Monday, December 31, 2012

Meal Plan Monday #30

It's a New Year! I hope everyone's 2013 offers many opportunities to form treasured memories!

Sunday: Spaghetti

Monday: Fried Rice

Tuesday: Salad and TJ's Tarte

Wednesday: Quesadillas

Thursday: Take Out

Friday: Date Night! Joint Pick!

Monday, December 24, 2012

Meal Plan (Merry Christmas) Monday #29

It's Christmas week. The stockings are hung, and the packages have all been wrapped and mailed. It's time for Christmas!

Sunday: Broiled Salmon and Roasted Vegetables

Monday: Christmas Eve at the Delisles' House

Tuesday: Christmas Dinner at the Smiths' House

Wednesday: Ribs and Caesar Salad

Thursday: D-bomb's Tuna Melts

Friday: PF Chang's Garlic Noodles

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

He knows that I've been good!



Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Woof Wednesday

Sometimes, in the dead of winter, it is nice to remember the warmth of a summer's day!


Monday, December 17, 2012

Meal Plan Monday #28

It's time for EXAMS! I am super busy this week at work, and my friend Mai-Li and I hosted a cookie exchange Sunday. I'll put up pictures and recipes soon.

Sunday: Grilled Fish Tacos with Cabbage and Guacamole

Monday: Baked Beans with Hamburger

Tuesday: Darren's Green Chili Enchiladas

Wednesday: Caesar Salad and TJ's Tartes

Thursday: Chicken Philly Crescent Pockets

Friday: Date Night! Lib's Pick.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Woof Wednesday

Did I mention I will roll around on your blankets and leave my hair everywhere?

Monday, December 10, 2012

Meal Plan Monday #27

The semester is near it's close - two weeks until Christmas break, but there is so much to do in the mean time.

Sunday: Seared Tuna Steaks and Creamy Pasta with Broccoli

Monday: Bachan's Potato Casserole with Salad

Tuesday: Fried Rice

Wednesday: Oven-Baked Sandwiches

Thursday: Beef Stew with Pretzel Rolls

Friday: Date Night! Darren's Pick

Have a great week!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Woof Wednesday

If you leave your things laying on your bed, I will jump up and lay in the middle of them when you are not around to stop me.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Meal Plan Monday #26

Winter sports are in full swing at school. The weather is cooler, and it's time for some heartier food.

Sunday: Cornbread Dressing with Chicken and Lima Beans

Monday: Bulkogi with Stir Fried Broccoli and Carrots (based on this recipe)

Tuesday: Beef Stroganoff with Mashed Potatoes

Wednesday: Bacon Bow Tie Pasta

Thursday: Skillet Cordon Bleu with Potatoes

Friday: Date Night! Lib's Pick

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Snap Shot Saturday

This kid is home for a while. I hope to see her soon and hear all about her good works!

Monday, November 26, 2012

Meal Plan Monday #25

Thanksgiving is over and the turkey is eaten, and we are back to our regular schedule. Winter sports kick off at school this week, with soccer and basketball home games on Monday and Tuesday, so Darren will be cooking on his own on Tuesday.

Sunday: Broiled Salmon and Rice

Monday: Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken

Tuesday: Ham Fried Rice

Wednesday: Baked Beans with Pulled Pork and Cornbread

Thursday: Chicken Quesadillas with Refried Beans

Friday: Date Night! Darren's Pick

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Sweet Potato Muffins

We had leftover sweet potatoes from Thanksgiving, so I made muffins with leftover sweet potato casserole for breakfast this morning. The muffins were excellent!

Here is the delicious sweet potato batter.
Here are the muffins!

YUM! Enjoy some muffins with your Thanksgiving leftovers!

Snap Shot Saturday

Lobo

Monday, November 19, 2012

Meal Plan Monday #24

It's Thanksgiving Week! We are celebrating Thanksgiving with Darren's family. Everyone is assigned a dish. We are bringing sweet potato souffle, pecan pie, and pineapple upside down cake.

Sunday: Going to a play and out to dinner.

Monday: Fish Tacos with Cabbage and Guacamole

Tuesday: Ham Steak with Lima Beans and Cornbread

Wednesday: Black-eyed Peas and Cornbread

Thursday: THANKSGIVING!

Friday: Leftovers

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope yours is wonderful!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Sangria Saturday: Open House

We are finally settled in our new house, and we are having friends over to enjoy the fabulous fall here in AZ. The weather is perfect most days! We are planning to have music, games, conversation, and good snacks!

On the savory side:
Spicy Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Guacamole
Meat and Cheese Plate
Crackers, Toast Points, Chips, etc.

On the sweet side:
Dipped Pretzels
Brownies

On the refreshing side:
Sangria
Pumpkin Ale
Iced Tea
Lemonade

Snap Shot Saturday

Baa, baa, black sheep...


