Mightydragon and Ohara...your meals sound delish! I really like your system, Ohara. I might have to use it when I have family of my own.
My dinners over the past few days have been:
Tonight will be cheeseburger sliders and salad
Yesterday was breakfast in the evening.....sunny-side-up eggs and bacon
Sunday was chipolte chicken over bashmati rice
Saturday was on the run.
Friday was Baked Tilapia with herb butter, asiago cheese grits, and veggie medley
Thursday was Asian Pasta Salad and bratwurst
Have a great night!
Ohara, What a great idea! I love the idea of a list, especially when I'm not feeling particularly creative!
MissyTex, YEA!!!!! for you!
Lita, your dinners sound delish, espeically the chipolte chicken.
I spent the day working on an airplane cake for our May birthday celebration and practiced tempering chocolate. The tempering went well and the cake is coming along. I'll post pics once I finish it. Well, off to make dinner. Tonight it is tortillini with spinach and spicy tomato sauce
So i missed posting on a page... guess that means i was away from the table to long hehe 
I see a couple of new faces at the table, welcome! Ohara mentioned menu plans. This is what I do also!! I started it about 6-7 years ago now when we were on a tight college budget (i was the only one working and BF was in school). I do a menu plan every two weeks, and like Ohara I make notes on the days we have something going on to make sure we have something quick to make in the kitchen, or if we are eating out for an event (yeah one less meal to cook!!) I have a couple of different size menus if any of you want me to email them to you, they are in excel.
I have three columns on the chart. One is the Meal, the next one is the ingredients i need for that meal, and the third column is the "shopping list" column, so as i go through the kitchen i can make a note if i need to buy it.
My menu's also have lunch on them as we eat breakfast/lunch/ and dinner at home, so it really helps me to make sure we have enough food. And i really like it for those nights that i don't know what I want to cook, i can look at the list and see what we have in the kitchen and then give my BF a few options that i don't mind cooking.
Sorry to get so windy about this, after using it for so many years, i can't imagine doing it any differently. I have saved almost all of them so it's kinda nice when i run out of ideas to go back through and see what I have done in the past. Helps me keep things rotated so we don't get tired of the same thing.
So i guess back to my dinners. I happen to have my menu planner right here as i'm working on the next weeks menu since i can't sleep tonight.
My BF had to travel for most of this last week so really not to many good meals were eaten by me. But here are some t hings from the last two weeks.
Spaghetti
Beef Tacos
Fettucine Alfredo w/grilled chicken and broccoli
Baked Tilapia with green beans and crispy hashbrowns (i can't never thing of anything good to have with tilapia)
Stuffed Parmesean Chicken
Homemade Pizza
Baked Chicken w/cheese and croutons (always an old standby from when i was young)
So I know this is probably already long enough, but i need to get some of my worries out, hope you don't mind, you can stop reading here So i'm now 33 1/2 weeks pregnant. This is the same time my last pregnancy that I was "ok" but within a week i had dangerously high levels of protein in my system, my BP couldn't be kept under control and we did an emergency c-section to delivery my daughter. Last week i started to put on a lot of extra water weight, so that is just increasing my worrying. I am so stressing that it will happen again and that I will have to try and be in two places at once. Our home is about 1 hr away from the hospital and i can't imagine trying to be there and here at home for my daughter at the same time. I know everyone says not to worry, but what can I do after something so stressful like that happened already? I think I could probably fill a whole page about this but i'll stop here for now.... OH and all of this worrying/stress isn't helping me sleep at night either 
hense the early early post
I also forgot on the menu planning info. I usually start by looking at the ads for our local grocery store. If I see a good price on a meat or anything else I would normally get I try to put something on the menu using that. Even if I have to try a new recipe Found some good things this way too and gets us out of our "comfort zone" sometimes. Or if chicken is on sale we tend to have more chicken on our menu than beef.
Welcome back, Leili! You're VERY organized with you meals.....YOU GO GIRL!!! Sounds like a neat system. I may have to use that one day . As far as the worries about your pregnancy go....in a former life I was a maternity nurse so I understand the seriousness of pre-eclampsia (high protein in urine and high blood pressure). I couldn't imagine how you must feel with your man not being there sometimes (though I understand it is because of his job). I'd enlist the help of his family and develop a plan should you have to be hospitalized. I remember you saying that you have a good relationship with them so I'd hope they'd be there for you in a time of need like that.
