Menu Plan Monday - Relying on Routine

It's Menu Plan Monday and I'm leaning hard on routine; I'm using familiar and favorite recipes, planning pasta for the night before a cross country meet, fish on the night Gracie won't be home for dinner, and a Saturday date night.

My Middle Child (MMC) just wrote an insightful college application essay about the importance of routines during time of stress, uncertainty, or chaos, and it really hit home for me at this busy time of year.

Speaking of college applications, we just got this in the mail Saturday:

 It's especially fun to get the first one. As he said, we know he's going to college somewhere!

• Sunday - Sirloin Steak with Avacado Salad, baked potatoes
• Monday -  Pollo Sabroso, yellow rice, oven roasted green beans
• Tuesday - Slow Cooked Jerk Pork with Caribbean Salsa over brown rice
• Wednesday - Easiest Pasta and Broocoli [with shrimp]
• Thursday - Asian Salmon with Vegetables (recipe from package of Cedar Papers)
• Friday - Leftover Buffet
• Saturday - Date Night!

What's on your menu?



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Menu Plan Monday - #MDSI

It's Menu Plan Monday and I've been a very bad blogger. Chalk it up to Mother's Day (when I didn't make a menu plan or grocery list and, in fact, never even went to the store for the whole week!) or May-Hem or whatever. Sorry. Whatever it is, I'm ready for summer to be here.

It's already our last week to have Deuce home before he heads back to Tuscaloosa for his summer work. It's so hard to believe, especially since he will be moving into an apartment straight from his summer dorm residence. It feels like this is the last time we will all be truly living here together.

Regardless, I'm glad I have today off work and lots of family time scheduled this weekend. I had hoped to get some quilting done and participate in #MDSI, but I don't think that will happen much.

• Sunday - dinner with the in-laws
• Monday - dinner at my parents'
• Tuesday - Skinny Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy and mashed potatoes
• Wednesday - Healthy Tetrazzini with Chicken and Broccoli
• Thursday - Baked Pasta with Sausage and Spinach
• Friday -Almost Famous Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• Saturday -out to eat - farewell dinner for Deuce ~*sniff*~

What's on your menu?



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Menu Plan Monday - Let the Mayhem Begin!

It's Menu Plan Monday and we're kicking off that magical time of year I like to refer to as "Mayhem." Honestly, I think May might be worse than December! No graduation this year (next year we have TWO!) but exams, concerts, Mother's Day, my dad's birthday and Deuce coming home for the month make it challenging to stay on top of everything.

My FitBit is back to work, although I've had a couple of days where I forgot to put it on and so my step counts are even worse than usual! Seeing Pam in person last Thursday really inspired me to get moving...right up until the point where someone sent a mass email on Friday to say that there was leftover cake in the accounting department break room. So that happened.

My user name on My Fitness Pal is QJ2013 if you want to be friends.

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• Sunday - out to eat with friends before the Alabama concert (It was awesome!)
• Monday - Grilled Honey Lime Chicken Breast with Fresh Corn and Zucchini Succotash
• Tuesday - Flounder Milanese with Arugula and Tomatoes (we never got to this last time it was on the menu plan)
• Wednesday - Leftover Buffet - Spring Chorus Concert (beginning of Mayhem observed*)
• Thursday - Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches with Carmelized Onions
• Friday - Pork Chops with Apples and Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Saturday -YOYO - Spring Band Concert

What's on your menu?

*just to see how many of you actually read what I'm cooking!



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Menu Plan Monday - Happy Easter!

It's Menu Plan Monday and we are celebrating the Easter season. Lent is over, hopefully winter is over, and we are chasing all the sad away! Yesterday we attended sunrise service and had my parents and some friends over for a beautiful breakfast. The Tuscan Stratas from Lisa over at Garnish with Lemon are absolutely delicious!

It's a pretty calm week, which is great since I am presenting my Social Media for Quilters program on Thursday at the East Cobb Quilt Guild's evening meeting. This time it's for real! Keep your fingers crossed for me.

My new FitBit arrived in the mail (seriously awesome customer service!) on Saturday, and I was so thrilled to put it back on. Weird how much I've missed it. Still no scale, but that's on the list.

