The Toy Box Years: Menu Monday

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

Menu Monday

This past week, I had good intentions with my menu planning - but there were a few nights where we got off track a bit, so a few meals got pushed to this upcoming week. This week is going to be an easy week since My Marine has a lot of late nights and I've got a lot of projects and things I need to accomplish.

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So, here's our menu for the week of 11/14. The "*" indicates the recipe is at the end of this post.

Monday - 11/15

Easy Chicken *
Mashed Potatoes
Broccoli

Tuesday - 11/16
Hamburger Helper
Green Beans
Wednesday - 11/17
Potato Soup
Rolls

Thursday - 11/18
Spaghetti
Salad
Bread
Friday - 11/19
Fish
Mac and Cheese
Green Beans

Saturday - 11/20
Sloppy Joes
Fries
Salad
Sunday - 11/21
Sour Cream Bacon Chicken *
Stuffing
Green Beans

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Easy Chicken

1 can whole-berry cranberry sauce
1 bottle BBQ sauce
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Put everything in the crock pot and cook on low for about 6 hours or until the chicken is done.

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Sour Cream Bacon Chicken
Prep Time: 15 min. Cook Time: 8 hours Serves 8
8 bacon slices
8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cans roasted garlic cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
1/2 c flour

You can prepare this one of two ways. Place the bacon in a large skillet (or oven at 425 for 10 min.) and cook over medium-low heat until some of the fat is rendered. Be sure that the bacon is still pliable and not crisp. Drain on paper towels. If you use this method, reduce the flour to 1/4 cup. Or don't cook the bacon and proceed with the recipe.

Wrap one slice of bacon around each boneless chicken breast and place in a 4-5 quart crockpot. In medium bowl, combine condensed soups, sour cream, and flour and mix with a wire whisk to blend. Pour over chicken. Cover crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours until chicken and bacon are thoroughly cooked. You may want to remove the chicken and beat the sauce with a wire whisk so it is very well blended. Pour sauce over chicken.