Ramblings from the Miller Haus

This simple blog is my musing and rambling as I strive to be a servant of the Lord and seek to become a noble wife and mother.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Meal Planning






One of my weekend routines is to work on my meal planning for the next week..preferably two weeks.  Do you plan your meals?  I am a planner and a binder fanatic.  My friend Stephanie laughs at my organizing binders and suggests that I need a support group to help with my obsession!  But being a high functioning A.D.D. victim, the binders help me keep a grasp on LIFE.  One of my most used sections in my HOMEMAKING binder is "Menu Planning."  

My routine is to grocery shop every other week. Now this shopping includes all of my foods, paper products, and household products.  I do still have to purchase a few items in between these major shopping trips, such as milk and fresh produce.  My sister in law Mary and I make a trip to a nearby town and do the majority of our shopping at Aldi. We then supplement this shopping with a visit to a grocery store and bigger box store.  

Before this shopping trip I sit down with my menu planning sheet, cookbooks and recipe book.  One the planner sheet I mark special events, work schedules, and other variables.  I then peruse the cookbooks for favorites or new ideas to try. As many of you know, I have a massive collection of cookbook!  I also have a nice collection of "Taste of Home", "Quick Cooking" and other magazines.  Yes, many of these are in binders, So on the covers of these magazines I have a small piece of paper with recipes and page numbers for items I have made or would like to try.  This helps me glance through the stack instead of the entire magazine.  I'll write down recipes or dishes on the planning calendar on certain dates. Now, I will have to confess that my plans do not always go as scheduled!  But that's o.k., I can always adjust the dishes and dates.    On the planning calendar I also note the location of the recipe.

So during the following weeks I can look at the calendar and know what I'm making and can defrost and gather the items needed. I usually do this in the morning and gather the items on the counter, set items out to thaw and such.

My favorite menu planning pages are from Mom's Tool Belt.  This is an awesome website for planners. Now some people, such as Stephanie, may feel too restricted, but I LOVE printable planning pages. Helps me feel a little more in control of my days.  

Blessings on your holiday weekend. Let us not forget all of the people who have died serving the land of the free, our beloved United States of America. God please help us restore our once proud and strong Christian nation.




Here is the planners I use!  Click on the photo for the link!

Thursday, May 26, 2016


From the Miller Family Kitchen

Well, it is hovering around 80 degrees right now, with 60% humidity so we surely know this is the advent of summer weather.  As some of you know, I'm not a big fan of the heat and humidity combo.  I do tend to adapt my cooking style during the warmer months, but heated up the oven today to bake something 'sweet.'  I honestly have found if I don't have a 'sweet' around once a week we all tend to graze..looking for something to satisfy that urge. This recipe is one of my favorites as it is very quick and easy to prepare and very versatile.  You can make them plain, as the recipe is written, or add chopped nuts, dried fruits, chocolate or flavored chips. They will certainly fulfill any urges you have for a chewy, sweet treat.  They make a 13" x 9" pan, which is my favorite.   Hope you enjoy this recipe, they are worth heating up the kitchen to make!

BROWN SUGAR BARS

1 cup butter (do not substitute)
2 cups dark brown sugar
2 t. baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt (eliminate if you use salted butter)
2 t. vanilla extract
2 cups flour
2 eggs, beaten
Preheat over to 350 degrees
Lightly grease a 13" x 9" baking pan

In a large saucepan melt the butter. Add the sugar and stir well. Add the flour, then the baking powder and salt.  Add the vanilla to the beaten eggs. Mix this into your pan with the other ingredients.  The batter will be pretty thick. Spread into your prepared pan. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes. Don't overbake.


My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Psalm 73:26

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

I'm back in the saddle again...

Good morning friends!  I've made a prayerful decision to gradually leave Facebook and gear my creative energy to this blog.  Having a ravenous appetite for homemaking and creating I am always seeking out new ideas and inspiration. Having a blog will give me the opportunity to share my ideas.  Read at your leisure and I hope you find some inspiration.  I lovingly embrace my role as a wife and mother in my homemaking, albeit an ever evolving role. God Bless you and your family. Thanks for reading my little corner in this big world God has given us to share.