Sunday, January 25, 2026

Thai Creamy Peanut Noodles

 There is a Thai restaurant in town that makes a creamy peanut noodle dish that my kids love so I did some research and came up with a recipe that is very similar.

Ingredients 

  • Olive oil
  • 2 cups of shredded carrots 
  • 1 lb of broccoli florets
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups roasted lightly salted peanuts (or 1 cup of natural peanut butter)
  • 1-3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste (the amount will depend on how spicy you like things)
  • 1 can full fat, unsweetened coconut milk
  • 8 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 3 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1-2 teaspoons ginger paste
  • 1/4 cups-3/4 cup water as needed to achieve the desired consistency 
  • 2 cups cooked chicken
  • bunch of green onions, chopped
  • 16 oz Thai rice noodles (stir-fry or wider)

Directions 

  1. Start preparing your noodles according to the package directions.
  2. Sauté your onion, garlic, carrot, and broccoli in a large sauté pan with olive oil. Stir regularly.
  3. Place everything from the peanuts to the ginger paste in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
  4. Pour sauce from over onion mixture, stir to combine. Add prepared noodles and water (2 tablespoons at a time) until you achieve the right texture. You want your sauce to be creamy but not watery or thick like a paste. 
  5. Toss with green onions and serve.

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Menu 2025: December 1-31

Basketball season has started and the holidays are upon us, so we are in the time of the year when we are rarely actually home.  

Here is the menu for December.

Sunday, February 9, 2025

Menu 2025: February 2-March 1

With all my kids in Jr./Sr. High, life has been quite busy. Thankfully, we're coming to the end of basketball season so things "should" slow down a little. Here is the menu for February.

Monday, September 23, 2024

Menu 2024: October

September has come, and is almost gone. This school year is already flying by but I’ve been told that is normal when you have high schoolers. We are slowly getting into a routine and I’m getting better at shopping and meal prepping after a year “off.” So here goes month two.

September 29-October 5

29 - venison pot roast, mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables 

30 - tater tot casserole 

1- soccer/volleyball home games…deli wraps and pasta salad

2 - Thai chicken soup

3 - soccer/volleyball away games…concessions/out with the team

4 - Senior Banquet (I may be 😭 since I have my first senior)

5 - spring rolls

October 6-12

6 - kimchi fries (double fried French fries topped with beef bulgogi, kimchi, and spicy mayo sauce)

7 - soccer home game…fajitas

8 - jambalaya  

9 - chili and cornbread

10-12 - volleyball tournament (eating out with the team or bringing food) 

October 13-19

13 -  pork salsa verde burrito bowls

14 - Reagan and family pictures: potato soup and rolls

15 - soccer/volleyball home games…egg roll in a bowl

16 - red beans and rice

17 - instant pot ramen

18 - soccer/volleyball playoff game(s)…pizza

19 - BLT’s and chips

October 20-26

20 - burgers, chips, and veggie tray

21 - tacos

22 - chicken and waffles OR waffles with eggs and sausages

23 - tater tot casserole 

24 - Slow cooker sausage, bean and pasta stew

25 & 26 - State Tournament for Soccer and Volleyball all day (sack lunches, dinners with the team)

October 27-November 2

27 - pulled pork, mac’n’cheese and mixed veggies

28 - quesadillas 

29 - sloppy joes, tater tots, mixed veggies 

30 - chili and cornbread

31 - pancakes, eggs, and bacon

1- pizza and side salad

2 - leftovers 

Sunday, September 1, 2024

Menu 2024: September

It’s hard to believe that a year has gone by since I last posted. So much has happened in that year. We had family move in with us for a year, another one of our kids has started driving, our youngest became a teenage, and our oldest entered his senior year of high school. 

Now that family is settled in their new house and school routines are beginning, I am going to attempt to post the menu one or two times a month going forward. 🤞🏼So here goes nothing.

September 1-7

1- carne asada burrito bowls 

2 - bbq burnt ends, southwest potato salad, and veggies

3 - jambalaya 

4 - pulled pork mac’n’cheese and mixed veggies 

5 - leftovers

6 & 7 - soccer/volleyball tournaments all day (sack lunches, dinners with the team)

