Menu Plan: Week of November 6, 2011

Whew!  Last week was so busy that there were several nights we just grabbed something quick.  I just could not find time to get into the kitchen and cook.  As a mother, I felt some guilt feeding my kids fast food and frozen pizza, so I have made it my goal to have a very well stocked pantry and some meals in the freezer for the next time that I have zero time to get into the kitchen and cook a meal. 

Have a great week! 

Meal 1
Scooter's Spaghetti

Garlic Bread

Salad

Meal 2

Pancakes for Dinner

Meal 3 

Mac & Cheese Soup

Sandwiches

Meal 4

Chicken Pot Pie with Mashed Potato Top

Salad

Meal 5
Leftovers

Meal 6
Ranch House Pork Chops

Green Beans

Mashed Potatoes

Rolls

Meal 7

Family Movie Night

BAKING

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
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Apple Toffee Blondies
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 Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Linked To:

*Org Junkie: Menu Plan Monday

Recipe: Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies

I recently participated in a cooking challenge that used apples and caramel.  As I was browsing through all the recipes, I came across this cookie recipe on Lisa's blog, Cook Lisa Cook, and immediately new that I would be making them in the very near future.  And I did and I am so glad that I made them and took them to the admin staff at my kid's school.  They loved them, my family loved them and I thought they were fantastic!  A perfect cookie for the fall season and super easy to make.  I highly suggest that you give this recipe a try because you will not be disappointed and you will receive so many compliments it will make your pretty little head spin.

Enjoy!

Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies

{adapted from the recipe by Cook Lisa Cook}

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Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 box (7.4 oz) spiced apple cider drink mix (DO NOT use sugar free!)
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 bag (14 oz.) caramels

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Line baking sheets with either a Silpat or parchment paper.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter, sugar, salt and the contents of all 10 packets of apple cider drink mix.
4. Add the eggs one at a time mixing well after each addition.
5. Add the vanilla and blend until mixed.
6. Add the baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and flour and mix until well blended.
7. Using a medium cookie scoop fill the scoop level with the cookie dough.
8. While the cookie dough is still in the scoop, press one unwrapped Kraft Caramel into the center of the dough and then pinch the dough to cover the caramel.
9. Release the scoop of dough onto prepared cookie sheet placing about 2-inches apart.
10. Bake 12-14 minutes, or until very lightly browned around the edges. Please don't over-bake!
11. Once the cookies are done, allow the cookies to partially cool on the Silpat or parchment.
12. When cookies are cool enough to be firm but still slightly warm, carefully remove from the Silpat or twist off the parchment and allow to finish cooling upside down on parchment. (I found that when I cooled them on the rack, it left indention's.)

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Linked To:

*Around My Family Table: Turning the Table Thursday

*A Well-Seasoned Life: Sweet Indulgences Sunday

*I Heart Naptime: Sunday Scoop

*One Artsy Mama: {Our} Home for the Holidays

*LambAround: Not Baad Sundays 

*Nifty Thrifty Things: Nifty Thrifty Sunday 

*J&M's Eye Candy: Strut Your Stuff 

*Flamingo Toes: Think Pink Sundays 

*Everyday Mom's Meals: Church Supper 

*Petite Hermine: Sunday Linky Party

*Boogieboard Cottage: Masterpiece Monday

*11th's Heaven Homemaking Haven: Homemaker Monday 

*Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker: Your Recipe, My Kitchen 

*The DIY Home Sweet Home Project: More the Merrier Monday

*Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms: Melt in Your Mouth Monday 

*Delightfully Dowling: Mangia Mondays 

*A Southern Fairytale: Mouthwatering Mondays 

*Marvelously Messy: A Marvelous Mess  

*Sumo's Sweet Stuff: Market Yourself Monday

*Keeping it Simple: Motivate Me Monday 

*At the Well: Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

*It's A Blog Party: Delicious Dishes  

*All the Small Stuff: Tuesdays at the Table

*Talking Dollar and Cents: Sweet Temptations 

 

Recipe: Bubble Up Enchiladas

I am always looking for quick, easy and tasty meals to make during the weeknights.  This dish fit the bill and bonus....it's Mexican.  I found this recipe on Nikki's blog Chef In Training.  If you have not stopped by her blog, you must check it out...she has some great recipes!

