I LOVE MONDAYS!!!

No joke ya'll!  I LOVE Mondays!  You see, I work 4 ten hour days a week, so my days off are Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays.  Monday is the only day I don't have something scheduled. (Although our church is having a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace class starting soon and I really want to go!)  (For more info: http://www.daveramsey.com/category/classes/ )

So, until that class starts, Mondays are mine all mine!  Here's the run down...

Sunday night I make a plan and it goes on the chalkboard...

The "fun times are here again" was written with my left hand. I'm right handed. 

So after sleeping in gloriously late, I get started on my list (disclaimer: I am big on making lists - not for the organizational aspect, but because I love crossing things OFF the list!)

Note: there weren't really that many loads of dishes to be done - I am just a messy cook and I can only get about 1 small load done before the hot water cools down.  Each hash mark under Laundry & dishes is for washing,  drying, and away.  (Told you I liked crossing things off my list - I also can cross my toes, but that seems slightly creepy.)

I have also been trying to eat less processed foods, although suddenly canned squirty cheese seems amazing! Anyways, so since joining WW I have been going through about 3 pounds of canned black beans every 2 weeks.  I love black beans!  So, I recently started making my own instead of canned.  If you have the time, this is most definitely a recipe worth trying!

I followed the quick soak method, then back into the pot with the recommended amount of water.  I add to that one large chopped vidala onion, one head of garlic (peeled & smashed), 1/4 cup chopped jalapeno, 1/8 cup hot sauce, salt to taste (I used about 2 fat TBSP)

(Sorry, I forgot to take a picture  so instead, please enjoy this adorable one of my precious niece)

After the beans have simmered for 2 hours in all that spicy goodness, I then add the zest and juice from one lime. (Sometimes 2 if I'm feeling zesty!)

Then I plop the whole mess into a one gallon tea container that I can easily scoop from.

So if that wasn't enough, I then add 2 cups of those beans to some cooked ground turkey, canned tomato sauce, smoked spices, and more hot sauce.

Adding dry spices to a warm pan, stirring constantly.
(Brings out the smokiness in the spices)

Adding those yummy beans I just made.

All done, so tasty!
(And notice that amazing spoon?  It was a gift from one of my bff's Holly from her missionary trip last summer to Mozambique)

 So aside from that I also spray painted these cute stars I snagged on clearance the other day! I can't wait to show them off.

Have a blessed day!
Sarah