Last Wednesday was my 5 year "blogiversary" for the What's for Dinner blog! Is it strange that I've been blogging about what I eat for five years? Hopefully my meal plans and recipes have been useful for many of you. They are vital for my family. If I didn't meal plan, my family would eat out or eat junk way too often. Meal plans are definitely a key component of survival for this mom. :)

Today is New Year's Eve, and we woke to a dusting of snow on the ground! It has been so warm this December that it's nice to have it actually feel like winter finally. We don't have any huge plans for the evening. Corey's girlfriend, Hannah, is visiting, and they plan on making some cookies today. We are going to have fun appetizers for dinner, watch movies, play games and ring in the New Year with a sparkling grape juice toast. :) Hopefully Eric and I will be able to stay up that late. ;)

Here's this week's menu. Enjoy and have a great week! Be sure to follow me on Facebook to get fast updates from the blog. :)

Sunday - Eat at Silver Dollar City (had to go see the Christmas lights one more time for Hannah)

Monday - New Year's Eve fun food - Mini pigs-in-blanket (turkey little smokies wrapped in crescent rolls), Mini meatball subs (meatballs cooked in marinara sauce and put on wheat Kings Hawaiian rolls with provolone), Chips and Queso, Orange slices, and whatever cookies the kids make today :)

Tuesday - Tator Tot Surprise (didn't get to it last week - too much leftover ham and beans to eat), Salad, Oranges

Wednesday - Lasagna Rolls (borrowed my brother's pic as I forgot to take on last time I made them), Salad, Garlic Bread, Strawberries

Thursday - Taco Salads, Fruit

Friday - Creamy Chicken Breasts, Rice, Green Beans, Salad

Saturday - Turkey Dinner (Wal Mart had turkeys on sale for 50 cents/pound!)

For more menu ideas, visit orgjunkie.com.  

It's Christmas Eve! I can hardly believe today's the day. It has been so warm here lately (60 degrees yesterday) that it doesn't seem very Christmasy But, we actually have a winter storm watch for Christmas day, so maybe some snow is in our near future.

Corey and I are officially on break from school for two weeks! Woo hoo! He has had a very tough semester with 6 AP classes, half of which he takes on online. No "blow off" senior year for my kid - yes, he's crazy! He has definitely earned some down time. We took in a couple of movies this weekend (Hobbit and Lincoln - both great), and we're looking forward to heading to Grandma's house to eat lots of food.

We will be around a few days this week, so I have a few things on the menu, all of which are requests from the boys. Here's this week's menu. Enjoy and have a great week! Be sure to follow me on Facebook to get fast updates from the blog. :)

Sunday - Comforting Chicken Noodle Soup, Salad, Blackberries

Monday - Ham and Beans (recipe coming soon), Sinfully Sweet Cornbread, Salad

Tuesday - Eat at Grandma's! Merry Christmas!

Wednesday - Southwestern Egg Rolls with Avocado Ranch Sauce, Strawberries, Salad

Thursday - Tator Tot Surprise, Salad, Oranges

Friday - Eat at Grandma's

Saturday - Eat at Grandma's

For more menu ideas, visit orgjunkie.com.  
 

It's hard to believe that we are just over a week away from Christmas! This is our last week at school before break, and I look forward to sharing holiday stories and activities with my students in the library this week. Even more than that, I look forward to some time at home with my family over our break. I'm hoping to have to extra time to spend in my kitchen. :)

Here's this week's menu. Enjoy and have a great week! Be sure to follow me on Facebook to get fast updates from the blog. :)

Sunday - Chili, Fruit Salad

Monday - BBQ Pork Sandwiches (from freezer), Green Beans, Salad, Oranges

Tuesday - Apple Butter Glazed Chicken, Broccoli, Salad, Pineapple

Wednesday - Chili Ranch Grilled Pork Chops, Green Beans, Salad, Applesauce

Thursday - leftovers

Friday - Steak, Baked Potatoes, Green Beans, Salad

Saturday - Ott's House Casserole, Broccoli, Salad

For more menu ideas, visit orgjunkie.com.  

I'm back! Literally, I guess. ;-) I threw my back out last Sunday morning, and it pretty much knocked me out for the week. It's still a little sore, but I'm at least up and moving around again. We have two weeks until school is out for Christmas vacation, and I can't wait. I'm anxious to have some time to do some extra cooking just for fun. I did make my Christmas cookies today and some Pretzel Hugs and Faux Turtles. I also got my cooking done for my meals this week, so my family should eat well.

Here's this week's menu. Enjoy and have a great week! Be sure to follow me on Facebook to get fast updates from the blog. :)

Sunday - Pork Roast (just threw it in the slow cooker with some rosemary sprigs), Day Before Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Salad

Monday - Cowboy Stew, Sinfully Sweet Cornbread, Salad

Tuesday - Lemon Thyme Chicken, Rice, Broccoli, Salad

Wednesday - Leftovers

Thursday - Eat out

Friday - Spaghetti with Meatballs, Broccoli, Garlic Bread, Salad

Saturday - Southwestern Egg Rolls with Avocado Ranch Dipping Sauce, Fruit Salad

For more menu ideas, visit orgjunkie.com.  

These are much easier than traditional Turtle candies.

Ingredients:

2 11 oz. packages of Rolo candies, unwrapped
1 bag mini pretzels
Pecan halves (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

2. Place on e pretzel for each pretzel treat desired on prepared sheet. Top each pretzel with one Rolo candy.

3. Bake 3 to 5 minutes or until caramel piece begins to soften, but not melt. Remove from oven; top with either pecan half or additional pretzel. Cool completely.

Recipe Source - Rolo bag

These are a nice alternative to dipping pretzels in chocolate. :)

Ingredients:

1 1 lb bag Snyders Pretzel Snaps (you can also use regular mini pretzels)
2 bags Hershey's Hugs

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Unwrap the Hugs.
Lay down one pretzel for each Hug, and top each pretzel with an unwrapped Hug.
Place the tray in the oven for 2 mintes.
Remove from the oven and let rest for 1 minute to continue the softening process. (Be sure not to leave them in the oven too long or they will completely melt and run all over your tray.)
Top each Hug with another pretzel, pushing down gently so they stick together.
Cool in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to set.