My family loved it and my kids thought the "bubbly" biscuits were cool.  The original recipe uses ground turkey.  My family does not like turkey so much, so I have tried it with diced chicken and once with ground beef.  My family enjoyed it with ground beef and I agree.  That is the beauty of this recipe, you can make it with what ever you have on hand.  This dish will definitely be on a regular rotation on our weekly menus especially when I don't have a lot of time but want to serve a hot delicious dinner to my family.  

Enjoy!

Bubble Up Enchiladas

(adapted from the original recipe by Nikki/Chef in Training)

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Ingredients

1 lb ground beef (can also use diced chicken, ground turkey)

1 onion, diced

1 10 oz can red enchilada sauce

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

1 can refrigerated biscuits

1 1/2 to 2 cups shredded cheese (I used 1 cup of sharp and 1 cup of Mexican blend)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 casserole dish with non-stick spray and set aside.  Brown ground beef in a skillet, drain off fat.  Add onions and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.  Pour enchilada sauce and tomato sauce in with the meat and onions.  Mix well.  Cut biscuits into quarters and mix with meat mixture making sure to coat the biscuits with the sauce.  Pour mixture into the casserole dish and bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the biscuits are no longer doughy.  Sprinkle cheese on top and return to the oven and bake until cheese is bubbling and melted.  Remove from the oven and allow to set for a few minutes before serving.  You can serve this with a dollop of sour cream on top of each serving.


Linked To:
*It's a Keeper: It's a Keeper Thursday
*Around My Table: Turning the Table Thursday
*Frugal Follies: Frugal Food Thursday 
*Somewhat Simple: Strut Your Stuff
*What's Allie Making Now: Making it With Allie 
*Designs by Gollum: Foodie Friday
*Run DMT: Friday Food Fight
*Simply Sweet Home: Friday Favorites
*Bacon Time with the Hungry Hungry Hippo: Anything Goes
*EKat's Kitchen: Friday Potluck  
*Amy's Finer Things: Finer Things Friday
*Six Sister's Stuff: Strut Your Stuff Saturday 
*I Heart Naptime: Sunday Scoop
*Everyday Sisters: Sharing Sundays 
*The Sweet Details: Sharing Sunday
*Everyday Mom's Meals: Church Supper
*Mom's Crazy Cooking: This Week's Craving 

Must Try Tuesday: November 1, 2011...the Thursday edition

This is the Thursday edition of Must Try Tuesday.  I seriously don't know where the week has gone.  I remember Monday, but Tuesday and Wednesday are a blur.  It has just been so busy around here.  Anyway, here are some great recipes that I can't wait to try.

I would love to attempt these for Thanksgiving...

Homemade Croissants

I'm A Mom not a Professional

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Oh...these look so yummy...

Dulce de Leche Filled Pumpkin Cupcakes
Real Mom Kitchen

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Another yummy dip to try...

