Do you ever have one of those weeks that you wish the week was over before it even begins? I hate to wish away time, but boy, is this week a busy one for our family. I think we have some kind of evening activity each day, many of which will prevent us from being able to eat at home, and I really don't like eating out. Corey has a cross country dinner, a cross country meet, and homecoming activities on varying nights. I have computer workshops, and Eric has some traveling. Corey also has his first band and math contest of the year - both on Saturday! All of these things are good things, they just make schedules a little hectic.

This weekend we did do our annual apple pie baking fest. Our neighbors were so excited when they realized it was "apple pie day". :) I love when something so little can make people happy.

Because of the busy schedule, the menu this week will be pretty slim. I did make the best cake in the world for Corey's cross country dinner.

The rest of our meals will either be eating out or relying on some freezer staples. I took a look back to last year at this same time, and it looks like we were busy then as well. :) But, there are some ideas you might get by looking back at that menu. Here is this week's menu. For more menu ideas go to orgjunkie.com. Enjoy and have a great week.

Sunday - Pork Medallions with Cider Sauce (off one day on that one), Day Before Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Salad
Monday - Cross Country Dinner (made Chocolate Chip Pound Cake)
Tuesday - Cross Country Meet - eat out on way home
Wednesday - Computer workshop - Turkey and Gravy (from freezer), Mashed Potatoes (from freezer), Green Beans, Salad
Thursday - Homecoming Pep Rally - BBQ Beef Sandwiches (from freezer), Corn, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes (from freezer), Salad
Friday - Marching band halftime performance and homecoming - eat out
Saturday - Band contest and math contest - eat out

The Matzat family is finally healthy again! We have a busy week ahead of us, as usual, so I spent my Sunday doing my usual pre-cooking preparations. This Tuesday we are hosting Corey's cross country team for dinner after their meet (all 40-some of them!), so I cooked a ton of BBQ beef and chicken today so we can make sandwiches that night. It's always fun to see so many hungry kids enjoy your food. :)

Since fall officially arrives this week, I'm making one of my favorite fall dinners - Pork Medallions with Cider Sauce. Doesn't that just make your mouth water? The apple cider arrived in the stores last week, and boy was I excited. Isn't it nice when something that simple brings you so much joy. ;)

Here's this week's menu. For more menu ideas, go to orgjunkie.com. Enjoy and have a great week!

Sunday - Filets, Green Beans, Salad
Monday - Lasagna (from freezer), Garlic Bread, Salad
Tuesday - Cross Country Team Dinner - BBQ Beef and BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Salad, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars (with chocolate and peanut butter chips)
Wednesday - Beef Stew (didn't get to this one last week)
Thursday - Eat out (we have evening obligations in different locations)
Friday - Homemade Pizza, Salad
Saturday - Pork Medallions with Cider Sauce, Day Before Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli, Salad

I am sick. :( I caught my husband's cold, and we've both been suffering this week. It seems to be one of those colds that hangs on for a while. Having a cold makes it very hard to get my meal planning and weekend cooking done. But, enough complaining! It has been a beautiful weekend, even if I didn't get to go outside and enjoy it. I made one of my favorite soups for supper tonight (soups are great for colds), and I made Lazy Morning Sausage Pie for breakfast tomorrow. I also made a Fresh Apple Cake for dessert, so I didn't do too bad for not feeling well. :)

We have lots of evening obligations this week (cross country meets, band displays, book club, etc.), so I tried to pick items that are quick and easy. I already made tomorrow spaghetti and have it in the fridge ready to heat up. Here's this weeks menu. For more menu ideas, go to orgjunkie.com. Enjoy and have a great week!

