Asian Flank Steak

We first had this meal when we were expecting triplets and visiting Super Suppers monthly. I was thrilled that it was in the Super Suppers cookbook, too. Although the flank steak is not my favorite cut, it is an economical cut of beef that tastes great when it is marinaded for a day, grilled, then cut right. Sometimes, we use the same marinade with a different cut, too, though.

3-4 servings

1 1-1 ½ pound beef flank steak (or similar)
1/4 C. soy sauce
2 TB freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 TB finely minced onion
2 TB packed brown sugar
1 TB toasted sesame oil
2 tsp grated fresh ginger
1 1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp dried red pepper flakes (optional)

1. Place flank steak in a resealable plastic bad; add soy sauce, lemon juice, onion, brown sugar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and (if desired) red pepper. Seal bag; turn to coat evenly. Refrigerate 1-24 hours, turning bag occasionally.
2. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
3. Remove steak from bag, reserving marinade. Grill steak for 10-16 minutes for medium rare (135 F) turning once halfway through grilling. Meanwhile, simmer marinate over medium heat until reduced by half; keep warm.
4. Let steak stand 5 minutes. To serve, slice meat across grain into very thin slices. Drizzle with reduced marinade.

MAKE AHEAD
Add all ingredients to a freezer bad and freeze up to 6 weeks. Defrost completely in the refrigerator. Continue according to step 2

Sunday Pot Roast with Vegetables and Gravy

This recipe is a combination one from the Super Suppers cookbook and one from my Fix-It-and-Forget-It Light book. One was written with plans of freezing, the other was created for the crockpot. We just figured out how to use the best of both to make it tasty, freezable, and crock-pot-able (what a word!)

3-4 servings

2 TB vegetable oil
1 1-pound boneless beef tri-tip or chuck roast
1 1/2 cups prepared coffee
1 bay leaf
6-8 new potatoes
2 large carrots, sliced
1 1/2 onions, quartered
1/2 C. beef broth
1/2 C. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper

1. Preheat oil in a 4- to 6-quart Dutch oven. Add roast and brown on both sides. Add coffee, bay leaf, and enough water (or broth) to cover roast. Transfer to a crock-pot (cook on low for 7-8 hours) or, in Dutch oven, cover and simmer about 1 hours or until meat falls apart with a fork. Add potatoes, carrot, and onion. Cover and simmer about 20 minutes more or until vegetables are tender.
2. Transfer roast and vegetables to a serving platter; keep warm. Turn heat to high. Boil juices until reduced to 1 1/2 cups. Remove bay leaf.
3. To make gravy, place 1/2 cup water (or broth) and flour in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Cover and shake to make a smooth slurry, or put water and flour in a bowl and whisk until smooth. With juices boiling, slowly whisk in slurry. Turn heat to medium; whisk until thick. Stir in salt and pepper. Serve gravy with roast and vegetables.

MAKE AHEAD
Prepare through step one. Freeze cooked roast, vegetables, and juices in freezer bag up to 2 months. Defrost completely in refrigerator. Reheat over medium-low heat and continue with step two.

Italian Meat Loaf or Meat Balls

This is a recipe I always double and freeze. It started out as the recipe on the side of the Progresso Bread Crumb container, but I have adjusted it to get some more flavors from it. I love that we can decide at the last minute whether we want meatloaf or meatballs!

4 servings

1 lb lean ground beef (at least 80% lean)
1/2 C. milk
1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp chopped fresh basil leaves or ½ tsp dried
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground mustard
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 clove garlic, minced, or 1/8 tsp garlic powder
1 egg
1/2 C. Italian style bread crumbs
1 small onion , chopped (1/4 C.)
1/3 cup chopped red or green bell pepper
¼ C. ketchup (for meatloaf)

FOR MEATLOAF
1. Heat oven to 350F. Mix all ingredients except ketchup.
2. Spread mixture in ungreased 8x4- or 9x5-inch loaf pan, or shape into loaf in ungreased 9x13-inch pan. Spread ketchup over top.
3. Bake uncovered about 1 hour until center is no longer pink and thermometer reads 160F. Let stand 5 minutes; remove from pan.

FOR MEATBALLS
1.Heat oven to 400°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil; spray with cooking spray.
2.In large bowl, mix all ingredients. Shape mixture into about 35-40 (1 1/2-inch) meatballs. Place 1 inch apart in pan.
3.Bake uncovered 18 to 22 minutes or until no longer pink in center.

