Monday Musings: 01.28.2013 Edition

Every winter, it seems that there’s one Saturday at the Market that’s just brutal. Cold, wind, snow – a generally unpleasant experience for everyone.  This was that weekend.

However, we still needed a few things, and, honestly, the vendors were there, so it seemed only right to show our support.

The egg lady actually thanked me for coming out  – and that’s exactly why I prefer to shop at the public market.  I love that my couple of grocery dollars here and there are actually going into the pockets of the people who most deserve it – the people who produced the food.

Have I ever mentioned that one of our favorite categories of food is Crap in a Bowl with a Spoon?

Last weeks menu plan – which included a chili, a stew, and bean and rice, plus all of the above leftovers as lunches, certainly filled that bill!

In fact, we were almost in danger of running out of clean bowls by the end of the week!

Our faithful cleanup crew is always there and ready to spring into action!

Whether it’s pizza night and there’s the possibility of falling cheese, or we’re slicing bread and brushing crumbs onto the floor, or cutting up a slab of beef for dinner later in the week that might somehow leap off the counter, our Jarly is always happy to help if we need him.

Honestly, I think we could use a little less help sometimes!

After more years than I care to admit, I finally replaced my old pincushion – most of my straight pins were less than straight, and it was kind of big and stuffing was starting to leak out of it, so it was time.

You know why you should always unstuff a pincushion before throwing it away?  Because you might find TWENTY-THREE needles inside it!

Many of them were quilting needles, and, to be honest, I’m not even sure I can still see to thread them anymore, but still.  Wow.  23 needles!

That CAT has been in a MOOD the past few days!  I don’t know what her deal is, but she needs to just simmer down!

Yesterday, while the dog was enjoying a small Saturday bone outside, she un-hid herself and pranced around like she does.  It was a bright, sunny day, so she eventually settled in front of the patio door.  Fine.  Well, the dog got done with his bone and decided it was time to come in, so he, very nicely, came up onto the deck, barked once, then sat and waited for me to let him in.  All very civilized.

Well. . . the cat, after just sitting there glaring at him for a minute, THEN started snarling at him!  HE was just sitting there on the other side of the door – not even caring about her!  She then took off, the dog came in, and she proceeded to hiss and growl at him until he noticed her!

Same thing at treat time – everyone’s sitting there, enjoying chicken and kitty treats, when suddenly, out of nowhere – HISS!!! – and the dog wasn’t even looking at her!

Maybe the cold is starting to get to her. . .

And once again, it’s time for the weekly menu plan.  For some reason, we’re just not feeling all that inspired lately – hopefully that’ll pass as we start seeing some longer days and (hopefully) warmer weather!

Monday – A while back, we were flipping channels and landed on Food Network.  While I am, what’s the opposite of a fan?  That – of that Guy Fieri person, we caught some guy in some diner making what was, basically a cheesesteak made with Korean barbecue. Peeps was determined to recreate it, and, honestly, who am I to argue?  We’ve got some marinade in the freezer, so we’ll do some experimenting, I guess!

Tuesday – You know what we haven’t had in a while?  Chicken Diane – I have this old old old typed-up copy of a recipe from I-don’t-know-where, and it’s really not bad.  Basically a chicken breast in a shallot, white wine/brandy and dijon mustard pan sauce.  I also bought Brussels sprouts at the market – while he’s not a fan of them, Peeps is happy to humor me once in a while!

Wednesday – We’re going to enjoy this curried lentil soup – it’s very good.  However, it seems that we’re out of GREEN lentils, so we swapped them for BLACK lentils. Who knew I’d have so many different colored lentils in my world?

Thursday – Since he’s being such a sport about the Brussels sprouts, Peeps wanted to do Breakfast for Dinner this week.  Specifically, my pancakes.  I never seem to cook breakfast for breakfast anymore, so it only makes sense!

Friday – If I’m lucky (and if I hide some in the back of the fridge!) there may be a bit of salami left for pizza night – SO much better than boring old pepperoni!

Be sure to click on over to The Organizing Junkie’s Monday Menu Plan post for loads and loads of other ideas.