My user name on My Fitness Pal is QJ2013 if you want to be friends.

MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter

• Sunday - Tuscan Stratas, hot cross buns, hashbrown casserole, grapefruit mimosas, and a fruit/yogurt bar.
• Monday - Broccoli Cheese Stuffed Chicken, brown rice, mixed green salad
• Tuesday - Zuppa Toscana, homemade bread, Caesar salad
• Wednesday -Pollo Sabroso, yellow rice, grilled mixed veggies
• Thursday - East Cobb Program - everyone is on their own!
• Friday - Crock Pot Korean Ribs, leftover brown rice, oven roasted green beans
• Saturday - Date Night

What's on your menu?



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Menu Plan Monday - Recovery Mode

It's Menu Plan Monday and last week's attempt at clean eating was a total bust. It was a combination of too many activities and not exactly loving the recipes on the plan we were trying to follow.  This week I decided to go back to what was working for us (translation: Skinnytaste) and choose recipes from Gina's clean eating tag. My exception is Wednesday, when Gracie has an orthodontist appointment that we've been warned will be long and painful, so she got to pick whatever soup she wanted. Poor bunny!

I have also contacted FitBit and hope to be getting a replacement soon. The scale still has not been replaced, so I have no idea how I'm doing; I figure this is a good week to be in denial!

My user name on My Fitness Pal is QJ2013 if you want to be friends.

MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter

• Sunday - cookout at Mom's with the cousins
• Monday - Orange Chicken Makeover over brown rice
• Tuesday - Spaghetti Squash Sausage Lasagne Boats, mixed green salad
• Wednesday - Almost Famous Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• Thursday - Chicken and veggie kabobs, quinoa
• Friday - Flounder Milanese with Arugula and Tomatoes
• Saturday - Musgo/YOYO

What's on your menu?



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Menu Plan Monday - Spring Break!

It's Menu Plan Monday and the younger kids are on spring break this week. That means Grace gets to go with me tonight to quilt guild, and we've planned a couple of college visits as well. Both sets of grandparents have come home from long trips and want to see us the kids.Translation: I barely have to cook at all!

We're still pulling recipes from the Eating Clean Plan by Melissa of Bless This Mess. So far it hasn't been too bad (mostly because it isn't that strict), but I have a feeling that this week will be a bit of a challenge with so much eating out/away from home.

I told you my FitBit is missing, but now the scale has decided it is also on strike. It's not the batteries, because it still lights up and goes through all of its paces. When you step on, though, it stays at zero. So not only can I not track my steps, now I can't track my weight until we buy a new scale. And then, who knows how that scale compares to the old scale? I know, I know, first world problems. But when it comes to being healthier, the obstacles don't have to be that high.


My user name on My Fitness Pal is QJ2013 if you want to be friends.

MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter

• Sunday - Dinner with the Grands
• Monday - YOYO
• Tuesday - Crock-pot Steak Carnitas
• Wednesday - Dinner in some hip, college town restaurant TBD
• Thursday - BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad with Corn and Black Beans
• Friday -  Penne Rosa with shrimp
• Saturday - Dinner with the other set of Grands

What's on your menu?



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Menu Plan Monday - ReBoot!

It's Menu Plan Monday and it's time to reboot.  Deuce is headed back to Tuscaloosa on Tuesday if we are not iced in. Actually the whole week is up in the air depending on how much moisture we get before the temperatures drop below freezing and stay there until who knows when.  (I know, I know, all you yankees are rolling your eyes at us.  But driving on ice is not the same as driving on snow.)

My FitBit One hasn't arrived yet, but I'm operating under the theory that it's time to get back on the elliptical this week.  I can't make any promises if it really is 6 degrees with a wind chill of -13 when I wake up.  That's just crazy!

And in case you think I have some sort of amazing self control and have managed to maintain my weight over the holidays, let me reassure you.  I simply haven't logged my weight on My Fitness Pal in about two months!  Hoping to remedy that this week as well.  

My user name on My Fitness Pal is QJ2013 if you want to be friends.

MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter

• Sunday - Skinny Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy and leftover mashed potatoes (we never got to this last week)
• Monday - Out for pizza - last dinner with my big boy for awhile :(
• Tuesday - Korean Ribs, brown rice, oven roasted green beans
• Wednesday - Book Club here; everyone on their own
• Thursday - Almost Famous Broccoli Cheddar Soup, mixed green salad
• Friday - Crock Pot Sesame Honey Chicken, brown rice
• Saturday - Spaghetti Squash with Meat Ragu, mixed green salad

What's on your menu?



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Last Menu Plan Monday of 2013

It's Menu Plan Monday and I've been a total slacker about posting the last two weeks.  I want you to know, though, that I did make my menu plan both weeks.  I just didn't get them posted.

The week ahead has an invisible line drawn through it on Wednesday, when we will have the traditional pork, black eyed peas, and greens.  Before that is a mixture of favorite indulgences, while after is a return to Skinnytaste.  We are trying out some new recipes; the ones we love end up on my Pinterest board.

I also received a FitBit Flex for Christmas from The Pit Boss; after some discussion with the Twilters, I decided to swap it out for a FitBit One.  I can't wait for it to arrive so I can start using it.  Hopefully that will help me stay accountable, renew my motivation, and let me join in all the FitBit Twitter fun!

My user name on My Fitness Pal is QJ2013 if you want to be friends.

MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter

• Sunday - Meatloaf, Skinny Garlic Mashed Potatoes (double for Thursday's dinner), green beans
• Monday - Cheeseburger Casserole, mixed green salad
• Tuesday - Homemade deep dish pizza
• Wednesday - New Year's Day pork, black eyed peas, and greens at my in-laws' house
• Thursday - Skinny Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy and leftover mashed potatoes
• Friday - leftover buffet
• Saturday - Roasted Potatoes, Chicken Sausage and Peppers

What's on your menu?



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Menu Plan Monday - Hang On Tight!

It's Menu Plan Monday and we're trying to recover from a roller coaster weekend.  It was so wonderful to have Deuce home for such a long break, and hard to send him back.  Luckily he'll be home for Christmas in less than two weeks!  I enjoyed having four days off work in a row; although I neglected a long list of things to do, it was very relaxing.  And, of course, we had the highs and nauseating lows of watching the Seminoles win and the Crimson Tide lose in that last second heartbreaker. 

We also ate way too much.  This is the day that I will get back on the elliptical in an effort to hold the holiday pounds at bay.  My nearest coworker has recently lost a lot of weight, and is inspiring me with her diligent exercise schedule.  If she can get up and drive to work at 5:30 in the morning to use the gym when it's this cold out, surely I can walk downstairs to my guest room and exercise for thirty minutes a day.  Right?

I'll let you know how that goes. 

My user name on My Fitness Pal is QJ2013 if you want to be friends.

MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter

• Sunday - burgers on the grill, tossed salad
• Monday - Slow Cooked Jerk Pork with Caribbean Salsa, Cilantro Lime Rice
• Tuesday -TPB is making dinner - marinated flank steak, Mexican rice and beans
• Wednesday - Pollo Sabroso, yellow rice, asparagus
• Thursday - CrockPot Korean Ribs, brown rice, oven roasted green beans
• Friday - leftover buffet
• Saturday - Looking for a delicious new soup recipe.  What are your favorites?

What's on your menu?



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Menu Plan Monday - Thankful for an Easy Week!

It's Menu Plan Monday and it's an easy week for menu planning!  Instead of making a freezer meal, we're using one.  We found a new yummy pizza place right near my office, so I'm going to pick that up on Tuesday after work for when Deuce gets home.  On Wednesday the office closes at three, and I'll make one of Deuce's most requested dinners, but that's really the only night I'm cooking.  And TPB has decided that he is cooking on Friday.  Saturday we're going on a surprise date night.  It sounds like such a relaxing week - completely NOT what I expected. 

Once again, I've exercised not at all, and I have no illusions that I'll get all motivated this week.  I'm aiming for next Monday to kick start this back up to at least keep any extra holiday pounds at bay.

