Menu Plan Monday! (July 14th)

The menu from last week went really well. We tried two new recipes, and they were both keepers. However, I must say, that everyone's favorite was the Fuss Free Ravioli and Cheese Bake! YUMMY! Definitely, going back on the rotation list.

This week, I am trying to use up some of the stuff we already have in the pantry and freezer. I will have to go back to the store for a few things, but I think it should work out pretty good.

So, here goes:

Monday: Chicken & Dumplings
Tuesday: Philly Cheese steak (HH), Cheddar Bay Biscuits, Green Beans
Wednesday: Spaghetti, Bread Sticks, Salad
Thursday: Meatloaf, Broccoli Rice Au Gratin, Peas or Cream Style Corn
Friday: Easy Chicken Bake, Salad
Saturday: Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Corn
Sunday: Baked Potato Bar (Cheese, Bacon Bits, Sour Cream, Chives, etc.)

I doubt that I will post menus for the next two weeks, because Mr. Mister and I, will be in and out of town. Most likely, we will just grab whatever we can find.

If you are tired of hearing the dreaded "What's For Dinner?" question, and want to see what hundreds of other menu planners are eating this week, head on over to Laura's at Organized Junkie, to get some ideas, and maybe even a few new recipes to try.

Menu Plan Monday! (July 7th)

I have been wanting to participate in Menu Plan Monday (MPM) over at Laura's for a while now. Finally, I am getting around to posting my first menu here.

I am going to try two new recipes! This is what our week looks like:

Monday: Italian Sausage & Rigatoni (Bertolli), Rolls, & Salad

Tuesday: Pork Chops, Cheddar Bacon Potatoes, & Cream Style Corn

Wednesday: Stroganoff, Homemade Bread, & Green Beans

Thursday: Stuffed Bell Peppers, & Salad

Friday: Sour Cream & Bacon Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, & Tomato & Cucumber Salad

Saturday: Cheeseburgers, Brats, French Fries, & Corn on the Cob

Sunday: Fuss Free Ravioli & Cheese Bake, Garlic Bread, & Salad

If you would like more recipe ideas, stop by Laura's blog to see what everyone is cooking up this week!

In other news, we had a lot of fun in Tennessee! My in-laws live way out in the country, so it was nice and quiet. We had a great time just RELAXING! There was a lot of talking, and laughing going on. Of course, there was delicious food. You HAVE to have lots of that on the 4th right? LOL! And Mr. Mister decided that his inner child had to come out and play, so he went and bought fireworks to set off.

Where are all the pictures of our good times, you ask? Well, there aren't any! Can you BELIEVE that I didn't take any pictures? Actually, I did "attempt" to take a few of the fireworks, but they were so blurry (I forgot my tripod at home) that I deleted them.

One of these years, I am going to take AWESOME pictures of fireworks! ONE OF THESE YEARS! LOL!

A Little Of This And That!

Hey everyone!

Not much going on right now! (Except, that it's RAINING again!) I have been busy doing the "Flylady" thing! This week, I scrubbed the front of my kitchen cabinets, washed the curtains in the kitchen, dining room, and living room, and did other things that haven't been done in a while. I really need to tackle the area on top of my cabinets! I am NOT looking forward to THAT! Why? Because, I have all kinds of stuff up there that needs to be cleaned! Things like, artificial plants, glass baubles, antique beaters, a doll my mother made, a clown that Mr. Mister's parents bought me in Las Vegas (almost 20 years ago) a gold bell that Mr. Mister brought back from Korea, and even a fairy house teapot!



The above pictures only show a "portion" of the area above my cabinets! NOW do you understand why I am not looking forward to it? ROFL!

I've also been looking for new recipes to try. Brat Girl and I have been craving potato soup in a bread bowl. (YEAH, I know it's HOT outside! LOL! But, all food that has been cooked is HOT when you eat it! Soup is no different! LOL) So, I went looking at All Recipes and found these!



Baked Potato Soup I

Submitted by: Sherry Haupt Photo by: Rebecca
Rated: 5 out of 5 by 920 members Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 25 Minutes Ready In: 40 Minutes
Yields: 6 servings

"This soup incorporates pre-baked cubes of potato with onion, crumbled bacon, cheddar cheese and sour cream in a milk soup base which has been thickened with a roux."

INGREDIENTS:
12 slices bacon
2/3 cup margarine
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
7 cups milk
4 large baked potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 green onions, chopped
1 1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS:
1. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium heat until browned. Drain, crumble, and set aside.
2. In a stock pot or Dutch oven, melt the margarine over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in milk, whisking constantly until thickened. Stir in potatoes and onions. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.
3. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Mix in bacon, cheese, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2008 Allrecipes.com



Italian Bread Bowls

Submitted by: Kerri Skrudland Photo by: Docswife
Rated: 4 out of 5 by 144 members Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes Ready In: 2 Hours 15 Minutes
Yields: 8 servings

"These cute little bread bowls are a great way to serve soup in the wintertime. I usually serve a hearty potato soup when I have the time to bake them. They freeze for up to 1 month, if desired."

