Menu Monday: 9/10-9/14

Menu Monday

Monday:  Buffalo Wild Wing Knock-off Spicy Garlic Chicken Salad (Happy Birthday to our friend Melanie!)

Tuesday:  Farmer's Market Spaghetti Squash with meat sauce and Broccoli

Wednesday: Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Pork

Thursday: Gazpacho

Friday: TBD

Saturday: L.O. Smoked Chicken, Potatoes, Veggies

This weekend was not the weekend we made salsa, but I did pick quite a few to include in our Fall Beef Stew tonight. Combined with veggies from Saturday's market, it was perfect. So yummy on a cool fall night. It looks like Tuesday is going to be another warm day, 90°, but otherwise the fall weather looks like it's here to stay. Bring it on!

Geocaching last weekend at Woodland Trials! We found Silver Australian dollars!

Enjoying the golf carts. This was a pretty spot to take a picture on the 10+ miles of trails to explore.

We were birders for the day! Finches, Nuthatches, and other birds loved  the giant feeders!

Fall Beef Stew 

From: Greg's Mom Cathy with some additions by us!

Ingredients you need:

1 pound beef (cut into small pieces)
Maggi
Salt/Pepper
Worcestershire Sauce

5+ chopped tomatoes (whatever kind you have)
2 onions (whatever kind you have)
2 hot peppers
2 T Minced Garlic

Carrots ( 2+ cups)
Potatoes (4+ cups, we use mostly yukon and 1 sweet)
Water
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 bottle dark beer
1 T corn starch + 1 T flour + 1/4 C water (mix up)
Chopped Parsley (1/2C-1C)

Directions:
1) Season beef with Maggi, Salt/Pepper, Worcestershire Sauce then brown in large pot
2) Add tomatoes, onions, hot peppers and garlic. 
Simmer this until it reduces down. Maybe 10-15 minutes

Next Add....
Potatoes,Carrots, tomato soup
Then.... 
Cover with water and leave to simmer! 

When potatoes are soft.....
Add Corn Starch/Flour mixture and beer

Lastly...
Mix in parsley

EAT! ENJOY! BE MERRY!

TGIF: Dream Weekend

Do you ever have a week that feels like a month? I think most teachers would say that they feel this way after their first week back at school. Summer is really over.  It's how I feel now. Since this isn't my first year teaching, at least I know that this feeling doesn't last too long. 

In other news, our credit card information was somehow taken last week. Luckily the person who got a hold of our info just wanted to spend a few nights in hostels. Our $20 has already been refunded and I was totally impressed by MasterCard's customer service. Greg and I haven't spent much time in hostels, a few guesthouses I think. If I could go to any hostel this weekend it would be this one...

Hostel-Inn  in Iguazu Falls, Argentina

At least this weekend is supposed to bring in more cool weather. I think we may start using our hot peppers (the only thing really striving in our garden) to make some salsa (everything else from the Farmer's Market). TGIF and Happy Weekend!

Monday Menu: 9/3-9/7

Menu Monday

Last day of Summer:Monday: Avocado Mandarin Orange Salad (Yes,

we eat this every week right now!)

My First Day of School:Tuesday:  Strawberry Spinach Salad with

Poppy Seed Dressing
 

Wednesday: Grilled Chicken Salad

 

My Big Bro's Birthday:Thursday: Shrimp Red Thai Curry 

TGI Friday: Who knows!?


I bet I'll hear this and you'll hear this all week, but... I can't believe it's September! Where has summer gone? Greg and I noticed the trees are a changin and fall is coming quickly! One thing we are super stoked for is college football. More specifically Hawkeye Football. Go Hawks!



*Source

This week is the week of salads. One reason is that our freezer is filled with left-overs and that means we don't have containers available to hold left overs of meals that create left overs. Make sense? The other reason is that after spending a 3 nights at the B & B and not exercising too much we feel the need to eat salads. These three are our go to salads. Easy and delicious. By Thursday we'll spice things up a bit with Shrimp Red Curry. Aroy mak! (Very delicious). My goal is to post how I make curry, so stayed tune! Happy Week!