My user name on My Fitness Pal is QJ2013 if you want to be friends.

MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter

• Sunday - Roast beef with potatoes, asparagus, tossed salad
• Monday -Use a freezer meal - Chicken Rollatini, salad, garlic bread
• Tuesday -Deuce comes home!  Pizza night!
• Wednesday - Deuce's favorite - pork chops, yellow rice, salad
• Thursday - TPB's birthday dinner at the in-laws'
• Friday - TPB is cooking
• Saturday - Date night!  Leftovers for the kiddos

What's on your menu?



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Holiday Grand Plan - Week 13 - Quiltin' Jenny in the Dining Room with the Vacuum Cleaner

Can you believe it's Thanksgiving week already? And Week 13 of our Grand Plan.

More important, it's The Pit Boss's birthday. Happy birthday, my love!

It's also the anniversary of our first date.  I'm not sure how many people have pictures from their first date, but we went to dinner with his cousin who had just gotten engaged and she was a little shutter happy. 

For week 13, it's all about getting ready for Thanksgiving.  Batman has still not put in an appearance, but my parents are on the West Coast in preparation so Thanksgiving has been transformed.  Last week the plan was to host the traditional feast at our house, and do TPB's birthday dinner on Friday at my in-laws'.  Since everyone who is left in town just had a big turkey dinner a few weeks ago, and his birthday often gets lost in the "I can't believe I ate so much!", we decided to have his birthday on Thursday.  My MiL will make her famous country fried steak and gravy, and I'll be making TPB's birthday cake request - Mama Ruby's Made-From-Scratch Caramel Cake.  Usually this is Mom's job, so wish me luck!

I can't wait for Deuce to come home on Tuesday night, and for a few days off work to enjoy having all my chicks in the nest. 

What's happening at your house this week?



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Holiday Grand Plan - Week 12 - Attic? Or Catch Up?

It is Week 12 of the Holiday Grand Plan and we are heading into the last trimester of this little adventure!  This week's deep cleaning section is the attic, which we don't use for anything but extra insulation and storing the furnace, so I have a week to catch up on all the stuff I have missed.  Perfect timing!

It's a good thing, too, because after all my bragging last week about how I don't have to do much for Thanksgiving at Mom's, it looks like Batman may arrive this week and I'll be in charge of EVERYTHING!   I'm not that worried because I do Christmas every year and sort of have the routine down.  There will only be nine of us, and my MiL and her cousin and my aunt will all pitch in.  No one is high maintenance, so there won't be any fancy centerpieces or place cards.  Just plenty of good food and gratitude.

I made a breakthrough on gift ideas for The Pit Boss.  I now have an idea for his birthday AND Christmas, which is just about a jackpot for me.  If I could figure out our dads, it would be easy breezy from here til December.  Seriously.  Why are men so challenging to shop for?  Oh, I remember!  Because when they want something they just go buy it.  Yeah, that.

Gracie is going to make our freezer meal this week.  She has asked if she can cook dinner one night a week, and her selection this week is Crock Pot Chicken Bolognese Sauce.  I'll have her double it and freeze half for a busy December night.

I think this week my treat to freeze will be another coffee cake for breakfasts when my boy is home next week. 

Marbled Coffee Cake

• 1 square unsweetened chocolate
• 1 Tbsp shortening

• 1/2 C butter, softened
• 1/2 C shortening
• 2 C sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 C buttermilk (or 1 C milk + 1 tsp vinegar)
• 3 C flour
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350.   Grease and flour a 10" tube pan.
2. Microwave chocolate square and 1 Tbsp shortening until melted; set aside.  
3. Cream butter and 1/2 C shortening.  Gradually add sugar, beating well on medium speed.  Add eggs one at a time, beating after each.  dissolve baking soda in buttermilk.  
4. Combine flour and salt; add to creamed mixture alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour.  Do not overbeat.   
5. Stir in almond and vanilla extract.
6. Remove 2 C of the batter and mix with the chocolate/shortening from step 2. 
7. Spoon 1/3 of remaining batter into pan.  Top with 1/2 of chocolate batter.  Repeat layers, ending with the plain. 
8. Gently swirl with a butter knife to create a marbled effect.
9. Bake at 350 for 65-70 minutes or until done.
10. Cool in pan 10-15 minutes.  Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

Do you have an attic to clean?  If not, what will you use this week to catch up on? 



