Got ice cream base? Make frittata!

I needed to make a homemade ice cream for our communities local Celebrate Recovery open house at our church tomorrow night.  So - I went scouting for recipes.  I found this recipe for an ice cream base that sounded similar to the one I had done before, so I started cracking the eggs.

Cream, egg yolks, and sugar mixture being cooked for ice cream base...yummmm!

8 eggs, to be exact.
8 egg YOLKS - which left me 8 egg WHITES.

So - the frittata was made for breakfast...

Spinach Mushroom Frittata with garlic, onion, & red pepper

ingredients:


8 egg whites
1/4 onion - diced small
1/2 red bell pepper
4-5 large mushrooms
2 cloves garlic - minced
2-3 cups of fresh baby spinach
1 tbs olive oil
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese



directions:
Preheat oven to 350.
Warm the olive oil in an iron skillet.  Add the onion & bell pepper and saute until onion is translucent.  Add mushrooms and saute until tender.  Add garlic and spinach.  Saute until spinach wilts.  Remove skillet from heat.  Whisk together egg whites and pour over the top of the veggie mixture.  Top with grated cheese.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until eggs are set (no longer jiggling) and top is lightly browned.

Buttermilk Chocolate Chip Banana scones

I've tried several buttermilk scone recipes simply because I typically have buttermilk on hand after cooking our homemade buttermilk biscuits.  Here's the recipe I modified today that the kids REALLY enjoyed!


Buttermilk Chocolate Chip Banana Scones
(original recipe)

2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tbs sugar
6 tbs butter (cut into small pieces)
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 ripe banana
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tbs sugar



Directions:
Preheat oven to 425.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper OR use a Silpat.

Mix together flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and sugar.  Using a pastry cutter, fork, OR two knifes; cut in the 6 tbs of cold butter into the flour mixture.  Cut in banana using a fork until just covered with the flour mixture.  (You don't want to completely mash the banana.)  Stir in the chocolate chips.  Mix the egg and vanilla into the buttermilk and pour into the dry ingredients.  Blend until just moistened through.  Place this mixture onto a floured surface and pat into a circle (DO NOT HANDLE the mixture too much as this will result in a tougher scone.) about 1/2 inch thick.  Either cut into triangles (like a pizza) OR use a biscuit cutter to cut into circles.

Brush the tops of each scone with heavy whipping cream, then sprinkle sugar on top.

Bake 12-15 minutes or until tops lightly brown.  Serve immediately.

Menu Plan Monday - May 14

Mother's day was great - as always.  Thomas made sure I had enough relaxing time and didn't have to anything major.  They treated me with a trip to the flower shop so I could get some flowers from my much neglected pots outside.  THANK YOU!

Here's the meal plan for the week...

Breakfast
buttermilk biscuits, eggs, bacon
egg gravy toasts
waffles
yogurt/granola/muffins
cereal
oatmeal & cinnamon toast

Lunch
leftover pepperoni pasta
fried rice & egg rolls
corn dogs
nacho salad
lentil, Bombay potatoes, & naan
bean burritos and quesadillas

Dinner
Monday - Bean burritos & shredded beef/chicken tacos, Spanish rice
Tuesday - BBQ shredded chicken sandwiches & potato salad
Wednesday - Grilled chicken salads
Thursday - Meatloaf, spinach, creamed corn
Friday - Baked Parmesan tilapia, green beans, Jim n Nicks rolls, tres leche cake
Saturday - Leftover buffet
Sunday - Crockpot Sloppy Joes & baked beans

Menu Plan Monday - May 7

I'm linking up to orgjunkie.com

Last week was busy, busy for me!  I started the week sorting my garage stash of scrapbook stuff from years of teaching and project assignments.  I had QUITE a bit of accumulation that just needed sorted through.  On Tuesday I realized that our community was hosting their bi-annual community yard sale (the only times you're allowed to sell in our neighborhood!) so I through my sorting into high gear and included my office stash as well.  To say the least - the rest of the week quickly became a blur midst the stacks of scrap-crap.  I frantically started sorting, purging, tagging and finally got everything together for the garage sale late Friday evening.

