by heidijo on October 17, 2011
I am a natural planner. I am a natural organizer. I am also a homeschooling mother of 4. Nuff said 
but really, I have been menu planning for a few months. I have ironed out the kinks and got my system rolling. I plan 2 weeks at a time and shop for those 2 weeks the Wednesday before. This has saved me time, this has saved me money, this has given freedom to my day, and this has given be back my nature planner organizer persona. I am HAPPY! Well, now that I have this thing off to a good start, I thought I would share with you every week what in on the Menu here at the Kemp’s house. It might help you, it might give you ideas, and it might entice you to visit around dinner time. Also, if you click on the cute little banner above you can see what others have on their menu this week too. Sooooo here is the line up for this week.
Monday
Breakfast – Cereal
Lunch – Sandwiches and Quesadillas
Dinner – White House Chicken, Coleslaw and core
Extra – Rolls and cookies
Tuesday
Breakfast – Crepes
Lunch – Tuna Salad
Dinner – Shrimp Diablo
Extra = Challah Bread and Angel Food Cake
Wednesday
Breakfast – Cereal
Lunch – Mac N Cheese
Dinner – Leftovers
Thursday
Breakfast – Café Style Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
Lunch – Mexican Rice and chips
Dinner –TurkeySoup and Salad
Extra – Rolls
Friday
Breakfast – Pop tarts
Lunch – Hot dogs
Dinner – Leftovers
Extra – Bread
Saturday
Breakfast – Eggs and Toast
Lunch – Sandwiches
Dinner – Ribs, Potato Salad, Succotash, salad
Extra – Layered Turtle Cheesecake
Sunday
Breakfast – Coffee Cake
Lunch – Leftovers
Dinner – Crawfish Salad
Extra – Rolls
by heidijo on October 14, 2011
These are amazing and they disappear so fast in my house. It has two of my favorite things, the bread machine and the ability to make breakfast the night before (I can’t tell you how much I detest making breakfast, this has everything to do with me NOT being a morning person and nothing to do with my love for cooking). Anyhoo…..
Ingredients
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 cup warm water
1/4 cup dry milk
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
4 cups of flour
1/2 tbs salt
1 tbs yeast
A big dollop of butter (yes just scoop and spread)
Cinnamon sugar (I have this already mixed in bulk and I like it heavy on the cinnamon, but you do what you want)
Directions
1. I am a measure and dump type bread machine person. I have read all about what goes first and such. I just don’t have time for that so I dump as written in the recipe. This will work, I know, I am best friends with my bread machine . set the machine on the manual cycle and press start. Did I mention I LOVE my bread machine?
2. When you hear the wonderful beep of your new best friend, signaling that it has done it’s magic and now it is you turn. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and roll into a big rectangle (don’t matter to me what size, go for it, be free!) Now take that dollop of butter and spread it all over that rectangle and sprinkle a nice heavy coat of that cinnamon sugar mixture. Roll up jelly roll style and pinch close the seam.
3. Slice into 12 even (if they are not your kids WILL fight over who gets the biggest slice, and yes this includes my hubby) and place in a greased 13X9 pan. Cover and place overnight in the fridge. Did I not tell you this was easy!
4. When you wake up the next morning take out the rolls and preheat the oven 350 degrees then bake the roll for 20-30 minutes. Cool for as long as your family will let them. Enjoy!
Tip- you can dress these up and make them even yummier by adding a little melted butter and brown sugar to the bottom of the pan before placing the rolls on top. You can also make a powder sugar drizzle to top them when they come out of the oven (1 cup of powder sugar, 1 tbs cream and 1/2 tsp vanilla). Oh there are endless yummy things you can do. Our new favorite indulgence is Carmel sticky rolls they make me smile. Melt 1/2 cup butter and mix in 1 cup brown sugar on the stove till bubbly, add a little milk to thin and pour in the bottom of the pan. This will drive your family to throw flowers at your feet. I like flowers!
Well run off and try these now!
by heidijo on October 4, 2011
Well, it has been quite a crazy 2 months. We started our 9th year of homeschooling. I went on a wonderful trip to Minnesota with my girls and my parents for a family wedding. We hit the Mall of America, enjoyed family, explored the Science Museum, relaxed at the Cabin and got stuck because of a hurricane at home. It was an exciting trip to say the least. My husband and the boys weathered the hurricane at home and we were blessed with little damage. Hurricanes scare me and I am glad I missed it, but hated being away from my men (big and little).
I arrived home, after a 5 day hurricane delay in MN, to a week to organize my life before our 2 week working vacation to Florida. This did not go according to plan though. By the Sunday before our trip I was not feeling just right. By the next day I was so dizzy and in pain (back and head) to move. Still planning on going, I tried to rest. My condition progressively worsen. We then figured out that I had Dengue Fever. I couldn’t even stand on the day we were to be flying. My family left without me. I was too sick to care. My parents were in town and stayed at my house to care for me. It was by far the worst thing I have ever been through. I am still feeling the effects of this horrible disease. I was told it would be at least a month till I was back to normal. This is my last week in the month and I have to say I am finally feeling like I can do “almost” everything I usually do. I still have to rest every afternoon. It is very difficult to adjust to not being able to much everyday. My husband and kids have been and amazing help in getting things done and keeping the house and school flowing.
So, we have cut much from the school schedule (mostly time wasting workbooks that just doubled up a subject), add lots of reading (in bed), and used educational media to keep everyone busy while I rest. I have to say, I LOVE IT. We are getting everything we need done each week, and my kids are so stinking creative that they are exploring and making things that has expanded their learning by leaps and bounds. I think I just might be sticking to this schedule.
Sorry for being MIA for so long, but hope you understand. I hope to be back and blogging from now on (but ya never know).