September 8-14

8 - pork salsa verde burrito bowls

9 - Asian lettuce wraps

10 - soccer/volleyball home games…venison chops with eggs and toast

11 - red beans and rice

12 - soccer/volleyball away games…concessions/out with the teams 

13 - 

14 - spring rolls

September 15-21

15 - burgers, chips, and veggie tray

16 - soccer/volleyball home games…leftovers

17 - date night out with friends ☺️

18 - brats and cowboy beans

19 - soccer/volleyball home games…pancakes, eggs, and bacon

20 - 

21 - tater tot casserole 

September 22-28

22 - chili and cornbread

23 - soccer/volleyball away games…concessions/out with the team

24 - soccer/volleyball home games…pizza and side salad

25 - deli wraps and pasta salad

26 - sloppy joes, tater tots, mixed veggies 

27 - steak, polenta, and roasted vegetables (all the kids have a youth activity so it’s just us)

28 - egg roll in a bowl

September 29-30

29 - venison pot roast, mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables 

30 - tater tot casserole 

Monday, July 17, 2023

Menu 2023: July ??

It's been real busy here over the last 9 months with alterations projects, school, work, sports, and church stuff. My hubby finished his master's degree in December (and walked in May). Our oldest got his license in January. The hubby and I went to NYC for a conference in March and a mission trip to Italy in May/June. Our 2nd child started driver's education this month. We will have three high schoolers and one in Jr. high. The hubby took a new position July 1st and is now the administrator at the school our children attend, so this fall is going to be even busier. Life is really picking up speed!

I have had weddings nonstop since February 2022 (normally I have a 3-4 month break during the winter that I didn't get this year), so I am taking a 6 month break from alterations beginning August 1st. I'm hoping this will help me get back on track with menu planning, budgeting, and keeping my house from looking like there appears to have been a struggle. We are also getting the blessing of sharing our home with my sister, brother-in-law, and their children for a bit while they look for a house in the area. <3 With all that in mind here's what we had or are planning...

Sunday, October 2, 2022

Menu 2022: October 2-29

It's been real busy here with alterations projects going out, school, work, and soccer/volleyball games.  Here's what we have planned. I will fill in the "??" as I go.

Friday, September 2, 2022

Menu 2022: September 4-17

Next week is the first full week of school and the kids already have games and tournaments for sports. I am in the thick of wedding season with bridal and suit alterations besides my regular job so I'm am really looking forward to having the long weekend to catch up on stuff at home. 🙌 Here's what we're planning...

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Menu 2022: August 28-September 3

It's been an incredibly busy summer between work, church, and home, which means that I have gotten off track with my weight, spending, and meal planning. We are all getting ready to head back to school (including my husband who has 16 more weeks of classes till he finishes his Master's). I am hoping that the meal planning will aid in saving money and helping me get back to dropping weight. So, here we go...

July 10-16

Sunday - Salsa verde pork, pinto beans, and rice bowls

Monday - Personal pizzas on the Ooni (cheeseburger pizza, all meat pizza, pepperoni pizza, caprese pizza, etc.)

Tuesday - Beef Ramen Ended up having regular and eggplant lasagna and a side salad

Wednesday - Burritos

Thursday - Breakfast for Supper (pancakes, eggs, and bacon)

Friday - Pretzel coated walleye, fries, and mixed vegetables

Saturday - Brats and chips

Saturday, March 5, 2022

Gluten-Free [Dairy-Free] Devil's Food Cake

I have a dear friend (and fellow pastor's wife) who has recently found out that she can't have gluten or dairy. So when my youngest had to make an angel food cake for her English class report and I had 12 egg yolks leftover, I decided to find something gluten and dairy free to use them in. I give you gluten and dairy free devil's food cake.

Dairy Free Dark Chocolate Orange Fudge Drizzle

I love to drizzle fudge sauce over a bundt cake right before serving it and this dairy free version with a hint of orange has been a big hit.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated orange sugar (recipe here)
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
  • 3/4-1 cup extra creamy oat milk (add as you go based on your desired consistency)
  • 1 teaspoon orange extract
  • pinch of salt

Directions

  1. Combine everything in a glass 4 cup measuring cup with a mini whisk or fork. Pop in the microwave for 30 second increments, stirring in between each, for 1 1/2-2 minutes. If you want it thinner, add more oat milk and pop in the microwave for another 30 seconds. 
  2. Drizzle over cake, ice cream, fruit, etc. Or simply eat it by the spoonful. :)

Dehydrated [Orange] Zest and Orange Sugar

 I used orange peels but you could really use any citrus fruit peels (lemons, limes, etc.).

1 - Wash, dry, and peel zest layer off the fruit with a potato peeler.

2 - Layer zest peels on dehydrator trays with screens.

3 - Set dehydrator to 145 degrees F and leave for 4-6 hours.

4 - In a food processor of smoothie blender, grind the peel until it is between the size of sugar granules and poppy seeds. Save the container to make orange sugar (see below).