Since I worked so diligently all week, meal plans were touch and go with a few misses.  Brandon stepped it up and filled in the gaps.  In fact, he cooked a most EXCELLENT Roasted Sticky Chicken to fill in a meal that I didn't get to.  I had purchased the chickens on Monday will all plans to cook them for freezer stash and ran out of time...thank goodness for a son who can cook!

So - the plan this week includes a couple of menu items from last week that didn't get cooked.

Here's the plan:

Breakfast:
cinnamon and butter toast, eggs, bacon
waffles & fresh juice
strawberry/banana/PB smoothies & muffins
cereal
egg gravy buttermilk biscuits & sausage
crepes with yogurt, banana, & granola

Lunch:
chicken pillows leftovers
fried rice/ramen noodles
chicken coleslaw salad
grilled cheese & spicy tomato soup
chicken salad, crackers, & grapes

Dinner:
Mon-Leadership Staff Meeting (everyone's going)
Tue-Swedish Meatballs with egg noodles, Layer Salad
Wed-Korean Beef Tacos, shredded coleslaw, coconut rice
Thur-Baked pepperoni pasta dish, corn on the cob, salad
Fri-Demos baked chicken soup, yeast rolls, spinach salad
Sat-Fiesta de Mayo @ church: Tres Leche Cake & Shredded beef tacos

I HAVE ORGANIZED IT ALL!

Yes - it's all caps.  Yes - I know that's considered yelling in internet language.  I'm excited.  I've cleared out a TON of scrapbook stuff.  Thomas is excited.  We're yelling in excitement.  My back is SCREAMING in excitement from 3 straight days of excruciating labor.

I have had tote upon tote full of scrapbooking items of the various sorts.  From paper, cardstock, inks, stamps, to assorted general craft items that were necessary in my scrapbook teaching days to the multitudes.  (can anyone say 15 hole punches?)  ANYHOO - It's all been sorted through.  My office has been pared down to the minimum that I feel is necessary for where scrapbooking is fitting into my life now.  Thomas thinks he might be able to work a few days in this office now.  THAT is huge, people!

So - far those with baited breath...sitting on the edge of their seats in anticipation...waiting for the announcement that is looming on the horizon...hoping that there is something in store for them...you're time has come.

SATURDAY, May 5, we are having a SWELL OF A SCRAPBOOK day extravaganza at the Camacho household.  We are hosting a yard sale from 8-2...oh...and there are a few household items as well (more than just a few, folks...you know me.  I don't DO 'just a few', lol!)

Come on out and see what we have to offer.  Our community will be hosting one, so there's bound to be SOMETHING in the neighborhood that you need!  Right?

Anyhoo - hope to see you there!

(and to leave you longing to see it all, I've included some snippets of what will be available JUST FOR YOU!)

along with these:

• scrapbooking tote
• trimmers
• Xyron
• punches
• albums
• cardstock
• 8.5 cardstock lots (2)
• assorted alphabet stamps in large container
• assorted acrylic stamps
• ephemera grab bags
• paper grab bags
• OTT light (small one)
• tons of new & unpackaged embellishments
• lots of ribbon in baggies, new and loose
• as seen above; tons of stamps AND inks - there are a TON!
• plastic drawer storage
• household items such as waffle maker, cappuccino machines, lawn lights, art work, decorative accents
• vintage typewriter
• strawberry baskets (wood and wire)
• and tons of general craft items such as decorative scissors, foam stickers, glue, wire, thumb tacks, and lots more.  

So, please - come see me!

