The Saturday Basket

My kids are older, 21, 19, 14 and 13, and I just spent the weekend explaining to them that "cleaning house" is not "picking up".  They just don't understand that you can't clean your house until it is picked up.   I really think that my house was neater when they were younger.  It might be because I was home more and not watching and/or waiting for them at a sports/school function.  Their stuff was smaller too.  Anyway, I am having trouble with them picking up their things.  I am either tripping over shoes or moving school books off of a table, so, I have decided to bring back the "Saturday Basket".  I used this method when they were younger too.  I went to the thrift store and picked up this little beauty for only $3.99:

I just added a little sign and there you have it.

Now, when they leave their stuff lying around, I just toss it in this basket.  Their junk looks a lot better in the basket than all over the house.  Now, the catch to it is, they can't have it until Saturday.  I don't care if it is shoes, sports equipment, work aprons, homework/school books, it stays in the basket until Saturday.  If it becomes a permanent resident, I donate it.  It gets really ugly the first couple of weeks, but, with their dad's help, it starts to get a little easier until the basket is not longer needed.

If you have trouble with your little and/or big ones picking up their stuff, try the basket method, it just might work.


Rhonda

Taco Soup and the Week's Chicken Feed

Each week, I will feature one recipe from the previous week.  If there is a certain recipe you want, please let me know.  This week's (January 23 - January 29, 2012) menu is:

Monday - Linguine and Clam Sauce,Salad

Tuesday - Sausage and bean soup, Rolls and Salad

Wednesday - Beef and Spinach Pitas, Raw Veggies and Ranch

Thursday - Black Beans and Rice, Broccoli

Friday - Up-side down Pizza, Salad

Saturday - Softball won't be home

Sunday -  BBQ (Dad's Choice)

This was our Taco Soup.  I love this soup.  It is really thick and good.

 1-1/2 pounds of ground beef

       1 envelope taco seasoning (I just use chili powder, garlic, cumin and 

          oregano)

       2 cans whole kernel corn undrained

       2 cans ranch style or chili beans undrained

       2 cans diced tomatoes undrained

       

Garnish with avocado, tomato, onion, crushed tortilla chips, salsa and sour cream.

Over medium heat brown meat, drain fat and add seasoning.  Stir in everything but the garnish and simmer for about 15 to 20 min.  When done, put crushed tortilla chips in the bottom of your bowl top with soup and then garnish away.

Enjoy!

It is from Taste of Home's 2003 Quick Cooking 

Sorry, one of my lovely children erased my soup pictures.

Rhonda

Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday

January Entry Shelf

I am getting excited about Valentines Day and wanted to show you what I did for January before it melts away.
  

Since it doesn't really snow in Mesa, AZ, I like to leave some of my snowmen up.   I always like a little subway art (I am sorry to the blog I borrowed that from, I can't remember) and really need to learn how to do it.

I made the two on the left.

I took the snowflakes out of my "tree" and hung them on my wreath.

I also made the snowman with the blue hat.

I just wasn't ready to put the snowballs away (I got them at the Dollar Tree).

Snowmen warm your apron strings and melt your heart.

Happy January!

Rhonda

January Cards

Wow, January is almost over and I have three birthday's at the end of the month.  One is for my niece, one for my mother-in-law and one for my sister-in-law.  This is what I have come up with.  Please don't judge, I haven't made cards in quite a while.  I need to attend a couple of stamp classes to see what new techniques are out there.

One of my Daycare mom's gave me a Michael's gift card for Christmas.  I finally got over there and spent every dime of it.  So much fun.

Ribbon and cute clothes pins.  I also got a couple of stamps.

This wrapping paper was so cute, I had to get it too.

I forgot how much I enjoy doing this, and, what a mess it creates - ha ha.

I got a box of blank cards from Walgreen's a while back.  I really liked the print and just embellished it a little.

These are from the Dollar Tree.

I call this one my "Semi-Homemade" card.  The "a good life" stamp was from Michael's too.