Beer Cheese Dip
33 Shades of Green

~~~

Oh...sweet..love...

Cinnamon Spice Muffins with Apple Pie Filling
Still Waters

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I think these would make a great gift...
or sprinkled over vanilla ice cream...

Brown Sugared Cinnamon Pecans
Frugal Frolic

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Linked To:

*Finding Joy in My Kitchen:  Friday Favorite Finds

Recipe: Cinnamon Biscuit Balls

With three busy girls and a busy family life, I am always looking for quick recipes that I can make to change up our snacks and breakfasts.  My girls love to eat muffins and biscuits so I when I came across this recipe on Karly's blog, Buns in My Oven, I thought it would be a great alternative...and it was!  Not only was it delicious but it was super easy to make because it is made with a baking mix and only required a few ingredients.  My girls loved them and I was happy to have a homemade treat to put in their lunches.  Next time I make them, I will try dipping them in caramel sauce as Karly suggests.

Enjoy!

Cinnamon Biscuit Balls
(original recipe by Karly/Buns in My Oven)
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Ingredients
2 1/3 cups baking mix (ie Biquick)
1/2 cup milk
3 tbsp melted butter
4 tbsp sugar, divided
1 tsp cinnamon

Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Mix half of the sugar and the cinnamon in a small bowl.  Mix remaining ingredients together until a soft dough forms.  Scoop dough by tablespoons and roll into a ball.  Roll each ball in the cinnamon-sugar mixture and place on a greased baking sheet.  Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

NOTE:  You can mix the dough with a mixer, but I mixed mine by hand and found the dough to be really easy to mix.  



Linked To:
*Talking Dollar and Cents: Muffin Monday
*Nifty Thrifty Things: Nifty Thrifty Sunday
*A Well Seasoned Life: Sweet Indulgences Sunday 
*Flamingo Toes: Think Pink Sundays 
*Everyday Mom's Meals: Church Supper 
*Petite Hermine: Sunday Linky Party 
*The DIY Home Sweet Home Project: More the Merrier 
*Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms: Melt in Your Mouth Monday 
*Delightfully Dowling: Mangia Mondays
*Marvelously Messy: A Marvelous Mess 
*Sumo's Sweet Stuff: Market Yourself Monday 
*33 Shades of Green: Tasty Tuesdays
*Reasons To Skip the Housework: Tuesday Time Out
*Mandy's Recipe Box: Totally Tasty Tuesday
*Permanent Posies: Tuesday Tasty Tidbits 
*It's A Blog Party: Delicious Dishes 
*Blessed With Grace: Tempt My Tummy Tuesday 
*Balancing Beauty &; Bedlam: Tasty Tuesday
*My Sweet and Savory: Let's Do Brunch
*Not So Homemade:  What's Cookin' Wednesday 
*Around My Family Table: Turning the Table Thursday
*Somewhat Simple: Strut Your Stuff
*Something Swanky: Sweet Treats Thursday 
*Talking Dollar and Cents: Sweet Temptations 
*Alli n Son: Sweet Tooth Friday
*Sweet As Sugar Cookies: Sweets for a Saturday
*The Sweet Details: Savory Sunday 
 

Menu Plan: Week of October 30, 2011

It is a super busy week with science fairs, church, Halloween and a special birthday!  It is finally feeling like fall here in Texas and the cooler temperatures have been so nice.  If it weren't so busy, I would be in the kitchen cooking and baking every day...maybe next week.

Have a great week! 

Meal 1
Trunk or Treat at Church

Meal 2

Pancakes for Dinner

Meal 3 

Lasagna Soups
Garlic Bread
Salad

Meal 4

Chicken Pot Pie with Mashed Potato Top

Salad

Meal 5
Leftovers

Meal 6
Crock Pot Ham and Potatoes
Cornbread

Meal 7
Aunt Mary's 70th Birthday Party

BAKING

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
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Apple Toffee Blondies
~~~~

 Cinnamon Biscuit Balls

Linked To:

*Org Junkie: Menu Plan Monday

Recipe: Navajo Tacos

In our house, we love most things Tex-Mex. Okay, the truth is, I love most things Tex-Mex and since I do all the cooking around here, we eat a lot of it.  It's one of the perks of being the cook!  I have been trying to add more vegetarian dishes to our weekly menu and I have to say this was a huge hit with the family...especially since my girls don't love traditional tacos.  I made these a couple of weeks ago, but was reminded of them when The Pioneer Woman posted her fry bread recipe.  While I didn't use her recipe for the bread, I might give it a try the next time I make these.  I have a recipe that I have been using for awhile now.  It is super simple, doesn't use milk and taste delicious (especially when covered with beans, lettuce, cheese, etc.)  I don't usually make our tacos with meat.  I make mine with my Crock Pot Pintos, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and lots of salsa verde (as seen in the above picture...lol.) but it would be just as delicious with beef or chicken as well. 

Navajo Tacos

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Ingredients

1 cup AP flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon powdered milk
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup water
Vegetable oil for frying

pinto beans
taco meat
lettuce
tomatoes
shredded cheese
salsa
sour cream

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, powdered milk and baking powder. Pour the water over the flour mixture all at once and stir the dough with a fork until it starts to form one big clump. Flour your hands and begin to mix the dough, trying to get all the flour into the mixture to form a ball. Don't knead the dough, just mix it well.  Cut the dough into four pieces. Using your floured hands, shape, stretch, pat, and form a disk of about 5 to 7 inches in diameter.  They don't need to be perfectly round by any means.

Heat the vegetable oil to about 350 degrees. Your oil should be about an inch deep in a large cast-iron skillet or other large frying pan. 