5 - Pour dehydrated zest into a small jar or container and store in a cool, dry place. (I keep mine in my freezer.)

To make the orange sugar, add sugar to the food processor/blender cup and shake, shake, shake. Empty sugar into a storage container or mason jar. Store in a cool, dry place. Enjoy!

Dairy-Free Chocolate Buttercream

Buttercream and Dark Chocolate Orange Drizzle
Everyone knows that I have a baking addiction. It relieves stress and brings me joy. I have also always struggled with a weight problem that has a negative effect on my health. I haven't done much baking in the last year for that very reason and have worked to develop other ways to relieve stress (walking and running being a couple of them). 

But, my youngest daughter had to make an angel food cake as part of her English class (they had to write and give a report on how to do something and bring in a sample of what they had done), which meant that I had 12 egg yolks that needed to be used up. Naturally, I experimented with making a gluten-free, dairy-free devil's food cake that needed to be frosted. Thus, this recipe was born. I couldn't find a highly rated dairy-free chocolate buttercream so I took a regular buttercream recipe and adjusted it to be dairy free (5-minute chocolate buttercream).

Monday, July 19, 2021

Menu 2021: July 11-31

I took a couple of months off of menu planning as we've had a ton of summer stuff going on including a two week vacation. We spent a week in Wisconsin Dells with my sister's family where we rented a house at one of the resorts. Then we went to my parents' for a few days. Finally, we spent a couple of days camping up in Door County. I am trying to get back into routine with planning meals before the craziness of preseason practices and school begin again.

Without any further adieu, here is the menu through the end of July...

Saturday, May 8, 2021

Menu 2021: May 2-29

This year seems to have flown by in so many ways. But then I think anything could feel like it is flying by in comparison to how slowly last year seemed to go. 

Tomorrow is Mother's Day (I know, the menu is late again). We have a week and a half left of school for the year and summer activities are looming ever closer. 

When your kids are little and days seem to last forever, people tell you to savor them because they are fleeting. You think to yourself that they're crazy and just don't remember that a day with toddlers and preschoolers is 72 hours long. But then you become the parent of your first teenager and the years seem to last a month and the days five minutes. (Yes, with my second child becoming a teenager next week I am a bit nostalgic and sentimental.) I say all this to remind you to live where you are. Don't long for the past and don't wish for the future, or you'll miss what you have right now in the present.

Before I get much more emotional, here is May's menu...

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Menu 2021: April 4-May 1

The last year has been challenging for pretty much everyone. Last year we spent Easter apart - the kids and I home on the couch watching services and my hubby teaching adult Sunday school livestream with no one in the pews. I was such a blessing this year to be in-person for services rejoicing with my church family that Christ has conquered death and is alive forevermore. It made for an emotional day. We did our usual tradition of hiding gifts for the kids and picking up a Hughes dark chocolate Easter basket. It was a good day, but now for April's menu...

April 4-10

  • Happy Easter / Resurrection Sunday! Deli wraps, veggie tray, fruit salad, and chips
  • Smoked beef sirloin tip roast, Brussels sprouts, roasted baby reds, steamed asparagus, a veggie tray, dinner rolls, and individual cheesecakes with fresh blueberries
  • Leftovers :)
  • Philly cheesesteak pizza and veggies
  • Garlic chicken and pasta with veggies
  • A friend and I have birthdays a week and a half apart so we're going out while my hubby and kiddos hold down the fort. 

April 11-17

  • Pulled pork and slaw
  • Grilled Mahi Mahi with brown rice quinoa medley and steamed asparagus
  • Southwest chicken salad
  • Chicken and rice casserole 
  • Pork Roulade, creamy polenta, roasted asparagus, and a side salad (we had friends over and the husband is a chef so he cooked 🥳)
  • Leftovers

April 18-24

  • Beef tenderloin (we got a great deal at New Year's and I've been saving them in the freezer), roasted baby reds, and whole green beans
  • Chick-fil-A 😁
  • Baked cod, quinoa and rice, and wsteamed green beans 
  • Bacon cheese burgers, roasted potatoes, and mixed veggies
  • Pizza

April 25-May 1

  • Chicken taco soup
  • Lo Mein (pork or chicken)
  • Brats, waffle fries, and mixed veggies
  • Chili
  • Spaghetti, mixed veggies, and side salad

