tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67770094537966063392024-03-05T12:23:16.196-06:00Welcome to My KitchenThis is my quest to find a way to feed my family healthy low to moderate carb meals on a budgetsVikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-83342309089916172132009-09-22T13:16:00.002-05:002009-09-22T13:48:31.875-05:00Menu MondayGonna have to start calling this Menu Tuesday since I can't seem to get it posted on time :(.I made a wonderful sausage/spinach quiche for breakfast this morning. It's after one and I'm still full. Think I will keep these made up in the freezer so I can just pour them in my pie plate and bake, without all the prep that goes into them.MondaySteak and eggs with sauteed mushroomsTuesdayTortilla Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-65898162780967881252009-09-09T16:18:00.002-05:002009-09-09T16:38:06.013-05:00Late for Menu Monday...Seems I can't get my menu's posted most of the time, even when I manage to get them written out. But I'm beginning to think there is something genetically wrong with my biological clock. Not only can I not sleep on a normal schedule but I just can't seem to start the week on a Monday either. So here on Wednesday, I remember to post my menu's and this time I'm going to go ahead and post them Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-614376704273820462009-09-04T18:46:00.005-05:002009-09-04T22:57:16.560-05:00Cooking for the weekI just love foods that will easily do double duty. So this week I made lasagna roll ups for dinner one night and made three extra with just the cheese to go with Parmesan pork chops later in the week.I thawed a pork loin roast and cut the three pork chops I need off it then split it in half, rubbed with a bit of sage and roasted it. Half went in the freezer for later and half got chopped, along Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-39226530242807986432009-09-03T07:42:00.004-05:002009-09-03T07:55:20.504-05:00Just a little something I've made for momWith mom using a walker, she hasn't been able to carry anything. So I grabbed a bit of yarn, a set of needles and started knitting. This is what I came up with. So far it's worked very well for her. She can carry her meter, a book or two, a glass or most anything she needs.I know it's not a great project as far as most knitters go, but it does the job and I think it's kinda cute too.God Bless youVikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-70051419130652085862009-09-03T06:39:00.009-05:002009-09-03T07:42:35.878-05:00What I've been up toSo I haven't posted in a while, but I wanted to give you a little update on life at my house. Cindy is working so many hours she's exhausted all the time, but other than that and some really achy legs she's doing great. Me, I'm trying to keep busy even with the kitchen in the state of hold it's in. Mom, well that depends on the day. Some are better than others. The shaking is as bad if not worse,Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-16603536242550582572009-08-26T07:40:00.004-05:002009-08-26T08:00:53.027-05:00Fans gone, work still to comeWell we finally got the roar of those darn fans out of our heads. They came a picked them up Sunday afternoon. Yeah!!!! It's funny, now everyday normal noises sound so darn loud. I was so glad for them to be gone, I almost didn't mind the huge mess left behind. Unfortunately, they had to remove part of the insulation in the walls and well there were little bits of it everywhere, not to Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-1246263952563675952009-08-20T23:34:00.003-05:002009-08-21T00:08:54.054-05:00Every had one of THOSE DAYS....?Well I've been blessed I haven't had one quite as bad as today in some time now. God has been watching over us, keep us safe from days like this one. So you all know I've been really working at trying to save us some money around here. Today I guess, I hope, I prayer, it paid off.First off everyone here is sick. Cindy went to the doctor yesterday and he's running a test for streph throat but Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-26376275223438702742009-08-14T02:34:00.004-05:002009-08-14T03:33:11.356-05:00Pinching penniesI've done a lot of searching on ways to save on my grocery bill in the last year. One of the things I have found is that cutting the cost of drug store items has saved me more than anything. I gave up my shampoo and began using the same one mom and Cindy use. Though my hair is far more oily than theirs, I can just wash it more often and only wash it once each time and get the same clean hair and Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-71291377537606523162009-08-11T15:20:00.002-05:002009-08-11T15:56:47.758-05:00Cowboy StewOne of our new favorites and go to meals is cowboy stew. Why it's called that I don't know it's not stew like at all...giggle but it's my version of something they served the children at school. It's tasty, filling and very quick and easy to make.In my every continuing need to cut cost, I've gotten into the habit of cooking a pot of beans every week. I like to make my own beans so I can control Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-88608023021749469932009-08-07T02:56:00.000-05:002009-08-07T02:57:52.584-05:00The Great Disappearing ActIt's been a long long time since I've posted. Truth is I didn't have anything to share. With mom in the hospital yet again and then when she came home she was in such pain, I simply didn't feel like watching what we ate. We ate too much take out, too much junk and too many nights of everyone scrounging for something to eat. Even when I could get myself in the mood to cook and feed us all better, Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-85567191431081945242009-06-07T06:31:00.002-05:002009-06-07T06:44:44.078-05:00How hard can you pinch a penny?With the economy what it is these days we are all scrambling to find ways to save a few pennies anywhere we can. I've been learning so much by reading money saving blogs, and let me tell you there are a wide variety out there. One of my favorites is STL Mommy. She teaches you how to use coupons, shop wisely, where to pick up a bargain and even list on line coupon sites.Right now she has a $25 Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-60096404013999598362009-06-06T22:09:00.003-05:002009-06-06T22:16:36.398-05:00Just what I needed todayI found this on one of the budgeting blogs I read, Mommysnacks.net and I had to share it with you. It says it all about how I've been trying to fill my voids with food instead of God. I hope you enjoy it and it speaks to you like it did me.Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-87564615654811226822009-06-02T20:04:00.003-05:002009-06-02T20:18:44.419-05:00Mom's finally Home!Well after over 2 months in a rehab center to receive daily blood work and antibiotic therapy to treat the blood disease, she's finally back home. This has been one rough year so far in our family, especially for mom. Starting in January when she had the valve replacement surgery.She been in and out of hospitals, care facilities and rehab centers with very little time in between. Best we can Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-50665105447491002972009-05-13T07:17:00.002-05:002009-05-13T07:39:18.283-05:00Menu Update - TuesdayNot too badly again today. However I plan to take the stove apart tomorrow and do a thorough cleaning from top to bottom so I might be taking something out of the freezer for dinner tomorrow, that is if I get it all clean in time to use the oven. Otherwise it might be eggs or the night we pick up KFC's new grilled chicken. Breakfast: breakfast cookie with iced coffeeLunch: tuna salad with pork Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-34620964132562297422009-05-12T05:16:00.003-05:002009-05-12T05:39:44.970-05:00Menu Challenge -Monday updateYesterday I did pretty good. I had Scrambled eggs for breakfastCheese burger sans bun for lunchAnd made Cranberry Roasted Pork Loin for dinner with baby snap peas with sesame1/2 cup yogurt with a spoonful of cranberry sauce for am snackand a breakfast cookie for pm snack because I made them today and I couldn't resist...giggleAll on my menu, all as planned not to bad for the first day.Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-7329892117299710902009-05-11T10:34:00.005-05:002009-05-13T07:25:51.828-05:00Menu PlanningMenu planning is never easy, unless you have a good system in place. I'm still working on mine. my goal is to be able to plan out a full weeks menu using up food item I already have on hand and only having to buy a few things at the grocery, plus restock. So far I haven't gotten this down to a science, but I'm working on it.My biggest obstacle in this challenge is me. I love to cook whatever Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-65282985024724965082009-05-09T20:29:00.002-05:002009-05-09T20:49:25.154-05:00What are you doing for Mother's Day?With mom still in the hospital we had to plan something portable so we could carry it to her. We decided at the beginning of the year, that this year there wouldn't be any birthday or mother's day presents this year. We decided on Cranberry Porkloin with snap peas. I went ahead and made the cranberry sauce and roasted the pork roast tonight. Tomorrow I will just need to toast some sesame Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-9920154068033211142009-05-08T16:53:00.004-05:002009-05-08T17:59:20.781-05:00MS OneNotes and getting organizedLife here is moving on in what has become the norm. Mom is still in the hospital with 2 and a half weeks still to go. Cindy gets up heads to work, comes home changes and the heads to the hospital with our without me in tow to visit mom. Me if I'm honest I've gotten very lazy lately at keeping the house clean. I'm trying to get myself re-organized so I can better take care of things without Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-63583881266918432612009-05-04T23:14:00.003-05:002009-05-05T02:07:39.967-05:00What I've been up tooAs most of you know, mom has had a really hard time since the valve replacement surgery in January. She came home very imbalanced with severe left side weakness. On a walker and not looking all that great. They had sent her for a week of rehab after the surgery but it wasn't enough to help her take care of herself. I spent every night up so I could help her get up to go to the rest room. Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-38638034406862492612009-04-08T14:35:00.002-05:002009-04-08T14:49:57.415-05:00I'm still without a computer but I hope to get a new one in the next week or two, Lords willing and the creek don't rise, as the old folk say. We've had car trouble, plumbing issue and lots of medical bills lately so $$$ has been tighter than ever.I'm also going to cut our carbs back again. Mom's blood glucose levels and both of our weights have not appreciated the need to cut the grocery billVikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-50259789329387509792009-03-08T18:57:00.001-05:002009-03-08T18:57:51.702-05:00Can you feel Spring in the Air?This is Texas and we tend to do things early.  Here it is the beginning of March and already we are having 80+ degree weather, the smell of fresh tilled earth is in the air from people prepping their gardens and flower beds. Lawns are being scalped in preparation for beautiful green grass.  Daffodils are popping up everywhere. The Mesquite Parks and Recreation is gearing up for Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-60163123058753080562009-03-04T17:19:00.001-06:002009-03-04T17:19:26.409-06:00Peanut Butter Dipping SauceI realized a long time ago, that many low carbs have given up all fruit.  I too tried that but found I really missed fruit.  I tried adding in just a few berries like so many suggest, but what I found works best for me is half a fresh crisp Gala, Fuji or Granny Smith apple.  I’m not a fan of the Delicious varieties. A nice firm crisp Pear is even better, but harder to find.  Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-13907982467416612492009-03-04T17:12:00.002-06:002009-03-04T17:20:49.377-06:00Freezer cooking helps me save $$$If you know much about me you know I’m a big fan of freezer cooking. But how can it save me money? Well actually there are lots of big and little ways to save a few Abes (you know Lincoln=pennies)First and foremost, is the ability to eat at home and not flake out and run through the drive through. If I have meals I can thaw and put together in minutes and with little effort, then why go out Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-639308958306240112009-03-02T17:12:00.005-06:002009-03-02T17:34:22.097-06:00Making this real quick Hi guys, no I didn't fall off the end of the earth, though to be quite honest it kind of feels like it.Mom is home and doing wonderfully. They put her on lasix in the hospital and she has lost all the built up fluid caused by the leaky valve, the surgery and as a bonus, it's keeping the fluid off a glad in her neck she normally has to have drained ever few months!The looked at her cat scan and Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777009453796606339.post-40156526513626863262009-02-24T15:34:00.002-06:002009-02-24T15:53:42.196-06:00Mom in hospital again... sighWe had to take mom into the emergency room on Sunday morning. Her breathing had been getting worse and worse since she got out of the hospital on Wednesday. Finally she got to the point where she was gasping just sitting in her chair, without having to exert herself at all. Come to find out her lungs were filling with fluid.They have put her on lasix and it seems to be helping, but we still Vikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17244128212156453322noreply@blogger.com5