Monday Mish Mash and Meal Plan

If you're here for Menu Plan Monday it's at the bottom of this post but welcome and feel free to read on through if you like!

This is typical in the winter here in Southern Alberta. As I type the temperature outside is -20*C (-4*F in US speak) and by this afternoon it should be 3*C (37*F) by this afternoon. That is if the forecast comes to pass, which last week it didn't. This rise in temperature doesn't happen daily in the winter, we've been sitting in a deep freeze for a week, but it sure is nice when it does come. Almost makes me want to break out shorts and t's. Almost. The blizzardy weather that dropped another blanket of snow all day Friday and Saturday will most likely be a big slushy mess by this afternoon. Our backyard will be a mess as we have our own mini tobagganning hill back there from the snow shovelled off the top end of the driveway. But before that can happen we're going to head out and try to get a few slides in.

UPDATE: It is now noon and the temp has warmed up to 0*C (32*F) already. Pretty amazing isn't it? As the saying goes around here: "If you don't like the weather , wait a minute."

I was absolutely lazy this weekend. I didn't even clean the house in any way, shape or form. Meals were quick and simple. I made this on Sunday and everyone really enjoyed it. I did change a couple things up on it. The things I would do different would be to use two cans of soup instead of one, but my hubby disagrees. He liked it just the way it was. But that's typical, he'll eat pasta and rice just plain and I like mine doing the backstroke in sauce. Oh, and salt and pepper the meat. And I used a 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes, (14 oz. was not near enough). And way more cheese. There is no way 1/4 cup in that whole recipe was enough for two layers of noodles. The recipe said to bake for 1 hour but I found after 35 minutes it was piping hot and ready to feed my starving family. They are always so hungry after church on Sundays.

Saturday found me at the Christian bookstore. I thought I'd treat the fam to a chai tea in the coffee shop. But, heaven help me, it was $40 later that I walked out of there with cards and books. Again. I did that last month too. And I even told myself this time I was not going to let that happen. But they had cards on sale, and I'm a stationary fanatic, and the books I bought were all on sale. Not one book was more than $9.99. But such as that it is, my book bag is now overflowing. Literally, onto my bedroom floor. Help me. I cannot go into that store anymore until I read all the books in my bag, as obviously, I have a sickness where I'm compelled to not pass up any book that has a sale sticker on it. Just take at look at the evidence of my reading and book sickness passion. And I still have 4 to get read from the library. I really do need a job where I can read books for a living.

Sunday Hubby and I were on the hunt for an 18th birthday present for Kay. I absolutely cannot believe I just typed that sentence. Where on earth did the time go? Man, 18 years. Next week she'll officially be considered an adult. I don't know if I'm ready for this. It really hit us when we realized she can actually vote in March in the provincial election. But ready or not, the days keep stepping along and it will be upon us. Anyway, we got a really great idea for an 18th birthday present but I can't tell you yet, because she might read this. And speaking of Kay, she starts a new job today at Pizza Hut. Should be good. She's hoping to make lots of tip money to help herself with bible school and missions. Hmmmm, wonder if they give a family discount at that place. We all know how I love my pizza.

I better wrap up this Monday Mish Mash with my menu plan before I put you all to sleep. I'll have a book review up tomorrow of a biography that moved me to my core.

Monday: West Indian Curried Chicken, rice, baby veggie mix

Tuesday: Cajun cabbage casserole, veggies/dip

Wednesday: beef stroganoff (didn't happen last week), macaroni, beans

Thursday: For valentines, Hubby's fave pork/brussel sprout dish, brownies with homemade ice cream

Friday: scrounge day

Saturday: Asian Pork Tenderloin, rice, stir fry veggies

Sunday: invited out