Meal Planning

Even though it is Saturday night, I am sitting at home planning out our menu for not only the coming week, but also searching for easy freezer recipes for when our kitchen remodel is going on (in 3 weeks - I'm starting to stress!!!!). Why plan out a week's worth of menus? I say why not!
Seriously, having 6 dinners planned makes my life so much easier. I enjoy cooking. Sometimes deciding on the WHAT to cook makes it a chore. Clean up - well, that's another story! ;)
I plan 6 dinners to have all the ingredients on hand. I may not make the exact meal I write down for Monday, can change them up if timelines change with other activities. But it helps so much!
So for the following week, I am planning:
Broiled Flounder with Pineapple Salsa, Steamed Broccoli, Baked Potato
Fettucine with Blue Cheese Artichoke Sauce, Tossed Salad, Steamed Carrots
BBQ Meat Loaf, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Green Beans
Teriyaki-Ginger Pork Tenderloin, Jasmine Rice, and Sauteed Veggies
Deep Dish Pizza Casserole and Tossed Salad
Creamy Chicken Spinach Soup, Bread from the Bread Machine and Salad

All of these recipes are from the Cooking Light 5 Ingredient 15 Minute Cookbook. I'll post recipes each day.

So off to one of my favorite budget stores - Aldi - tomorrow with my list! (did I mention, I love list!)

Coffee talk!

Coffee shops (as well as gawdy flashy beaded sweaters) are a favorite of mine. While vacationing in fabulous Beech Mtn NC (check it out - great place to ski and to escape the 100 degree heat of the summer - http://www.beechmtn.com/portal/), we ventured down the mountain to Banner Elk for an afternoon. The afternoon was made when we happened upon a great coffee shop - ViVo (142 Main St EBanner Elk, NC 28604-9238 (828) 898-5282). What a treat! Even though I didn't have a coffee that afternoon - chai tea latte - it was a hard decision between that and a vanilla latte. But the easy decision was to enjoy every bite of a slice of their signature Cannoli cake! Heaven in a slice! Oh so yummy! I am going to enjoy searching the internet and testing recipes to attempt to recreate this scrumptious dessert.
But the coffee shop was wonderful - small little tables as well as a little wood table and bench for the kids. And their lunch menu looked so great I was kicking myself for having already had lunch.
What do I enjoy about a coffee shop? The quaintness of it, the intimate feeling of the two seat tables, enjoying minutes as they pass while sipping your coffee. All while having an "adult" conversation with your tween! :)