March activities

March is a great time for spring activities. It may be too early to get outside into the garden, but it is not too early to start seeds indoors for planting later. This is a great thing to do with the family-but you must make sure to maintain them until you get them planted out, probably in May for me. We're planting tomatoes inside, peas outside this week.

When was the last time you flew a kite? March is often very windy, particularly as storm fronts are going through. If you have a large school field or track area, or a great park, how about taking a little time to fly a kite with your family? You could purchase one, watch Mary Poppins as the end is about flying kites together and taking that time, then put it together as a family and go fly it. What a fun way to spend a Saturday. Much better than cleaning the house.

Menu plan Marcxh 23-29

• Sunday
  Turkey ham
  Oven roasted potatoes
  Spinach casserole
  Brownies
• Monday
  Fried leftover ham
  Mashed sweet potatoes
  Green beans
• Tuesday
  Baked beans-beanwiches
  Green salad
• Wednesday
  Favorite soup
  Sandwiches
• Thursday
  Broiled shrimp kabobs
  Brown rice
• Friday
  Broiled chicken breast
  Cabbage and apple cole slaw
• Saturday
  Grilled tuna and apple sandwiches
  Green salad

Beanwiches: Toast English muffins. Top with mustard, then heated baked beans, then grated cheddar cheese. Place under broiler for about 5 minutes until cheese melts.

Shrimp kabobs: Use moderately large cooked shrimp. Place shrimp and desired vegetables such as tomatoes, mushrooms, pearl onions (I can't eat these), green peppers, zucchini or yellow squash chunks into bowl with a couple of tablespoons of canola oil, a couple of teaspoons of teriyaki sauce, a teaspoon of powdered garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of ginger and stir well. Thread on kabob skewers. Broil about 5 minutes.

Menu plan March 16-22

• Sunday
  Baked fish
  Oven fried french fries
  Green beans
• Monday
  Easy corned beef and cabbage
  Irish soda bread
• Tuesday
  Quick pizza
• Wednesday
  Macaroni and cheese
  Green salad
• Thursday
  Easy vegetable soup
• Friday
  Leftover macaroni and cheese
  Broccoli
• Saturday
  Hot dogs
  Green salad

Easy corned beef and cabbage: Buy a chunk of prepared corned beef from your deli-about 1/4 pound per person. Chop potatoes and carrots, about 1/2 potato and 1 carrot per person, and boil until tender, about 20 minutes. Add finely chopped cabbage, (you can use prepared cold slaw mix) about 1/4 cup per person, and cook additional 10 minutes. During this 10 minutes, slice corned beef and heat in microwave.

Irish soda bread-there are lots of recipes, here's a good one http://www.landolakes.com/mealIdeas/ViewRecipe.cfm?RecipeID=9989

Easy vegetable soup: (for 4) To 16 oz can tomato sauce, add one can water in saucepan. Add 2 cups mixed frozen vegetables and 1 Tablespoon instant beef bullion. Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer about 5 minutes until veggies are tender.

Menus March 9-15

• Sunday
  Easy seafood 'newburg'
  Pastry shells
  Broccoli
  Molasses cookies
• Monday
  Oven fried chicken
  Oven fried yam french fries
  Green salad
• Tuesday
  Baked fish with lemons
  Peas
  Citrus fruit salad
• Wednesday
  Left over fried chicken
  Green beans
  Carrots
• Thursday
  Leftover fish
  Waldorf salad
• Friday
  Hamburgers
• Saturday
  Broiled cheese sandwiches
  Tomato soup

Easy seafood newburg: (Serve 4) Combine 1 can cream of shrimp soup, 1 cup sour cream, 8 oz cooked or canned seafood (clams, lobster, shrimp, crab, cooked fish) and heat through. Serve over rice, pastry shells, noodles.

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Jane Austen- Austenarium site

I love reading Jane Austen novels. (I like the movies too, but most leave a lot out). She had such insight into character. I recently read a new novel (None but you) that tells the story of Persuasion from Frederick Wentworth's point of view. I loved it and can't wait for volume 2 to be published. Then I discovered the draft for volumes 1 and 2 online at Austenarium. She indicates that the published book may differ from the web draft, but at least I now have a finished story to read. I will buy the new volume once it is available.

This site also tells the Persuasion story with alternatives-what if Frederick had married Louisa? What if he had gone to Edward's first instead of to see his sister.There is also a story focused on Elizabeth-and she becomes much more human in that one than she is in the original. She starts out bad but improves. When I read through all these, I felt as if I had spent a great deal of time with Persuasion and feared I would begin speaking like a Jane Austen character. I preceded all of this be re-reading Persuasion once again. Shortly thereafter, Masterpiece began broadcasting their new productions of Jane Austen videos. Their Persuasion is a adaptation, but it does leave out a lot. However, I will admit that I cannot really get enough of all of these. This sure was a completely different kind of life than the one I live. I think I would have been as unhappy as Anne in Bath of that era, but I don't know that I would have preferred the country. Perhaps with enough good books, I would have enjoyed either.

Happy reading.