CSA Week 14

Is it summer yet?  Because although I am still loving our winter CSA, it is every other week and I can not wait for our weekly pick up and more summer produce.  I definitely appreciate the protein and dairy in the winter, but I am longing for berries, peaches, and tomatoes.

This week we got:

• Pizza dough balls (2; they look whole wheat)
• Heirloom tomato sauce (I tried this as a pasta sauce and a pizza sauce; much better as a pizza sauce)
• 1 lb. Italian sausage
• 8 oz. Monterrey Jack cheese
• 1 bag mixed greens
• 1/3 lb RAMPS!
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 quarter peck Fuji apples
• 1 bottle sunflower oil (how awesome is THAT!)
• 1 dozen eggs
• Extras: Bacon and this cheese we love, which is made with Thirsty Dog Beer

The greens...stump me every time.  Apples for snacking, and we will be making a ramp pizza on Friday.  I was really hoping for some Ohio City Pasta, but alas, none at the stops this week :(

MPM! April into May!

After a few weeks of crappy weather, with on and off nice weather, I am so glad grilling weather seems to be here to stay!  BUT...I don't seem to have much on the menu that involves the grill!

Sunday: Mom and Dad's for my dad's birthday.
Monday: BLTs and Alexia Onion Rings (we love these!)
Tuesday: Linguine with Italian sausage and sundried tomatoes
Wednesday: Ramp pizza
Thursday: Meatloaf, roasted potatoes, corn
Friday: Leftover night
Saturday: Grocery shopping day and our first day back at our farmer's market!

What is on YOUR menu this week?  Linking up at OrgJunkie!

Menu Planning Monday

Sunday: We had a wake, so grabbed Panera on the way home

Monday: Meatloaf, new potatoes with parsley, asparagus

Tuesday: Buffalo chicken stromboli, salad

Wednesday: Chinese Orange Beef over white rice

Thursday: Slow Cooker Thai Pasta
Friday: My first book club meeting, so lots of yummy appetizers!  I think I am making sausage cups for sure...and I am not sure what else :)

Linking up at OrgJunkie!

We have to do this again??

A year and a half ago, this curveball was thrown at us.  We recovered and were lucky enough

On Wednesday night, it happened again.  This time, A broke the news to us that she wanted to move to Florida with mom.  Just nine months after our family was finally put back together again.

I am not going to go into details, but if it gets quiet around here, it is because we are trying to figure out how to put back the pieces and move on.

When a crisis like this happens, I have a tendency to eat, bake, or paint something.  I have lots of painting planned for our kitchen, a master bedroom redo, and a pantry update.  Stay tuned.

Snickerdoodle Bars

 Um.  OMG.  These were so delicious.  Chewy. Sweet.  Cinnamony.  Make these.  Yum.

Snickerdoodle Bars (or Blondies)
Source: Lovin' from the Oven

Ingredients:
2 2/3 C flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp salt
2 C brown sugar
1 C butter, softened
2 eggs, room temperature
1 tbsp vanilla
2 tbsp white sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
Pinch of turbinado sugar

Directions:

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9×13 pan. 

-Combine flour baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt and set aside.

-In a large bowl, beat together butter and brown sugar until creamy.  Add in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla, and beat until smooth.

-Stir in the flour mixture until well blended. Spread evenly in prepared pan (I had to use my fingers to press into place.  This dough is thick). Combine the granulated sugar, cinnamon, and turbinado sugar in a little bowl. Evenly sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture over the top of the batter.

-Bake 25-30 minutes or until surface springs back when gently pressed. Cool before cutting. Makes 20-24 bars.  They are very thick and almost rich, so make the cuts on the smaller side.

Easter Decor

I don't do much for Easter, but here are the few changes that I make for the holiday (especially since we hosted this year:)

My egg banner (Target):

Close up of the eggs:

Buffet in dining room:

 Entryway:

Now it is time to pack it all up and go back to our neutral decorations again!

Menu Planning Monday

I am hungover from Easter planning and eating.  Seriously, we have SO MANY LEFTOVERS it isn't even funny.  And my mom tried to convince me to make an additional pound of ziti.  Thank goodness I didn't!  And honestly, I am needing some recipe inspiration.  I feel like we are in a rut and I am making the same thing over and over.  I might deviate from my plans and make a few recipes I never have before!  I am wild and CRAZY.

Sunday: Easter dinner
Monday: Leftovers (baked ziti)
Tuesday: Leftovers (ham, potato salad, scalloped pineapples
Wednesday: Um...no ida
Thursday: BBQ pork, baked potatoes, corn
Friday: Thai Chicken Salad
Saturday:  I have a bridal shower during the day, so maybe something on the grill.

Linking up at OrgJunkie!

Easter Recap

Warning: This is picture heavy!

We were very blessed to have all of our kids together for Easter this year.  Last year was just Logan (Jamie was living in Florida and Lexy was visiting), so it was awesome to all be together again.

He found his chocolate bunny.  It was over, lol.

Logan and "Mamie" eating their bunnies.

 We hosted Easter again this year for 21 people.

The table set for 21.

 Our menu:

• Assorted appetizers
• Ham
• Baked ziti
• Scalloped pineapple
• Potato salad
• Green salad with spiced pecans, pears and cranberries
• Carrot cake, coconut cake, Berries 'n Bits, pineapple upside-down cheesecake.

Because I never have pictures of myself!  My Easter outfit!

Our desserts.  I clearly made too much because we had a TON left.

My family.

Logan and my niece, Lilah.  They are 11 months apart.

Pretty sure this sums up their relationship.

Previous posts about hosting Easter dinner:
2010's Easter Dinner Recap
2012's Easter Dinner Menu and Plan
2012's Easter Dinner Centerpieces