Menu: Week 14 and Desperate Depot Shoppers

Monday

Pasta with browned butter

Fresh Fruit (cantaloupe, pineapple and blueberries)

Green salad

Tuesday

Tuna salad nicoise

Check out this recipe and a great foodie blog!!

Serve with croissants or sourdough rolls

Wednesday

Gazpacho

Cheese and chicken quesadillas

Thursday

Greek chicken salad

Friday Happy 4th of July!!!!

Hot dogs

Hamburgers

Red White and Blue Potato Salad

Chips/Dips

Raspberry Sorbet /Vanilla Ice Cream /Blueberry sorbet Ice Cream Bombe

Chocolate brownies with orange cream cheese icing

Reflections from the Backcounter

I have always found the Home Depot to be a challenging store to shop. It always leaves me very fatigued and not just a little stressed. This weekend I was desperately seeking deck stain and found myself aimlessly wandering the confusing array of homeowner supplies in the Depot. I became increasingly agitated as I looked for someone to help me, and I realized that what I was feeling was emblazoned on the faces of all the shoppers around me. I needed only to look to note that I was in a cohort of people who shared my look of near panic and exhaustion. Just what drove these people to become the Desperate Depot shoppers was clearly apparent from the items clutched in their hands. This phenomenon of the Desperate Depot shopper is an equal opportunity stressor. Homeowners in Birkenstock sandals, loafers with white socks, running shoes, and flip flops comingled among the stacks of home improvement supplies all looking for that one item that would solve their specific dilemma. The man in the loafers and white socks had a particulaly pained expression as he juggled his new plastic pipe with the crusty, cracked pipe that was the obvious source of a recent water insult. A woman in flip flops pushed a cart overflowing with packages of rags and a large floor fan...another obvious victim of the fury of water unleashed .The running shoes carried a plunger and the Birkenstock sandals organic pest killer and pet stain remover.

Each Desperate Depot shopper was experienceing their own personal hell of homeownership defined by the need to solve the problem in the short hours of the weekend. Rest and relaxation...not on the agenda for those of us who find ourselves in the Depot.

Peace,

Julia

Manic Monday

Reflections from the Backcounter

Return to work after time off is always a challenge and add that to the normal Monday mania and it is a recipe for a wild ride!!! Summer in the desert is truly upon us and the temperature is expected to rise to over 110 degrees today. This also requires that anyone participating in ANY outdoor activity learn to rise with the chickens. We were on the way to the barn this morning by 5:15 and tomorrow have a 5:00 am start time. The only solace is the almost bearable temperature...it was only 91 degrees at 5:15 today. Recipes and menus on the way. Hard to think of food in the heat!

Peace,

Julia

Sweet home blogger award: Many thanks!!!!

Reflections from the Backcounter

Many Thanks to Polly at Random Ramblings. She has awarded the Backcounter Buffet the Sweet Home Blogger Award! Polly has been very supportive of my blogging efforts and has encouraged me from her blog. Check out her gorgeous pictures and insights at Random Ramblings.The recipient of this award is tasked with awarding it to between one and five other deserving blogs. . After much consideration I have decided to award the following blogs:

Food Mayhem: This is a fantastic site for foodies. The pictures and descriptions of food are mouthwatering. Food Mayhem has also been very supportive of my efforts to improve the Backcounter Buffet.

Sticky, gooey, creamy, chewy: A blog about food and life. The picture of the berry cobbler today is amazing.

Living Frugally:

Living frugally is a great site with wonderful ideas for living frugally and well. I have found many interesting ideas here.

Freaky Frugalite: Views, reviews trends and crazy mom stuff. A fun read with bright colors and format

Enjoy visiting these interesting and varied blogs and thanks for reading the Backcounter Buffet. I am back to work on Monday and will get my menu planning back on track. I made the requisite trip to the warehouse store today and have stocked up for the next few weeks. The staycation was fruitful and we return to the daily grind a little cleaner, a little less cluttered and a lot more organized if not totally rested...ha there is always time for rest on the other side.......

Peace,

Julia

Crickets, Scorpions and Cats

Reflections from the Backcounter

Life in the Sonoran desert is rich with opportunity to witness ecology in action. The numerous species present in my backyard at any given time are amazing. We have witnessed rabbits playing and frolicking in the early morning dew, rabbits running for their lives being chased by coyotes, eagles patiently perching on the pool fence watching kangaroo rats struggling to swim in the pool, javelina methodically eating and destroying my rosebushes and of course the invasion of the Chuckwalla into my kitchen.

Attempts to intervene in this fragile ecological balance are always fraught with danger. For example, at one point we decided to hang a bird feeder to give us the opportunity to identify all of the desert birds using our binoculars and bird book. Great idea...not....in spite of the gorgeous collection of bird sightings we logged into our bird journal the ecological shift was not pretty. Picture this... birds chirping and happily feeding on the seed, seeds dropping to the ground, kangaroo rats gathering seed and scurrying off to thier nests. And then the unexpected and undesirable outcome....the snakes lying in wait for the kangaroo rats. We had created an entire predator/prey eco system. So...the feeder went away and balance was restored. Have I mentioned that I hate snakes?

Crickets...Scorpions...Cats.....the perfect food chain

So, yesterday I realized that I was in line for another ecological insult in my yard. We have had an invasion of crickets. Not a big deal until you realize that crickets are the favorite food of scorpions!!! I have had just about enough of the malicious little land lobsters and their venomous stings. To date two of us have had stings and they are nasty. Of course one of the victims was the mother of the crew..(me) and as a result we now have two scorpion predators living in our home (cats) and our scorpion sightings have significantly diminished. Cats actually are immune to the sting of the scorpion.

C.C. Marie.....professional scorpion hunter

I must confess....I called the exterminator yesterday..not green but I am desperate. Even my biology degree does not equip me with any secrets to cricket control although I do admit that I can tell the sex of a cricket. The one useful knowledge crumb gleaned from my days in the biology lab. Great...now if I could just figure out cricket birth control I would be in business....Off to the bug wars

Peace,

Julia

Staycation Wednesday

Reflections from the backcounter

So, I am now midway through my Staycation. Staycation...a novel word describing the American response to the gas crisis and the desire to rest, relax and rejuvenate without the cost of travel. It used to be that the highway beckoned the family willing to put up with the backseat whining and countless bathroom stops on the way to a fun filled beach or Disney vacation. Unfortunately, the current cost of gas dampens the call of the open highway and makes it a lot less appealing to embark on a road trip.

The benefits of the Staycation are of course savings, fewer hassles and the opportunity to enjoy local attractions. .. but for every upside there is always a downside. Is a Staycation really a vacation? I have read numerous articles highlighting the benefits of the staycation....but what about the dark side???? I think for mothers, the darkside is quite ominous. Lurking in the shadows of the staycation are closets screaming for attention, piles of family photos itching for organization and of course the never ending energy vortex of dust, laundry, dishes, floors, ceilings and errands.

Staycationers beware....if not cautious you may find yourself on the brink of reentry to the workforce less rested than you were when you left. Make it a point to schedule in relaxation.

Check out some great strategies to make your Staycation a success: Staycation strategies

If you have some suggestions for us Staycationers, please leave a comment. All suggestions greatly appreciated!!

Gotta go...I have to finish reorganizing my daughters closet!

Peace,

Julia

New CCI puppy: Exceptional Dogs for Exceptional People

O'Hanna when she first arrived March 2007

Our second CCI puppy
Reflections from the Backcounter

We were just notified today that we have been approved for another CCI puppy. (Our third: #1 Michaela and #2 O'Hanna) This one will be a yellow golden retriever/laborador mix and it is a female. We are very excited at the prospect of starting over with a new puppy. It seems that a new puppy renews our enthusiasm, offers an opportunity to atone for past mistakes and breathes new life into the household. This time around it will truly be a family affair as my sister, niece and mother have agreed to help with the puppy raising and puppy sitting responsibilities. Our puppy will arrive by plane on July 30th and now we are playing the name game.....what will the letter of the alphabet be for the litter and what is her name....want to buy a vowel!!!! No menu this week. I am on vacation and meals are an afterthought. Tonight we had burgers on the grill and ate outside in the moonlight. Peaceful and beautiful.

Peace,

Julia

Summer solstice

Reflections from the backcounter

Today marks the beginning of summer for the northern hemisphere. Oh if it were true for the Sonoran desert. We are into our first week of serious heat advisories and there is no let up in sight. It is really hot today in excess of 110 degrees. This calls for some serious summer food that does not require the oven. Efforts to keep the kitchen and house cool are of paramount importance. I am craving gazpacho and so will probably have that on the menu soon.

Peace,

Julia

Happy Fathers Day: The Backcounter is Back from vacation

Reflections from the Backcounter

A vacation is a wonderful way to recharge the battery and refocus priorities. I truly needed to get away and probably would have benefitted from an off planet trip but settled for off continent. We have just returned from London and it was an amazing experience. We were fortunate enough to rent an apartment in central London and with the exchange rate so unfavorable to the US dollar, it was very appealing to cook in and save our limited funds to see all the sights and enjoy our experience there. We had a lot of fun shopping in the grocery stores in London. My kids really enjoyed Whole Foods and the Food court in Harrods. The eggs at Whole Foods were all free range and displayed in a big bin allowing customers to hand pick each egg. Of course for those with heartier appetites, ostrich eggs were an option!

Happy Father's day to all the Dads. We are celebrating with our favorite Father's Day meal, baby back ribs on the BBQ. It is a very hot week in the southwest so I am sure we will take a dip in the pool. If you have always wanted to try smoking ribs but were not sure how to do it, check out this video from BBQ web . I prefer to make them in the oven and then finish them on the gas grill

Menu for the week follows:

Peace,

Julia

Menu Week 14

Sunday

Baby Back Ribs on the BBQ

Mashed Potatoes

Corn on the Cobb

Green Salad

Apple Pie

Monday

Bow Tie Lasagne ( My mothers recipe)

Green salad

Garlic Bread

Bow Tie Lasagne

1 pkg bowtie pasta

1/2 lb bulk pork sausage (hot)

