Monday Meal Planning

As I mentioned yesterday I try to plan our meals at least two weeks at a time. Before I go grocery shopping a I make a list of our dinners that we would like to have for the next two weeks and plan my grocery list accordingly. In between our big shopping trips we have one smaller (sometimes two) trips to pick up fresh fruit and veggies.

Here is our list of dinners for the next two weeks. I write out this list and post in on the refrigerator. Due to my work schedule there are many evenings when hubby either has to make dinner or at least get it started. Having this list posted has eliminated the guess work in choosing a meal. I try to pick a few super fast and easy meals and a few more "comfort food" types of meals.

Shrimp and Scallop Risotto

Wedding Soup
Shrimp and Broccoli Alfredo

Turkey Tacos

Turkey Burgers

BBQ chicken Sandwiches

Turkey Sloppy Joes

Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup

Red Curry Snapper with Bok choy and mushrooms

Breaded Chicken Sandwiches

I thought today I'd share the recipe I use for Alfredo. (This is NOT a low cal and super healthy meal but it comes together quickly and is very good) This is a great basic sauce and I just add whatever I feel like to it. This week it's shrimp and broccoli for us.

FETTUCCINE ALFREDO
1/2 cup butter (use the real stuff)

1 pint heavy whipping cream

2/3 cup Parmesan cheese

1teaspoon garlic powder

salt and ground black pepper (to taste)

dash cayenne pepper

1 lb. fettuccine

Fresh parsley, chopped
Prepare fettuccine, drain

Stir in a few drops of olive oil to keep pasta from sticking.

In a saucepan over low to medium heat, melt the butter.

Add cream, garlic and cayenne.
Simmer 20-30 minutes over low heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Remove saucepan from stove and stir in cheese.
Serve over hot pasta. Garnish with parsley.

I hope you enjoy!

Sweetness

Well here we are again, Monday is almost here and it is time to start the work week once again.

This weekend I some how managed not to take a single picture of our coming and goings.

Friday for date night we went to a little Italian restaurant called Figlio for the first time. It had great food and wine, the atmosphere was fun and upbeat. I had a rough day at work and hubby thought that called for a bottle of wine rather than a glass. And that sweet act led to him be able to catch this photo of me.

Saturday I was bit under the weather so we just hung around the house most of the day. In the evening we went out to conquer the task of grocery shopping. I don't mind the grocery shopping so much but the putting all of it way is a bummer.

I try to plan our menu two weeks at a time. We do a large shopping trip every two weeks, sometimes three and then only stop into the store to refreash our produce on the off weeks. I think I will start sharing my menu planning on here and some of the super simple recipes that we use.

We got up and moving this morning to see our nephew play hockey and then meet up with his mom and brother for lunch. It was great to spend sometime with our nephews and love on them a bit. Those sweet little boys are growing up quick and might be too cool for us soon.

For dinner we got such a wonderful surprise. My friend Kim and her husband made and brought over for us the most amazing clam chowder! It was so sweet that they thought of us and it was nice to have hot, home cooked meal and not a have to lift a finger!

We have now just settled on the couch to watch some mindless T.V. and eat a sweet treat.

For dessert I made these. They are SO simple and SO good! If you want an easy, yummy, hot out of the oven dessert, you must give them a try!

Hope your weekend was sweet!

Hilton Head 2011

Friday Kevin and I were on the road before 6:30 am on our way to Hilton Head, SC.

He had the opportunity to play in a golf tournament and we decided to change our 3 day weekend due to MLK day, into a four day weekend and make a mini vaca out of it!

On our way down we stoped at this little place called Cabo Fish Taco. It was SO good!


I got the BBQ Mahi tacos

Kevin had Blackend Mahi tacos

Both were amazing and I highly recommend this place!

After about 12 hours we arrived at our resort. We actually enjoyed the road trip and Q.T. we got to spend together.


We stayed at the Hilton Ocean Front and we would stay there again in a heart beat! It was steps away from the ocean, the staff was amazing, it had good restaurant options and the golf courses were just minutes away and part of the complex.

Saturday while Kevin golfed I enjoyed a few movies in the room, took a glorious nap, went for a run on the beach and found a lounge chair in the sun where I could see the ocean. I curled up with a good book and cup of coffee, I thought I had died and gone to heaven!

