Olive Knolls MOPS

I came across a new blog to me that I am LOVING! It's called

Eat At Home- Everyday food for busy people.

Below is an article from her blog that talks about the importance of "Table Talk". Using dinner as an oppurtunity to connect with our Children. See below:

Dinner is a natural time for family conversation, but it can be hard to involve everyone sometimes.  My kids are so spread out in age, with one in her freshman year of college, one in high school, one in middle school and our “baby” nearly 8 years old.  Dinner conversation ranges from getting kids to finish before they run out to play, to “meetings” about the family calendar to…we won’t even discuss how it goes some nights.
Enter Table Talk cards.  I am so excited to share this resource with you!  A few months ago, our church began to offer these cards to parents.  Here’s what Peggy, our Family Ministry Pastor says about the cards:

It is our desire to partner with you in your parenting journey. What
an awesome privilege that God has given us as parents. Wow!
What a task ahead of us!
We know how busy families are and it is not our desire to add 1
more thing to your already hectic schedule. That is why we try to
create opportunities and provide resources to help you teach your
kids about God during your normal everyday routine.

Using the cards has really helped our dinner conversation.  The topics are a way to involve everyone in the family in the conversation.  Some are serious, some fun, some challenging.  A few have a Bible verse to look up, but most just involve conversation.
Even if you don’t go to church, I think you will find find that the topics on the cards will easily open conversation with your kids.  There are questions like:

• “Define respect”
• “Who is your favorite teacher”
• “What does ‘actions speak louder than words’ mean?”

She has a few different "Table Talk" card Topics:

Respect: Click HERE

Determination: Click HERE

Initiative: Click HERE

She also has "Weekly Menus" that include a shopping list that you just print out! See below as this is an example of one of the weeks (Click HERE to go directly to her page and get out the recipe links below):

Busy Week?

No problem.  The menu is all planned.  The grocery list done.  The recipes gathered in one place. 

All you need to do is click, print, shop.

*For the original menu, scroll down on this page.  I’ll keep a list of links to new menus as they are created.*
Menu/Grocery List/Recipes – week 2
Low Cost Menu/Grocery List/Recipes – week 3 - featuring Low Cost Meals

A few notes about the menu, grocery list and recipes:
 - The menu includes 6 dinners.  That will give you a day to eat left overs, eat out or fix a family favorite.
- Two of the meals are crockpot dishes for those extra busy days.  All of the meals are quick to fix.
 - You get a bonus meal to put in the freezer.  One night you’ll double your effort by making 2 meals in the same amount of time that it takes to make one.
-  Recipes include serving suggestions.  Those suggestions that are in bold are also included in curly brackets {} on the grocery list.
 - If you’d like to see pictures and more detailed directions, here is the list to the recipe links.
50s Prime Time Meat Loaf
Shrimp Scampi
Hash Brown Casserole with Smoked Sausage or Ham in the crockpot
Nachos
Rustic Italian Sausage Pasta with Roasted Red Peppers and Two Cheese Sauce
Crockpot Cantonese Sweet and Sour Chicken
So, download the menu, print and you’re all set for the week.  Feel free to share the link to this page with your friends, on your blog (if you have one) or on twitter.  As always, you’re free to share the recipes, just be sure to link back to Eat at Home.
I’d love to hear what you think of the menu/grocery list/recipes and if you use it, please let me know how it worked out for you.  Just leave me a comment here or send me an email to eatpoetry at gmail dot com.
Don’t miss a recipe by subscribing to Eat at Home through email or RSS feed.  You can also get updates by following me on twitter.

1 Week Menu/Grocery List/Recipes (5055)

She also has a list of 25 Recipes to make in 20 minutes!!!

Click HERE to get the recipe Links

And now for the list of 25 meals that can be made in 20 minutes or less.  I’ve also added a list of quick side dishes to round out your meal.   As a bonus, if you subscribe by email to Eat at Home you will have access to 5 more meals that can be fixed in 15 minutes.  These 5 meals have printable recipes that include several variations on each meal to take into account what you may have available in your pantry.

1. Bean and Bacon Soup (providing you have the bacon/onion in the freezer)
2. Scrambled Eggs, Ham and Muenster Skillet
3. Scrambled Eggs and Peppers
4. Italian Sausage Pasta Sauce
5. BBQ Ham Steak on the Grill
6. Pesto Tomato Pizza
7. Chicken Quesadillas (if the chicken is cooked and frozen)
8. Fire Roasted Tomato Sauce with Two Cheeses
9. Easy Meatball Subs
10. Bread Eggs
11. Whole Wheat Pancakes
12. Whole Wheat Apple Pancakes
13. Gina’s Club Sandwiches
14. Mac & Cheese and Mac & Tomatoes
15. Super Simple Asian Noodles with Stir Fry Veggies and Chicken (if chicken is cooked or use other type left over meat)
16. Chipped Beef Gravy over Cornbread
17. Mexican Beans and Rice
18. Nachos (if you have ground beef cooked and frozen)
19. Scrambled Egg-wiches
20. Hamburger Stroganoff
21. French Bread Pizza
22. Chicken Tortilla Soup (if chicken is cooked and frozen)
23. Sweet and Sour Meatballs over Rice
24. Italian Sausage and Bean Soup
25. Vietnamese Style Chicken Noodle Soup (if the chicken is cooked)

When you’re in a hurry, you need a quick side dish or two to round out your meal.  Here are a few ideas to try.

