Menu Plan and Goals

Such an amazing past 10 days. We drove to my parents’ home and spent time with them and my siblings. We started the trip with two sick kids but they were back to full strength for the last 3 days. I must say, it was nice to have lots of extra hands to entertain the kids and not be the one in charge of cooking and cleaning. 🙂 It’s also amazing how productive brainstorming can be when ones mom is involved –  the 5 Layer Dip Recipes are one of the results.

Menu Plan and Goals at From this Kitchen Table

My daughter was excited to experience a movie theater for her first time, sleep in a fort made of blankets on the game room floor with one of her aunts, and run around like a maniac with her dog cousin Denalli. (They had a little too much fun together – they played like two human kids. She wasn’t intimidated at all. It was so cute!)

Menu Plan and Goals at From this Kitchen Table

One of my sisters, Alison, works at a salon and gave our daughter a (needed) first hair trim. We started calling it that after the not quite 3 year old asked “if it hurt” when we were on the way to get our hair done.

After trips like this, I always wish we lived closer. The time is always too short and too far between.

Suppers:

  • Baked Egg Rolls (bought the ingredients for Christmas and ended up having plans come up)
  • Pasta Bar (at my parents’)
  • Fried Rice (at my parents’)
  • Grilled Cheese
  • Ladies’ Bible Study
  • Homemade Pizza

Lunches:

  • Leftovers
  • Sweet Potatoes (white for my husband)

Breakfasts:

  • Pancakes
  • Granola

Goals:

  • End of year giving records for out local concert series association (didn’t happen last week)
  • Read 4 chapters of 2 different books
  • Put the Christmas decorations up
  • Clean up post vacation mess
  • Research for a project

Linking up to Menu Plan Monday

 

Book List for 2014

My book list for 2014. Jon Acuff, Elisabeth Elliot, Jesse & Susan Wise and more! Lots of good ideas.

Affiliate Links are Used

I love reading. When I was a teen I would spend hours with a book in front of my face. In my life today, though, it is something I have to be intentional about otherwise months can go by without me picking up a book.

See my favorites from last year here.

Heading into 2014 I already had several books on my to-read list and spent the week brainstorming others and came up with this list of 23. All of the pictures take you to their Amazon page (affiliate links). I plan on keeping track of these and others I read on my Pinterest account.

What books are on your list for the year?

1. Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes

2. The Shaping of a Christian Family: How My Parents Nurtured My Faith

3. The Purity Principle: God’s Safeguards for Life’s Dangerous Trails (LifeChange Books)

4. Follow Me: A Call to Die. A Call to Live.

5-9 Jane Austin’s 5 Novels:

10. Say Goodbye to Survival Mode: 9 Simple Strategies to Stress Less, Sleep More, and Restore Your Passion for Life

11. I Like Giving: The Transforming Power of a Generous Life

12. The Secret Keeper: A Novel

13. Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity

14. Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity

15. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

16.Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job & Your Dream Job

17. Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Matters

18. Running for My Life: One Lost Boy’s Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games

19. From Playpen to Podium

20. When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself

21. The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home (Third Edition)

22. The Raw Truth: Transform Your Health with the Power of Living Nutrients

23. Live Beyond Organic Change Your Diet. Change Your Life. Change Your World

Linking up to Mindful Mommy Monday, Modern Mrs. Darcy, TGIM, Living Proverbs 31, Mama Moments Monday, Babies and Beyond, Share Your Stuff Tuesday, Tending the Home Tuesday, Titus 2 Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesday, Do Tell Tuesday, Lovely Ladies Linky, WFMW, House to Home, Pin It Thursday, Thriving Thursday, Thrifty Thursday, Fabulously Frugal Thursday, Let’s Get Real, The Weekend reTreat, Fellowship Friday, Faith Filled Friday, Essential Friday, Strut Your Stuff, Link Party Palooza,  Pin It Monday, Good Tips Tuesday, Welcome Home Wednesday

Pincentive Blog Hop

Mexican Layer Dip

I love Mexican food. I also love easy recipes and ones that don’t require any cooking. This recipe is similar to 7 layer dip and makes a perfect party food. My siblings (okay, maybe me too) even enjoy having it for a simple supper.

The layer of sliced avocados is the perfect twist that most people haven’t experienced in a dip before. Make it ahead of time and store in the fridge and you have one less thing to worry about the day of your party.

Don’t forget to find all the recipes for layer dips with an international flair here.

Easy Mexican Layer Dip. Super yummy and simple put everyone loves it. My siblings eat it for supper.

