A few things

I am always doing this. I get busy, I think of several things I want to say, and then I come here and do a big brain dump. I have a few topics that I am going to save for their own posts, but here are some small items I just have to get out.

My New Favorite Meal

Last night for dinner I made New Farm Mac and Cheez, recipe from Jess at Get Sconed! Oh my goodness, I could not believe how creamy good this was. I won't add any bread crumbs next time, but mainly because the kids hated them. We had steamed broccoli and cauliflower on the side, and I chopped some apricots, added some blackberries and juiced a lime over the fruit for dessert. So healthy and yummy!

The Dishwasher!

It's running right now. I love it so much. I was right, it does help me to cook more. It is so much easier to cook in a kitchen that has counters that are not piled high with dirty dishes. I am so much less overwhelmed at the thought of cooking AND cleaning up. I would even go so far as to say that the dishwasher has made my life better. I love it so much, I cannot overstate it. Well, I don't want to marry it or anything, and no idol worship, but my adoration is just short of those states.

Unpacking

Not my favorite activity. I am really struggling with the fact that my new kitchen has less storage than the old one. This will force me to get rid of some stuff I don't need and plan ahead a bit. I am getting rid of some stuff as I find cans of chicken broth and big containers of mayonnaise, though.

Menu Planning

I made a real plan this week. Oh, and last week, too, while I was camping, but more about that in another post. It is nice to come home from work knowing what we are going to have, and having everything I need to make the meal. Here is what we are having/have had:

Monday: falafel with tahini sauce, hummus, chopped tomatoes and cucumbers, and mache lettuce, sauteed zucchini, baked fries

Tuesday: (listed up above)

Wednesday: leftovers, peanut butter sandwiches for the kids (it's tumbling night at the gym for the girl, and it falls right during dinner time)

Thursday: Curried Stir-Fried Noodles with Vegetables, salad, and whatever fruit we have lying around (we have lots, so we’ll just grab whatever looks good.

On Friday, the kids go to their dad’s for two weeks, so I’ll be eating leftovers and trying to use up any veggies in the fridge. I just need to stay away from the restaurants—I always want to eat out while they are gone. It’s lonely here without them :-(.