INGREDIENTS:
2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
2 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
7 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornmeal
1 egg white
1 tablespoon water

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. Add salt, oil and 4 cups flour to the yeast mixture; beat well. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well with an electric mixer at medium speed after each addition.
3. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
4. Punch dough down, and divide into 8 equal portions. Shape each portion into a 4 inch round loaf. Place loaves on lightly greased baking sheets sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, until doubled in bulk, about 35 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). In a small bowl, beat together egg white and 1 tablespoon water; lightly brush the loaves with half of this egg wash.
6. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Brush with remaining egg mixture, and bake 10 to 15 more minutes or until golden. Cool on wire racks.
7. To make bowls: Cut a 1/2 inch thick slice from top of each loaf; scoop out centers, leaving 3/4-inch-thick shells. Fill bread bowls with hot soup and serve immediately.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2008 Allrecipes.com

YUM! I'll be adding these to the menu! I cannot wait to try them! If you read the reviews, other people have made suggestions on how to change things, or make them even better, so I may play with the soup a bit. We'll see!

Favorite Cookies!

OK! I was wanting something sweet! (When I am NOT wanting something sweet?) So, I decided to make one of our favorite kinds of cookies! They are called Oatmeal Scotchies! Several years ago, I noticed the recipe on a bag of Nestle Butterscotch Morsels. Can you say YUMMY!



If you would like to have a new addiction, here is the recipe:

Oatmeal Scotchies

1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract or grated peel of 1 orange
3 c. quick or old fashioned oats, uncooked
1 (12 oz.) pkg. (2 c.) Nestle's Toll House butterscotch flavored morsels

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, set aside.

In large mixer bowl, beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla extract or orange peel until creamy. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in oats and Nestle's Toll House butterscotch flavored morsels. Drop by measuring tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 7 or 8 minutes for chewier cookies; 9-10 minutes for crisper cookies. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Chocolate Eclair Dessert

The first time I tasted this sinful recipe I thought I had died and gone to heaven! My aunt, in South Carolina, made it for a family gathering. I knew when she pulled it out of the refrigerator that I was doomed.

All of the other family members were excited, and running for their plates. After taking that first bite, I knew why everyone else was chomping at the bit to get to this delectable dessert. It had layers of graham crackers, lots of pudding, so it was ooey & gooey, and chocolate on top. What else could possibly be better?

While they were enjoying their first helping, I thought to myself, maybe if I grab the pan, and lick the entire top of the dessert, nobody will want anymore! I stared lovingly at it sitting on the counter, and started to get up. Suddenly, flashes of myself being chased out of the house, by angry relatives (that I had just met), made me sit back down in my chair. I decided I would scare away anyone who attempted to go for seconds, with the evil "STINKEYE".

It didn't work!

Eventually, I ended up begging my aunt for the recipe. She reached for her special book that she had written hundreds of recipes down in. (I just knew they all had to be secret family recipes)! While I sat at the table and wrote the recipe down, she told me about all the changes she makes to it. Sometimes she uses the chocolate flavored graham crackers. Sometimes she uses different pudding. This particular time she used one box of vanilla and one box of pistachio pudding. I knew that I would always make it with one of each because I loved the pistachio flavor. After carefully writing everything down, I put the recipe in my purse and proceeded to enjoy the rest of my vacation visiting family in North & South Carolina.

When I arrived back home, all I could talk about was this wonderful recipe I had tried, and told my family that I wanted to make it for them. I went searching for the recipe and I COULDN'T find it. I looked and looked but it was nowhere to be found. Apparently, I had put it in such a safe spot (so that I wouldn't lose it) that I totally lost it. Panic set in. Now my family would NEVER know the wonders of this delightful dish. I wouldn't be able to include it in the cookbook I wanted to make. I was a failure at passing down secret family recipes! What would I do now?

I did what every other SMART person would have done. I "googled" it!

Imagine my surprise when the very same, highly guarded, secret family recipe was all over the internet! O MY! Someone must have found the piece of paper I had written it down on, and dispersed bootleg copies of it EVERYWHERE!

Needless to say, I was a very excited girl! And the next time I see my aunt, I will pretend it's still our little secret! But, I might have to break the news about the Easy Bake Chicken recipe that has shown up on the back of the Stove-Top Stuffing box.

So, would you like the recipe? Shhhhhhh you CAN'T tell anyone! Pinky swear? OK! Here it is:

Chocolate Eclair Dessert

3 Individual Packages Of Graham Crackers (1 box)
2 (3 ounce) Packages Of Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
3 (cups) Milk
1 (8 ounce) Container Frozen Whipped Topping (Thawed)
1 (16 ounce) Can Prepared Chocolate Frosting

Directions:

Line the bottom of a 9"X13" pan with graham crackers. In a large bowl, combine pudding mix and milk. Stir well. Stir whipped topping into the pudding mixture. Spread half of the mixture over graham cracker layer. Top with another layer of graham crackers and the remaining pudding. Top all with a final layer of graham crackers and frost with chocolate frosting. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

There you go! It can't be sinful when it tastes so good. Can it? I prefer to say it's HEAVENLY! That way, I feel much better when I keep sticking my spoon into the pan while it sits in the refrigerator. WAIT! I forgot to lick the top of it!

She's Killing ME!

I am trying "really hard" to stay on my diet but, I am over at Pioneer Woman's blog seeing THESE!



She always has the best recipes, and the photographs she takes are phenomenal! She goes through step-by-step instructions with photos for EACH step! Go ahead and take a look! You know you want to! (Yep! I'm an enabler! LOL!) Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

This one will definitely be added to the list of foods to make for Christmas. Could you imagine waking up on Christmas morning to these! OOOOOOOOO I am drooling over here, and I think I've gained five pounds just by reading the recipe!

I guess I will actually have to get UP and do the new workout by Leslie Sansone that arrived here yesterday.
I won't mention the part about it totally kicking my (non exercising in months) butt!


WHEW DOGGIE! Can someone pass the cinnamon rolls please! HA!