Menu Monday (on Tuesday)

Wow! This, the first post since Halloween, is not starting off well. I intended to post this yesterday since I was off work, but then I decided to play all day instead. Better late than never, right? We do have some pretty fun stuff coming up on the blog...lots of video of our holiday adventures and our gorgeous new niece, Alyvia. For now though, it's menu time!

We've got lots of leftovers from our Christmas feast (pictures to come), so this menu has been pretty fun to put together. Here we go:

Tuesday: Homemade deep dish pizza - Chicago style with the sauce on the top

Wednesday: Shredded Pork Tacos

Thursday: Dinner out with Friends

Friday: Left over pizza

Saturday: Chicken White Bean Soup (using leftover Cornish Hens instead of chicken)

Sunday: Lunch out after church

Dinner - Popcorn, apples, and cheese (per the usual)

So that's what we're eating this week. What's on at your house?

Happy Halloween!

We had a good time last night watching football, drinking caramel apple cider (OMC style) and carving pumpkins. My very talented husband decided to use a picture of my lil punkin to wish you all a VERY happy halloween!

*Image is property of Trevor and Jamie Lubiens. We know it's awesome, but please don't steal it.

Trevor trips in Chicago

This is a random clip from earlier this year.

Innocent Blood by The Waiting Kind

I just saw this video for the first time this morning...Amazing. To God be the Glory!!

Our friend Derek wrote this song. His band, The Waiting Kind, is currently on tour. If you're anywhere near, you won't want to miss a chance to worship with them.

Random Date Night 2

Friday Date Night

Alright, so I know it's been awhile since we last posted - we're busy people, what can we say? So, we decided that Friday night would be our date night this week. We ate at Chick-fil-A and painted pottery at a local studio. We had so much fun together - although, we ALWAYS have fun together. Here's a glimpse into the life of Team T&J:

And P.S....we do have eyes. Trevor just chose not to film them most of the time :)

Planning

I am a planner. I love to plan. I love to plan menus and schedules and budgets.

I am terrible at following through with my plans.

Does that mean that I love the thrill of planning and then straying from the plan? Does it make me feel spontaneous or rebellious?

Or do I just lack self-discipline?

Sticks

People in our neighborhood run with sticks. Big sticks.

We don't have a stray dog problem.

It's too hot to need kindling for a fire.

Trevor thinks they all meet somewhere along the way and battle.

Menu Monday

Okay, even if we are in the middle of a natural disaster, we still have to eat, right? Here's what's cooking at our house this week:

Monday: Runza Casserole - Trevor bought cabbage last week on accident, so it needs to be used up. Runza is not something I usually make (haven't had it since High School), but Trevor has never tried it...tonight it is!

Tuesday: Chicken Tacos

Wednesday: Fresh Green Salad with Berries, Pecans, and Rotisserie Chicken

Thursday: Bulgar Wheat with Fried Chickpeas, Roasted Red Peppers, and Spinach

Friday: Fresh Tomato Pasta (3rd Recipe Down)

Saturday: Leftovers or Hot Dogs on the grill

Sunday: Homemade Pizza on the Grill...yep, it's that time again folks.

I LOVE grilling, comfort food, and easy recipes. Sometimes I like to stretch my culinary wings, but for now, I'm pretty excited about the simple cooking. So now tell me, what's gracing your dinner table this week?

Water inside the Opryland Hotel

Although the rain stopped yesterday evening, the Cumberland river continues to rise. Here's a video of how the Opryland Hotel looks today. I hope the 1500 guests who were peeved to have to evacuate last night will be thankful after seeing the footage.

This is Crazy!

So as you may be seeing on the news, Nashville is currently experiencing the second worst flooding in its history. Trevor and I are safe and dry...our yard is washing away as we speak, but we are thankful to be inside and okay.

If you've missed out on the action, check out this video from cnn.com. Trevor and I watched this happen live on TV yesterday afternoon. It is right next to the freeway exit by our first apartment. CRAZY!!

We know people whose homes are mostly underwater, roads are totally washed out, trees are being blown over, and schools all over are canceling classes tomorrow. It feels unreal, but again, we are so thankful to be safe and relatively unaffected. If you think about it, pray for people who are stuck in buildings and people who have lost everything.