Menu Plan Monday - April 30

Linking up with orgjunkie.com

Here's the plan:

Breakfast choices:
cereal
cinnamon swirl toast with eggs
buttermilk biscuits with sausage & cheese
banana, strawberry, yogurt smoothies
pancakes & bacon

Lunch choices:
fix your own leftovers x2
burritos (freezer batch cooking saves my life sometimes)
ramen noodles (always doctored up with individual flavors by the kiddos)
grilled cheeses (Brandon's specialty with bacon and homemade guacamole)
corn dogs

Dinners:
Spicy Stew beef via PW, roasted Parmesan asparagus, sauteed corn, mashed potatoes (instead of grits that hubby protested)
Chicken Pillows, balsamic roasted brussel sprouts
Grilled chicken & apple sausage, roasted red potatoes, green beans
Swedish meatballs, egg noodles, majestic layered salad
Pizza night - Homemade dough (I'm making extra dough to freeze), fresh pizza saucehttp://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/10/new-york-style-pizza-sauce.html#.T2UoE-gOlqw.pinterest with Canadian bacon/pineapple/red onions AND pepperoni/fresh mozzarella
Santa Fe chicken & rice skillet (an old recipe that Thomas mentioned last week), mexican street vendor style skillet corn
Crockpot Korean beef tacos with shredded cabbage & rice

A Day in the Life - April 12, 2012

Life has been INCREDIBLY busy the last 2 weeks.  Therefore, I'm just now getting to this post.  It's better late than never AND it helps me remember it later when I print to include the pics into their album (which I might possibly make into a separate 8.5x11 album OR a digital album.  I haven't decided yet.

Here's what happened:

7:33  Up. Can't sleep anymore. Let dogs out. Fix coffee. Cold. It's cold. Colder in room, though. Check games/reader.

8:06  Hear B's alarm go off. He hits snooze because no one comes out. 8:12 second alarm. Snooze again. 

8:20  Finally call up and get him out of bed. He crawls in shower.

8:30  I start working on more PL photo printing. Trying to be caught up before we leave.

9:20  Wake up kids. They stumble down at 9:30.

9:30  Kaitlyn and I eat breakfast.

9:45 I start rice for lunch. Fried rice.

10:00  Start school and Thomas gets dressed to go to spring conference with pastor.  Kaitlyn reads Bible on the vent while Cooper looks out the window.

10:30  Start working in camping lists.

10:45  Brandon come tells me about the lighting stuff from Jesus culture concert. He's impressed.

10:50  Zachary is sidetracked. Imagine that - 10:55. Kaitlyn is sidetracked. Imagine that.  Brandon seems semi-focused - shocked.

11:15  More lists work

12:20  Start lunch. Fried rice

1:00  Lunch and a show...

1:30  Shower and dressed. Texting with Laura about Brandon watching boys tonight at our house.

2:00  Thomas gets home from voting. Changes into work attire, aka pjs.

2:30  Wrapping up kids school and finishing lists

3:00  Leave for Costco with Kaitlyn. Get line items from there.

3:50  Finish and realize I don't have time to go anywhere else

4:00  Get home. Thomas is already gone.  He is super excited to pick up Bro Scoggins!!!!  Start supper. 

Unload groceries. Tell Kaitlyn to get in shower 4:30. Jump in shower. No time to wash hair now. Quickly iron and throw on clothes.

4:50  Door bell rings. Think it's Laura. Roofer salesmen instead. Ugh 


5:10  Laura arrives. Drops kids and Cody off.

5:15  We hop in with them and head to Camp Lake Benson for spring conference service.

5:50  Arrive and bring in keyboard...start practice.

7:00  Service begins. Ordination services 


7:20  Thomas finally gets there with Bro Scoggins!

9:30  Service ends. Was a long one. Fellowship afterwards and get to see Bro Scoggins. Made Thomas so 

happy. They enjoyed their time together beforehand and I heard someone call Thomas 'tommy'. Been awhile since I've heard that!

10:00  Get to Ruby Tuesday for late late supper. Order/salad bar/ Kaitlyn doesn't like food.

11:00  Head home with Thomas.  Kaitlyn is still hungry and crying. Sleepy?

11:30  Get home. Gather boys things. Pile them in Laura's car. See the boys didn't like the dinner since most of it's still there.  Throw it in the trash.  Quickly clean up the kitchen.  Pass out on bed.  What a day!!!

