Recipe Love

The following are several of my favorite go to recipes. I hope you find one or two that you can enjoy as well.

Oven-Fried Chicken Parmesan

I make the following two together, & my husband raves.

Cumin Spiced Chicken with Chunky Tomato Sauce

Chili-Lime Corn on the Cob

The Apricot-Lemon Chicken is excellent over brown rice.

Apricot-Lemon Chicken

With the following one, I brush the chicken with a balsamic salad dressing that I make instead of spritzing it like the recipe says, and I make toasted-Parmesan Orzo with roasted Zucchini or Asparagus or Green Beans or Spinach with the Balsamic Chicken (below). My husband raves.

Balsamic Chicken with Roasted Tomatoes

I use Alton Brown's Pan Seared method to sear the steaks to go with the Cannelloni Salad. My husband says he can't get a better steak at a steak house. (Gotta love his raving!)

Pan Seared Steaks

Steaks with Tuscan Style Cannelloni Salad

I have been experimenting with Turkey Burgers for the last three years. The following two recipes are my favorite out of the hundreds I have tried. My husband, who prefers beef, actually approves these... as long as I still cook him beef burgers sometimes.

Stuffed Turkey Burgers

Chipotle-Corn Turkey Burgers

I make the ranch dressing recipe to stuff the ranch chicken. Then I put the dressing on a side salad. It is also good on baked potatoes with broccoli.

stuffed Ranch Chicken Recipe

Ranch Dressing Recipe

This recipe is a little rich, so I don't make two weeks in a row or anything. But, it is very comforting and rewarding to make. I like to throw it in occasionally. It is definately a keeper for us.

Curried Chicken Potpies Recipe

Have you tried any new recipes lately that have been delicious successes? If so, please share. And, if you try any of the above recipes, please let me know what you think.

Week of May 31

Bible Study

• Having special fellowship dinner! We will continue in Philippians next week.
  

Memory Verse

• Psalm 19:8 (New Living Translation)
  8 The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.

Husband Encouragement

• Practice manners (please, thank you, after you...)
• Flirt & carry through
• Do at least one thing special for him every day
• Pray for him to grow closer to God and follow Him daily
• Consciously work on understanding him, or at least knowing where he comes from & thinking about how my actions affect him
• Fold laundry
• Do more housework to balance the chore list

Personal Goals

• Start using FLY Lady's advice
• Leave work at work
• Enjoy home more
• Bask in the Joy of the LORD

Work Goals

• Finalize plans for summer programming.
• Lay everything out for kick-off.
• Meet with staff about problems.
• Keep office cleared.
• Make at least some progress on back-log of work (monthly reports that are behind, etc.).

Must Do

• Pick three things to do to relax... three things I enjoy for me.
• Spend 2 minutes per day on hot spots (laundry room & master bedroom floor)

Zone

• Hot Spots (kitchen table, laundry room, bedroom floor/chair)
• Seek God to enjoy life more despite stress.

Menu Plan

• Sunday - favorite local eatery; left over burgers and chips
• Monday - Beef tips & lentils over tomato couscous, roasted green beans & yellow squash
• Wednesday - Pan Seared Steaks with Tuscan-Style Cannelloni Salad
• Thursday - Beef & Spinach Spaghetti sauce for bible study dinner
• Friday - Date Night! (Blind Side at the park! Take-out picnic.)
• Saturday - Broccoli & Ham Smothered potatoes
• Dessert of the Week: Brownies & ice cream
• Snacks: Chocolate/Peanut Butter Snack Bars, yogurt, & apples

Fun Things

• Movie (Blind Side) in the park under the stars
• Bible Study fellowship
• Memorial Day Holiday off work!

3 Things I'm Thankful For This Week

• Husband who has a soft heart towards me & wants to help me
• My wonderful, lovable Copper Man
• God's Grace

Week of May 24

Bible Study

• Philippians 3:15-16

¹⁵All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. ¹⁶Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Memory Verse

• Psalm 16:11 (New Living Translation)
  "You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever."

Husband encouragement

• Find one way to bless him everyday.


• Pray that he hears from God and has close fellowship with Him everyday.


