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Menu Plan Monday: 03/30/09

MPM

Where has the year gone?  It’s hard to believe that we’re getting ready to start April already!

Here’s my menu for the week:

Breakfast

  • Amish Baked Oatmeal
  • cereal
  • pancakes from the freezer
  • muffins from the freezer
  • scrambled eggs

Lunch:

  • packed lunches for the kids and Brian of either sandwiches or leftovers
  • me – either sandwiches or leftovers

Dinner:

  • Biscuits & Gravy, bacon, eggs, & possibly chocolate gravy
  • Crock pot BBQ – either chicken or ribs
  • BBQ Sandwiches
  • Spaghetti with sauce and garlic bread
  • Spiced pork chops
  • Homemade Pizza
  • Crock pot chicken and potatoes with homemade rolls

That’s the plan anyway.  We’ll see what happens with Brian supposed to be installing the dishwasher this week and our getting new gas lines ran.  This menu could drastically change. 

Don’t forget to check out Organizing Junkie for more great menu plans and ideas!

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What A Weekend

We had a very busy weekend this week.  Saturday, Brian finally got the chance to change out the electrical box.   This is a very good thing since the one that was in the house was original and we had no room to add anything.  We want to bring the dryer in out of the building where it currently resides, but there was no room to add the dedicated circuit that it needs.  We also want to add a dishwasher, and wire in the well pump the way it’s supposed to be.  This is the fun of owning a fixer upper!  LOL!  We didn’t have power most of the day on Saturday, but that’s OK.  I’m very thankful that I have a handy-man for a husband, especially one whose and electrician.  This saves us some serious cash! 

We also did find out that my dishwasher I’ve been wanting was marked down plus Lowe’s was having 10% off all energy star appliances, PLUS we had a $50 rebate card that we applied to it, so I got a $600 dishwasher for about $450, not including the parts we needed to install it.  Not bad!!  I haven’t had a dishwasher in about 8 years, so I’m excited to have one again! 

Now he has to make the new countertop so that we can install it and use it.   That’s our next step.  We’re also going to try to run the new gas lines that we need this week.  We’re planning to get a new gas water heater this year, as well as install another heater, and we’re planning to get a gas stove at some point, but we need to run lines first.  (((Sigh)))  If it’s not one expense, it’s another.  But, we’re paying with cash as we go – NO DEBT!!!  We will not charge anything ever again!  So, it will just be slow going but we’ll get there!  God will provide, of that I have absolutely NO doubt!

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Poor Man’s Soup

As promised, here’s my grandmother’s “Poor Man’s Soup” recipe. It’s Quick, Frugal, and Easy! Hope ya’ll enjoy it as much as I have.

Poor Man’s Soup

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  • 6 to 8 medium potatoes
  • 1 large onion
  • 3 to 4 quarts of tomatoes
  • 1 can of vegetable soup (I did not have any so I used 1 can of green beans and some l/o frozen peas and corn that I had in the freezer.  I usually use dehydrated green beans, peas, & corn.)
  • ditalini or elbow macaroni pasta (1/2 lb)
  • approx. 1 to 2 Tbs bacon drippings – depending on the amount of soup you’re fixing (not pictured) – it’s not the same without it.
  • salt & pepper to taste (not pictured)
  • a generous splash of heavy cream or milk

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Peel and cube potatoes.; boil until fork tender.

Peel and chop onion

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and saute in about 1 tsp of bacon drippings in a skillet until translucent.

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My grandmother cooks her potatoes and onions in a pressure cooker, but I don’t have one. This works just as well.

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Once potatoes are done, drain well.

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Add to the pot tomatoes, onions, and bacon drippings and heat to a gentle boil.

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Add in vegetable soup. If you use canned veggies, make sure and drain well before adding.

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After it returns to a gentle boil, add the potatoes back in and add in the pasta. Place lid on pot and reduce heat to simmer. Cook another 15 minutes or until adente (until pasta is cooked to your preference).  Add cream/milk.

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Here’s your finished product. Enjoy!

This whole pot costs less than $5.00 and it’ll feed you at least 2 meals, sometimes more if you freeze some for later!

My grandmother always uses elbow macaroni, but we really like the ditalini pasta better. One thing to remember is that if you add in extra pasta, you will need to add more tomatoes later because the pasta will continue to soak up the liquid even after you refrigerate it. We like lots of pasta in the soup, so this just equals more yummy goodness for us!

I hope you enjoy this soup as much as we do. I have very fond memories of growing up on this. When I first asked my grandmother for the recipe, she gave me all of the ingredients except the bacon drippings. Let me tell you, it’s close in taste, but it is definitely NOT the same. You can tell a huge difference. When I asked her again several years later, she did give me the missing ingredient and was afraid that I would never ask her to make it for me again.  I will have to say that even though I know how to make it, having her make it makes it taste even better! I think there’s still a missing ingredient in mine that I’ll never been able to duplicate – her love for me! I love you Mammaw!!

Oh! I almost forgot! Don’t forget to check out The Grocery Chart Challenge for more great recipes!