Fall

I LOVE fall. Last year as I was visiting with some ladies, they were admiring some pretty fall berry vines, I think bittersweet, that the hostess had used as fall decorations. They then started talking about other fall foliage to use for decorating. I started looking around and couldn't believe the different free accents a person can find. I cut these juniper branches with the cute tiny little pine cones today. I can't wait until the leaves turn as we have so many brilliantly colored trees in our yard alone. I'll just snip a branch or two and put in a vase. Although, that is where I am lacking. I really need to keep my eyes open garage saling and thrifting for unique containers.

Menu Plan Week Two

I have been hoping to blog more and maybe that will happen. I am posting my menu plan again this week in the hope that it may help someone who is in a cooking funk come up with new ideas. My girls are starting to rub off on me with their whole foods and healthy eating. I do try to use more whole foods than processed but I'm not 100% true all the time. 

Thursday - Sloppy Joes,(no recipe, I just brown hamburger and add quite a bit of ketchup, a couple squirts of mustard, a little brown sugar, a splash of vinegar & Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper)  Corn on the Cob

Friday - Barbeque Salmon(p. 183), Rice Pilaf, roasted assorted vegetables (red and yellow peppers, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots)

Saturday - BLT's with thick pepper bacon from Aldi's

Sunday - Pick up Pizza

Monday - BBQ Meatballs(p.108), Garlic Roasted Potatoes(p. 79), Green Beans

Tuesday - Pork Ole http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Pork-Ole 

Wednesday - Roasted Whole Chicken with potatoes and carrots.

Meal Planning

I am back to Menu Planning. It is the number one thing that makes my life flow smoother. I usually grocery shop on Thursdays, so my plans start on Thursday. Here is this weeks plan:

Thursday - Slim Jim Sandwiches, Garden Salad (click on "recipes" on the sidebar to find the Slim Jim recipe)

Friday- Maple Salmon, Rice Pilaf, Grilled Asparagus (Tricia has the recipe for the salmon in the Torola Cookbook p. 182, and the Rice Pilaf is on p.92)

Saturday - Grilled Hamburgers, with sauted mushrooms and Swiss cheese.  Cherry tomatoes and Dill Pickles.

Sunday - Pick up Pizza

Monday- Pork Medallions, Boiled Redskin Potatoes from the vegetable stand, Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower.*

Tuesday - Stewed Tomatoes and Chicken Sausage served over brown rice. Green Beans.**

Wednesday - Picante Chicken, p. 154, Hasselback Potatoes, p.80, Corn on the Cob (from local stand). 

*(I have to learn how to do links)
Pork Medallions

1 porkloin tenderloin whole (1 pound)
1/3 cup flour
salt
pepper
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
2 Tablespoons salad oil
butter
1 Tablespoon lemon juice

About 30 minutes before serving: With knife held at a slanting position, almost parallel to cutting board, cut porkloin crosswise into 1/4" slices. With meat mallet pound each piece to 1/8" thickness. On waxed paper combine flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/3 teaspoon pepper. In pie plate with fork beat eggs and milk until just blended. Dip tenderloin into flour and then into milk.

Heat salad oil and 2 tablespoons butter. Add tenderloin pieces a few at a time and cook until golden on both sides. Add more butter as needed.

**Stewed Tomatoes & Hotdogs (or Chicken Sausage)

1 pkg natural casing Vienna hotdogs

1  can (15 ½ oz.) stewed tomatoes

1 teaspoon basil

½ teaspoon oregano

½ teaspoon sugar

1 garlic clove, minced

Cooked rice

Cut hotdogs in bite size pieces. Brown in frying pan. Add tomatoes, breaking up chunks. (or put in blender.) Add rest of ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes. Serve over cooked rice.

Flowers at their Best

September is when the flowers are at their best. I try to enjoy them as I know an early frost can take them all. The barrel with the red begonia and yellow daisy didn't bloom all summer. They finally opened a week or two ago. My camera can't quite get the vibrant red and yellow they really are. And I love the Bridal Veil I have hanging in front. They really fill out and have tiny white flowers. I LOVE this time of year.

First Day of School

The junior and eighth grader are off to school. I'm not sure where Danny's smile was as he was grinning all morning. Maybe he thought it wasn't cool for a junior to smile for pictures.

Lake Superior Provincial Park, Agawa Bay

 Magpie Falls, Wawa, ON

Sandy Beach

Eating ice cream from Young's General Store in Wawa.

Kendall, the little biker.

Bummer. Paul and Amanda took down their tent and they were hiding a great sand box!

Great site at Agawa Bay.

Jumping in the Sand River.

Jean and Danny at Agawa Rock.