Monday, April 30, 2012

Menu Plan Monday~ April 30/12

We are having a blast with family. It's been so fun showing them around and having the extra help with the girls and with housework. The girls attached to them so quickly again and it's just so sweet to see so many hugs and kisses passed between Nana, Poppee, Maddy and Rose. There's definitely a lot of love going around :)

Monday- Stuffed Shells

Tuesday- Chicken Noodle Soup

Wednesday- Leftovers

Thursday- Dinner out for Dad Baylor's Birthday :)

Friday- Baked Mac and Cheese - I just had to let them try it!

Monday, April 23, 2012

Menu Plan Monday~ April 23/12


Well, it's an exciting week here in the Baylor family. Tim's parents arrive tomorrow from Pennsylvania. We are beyond thrilled to have some family visiting for a few weeks. This is our first family since leaving the states about 7 months ago. Tim and I were both starting to get homesick, so their trip out is such a blessing to our hearts!

I have been rushing around a bit the past few weeks trying to get everything in order around here(food, cleaning, planning touristy things to do). But it will be so worth it :)

The Menu's are going to be trimmed down over the next few weeks due to the craziness, but hey - I did them, so that's good. Everyone will have something to eat!

Monday- Baked Chicken, Grilled asparagus

Tuesday- Fajitas, Guacamole, chips

Wednesday- Chicken with Asparagus and Red Roasted Peppers

Thursday- Cheddar Bacon Burgers (466 calories a burger)

Friday- Spaghetti with tomato sauce and salad



Linked up with Orjunkie

Monday, April 16, 2012

Menu Plan Monday~ April 16/12

Monday- Spinach salad with bacon, hard boiled eggs, cheddar cheese and veggies, (250 calories)

Tuesday- Rachel Ray's Quesadilla Casserole, (400 calories a slice)

Wednesday- Cold Sesame Noodles with Chicken
* I got this recipe from a friend and have been looking for a chance to make it :)

3/4 pound spaghettini or soba noodles                            1/4 t salt
1 T grated fresh ginger                                                   1/8 t cayenne
1T brown sugar                                                              3 scallions, thinly slices
2 T rice vinegar                                                              1 large red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter                                         1 T toasted sesame seeds
1/4 cup soy sauce                                                      *I'm also adding chicken
1 garlic clove
1 large cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded and cut into diagonal slices

1. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook spaghettini or soba noodles until tender but still firm, about 8 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water until cool. Drain well.
2. In food processor, combine ginger, brown sugar, sesame oil, vinegar, peanut butter, soy sauce, garlic, salt, cayenne, puree until sauce is smooth.
3 In large bowl, combine noodles, cooked chicken, and sauce. Toss until combined.
4. In a medium bowl, combine cucumber, scallions, and bell pepper. Toss to mix. Mound vegetables on pasta ans sprinkle sesame seeds on top. Serve at room temperature.

Thursday- Greek Penne Chicken(450 calories if you make meal 6 servings instead of 4), salad

Friday- Baked Mac and Cheese (500 calories for 1 cup), grilled asparagus - I'm bringing a meal to a mama and this one is always such nice comfort food :) And I usually just use all sharp white cheddar because the other cheeses are hard to find here and are more expensive.


For more great menu ideas, check out orgjunkie

Thursday, April 12, 2012

#004 You Might Live in Scotland If...

...you wash all of your dishes by hand. 

And in case you were wondering, YES I always look so put together when I wash my dishes :)

Of course I know that many people have to wash their dishes by hand, but it seems to be more predominant here. Our flat did not come with a dishwasher (some do), so I have come to terms with it and learned how to hand wash dishes efficiently. I really disliked it at first. I can't believe it, but in almost 9 years of marriage, we've always had a dishwasher! So this was quite the change for me. But I've started to like the time to think, listen to music, meditate on scripture (I keep a verse right by the sink), listen to a sermons, or just watch/listen to "The Cosby Show"on my computer :) I'm also am blessed that I have a nice big window to look out into our garden to help pass the time. I have been trying not to complain about the little inconveniences. We are blessed with SO much compared to many in the world. I want to practice having a heart of contentment.

I Timothy 6:8, " But if I have food and clothes I will be content with that."