Just try to take it easy, try not to worry, and keep in contact/go see your doctor when scheduled/needed.
Think Happy Thoughts. This time around might be different than the first.
Mightydragon...I can't wait to see your pics. Chocolate....YUM!!!
Leily, my prayers are with you during this part of your pregnancy. It must be very frightening. Hope all is well. I am crazy impressed with your organization. I'm genetically deficient in organization.
I finished my cake and it turned out pretty darn good, if I may say so myself. 
It tasted really good too. 
DH and my FIL loved it! We had our May birthday celebration at my favorite place to eat in the world...my MIL's. She is an incredible chef, so she makes the most amazing meals. She is also a tremendous inspiration to me. We had shish kabobs with black rice and fougasse, which is a leaf shaped loaf of bread with sun dried tomatoes, garlic and rosemary that I made. And, of course, cake and peppermint and caramel ice creams that I also made.
The chocolates I was practicing last weekend turned out pretty good, but I need different molds. The flimsy plastic things from Michael's were really hard to work with. I'll see if I can add a pic. No promises though.
Hope you all have a great day!
Well, that didn't work. One more try.
In addition to being organizationally challenged, I am aparently technically challenged as well. Sorry. no pics of chocolate.
Hello? Wow, everyone must be really busy.
Tonight we had quinoa with feta, olives and vegetables tossed with lemon and basil.
Hope everyone is well.
ahh... we finally have the internet back not having internet in this house is like not having food in the kitchen..... Had a storm tuesday afternoon and had an electrical surge com ethorugh the cable line, fried the modem, and of course the internet company said it wasn't their responsibitlity to replace their equipment. (after two days of saying it wasn't their equipment to begin with) but anyways..... we're back online and my BF can work again! and i can enjoy CC
Hmm... dinners since last week... mostly eating out. I have been exhausted and started swellng up so my BF has been running out and picking up dinner for us so I can keep my feet up on the bad days. BP has started to increase, but nothing extreme like last time yet. Been averaging about 130/85 for the last 2 days. So hoping we can keep it under control and they don't put me on bedrest.
The few things that I have cooked:
- Cheesey Beef and vegie pasta (gotta love the kraft website)
- Tacos (Taco Salad for me, which sooo hit the spot yesterday)
- Sphaghetti
- tonight is going to be New York Strip with Corn on the Cob, baked potatoes, and peaches (been having a craving for them this week )
Hope everyone is doing well and has some nice weather. We had mid 90's early this week and high humidity. I miss the 70 degree weather already.
Glad you are doing alright Leily. I know your getting close to delivery so every day counts.
Tonight was a fabulous meal of corn dogs and cereal. Yeah, not so much.
I worked both jobs today and have to work again tomorrow morning. I'm up late making my daughters b-day cake. I'm so tired. Anyways, hope you all have a great night.
Hey Ladies,
Hope that everything is doing well with my tablemates! Everyone's dinners sound yummy . Sorry to hear about the swelling, Leili. We are all hoping that you can hold on to your baby as long as you can. Mkolmar is right...everyday counts.
Mightydragon...I'm happy to hear that your chocolate came out good and that your FIL loved it. Isn't that the best feeling...when you make something for someone and they REALLY like it? I love that feeling .
Mkolmar...good to have you back. I'm with ya on cooking on the run. I've been doing a lot of that lately. Anyway...you corndogs sound yummy
Dinners for me a have been fast and no fuss. Some repeats.
Kielbasa, asiago cheese grits, and sauteed veggies
Garlic herb chicken and tossed salad with homemade balsamic vinegarette
7 layer salad with buttermilk ranch dressing
cheeseburger sliders with mustard and BBQ katcup
The rest have been on the eaten on the run.
Tonight's dinner will either be pasta amatriciana or mushroom risotto.
Y'all have a great day!
