Recipes from the Bean

The Bean is quite the chef around here these days. She is always whipping something up for her "friends" (i.e., her stuffed animals) or Mommy, Daddy, and Bubs. Usually she serves these delectable dishes at a tea party or a picnic. The other day I asked her to share some of her recipes with me. Here's what she told me verbatim.

The Bean's Fruit Salad

• delicious candy
• banana
• sour sauce
• ice cream
• milk
• forkus (what????)

Directions: First put food in bowl. Get a spoon. Stir the food. Then you eat it.

Chocolate Chip Bread

• banana
• yogurt
• chocolate chips
• ice cream
• milkshake
• pink lemonade
• hot dog
• chicken leaf

Directions: Put food in bowl. Stir it up and eat it. And microwave it.

Bon appetit!!

Menu Plan Monday

Here's the plan for the week...I know this is silly, but attempting to post my meal plan helps me be accountable to actually having a plan. Sorry if you are all bored reading my meal plan! But I'd love to see your meal plan...it's easy to get in a "meal rut", so I like seeing other people's recipes and meal plans!

Monday: BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, Mac-n-Cheese, Baked Beans

Tuesday: Beef Stroganoff, Noodles, Green Beans

Wednesday: Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore, Noodles, Broccoli (recipe I'm using is similar to this one...the one I'm using is from All You magazine, but for some reason they didn't have it online)

Thursday: Spaghetti, Salad, Bread

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Waffles, Fruit

Sunday: Eat out or sandwiches

Check out other recipes and menu plans at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

The Frog

The Bean's bunny wanted in on the frog-touching action too!

The other day a little tree frog snuck in our screened-in porch while we were out there playing. Both of the kids loved it and wanted to touch it. This was a very friendly little frog, and he'd sit still for just a second while the kids touched it. Once it jumped up into the Bean's hand on accident...it startled her a little bit, but she wasn't scared. Bubs was the antithesis of scared, and kept trying to grab the poor frog in his hand and succeeded several times. In fact, Bubs liked the frog SO much, he kissed the frog. Yep, that's right, he kissed the frog. And the dumb frog sat still for it too. Bubs kissed the frog three different times. He was very upset when the frog hopped under the door and left. For the record, the frog did not turn into a prince. :)

Menu Plan Monday

Here's my menu for the week...it's a short week since we are headed to my parent's house for the 4th weekend. I haven't tried the crockpot recipe yet, but I was drawn to it b/c it is easy and sounds yummy!

Monday: Homemade pizza

Tuesday: Crockpot Italian Chicken, green beans

Wednesday: Grilled pork chops, rice, broccoli

Thursday: Chicken Quesadillas, black beans

Btw, I'm An Organizing Junkie is having a menu planning software giveaway if you link up with Menu Plan Monday today! Here's hopin' I win!! :)

It's a fiesta!

Now why didn't I think to ask everyone to turn around and smile??

For those of you who don't know, since January RR has been planning on going on a mission trip this summer to Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Ray has been discipling a group of HS juniors from Restoration Academy in Fairfield, AL, and two of them were chosen to go on a mission trip with Briarwood Christian School. And Ray was asked to go also. They were supposed to leave tomorrow, but the trip has been cancelled due to the volcanic eruptions in Guatemala and the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Agatha. So he is no longer going and the trip is off. We are thankful that we know this is God's will and also thankful for the wisdom of those who had to make the decision to cancel the trip, but also sad of course, that RR will not get to go. But the Bean and I had already planned a send-off party for RR, and even though we found out that the trip had been cancelled a few hours before our planned "fiesta", we went on with the fiesta and used it as an opportunity to pray for the people of Guatemala. I pretty much stole this idea from my friends The O'Neals, who used Cinco de Mayo to pray for the people of Mexico. I got all my decorations at the Dollar Store just like she did. (Although DO NOT buy the Dollar Store's "fiesta" cheese dip. It is nasty stuff.) I thought this would be fun and a way for our kids to share in Daddy's mission trip. It was great, and we all had a good time. We had chicken fajitas, rice, beans, and chips and salsa/aforementioned cheese dip. The Bean was very concerned for the Guatemalan kids who don't have many toys, clothes, or even food, and she wanted to give some of her toys to Daddy to take to them. If you think about it, say a prayer for the country of Guatemala as they are recovering from these natural disasters, that God would use these events in the lives of many to see their need for Him.

Our "backyard"

There is a wooded area behind our backyard that is pretty big (don't really know where or how far it goes). We have gone on a few "hikes" back there...I use the word hike loosely b/c exactly not much real hiking gets done w/ a 3 and 2 year old...it's more like slowly walking through the woods and stopping to look at something or pick up a stick about every 5 feet or so. :) But even going slowly, after about 10 minutes or so, you come to a small creek with a pretty little waterfall and everything. What a picturesque spot! We stopped where this picture was taken, and from there you can hear the waterfall in the background...it's really serene! We spend Memorial Day afternoon out there and took a little picnic/glorified snack out there too. The Bean loved itand waded all in the water, wanted to sit on the rocks, etc. (She has been out there once before with her cousin Evan...they even saw fish that time!) Bubs was not totally sure about it and wanted to be held most of the time. But he did enjoy the popsicle we packed for him. Sorry I don't have any pics of any of us, but this is the only pic I got with any kind of decent lighting. Enjoy the pic of our little corner of God's beautiful creation!

Menu Plan Monday

I don't know why I have been so bloggy lately...maybe it's b/c all the "school year" activities are over and our summer "schedule" is more laid back. Anyway, I'm sure I'll drop off soon and stop posting as often. But for now, here's our menu plan for the week!

Monday: Chicken salad, crackers, fruit

Tuesday: Red Beans & Rice w/ sausage

Wednesday: Grilled Pork Chops, rice, veggie

Thursday: Quiche Lorraine, fruit

Friday: BBQ Baked Potatoes

Sat./Sun: Leftovers/sandwiches

What are you eating this week? :) Check out other menu plans on Menu Plan Monday at I'm An Organizing Junkie.