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Weekly Menu Planner

Oh I’ve been so bad at this, but I have so many thinks that I want to share with family that it’s just been easier to stay away from this thing, but no more excuses, I know I blog about food a lot.  I’ve been trying to find away to stay within a teeny budget AND still make delicious, yummy, different food.  I’ve been scouring the web searching for a good weekly menu planning site but have not been successful.  Everything I’ve found has either been recipes that I would never make or something that you have pay for, which in my opinion is just silly, I’m trying to save money, why would I pay you money to try and save money.  So I’ve been planning my own weekly menus and making grocery lists each week.  Why should I keep all this hard work to myself, why not share it with others and maybe offer some benefit to my friends.  Tam is a carnivore and lactose intolerant so I am always looking for creative ways to give him meat and not use dairy and still be healthy.  Here’s my dinner menu for the week.  I use a lot of recipes from foodnetwork.com because there are reviews and I like a lot of the chefs and cooks (especially Giada and Sandra Lee).  

Sunday:  Sandra Lee’s Hawaiian Pulled Pork 

Monday:  Giada’s Hearty Meatball Stew

Tuesday:  Sandra Lee’s Round 2 Pot Stickers with steamed veggies

Wednesday:  Poppy Seed Chicken Pitas (although, I’m using sesame seeds instead of poppy seeds because I have them)

Thursday:  Left Overs

Friday:  Fettuccine with Marinara Sauce, Salad, and Crusty Bread (No meat for Fridays in Lent)

I’m not going to post a grocery list for the week, I’m still trying to figure it all out, but I’ll explain how I work it out.  My goal is to keep our grocery costs down to $50.00 a week.  That’s $50.00 for 2 people at 3 meals per person, so 6 meals a day, 42 meals a week for $50.00 which comes out to about $1.19 a meal.  So that’s my goal to pay about $1.20 a meal and still have delicious food with fresh ingredients.  

At some point I will post a grocery list to go with each menu.  When planning out your grocery list and menu keep in mind the stuff you already have in your pantry, fridge and freezer.  I have 2 grocery stores that I go to, WinCo (which is amazing, it’s coming to you Arizona so check it out, it’s an employee owned company - cheapest prices around) and Safeway.  I always check their websites or if I get ads in the mail to see what the weekly specials are, a lot of the meat for this week is on sale at Safeway so I’ll be making a stop there before I head home from my grocery adventure.  Safeway is better than WinCo about posting deals online, so I usually go to WinCo first with all the deals that I’m interested in written down from Safeway and compare prices.  And since Safeway is on the way home from WinCo, I stop there if I need to.  I’m such a dork I know, this is a total oversharing of information.  I have a pretty good grasp on what everything costs, so I write down my list and guesstimate on the price of each item, always round up especially if you have sales tax (we don’t have sales tax in Portland!  It’s awesome).  And rework your list until you get within your budget, there’s always something you can do without.  When I worked my out, I came out with $42.88, which meant that I had about 7 bucks to splurge on, whether that’s a dessert or special drink or something.  If you intend to spend $50.00 spend $50.00.  Ok that’s my spiel for the week.  Hope this is helpful!    

March 11, 2012
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Life Moves

Oh my,  I’ve been neglectful of my tumblr and twitter and path and facebook.  Too much social media in my life.  Well a little update, I have more posts coming soon. Just wanted to add that life is good, confusing and wonderful.  Tam and I still trying to find our way, our own purposes and the mission of our family.  We’re working hard to find jobs, finish school, and finding a place to call home.  To satiate the foodie in me, I’ll share a scrumptious, little potato and leek soup recipe that I tried out the other day.  I never knew I could like leeks so much. YUM!  For now know that we’re still alive and life is good.  

February 09, 2012
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"The way we choose to live is the way we invite others to live. A woman who is striving, invites others to strive…By contrast, a woman whose heart is at rest invites others to rest too. A woman who is controlling cannot invite others to rest, to be known. They will feel controlled in her presence. It won’t feel safe."
November 18, 2011
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Anniversary gift from the husband. He gave these to me the day before our anniversary. It’s been almost a week! And they’re still this beautiful.

Anniversary gift from the husband. He gave these to me the day before our anniversary. It’s been almost a week! And they’re still this beautiful.