Hope everyone is having a good weekend so far. We were supposed to travel out of town for a wedding today but just didn't feel comfortable with me riding that long and far. So instead had a family day at home (after a date night last night, which was unexpected, but soooo need and had a lot of fun) and i was able to get my BF to actually take a day off with NO work and he went golfing and is now having a guys night out with his dad and a good friend. So i got to just lounge around (which i really needed) and been trying to keep my BP down as it's starting to creep up into the 130/high 80's
Last night we had spaghetti (had to have something quick before we headed out for date night)
Today for lunch we had Chicken, four cheese rice and broccoli
and dinner tonight... well i started with brownies and then had some left over spaghetti noodles w/cheese. I should eat something else too, but not sure what yet
Mightydragon - for the chocolate molds - not sure exactly what you were tyring to make, but check out www.spinningleaf.com i have gotten some of their oreo molds and was really happy with them. There is also a coupon out there right now i think for 10% off of an order (normally if you sign up for their emails you get at least a 6% discount)
Lita - that garlic herb chicken made my mouth water when i read that. Did you use a pre-made mix? or just mix some seasons with garlic and cover your chicken with it? I like seasoned items, but never seem to have good luck doing them on my own without some sort of recipe or guidance.
Mkolmar - did you do your corn dogs from scratch? or pre-made? I just ask because my BF's mom brought over her recipe book that she's been compiling for years and ran across a homemade recipe for them. and was curious if anyone else ever done them from scratch.
I've done them from scratch, but those ones were pre-made.
Tonight was pizza, hot dogs, chips and birthday cake.
Hey Ladies,
Hope that everything is well. Oooh....a date night....sounds like you had a lot of fun I'm sure you two needed the bonding time. Its been ions since I've been on a date. I guess I better find a man first, huh 
(I don't know whether to laugh or cry about my situation). Well...in due time....in due time.
About the garlic herb chicken. It was a marinade that I got from Williams-Sonoma. Its was very tasty. I've also used the marinade on veggies and cooked them on a grill pan. YUM
Both your dinners sound yummy. I love pizza, Mkolmar. I could eat it every day.
Tonights dinner was left over Fettucini Amatriciana.
You ladies have a fabulous night!
Hello table family! I'm sorry that I have been missing for a while. I have had some rough days. I won't bum you all out with the details (at least right now).
I hope you all have a great holiday weekend. I am hoping to have a very relaxing day today.
Last night we grilled out. We had beef/chicken(both ground and mixed) burgers and turkey bratz. The first time using the turkey bratz, we really liked them. I made peppers and onions to go on them. We also had baked beans, deviled eggs, cole slaw, macaroni salad and water melon. I also made Mississippi Mud. Dinner was yummy...it was our free day. 
Have a safe weekend.
Evening everyone,,,,,,,,am working on my fourth straight week without a day off,,, could really use a date night like yours leily. Sounds wonderful.
Hubby BBQ'd chops tonight & I made myself stirfry to go with it. Am watching my carbs and have lost another 8 lbs, Yahoo,,only 10 lbs to go to my goal!!!
Wow, it dioesn't take long for me to get out of the loop.
Kakabakabunny, YIKES!! 4 weeks without a day off? I'm afraid I would be the most unpleasant person you could imagine. I would probably hurt someone! Hope you get some time off soon.
Lita, your dinners always sound so yummy, simple or not. I really do believe that when the time is right for us, the right person comes along and sweeps us off of feet. We just have to be patient. Sometimes, really really really patient.
Leily, thanks for the tip. I'll need to check out that website. I'm so glad you had a date night. It sounds lovely. When are you due to deliver? Hope all is well.
Ohara, it is so good to have you back! I do hope you and your family are doing well. Turkey Keilbasa sounds good.
Mkolmar, yum! pizza, chips, birthday cake, My favorites!
Had a great weekend in Louisiana. Went down for a family reunion. I didn't know anyone except my folks and my sister and BIL and DH. Pretty interesting though. The weather was so nice and sunny and warm. I actually got in the pool!
I also managed to get my computer at work infected with a virus! I can't believe I was dumb enough to fall for an email that said that I had an itunes gift certificate! I know better than to click on those things, but was I using my head? No, Of course not! The IT guys took the virus off, but I still can't get on the internet because it messed up my settings and I haven't been able to figure out how to reset them. So I guess he will be coming back out to take care of that. Soon, I hope.
Tonight was noodles with mushrooms sauce, veggies, and salad!