Things to note about today:  I feel like I captured a good representation of today.  While I didn't include pictures from the evening because it was simply too hard to capture while singing/service/etc, I still felt like the journaling gives a good feel of the details of the day.  That's all that's important for days like this.

Hitting a curve ball...

Life always throws curves...plans change.  You either give up or go on.  I've learned through MULTIPLE experiences that you either WORK a plan, or you FAIL a plan.  NOW - before you start thinking this post is about something serious...let me quickly get to the point, lol!

Case in point:  Yesterday's menu plan consisted of BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches, coleslaw, and roasted sweet potatoes.

HOWEVER - On Monday I mistakenly thawed a pound of ground turkey thinking the sauce I had frozen was just sauce and not MEAT sauce.  It ended up being meat sauce, so the turkey, already thawed, was no longer needed.  So, I knew I had to make a substitution in the meal plan sometime during the week.  Yesterday was that substitution day because I was so busy I actually didn't feel like going to the freezer in the garage when I should have to go get and thaw the shredded chicken.

(tip:  I boil a large roaster chicken in onion, bell peppers, carrots, celery and then shred for later.  THEN I strain broth for later.  THEN I take the bones and make MORE broth for later.  I do this about once a month so that I regularly have broth and chicken for quick meals if necessary.  SO much better and frugal to make your own broth rather than purchase.  Also, if I don't have broth thawed, I keep chicken/beef granules for those fill-in moments.)

One thing I frequent is blogs that menu-plan.  When I see a recipe that I think my family will like AND is quick to make with minimal ingredients that I typically have, I'll generally pin it to Pinterest in my YUMMINESS folder or some other applicable food folder.  I remembered a recipe that I had pinned on Monday that used ground beef and some other things I already had on hand.  I pulled up the recipe and made mental substitutions with things I had on hand and dinner for that night was reworked.  INCLUDING throwing single potato into the roasted sweet potato mix.  EASY peasy meal that everyone loved.  To top off the substitution night I ended up using leftover hot-dog buns from the camping trip for the bread.  No one complained and everyone was satisfied.

Philly Cheesesteaks (or rather, MY version was with turkey and hot dog buns)

SO - like I've said in my menu plan postings before, make a plan.  If things change, WORK the plan.  Don't FAIL the plan.  No plan means guaranteed failure as far as menu and meal cooking goes, in my opinion.  I've tried to function without a menu plan and for me and my house it DOES NOT WORK.  I HAVE to plan.  I keep a well-stocked pantry that helps me out for substitutions at last minute, too.

So, the moral of the story is this:  Hit that curve ball out of the park!

Menu Plan - week of 4/23-4/29

Visit orgjunkie for more menu planning ideas!

We are back from a week long camping trip and I couldn't be more relaxed yet more unmotivated, lol!

I guess all the extra cooking and planning for last week did me in?

Here's the plan for this week:

Breakfast options:

cereal

buttermilk biscuits & sausage/cheese

banana & strawberry smoothies with toast

banana chocolate chip scones

pumpkin chocolate chip muffins

waffles & eggs

Lunch options:

leftover pizza (from last nights "Thomas" cooking, lol!)

fried bologna sandwiches

re-fried bean burritos

potato salad & oranges

lentils/chickpeas & jasmine rice

spicy peanut noodles

leftovers 

Dinner options:

Turkey spaghetti, sauteed corn, roasted parmesan asparagus

Salsa Verde shredded pork tacos, guacamole, spanish rice

BBQ chicken sandwiches, roasted sweet potatoes, coleslaw

Grilled cheese & avocados with Spicy tomato soup

Orange chicken, rice, carrots & snow peas

Chicken pillows OR Spicy stewed beef with cheddar grits

Beef tips, rice, & balsamic brussel sprouts

Snacks:

healthy granola bites

strawberry jello with real strawberry add-ins

banana bread

fruit

Hopefully this will satisfy the family's taste buds this week.  :)

Cloudland Canyon State Park.

And a journey down and up stairs to the waterfalls! In pictures...


One word... Beautiful!