November 16, 2011
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1 Year

I can’t believe that Tam and I have been married for 1 year.  The time has flown by so fast!  It’s amazing how there is no way to understand what marriage is like until you’re in it.  It has been one of the most incredibly difficult and wonderful things I have ever be a part of.  Unfortunately, I have to study today, so Tam and I do not have any grand or beautiful plans for the day.  Life never stops.  But we did have a delightful homemade breakfast and spent some time reminiscing about the day that we joined our lives together.  There are so many wonderful, vivid memories that we have of our wedding, but 2 things stand out most clearly:  The Grace that we received, that was poured out upon us and all that were present and the community that surrounded us on that day and lifted us up in prayer and offered acts of service and love.  I’d like to remember and honor some of those folks now:

First, I have to thank our parents.  They really are so incredible.  I have an amazing mother-in-law that is so loving and kind.  I am overwhelmingly blessed to have her.  And my own mother who sacrificed so much to make the day as special as it could be.  I’ve learned the meaning of sacrifice from her, I think it has taught me how to be a better wife.  You both are beautiful, strong women that helped to bring us to this place.  Thank you for loving us and teaching us.

We had so many people help us with the ceremony and reception.  We had five amazing priests, Fr. Michael Schmitz, Fr. Pete Rossa, Fr. Joe Cornelia, Fr. Okey Uche, and Fr. Andriy, and 1 amazing deacon, Deacon Al Homiski.  We are so blessed to have each of these men in our lives, especially for the ways that they have formed us and taught us the Gospel.

My beautiful bridesmaids and flower girls.  These women have been an incredible blessing in my life.  One of my favorite moments was when you all prayed with me right before the ceremony.  Thank you for being my sisters and for being an important part of our marriage.  Thank you also to all the groomsmen, all of Tam’s brothers, and our handsome, little ring bearer.  You all mean the world to Tam and have had a profound impact on his life.  Thank you for loving him as you do! 

And I have to thank my Dede Algis, Ron, and Mike for stepping in place of our fathers on that day.  I think often you think about fathers and weddings, and if your father can’t be there for whatever reason, it feels like there is something missing.  You stepped in and played that important role when you didn’t have to and it wasn’t yours to fill, but you did it anyway.  You will never know how important you are to Tam and I.  We will cherish you for the rest of our lives.  Love you guys!

                          

Thank you to Audrey, Erin, Ike, Mike and Matt for leading the worship at our wedding.  It was so beautiful.  All those songs mean so much to Tam and I and I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to have friends leading that for us.  It truly brought us all to another place.  Thank you for sharing your gifts with us. 

We had so many people help with the reception, and I wish I could thank all of you right now, please forgive me if I’ve forgotten you.  I had so many people help me set up.  St. Bernadette Community was so helpful and hospitable.  The teens from the parish helped me make the favors and set up for the reception.  My family and close friends helped set up and clean up the reception hall, I know people stayed so late and came back early in the morning.  My aunts and cousins helped out with so much, the rehearsal dinner, favors, set up.  Nick Chavez was an awesome DJ.  Tam’s family brought delicious Vietnamese food for the party.  I know people went out and bought more booze for us, I’m not even sure who you are but thank you!  My mom worked tirelessly to make every detail beautiful.  We had the most beautiful dessert / wedding cake table.  My Teta Daina made traditional gingerbread cookies and a berzo saka and Ruta Degutis brought traditional Lithuanian Wedding Cakes from Cleveland, OH to create one of the most beautiful Lithuanian cakes I have ever seen  Thank you to both of you for doing that for us, I am so grateful!  My Teta Dalia, taught my bridesmaids how to dance a traditional Lithuanian Dance.  Kemi Ndolo created a wonderful video for our wedding.  You all did so much!  And we are so honored to have you in our lives and so honored by everything you have done.

Thank you for making that day special.  Thank you for being a part of our lives.  I know we haven’t been able to thank many of you personally, we’re bad at that, it’s coming.  But know that we think of you every day, that we pray for you often, and that we are always thankful for the gift that you are. 

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.  And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.  It is right for me to feel thus about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.  For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.  And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

-Philippians 1: 3-11

And last but not least, I want to honor my loving husband.  You are an incredible man, I am truly blessed and incredibly honored to call you my husband.  I am humbled by your quiet strength and patience and your love of the Lord.  Thank you for loving me as you do.  Thank you for loving me when it’s difficult.  I know that the Father is transforming us through this marriage, making us humble and more loving and more pure.  I’m grateful to walk with you.  I love you. 