Have a good night my table friends
Hello Ladies,
Sorry I have been MIA. Life's been kind of crazy. Hope that all is well with my Tablemates! Hope that you are staying cool in this heat. Where I am its been in the high 80's and low 90's with a lot of humidity. My body hasn't quite adjusted to the warmer temps yet.
Sorry to heat that you've had some challenges, Ohara. One train of thought that I've found helpful is....this, too, shall pass. Keep your head up and I'm sure that everything will be ok
Wow, kakabebunny! Working 4 weeks without a day off 
. Thats a lot of work but just think what your paychecks will look like 
Congrats on your weight loss! I'm sure you'll reach your goal in no time. Eight pounds.....you can do it!
Thanks for the compliment, Mightydragon . I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed your family reunion. Doesn't it stink when a virus infects your computer . I've had to throw out 2 laptops because I couldn't debug them. I now don't open any e-mails if I don't know the sender. I had to learn the hard way As far as waiting for my knight in shining armour....Your right...I must be patient but I wish he'd hurry up. I'm just a little on the lonely side. I'd like to have a man in my life. Patience is a virtue, though
Everyone's dinners sound yummy...especially the Mississippi Mud Pie. I haven't had it but from what I hear it is devine.
Dinners for me have been:
Wild Mushroom Risotto
Southwestern Chicken Caesar Salad
BBQ food..Cheeseburger, BBQ baked beans, tuna macaroni salad, and corn on the cob.
Cheeseburger
You all have great day!
Yesterday was my birthday so I actually was spoiled this year. I was shocked. I'm not much for birthdays but yesterday was fun.
My mom took me to lunch and we split a citrus salad, mac and cheese and spinach artichoke dip with corn chips. It was really good and the restaurants mac and cheese was wonderful and I'm not much of a mac and cheese eater.
My husband took me to eat at a local very good Italian restaurant. We had calamari and shared a bread basket with olive oil. I ordered the Fillet Mignon that was on top of a fresh tomato slice on top of goat cheese on top of asiago mashed potatoes. There was also seasoned grilled asparagus around the stack. Wonderful! The cannoli was beyond word good. I'm not much for cake, pie or ice cream but I was dreaming of a cannoli all day and got one. YUM! I scraped my plate clean. My husband asked for only a bit of the other one and next thing you know the whole thing was gone.
The best part was my meal was 50% off with dessert free for eating on my birthday there. WOO-HOO!
My SIL made some cupcakes and dropped a few off to me. My MIL also made a poundcake - heavy cream - strawberry stack. It was very good also.
My birthday has been usually skipped for many years. It's just like any other day. Last year I was cleaning toilets on my birthday. Most people in my family forget so I was surprised at the effort this year.
It was a great day -- until later that night when I got sick and puked a few times. I caught the virus my parents got over. I still don't feel great but that's ok. Yesterday was still good.
So tonight is no dinner for me as my stomach is still wrenched. My poor kids are eating popcorn and sandwiches. *Hangs head in shame*
Happy belated birthday mkolmar, your day sounds wonderful (until the end). Hope you feel better soon.
mightydragon, your family reunion sounds like fun. Glad you had a great time.
suppers for me have been
rotissery chicken & garden sald
roastbeef & sauted brussel sprouts tomatoes & broccoli sprouts on flat bread
Happy belated birthday, mkolmar 
. I know exactly how you feel in that for the last 20+ years, my birthday has just been another day. Oh well....what can you do. At least we made it to the age we are now. I'm happy that this year you celebrated with those that matter. Your dinner sounds like it was amazing!
I know that your stomach is still a little queasy but I'm sure all that good food and fun was worth it
Happy Birthday Mkolmar!!!!! 
Hope your tummy is feeling better today.
I love birthdays and I don't usually let anyone forget when it is mine!
I try to celebrate for the entire month. Can't think of a better reason to eat cake
sometimes i wonder where the week goes. I really thought i stopped at the table this week, but it looks like it's been a week already.
Mkolmar - Happy belated birthday!! Glad that you actually got to celebrate this year. Oh and pizza... anytime you have it can i come over? Pizza is something i could eat EVERY day and not get tired of it. I just wish it was the same for my BF.... but he ate it a lot when he was growing up.
