This Week for Dinner – Weekly Meal Plans, Dinner Ideas, Recipes and More!: Fun Stuff

Category: Fun Stuff

Sunday, February 26

Week 266 Menu

Remember rice candy?

I do. I received a box when I was in first or second grade that I cherished. There’s something about an edible wrapper that seems magical. I don’t even remember if I liked the candy itself, but I loved the idea of it. I haven’t had this candy since then, but last night Cate got her own box for the first time at a birthday party. When I looked at that packaging, it swiftly brought back memories that made me smile. Cate just tried her first piece and said, “It’s good” very matter-of-factly. Then, after a few minutes and the wrapper had dissolved in her mouth, she changed her review to “It’s awesome!” The magic continues.

I don’t even know how to plan this week’s menu, since I can only eat soft foods. Honestly we might end up eating out a lot, but I’m planning a menu anyway to see if I can get my act together!

MONDAY:
- Cream of mushroom soup

TUESDAY:
- Eat out to celebrate my sister’s arrival in the Bay Area! (She’s moving here and we are beside ourselves with excitement!)

WEDNESDAY:
- Chicken Piccata with mashed potatoes

THURSDAY:
- Chicken Soup with Rice

FRIDAY:
- Leftovers

SATURDAY:
- Eat out

SUNDAY:
- Omelettes (I really need to do a post about Nate’s technique, maybe this week I’ll finally take some photos and pull that together for you all!)

It’s time…time for you to share your menu for the week! Remember, we don’t care what’s on the menu, fancy or not just share!

Posted by Jane Maynard at 8:54 am 62 Comments
Categories: musings, the goods, weekly menus
Friday, February 24

The greatest liquid and soft foods list in the world!

I need your help today. As you know, I had oral surgery yesterday. Not only did it take ALL DAY (which we were not anticipating) but YOWZAH my mouth hurts. Also, I sound like a crazy person when I talk. Just ask Helen Jane. I called her last night to get some help on work and she literally laughed when she first heard me. Rightly so, my friends, rightly so. Don’t feel bad for me. If you were Helen Jane, you would have laughed, too.

Anyway, back to the help-from-you part. I have to “eat” a liquid diet for two days and then soft foods for one week. I’ve got chicken broth, green smoothies (thanks, Cherisse!) and ice cream all ready to go, but certainly there must be other options, right? So, I’m coming to you for advice. Share your best ideas for liquid and soft meals…especially if you’ve been in this boat in the past and have experience. And if you have strong opinions on things I should not eat at this time, share those, too!

Our goal is to create the greatest liquid and soft foods list in the world! Pretty awesome goal, eh? When some poor soul like me searches “liquid and soft foods to eat after oral surgery,” I want them to find your beautiful and comprehensive list. It’s a public service we’re performing here, folks. Now, share those ideas!

Posted by Jane Maynard at 9:44 am 36 Comments
Categories: call for recipes, musings
Wednesday, February 22

Ancient Kitchen Treasures, i.e. Kitchen Stuff You’ve Had Forever and Couldn’t Live Without!
Nate and I have been married for almost 13 years (time flies when you’re having fun!). When we got married, we were literally babies and had no money whatsoever. Everything we had to furnish our dark, basement apartment in Arlington, MA was a wedding gift. Which means we didn’t really choose much of anything for our home…some of it we registered for, a lot of it we didn’t. And, the thing is, we couldn’t have cared less. We were so grateful for each and every gift and used it all! (Come to think of it, even our car was a gift from my Aunt Barb and Uncle Mark…a little white pick-up truck fondly known as White Trash, may she rest in peace.)

I still use many of those wedding gifts on a daily basis. It’s kind of amazing how they are standing the test of time! The other day as I was digging around for one of these items, I had the inspiration for this post. I want to hear about YOUR favorite items that have been around forever that you simply can’t live without!

I’ll kick us off with a few of my ancient treasures that I never would have guessed would be treasures when I received them nearly 13 years ago…
- Steak knives. One of the sets of pots and pans we received (which have since bit the dust) came with a set of steak knives. As you can imagine, they’re pretty darn cheap. But I can’t tell you how much I LOVE these steak knives! They cut GREAT and I can use and abuse them without feeling guilty. I really can’t believe how awesome they are. I couldn’t live without them!
- Our everyday dishes from Crate & Barrel. We picked out some random white, basic dishes at Crate & Barrel for our registry, along with a set of blue glass bowls. NOT ONE DISH has broken since we got married. And we use them every single day. The white dishes don’t even have those grey scuff marks that often happens with this type of dishware. They are magical. For two clueless undergrads who had no idea what they were registering for, we totally scored.
- Plastic mixing spoons, ladle, spatula and measuring cups. Again, just random stuff people gave us. I love them all. That spatula has been through a lot with me and has the battle wounds to prove it. And that white spoon? It’s perfect, I tell ya, perfect.
There are definitely a few more items that have stuck around all this time that we still use, but the ones above, well, they are special.