We'll try to keep everyone updated. For today though, we are enjoying the time together, playing games, cleaning, cooking, working, and resting. I guess no matter what, it's always good to be a Lubiens.

Menu Monday

Because of some unexpected dinner invitations by some dear friends last week, we didn't make it all the way through our menu. Thus, this week was easy. I'm repeating because I still have the ingredients, but mom and Dixie, I promise I'm not forcing our beloved Trevor to dine on the same offerings week after week.

Here goes:
Monday: Chicken Enchiladas

Tuesday: Mustard Crusted Pork Roast with roasted veggies

Wednesday: left over pulled pork or chicken enchiladas

Thursday: Chicken Tacos (thanks to cheap left-over avacados fromt the SuperBowl which I did not watch, I'm ashamed to say)

Friday: Dinner out with the Hardy's!

Saturday: Brunch - whole grain waffles, quiche, turkey bacon and fruit
Dinner - Cider-braised pork chops with mashed potatoes and fresh bread

Sunday: Leftovers/sandwiches/brunch for lunch
Popcorn, Apples, and Cheese, as is our tradition after The Gathering

Not gonna lie - I'm pretty pumped about this week. Now tell me, what are you eating?

Menu Monday (err...Wednesday, as it were)

Sorry it's late. After a particularly incredible, but tiring, weekend with the TCC youth group in Gatlinburg, everything is happening a little slower this week. I went to the grocery store last night and had a LOT to buy. Thanks to store sales and coupons, I walked out paying $94 for $175 worth of groceries. This is a little more than I tend to spend in an average week, but they had lots of things on sale so I was able to stock up. I bought (6) 8-oz blocks of cheese to freeze. They were $1 each, so I had to. They also had pork on sale, so I stocked up. We needed some personal items, like razors, and even with coupons, you know how those can add up. All in all, I'd say I did alright.

OH, and BY THE WAY, I got up to the counter to check out and realized that I didn't have my debit card. Decided that I was fine because I knew I had enough cash. Once the pre-savings total started aproaching $150 though, I freaked out. Needless to say, I was one happy camper once my shoppers card was swiped and all the coupons were entered. I payed with cash and went on my way. This morning I found my debit card. In my purse. I had it all along and gave myself a little heart attack for nothing.

I know, I know...this post is called "Menu Monday" for a reason, so I'll get to it. Here's what we will be eating (or have already eaten) this week:

Monday: Turkey melt on sourdough with sharp white cheddar cheese. With corn chips and applesauce.

Tuesday: Whole wheat homemade pizza with Canadian Bacon. Many thanks to Trev for this meal - it was sooooo good!

Wednesday: Chicken Enchiladas

Thursday: Wings and Fries with some friends

Friday: Pulled Pork tacos

Saturday: Brunch - whole grain waffles, quiche, turkey bacon and fruit
Dinner - Cider-braised pork chops with steamed veggies

Sunday: Sandwiches and leftovers before the super bowl party at church.

Looks like it's going to be a tasty week!

OATMEAL

Sorry I don't have my menu Monday post up yet - but it will come. I do want to share with you my new morning obsession - oatmeal!

Keep in mind, I'm not talking instant-from-a-pack-loaded-with-preservatives-and-sugary-junk-oatmeal. I'm talking real, old fashioned rolled oats...Irish or otherwise. So here's how I've been making my oatmeal lately that has me drooling on my desk just thinking of it:

1/2 cup Irish rolled oats (regular Old Fashioned oats work fine too)
1 cup water or skim milk
1 T ground flax meal
1 T wheat germ
6-8 walnut halves, crushed
1/4 - 1/2 c frozen cherries (no sugar added)
1 T maple syrup

Cook oats in water according to package directions. Mix in ground flax meal, wheat germ, walnut halves, cherries and maple syrup. You can vary this recipe with many kinds of fruits or nuts...it's so filling and comforting, and I feel energized and alert all the way to lunchtime.

I'm so exicted to hear what you think about this recipe. I LOVE IT and I hope you will too. Happy Tuesday!

