I tried a new recipe for supper tonight. It was excellent. I will definitely add this to our recipe rotation.

I found the recipe in a magazine, and adapted it. Because I even change recipes I’ve never made before!

Here’s what I used:

1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 cup turkey broth(it’s what I had on hand, you can use chicken, too)
2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
2/3 cup cashews
4 teaspoons vegetable oil
3 scallions, white minced, green sliced
1/2 teaspoon ginger
8 cups broccoli (I used frozen)
3 cloves fresh garlic
1/2 cup water (I used more broth)
2/3 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper

Whisk together the cornstarch, 1/2 cup broth and the soy sauce. Set aside.

Lightly toast the cashews in a dry skillet over low heat, stirring occasionally, until nuts are warm, about 5 minutes.

Heat a large frying pan over medium high heat. Add oil. Add broccoli, scallion whites. Cook for about 2 minutes, then add garlic and ginger, stirring well.

Pour the water(or remaining broth) in and cover pan. Reduce heat to medium, cooking for about 3 minutes or until broccoli is tender.

Uncover pan and raise heat to medium high. Add bell peppers and sauce, heat until it’s bubbling, then add the scallion greens and cashews.

It was so good. Everyone liked it and said I should make it again.

We had a busy week last week, so I had to change some of the menu items to something easier. For example, instead of meatloaf, we had hamburger patties. Meatloaf is on the menu again this week.

I’m looking forward to trying the Baked Teriyaki Chicken. I was going to make it tonight, but the girls and I have Bible Study, and DH is working late, so we need something quick and easy.

Saturday Cheeseburgers & homemade french fries- my birthday dinner made by the guys – “With freshly cut tomatoes, and freshly shredded lettuce” – My husband!

Sunday Turkey sandwiches with lettuce and tomatoes

Monday Turkey sandwiches…yes…again, the girls and I have Bible study, and DH is working late, so they get sandwiches.

Tuesday Slop – fried cabbage, onions, potatoes and hot dogs (The kids named it slop!)

Wednesday Meatloaf, twice baked potatoes, carrots

Thursday Baked Teriyaki Chicken , Baked potatoes, broccoli

Friday Turkey Soup

For more Menu Plan Monday ideas, visit I’m an Organizing Junkie.

In January, I decided to participate in Money Saving Mom’s Eat From The Pantry Challenge.

I only set 2 goals for myself.

Then I didn’t update for the rest of the month. So here’s one big whole month update:

Goal #1. I will try to only buy fruits, veggies, dairy.

We mostly met this goal. We, of course, had to buy DH’s lunches to take to work. I wasn’t able to make as much homemade bread as I wanted, so we had to buy bread. But then, we didn’t have to buy a lot of baking products.

Goal #2. My goal is to spend no more than $50.00 a week on food.

Yeah, I was a little overly optimistic on the $$. Fruit isn’t cheap in the winter, and we do go through a lot of fruit. I am glad that we like to eat fruit, though.

We also added a baby goat to bottle feed. He gets store bought whole milk. He has been going through 2 gallons of milk, and will likely go up to three this week. How can one little baby goat go through as much milk as our family in a week?

Even though we ate LOTS of turkey this month, we still have a whole turkey in the freezer. That’s a good thing, though. As we are completely out of beef. Until we buy another 1/2 cow, that is.

I, also, wasn’t able to go shopping at all again this month. DH continued to do the shopping. Which means no bargain shopping, just one stop shopping at Walmart.

We averaged $100. a week for the month of January. That is a savings of $50. a week over what we had been spending. We used the savings to pay bills.

So, even though I didn’t update all month, the Eat From The Pantry Challenge was a success in our house.

To see how others did in the challenge, visit Money Saving Mom’s Pantry Challenge.

I have learned that writing down a menu saves me time and a few brain cells. So why don’t I take the time to write it down every week?

I don’t know….sigh……I just really need to make myself do it.

Saturday – Turkey Alfredo Spaghetti & broccoli Alfredo sauce with turkey stirred in, over spaghetti

Sunday – Homemade Turkey Soup with croutons

Monday – Leftovers

Tuesday – Baked Chicken, Baked Potatoes, green beans

Wednesday – Meatloaf, twiced baked potatoes, cauliflower & broccoli

Thursday – Roasted Turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce

Friday – Stir Fry with left over turkey and frozen stir fry veggies

For Menu Plan Monday ideas, visit I’m an Organizing Junkie.