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Cranberry Thanksgiving

This book is from when I was a little girl, younger than Gracie is.

I love this story for so many reasons:  I love Thanksgiving, I love cranberry bread, and I love the message about not judging a book by its cover.

I remember reading this with my mom as Thanksgiving approached and then making the "famous" cranberry bread recipe on the back of the book.  It freezes beautifully and makes a delightful breakfast on those chilly autumn mornings.

Grandmother's Famous Cranberry Bread

(Get Mother to help)

• 2 C sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 C sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 C butter or margarine
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tsp grated orange peel
• 3/4 C orange juice
• 1 1/2 C light raisins
• 1 1/2 C fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda into a large bowl.  Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.  Add egg, orange peel, and orange juice all at once; stir just until mixture is evenly moist.  Fold in raisins and cranberries.
Spoon into greased 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan.  Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Remove from pan; cool on a wire rack.

If you choose, you may substitute cranberries for the raisins to have an all cranberry bread. [This is what I do. - ed.]


Recipe tested by the Food Department of Parents' Magazine

Holiday Grand Plan - Week 9 - Pantry and Pie

It's Week 9 of the Holiday Grand Plan, it it's time to clean out your pantry. I don't know about you, but the top shelf of my pantry is where I store our first aid kit and all of our medications.  When I clean out the pantry, that's the first thing I have to go through.  The really frustrating thing?  YESTERDAY was National Drug Take Back Day and there were several locations near my house where I could have quickly and safely dropped off the expired stuff. 

I need to mark the calendar for next year so I don't miss it again. 

We're getting ready for our early Thanksgiving/MiL's birthday celebration on Saturday, so I'll be doubling up on desserts and skipping a freezer meal this week. 

I'll go ahead and make a Calypso Pie for Saturday and one for the real Thanksgiving.  This is a tradition at our house and a family favorite, but so easy and you can make it ahead.  I can't find where I've given you that recipe or link before, so here it is.  You can thank me later.

I know this recipe isn't "in order."  This is the order I make it in so that the chocolate sauce is totally cooled by the time you're ready for it.

Calypso Pie

Chocolate Sauce/Topping (sauce recipe makes enough for two pies.  You can make two or just freeze the extra sauce)

• 4 1/2 oz dark chocolate squares
• 6 Tbsp butter
• 1 C sugar
• 1 C evaporated milk
• pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 3/4 C slivered almonds, toasted
• whipped cream

Combine chocolate, butter, sugar, evaporated milk, and salt in top of a double boiler.  Cook, stirring continuously, for 4 minutes or until the sauce thickens a little.  Remove from heat and add vanilla.  Chill. 

Crust

• 1 1/2 C Famous chocolate wafer cookie crumbs (I put most of a sleeve in my food processor)
• 4 Tbsp melted butter

Mix together and press into 9" deep dish pie plate.  Refrigerate.

Filling

• 1/2 gallon of coffee ice cream, softened
• 1/4 C Kahlua

Press ice cream into crust and drizzle with Kahlua.  Top with Chocolate Sauce, then slivered almonds.  Freeze.

Serve topped with whipped cream and a cherry.



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Holiday Grand Plan - Week 8 -

It's Week 8 of the Holiday Grand Plan. How's it going there?  I'm a little behind on the kids' rooms.  Grace had allergy testing done on Wednesday, and now doctor's orders are for ME to dust and vacuum her room every week!  Just when I had her doing it well herself.  Now her room is looking good, but I still haven't gotten Deuce's room ready for him to come home in two weeks. 

By the way, she's also allergic to these guys, so they are banned from her room, she's not allowed to brush them, and I need to vacuum more frequently.

Um, Doc? I didn't make this appointment to reduce her chores and add to mine! 