Can’t wait to hear about your ancient treasures!
Posted by Jane Maynard at 11:01 am 27 Comments
Categories: musings, the goods
Thursday, February 9

Random Little Techy Tips

Okay, I know this is a food blog. You’re expecting food. But today I need to share two little techy tips. The first is an iPhone thing that’s still kinda blowing my mind…not because it’s all that life changing, but because I can’t believe I didn’t know it. And another little trick for your computer (Mac or PC) that’s been around forever and a bunch of you probably already know but some of you don’t and need to! Figured if we’re getting techy, may as well throw it in.

Random iPhone Tip: (The following applies to the iPad as well!)
Did you know that when you open an app on your iPhone and then click the home button you are not closing the app? It stays open and runs in the background. I know, crazy, right?

Wanna know how to close an app? You double click the home button and a bar appears at the bottom and shows every app that is open and running in the background.

Press and hold one of the apps (like when you want to move apps around your phone), and a little minus sign will appear in the top left corner of each app icon.

Just tap the minus sign and then the app closes down.

Hit the home button, the minus signs disappear and everything stops wiggling, then hit the home button again to go to your regular screen.

Every single app I have on my phone was running when a person I was sitting next to on the plane showed me this little trick.

Theoretically the apps open faster when they’re running in the background, but I honestly don’t see a difference in speed if I open them from closed or from a running-in-the-background state. I was thinking last night, though, that if you want to flip between apps without first having to go to the home screen and potentially needing to flip through multiple screens, then this actually could come in handy. Of course, I’ll have to retrain my brain to use the phone that way, but it does in fact save you a couple of clicks moving between apps. For example:

I’m in Facebook looking at how cute the pictures I took of my kids are. Suddenly I need to go play a little Words with Friends.

Just double-click. Select Words. Kick a few people’s butts. Double click again. Select Facebook and get back to admiring my own photos.

Is your mind blown? Mine is.

{Update 4/13/12: When I originally wrote this post, I included mis-information about the apps taking up battery power and processing speed while running in the background…I have since been happily corrected, updated this post and wrote a new post with the new information…click here to see it!}

Random Computer Tip:
Alt+Tab (PC) or Command+Tab (Mac) is my MOST FAVORITE KEYBOARD SHORTCUT IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD. Just do it and see what happens. Right now. You’re on a computer, right? Okay, see how it brings up all your programs that are open? And how you can continue holding down Alt/Command and then click tab to move through the programs? I’m sure some of you know this. But I’m also sure some of you don’t. And for those of you who don’t, now you do and your life has changed forever. You’re welcome.

One more random iPhone tip that I just thought of and feel it is my duty to share:
The front glass on an iPhone 4s is NOT FIXABLE. I learned the hard way and it cost me $250. You could replace the front glass on the 3G models, but not these new fandangled iPhones. You may want to go out and buy a more protective case now, especially if you didn’t buy Apple Care. Just sayin’.

That’s all my friends. Go and be techy.

Posted by Jane Maynard at 11:33 am 23 Comments
Categories: fab faves, Fun Stuff, musings
Tuesday, January 31

Happy 5th Birthday, This Week for Dinner!

Happy 5th Birthday, This Week for Dinner!

It’s kind of surreal. I really, truly can’t believe I’ve been plugging away at this blog for five years. When I started the blog, I only posted once a week and, quite honestly, I only ever expected my friends Adrianne and Emily to bop on here to tell me what they were cooking for dinner (they were always better planners than me). Little did I know what I was getting myself into! It’s been such a fun ride and has opened up so many amazing opportunities for me. But what I’m most grateful for is all of YOU…for reading, for sharing, and for connecting, with me and with each other. This blog would not be what it is without you. So, happy birthday!

Today I made Julia Child’s Best Ever Brownies to celebrate. And, in true Jane fashion, I undercooked them. I’m always undercooking things when I bake, it’s ridiculous! This morning’s experience reminded me of a comment my sweet husband Nate made when I started the blog: “Jane starting a food blog is like me starting a painting blog.” In case you’re wondering {despite his claims of a Renaissance year in fifth grade} Nate is not artistic, so yes, that made it a sarcastic, snarky comment. And yes, he thinks he’s funny {so do I, actually}. Well, the joke’s on him. I’ve still got a food blog! Neener neener. Although, apparently five years of food blogging has not helped fix my under-baking mental hiccup! But I digress…

To celebrate 5 years, how about a giveaway from KitchenAid? Sounds good to me!

