Can you believe it is February?  Sheesh!  Where did January go?  This weekend was all about dance:  my son’s SnoDaze dance for the 8th graders (gulp!) and the dance recital for both my girls.  So, a big weekend all around.  At some point it’s going to be easier on me that they are growing up, right?  Right?!?  (yeah, that’s what I thought…  sigh…)

My dancing girls:

January 2010 dance recital

January 2010 dance recital

January 2010 dance recital

The dude with the shaggy blond ‘do is my son.

He sure cleans up nice!

My big goal for this week in the kitchen is to update my freezer inventory sheet.  Organized Home has one I use.  It’s a free printable.  I make a single slash on the check off boxes for each item, then slash again (making an “x”) when I have used the item.  Easy-peasy.  I also use their pantry inventory sheet for the pantry stuff in the same way.  This is especially nice to use as I like to stock up on items when they are on sale, and put things up in the summer.  However, once things end up in the cupboard or freezer, I will forget what I have in there.  I just stick them on the side of my fridge or inside a cupboard door.

My other goal is to make breakfast muffins and waffles for the freezer for busy school mornings.  My big kids are home today, so we are working on that together.  I would like to get a few meal starters in the freezer.  That will really depend on the sales this week.  So far it’s mostly looking like “game day” type stuff, so I may have to wait for next week’s ad to get my freezer more stocked up.  I would also like to get some valentine cookies worked on and frozen for the kids and I to decorate.  Hearts, of course, but I saw these and fell in love!  They are so simple and so cute!  I think I will just use my dough, a pizza cutter and cut little squares (1″ ish maybe?), bake and then put and x on half and and o on half.  I won’t have to deal with any mini cutters that way.  We will package them up for the love-bugs in our life.  That may have to be a weekend project.

My menu plan features things I pretty much already have on hand, just filling out with some fresh fruits and veggies.  This week I have work (regular work-work) to do, a new class packet to work on, Gluten Free-zer Friday post, Girl Scout cookie orders to process (I am the Daisy troop cookie mom this year), and all the regular mommy-type stuff.  We have a week off from dance between sessions, though, so that is a nice break.  I will be back with a slow-cooker recipe on Thursday and Gluten Free-zer Friday on Friday.  Hope to see you then!

Head over to Laura’s for Menu Plan Monday.  This week she shares how she makes her meals for her family while at the same time having safe meals for her son (allergic to dairy, gluten, eggs, fish and nuts).  There are some good tips for those of you who may cook for just one family member who has allergies.  Be sure to check it out!

The Gluten Free Menu Swap is being hosted this week by Celiac Family.  They have chosen chocolate as the theme ingredient.  Perfect for February!  I’ll be making some gluten free dark chocolate-walnut-ginger biscotti as a treat to have in the freezer.  I plan on making some without the ginger (my little one isn’t as fond of it) for my kids for Valentines day as a treat (maybe with some dried cherries in it instead).  It’s a treat my kids like that doesn’t have the fat of other cookies, but still seems like a treat to them.  They like to dunk biscotti in warm hemp or almond milk with a dash of nutmeg in it.

Gluten Free Menu Swap Monday - Chocolate

Monday: Big kids off from school/boy to birthday sledding party/Boy Scouts

Five-Spice Pork Roast in the slow cooker (to be posted Thursday), mixed green salad


Tuesday: Mom volunteer in school library/after school set building/piano lessons (bring dinner packed up to eat there – hmm… maybe not fish then, or try to eat before we go.)

Roasted Fish with Potatoes, Tomatoes and Olives and a salad


Wednesday: Youth group

Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili from A Modern Gal (Celiac Family is making this this week also.  Great minds think alike, I guess!), blender corn bread (I will most likely double and freeze half for another day of the chili and the corn bread)

Thursday: newspaper club after school

Peanut Butter Marinaded chicken leg quarters, pineapple, mixed veggie stir-fry, homemade kimchi


Friday: band practice for play before school/Mommy help with 1st grade math games/5th & 6th grade fun night at church

Gluten Free Easy Taco Bake (a February Once a Month Mom GFCF adaption is on it’s way.), salad

What happens when you ask a 6 year-old to put away juice boxes? You get a princess castle.