This week's focus is on the kitchen.  While I did a lot of this last year when we did the remodel, the drawers and cabinets really need a good vacuuming out and wipe down.

I'm going to make a double batch of Chicken Rollatini with Prosciutto for my freezer meal, plus a Sour Cream Coffee Cake to have on hand for when Deuce comes home next week.

I guess it's time to start asking for advice for gifts since I'm stumped on a few of my favorite people. 

What's working for you? What is challenging you? 



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Holiday Grand Plan - Week 6 - The Kids' Rooms

It's Week 6 of the Holiday Grand Plan, and time to deep clean the kids' rooms. This comes not a moment too soon, since my boy will be home at the end of the month and his room could use some freshening up.

I'm sure there are parents who, when their children leave for college, keep the room an immaculate shrine to their absent student.  Over here, however, I just closed the door.  Apparently The Bear has found his brother's room to be a perfect dumping ground for clothes, books, shoes, and sporting equipment that he is ready to give away, throw away, or just doesn't want to put away.

I can't have Deuce come home for his first visit from college and find that mess! 

As for the rest of our assignments, I didn't get any shopping done this week, but I overheard and wrote down on my spreadsheet a great idea for each kid and The Pit Boss.  I try to shop for them closer to the actual holiday in case they change their minds or I come up with something better, but that whole writing it down thing is essential.  Think you're going to remember your great idea by the time December rolls around?  That's crazy talk!

I'm off the hook for a freezer meal.  Last week I had trouble finding the beef short ribs for the Korean Ribs recipe.  That has happened before, so when I found them this time I bought double and froze a batch (everything but the jalapeno peppers). 

I'm starting to get in the spirit of autumn, so I think I'll bake up some pumpkin bread and muffins to stick in the freezer for those cool mornings ahead.  For some reason I have a lot of canned pumpkin in my pantry, and that's a good way to use it up.

Here's the recipe I use:

• 3 eggs
•  1 lb. can solid pack pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix)
• 3/4 C vegetable oil
• 1/2 C water
• 2 1/2 C all purpose flour
• 2 1/4 C sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp nutmeg
• 3/4 tsp cinnamon

In a large mixing bowl, beat together eggs, pumpkin, oil, and water.  In a separate bowl, sift together remaining ingredients.  Fold dry ingredients into pumpkin mixture.

Bake in two greased 9"x5"x3" loaf pans at 325 degrees for 1 hour.  Reduce heat to 275 degrees and bake for 30 more minutes or until bread tests done.

You can also bake the entire mixture in a greased 13" x 9" pan at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

How's your grand plan coming along?



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Holiday Grand Plan - Week 5 - All Dogs Go To Heaven

It's Week 5 of the Holiday Grand Plan!  How's it going?  So far I am staying on top of my cooking tasks, actually purchased a few gifts this week, and am about 50/50 on the cleaning part.  I didn't make a dent in my bedroom last week, mostly because of our weekend out of town and the recovery process afterwards.  I'm hoping to get back on track and double down this week on the master bedroom and bath.  My bathroom is in pretty good shape since we just remodeled last year, and so much got thrown out or organized in that process.  We'll see!

A tip for saving money and supporting friends with their own small businesses:  I went to the open house of a Lia Sophia rep I know.  With the special deals, I ended up with four great gifts at a deeply discounted price.  I'm also happy to support my friend who is working to bring home some extra income.  Other great home based business that make my holiday shopping easy include Pampered Chef (though I don't know a rep anymore, so have to keep an eye out for a party), and Thirty-One.

My freezer meal for the week is going to be meatballs in homemade marinara sauce.  I will make a giant batch - this is great to have stashed away for a last minute spaghetti dinner, meatball subs on a busy night, or a meal to bring to a friend.  Also, I think it tastes better after a night in the fridge or after being frozen than it does on the day I make it. 

This week, in honor of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi this Friday, we're stocking the freezer with all kinds of homemade dog treats so that George and Daisy don't suffer a critical shortage during the holidays.

Have a great week!



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Holiday Grand Plan - Week 3 - Come on In!

It's Week 3 of the Holiday Grand Plan and we're cleaning out our Entry/Foyer this week.  Unless that's not working for you. 