• Carrot sticks or baby carrots
• Salad.  Try fixing a big salad when you bring home the groceries so you have it ready for the rest of the week.
• Frozen veggies that can be quickly steamed.
• Fresh fruit.  Apples, bananas, grapes, oranges, pears etc.  Stir a few together for fruit salad or serve them individually.
• Canned fruit or apple sauce
• Cranberries and Oranges
• Vanilla Fruit Salad
• Pasta with cheese.  We like bowties with shredded cheddar.  If you’re in a big hurry, angel hair pasta cooks in about 3 minutes.
• Rice.  Jasmine is my favorite because it cooks in about 15 minutes.  Stir in some cheese or cook it in broth for more flavor.
• Cornbread
• Bread and butter.  An old-fashioned way to stretch a meal.
• Popcorn.  We like it with sandwiches instead of chips or fries.

10 Kitchen Cleaning Tips from "Eating at Home"

This is my list of simple tasks and tools that will have a big impact on your kitchen.
1.  Run a sink of hot, soapy water before you start cooking.
This signals to me that it’s time to be neat.  When I don’t have a sink of dishwater ready to use, I tend to leave the kitchen a wreck.  But when I start with the sink full of water, I will wash as I go without giving much thought to it.  The water triggers the cleaning.
2.  Scrub the sink with Bar Keeper’s Friend and shine it with Lemon Oil.
I read about this tip on Hope Studios a few months ago.  Jennifer shared that she scrubs her sink with Bar Keeper’s friend and follows up with a shine of lemon oil.
I decided to give it a try and I love the results!  For just a few minutes of work, you get a super shiny sink.  I think it keeps the sink looking better for longer too versus just a regular scrub.  Kind of like the lemon oil protects it a bit.
Sink shining is something that Fly Lady recommends as a first step to getting your whole house under control.  I can see why.  That shiny sink makes me want to keep things neat.
I try to do this task once a week or so.
3.  Swap out your dish towels and rags daily. Am I the only person who calls dishcloths rags?  The word better fits how mine look.  I need to invest in new.  I do make it a point to grab a clean towel and dish rag every morning and toss the old in the wash.
4.  Wipe up messes on the stove as soon as they happen. No matter what kind of stove top you have, the mess will be quicker to clean if you wipe it right away.  That’s another good reason to have a sink of soapy water ready when you cook.
5.  Clean a glass top stove with a razor blade and Weiman Glass Cook Top Cleaner.
These two things are the best for getting your glass cook top clean. The razor blade scrapes off anything that didn’t get wiped up right away.  It doesn’t scratch the surface at all, kind of like scraping paint of a window doesn’t scratch the window.
The cook top cleaner can be found at Walmart and probably other stores as well.
First, wipe the stove with hot, soapy water.  Scrape tough spots with the razor blade and wipe again.  Then squirt a generous amount of the cleaner on the stove top.  Rub it all over with a paper towel.  Grab another paper towel and buff till it shines.
It only takes a few minutes, but it not only cleans the stove top, it also helps protect it from spills.  It’s best to do this once a week, but I don’t get it done that often.
6.  Mop the floor with vinegar. It’s cheap and it kills germs.
7.  Wipe out the fridge when it’s nearly empty. You don’t have to do the whole fridge at once.  Wipe up spills as they happen.  And when a shelf is looking empty and easy to get to, give it a swipe.
8.  Use a fun cleaner to motivate yourself.
I read this tip on The Nester and The Inspired Room, two blogs I’ve been stalking for decorating advice.  Both of these ladies share creative ideas for making your house a home.  They recently shared how much they like using Mrs. Meyers cleaning products.
I decided to give it a try too. I couldn’t resist when I saw them at Walmart.  I mean, the label has a stick lady on it.  I’m a sucker for stick people.
I chose Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Counter Top Spray, Lemon Verbena, 16 Ounce Bottle(which reminds me of Miss Beadle in the Little House books).  The scent is clean, but not chemical and I love how it cleans my stainless steel appliances.
Apparently, there are all kinds of Mrs. Meyers scents out there like geranium, lavender,  basil, sweet pea, honeysuckle, baby blossom.  This may require further investigation…
9.  Simple Human trashcan.
Normally, I prefer a cheaper option for tools, especially for a trash can.  But this brand is far superior to others I’ve seen.
Being able to neatly corral the trash is essential to a tidy kitchen.  The investment is worth it for a can that is hands-free, closes without slamming and stays closed.
We have the simplehuman Step Trash Can, Rectangular, 10 Gallons, Stainless Steel.  We bought it with a gift card when we moved into our house.  I was hesitant to spend that much money on a trash can, but I don’t regret it at all.
I have seen these on sale in Target.  Even on sale, it’s an investment, but if you have to keep your trash in an open area of your kitchen, it’s totally worth it.  If you can afford it, get yourself one.
10.  Candles
Candles don’t make things clean, but they do make them smell nice.  Whenever the cooking smells need to be cleared out, I light a candle.  My favorite is Mulled Cider from Walmart.  I haven’t found a favorite summer scent yet, but I’m open to suggestions.
Those are my 10 kitchen cleaning tips.  Do you have any to share?

I'm telling you I am LOVING her blog! Make sure you go check it out! Great recipes and menus. Quick and helpful ideas especially great for us busy moms.

Have a Great Sunday!!