It's hard to believe it's been so long since I've written you.  Let's say that 2009 has been a year of trials and tests for us and it's not over yet.  I haven't wanted to burden my readers with all of the details, so I just stayed away from my blog these months while trying to keep my act together during a difficult time in my family's life.

But I would like to pop in here and share a salsa recipe with you that I created to make from items I can keep in my pantry.  This recipe makes one quart.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we do here!

1 -30 oz. Can Whole Peeled Tomatoes (I use Muir Glen Organic)

2 t. Chopped Garlic

5 Slices of Jarred Nacho Jalapenos (plus a little of the juice)

Approximatelyy 1/2 t. Kosher Salt

Dash Black Pepper

2 t. Lime Juice or 1 t. Apple Cider Vinegar

Optional: Sliced Green Onions & Cilantro

Whiz first 6 ingredients in food processor until well blended, careful not to let your tomatoes get bubbly looking=two much blending.  Pulse optional ingredients in until broken up, but not pureed.

Fills a one quart canning jar and keeps for about 4-5 days in the frig.

Enjoy with our blessings!

PLAN B

Got 72 starts planted on a flat indoors.  However, it's now too hot to work outside, so will pick up the seed planting tomorrow morning, hopefully early if baby cooperates.

After we got our Piano, Math, LA and History done, we went for a nice walk to the corner store and those who ate their lunch got ice cream.  Lunch today was a hit to all who actually tried it.  Ornry 5 year old refused to try it.  Two and a half year old gobbled it up. 

Here's what I made and they were good:

Moistened cracker bread (Ok-Mok), spread cream cheese on half, add shredded carrots, cheddar cheese, mixed greens and black beans.  Sprinkle with a small amount of Ranch Seasoning Mix (natural kind) and roll up.

Mine didn't roll as they should, so they didn't look as nice as they should have.  I followed the directions, so if anyone has tips on how to roll up moistened cracker bread without it breaking, please add a comment for me!

Thanks!

Today, we're jumping on schoolwork early.  Piano, Math, Language Arts, History, and then our Science is starting our seeds for our garden which we are terribly late doing!

I need to do: laundry (as always!), clean up the Kitchen and make a huge Tossed Green Salad to bring to our Homegroup tonight.  I also have some calls to make and thank you notes write.

I better get busy!

WOW!

Time flies.  It's been two weeks since my last post and April will be over before I know it.  I apologize for not posting lately.  We've been dealing with a lot of stuff here and it's just been so overwhelming that I am merely in survival mode.  I haven't even been planning meals or thinking about dinner until after Beloved comes home in the evenings.  This has got to change!

So here I am and here is this week's menu for all to see and keep me accountable:

Monday: Homegroup-Pizza & Salad Dinner

Tuesday: BBQ Marinated Steak, Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Parsnips, WW Biscuits, Tossed Green Salad

Wednesday: Lentils & Rice with Smoked Sausage, Green Beans

Thursday: Bacon & Egg Stir Fried Rice, SnS Green Beans

Friday: Pasta with Marinara Sauce, Tossed Green Salad

Saturday: Crockpot Chicken Fajitas with all the fixings, Rice Pudding Dessert

Sunday: Grilled Cheese or Leftovers - Clean Out Frig

Your link back to Organized Junkie

Today, we are doing our basic subjects, then lunch and then we have a trip to the library for more books. 

After that, we will go by our project in town and see some friends who've been living and working in California for a while before they leave to return there.

This reminds me, I should get dinner planned right now, or we'll be scrounging at 6 PM!  I'm thinking about a Quiche.  I am sorely in need of groceries, but hoping to hold out until tomorrow when I can go alone (with baby, of course).  I need to pick up some things for Easter next week and for my Son's 5th Birthday Party on Sunday wihtout the children with me.  I can't believe my little guy, my third born, is going to be five years old.  Time flys by, as all mother's know.

I suspect nothing is being done with chores at the moment, so I need to bid you farewell for now!  Have a great weekend!

A local farmer came out to check our Camelina on Wednesday.  The folks we're growing it for asked him to check all the crops in the area to see how they're doing.

Ours seems to have been slowed down by the frost, or something.  It's still growing, just very slowly.  So instead of harvesting in June as planned, it's looking more like August.

I guess we're blessed, because another local farmer lost his whole ten acres to frost.  They are footing the bill for him to replant.  But that is just a shame.  Especially since Camelina is supposed to thrive in colder conditions.  I mean, they're testing it as a cold weather crop in frigid Montana for heaven's sake.

Believe me, I get temp updates from my sister who lives in Montana.  It is COLD there.

I did okay on last week's pantry challenge.  My meals got mixed up and I didn't make the chicken, but I did not buy new groceries for dinners.  I did end up at the store for milk and bread, though.  I am really just struggling lately with my back issues (which are now greatly improved) and low energy, too.

I should be myself again before you know it.  

Those of you who think I have it all together will be interested to know that I have absolutely no menu plan and no idea what I'm doing this week.  I am completely overwhelmed with life and completely disorganized!

So if ya'll were thinking I'm not exactly human, there ya go!

LOL!

This week, a Pantry Challenge!

I've challenged myself to eating only what is in my food stores.  I need to practice using what I've got and I have a good stock right now, so this should be a fun challenge!  Here's my menu, minus some details I have yet to work out:

Monday: Baked Ziti, Caesar Salad  Macaroni with Cheese Sauce and Diced Ham, Celery & Carrots

Tuesday: Baked Ziti, Sourdough

Wednesday: Homemade Vegie Pizza  Leftovers from Mon. & Tues.

Thursday: Whole Roasted Chicken with Vegies and Brown & Wild Rice, Applesauce

Friday: Chicken and Rice Soup, Homemade Bread, Canned Peaches

Saturday: Meatloaf (already made and in the freezer), with Buttered Eggs Noodles, Peas, & Pear Pie

Sunday: Breakfast for Dinner

The only thing I should have to buy this week are diapers for my toddler and maybe some soda to go with our pizza Wednesday night.

Back to Organized Junkie.

Yesterday, I got to sleep in. :D

Boy, was that nice!  We had friends over for a late dinner Friday night and it ended up being a late night.

When I got up, I started the laundry, and then I went into town to our local library book sale and got some good deals there.  I continued the laundry when I got home, made two loaves of bread and two batches of Vanilla Almond Granola.  Then I worked on some business stuff and folded all the laundry and put it away.

I am really struggling with back pain, as I am seriously out of alignment.  So today I won't do too much.  I am attending a concealed weapons class this afternoon, so I can get my permit to carry.  I want to carry an expandable baton for self defense purposes.  I need to figure out a crockpot dinner so I don't have to worry about dinner when I get home.

A chiroprator visit is definitely "on the menu" for this week!