I love KitchenAid. I love my stand mixer. I use it all the time. I love my measuring spoons. I use them all the time. And now…I love my hand blender! I use it…well, I’ve used it twice because I just got it! But it rocked. I’ve always wanted a hand blender and finally I have one! (Thanks, KitchenAid!) My hand blender’s maiden voyage was with cream of mushroom soup. It worked beautifully and the soup had a wonderful texture. And then, this morning as I was whipping up the brownies, I had a hand blender epiphany! The recipe uses a lot of bowls. It’s kind of annoying, actually. There’s a part where I normally beat the eggs in my stand mixer, but I just didn’t feel like getting it out and washing yet another bowl. And I didn’t feel like digging around my utensils for the hand mixer beaters, so I started to whisk by hand. After about 10 seconds, my arm was tired. And then it hit me…the hand blender has a whisk attachment! It was easy to grab from its special storage case, easy to use, and easy to clean. It was quite serendipitous since I was making the brownies for this very post!

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you! And now you have a chance to get your own hand blender and have your own blending epiphanies! To celebrate TWFD’s big day, we are giving away one KitchenAid 5-Speed Hand Blender (retail $129.99)! It’s fancy dancy, complete with chopper attachment, blender attachment, removable pan guard (so you can use it in any pan without damaging the pan), whisk, blade covers, and a storage case. It’s super easy to attach and detach the blades and to clean the various pieces. It’s pretty much just plain old awesome. That’s all.

To enter, just do what you always do! Leave a comment on this post before Midnight PT on Tuesday, February 7. One randomly-selected winner will be announced on February 8.

Good luck! And make sure to eat some chocolate today. The blog wants you to. It is the blog’s birthday after all, you should probably just do it.

Posted by Jane Maynard at 12:46 pm 585 Comments
Categories: Fun Stuff, Giveaways, the goods
Friday, January 20

Gearing Up for Baby: Rockin’ Baby Sling {and Giveaway!}

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks! BUT…keep reading because this is a cool baby sling!

It’s been a while since I have done a Gearing Up for Baby post…but I still have a baby and I’m still trying out lots of cool gear! Today I wanted to share a nifty sling that I discovered…and of course host a giveaway!

I wanted some sort of pouch or sling for when Owen was born. I did a quick search on Cool Mom Picks (which is also where I first discovered the Orbit travel system), and both Liz and Kristen had only glowing things to say about the Rockin’ Baby pouch. So, I got on the horn (okay, I sent an email, but how long has it been since you said “got on the horn”…I couldn’t resist) to Rockin’ Baby to see if I could try out their pouch and do a giveaway…and they happily obliged!

This pouch is very cool. There are zippers in the back that make it easy to adjust to the right size and it’s easy to get on and off. I don’t know about you, but other slings are intimidating to me, with yards of fabric to contend with. This pouch is simple and to the point. If you do like a more traditional sling, however, Rockin’ Baby has those, too!

I think my favorite part of Rockin’ Baby is their ONE FOR ONE business model, similar to Tom’s shoes. Every time someone buys a sling, Rockin’ Baby gives one to a mother in Haiti and educates those mothers on the impact a sling can have in their lives. Kathryn Wiley, who purchased the Rockin’ Baby business last year, bought the company because she loved the product and she had the lovely vision to evolve the business into a Mother to Mother model in order to help mothers in need. It’s a cool story and I love supporting Kathryn and her vision!

Giveaway time! If you would like one of these cool pouches, just leave a comment by Midnight PT on Wednesday, January 25. If you have are expecting or have a baby, you’ll love it! If you don’t, this would make for a pretty sweet baby gift! So, get commenting! One randomly-selected winner will be announced on Thursday, January 26. Good luck!

Posted by Jane Maynard at 9:22 am 97 Comments
Categories: Gearing Up for Baby, Pregnancy and Babies, the goods
Tuesday, January 10

Call for ‘Recipes’: LUNCH IDEAS!
Bethanie, a long-time reader, recently emailed me asking if I would be willing to put the following question out there: What do you pack for your kids’ lunches? Like my daughter, her child doesn’t have the ability to heat food at school but is sick to death of sandwiches. I am in the exact same boat, so I was totally down with this call for “recipes” of sorts!

