So today is Backwards Day on Works For Me Wednesday so here is my plaintive plea. In the spirit of books and things. How do you organize your books? Better yet how do you put them so the little kids can put them back organized?
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A Statement on Society
WFMW: Backwards Day
So for Backwards WFMW I am asking you all a question to help me. I am looking for ways to help with all the paper clutter. I already open the mail over a recycling bin. It is the short term paper. You know all the stuff you hold onto for a little bit and then it piles up.
Thanks!
Frugal Homeschooler: Music
For those who are looking for my free music resource list, don’t panic. I have now started a new blog and I moved it there. That is where all new Frugal Homeschooler posts will now be (I am slowly moving over the old ones). So run over to NerdFamily Things and check it out!
Meal Plan Monday
Here it is! Have fun this week!
Monday: Roast Chicken, Spaghetti Squash, Beer Bread
Tuesday: Pasta Carbonara, Broccoli
Wednesday: Crockpot Pork Spareribs, Brown Rice, Broccoli
Thursday: Tilapia, Broccoli, Bread
Friday: Pasta Alfredo Bake
Congrats!
Congratulations to Angela over at One Baby, Seven Dogs, and a Mommie. She has won the copy of Betsy in our giveaway.
Freezer Friday: Make Ahead Chicken
Welcome to the first Freezer Friday. Basically, I am looking for make ahead food that is cooked, frozen, then reheated. Please include freezing and reheating instructions. Come back each and every week for this new feature!
Make Ahead Chicken:
Meat is always the most time consuming part of making a meal. I make my chicken a month at a time. I buy fresh chicken breasts in bulk (which is a relative term). Then I put them in 9 X 13 baking dishes and season them. Then cover the bottome of your dish with water and cover. This prevents the dry, horrible chicken. Then I bake them at 350 degress for 45 minutes to an hour. You allow them to cool and then freeze. You can freeze them whole and reheat that way. But, I dice them up and freeze them in 2 cup incrememnts (the standard for most recipes). Then just pull them out and put into dishes. Since it is diced, the chicken is very to thaw by just putting under running water for a few minutes. I add it to pasta, Hamburger Helper and an easy Chicken and Rice dish.
WFMW: Tivo the Timesaver
So I was trying to think of a great time saver in my life and I would have to say that it is my Tivo. You can list all of your desired programs regardless of when they are on. You just program it and let it go. You can set a season pass so it gets Heroes every week. Those movies that are on in the middle of the night, Tivo’s theres. Wishlist all Jane Austen movies, Tivos there. I even get Cable in the Classroom at 3 am. Then you can watch them commercial free when ever you have time. You can also hold onto them for as long as you have space on your hard drive.
Traveling and taking your laptop? Great, just install a Tivo desktop (free) and up load programs onto your computer. I took it to the hospital when I had my c-section and caught up on shows that were on summer hiatus.
I also love the fact that you can rate channels and shows for kids. Then when it sits 4 hours (or you turn it on) it kicks into KidZone and just lists the approved things. We have it set on preschool so only the preschool level shows are automatically on. Then we have added select cooking shows (NerdBug wants to be a chef). So if you want to send the kids in to watch something while you shower you don’t have to worry (at least not about the tv). I also have Wiggles, DoodleBops and JoJo’s Circus at my disposal. The Nerdling only watches while I cook dinner.
Then the newest thing is that there are select PodCasts so I can watch CrankyGeeks while I am cooking. Also, you can run it over your wireless network so it can play all my music stored on all my computers. The endless CD changer.
I love my Tivo because it works for me. And no, this wasn’t a paid post though if you are Tivo and you want to hook me up……
Crockpot Thursday – Basic Roast
Here is my first crockpot recipe on this blog. I am starting with a basic roast and potatoes. This may be redundant to some of you but when I got my crockpot I had no idea.
Ingredients:
Hunk of beast (beef, pork, chicken, etc)
Potatoes
Seasonings
1/4 cup Liquid
Process:
First, wash and cut potatoes into large chucks (I half red potatoes). When you cut them you encourage more flavor into them. Then place beast on top. Then add seasonings I go a little heave on it. You can do just salt and pepper or add anything. I tend to do a low sodium Pappy’s, a little fresh garlic and dried parsley. Then add a quarter cup of coordinating liquid (beef stock with beef, chicken stock with chicken, water with pork, etc). You can always use water. Then slap the lid on. Depending how much time you have and what texture you want here are the directions. You can go low for 8 to 10 hours. For a firmer texture or quicker cook go on high for 4 to 6 hours. That is it!
A Very Nerdy Giveaway!
Congrats to Sarslyn over at The Place Beneath for winning our giveaway this week!
In honor of Fall Ya’all Giveaways I have a nice little nerdy thing to giveaway, PNY Attache 1GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive