Table Manners 101-oiy!

Happy Monday to you! I am so happy to post my menu today! I missed it last week. When it was "fend for yourself night" (The Martha Stewart-wanna-be in me just cringes at this idea. I really do try to fix my family a nice meal most nights. I feel better when I think that the real Martha doesn't have 6 papers, 2 projects and 2 finals looming around the corner!) anyway...it was fend for yourself night at our house and my youngest decided to eat two hot dogs and wash it down with a bowl of fruit loops. Yes, she did. It was right then and there that I resolved to get my act together this week!

Also, there was that thing at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant Friday night that made me think that Table Manners 101 needs to be back in session.

Hannah, our youngest daughter, decided to stop eating her chicken fried chicken and have a biscuit. Instead of properly putting her fork on the side of her plate, she...I can't believe I am going to tell you this....but I wish that I had brought my camera....stuck her fork in her chicken fried chicken, straight up in the air while she nibbled, I mean inhaled, the biscuit in 2 bites...2 bites! I was mortified. I wanted to ask her, "Excuse me young lady, where is your mother? Didn't she teach you better manners than that?"...then I remembered that I was her mother...oiy!

I guess the spinning of my head in disbelief at the sight of the fork tickled Rachel's funny bone so she stuck her fork in her chicken that way too. Very funny! How old are you? Mr. Incredible burped, in my mind anyway even though he doesn't remember that, and then announced to the table that this is (picture Cousin Eddy from Christmas Vacation) "G-o-o-d!" He said it just like cousin Eddy.

Our sweet waitress named Twila happened to come by and ask if we needed anything. I politely raised my hand and asked to be moved to another table. She laughed. I think she must have been watching our circus show, I mean fine dining experience. We just want to be a blessing!

Anyway, we will be holding Table Manners 101 sessions all this week while we dine on this menu:

Monday:

Chicken Tortilla Soup in the Crock-Pot

along with: This is how you place your spoon on your plate when you are finished with it!

Tuesday:

Turkey Club Sandwiches

Along with: How to politely inhale a sandwich in more than 2 bites!!!

Wednesday:

Italian Chicken in a Crock Pot

Along With: How to not burp at the table and say "G-o-o-d!"

(Cousin Eddy style).

Jane's Slow-Cooked Italian Chicken (from Fix it and Forget-It Lightly)

3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 pkg. dry Italian dressing mix

10 3/4 oz can Cream of Mushroom Soup

4 oz. can mushrooms, drained

8 oz. of Sour Cream or Plain Yogurt

Place chicken in Crock-Pot. (I use the crock pot liners for easy clean up!) Mix dressing mix with soup and mushrooms. Stir into chicken. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. With a spoon, lift chicken out of cooker. Place in a covered dish to keep warm. Combine cooking juices with sour cream in crock-pot. Cover and heat until warmed through. When ready, place chicken on bed of rice or noodles and pour sauce over the top.

Thursday:
Beef Stew in the Crock-Pot

with Cornbread

Along with: How to not slurp your soup...pinkie fingers out, please

(Just kidding!).

Friday:

Football Game Playoff Night

We will be eating outside....much to my family's delight!

Have a great week!

Joyfully,

Kristi