Menu Monday

Monday already???

Due to a short week (youth retreat this weekend), I took the opportunity to be boring, again...but it's cool. At least we have good food to eat, no?

Monday: Whole Grain Spaghetti with roasted red pepper and garlic sauce, tossed salad, and rosemary garlic bread. Discovering that whole grain pasta has quite a bit of protein has revolutionized my thinking. I no longer feel like i HAVE to have meat sauce with pasta.

Tuesday: Grilled chicken with roasted veggies and potatoes

Wednesday: Three bean and beef chili with sourdough and white cheddar grilled cheese sandwiches.

Thursday - Sunday: not cooking at home...

As for those pork dishes I promised last week - they're still in the works. Just not for this week. When pork goes on sale again and when I have more than one evening at home to cook for the week, we'll give 'em a shot. I can't wait to try!

Menu Monday

Monday: Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup with sour-dough rolls. I replace the beer in the soup with one can of reduced-sodium chicken stock and it comes out perfect, everytime

Tuesday: Chicken pasta with onions and peppers, rosemary focaccia bread

Wednesday: Finishing off the pot of soup

Thursday: Grilled chicken and couscous with herb-roasted veggies

Friday - Sunday we are off on adventures and therefore, not eating at home...Makes this an easy week. I feel like my menus are pretty boring lately. I have a hard time since we eat at the church 2-3 times per week. I'm limited to meals that are fairly portable. Tell me, do you have a favorite recipe that is perfect for an on-the-go dinner?

On the other hand, I found some great pork recipes this weekend, so next week look for apple-glazed porkchops or mustard-crusted pork tenderloin, whichever happens to be on sale...

Happy Monday everyone!

How to Eat an Elephant :: Lesson One

Hold your nose, take a deep breath, and try not to throw up.

Menu Monday

It's not very exciting, but here's what we're eating this week:

Monday: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina You have to try this - it's amazing! I baked it last night so we can eat it at church tonight before our activities begin. Right out of the oven with some fresh hot bread though, this stuff is irresistable!

Tuesday: Homemade Baked potato soup

Wednesday: Leftovers or Sandwiches (church night)

Thursday: Homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup and Grilled Cheese sandwiches, probably

Friday: Homemade thin crust veggie pizza (unless I decide to do deep dish...mmmm...)

Saturday: Brunch with whole wheat pancakes, eggs, and fruit
Dinner will either be out or leftovers...I have coups for one of our favorite places in
Nashville, so I'm betting that it will be out.

Sunday: Chili and Baked Potatoes with TCC University Ministries
Dinner: Per the usual - Popcorn, Apples, and Cheese!

Okay, so now that it's on paper, it doesn't look so bad. I do need to look for some new recipes this week. Tell me, what have you cooked lately? Any good vegitarian dishes?

Not Nearly Enough...

I didn't accomplish nearly enough this weekend. I am sitting here in our freezing little house (because we're too cheap to turn up the heat) and I'm sad. Well, sort of. Not moping around sad, but a little scrunch my nose up in disappointment sad at not getting more done this weekend. I did rest though. And watch a movie with Trev. And brunch with Trev. And rearrange our room. And clean out the closet. And make an even bigger mess in the junk room. And clean the kitchen. Several times. And bake - several times. And go to Starbucks with Trev. And go to church. And sing on the worship team. And go to a University Ministries meeting. And make some Christmas exchanges. And do a little shopping, both grocery and otherwise. And cook dinner for tomorrow. And write a blog...

Maybe I'll have more success next weekend. :)

Just Wednesday

My boss writes his notes for me while on the eliptical each morning. You can imagine how fun it is to try and decipher them....

Worst.Blogger.EVER. with some Bachelor thrown in for good measure

Sorry for the long silence. I think two people read this regularly and one happened to notice that we missed a [few] ;)

Well, tonight I'm feeling motivated (and not tired), so we're back...for now. What's this new motivation, I hear you ask yourself? Why it's none other than my favorite TV trash, The Bachelor, back to waste 2 hours of my life each week. And I LOVE it!

