We had quite the busy day yesterday!  It started with a church service, then a little grocery shopping, lunch, birthday cake-making, cleaning, going out for dinner, and then finally enjoying some birthday cake! 

It was my husband’s birthday, and he requested a Red Velvet Cake.  Not being one to pour a whole bottle of artificial red food coloring into something that we’re going to eat, I decided to go off of this recipe which uses beets as a natural food coloring.  

It turned out very well!  It was delicious and red!  I don’t particularly care for the taste of beets myself, but you can’t taste them at all.  All you can taste is deliciousness covered in more deliciousness! 

So, if you love red velvet cake but are turned off like I am at the thought of all that artificial food dye, I highly recommend you try this recipe for an all-natural, no red-dye, velvet cake!

Here’s my menu plan for the week which has been shared with Plan It – Don’t Panic at Keeper of the Home:

BREAKFAST

Sun: Fried Eggs and Toast

Mon: Smoothies, Scrambled Eggs

Tues: Smoothies, Applesauce Bread

Wed: Smoothies, Hearty Breakfast Casserole

Thur: Smoothies, Amazing Baked Oatmeal

Fri: Smoothies, Scrambled Eggs

Sat: Sourdough Waffles with Maple Kefir

LUNCH

Sun: Grilled Cheese, Pumpkin Soup

Mon-Fri: Leftovers/Soup/Salad

Sat: Slow Cooker Chicken and Quinoa (can’t wait to try this!)

DINNER

Sun: Birthday Dinner (Mexican restaurant with friends), Red Velvet Cake (all natural, no red dye)

Mon: Salads, Loaded Baked Potatoes

Tues: Grilled Hamburgers, The Best Broccoli of Your Life

Wed: Salads, Broccoli and White Cheddar Mac & Cheese, Grilled Chicken

Thur: Salads, Savory Greek Sausage-Stuffed Autumn Squash

Fri: Homemade Pizza (it’s tradition!), Fresh Veggies and Dip

Sat: Salads, Seared Tuna Steaks, Baked Sweet Potatoes

SNACKS

• Homemade Yogurt
• Fresh Fruit
• Popcorn
• Sweet and Salty Roasted Chickpeas

What’s on your menu this week?

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It’s really starting to feel like autumn where we live, which makes me happy!  I love the opportunities the chilly weather gives me to get under a warm, fluffy blanket and snuggle up with my family (and a mug of Cozy, Dark Hot Chocolate!). 

I also love all of the seasonal foods of autumn!  We usually eat soup all-year round, but I especially love soup in the chillier months.  This week, I’m making a big pot of my Creamy Pumpkin Soup, and I’m also going to try this Mushroom Soup that Meg shared at Keeper of the Home.  Both are great immunity boosters, which we need right now in our house – there have been a few too many sniffles going around lately!

Once again, I am participating again in Stephanie’s Plan It- Don’t Panic! (A 6-Week Meal Planning Challenge).  Be sure to check it out for more menu planning inspiration!

Here’s my menu plan for the week:

BREAKFAST

Sun: Overnight Steel Cut Oats, Kefir Smoothies

Mon: Scrambled Eggs, Toast, Kefir Smoothies

Tues: Breakfast Burritos, Kefir Smoothies

Wed: Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal, Kefir Smoothies

Thur: Scrambled Eggs, Toast, Kefir Smoothies

Fri: Sourdough English Muffins with Butter and Raw Honey, Apple Slices, Kefir Smoothie

Sat: Sourdough Pancakes with Maple Kefir and Fruit

LUNCH

Sun: Salads, Pasta Presto

Mon-Fri: Leftovers/Soup/Salad (Creamy Pumpkin Soup & Mushroom Soup)

Sat: Salads, Grilled Cheese, Homemade Tomato Soup

DINNER

Sun: Leftovers

Mon: Salads, Spinach Ricotta Pie

Tues: Sticky Coconut Chicken w/ Brown Rice

Wed: Salads, Pan-Seared Salmon with Tomato, Basil, Feta Sauce, The Perfect Baked Potato

Thur: Lasagna, Salads, Garlic Bread

Fri: Homemade Pizza (it’s tradition!), Fresh Veggies and Veggie Dip

Sat: Ham and Beans, Corn Cakes

Snacks

• Pumpkin Pie in a Glass
• Popcorn
• Trail Mix
• Fresh Veggies and Veggie Dip

What are your favorite foods to eat in chilly weather?  Do you have any favorite soup recipes?