Monday, April 09, 2012

Menu Plan Monday~ April 9/12

Well, I didn't even have a chance to post my recipes last Sunday because I was finishing up my thesis - yahoo! But we did eat, I promise :)  It's been a fun/festive week celebrating the Resurrection of Christ! Here are some pics from the weekend. I found some great deals on meat this week, so we are getting a variety - not just chicken like usual :) Some of the recipes have calorie counts, but the others I'll have to figure out this week. I hope to get back on track with posting calorie counts for all of the meals again. I know it helps me in my planning to know ahead of time what my caloric intake will be for dinner so that I can plan my breakfast and lunch better :) Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Monday- Quick Quiche, fresh fruit - Thank you Kelly :)
291 Calories a slice
Tuesday- Asian Tacos- Thank you Emily :)


Wednesday- Garlic Lime Shrimp Thank you Christy :)

Thursday- Sour Cream Noodle Bake, salad

Friday- Grilled Salmon and Oven Roasted Cauliflower (from Snack Girl!)
For one serving = 88 calories, 3.6 g fat, 12.3 g carbohydrates, 4.5 g protein, 5.1 g fiber
Find more great recipes at Orgjunkie

Tuesday, April 03, 2012

The Ending of an Era

You'll have to excuse me for a second while I scream; Yaaaaaahhhhhooooo! I just finished giving the presentation of my Master's of Arts in Teaching thesis via Skype last night :) The presentation went well and I passed with very minor revisions which I will need to turn in by April 15th. Easy Peasy!

There is such a sense of relief that is flooding over me. I started this program in January of 2008 (a full year before Madison was born!) - yea she's almost 3 1/2 now :) So it's been some time in coming! I remember first starting classes when I was teaching in Chicago. I would finish my day of teaching, get in the car and drive straight to class with a 1.5 hour commute - sometimes 3 in traffic! I would be in class one or two nights a week from 6pm-10pm or and sometimes a weekend class. I chipped away at my homework, and little by little finished one class at a time.

Then I got pregnant with Madison, kept teaching and going to class while pregnant. The cohort I was in(Holla Cohort 10!) became such dear friends that they threw me a surprise baby shower. What sweet memories! Love them. Then I had Madison, took a break. Got back to it for a while, got pregnant with Rose then took a break when Rose was born. Then got back to it again.

Then we moved to Scotland in September and I wasn't sure how hard it would be to finish things up being over seas. But because God is so gracious and the wonderful people in Trinity Graduate School were so helpful, I was able to finish! Well, I do have just one little requirement to actually walk for graduation. I need to study for and test out of a Health class. and THAT is it. It's a little hard to believe the end has come!

I have decided to postpone the actual graduation ceremony until December because we can't make it back to the states before then. But at least I'll get to do it!

Just for fun the other day I was looking at the Looooong list of classes and requirements they give you going into the degree and feeling such  sense of accomplishment knowing I had one by one checked each of those of my list over the past 4 years! Wow. I honestly can't believe I did it. Haha - I know that sounds sad. But there were a lot of times that I thought it would have been a whole lot easier to just turn in the towel. SO glad I didn't.

Here is the list for posterity and fun:
ID5001 Foundations of Integrative Thought
ID5002 Foundations of Cultural Engagement
ED 5210 Educational Technology
ED5551 Teaching in Culturally Diverse Settings I
ED6911 Research Methods and Design I
Ed 5350 Advanced Educational Psychology
Ed 5400 Foundations of Special Education
ED 5552 Teaching in Culturally Diverse Settings II
ED 6260 Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum
Ed 6700 Integrated Methods of teaching in Elementary and Middle School
ED6912 Research Methods and Design II
ED 67450 Clinical Practice for Elementary Certification (ie: Student teach AGAIN)
ED 7460 Advanced Seminar in Education

* Field Experience Practicum
* Basic Skills test
* Content Area Test
* APT test
My final portfolio/presentation
* Action Research poster project/presentation
Video (of my teaching) analysis and presentation
Lesson plan binder, 
* Exit Interview

* Outstanding General Ed Credits ----> This mean I had to take Algebra and Zoology at a local community college in the summers. I Honestly thought I wasn't going to pass that College Algebra class!

I could not have finished this degree without my sweetheart Tim. Seriously, there were so many assignments he stayed up late helping me with, or times he hugged me and told me I could do it while I was in tears on the couch, or watched the girls extra hours so that I could get extra study and writing time in. He's the best partner I could ask for.  But of course the highest praise goes to the Lord who gave me strength each step of the way. He is so good!