Jake is a total dud - this much we already knew. But he is very pretty. The whole night was just awkward for me though. Of course ABC had to compensate for the lame, awkward 31-year-old boy scout who still says things like, "Gosh darn-it" and "Golly me", so they went above and beyond to harvest the most plentiful crop o' crazies that have ever been assembled. Those girls were awkward! Do we notice a word pattern here? I almost wanted to change the channel, but I was afraid I'd miss something really juicy...Here are the highlights that I can remember:

Jake's back-zit that they forgot to edit out as he put on his pilot shirt during the opening montage

Jake riding cautiously on the motorcycle

Jake stopped on Laguna Beach with his bike in front of the sun with a plane overhead. I gagged a little in my mouth.

The neon lighting around the doors at the mansion - Is that a set, or an actual courtyard? Do the girls just head backstage and wait to head overthere, or are they actually going inside.

Jake telling every girl to find him inside - only after he pretends to follow them each and I have a little mini-stroke because he's not staying on his mark and the camera guys have to stop filming for a second and ask him to get back in place.

Gia the dancer from Manhattan whose mouth dumbfounded me as I could never understand a word she mumbled. She did have great "hair" though.

The girl that totally ate it as she stepped up to meet Jake

The girl that tripped on her dress and totally ate it by the pool

The constant tugging of strapless dresses - girls, if you're going to wear a strapless dress to the party, make sure it fits the whole time. Or better yet, buy a dress with straps if you insist on having size 24HH boobs. K? Thanks.

Psycho (Michelle was it?) and her uber-intense pursuit of all things marriage and babies with our bachelor who she had known for 2.5 seconds

The girl who gave out parting gifts to the others as she arrived

The girl who gave Jake a gift to remember her by..oh wait, that was all of them...

The boobs

The botox...don't these women know that they're in their 20's. They shouldn't need this much plastic

The girl from Nebraska who totally reminded me of Janice Dickinson (the formerly beautiful cover model who just won't give it up - see below)

Anyone notice Nebraska's crows feet as she was sitting on the beach at sunset with her really wide-spread boobs and have a hard time believing that she's only 29? Yeah, me too...

I digress...what else was there?...

The daddy's girl from FL was a piece of work. You know, the one with the dog who wears sweaters, eats strawberries with her, and licks her in the mouth? Vienna - is that right? 50 bucks says she's not there because she wants a husband...

Jillian and Ed stopped by for a little support and Ed seemed really edgy. Jill too. I wonder if the little visit was in her contract. Her ring looked great though, and as per the us ush yoojsh usual, she looked super cute, and I wanted to be her friend.

The pep-talk from Chris Harrison was terribly forced and I wonder if Jake will ever look natural up there. I'm betting on No...but I want to hope for better. Mostly because I'll be the one watching all season.

The rose ceremony was hardly ground breaking, though I felt terrible for the Air National Guard girl (the one with the quarter flip) when she thought her name had been called only to realize that he was talking to another girl with the same first name. I liked her. I thought she was fun and easygoing and definitely worth a second look.

I'm always astonished at the girls who cry after being let go on the first night. Although they have been up all night drinking and the sun is rising as they are sent packing.

I'm sure there were many many more highlights, but those are the ones that came to mind. I'm excited about this season only because there is surely drama to come. My bet is that Jake will cry more than twice, and that the crazy one (token producer-pick) is only there for heightened drama (did you see her kiss the rose at the end...reminds me of a boyz 2 men song and maybe a little Sting and the Police thrown in for fun..) Jake is sure that his future wife is in the bunch and I am beside myself with anticipation. This should be fun!

Now hurry on over to my favorite bachelor blog, www.ihategreenbeans.com and be prepared to laugh yourself out of your chair. She posts on Tuesday afternoons. Warning: you might get addicted and proceed to watch this silly show season after season just so you'll know what Lincee's talking about on Tuesdays. Consider yourself warned.

Chris Harrison also blogs on people.com's popwatch site. I don't know the address to that one, but it's usually worth a quick skim.

Thanks for joining me this evening. As always, I would be delighted to hear what you thought of tonight's little debacle...comments please! Let me know I'm not the only one...

Loving me some bachelor goodness,

Jamie