Meal Planning – Page 122 – Pollywog's Place Blog

April Holidays

Published on March 28, 2017July 11, 2018 by Susie @ Pollywog's Place BlogLeave a comment

I will try to update this list with some fun activities as well. Feel free to click the links to find out more about the origins and meanings behind these special days. I plan to incorporate a few of these into our normal homeschool routine to add a little fun and excitement to our days. Have fun and maybe make up your own personal family holiday or tradition for the month!

This month is also know as:

National Humor Month
International Guitar Month
Keep America Beautiful Month
Lawn and Garden Month
National Kite Month
National Poetry Month
National Pecan Month
Stress Awareness Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month

The weeks are known as:

Week 1 Library Week
Week 1 Read a Road Map Week.
Week 2 Garden Week
Week 3 Organize Your Files Week
Week 4 Administrative Assistants Week
Week 4 National Karaoke Week

(Links will be updated closer to the dates of each holiday.)

I found this list and more here:

April Fool’s Day (1st)

**see April Fool’s Day for more activities

National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day (2nd)

** be sure to check out Homeschool: April on Pinterest for some interesting recipes.

Caramel Popcorn Day (7th)

** see Microwave Caramel Popcorn for an easy recipe

Draw a Picture of a Bird Day (8th)

** how to draw a bird for kids on YouTube, also see my Pinterest board linked below.

Palm Sunday

**see Palm Sunday for more activities

Passover

**see Passover for more activities

National Siblings Day (10th)

**see National Siblings Day for more activities

Barbershop Quartet Day (11th)

**barbershop quartets for kids on YouTube

Good Friday (14th)

**see Good Friday for more activities

Easter (16th for 2017 but the date varies)

**see Easter for more activities

National Cheeseball Day (17th)

National High Five Day (3rd Thursday)

Look Alike Day (20th)

Earth Day (U.S.) (22nd)

**see Earth Day for more activities

National Jelly Bean Day (22nd)

National Zucchini Bread Day (23rd)

** see Zucchini Bread for a recipe

Pig in a Blanket Day (24th)

** see Pig in a Blanket for links to recipes

World Penguin Day (25th)

**see Penguin Awareness Day for more activities

National Pretzel Day (26th)

** see Easy Soft Pretzels for a recipe

Arbor Day (last Friday)

**see Arbor Day for more activities

National Honesty Day (30th)

**see Honesty for more activities

Also check out:

Homeschool: April on Pinterest

Smothered Pork Sandwiches

Published on March 27, 2017March 27, 2017 by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog1 Comment

My family loves this dish. The ‘gravy’ can also be used on burgers to make what we call a ‘smothered burger’. This dish can also be served over rice or noodles instead of in buns.

Pork Sandwiches

Ingredients:

2-3 lbs pork loin, cut into thin strips
4 T.butter or margarine
4 T. oil
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2 c. mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 – 2 c. beef broth
2 T. Dijon mustard
2 T. soy sauce
3 T. cornstarch
1/2 c. water
8 – 10 hoagie rolls, or hot dog buns

Directions:

Heat 2 T. butter and 2 T. oil in a large skillet. Add onion and cook until starting to brown, add the mushrooms and cook 3-5 minutes more. Remove from pan and set aside.

Heat the remaining butter and oil in the same skillet. Add small portions of the pork and cook until done. Cook the remaining pork in batches. Remove from pan and set aside.

Add the broth, mustard, and soy sauce in the same pan. Use the whisk to scrape up any little bits in the pan. Mix the cornstarch and water together and add to the pan. Heat until slightly thickened. Return the onions and mushrooms to the pan. Heat through.

Fill the buns with the pork and spoon the gravy mixture over the top.

-Or-

You can also add the meat to the gravy before serving.

Enjoy!

March 26 – April 1, 2017 Meal Plan

Published on March 24, 2017March 27, 2017 by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog1 Comment

This is our basic meal plan for the week. Sometimes we will switch the days around if I forgot to set something out or put something in the crock pot. Please feel free to use this or change it around to suit your family’s needs.

I have started trying to do easier meals on days that I have square dancing obligations. This helps me to be able to put a nice meal on the table without feeling guilty about having some much needed ‘Mommy Time’. Some of these meals may also help with those that have busy or irregular schedules due to work or extracurricular activities.

I do have ‘Snacks/Desserts’ listed as well. I always try to keep a bowl of fresh fruit out on the counter or table for the kids to snack on. Sometimes I will make a special snack or treat for us to enjoy.

Sunday

Breakfast:

Homemade Amish Cinnamon Rolls ** new recipe

Lunch:

soup, grilled cheese

Dinner:

Pintos, hoe cakes, greens

Snacks/Desserts:

Easy Apple Dumplings

Monday

Breakfast:

Cereal/Oatmeal

Lunch:

Tuna salad sandwiches, veggies

Dinner:

Sloppy Joes, French Fries, Cole Slaw

Snacks/Desserts:

root beer floats

Tuesday

Breakfast:

French Toast

Lunch:

hot dogs, fresh veggies

Dinner:

Breakfast for dinner

Snacks/Desserts:

Fruit

Wednesday

Breakfast:

Basic Muffins

Lunch:

PB & J Sandwiches, Fruit

Dinner:

Mississippi Pot Roast, Mashed Potatoes, veggies

Snacks/Desserts:

Muffins

Thursday

Breakfast:

Pancakes

Lunch:

leftovers

Dinner:

Crockpot Taco Soup, Rice, Chips

Snacks/Desserts:

Lazy Dazy Cookie Cake

Friday

Breakfast:

Cereal/Oatmeal

Lunch:

hot dogs, fresh veggies

Dinner:

Briarpatch Casserole, Salad, buttered bread

Snacks/Desserts:

popcorn

Saturday

Breakfast:

Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread, eggs, fruit

Lunch:

egg salad sandwiches, veggies

Dinner:

Land Your Man Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, rolls

Snacks/Desserts:

Sopapillas

Waffle Day

Published on March 22, 2017March 21, 2017 by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog4 Comments

There are actually 2 calendar days to celebrate waffles. National Waffle Day is March 25th and International Waffle Day is August 24th. Click here to learn more about these holidays.

Listed below are some links to various waffle recipes. I have even included one for pecan waffles as March 25th is also Pecan Day.

My Pancakes recipe can also be used for Waffles.

These can be made in numerous ways so I am just going to post a few links to other sites to show some ways that they are made. Feel free to leave a link to your favorite recipe in the comments.

Mini Crescent Dogs from Pillsbury.com

Pigs in a Blanket from Allrecipes.com

Pigs in a Blanket (From Scratch) from Food.com

Neely’s Pigs in a Blanket from Foodnetwork.com (these are a little different from the ordinary)