Tags: Erin Gauvin Tam Le Ruta Motiejunas Ruta Degutis Kemi Ndolo Ike Ndolo Matt Maher Audrey Assad Mike Jetty Fr. Michael Schmitz Fr. Peter Rossa Fr. Okey Uche Fr. Jose Cornelia Chris Motiejunas Al Homski Al Motiejunas Ron Kindsfater Duyen Tran Alle Owens Carrie Downs Thuy Becerra Angela Antonick Bobbi Travis Meagan Rippee Jennifer Kindsfater Nick Chavez Grace & Aubrey Becerra Chris Motiejunas Sienna & Aspen Kindsfater
November 12, 2011
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Really digging this poem right now

Sunrise

By Mary Oliver

You can
die for it–
an idea,
or the world. People

have done so,
brilliantly,
letting
their small bodies be bound

to the stake,
creating
an unforgettable
fury of light. But

this morning,
climbing the familiar hills
in the familiar
fabric of dawn, I thought

of China,
and India
and Europe, and I thought
how the sun

blazes
for everyone just
so joyfully
as it rises

under the lashes
of my own eyes, and I thought
I am so many!
What is my name?

What is the name
of the deep breath I would take
over and over
for all of us? Call it

whatever you want, it is
happiness, it is another one
of the ways to enter
fire.

October 27, 2011
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The Pumpkin Regatta 

I love Fall.  I love it!  There is something so comforting about this time: sweaters, hot drinks, savory meals.  And the colors!  I think God designed for leaves to change from cool green-blues to warm reds, yellows, and oranges to give us hope before we head into a long, cold winter.  There must be some remnants of harvest time still written in our psyches (or maybe just mine).  To our ancestors, autumn was a time of harvest, of gathering goods and storing them for the year to come.  No matter how difficult things could be throughout the year, the harvest meant renewal, reaping, and reward.  You reap the rewards of your hard work and get a new start.  How wonderful!  Tam and I went to the Pumpkin Regatta this past weekend.  The whole thing was pretty charming.  Each year local farmers take their largest pumpkins, hollow them out, get all dressed up and race around this little shopping center pond.  It’s a sweet, little family event with pie eating contests, llamas, pumpkin decorating and good food.  It was lovely. 

October 26, 2011
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Community Dinner:  Soup, Salad, and Bread Sticks!

Tam and I have been really blessed to have an amazing community here in Portland already.  Every other Thursday a group of us come together, bring good food and enjoy each others company while 4 little girls run around and fill the house with lots of energy and giggling.  Our dinners are so sweet, we always have some kind of a theme and everyone that attends is excited to share whatever dish they came up with.  I was excited too for this night because I was going to try and take on Thai Hot and Sour Soup, Tom Yum Gai.  I couldn’t find a recipe in which I could get all the ingredients so I kind of winged it.  I think it turned out pretty good, I didn’t get a chance to take a picture because it was gone before I could snap one.  I had some help from Sarah, our housemate, the mistress of the house we’re living in (I don’t think people say that anymore, that’s weird, I just mean it’s her house in which she has graciously invited us into).  I couldn’t have finished the recipe if she didn’t help me out with it, I was like a mad woman in the kitchen so I was very grateful for her help.  The winged recipe is as follows:

Ingredients:

  • 6 c. Water
  • 2-3 tbsp. Chicken Base (I think you can use chicken broth, I’m just cheap)
  • 1 tbsp. Ginger (you’re not supposed to use ginger you’re supposed to use galangal, but I couldn’t find it or even say it properly to ask for it so I used ginger and it came out fine)
  • 3 stocks lemongrass (I found it at Safeway, I chopped 1 stock and crunched the other two and threw them in whole.  I like the taste of lemongrass but I don’t like to eat it that’s why I didn’t chop them all up)
  • 4 Thai chilies, chopped (It was pretty spicy with 4, depends on how you like it)
  • 1 Shallot, finely chopped
  • 1 Lime
  • 1 tsp garlic chili paste
  • 1 tbsp. fish sauce
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast, shredded
  • 1 package sliced mushrooms (I used white mushrooms)
  • Cilantro, chopped with stems
  • Basil

Ok, so I put my water into a high sided skillet, added the chicken base and whisked it all together.  Add ginger, lemongrass, chilies, and shallot bring to a simmer.  Add lime juice, chili paste, and fish sauce.  Place the chicken breast into the broth.  At this point it should be raw, cover the the pan, you don’t want all the yummy broth to evaporate.  The chicken will poach in the broth, let it cook until it is white and the juice runs clear.  Take out the chicken, shred it with a fork.  Put the chicken and the mushrooms into the soup.  Let it simmer until the mushrooms are tender.  I like to let soups simmer together a little longer so the flavors have time to come out.  Serve with some basil and some jasmine rice.  