For dinner Saturday night we met up with my Dad, Step-Mom and little sister. I haven't seen them since the moved to South Carolina about 4 years ago. We had a great meal and it was such a blessing to see them!
I also spent the day with them Sunday while Kevin had day two of his tournament.

We just hung out together and my dad treated us to some of his yummy cooking. We had decided to stay at their house Sunday night and hit the road Monday morning from there.

There are 20 years and 1 month separating my sister Olivia and I in age but I think we look alike. What do you think?




To make Monday's trip home a little less painful we decided to stop for breakfast at a place I had never been before and seemed like a must do when you are on a road trip in the south.






Waffle House! It was an interesting experience, I had no idea there were still place you could smoke in side...we accidentally sat in the smoking section.



It was overall a wonderful trip. Kevin played well in his tournament, we got to enjoy some warmer weather, quality time together and see some family.

Now the question is...where to next?!

What's on my 2011 reading list.

I have 9 books on my 2011 reading list so far, I'd like to add at least 3 more. This is the most random list of books to read I have ever created. The books by Elizabeth Noble I picked up from "half priced books" on whim. I have started reading The reading group and so far I've enjoyed it. If you have any suggestions on books I should add to my list for the year, please share!

(All images courtesy of AMAZON)

What is on your 2011 reading list?

Good for the soul

This weekend was one of those weekends that are good for the soul.

Kevin and I try to have a date night once a week. Typically it's on Friday night. It is a great time out from our busy schedules to reconnect and it's a fun way to kick off our weekend. We have been trying new restaurants around the Columbus area as often as possible. This Friday we went to Cap City Diner. It's a referred to as a "Fine Diner". Essentially they serve all of your typical diner type food but with an upscale twist.

Kevin got this massive meatloaf. It was so good and the serving size was so big he ate if for lunch the next day.

I had scoped out the desserts menu prior to going and this yummy chocolate peanut butter dish was the highlight of my dining experiance!

Over all the food and atmosphere were unique and it made for a wonderful date night.

Saturday after I recovered from my early morning dentist appointment (Nothing major I just really freak out over going to the dentist.) we headed off to Home Depot to pick out the majority of items for our bathroom remodel. Then it was off to Target to pick up a few necessities for our up coming trip to Hilton Head. More on that later.

Today has been one of those glorious days were you never get out of you p.js! We have spent the entire day watching movies, doing laundry, taking naps and just having some Q.T. In fact I just got out of a warm bath in which I have now traded one set of p.js for another.

A successful date night, planning an upgrade to our home and then a lazy Sunday was exactly what we needed to recharge for the week ahead, it was good for the soul!

Hope you all had a chance to take a time out with those you love! Now to get ready for the work week.....Mondays just come too soon!

15 months?!

Time must fly when you are having fun because it sure does not seem like it has been 15 months since my last post! Seriously?! So it’s a new year and I am ready to start fresh!

I have a feeling 2011 is going to have some pretty darn wonderful and exciting things in store and I hope to share them all with you!

A few bullet points of the major things that have changed since my last post in no particular order:
I left my job, took a few months off during the summer and then started with a new company.
I got a new nephew
Went on vacation to Washington, DC and realized you don’t appreciate it as a kid.
Redecorated 3 rooms in our house.
Ran an ½ marathon
Passed the series 6 exam
Lost my Grandmother

There was a lot that went on in between but it would take another year to update it all!

I promise to be much better at updating my blog in 2011!

Thursday Edition of Weight Watchers Wednesday

Good morning glories! I was a bit on the busy side last night so I did not get a chance to post.
This weeks meeting went well. I was down .8 lbs. Not even a whole pound this week. But (warning, warning possible T.M.I.) with having major P.M.S. I am happy with any form of a loss. Oh how my body loves to hold on to that water each month at this time. I have to say that it is so fun so see all of those "little" numbers add up. 1 lb. here 2 lbs there are adding up quickly to a nice total and getting me closer and closer to my goal. I can officially say I have lost over 6 lbs! I am working this program people, and in return it is working right back!

Well need to get ready for work. I hope you all have a wonderful day! Putting out a little challenge for you today. Secretly do something nice for someone today. And if you work and there is the special someone who drives you absolutely crazy, pick them to do the secret nice thing for. Let me know how it goes!
Hugs!