Sunday, November 29, 2009

Monday Menu and a Fun Holiday Idea to Share

Christmas came early for WVU fans...Pitt Panthers wrapped-up in a bow!!




It's "Monday Menu Planning Time"; that time every Sunday when I look through the refrigerators, pantry shelves and freezers, then glance at my calendar to see what the coming week looks like. As you can tell, it's a ritual based more on leftovers, and what I have in the pantry and freezer, than anything else. I'm pretty well stocked-up right now because of the grocery sales before Thanksgiving.

I must add, that I have found that the day after Thanksgiving is an excellent time to get bargains on markdowns on fresh produce and other items associated with the holiday meal. I was out hunting Christmas gift bargains on "Black Friday" when, purely by chance, I went by a bin of yams that had been marked-down to 25 cents per pound! I was then on a mission to check all other produce that had a "Thanksgiving Connection"! I got a 3-pack of Romaine lettuce, marked at two packages for 3 dollars (it had been 2 dollars a package on Tuesday, because I had purchased some). I got a bag of Clementine oranges that had been 4 dollars, marked-down to $1.25. Gala apples had been reduced to 1 dollar a pound. And, although I didn't get any of them, the in-store bakery had its pumpkin pies on clearance for 3 dollars a piece (and they freeze well). I'm going to keep this in mind next year at this same time!

Aside from hunting bargains for Christmas gifts, I've come up with a fun theme for my blog for the month of December. It's called "Christmas the Traditional Way-Christmas the Easy Way!" I will be sharing some super easy ideas for the holiday rush. For example, I will give my very traditional recipe for Divinity (for you "Martha S.-Types" out there, and you know who you are!), and then I'll give my Marcia D.-Type, hurried and harried, holiday quickie recipe for No Fail Divinity (in which you use a box of fluffy vanilla frosting mix, but hey, it's delicious, and no one has to know.) Stick with me; we'll make it through our holiday to-do lists together!

Enough chit-chat. Here's my menu plan for the week:

Monday, Nov. 30

Beef BBQ (leftover roast beef)
Coleslaw/Broccoli Salad
chips(leftover dip)


Tuesday, Dec. 1

Corned beef and steamed cabbage
mashed potatoes
corn


Wednesday, Dec 2.

Homemade Potato Soup
Tuna on toasted flat bread w/tomato and Romaine


Thursday, Dec 3.

Chicken Caesar Salad
Toasted French garlic loaf


Friday, Dec 4.

Shrimp Prima Vera
Wheat rolls
7-Layer Salad


Saturday, Dec 5.

Cream of Wheat/Cocoa Wheat
Toast


Take-out Pizza (for guys)-St. Barbara's Ball
Veg. plate


Sunday, Dec. 6

Fiesta Meatloaf
Parsley Potatoes
Glazed Carrots
Broccoli and cheese sauce

Leftover Buffet!


I will be joining MPM at Orgjunkie .

Friday, November 27, 2009

Ahhhh! I've Been Black Friday Shopping!


I hope that you are all enjoying a warm and peaceful Thanksgiving holiday weekend! As for me...I've been partaking in the chaos that is, "Black Friday"! If you enjoy hunting down some bargains, you've got to go wade through the crowds on the day after stuffing yourself with turkey...it's an American tradition! And then, later, you get to relish the thought that you survived the Christmas shopping madness and that you are now safely home. Awaiting you are turkey leftovers and WVU basketball on TV...awww, bliss!

I'll be back here on Monday with my menu plan for the week and a new idea that I have for the month of December, something that I think you will enjoy! See you Monday!

I'll be linking to these sites today:

LifeasMom
Grocerycartchallenge
DesignsbyGollum
AnnKroeker.wordpress.com

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving !


My friend, Reda, gave me this a long time ago and I've always liked it. Thought I would share it with you for Thanksgiving Day. This recipe is very flexible, of course, as far as the number of people and pets are concerned, but the love and caring are not optional!

Recipe for a Happy Family

1 husband
1 wife
children
Bible
1 home
3 C love, packed
1 pkg. work
1 pkg. play, together
1 TBSP patience (approximate)
1 TBSP understanding
1 TBSP forgiveness
1 C kisses
Generous portion of prayer

Mix thoroughly and sprinkle with awareness. Bake in moderate oven of everyday life, using grudges and past unpleasantness as fuel. Cool; turn out onto a platter of cheerfulness. Garnish with tears and laughter. In large helpings, serve God, Country and Community.


Wishing each of you love and family togetherness this Thanksgiving!

I will be at LifeasMom for her recipe swap today.