Make a card and enjoy grown-up coloring : ).

Happy Crafting.

Rhonda

Mail Organization

I really have a hard time with paper.  I never have a "Hot Spot", I am under constant "Fire Hazard".  I created a mail center over the summer and copied Toni over at A Bowl Full of Lemons here.  

This was mine.  It looked nice, but, for a piler, it wasn't what worked for me.  I like to stash things until I get time.  When you have little ones running under you all day, I need a place to put my piles until Wed.  Wed. is my desk day.

This is what my counter looks like on a good day - ha ha.  

The folders, I love because I keep my daycare files in there.  It is the daily mail that drives me crazy.

I bought this over a three day weekend (here) back in the spring.  I kept it by the chair in the den for magazines and even the remote.  I didn't like the color so I just ignored it for a while.

After painting my passion sign, I really liked how the distressed red turned out and decided to practice on this.  I think it was under $5.00, and, if I mess it up, I can always paint it white.

I love the how the dark color peeks out.

I even put a piece of felt on the bottom.

That front pocket is perfect for just a quick stash of mail.  When Wednesday comes around, I will empty that one and pay, file or shred.

Now, I still need pockets.  My daughter, Lee, got this for me and I just love it.  I put my pens in it.

I got these from Santa.  He knows how much I love office supplies.  It even has a brown one (SMILING SO BIG).

I put my stamps, cards, paper for a quick list and calculator.  Perfect.

Wow, what a difference.  The little white and red box is for receipts.  I love it and will definitely use it.

Happy Organizing.

Rhonda

The Thrifty Home

Savvy Southern Style

Enchiladas and the week's Chicken Feed

Monday January 16, - Sunday January 22, 2012

Monday - Fish, Rice and California Blend Veggie

Tuesday - Taco Soup and Salad

Wednesday - Pork Chops with Mango Chutney and Cold Scallion Noodles

Thursday - White Beans and Greens

Friday - Up-side Down Pizza and Salad

Saturday - BBQ (Dad's Choice)

Sunday - Spaghetti and Salad

Here was my Enchilada Dinner on Saturday:

I really don't have a recipe, I just wing it and hope they come out (ha ha).  This is how mom used to do it.

Start with a chuck roast cut into pieces (pic. below), cheese, I like Baca's frozen red chili, and corn tortillas.

I salt the meat and little and brown the beef for a min. or two.

Add water to cover and let cook all the way down and do it again.  This makes it real tender.

I let it brown a little more after the water has evaporated. 

I add about three cups of water, salt and the frozen red chili and let it simmer for about 30 min.

Just like making gravy, I put a couple of tablespoons of flour, salt and water and whip with a fork so that there are no lumps in my sauce.

Add it to the chili in the pot and let it thicken.  Sauce is done.

Put oil in pan and get med. hot.

I use these tongs from Pampered Chef to just run the tortillas through the oil to soften.

Some people run them through the sauce, my mom did it this way - ha ha.

When they are all softened, you are ready to assemble your enchiladas.

Put sauce in the bottom of the pan just like lasagna.

Put cheese in the softened corn tortilla 

Roll

Keep rolling until all the tortillas are used up.

Pour remaining sauce over the rolled enchiladas

and add cheese to the top.  Cover a bake at 350 for about 30 min.

While my sauce was cooking, I made some Pico.

Cut up tomato, onion, a yellow pepper and two jalapenos and mix up.

Chop and add cilantro and the juice of one lime salt to taste and your done.

While the enchiladas are in the oven, make some rice.

I like to use the oil I used for the tortillas for a little extra flavor and get hot.

Add rice (I just used instant white rice) and brown.  I like mine on the darker side.

Add a large can of tomato sauce and chicken broth to cover the rice by about 1/4 inch 

Cover and cook for about 20 min.  Done.

That is it and it is yummy.  Enjoy

Rhonda

Organizing Junkie - Meal Planning Monday