Like I said this is not a legit recipe, this is what I came up with from a few different recipes.  I didn’t even get to eat any the pan was empty when I got up to get some, I love it when that happens!  The best compliment ever!  So have fun if you try it and let yourself play around with it!  Good Luck! 

October 21, 2011
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Bulviniai Blynai or Potato Pancakes!

Our poor housemates.  They’re having to deal with all these crazy ethnic foods I’m cooking up.  After we finish dinner, I run around the house with air freshener just to get the scent of European Market out of the air.  We went to the Polish Festival a few weeks ago and they had potato pancakes there.  It was a fun experience but I left bothered;  Bothered by the fact that the food was so expensive and I didn’t get to try everything AND I was extremely perturbed with myself for thinking over and over again, “I could make that, oh!  I can make that too!  And it would be so much better than this stuff and cheaper.”  Sometimes I can be such a judgmental punk, shame on me!  But I love potato pancakes or Bulviniai Blynai, phoenetically that’s bull-vin-nay blee-nai (that’s what they’re called in Lithuanian).  They remind me of home.  In no way are these healthy for you, you basically use a whole bottle of oil to cook them up (that’s a little bit of an exaggeration, but kind of not), but they really hit the spot.  Tam was thoroughly amazed by the dish which encouraged some funny dinner conversation:

Tam:  Well, what are they?

Me:  Potato Pancakes.

Tam:  Is it more potato or more pancake?

Me:  Well it’s mostly potato and a little pancake I guess.

Tam:  So this is made out of potato?

Me:  Yup.

Tam:  What ethnicity does this come from?

Me:  Lithuanian.

Tam:  Well, why haven’t you made this before?

Me:  I didn’t think about it.

Tam:  So this is potato, in pancake form.

Me:  Yup.

    The truth is, I’ve never actually made these before.  But I did grow up watching my mama, močiutė (grandma), and tetos (aunts) create magic in the kitchen my whole life.  Now, it”s a little easier to make some of these Lithuanian/ Eastern European dishes than back then.  Mostly because now we have marvelous appliances like blenders to help us in the kitchen but I wonder how my family in the motherland used to do it?  I’ve seen crazy contraptions in my močiutės kitchen that she used to kick the crap out of food to make these hearty dishes.  I know that they used to grate the potatoes by hand, maybe that was a better way to do it, but never the less I want to say “thank you” to modern technology. 

    So here’s the recipe below, I called my mom right before I started to make sure I was getting it right.  I’m no good with recipes, I just kind of feel it out and experiment, so I apologize if this is a little wacky. 

    Ingredients:

    • 5 potatoes, peeled and cubed
    • 1/2 onion, quartered
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 tbls. flour
    • splash of water
    • Vegetable oil (I used olive oil because that’s all I had, but it’s a lot more expensive)
    • salt and pepper, to taste

    Ok, so chop all your stuff up, throw your potatoes, onion, eggs, flour, water, and salt and pepper into the blender.  I used the stir setting on the blender, it worked best.  You want your batter to be like a really soupy, runny oatmeal (sounds delicious right?).  After that’s ready, put your oil into a frying pan, heat it up on medium-high heat.  You’ll cook your potato pancakes just like real pancakes except with oil and lots of it (almost like deep frying them).   Make sure you have enough oil, about a 1/4 in covering the bottom of the pan (I told you its not healthy).  You should only turn them once,  when the edges start browning and the pancake slides easily with the spatula it’s time to flip.  I let my pancakes sit on a paper-toweled plate for a bit to catch some of the oil and that’s it.  Slap a dollop of sour cream on those suckers and you’re ready for dinner.  

    October 15, 2011
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    Photoset

    Before we left Phoenix, my mom and I had a little project that we worked on.  Together we redecorated her guest bathroom.  My mom has this sweet, little house in Scottsdale that she has pretty much remodeled on her own and made into this awesome, Tuscan meets Euro Country meets Western abode.  I love it, but one of the last rooms to remain undone was her guest bathroom.  As a gift to her and an opportunity to spend time together before I left town we took on this project.  It was so wonderful to have that time together and be creative together. Most of it was wonderful, some of it was really difficult (my mom and I are really alike in some ways and we tend to butt heads, and she likes to tell me what to do a lot, even though I’m a grown ass woman), but all in all, I think it came out really great.  And my mom calls me still at least once a day and tells me how much she loves it:  mission accomplished.  To go with the rest of the house, but to still let the room have its own vibe we decided to give it a very girly, French style theme. 

    October 10, 2011
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