Sunday - Sausage Potato Soup, Apple slices
Monday - Spaghetti with Meatballs (made ahead), Salad, Garlic Muffins
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Montery Chicken, Green Beans, Peaches
Thursday - Book Club (possibly fondue?)
Friday - Beef Stew
Saturday - Steaks, Baked Potatoes, Green Beans, Salad

I love three-day weekends! We have really enjoyed having that extra day off, and the weather just happened to be perfect. Corey had his first cross country meet Saturday morning, and that evening we actually got to use the fire pit! We ended up roasting hot dogs and sitting by the fire for hours. It was simply fantastic.

The new meals we tried last week were all great. Our favorite of the four was the taco cornbread casserole. This week I'm going back to some simple standards since dinner times will be sporadic. I am doing some baking today, so be sure to check out the Fresh Apple Cake, Honey Bun Cake, and Hot Chocolate Chip Cookies. Here's this week's menu. For more menu ideas, go to orgjunkie.com. Enjoy and have a great week!

Sunday - Marsala Burgers, Oven Baked Fries, Peaches
Monday - Ultimate BBQ Chicken, Broccoli, Salad, Strawberries
Tuesday - Chick-be-Quicks (made ahead), Green Beans, Salad
Wednesday - Homemade Pizza, Salad
Thursday - Chili (from freezer), PB Sandwiches, Apples
Friday - Eat out (heading to cross country meet)
Saturday - Eat at Grandma's

These are incredibly tasty cookies. They do remind you of drinking hot chocolate! The white chocolate chips are kind of like adding marshmallows to your cocoa. :)

Ingredients:

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
⅔ cups packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3-¼ cups flour
4 packages (1 oz. packets, NOT Sugar-free) hot chocolate mix (or 1/2 cup of cocoa mix out of the can)
1 teaspoon salt
1-¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup each white, milk, and semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream butter and sugars until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. In a separate bowl, combine flour, hot chocolate mix, salt and baking soda. Add to wet ingredients in 3 to 4 parts, making sure all is incorporated. Fold in chips. Chill the dough for an hour or so. Use a cookie scoop (mine is about 2 T - the medium sized Pampered Chef one) to scoop dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan.

Makes 56 cookies

This is an amazing cake! It's way better than packaged honey buns you get at the store. It's especially good still warm from the oven. :)

Ingredients:
1 yellow cake mix (with pudding included)
8oz sour cream
4 eggs
2/3 cup oil
1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon


Directions:
Combine first 5 ingredients and beat for 2 minutes. Pour 1/2 of batter into a lightly greased and floured 9x13 pan.

Combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle half of sugar mixture over batter.
Top with remaining batter. Sprinkle remaining sugar mixture on top. Swirl with a knife.

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes (mine took more like 40 minutes)

Glaze:
3 tablespoons milk
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Mix the milk and powdered sugar together for a glaze. Add glaze to the cake as soon as it is removed from the oven.

Enjoy!

Recipe Source - One Crazy Cookie

I got this recipe from my friend Kristin (who got it from Paula Dean) and thought it sounded like a good cake to make in September since apple season has started. When I baked it, it only took 1 hour to cook in my oven instead of the listed hour and a half, so be sure you check it after an hour.

Ingredients

Honey Glaze:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons milk


Apple Cake:
3 cups diced Granny Smith apples, about 2 apples
1 cup lightly toasted chopped walnuts (I left out the walnuts)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil (I used 1/2 cup applesauce and 3/4 oil)
3 eggs

Directions

Glaze: Add all the ingredients to a small bowl and stir until smooth. Set the bowl aside.

Cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease a Bundt pan or tube pan.

In a bowl, mix together the apples, walnuts, vanilla, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

Using an electric mixer beat the sugar, oil, and eggs in a large bowl. Add in the dry ingredients and beat until completely combined. Fold in the apple mixture.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until a tester inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.

Allow the cake to fully cool in the pan, about 1 hour, and then turn it out onto a plate.

Drizzle the apple cake with some of the honey glaze, serve and enjoy!

Note:
The cake can be wrapped tightly and stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.

Recipe Source – Paula Dean via Kristin Coker