Mexican Layer Dip
 
Ingredients
  • 1 can refried beans (1½ cups homemade)
  • ½ t. taco seasoning
  • ¼-1/3 sour cream
  • 1 avocado, sliced
  • shredded cheddar cheese
  • diced tomato
  • diced red onion
  • sliced olives, optional
Instructions
  1. Mix beans and taco seasoning together. Adjust with salt and additional seasoning to taste.
  2. Spread in the bottom of a pie pan.
  3. Spread with a layer of sour cream.
  4. Cover with the sliced avocado.
  5. Top with cheese, tomato, red onion, and olives.
  6. Serve with tortilla chips.

Every Friday in January I’m going to be sharing a layered dip with flavors from around the world! Be sure to subscribe via e-mail, like us on Facebook, and follow on Pinterest so you don’t miss out.

Linking up to Mindful Mommy Monday, Recipe Sharing Monday, Natural Living Monday, TGIM, Living Proverbs 31, Mama Moments Monday, Babies and Beyond, Share Your Stuff Tuesday, Tending the Home Tuesday, Titus 2 Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesday, Do Tell Tuesday, Lovely Ladies Linky, WFMW, House to Home, Pin It Thursday, Thriving Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Thrifty Thursday, All Things Thursday,  Fabulously Frugal Thursday, Let’s Get Real, The Weekend reTreat, Strut Your Stuff, Link Party Palooza,  Pin It Monday, Good Tips Tuesday, The Pin It Party, What’s Cookin’ Wednesday, Foodie Friends Friday

Pincentive Blog Hop

5 Ideas for Layer Dips

Recipes for 5 different layer dips with flavors from around the world - Indian, Oriental, Mediterranean, Mexican and Italian. They are soo addicting. Great option for Super Bowl or other gatherings.

You are supposed to bring a dish or appetizer to share, but your week is packed so you need something quick and easy that you can make ahead of time. Or perhaps you are in the mood for a light snacky dinner. It might be that you don’t want to turn the oven on. 

Whatever the reason, layered dips that are excellent chilled or room temperature fit the bill perfectly. They are easy, fun, different, and flavorful.

The five Fridays in January we are going to take a trip around the globe and enjoy layered dips with Mexican, Indian, Mediterranean, Oriental, and Italian twists.

As each post becomes live, I’ll link to it here. (First two pictures are now linked to their recipe!)

First up will be my favorite way to enjoy a Mexican Layer dip on January 3rd.

Recipes for 5 different layer dips with flavors from around the world - Indian, Oriental, Mediterranean, Mexican and Italian. They are soo addicting.

Recipes for 5 different layer dips with flavors from around the world - Indian, Oriental, Mediterranean, Mexican and Italian. They are soo addicting.

Recipes for 5 different layer dips with flavors from around the world - Indian, Oriental, Mediterranean, Mexican and Italian. They are soo addicting.

Recipes for 5 different layer dips with flavors from around the world - Indian, Oriental, Mediterranean, Mexican and Italian. They are soo addicting.

Recipes for 5 different layer dips with flavors from around the world - Indian, Oriental, Mediterranean, Mexican and Italian. They are soo addicting. Great option for Super Bowl or other gatherings.

Linking up to Faith Filled Friday, Let’s Get Real, The Weekend re-Treat, Pin It Monday, Link Party Palooza, Strut Your Stuff

Resources and Encouragement for Goal Setting

Resources and Encouragement for Goal Setting at fromthiskitchentable.com

January is here. It’s that time of year when people make goals and resolutions and dream big for the next 12 months. Some individuals make it a month, a week, or a day before giving up and others chip away at the goals the entire year.

What’s the difference? Planning, making attainable goals, selecting goals that are right for you and not someone else? Maybe it’s a little bit of everything.

Several people have shared their thoughts on succeeding when it comes to your goals. I’m compiling a list of posts for you to read and use as you plan your next year.

Linking up to Pin It Thursday, Thrifty Thursday, Faith Filled Friday, Let’s Get Real, The Weekend re-Treat, Fellowship Fridays, Pin It Monday, Link Party Palooza, Strut Your Stuff, Mindful Mommy Monday, TGIM, Living Proverbs 31, Mama Moments Monday, Good Tips Tuesday, Babies and Beyond, Share Your Stuff Tuesday, Tending the Home Tuesday, Titus 2 Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesday, Do Tell Tuesday, Lovely Ladies Linky, Welcome Home Wednesday, WFMW, House to Home, THE Pin Party, Thriving Thursday, Essential Friday, Weekend Wind-Down Link Party

Pincentive Blog Hop