Ohara - I hope that everything is turning around for you and that you are through the most difficult part (whatever it may be)
Kakabebunny - 4 week straight.... been there done that (although i ended up counting mine in months.. ugh) Just make sure when you get a day off you relax and don't try to "catch up" on everything that is falling behind (mine was always laundry and cleaning)
Mightydragon - Due date is July 8th, but currently scheduled for a July 2nd delivery. I have officially made it further in this pregnancy than the last so we are just thankful for every day from her on out (and i'm trying really hard not to complain about anything from heat to swelling because i'm just thankful i haven't delivered yet)
Can't really remember everything from the last week, i know it was a busy one and my BF and I didn't eat together much so really it was a lot of sandwhiches.
Yesterday was his mom's birthday so I made Orange Glazed Chicken, Crispy Potatoes, green beans, and scratch Angel Food cake (which i just found out was her favorite cake.... after 10 years of us being together)
Today we had Ham, Mashed Potatoes, and corn.
And one night this week I actually cooked for myself and my daughter while he was working. Just did Chicken breast, smashed potatoes, and green beans (or peas, i can't remember)
OH and I did our favorite this week, Suffed Chicken Parmesean with angel hair and spaghetti sauce.
Hmm... didn't realize i ate so much chicken this week. Guess I need to get some beef in our diet over the next week hehe.
Well I better log off before i get in trouble. I was working on cleaning the kitchen and my BF saw that my feet were sweelling, checked my BP and it had gone up too. So i was banished to the couch before he headed out the door. I can't complain though, he brought me a package of double stuffed oreos, a glass of milk, and a glass of milk for dunking before he left hehe. (oh and when he picked up the oreos at the store tonight, he picked up 3 packages LOL< guess he doesn't want to go again tomorrow hehe - for some reason with this pregnancy i have been craving double stuffed chocolate oreos) back to the couch I go
Thanks for the birthday wishes. It seriously was a great day and I would do it again in a heart beat even knowing the end result.
I have no idea what tonight dinner will be. Probably, veggies and pasta.
Ohara-- I hope everything gets better for you.
Leily -- I'm so happy that this pregnancy is going better for you. Each day just gets you closer to July 2nd.
Everyone else have a wonderful weekend. Have to go and start on dinner. Feel guilty posting to this thread when it's not on the table.
Tonight's dinner was beef tenderloin stuffed with spinach, feta and smoked bacon. Oven roasted potatoes, seasoned green beans, tomato-basil-mozzarella- basil salad, olive oil drizzled grilled artisan bread, fresh picked lettuce with pecans, strawberries and craisins. Asparagus risotto, honeydew melon and pineapple sliced up and for dessert chocolate chip cookies and ice cream in sugar waffle cones.
WOW, mkolmar! Your dinner sounds AMAZING! Were you cooking for a crowd or for your family? Either way the menu made my mouth water.
Dinner for me was just a burger. I worked today and had A LOT of baking to do so I made something quick and easy.
Y'all have a great night/day!
my mouth is watering too mkolmar.............yummmm
I was cooking for just family. At the last minute I asked my MIL and BIL to come over and they did.
Tonight was leftovers for the family.
I was at a chefs association meeting and it was a cookout so I had Black Angus Burgers, hot dogs (were suppose to be really good though), black bean salsa/salad with corn chips and corn on the cob.
For dessert (which is what I made) scratch banana cupcakes topped with whipped Nutella or peanut butter and then topped with a vanilla bean SMBC.
I also made a scratch lemon pound cake. I thought for sure the pound cake would go first but it was actually the banana cupcakes.
tonight was a quick Cheesy Beef and veggie pasta.
I am curious if anyone can provide some ideas for me though.. As i am getting close to my delivery date i am working on getting some meals prepped or even made ahead of time to freeze. Anyone have something they make and it freezes well?
So far i just have the pasta's i usually make (manicotti, lasagna, etc..) and then I am also planning on prepping bags of veggies in 1 cup increments so my BF just has to grab a bag and it's ready to go fo the meal (plus less dishes to deal with later)
Mkolmar, wow that big meal you made for your family made my mouth water... and that lemon pound cake sounds delish. I love lemon desserts, but not many around me do so I don't make them that often.
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