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I’ve been enjoying baking with my sourdough starter over the past several weeks!  If you would like to join me in making lots of delicious and nutritious sourdough goodies, learn how to make your own sourdough starter here!

Once again, I am participating again in Stephanie’s Plan It- Don’t Panic! (A 6-Week Meal Planning Challenge).  Be sure to check it out for more menu planning inspiration!

Here’s my menu plan for the week:

BREAKFAST

Sun: Sweet Potato Oatmeal, Kefir Smoothie

Mon: Egg Sandwich on Sourdough English Muffins, Fresh Raw Juice Smoothie

Tues: Breakfast Burritos, Kefir Smoothie

`Wed: Sweet Potato Oatmeal (leftover), Fresh Raw Juice Smoothie

Thur: Scrambled Eggs, Kefir Smoothie

Fri: Sourdough English Muffins with Butter and Raw Honey, Fresh Raw Juice Smoothie

Sat: Sourdough Waffles with Maple Kefir and Fruit

LUNCH

Sun: Grilled Cheese and Homemade Tomato Soup

Mon-Fri: Leftovers/Soup/Salad

Sat: Nachos, Fresh Fruit

DINNER

Sun: Leftovers

Mon: Garlic Herb Chicken con Broccoli, Salad w/ EVOO and White Balsamic Vinegar

Tues: Pizza Pockets, Fresh Fruit and Veggies

Wed: Cobb Salad w/ Homemade Ranch and Sourdough Biscuits

Thur: Eggplant Parmesan, Salad w/ EVOO and White Balsamic Vinegar

Fri: Homemade Pizza (it’s tradition!), Fresh Veggies and Dip

Sat: Rustic Lemon Onion Chicken, Salad with EVOO and White Balsamic Vinegar, Roasted Vegetables

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Things on the blog have been very slow and quiet this past week – mainly because things at home have NOT been very slow or quiet!  My mom and sister paid us a surprise visit, and really spoiled us while they were here!  My mom did my hair (she is a hair stylist!) took me shopping (and bought me practically a whole new wardrobe!), and took us out to eat several times.  It was a lot of fun, but the best part was definitely being able to spend lots of time with my mom and sister!  They left to go back home yesterday morning, and I miss them already!

We had some other exciting things happen last week too.  I was finally able to get a kitchen appliance that I have wanted for a LONG time!  I will share the details later this week, but let’s just say that my kitchen has been VERY busy!

I am participating again in Stephanie’s Plan It- Don’t Panic! (A 6-Week Meal Planning Challenge).  Be sure to check it out for more menu planning inspiration!

Here’s my menu plan for the week:

BREAKFAST

Sun: Biscuits and Gravy

Mon: Raw Juice Smoothies, Eggs and Toast

Tues: Smoothies, Pancakes

`Wed: Smoothies, Baked Oatmeal

Thur: Smoothies, Omelets

Fri: Smoothies, Applesauce Bread

Sat: Waffles, Maple Kefir, Bacon

LUNCH

Sun: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Leftover Chili

Mon-Fri: Leftovers/Soup/Salad

Sat: Buffalo Chicken Dip, Fresh Veggies, Sourdough Bread

DINNER

Sun: Pancakes, Eggs

Mon: Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Homemade French Fries

Tues: Salads, Meatloaf, Garlic Carrot Potatoes

Wed: Enchiladas

Thur: Rice and Beans, Grilled Chicken

Fri: Homemade Pizza (it’s tradition!), Fresh Veggies and Dip

Sat: Salads, Juicy Roasted Chicken, Creamed Corn, Mashed Potatoes

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Since I have been menu planning over the last eight weeks, we have been eating better and saving money.  On top of that, I feel much less stressed every day when dinner time rolls around.  It’s been wonderful!

If you don’t meal plan, it is something that I highly recommend you at least give a try.  Stephanie at Keeper of the Home is hosting Plan It- Don’t Panic! (A 6-Week Meal Planning Challenge) which would be a great place for you to start if meal planning is something that you are interested in.  She wrote a very helpful post with Resources and Recipes to Make Your Menu Planning Successful which would definitely be worth your time to go through.  It is a gold mine of menu planning information and tips!  Be sure to check it out!

