In my household, I’ve always done the menu planning, grocery shopping, and cooking. This has worked for us because, as a stay-at-home mom, I have time to do these things. I also have more knowledge of nutrition and a wider variety of cooking skills than my husband. You can imagine my surprise when I stepped into the living room a couple … [Read more...] about How Pinterest Got My Husband Interested in Menu Planning
Keeping the Home
Maple-Glazed Sausage Loaf
Several weeks ago I grew curious about how a meatloaf made of sausage would taste. Maple syrup complements many varieties of sausage, so I wanted to integrate it into the meatloaf somehow. The dish that resulted was fabulous! In fact, it was so good that it has found its way onto our winter menu. Ingredients 1 lb. breakfast … [Read more...] about Maple-Glazed Sausage Loaf
Winter 2016 Menu
Though we’re busy with Christmas festivities, I didn’t forget to plan my family’s winter menu. I won’t explain the whys and hows of my menu planning here because I’ve detailed these elsewhere (you can read all about it here). In short, I plan a new menu containing a month’s worth of meals at the beginning of each season (fall, winter, … [Read more...] about Winter 2016 Menu
8 Ways to Decorate Front Windows for Christmas
Though I love decorating for Christmas, I have no motivation to get up on a ladder and hang Christmas lights on the house. My husband lacks this motivation, as well, and we’re uninterested in having any bulky decorations out in our yard. As you might guess, this means that thus far our homes have lacked exterior Christmas decorations. I’d … [Read more...] about 8 Ways to Decorate Front Windows for Christmas
Festive Christmas Cookie Bars
One by one I’m trying the cookies on my Christmas Cookie Bucket List. I tried the Neapolitan Bars last year, but I thought they took too much work for the flavor that resulted. I really like the appearance of a tricolored cookie bar, though, so I’ve made over the recipe so the bars are easy to make and have a tasty flavor. Ingredients 2 … [Read more...] about Festive Christmas Cookie Bars
Soup, Stew, Chowder, Bisque, or Chili?
I generally consider winter to be “soup season.” Subsequently, I’ve been looking over a lot of soup recipes as I plan my winter menu. In addition to soups, I’ve seen recipes for stews, chowders, bisques, and chilies. Many of these recipes look similar, so how can we tell these different varieties of “soup” apart? What makes them … [Read more...] about Soup, Stew, Chowder, Bisque, or Chili?
Where to Find Meal Ideas and Recipes When Menu Planning
Sometimes I draw a blank when I sit down to plan a new menu for my family. I’ll want to try something new, but nothing comes to mind. It seems I’m not the only one who experiences this. Becca emailed me with the following question: “I know you plan your menus with an entire month’s meals. Where do you come up with the meal ideas? I … [Read more...] about Where to Find Meal Ideas and Recipes When Menu Planning
DIY Jesse Tree Ornaments
As I noted when I wrote last summer about Christ-focused Advent traditions, the Jesse Tree is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. A Jesse Tree helps families reflect on the people, prophesies, and events that preceded Christ’s birth. There is one Jesse Tree reading for each day of Advent. These readings are from the Bible and each is … [Read more...] about DIY Jesse Tree Ornaments