• Admire him and speak to him through the "lenses" of admiration.


• Show him how I need him and thank him often.


• Wear something special for him.
  

Personal Goals

• Don't let work get to me emotionally.


• Take care of me some this week so that I can have good parts of me to give to my husband and extended family and friends. (Salt baths, do nails, watch show, read, rest, etc.)


• Exercise at least 4 days this week.
  

Work Goals

• Stay focused & finish preparations for summer program.


• Confront problem staff in a timely manner out of a loving heart. Seriously think WWJD.


• Keep work at work... not at home.

Must Do

• Keep work & home separate.


• Make time for friends & family.


• Make time for husband.


• Make time for self.


• Clean one area of the house. (Floors)


• Take husband to eye doctor.

Zone

• Search for God and find his Joy.


• Find new way to have devotions since schedule changed husband got a car to drive to work, & I don't have to take him.

Menu

• Sunday - favorite local eatery for lunch; baked spaghetti for dinner
• Monday - peppered steak, baked sweet potato, & steamed broccoli
• Tuesday - stuffed turkey burger & Zucchini fries.
• Wednesday Balsamic chicken, orzo & roasted asparagus
• Thursday - Chicken, Cashew, and Red Pepper Stir-Fry
• Friday - Date night with husband
• Saturday - Cookout with friends & family

Fun Things

• Date night


• Cookout

3 Things I'm Thankful for this Week

• Growing communication with husband


• my lovable dog


• great girl friends
  

May 17 Checklist

Bible Study (Some notes* from "Experiencing God's Peace" by Elizabeth George)

• Philippians 3:12-14

Philippians 3:12-14 (New Living Translation)
Pressing toward the Goal 12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us

• *Note: "According to Paul's example, we should always concentrate our energies on moving forward now and continuing to move forward in the future. Where are you putting your focus?"
• *Note: "Are there 'things' that hinder your forward focus? Can you name them and then determine how to 'lay aside every weight, and these in which so easily ensnares us, and ... run with endurance the race that is set before us' (Hebrews 12:1)"
• *Note: "What can you do today to: (1.) Forget those things that are behind?, (2.) Reach forward?, (3.) Press toward the goal?"
• *Note: "What are the steps that make up the process?"
• *Note: "Mental obliteration. A runner never looks back, but mentally obliterates the part of the course which he has already covered."
• *Note: "Unwavering progression. A runner strains every nerve and muscle as he keeps on running with all his might toward the goal. Indeed, his hand is stretched out as if to grasp it. He is thinking all along the way, 'I want this win!'"
• *Note: "A goal in view. A runner's eyes are always fixed on the goal. And that goal is at the end of the race, not some other place through the course. "


• Am I running the race well... pressing toward the prize at the end and not looking back. Am I thinking, "I want this win!"

Memory Verse

• Psalm 5:11 (New Living Translation)
  "But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy."

Husband Encouragement

• Submit to him as to the Lord.
• Put his needs above my own not matter how I feel!
• Fold laundry
• Have a joyful and inviting spirit both in the morning and when I pick him up from work.
• Ask him how his day was and allow him to relax and take a shower before any demands are put on him, as well as not dumping my day on him until he asks.
• Do something special for him everyday…
• Pray diligently for him through out the day, for him to be a light at work and for his faith and decisions.
• Strive to have a meek and quiet spirit!!
• Speak only words of encouragement and love.

Personal Goals

• Take Monday afternoon off and relax.
• Laugh and flirt with my husband Monday night at the pops concert.

Work Goals

• Set priorities.
• Daily make a list of what needs to be completed that day as opposed to what needs to be worked on that day.
• Decide what I can delegate to others.
• Talk to my supervisor about reducing my work load.
• Enjoy each day more.

Must Do

• Dentist appointment Tuesday
• Training class on Wednesday
• Progress meetings with staff on Thursday
• Sister-in-laws talent show Friday (6:30 PM)
• "Kids Craft Day" Saturday morning - Making "Salt Dough" (work)
• Sister-in-laws graduation Saturday (4:00 PM)

Zone

• PRAY intentionally and passionately daily... can't do this summer program, be acting manager, teach a bible study, keep my nieces, & be a Godly wife without God's help.