TGIF: Dream Weekend

TGIF! I feel like I can say that and really mean it today. I have offically started my school year with the Eau Claire Area School District. Next Tuesday I'll meet my students for the first time at their open house and the first normal school day is Wednesday. 

Before school starts, Greg and I are off to celebrate our 5th Anniversary at Woodland Trails Bed and Breakfast.

"Bed and Breakfast?" you ask. 
Yes, Bed and Breakfast.
"I've never been to one, aren't they for old people?"
 No they are not! In fact, we went to Woodland Trails on our honeymoon and again for our first anniversary. "Oh... maybe I'd like to check one out." 
You totally should!

Woodland Trails!

Driving around the trails at Woodland Trials. Yes, they have golf carts and miles of trails!

Traveling somewhere for the weekend? Consider a B &B. Want a weekend away without traveling far? Look for one close to your house. We've been to two B&B's. Woodland Trails. LOVED IT. The River Nest. LOVED IT.

At Woodland Trails there is an English Billards table.  We'll need to learn the rules again, but I know we'll spend plenty of time playing it. It's right outside the room we'll stay in again for the third time.

Enjoying the deck at The River Nest. Right next to the Mississippi River and the train tracks. With the windows shut, we didn't even hear the trains at night!

Our friends Jen and Dave have stayed at The Inn at Sacred Clay Farms near Lanesburo, MN. Right on the bike trail, it looks like one Greg and I could stay at and love! No frilly curtains nor lace and doilies.

Look at the scenery! The mid-western US is sure a beautiful place!

Another B&B that we haven't been to, but I think we'd like is Little House on the Farm near Postville, IA. It's owned by one of our friends parents. It looks so cute and inviting. 

Source

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday Wisdom

Wednesday Wisdom

In schools across Wisconsin this week teachers are preparing for the first day of school next week. I think this quote sums up all teachers' goals. I know it's mine. 

Menu Monday: 8/27-8/31

Menu Monday

Monday: Left over Avocado Mandarin Orange Salad with left over homemade pizza

Tuesday:  Out with friends

Wednesday: Chicken Red Curry

Thursday:  French Onion Soup

Friday: Head to Woodland Trails B&B and grill out steak with potatoes

I hope you had a great weekend! We had a fabulous weekend getting to know Casandra. She arrived from Malaysia (via Abu Dhabi, Dublin, and Chicago) 11pm Friday night. 

We kept her busy trying to fight through the jet lag. Although somehow I was yawning last night before she was....

You name it we tried to give her that experience: Farmer's market, touring around town, disc golfing, making homemade pizza, Wii playing, church, trying to figure out a cell phone, returning something at customer service, people watching at Wal-Mart, Boccee ball, tipping at a restaurant, foggy mornings, and cool weather! 

Lastly, this morning Greg and I had our first like parent moments when we dropped her off at her dorm on the UW Campus to begin her international student orientation. We are so proud!

Three suitcases and a backpack! Pretty easy moving in  compared to US students!

Moving Casandra in made Greg and I reminisce about moving into our dorms. Such an overwhelming experience! Think of doing this on your third day in a new country. 

It will be cozy! Her roommate, Paris, moves in on Thursday. 

Apple Chips

Are you at home for a weekend and want to make a yummy snack? You should make apple chips. So delicious and healthy. So easy. 

You'll find yourself saying, "Hey, I just ate a whole bag of apples!" It makes you feel a lot less guilty than saying, "Hey, I just ate a whole bag of potato chips!"

Apple Chips

* Source

*I've tried this with granny smith and gala apples. I bet any variety would be great.

*You can bake them for less time, they are just more chewy. 

Ingredients:

• Apples (how many your little heart desires, I usually use a bag)
• Cinnamon

Directions: 

1) Cut apples, discard any seeds

2) On parchment covered baking sheets, lay out apples

3) Sprinkle both sides of the apple with cinnamon

4) Put in oven at 275° for two hours. Flip apples half way through.

5) Cool on rack or paper towel. Store in a tight container.

A perfect afternoon snack, or breakfast!

Making apple chips make your house smell like fall! Enjoy!