,
Cynthia and family
P.S. I was also wondering if you use a recipe file/book or what??? I am a middle aged mother who does not do too great with the computer. do you have your laptop in the kitchen with you while you are cooking? Weird question, I know. You younger ladies are so good with the technology!
The chocolate stars are not healthy necessarily, but neither are they full of a bunch of nasty ingredients, so I feel okay about them. They are in the candy aisle with all the chocolate at Walmart or the grocery store.
I mainly reference my site for recipes, but I do have a few cookbooks I reference for some old recipes I grew up with. I’m kinda weird in that once I’ve made a recipe once or twice, I can do it from my head without looking anything up, so I just get out bowls and start cooking!
Thank you for feeding the soccer team! York’s new goalie is my babysitter…I’m in the market for a new trustworthy babysitter! I apprecaite your taking the time to serve them. p.s. Her name is Katy…give her a squeeze for me!
It was fun to meet her the other day – we heard great things about you and your hubby! I’ll squeeze her tomorrow for you!
Happy Anniversary and have a wonderful week with all that you are doing. Thank you for sharing and serving yourselves in so many ways–including this blog which means me!! Blessings on all of you.
From all of us “soccer moms” so far away from our daughters (I am in Texas), THANK YOU for feeding the York Womens Soccer team such wonderful meals. Katy loved and appreciated the food!! You are an angel.
Aw, thanks! How nice to hear from you. I am LOVING every minute of this and I so enjoy getting to know these awesome girls. :)