Menu

• Sunday - favorite local eatery!
• Monday - picnic at pops concert in the park (Southern Living Chicken & Rice Salad, Triskets, Lemonade, apple pie)
• Tuesday - cumin chicken with salsa, brown rice, chili corn & green beans
• Wednesday - curried chicken pot pie & salad
• Thursday - beef & spinach whole wheat spaghetti & broccoli with cheese
• Friday - out (will be rushed for talent show - meet husband at work with food)
• Saturday - find out plans from Mother-in-law; possible leftovers
• Dessert of the week - apple pie

Fun Things

• Pops in the park with husband.
• Taking Monday afternoon off.
• Talent show and graduation stuff with new family.

3 Things I'm Thankful For This Week

• Supportive Husband
• Greatest Dog in the world
• Time off for me

May 10 Checklist

Bible Study

• Philippians 3:8-11 - "Knowing God"
• Can you think of ways you can begin to value "things" less and Christ more?
• How do you think you can know Jesus better?
• Set up an appointment on your personal calendar to spend time taking your own spiritual inventory.

Memory Verse

• Psalm 28:7 (NIV) - "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."


• Psalm 27:7 (NLT) - "The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."

Husband Encouragement

• Fulfill Him/Flirt and carry through
• Make him feel needed... don't try to do it all myself... ask for help and tell him how I need his help.
• Make sure he gets his showers when he first gets home from work.
• Speak to him with a tone of admiration.

Personal Goals

• Leave work at work.
• Enjoy hubby & home.

Work Goals

• Make a list of all the things I do.
• Decide what I can delegate to others.
• Talk to my supervisor about reducing my work load and giving it to other responsible people/Get a more manageable work load.
• Enjoy each day more.
• Shop for summer program.
• Take part in two training seminars.
• Complete and turn in registrations that are due.
• Firm up volunteers.
• Complete evaluations.

Must Do

• Talk to my supervisor about arranging a more manageable work load.
• Make husband snack.
• Exercise.
• Pay credit card & medical bill.
• Take pictures for church directory.

Zone

• Do at least one chore.

Menu Plan

• Sunday - Take salad & muffins to my mom's & take mother-in-law out for Mother's Day
• Monday - Parmesan Chicken with cheese grits & asparagus
• Tuesday - take out (work 'til 8:00 pm)
• Wednesday - Rachael Ray Magazine Burger and Salad
• Thursday - Peppery Chicken & Escarole Linguine
• Friday - Date Night!
• Saturday - 9 Month Anniversary/pizza & movie?

Fun Things

• Swim @ the Y & sit in hot tub with husband afterwards
• Watch NCIS with husband
• Cook Rachael Ray burgers
• Practice piano

3 Things I'm Thankful For This Week

• GREAT Husband
• Lovable Dog
• Affectionate Nieces
• YMCA Membership

May 3 Checklist

Bible Study:

• Do the "Uniquely You, Personalizing My Faith" Membership & Ministry Profile.
• Visit class on different personalities and resolving conflicts with my bible study group.

Memory Verse:

• 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NLT) - "For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!"

Husband Encouragement:

• Pan Sear him a steak on Monday.
• Make him a special snack.
• Put a love note in his lunch.

Personal Goals:

• dust the main living areas
• fold laundry
• exercise
• let some things go and have some sit down time with my husband

Work Goals:

• meet looming all deadlines
• get office cleaned out

Must Do:

• Pay storage
• balance finances

Zone:

• Laugh with my husband

Menu Plan:

• Monday - pan seared steaks, re-fried beans with pepper jack cheese on top, tossed salad
• Tuesday - pepper flounder with rice and stir fried veggies
• Wednesday - curried chicken potpie
• Thursday - subs
• Friday - stuffed turkey burgers with Tuscan bean salad
• Saturday - date night
• Sunday - spaghetti

Fun Things:

• Subs on Thursday
• Date Night on Saturday

3 Things I'm Thankful for This Week:

• My loving husband.
• My sweet dog.
• Getting to keep my nieces and be a cool Aunt.