Monday, March 1, 2021

Menu 2021: February 28-March 27

Spring is almost here and that makes me excited! The worst of winter is (most likely) over in the Midwest and we are starting to have more days where the temperature is above freezing. Basketball season is over for my kids and we only have 2 1/2 months left of school. Wedding season is just starting and I am working on a couple of dresses for a wedding this month along with helping my girls make their first formals for a school event. I am thankful for the time my mom invested in teaching me how to sew as well as the opportunities that I had to learn from some great employers over the years. I am looking forward to seeing how my girls do. :)

Here is the menu for March:

Saturday, January 2, 2021

Menu 2021: January

Oh, what a crazy year 2020 was! There were good parts and bad parts as with any other year, but there were also parts full of fear that required faith in an Omnipotent, Omniscient God who had everything under control. I am so thankful that I know Who holds tomorrow and that He also holds my hand. With all that in mind, we enter 2021 with anticipation for what God can do through us and hope that you can do the same. We have lots of goals for 2021 but that will have to wait for another post. So without any further adieu, here is the menu.

January 1-9

  • Chicken tenders with Chick-fil-A sauce (you can buy it by the 8 oz bottle now 😱), cheesy hashbrown casserole, and a side salad
  • Venison chops, eggs, and toast
  • Chicken and rice soup with fresh bread
  • Taco Salad
  • Pizza and a side salad
  • Spaghetti squash carbonara
  • Sloppy Joes, mac'n'cheese, and veggies
  • Roasted Rabbit with herbs, steamed broccoli, and risotto
  • Happy Birthday to my DS! BBQ ribs, Brussels sprouts, and smashed red potatoes

January 10-16

January 17-23

  • Roast beef sandwiches, roasted vegetables, and side salad
  • Brisket, fingerling potatoes, veggies
  • Concessions 😊
  • Smoked chicken thighs, veggies, quinoa and rice medley
  • Staff Retreat💓

January 24-31

  • Beef tenderloin, smashed potatoes, steamed broccoli
  • Concessions 😊
  • Jambalaya
  • Chicken Ramen
  • Thai green curry
  • Meatloaf, mac'n'cheese, and mixed veggies
  • Pulled pork buns, roasted vegetables, and side salad

Sunday, November 1, 2020

Menu 2020: October 25- November 28

Summer is over and fall is upon us. Fall has always been my favorite time of year. We got married in the fall and most of our family pictures have been taken in the fall. This fall is a little different for us with all the COVID-19 considerations and restrictions. Our favorite fall field trip locations have gone virtual. Athletic tournaments are being canceled. Sometimes it is hard to look on the bright side. BUT, I was reminded the other day of a couple of things: 1. God is sufficient for everything, and 2. God's mercies are new every morning, great is His faithfulness. Through these crazy times we're living in, I constantly feel like I am inadequate, which is true. I am not enough for anything, but my God is so much more than enough and His grace will be sufficient in my weakness. 💕

Since I am a month behind, let's get back to the menu...

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Menu 2020: August 23-September 27

It hasn't been a normal summer by any means, but it has been busy. We went on vacation in July and then on to camping in the middle of August. The kids have started conditioning practice for fall sports and school starts in a week. I am looking forward to having a few days a week to myself so I can get to some of more cleaning and organizing done around the house. I also picked up some bridal alterations and a curtain project that I start on this week. 
We're trying to get to some much-needed work done around the yard. We spent the weekend "grubbing out" a bunch of trees and such that the previous owner let take over the backyard. We took out about 20% of the stuff it already looks better.  

August 23-29

  • Omelets and roasted baby reds
  • Pizza and salad
  • Chicken alfredo with roasted cauliflower and carrots
  • Salmon filets (gotta love a Piggly Wiggly sale), smashed red potatoes, and a side salad
  • Taco Salad

August 30-September 5

  • Pizza, salad, and chips
  • Tater Tot Casserole
  • Chicken pot pie
  • Spaghetti, steamed veggies, salad, and French bread 
  • Subs, fresh fruit, and chips

September 6-12

  • Happy Labor Day - pulled pork, beef brisket, and a few other things on the smoker :D
  • Breakfast for dinner - venison chops, fried eggs, and hashbrowns
  • Chicken quesadillas and black beans
  • Chili
  • Cobb Salad

September 13-19

  • Tacos 
  • Subs and popcorn 
  • Carbonara and a side salad
  • Pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon 
  • Smoked ribs, mashed potatoes, and veggies

September 20-26

  • Pulled pork and fries 
  • Potato soup and dinner rolls
  • Lasagna roll-ups, steamed veggies, and a side salad
  • Eggplant parmesan over spaghetti with a side salad
  • Burgers, veggie tray, fruit salad, and fries