Monday, March 29, 2010

Going for a CENTURY!!!

I love my bike. She's not the most expensive, the fastest, or the fanciest, but she is mine. We've been through tough hills, backwoods potholes, semi-rabid-unleashed dogs, and more. I think it's time to work towards a Century ride with her. It's just what's right. My goal: The H.O.T. 100 in Murfreesboro this August. I found a loose guideline and am working towards it. There will be heat, hills, and heffers (really, it's in the sticks!) and boy will it be FUN!
Now all I need to do is figure out how to come to a stop and unhook from my clips so I don't fall over. :/

Monday, March 01, 2010

Once a Month Cooking

OAMC - a marathon day of cooking to save time, energy, and money! Here is my menu, along w/ links to recipes, and at the end you will find several links to the pros who can do OAMC w/ one hand tied behind their back!

Things you should know: *I LOVE The Pioneer Woman's recipes and blog, and she is my bff, only she doesn't have any idea who I am. I use LOTS of her recipes and many from Tasty Kitchen (her other cooking site). Go buy her new cookbook and check her site everyday. She seriously changed the cooking rut I was in and gave me the confidence to try things.*We are a carb loving family - Pasta Night is Monday!... and possibly any or every other night thereafter. *I planned out a theme for each night. Sunday=Sandwiches, Monday=Pasta, Tuesday=Crock pot, Wednesday= Leftovers, Thursday= Mexican, Friday=Homemade Pizza (and family movie / popcorn picnic night!), Saturday=Breakfast (Mommy's day off and dinner out).

1. Spaghetti & Meatballs
2.Salsa Chicken
3. Leftovers or dinner @ church
4. Chicken Chimichangas (w/ chicken from salsa chicken) **
5. Pizza - Make the dough ahead of time. It's easy (I use whole wheat flour for everything) & fun
6. Biscuits & Eggs
7. Small Group
8. Lasagna (I told you, I LOVE the PW! Now, go walk three miles before it finds your hips.)
9. Redbeans & Rice
10. Leftovers or dinner @church
11. Fajitas
12. Pizza
13. Pancakes and bacon
14. Ham & Cheese Paninis w/ roasted veggies
15. Spicey Shrimp & French Bread (This is orgasmic, be careful. I can say that b/c I'm married.)
16. Beef Tips and noodles **
17. Leftovers or dinner @ church
18. Mini Taco Salad
19. Pizza
20 PW's Cinnamon Rolls (Go ahead an double or triple the recipe and freeze 'em. Trust me.)
21. Small Group
22.Buttered Noodles and roasted veggies from Deceptively Delicious. Jessica Seinfeld ROCKS!
23. Potato Soup
24. Leftovers or dinner @ church
25. Taco Soup (I <3 Paula Dean too, y'all!)
26. Pizza
27. French Toast and sausage
28. Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork'wich with bakes sweet potato fries **
29. PW's Chicken Parmigania (I know... I promise to do 5 miles this time.)
30. BBQ chicken sliders w/ Broccoli Slaw **
31. Leftovers or dinner @ church

**New Recipes for me.**

Now, before you ask for my cholesterol and blood pressure levels, let me just say that I sneak veggies into meals that aren't just on the plate. I cook w/ natural or organic ingredients whenever possible, and i LOVE to cook for my family and have meals in the freezer to take to friends who are under the weather or having a rough / super busy week... and then I swim, bike & run (shuffle, really) on a regular basis... And that's my cooking confessional for the day. Amen.

Saving time by cooking it all (not really all, but doing a lot ahead of time) is a wonderful way to get it all done so the rest of the month you can catch up on laundry and facebook. :) This is the first OAMC I am doing all on my own (recipes, shopping list, etc), but I like a challenge! Mainly, I will cook the meats and add sauces then place in a freezer bag to thaw and add remaining ingredients later. (Allow 24 - 48 hours for defrosting).For OAMC gurus check out: FishMama, Money Saving Mom, & Faithful Provisions.

Please let me know if you have questions. I'll add the shopping list soon. Thanks for stopping by!

~ Mae ~