1 lb lean ground beef

1 lg chopped onion

1 clove garlic minced

1 15 oz can tomato sauce

1 6 oz can tomato paste

1 1/2 cups water (can substitute 1/2 c water for 1/2 c red wine)

1/4 t each rosemary, baisl marjoram, oregano and pepper

1 1/2 t salt

2 pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed ( 10 oz packages)

2 c sour cream

1 c grated or shredded parmesan cheese

Crumble and brown meats in a large frying pan. Add onion and garlic. Saute until soft but not brown. Blend in tomato sauce, paste, water and spipces. Simmer slowly uncoovered until reduced to about six cups. (about 30 minutes). Drain an dsqueeze all water out of spinach. Combine noodles with meat sauce and let cool. Spread 1/2 of this mixture over the bottom of a shallow casserole dish. Scatter 1/2 of the spinach over the noodles and dot evenly with 1/2 the sour cream and sprinkle with 1/2 the parmesan cheese. Repeat layer of meat, noodles, spinach and sour cream. Top evely with remaining cheese. Bake uncovered in 375 degree oven for 40- 50 minutes until heated through and lightly browned on top

Tuesday

Summer vegetable frittata

Green Salad

Corn bread muffins

Wednesday

Armenian noodles

Green Salad

Thursday

Spicy black bean soup

2 T olive oil

1 1/2 cups chopped red onion

1 4 oz can diced mild green chilies

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 T chopped jalepeno

1 T ground cumin

2 15 oz cans black beans, undrained

2 cups canned low-salt chicken broth

8 T chopped fresh cilantro

sour cream

Tortilla chips

Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium high heat. Add onion, green chilies, garlic, jalapeno, and cumin. Saute until onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Add beans with juices and broth. Bring soup to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until flavors blend, about 15 minutes. Puree 3 cups soup in batches in blender,. Return puree to same pot. Mix in 6 T cilantro. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls. Top with dollop of sour cream and tortilla chips and cilantro.

Friday

Balsamic Pork Chops

Steamed broccoli

Long grain and wild rice mix

Menu Week 13/ CCI makes miracles happen

O'Hanna
Sad puppy raisers and O'Hanna
Arizona Puppies at Turn in Ceremony

Reflections from the Backcounter

The Backcounter is going on vacation! There will be a break for one week. I will resume the blog on June 12th! I am listing a past menu for this week as time does not allow the creation of a new one! This has been a whirlwind few days. We dropped off our puppy at the CCI center in Oceanside, California. It was an emotional rollercoaster. The ceremony was awe inspiring and the organization did a marvelous job of recognizing the effort and sacrifice made by the puppy raisers. We were privileged to see the awarding of graduate dogs to approximately 13 people who had completed the team training. The joy that these dogs bring to children, adults and families who are living with disabilities is breathtaking. This privilege, however, did nothing to mitigate the pain of giving up our beloved puppy O'Hanna and buckets of tears were shed. I did well until the entire group of puppy raisiers (about 30 pups and humans) were recognized from the audience with a standing ovation and a chorus of service dogs who all began barking on command. The symphony of sound was overwhelming and it was at that point that I lost it. CCI (Canine Companions for Independence) is truly bringing miracles to life..one life at a time. I am enclosing pictures from the day. If you have a big heart consider contacting them as there are 12 litters of puppies available in July and puppy raisers are desperately needed. I can't believe that I am saying this but we will probably be back on the list.

Peace,

Julia

Menu Week 13

Sunday
Pork Tenderloin http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/1223817
Smashed Potatoes http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/233991
Peas

Monday
Pork Fried Rice http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/237524
with apologies to the recipe...use left over pork tenderloin from Sunday night
Green salad

Tuesday

One Pan Chicken Dinner
Chicken thighs, carrots, new potatoes onions. Layer vegetables on the bottom of a roasting pan and place rinsed and dried chicken thighs on top. Season with worcestershire, seasoned salt, pepper and basil. Roast at 350 degrees until done

Wednesday

Macaroni and cheese http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/239270
Green salad

Thursday

Crockpot chili http://southernfood.about.com/od/crockpotchili/r/bl85c7.htm
Green salad
Cornbread http://southerncuisine.suite101.com/article.cfm/southerncornbread

Friday
Tuna melts http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/italian-tuna-melts
Carrot and celery sticks
Corn

Hope this helps with your week! Let me know how it goes. Links provided for inspiration and guidance!
Peace,
Julia
Posted by Julia at 12:40 PM 4 comments Links to this post
Labels: Weekly menu

The Backcounter Buffet is written to help guide you through the week with ideas for feeding your family healthy and budget friendly meals. The Backcounter Buffet is the name our family gives to the weeknight buffet meals that are the mainstay of our family menus. I also hope to share with you the wisdom about life and of being a woman that my time on the planet and work with other women has bestowed upon me.If the kitchen is the heart of the home, food is the soul. In our two career family of five, we need simple solutions to the daunting task of meal planning and preparation.The purpose of this blog is to organize the weekly journey and catalogue recipes, ideas and wisdom for other families who hope to use the opportunity of the evening meal to reconnect, slow down and enjoy the blessings of the day.Thanks for reading and eating with us!Peace,