Menu Plan Monday: June 14-20

I can't believe its half way through June. Our time in Maryland is ticking by and I need to do better at enjoying it before we leave. We still have to eat though. I've started to wonder about how we're going to eat in New Jersey. Sounds over dramatic I know (how will we eat?? Jerry does have a job, don't worry all). Really its my apprehension about where the nearest grocery store is, and whether it will be fairly priced and what about Trader Joe's and how often will I really get down to Aldi with two kids along and will the grocery stores double coupons there and so on. One step at a time. I can always order food from Amazon.com. (anyone ever tried it?)
Anyway, this week's menu:
Sunday: Cuban steak, potato salad
Monday: Caribbean Pork & Rice
Tuesday: Beef Stroganoff w/ egg noodles
Wednesday: Pierogies w/ spinach & peppers
Thursday: jerry jerry
Friday: Cheesesteak sandwiches
Saturday: Aloha pizza

going down green

I saw a recipe for Green Smoothies during my first trimester and just about gagged. That's great for them, I thought. Then I saw it again last week under a much calmer stomach situation. Since "deceptively delicious" is my middle name, I thought I should try it out.
Not bad at all! I am a big lover of milkshakes and smoothies, so this is a much better-for-me alternative, and one I can share with Calista. We've been enjoying it for snack time lately.
Here's my version:

1/2 frozen banana
1/2 c plain yogurt
small handful of blueberries
large handful of fresh spinach
some milk
some Orange juice
some ice
vrrrrooom in the blender
and voila!

It washes down peanut butter very well. And you get a signature green mustache that's priceless. Try it!

Rockin' the Rite Aid

This week is a fine one for Rite Aid. I honestly haven't been there in months and months (OK, except the one in NJ that was going out of business and everything was 75% off!!). But the ad this week looked so good I couldm't pass it by. My store didn't have everything, as usual, but I still had a good trip.
Today I got these 25 items for $2. 38 out of pocket. Oh yeah, and I'm expecting a single check rebate for another $6.00 in the mail. Woohoo!
Thanks to the BOGO coupons in the 5/17 RP (which I had 10 of) and the Rite Aid BOGO sale, I got 20 free candybars. Yes its just what I need now I'm sure. But my primary class is going to love me. :) And doesn't homemade Twix ice cream sound scrumptous?
To plan your own trip to Rite Aid, check out a summary of deals on Faithful Provisions. And remember to print and use the $5 off a $25 purchase coupon too!

Menu Plan Monday: June 7-13

Planned meals are back at our house. I hope. Its so much easier on all of us if dinner is not a last minute thing... I just need to do better!
Sunday: Crock Pot Black Bean & Shredded Pork soup (all you mag)
Monday: Fettucine Carbonara (thanks Joy of "cooking"), broccoli
Tuesday: Shrimp & zucchini Tostadas (Everyday Food mag)
Wednesday: Tacos
Thursday: Its all Jerry.
Friday: Hamburgers
Saturday: Spring rolls

DIY Healthy Tortillas

We were out of tortillas on a Sunday recently and this girl just needed some tortilla. So I decided it was time to try to make my own. They turned out so nicely I had to share! Whole wheat tortillas can be pretty expensive, or have sweeteners you don't really want in them. I found it only took about 1/2 hour to make & cook a batch of 10 tortillas, and you could double the recipe and freeze them if you were inclined.

The original recipe I used from Lindsay at Passionate Homemaking, but I'm not quite as passionate as she is, so here's a slightly revised version of her recipe.

2 cups whole wheat flour (I used hard red wheat)

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup warm water

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1/4 cup oil

1. Measure liquid ingredients into a mixing bowl.
2. Add baking powder and salt, kneading in the flour until the dough is workable but not too stiff. It helps if you have a little helper. ;) I found the amount of flour to be just right. Let stand 10 minutes.
4. Shape into 8 - 10 balls and let stand 10 more minutes. Roll to form a 10 inch circle or use a tortilla press. I try to get them as thin as I could by hand, since I don't have a tortilla press.
4. Bake on a lightly greased griddle till done (not browned). Toast for about 20-30 sec. per side.

Enjoy!

Mine were certainly not perfect circles like store-bought ones, but they tasted great and made excellent burrito wrappers. I kept the extras in a ziploc in the fridge.