Menu Nov 27-Dec 3

This last week the boys enjoyed a 2-day stay at Gram and Gramps. I had plans to get going on my sewing projects for our Homemade Christmas this year but baking for Thanksgiving dinner, shopping and visiting my friend with her brand new baby girl came first!
We enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner at my parents.  It was quiet with just our immediate family but nice and relaxing. Yesterday (Sat) we cut up a beef with my Grandad. A few weeks ago we did one for us and my brothers. My dad has a large airplane hanger/shop that allows us to do all the work ourselves.  As a little girl it was a part of life to cut up a few deer and/or elk every fall. The past few years we've done a beef as it feeds more and some do not care for the wild game taste. I look forward to it every year as a tradition to get together with the family and fill up our freezers!
Because it was a busy week with 1/2 the family gone we did a lot of leftovers and easy dinners. This week will put us back on our normal schedule.

Sunday - Fresh! Steaks and baked potatoes

Monday - Wild caught Alaskan Halibut from my awesome cousin Beth! w/ Couscous and steamed veggies

Tuesday - Potato & Keilbasa Soup, green salad, rolls

Wednesday - Lasange, Green Beans, Garlic Bread

Thursday - Egg Bake and fruit

Friday - Oriental Chicken Wraps

Saturday - Chili-sketti

What's on your dinner menu this week?

MadCounty Mama

In everything, Give Thanks

We've been busy at Donaldson Academy! =) We've been learning all about the Pilgrims and the history of Thanksgiving. Before our first child was born, PreacherMan and I were in Massachusetts for a family visit; we had the opportunity to go to the Plimouth Plantation.  It is a living history museum in Plymouth, MA.  It was such a fun and educational experience - we hope to take our whole family sometime. But in the mean time we did our hands-on learning at home with lots of crafts, a story about a Pilgrim boy and a "cooking" activity. 

First we talked about what we are thankful for:

Wylie's List:

* Meat

* My name, Wylie

* Wyatt

* Dad

* Mom

* Milk

* Evelyn

Wyatt's List:

*Motorcycles

*Mater

*Gram&Gramps

*The numbers 1,2,3,4

*My Bible Book

*My brother and sister

Then we put together a Cornucopia with stickers: 

A Thanksgiving themed cut 'n' paste pattern worksheet:

And then we made Pilgrim Hats!
Ingredients:
Fudge Stripe Cookies
White Frosting
Peanut Butter Cups
Something small and orange...We used the tips of Candy Corn!

 Unwrap peanut butter cups, then frost the wide end with frosting:

 Turn upside down and press onto 1 cookie:

Add a "buckle":

 And Viola! A Pilgrim Hat!

One of the helpers was much more interested in eating the supplies...

 Our special treats that we shared with our Bible study group.

 Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

MadCounty Mama

A little bit of ***SNOW***

For now our snow has all melted off, but we had lots of fun while it was here and there are no worries about it not returning! Here we will most likely have snow till May sometimes even later.

Trying to appear innocent...

I Like snow! (last year he did not!)

Making Snowballs

And throwing 'em

Come back here... 

Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!
MadCounty Mama

Pumpkin Pie

I got 3 pumpkins from our community garden this fall and didn't have any plans for them except decorations!  Then I decided I did not want them to go to waste. At first I was unsure what exactly TO do with them but after talking to my mom and getting all sorts of ideas, I went to work.
First I baked them in the oven at 350* for just about an hour.  They were completely cooked and almost a little burned on the outside, although none of the meat was lost.  Next time I will be sure to check after 45 min.

Into the oven they go!

Next I had an eager helper to scoop out all the "guts". I'm sure he'll enjoy eating the toasted seeds as well.

After that, I simply ran the meat through my food processor - did not added water.  And wound up with 12 cups of pumpkin puree. 
Then I baked my first...

Pumpkin Pie
3 eggs
2 cups fresh pumpkin
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp salt (did not use)
1/2 tsp each ground cloves, nutmeg and ginger
1 cup evaporated milk
single pie crust


Roll out pie crust and place in pie plate.
Beat eggs; add in pumpkin, cinnamon, salt, cloves, nutmeg and ginger. Beat till just smooth.  Stir in evaporated milk.  Pour into pie crust. Bake at 400* for 10 minutes, reduce heat to 350* and bake for 40-45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool on wire rack for 1 hour. Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving.
Recipe from Taste of Home

YUM!

MadCounty Mama

My Little Helper

She's as cute as can be 

 and as helpful as Susie homemaker! 

 My little helper makes housework seem like FUN!

 She loves the pots and pans!

And she's TALENTED! She can pound the piano....

And Read books!

And she's all ours!

MadCounty Mama

Weekly Meal Plan Nov 11-19

Ahhh! Life is flying by and dinner this week has been whatever I can think of! It's high time to get my menu planned and take some unnecessary stress away!

Tonight - Breakfast night! Yay no stress!!!

Friday Nov 11- Leftovers

Saturday - Tuna on Toast, Pumpkin Pie

Sunday -Homemade "KFC" Chicken Bowls - mashed potatoes, gravy, corn and breaded chicken 

Monday - Tacos and Spanish Rice

Tuesday - Steak & Baked potatoes

Wednesday - Spaghetti, Green Beans, Garlic Bread

Thursday - Biscuits & Gravy

Friday - Fish Sticks & Tator Tots

This week I made my first Pumpkin Pie - from sprout in the garden to dessert on the table! Stay tuned for a look into the process.

MadCounty Mama

Good-bye Fall!

Hello November! We got our first snow this past week and have had temps in the single digits a couple mornings now. It would seem that Fall is over and Winter will be here till next April-May! But we did enjoy our Fall as short as it was. 

Peek A Boo!

Is it a bird?

Picking a Dandelion

Who's taller?

Flower Girl

November is also a great time for reflection of the many blessing we've been given.  A few more to add to my list of Gifts:

99. Boys choosing books over TV

104. Dew drops on my flower garden

111. Baby girl's first wave

117. Faithful, Steady husband

130. Campfire food

138. Big blue eyes w/ a mischievous twinkle

142.  Assurance from God

A Thousand Gifts

More

And the List Goes On

MadCounty Mama