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Cheese Ravioli with Pancetta and Broccoli Cream Sauce

We made this pasta dish after making our version of the spicy sausage and chicken pasta over at Beyer Beware. Instead of sausage and chicken, we used pancetta and broccoli with cheese raviolis. It was great, and reheated very well.
Cook the pancetta to render the fat, then add the peppers and onions. A little butter or olive oil (or a mix) can be added if the pancetta is not rendering enough fat.


Cook the ravioli according to the package directions.
Once the onions and peppers are done, remove them from the pan and drain off most of the remaining grease. Deglaze the pan with broth and cook the broccoli in the broth.

When the broccoli is tender and bright green, add the half and half and spices and let the sauce thicken.
When the sauce is done, return the pancetta and pepper/onion mixture to the pan.
Stir it around to warm everything and them mix with the cooked pasta.


ENJOY!






Monday, November 12, 2012

Meal Plan Monday #23

Sunday was Veterans Day. I am proud that my father and grandfather served our country. For all of the troubles we do have, our country is filled with brave men and women who work and have worked to keep us safe. Thanks to all of our Veterans!

Darren is lucky enough to observe the Veterans Day holiday with a day off work. He is going to make us some ribs on our new grill/smoker using our standard rib rub! We are super excited about it!

Sunday: Grilled Fish Tacos with Cabbage and Avocado

Monday: Smoked Ribs with Salad

Tuesday: Baked Beans with Hamburger and Sweet Potato Fries

Wednesday: Spinach Ricotta Pasta

Thursday: Ham Steak, Black-eyed Peas, and Cornbread

Friday: Date Night! Darren's Pick

Saturday: Sangria Saturday!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Spicy Chicken and Sausage Pasta

We very slightly modified this recipe from Beyer Beware. The only real change I made for my version was to use a mixture of ground spices instead of a store-bought cajun blend. This pasta was delicious!!




Monday, November 5, 2012

Meal Plan Monday #22

As far as I know, neither of us has any after work commitments this week, so we can eat whatever we choose every night without worrying about time as much.

Sunday: Chipotle-Lime Glazed Salmon with Roasted Potatoes

Monday: Seared Steaks and Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Tuesday: Three Cheese Chicken Alfredo Bake

Wednesday: Oven Sandwiches and Salad

Thursday: Chicken Quesadillas with Black Beans and Guacamole

Friday: Date Night! Lib's Pick!

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Broiled Sandwiches

I have been eating some variation of these sandwiches for as long as I can remember, but last spring I had them at a friend's house, and her family uses pepperoni and salami in them and tops them with sliced avocado, which makes them extra delicious.



Monday, October 29, 2012

Meal Plan Monday #21

I have been selected for a committee at work, so I have a late meeting on Monday. Wednesday is Halloween. This is shaping up to be a busy week! 

Sunday: Dinner with Darren's Dad

Monday: TJ's Ham and Gruyere Tarte and Caesar Salad

Tuesday: Chicken Fried Rice

Wednesday: Pepperoni Pizza on TJ's Mediteranian Flatbread

Thursday: Peanut Noodles with Chicken

Friday: Date Night! Darren's Pick!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Monday, October 22, 2012

Meal Plan Monday #20

Fall break is over, so it's back to the grind. =(

Sunday: Seared Tuna Steaks and Rice

Monday: Darren's Chicken Enchiladas

Tuesday: Pork Chops and Mashed Potatoes

Wednesday: Caesar Salad and TJ's Ham and Gruyere Tarte

Thursday: Chicken Philly Crescent Pockets and Sweet Potato Fries

Friday: Date Night! Lib's Pick!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Snap Shot Saturday

I went to lunch with a friend and afterwards, we went to a strange little soda fountain/antique shop. I got this neat little Haviland Limoges bone dish.


Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Woof Wednesday

Ralph had an episode of vestibular syndrome a few weeks ago, but she is doing okay now. Poor girl is getting older, and things aren't as easy as they used to be.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Meal Plan Monday #19

It is fall break for me this week, but since we give written evaluations at my school, I will spend much of my time writing those. Also, it is college application time for my seniors, and I am writing recommendation letters for several of them. Still, I plan to try to do some more elaborate cooking this week.

Sunday: Sizzling Fish and Rice

Monday: Ribs with Spicy Sauteed Green Beans

Tuesday: Cheesy Chicken Pot Pie

Wednesday: Cheese Ravioli with Pancetta and Broccoli Cream Sauce

Thursday: Oven Sandwiches and Salad

Friday: Date Night! Darren's Pick

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Snap Shot Saturday

I was looking at this little figurine when I was home over the summer. She was with my old Strawberry Shortcake miniatures. She is the same size as the SSC miniatures, but she is a different plastic. Then I thought she was a Jellybean Doll, because she was clearly made in the same mold as the Very Cherry Jellybean Doll and she has Lanard markings on her back. As it turns out, she is the Yummy Yellow Crayon Doll miniature also produced in the early 1980s by the Lanard toy company and made in the same molds as the Jellybean dolls. It took me a while to figure it out, but I'm pretty sure everything is available on the internet if you just keep searching.