MAKE AHEAD
To make ahead and freeze, put all ingredients (except ketchup) in a 1-gallon ziplock bag. Seal bag then knead to mix well. Squeeze all of mixture to the bottom of the bag, remove extra air, then seal bag. Put that baggie into another sealable bag and freeze. Thaw completely then form loaf or meatballs and bake as directed above. Since we were making many meals at once, we just put the ketchup in a small baggie and froze it along with the meatloaf, but if you have it on hand all the time, just add it before baking.

Roasted Chicken in a Bag

This is one of those easy-to-make recipes that is great for company. For my long-time blog followers, this recipe is a repeat. This is one that our MOPS table made last week and, so far, everyone who has tried it has enjoyed it. Since we were all cooking for smaller families, we just used half the amounts of veggies, stock, and spices with a four-pound chicken, and it still turned out great. See the bottom for freezing directions.

 For 6-8 servings

1 5-7 lb. roaster chicken
2 TB. Vegetable oil
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried thyme
½ tsp. black pepper
1 large oven cooking bag
1 16-oz bag of peeled baby carrots
1 lb. new potatoes (small red potatoes) – use the ones in the produce section, not canned
1 12-oz package of celery sticks
1 large onion, sliced
½ C. chicken stock

Preheat oven to 350 F. Rinse cavity of chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Prepare cooking bag according to manufacturer’s directions. Place chicken in bag. Rub outside of chicken with oil, sprinkle on salt, thyme, and pepper. Surround chicken with carrots, potatoes, celery, and onions. Add stock to bag and close bag according to manufacturer’s directions. ** Place cooking bag with chicken and veggies on large baking sheet. Bake for 1 ½ hours until chicken reaches 160F, the remove from oven. Let chicken rest 10 minutes before cutting.

MAKE AHEAD
**To make ahead, follow recipe up to the point of cooking it. Tie up the cooking bag tightly, then put the entire thing into a 2-gallon ziplock bag before freezing it. Thaw completely in the refrigerator, then cook as instructed above.

Quotable Kiddos

I don't know if they are just talking more (probably) or I'm just listening better, but we have heard a lot of interesting things in the last week. I thought I'd better write them down before I forgot that sometimes I get to giggle at these kids'o'mine.

Will (age 6):
Why isn't "XXXmen" about superheroes? ... seems like there are three X-men, why can't I watch it?
I think this show looks like a good one for kids. "Playboy" is about a boy playing.
Side note: although these channels show up on our list of possible shows, we do have them locked so they won't be viewed in our home.
When we drove past a golf course, Will asked if it was a park. Allen explained that it was a golf course. We hid our giggles when he asked, "Is it the Golf of Mexico?"

Maddie (age 3.5):
Mama, when you were gone, you missed a lot of my hugs.
Mama? Can I bring spring inside or do we leave it outside
As Ben and Jon were running around and giggling, Maddie eavesdropped on the groceries. She held a cup up to the refrigerator door, pressed her ear to the base, listened and concentrated, then declared, "I hear children playing in there!"

Jon (age 3.5):
Today was Jon's day out with me while Ben and Maddie were at mother's day out. I'm glad I had my notebook in my purse to capture his words. When I asked what he wanted to spend the day doing, he told me he wanted to go to the library. We went to the library, had lunch with Daddy, then went to get a book and cookie at Barnes & Noble.

As soon as he saw the big brown library, my little guy proudly proclaimed: "Mama, you're the BEST!!" ...I think I'll keep the title for a few hours anyway.
You and Maddie are FEEE-male. I am a male-man.
I want to take a nap at the bookstore in the big living-room chair.
Why does the milk [container] have a cow on it? Cows don't drink milk, they eat grass! That cow is just silly!
I got a few more chuckles as we stood in line to buy the book he chose. He held the book on his head and shouted from the line, "Ma'am! I'm getting this book!" He said that continuously as we waited our turn and walked up the register.When the lady took it from him to check out, he finally stopped saying it.

Ben (age 3.5):
As we were travelling in the car, we were listening to the stock report on the radio. Ben, whose favorite color is blue, was obviously listening to the report. "BLUE chips? I love blue chips!!"

Lists, Baseball, and 84 Meals

Looking back on the last few entries. It seems that time is crunching me too much lately, and all I have time for is lists. Looking around my house, I have found several more: a list of things to do this weekend, a list of things to do this year, a list of books to read this year, a list of plants I've put in the garden, a list for the grocery store, a list for WalMart, a list of what we have to eat this week, a list of what my friends and I will be making Monday, a list of everything I need to have and do to be ready for when they get here, a list of the baby stuff I need to gather for Jason and Jenn's baby (to come), a list of what to pack for next weekend for me, same type list for the kids, and now, a list of my lists.