Last week we were supposed to do the living room, which is when I usually do my office; however, once we decided to have friends over to watch Alabama beat Texas A&M, I called an audible and switched to deep cleaning the family room.

That's what you need to remember about planning ahead.  This is not to stress you out.  This is not to start the holidays way too soon.  This is about the exact opposite - making sure that you get to enjoy and appreciate the season without being overwhelmed by the extra tasks. 

If this week you are expecting company and need to deep clean the guest room instead of the entry, go for it.  If your child's birthday is coming up and you want to get the playroom or their bedrooms taken care of first, that's an awesome idea.  Make it work for you. 

For example, this week's list includes buying two canned items; one to tuck away for a holiday meal and one to donate to the food pantry.  I don't do this.  I can't think of very many canned items I even use anymore, and our food pantry has a wish list of items that I buy when they are on sale. 

This week's traditional list also reminds us to buy film, camera batteries, and blank videotapes.  Raise your hand if you use any of those things.  Yep, that's what I thought.  Just cross it off the list!

The tasks I try never to skip, though, are the freezer meals.  They are a lifesaver even during the "normal" times of the year.  This week's freezer meal is going to be Skinny Chicken Cordon Bleu. 

I also enjoy this week's start to baking and freezing treats.  This is one way to ensure that my old favorites don't get lost in the chaos.  I'll be making a double batch of Peanut Butter Fingers so I can bring some to Deuce on Friday when we visit him for Family Weekend. 

I'm doing the happy dance and counting the days!  Have a great week!



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In the Kitchen

Today my kitchen is hopping!

I'm baking for our guild's annual holiday party.  The theme is A Tribute to Redwork, and Ben has asked us to use as much red and white as possible.  What could be more perfect than a white chocolate cheesecake with raspberry topping?  (Recipe below.)

I'm also bringing one of our new favorite crockpot dinners to a friend.  I make these beef short ribs with some rice and roasted asparagus, and my family inhales it.  It's not one of those complicated crockpot recipes with a lot of browning or chopping or multiple steps either; no, this one has 4 ingredients and can be assembled in under 5 minutes!  Perfect for this busy month.

For dessert, I'm trying out Pioneer Woman's Itty Bitty Nutella Cakes.  Just because they're pretty and easy.  Also, I love Nutella.  Isn't that enough?  

We've run out of our homemade hot cocoa mix, so I grabbed the ingredients for that and stirred up a batch while the cheesecake was in the oven and the Nutella Cakes were in the freezer.

After all that my family will still expect dinner, so I'm experimenting with a new baked potato soup recipe.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

What's new in your kitchen?

White Chocolate Cheesecake (origin unknown)

Preheat oven to 350.

Crust:

• 1/4 lb butter, melted
• 2 C very finely ground tea biscuit crumbs (I use Social Tea Biscuits.  1 sleeve makes about 2 C)
• 1 oz white chocolate, grated
• 1/4 C sugar

Melt butter and combine remaining crust ingredients until well blended.  Press mixture over sides and bottom of an ungreased 10" springform pan.  I put foil around the bottom and sides on the outside of the pan to prevent dripping in my oven, but that is not a necessary part of the recipe.

Filling:

• 2 lbs cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/4 C sugar
• pinch of salt
• 4 large eggs
• 3 oz white chocolate, shaved

Combine cream cheese and sugar and beat until soft and fluffy.  Add salt and mix well.  Add eggs, one at a time, keeping mixer on lowest speed and beating just until each egg is incorporated.  Fold in chocolate.  Pour into crust and bake 40 minutes.  Remove from pan and let stand for 10 minutes. 

Topping:

• 2 C sour cream
• 3/4 C sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 oz white chocolate, shaved
• 1 pckg frozen strawberries, raspberries, or mixture of both
•  confectioners sugar, to taste

Combine sour cream, sugar, and vanilla.  Spread over cheesecake and return to oven for 10 minutes.  Remove and refrigerate immediately.  Puree berries with confectioner's sugar in blender.  Serve cheesecake with shaved chocolate and berry topping.



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