Mrs.J

About 15 years ago Mr. J asked me if I could work out meals off of paydays. He gets paid every 2 weeks. So I started to put together easy and fresh dinners that were enjoyed by all and would allow one grocery run, minus the fresh things like milk, eggs, fruit, veg ect... Although with the milk and eggs we now get them delivered by a dairy service and in the summer are part of a local CSA for fruit and veg that we get weekly. Some people go off of what is on sale meat wise, my mom did that growing up as there were 6 of us to feed and 3 were men/boys. But I am able to take the proteins we mostly like and utilize the freezer and buy 2 weeks out. We eat mostly chicken, pork and fish/seafood although we occasionally do beef and have a local beef farm that does single portion freezer beef and is open Thur-Sat. I go through my recipes and ask family what sounds good or something they have been wanting. I pick 14 dinners out and then figure out what day we will have them on. It allows me to cater to busy days vs days that I can do a more involved recipe. Weekends are my experimental days as I like to pick at least 2 new recipes a month. I go through all the recipes and write down what I need for each one, and check the pantry to see if I already have items. Then I print out a sheet with dates and what meal is on that date. I will put in my current sheet for this Friday's grocery run. It allows me to know what I have planned and my girls don't have to ask what is for dinner. As for breakfast and lunch it is pretty easy to push out two weeks. Eggs, cereal and toast are a hit along with yogurt and granola that we just make at home to save money. The youngest Miss J can pack in granola so it is cheaper to just make. For lunches I have to get creative. The girls are not fans of lunch meat sandwiches. So tortellini pasta, cut smoked sausage, cut cheese and crackers and soup. Plus any leftovers. Meal Plans June 19th thru July 2nd 19th Youngest Miss J's B-day camp out Cheeseburgers, Baked Mac n Cheese, TX sheet cake, S’mores, Breakfast biscuits fixins 20th Take out @ Analia’s Cafe 21st Easy Spicy Baked Chicken Tacos (Sandstone Show) 22nd Cajun Shrimp & Corn Salad (RTSB pg. 110) 23rd Lemon Parsley Baked Cod & Salad 24th Smothered Burritos (Beef) 25th BLT’s and Summer Pasta salad (RTSB pg. 156) 26th Chicken Taco Salad (Dinnertime pg. 54) 27th Grilled Lamb Skewers (RTSB pg. 105) 28th Asian Pork Tenderloin 29th Balsamic Basil Chicken w/ rice pilaf 30th Sizzling Sherry Shrimp w/ garlic (AR summer pg. 57) 1st Grilled Chicken w/ red & yellow peppers salad (RTSB pg. 83) 2nd Beef Bulgogi w/ veg and rice

Ah yes you should have!!! Bacon on anything makes it just that much better! I just found a recipe for grilled rosemary bacon wrapped chicken breasts that made me drool.

I would be up for that. I have a lot of recopies that would work. Actually working on my 2 week meal plan today as grocery day is Friday.

What a wonderful memory you have in that bouquet. And the crystal rose is beautiful. So glad I am able to bring a bit of beauty into your life.

Dinner tonight

A shot from last year this day. Forgot about it.

Thanks. I actually grew up with a lot of doubt I could do anything. I am Dyslexic. My mom was told by the school system I grew up in I was not bad enough to be tested. She finally took me to my Eye Dr. who at the time diagnosed me with a Left/Right reversal and lack of comprehension. Which I have now found out is on the Dyslexic spectrum. I struggled all through school except with art and music. And any class that was hands on. I was the only girl in my Industrial Arts class aka Shop that could take apart a Brigs and Stratton single stroke lawnmower engine, clean it, put it back together and make it run like it was new. I got through college because I changed my major to Fine Arts. It has taken me quite sometime to be comfortable in my own skin. All the things I excel at are hands on. But I have finally gotten to that point. And being able to share all that I can do with everyone here and with my family is great!

Would love to see it!

So I am not just a baker/cook. I tend to be a jack of all trades. Over the years I have spent time and money getting my back garden organized so that it could be a vase garden. This year it has exploded with all my work. Here is my first vase bouquet from my yard.

So sorry to hear this. My brother who lives in OH and is an essential employee tested positive. He did not have any issues but we were worried as he has underlying conditions. It is a nasty virus that picks and chooses and that is what is scary about it.

So on the baking front today. Warm front all the way with the making of tortilla chips. The two Miss J's down tortilla chips like chocolate so in an attempt to save money found this recipe that is so easy. Sealed Chips last for over a week fresh and crispy. Baked Tortilla Chips

If you do you can find this pink haired lady. Also if you like writers check out @jnjoneswriter. Mr. J writes flash fiction and has won many awards for it. It is dark but also funny.

Told her to do that and the look I got from her was of you are crazy!

Totally remember that! My mom would make it with grilled cheese and would dip it into the soup. Although I always preferred the fat noodles over the stars, something about being able to slurp them up. I usually am a soup snob but I know when the good old condensed salty canned chicken soup is needed. The soup helped her gums relax from the braces so will need to keep a couple of cans on hand for adjustments.

So went to our first horse show since March today. Absolutely beautiful weather, and some nice outside time. Several people wore masks, those who did not I just kept my distance. Pretty easy to do at this farm as it is very spread out. The youngest Miss J got her braces put on this morning and in hind sight maybe should have taken it easy. She rode well but did admit that her mouth was bothering her quite a lot. Pulled out the condensed chicken noodle soup for this job and a bowl of fresh made pudding.

Getting in on the end of this line.

As my girls would say. Squeeeeeeeeel!!

I have never made a gooseberry pie. We get them with our CSA so will have to try that this year. Mr J usually uses them to infuse vodka.

Strawberry Rhubarb pie.

I am baking today.

Second time making Paella. Mr. J requested. Very prep intensive but oh so good!

2.13" in my backyard currently. Still raining but not pouring. Flood warning just issued for my area in SW Frederick Co.

Rain let up about 30 min ago. But still raining. Current measurement in my back yard is 2.12" and a Flood Warning was just issued.

Not much. Currently just went over 1"

Yes I am just S of 340 and looks like we are under some training here. Still pouring.