It's been a busy week, but one I couldn't tell you much of what we've done since I've already forgotten. I think I've been working on those lists. Allen is working weird turn-around hours, and tasks are being rearranged. Even though I had meals neatly planned and meat thawed, by the end of the day something happens and we end up choosing to eat out. In the last four days, I've eaten out seven times. Ugh!

Last night Will had his first baseball practice. We took the little kids and let them run and play while we kept an eye on what was happening on the field. Ben, Maddie, and Jon were disappointed that they didn't get to play, but Ben and Maddie soon got over it. Jon, on the other hand, was heartbroken. When we told him he couldn't play baseball that night, he spotted a soccer ball by the goal and insisted he would play soccer. When the coaches passed the hats and jerseys out to the players, Jon threw his hat on the ground and held his hand out for a new Texas Rangers cap . . . which he didn't get. He was so frustrated that he marched up to one of the coaches and told the coach he was ready to play, too. Maybe we'll consider letting the little ones play soccer this summer, who knows? Will won't admit he was loving it, but he sure looked happy the whole time. He was first to offer to play outfield while most of the other kids lined up to learn to bat. He happily fetched the ball and took it back to the coach. When it was his turn to bat, he missed all ten times, but he looked so happy to be trying. With the weather perfect and Will so happy to be learning it was almost perfect. The down side was that we didn't get away until nearly seven, and that's when our kids are usually heading to bed. We had dinner and everyone crashed. Yes, everyone of us. I even forgot to make Will's lunch so he got to buy his lunch today.

I hate that we are eating out so often this week, but on the otherhand, when I'm running on empty somethings have to give. I'm trying to be okay with the food. Tonight, I'll have a healthy home-cooked meal on the table, and tomorrow morning I'll start the crock pot and have another. I'll get caught up.

The funny thing is that a lot of what is using my time lately is making and menu and grocery list. The ladies at my MOPS table had asked me how I prepare and freeze meals without making them taste like constant leftovers. I decided to show them how I do it. So bright and early Monday morning six of my friends are coming over with their preschoolers. Two are planning to play with the kids outside, the others will be inside preparing all these meals. Six meals, two of each, for seven families. Eighty four meals and seven loaves of bread. It has been the longest grocery list I've ever made, and it's quite a puzzle trying to figure out how to fit everything in the freezers or fridge. Trip one to the store was done yesterday with Maddie, and the nearly thirty pounds of onions have already been delivered to someone for chopping. This afternoon 30 of the 50 bell peppers are being picked up by someone else who will be chopping. (I still need to buy the other 20). I am having fun, and we all will learn what to do and not do to make this project work.

I've spent long enough writing, that now I need to get back to rearranging the freezer for shopping trip #2.

My Everyday

Everyday I . . .

. . . get up.

. . . shower.

. . . put on moisturizer.

. . . brush my hair.
. . . brush my teeth.
. . . kiss and hug Allen.

. . . hug Will, Ben, Maddie, & Jon.

. . . eat breakfast.

. . . have at least one cup of coffee.
. . . change a lots of diapers.

. . . check my email and Facebook.

. . . read For Better or For Worse.

. . . read my devotional.
. . . walk through my garden.
. . . talk with my children about Jesus and God.

. . . . get the mail.
. . . sit in the office chair

. . . make lunches.

. . . eat lunch.

. . . drink water.

. . . do a lot of laundry.
. . . listen to music.

. . . pray.

. . . wait in a line.

. . . check the menu.

. . . make a homemade dinner (almost everyday).

. . . read part of a novel.

. . . sit in my rocking chair.

. . . tell kids to get back in bed.

. . . read a magazine or browse a catalog.

. . . talk to Allen.

. . . hold my children.

. . . sing lullabies.

. . . clean my sink.

. . . kiss my kids goodnight.

. . . brush my teeth.

. . . kiss my husband goodnight.

. . . get eight hours of sleep.

Everyday, I WISH I would. . .

. . . wake up in a great mood.

. . . enjoy the day.

. . . count my blessings instead of troubles.

. . . snack on broccoli instead of jelly beans.

. . . control my temper.

. . . stay cheerful.

. . . work out.

. . . be creative.

. . . enjoy the day and count its trials as joys.