AND…for that matter…I’m having a bagel for lunch today. Which is what I had yesterday. Not exactly nutritious and definitely boring. SOOOO…

Today’s Call for Recipes is three fold!
- What do you pack for kids’ lunches, especially where they can’t reheat food?
- What kinds of food do you pack for your own lunch?
- If you eat lunch at home, what are you eating?
Bethanie ended her email with “I know the blog is ‘This week for DINNER’, but I’m desperate!” and I actually feel the same way. I’m good about getting my dinner plan together each week, but I’m terrible about lunches! Can’t wait to see all of your great ideas and tips!
Posted by Jane Maynard at 1:16 pm 53 Comments
Categories: call for recipes, kids
Friday, January 6

Homemade Tiaras

Warning: there is no food to be found in this post. Sorry. But I do promise to deliver absolute and total cuteness. Hope that makes up for it!

I am not a crafty person. I rarely have any “projects” going on, despite the fact that I am a creative, artsy type. But once in a while something catches my eye that I simply must do.

A tiara for the more courtly princesses.

As you know, Anna recently hosted a “Hello Kitty Glamour Party” for her birthday. As we prepared for the party, she said to me, “Make sure everyone wears glamour stuff to my party, mama.” I decided I could help Anna’s guests out by providing them with some lovely tiaras. But lovely tiaras are surprisingly hard to come by.

One of the benefits of editing DailyBuzz Moms is I get to read oodles of fabulous blog posts about oodles of fabulous topics. One of these such posts came from Joy’s Misadventures. Joy described how she put together her daughter’s Halloween costume, complete with a homemade tiara that was the prettiest little tiara I ever did see.

A tiara for the more whimsical, pixie-like princesses.

I emailed Joy, found out where she got the stuff, and ordered the supplies straight away! With my Hobby Lobby floral wedding beads and headbands from Target at the ready, my friend Amy and I sat down and got creative. (Please note: I made two tiaras. Amy made seven. That is friendship.)

Every tiara was unique, whimsical, adorable. I couldn’t have been happier with the result. And they were EASY to put together. Just wrap the wire around the headband. Done! Thank you, Joy, for the inspiration!

Party tiaras all in a row.

You’re welcome for making all of your tiara dreams come true.

Posted by Jane Maynard at 10:00 am 12 Comments
Categories: fab faves, Fun Stuff, kids, the goods
Sunday, January 1

Week 258 Menu…and HAPPY NEW YEAR!…and a Resolution Suggestion for You!

Happy 2012, everyone! We rang in the new year by drinking copious amounts of Coke and Martinelli’s and watching Karate Kid (which may have been obvious by my Instagram feed last night…see here and here and here). It was a pretty rockin’ party. That’s how we roll around here.

Okay, so it’s time for me to do my annual spiel…you know the one telling you how AWESOME meal planning is and that you should make it your 2012 resolution? So, here we go…meal planning is AWESOME and I think you should make it your New Year’s Resolution, starting today! Okey dokey, spiel over…but if you need some reasons why you should do it, click here! And, yes, I am ‘spieling’ for purely selfish reasons…the more of you who jump on board, the more menus I get to read each week.

MONDAY:
- Pulled BBQ Chicken (in the freezer) sandwiches, topped with coleslaw

TUESDAY:
- Chicken teriyaki and rice
- Stir fry veggies

WEDNESDAY:
- Orange Chicken and rice
- Roasted Cauliflower

THURSDAY:
- Leftovers

FRIDAY:
- Eating out with friends for a birthday celebration

SATURDAY:
- Lasagna (in the freezer)
- Crusty bread and veggie

SUNDAY:
- Waffles, fruit and home fries

Your turn! Let’s see all of your menus! And for those of you who haven’t posted a menu before…give it a try, it’s January 1 after all!

Also…even though I’m bugging you about the meal planning resolution…I am going to have another one for you later this week that I’m super excited about, building on my resolution theme from the last few years. Can’t wait to share it with you!

Here’s to a delicious 2012!

Posted by Jane Maynard at 9:21 am 78 Comments
Categories: holidays, meal planning, weekly menus
Sunday, December 25

Week 257 Menu

Merry Christmas!

My Christmas present to myself this year is NO MENU! That’s right, I’m rebelling and not planning a thing for the week. We’ll just pull stuff out of the freezer, eat out, pick at leftovers…you know, holiday eating! I’m thinking Christmas chocolate should keep us sustained, right?

Hope you all have a great holiday season whatever holidays you are celebrating!

And, if you do by chance have a menu planned for this week, please leave it in the comments!

Posted by Jane Maynard at 12:31 pm 10 Comments
Categories: holidays, weekly menus