Here’s my menu plan for the week:

BREAKFAST

Sun: Baked Oatmeal

Mon: Smoothies, Sourdough English Muffins with Peanut Butter and Honey

Tues: Smoothies, Breakfast Pizza

Wed: Smoothies, Baked Oatmeal

Thur: Smoothies, Cheese Omelets

Fri: Smoothies, Biscuits and Gravy (recipe coming soon!)

Sat: Sourdough Waffles, Maple Kefir, Sausage

LUNCH

Sun: Salads, Homemade Lasagna

Mon-Fri: Leftovers/Soup/Salad

Sat: Chicken Gyros (these look SO yummy!)

DINNER

Sun: Out with family

Mon: Salads, Grilled Salmon with Tomato Basil Feta sauce, Baked Potatoes

Tues: Salads, Hamburgers, Corn on the Cob

Wed: Tacos

Thur: Cornbread Waffles and Beans

Fri: Homemade Pizza (it’s tradition!), Fresh Veggies and Dip

Sat: Salads, Seared Tuna Steaks, Garlic Carrot Potatoes

SNACKS

• Popcorn
• Fresh Veggies and Veggie Dip
• Fresh Fruit
• Nuts

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On this ten year anniversary of the 9-11 attacks on our country, my heart truly aches for the loved ones of those precious lives that were lost on that tragic day.  So many emotions and so many memories.  May God bless the families of all those who were taken on that day, and may God bless our land.

Photo Credit

Here’s my menu plan for this week:

BREAKFAST

Sun: Baked Oatmeal

Mon: Smoothies, Scrambled Eggs

Tues: Smoothies, Egg Sandwich

Wed: Smoothies, Baked Oatmeal

Thur: Smoothies, Rice Porridge

Fri: Smoothies, Scrambled Eggs

Sat: Blueberry Pancakes, Bacon

LUNCH

Sun: Salads, Spinach Ricotta Pie

Mon-Fri: Leftovers/Soup/Salad

Sat: Grilled Chicken Salad

DINNER

Sun: Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, Homemade Ice Cream

Mon: Salads, Juicy Roasted Chicken, Mashed Potatoes 

Tues: Salads, Bruschetta Pasta, Garlic Bread

Wed: Bean and Rice Burritos

Thur: Cashew Chicken

Fri: Homemade Pizza (it’s tradition!), Fresh Veggies and Dip

Sat: Stuffed Marconi Peppers

SNACKS

• Homemade Hummus
• Fresh Veggies
• Fresh Fruit
• Trail Mix

This post has been shared with Menu Planning Mayhem.

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Wow!  Is it really September already?  August absolutely flew by in our household!  It was a very busy month complete with a much-needed vacation and our son’s very special first birthday! 

Summer will soon be drawing to an end, and the crisp, cool days of autumn will soon be arriving!  I am ready for the colorful change in scenery and for the warm, spicy change in my kitchen!  Apple dumplings, pumpkin pudding, hot tea, and lots and lots of warm, cozy stews and soups…I can’t wait!

But while it’s still warm out, I’m going to enjoy all the fresh, local produce and hot weather treats that I can!  Like homemade ice cream!  Yum!

Here’s my menu plan for this week:

BREAKFAST

Sun: Fried Eggs and Toast

Mon: Smoothies, Scrambled Eggs

Tues: Smoothies, Applesauce Bread

Wed: Smoothies, Hearty Breakfast Casserole

Thur: Smoothies, Baked Oatmeal

Fri: Smoothies Scrambled Eggs

Sat: Sourdough Waffles with Maple Kefir

LUNCH

Sun: Taco Salads

Mon-Fri: Leftovers/Soup/Salad

Sat: Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (YUM!), Raw Veggies and Dip

DINNER

Sun: Salads, Broccoli and White Cheddar Mac & Cheese, Grilled Chicken

Mon: Salads, Loaded Baked Potatoes

Tues: Grilled Hamburgers, The Best Broccoli of Your Life

Wed: Salads, Bacon Wrapped Cheese Stuffed Chicken (wow, this looks so good!),  Hasselback Potatoes

Thur: Salads, Grilled Whitefish, Mixed Veggies

Fri: Homemade Pizza (it’s tradition!), Fresh Veggies and Dip

Sat: Nachos, Homemade Ice Cream

SNACKS

• Homemade Yogurt
• Fresh Fruit
• Popcorn
• Sweet and Salty Roasted Chickpeas

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