Take the formed dough and gently place it into the oil, being careful not to splatter the hot oil. Press down on the dough as it fries so the top is submersed into the hot oil. Fry until brown, and then flip to fry the other side. Each side will take about 3 to 4 minutes.

To assemble the tacos, start with a fry bread then layer on your toppings; pinto beans, meat, lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream...whatever you would like.


Enjoy! 

 

Linked To:
*It's A Keeper: It's A Keeper Thursday
*Around My Family Table: Turning the Table Thursday
*Momnivore's Dilemma: Creative Juice
*Miz Helen's Country Cottage: Full Plate Thursday 
*Frugal Follies: Frugal Food Thursday 
*Somewhat Simple: Strut Your Stuff Thursday 
*What's Allie Making: Making It With Allie
*Bacon Time With The Hungry Hungry Hippo: Anything Goes
*Six Sister's Stuff: Strut Your Stuff Saturday
*EKat's Kitchen: Friday Potluck 
*Simply Sweet Home: Friday Favorites
*Stuff and Nonsense: Fridays Unfolded 
*Run DMT: Friday Food Fights 
*Amy's Finer Things: Finer Things Friday 
*Food Renegade: Fight Back Friday 
*The Sweet Details: Savory Sunday 
*Lamb Around: Not Baad Sundays 
*My Sweet and Savory:  Meatless Mondays
*Boogieboard Cottage: Masterpiece Monday 
*All the Small Stuff: Tuesdays At The Table 
*Chef in Traning:  Tuesday Talent Show 
 

Must Try Tuesday: October 25, 2011

I must have been cravings sweets this week, because all of my finds are sweet related and they are look sooo good!  I can't wait to give these a try and with the holidays right around the corner, I will be making some of these as gifts for teachers, friends and neighbors.

Have a great week!  Enjoy!

Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies

Cook Lisa Cook

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We love kolaches and this one

looks especially good!

Caramel Apple Kolaches

At Home with Haley

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I love blackberries and this cupcake looks divine!

Lemon Blackberry Cupcakes

The Farm Girl Recipes

~~~~

I love this twist on gingerbread!

Gingerbread Rolls

Flour Me With Love

~~~~

I think these would be great gifts...

Caramel Apples

Glorious Treats

~~~~

We love pancakes and here is a new one to try...

Pumpkin Pecan Buttermilk Pancakes

Armstrong Family Fare

~~~~

This bread looks heavenly...

Apple Fritter Bread
Flour Me With Love

Linked To:

*Finding Joy in My Kitchen: Friday Favorite Finds

Menu Plan: Week of October 23, 2011

The cooler temps that we had this past week were so refreshing.  It was so nice to feel a slight chill in the air.  I can't believe how busy this month has been and it is not slowing down.  Before you know it, Thanksgiving will be upon us. 

Have a great week! 

Meal 1

Swiss Steak with Peppers & Onions

Mashed Potatoes

Butter Beans

Fried Cabbage

Rolls

Birthday Cake

Meal 2

Chick Pea Pasta
Garlic Bread

Meal 3 

Crockpot Soup

Cornbread

Meal 4

Chicken Pot Pie with Mashed Potato Top

Salad

Meal 5
Leftovers

Meal 6
Pancake Night!

Meal 7
Lasagna Soup

Breadsticks

BAKING

Mandarin Orange Muffins
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Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
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Apple Toffee Blondies
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Cinnamon Biscuit Balls

Linked To:

*Org Junkie: Menu Plan Monday

Recipe: Mandarin Orange Muffins

 

My family loves muffins of all kinds.  One of our favorites is Monkey Muffins.  They are so good and nutritious when made with whole wheat flour.  As much as I love them, I was looking for something new and exciting to try.  I came across this recipe and was intrigued because my kids love mandarin oranges.  These muffins are super easy because they are made with a baking mix.  They are so soft and tender and the cinnamon sugar topping is a nice compliment to the oranges.  My kids and their friends devoured them in no time flat, especially my Abby.  She has asked me to make them again almost every day now.  They are her new favorite.  While they are not quite as healthy as our Monkey Muffins, they are very good and I might try to make them with a whole grain baking mix next time.


Enjoy! 

Mandarin Orange Muffins
(original recipe by Talking Dollar and Cents)
{print} 

Muffin

11/2 cups baking mix

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp allspice

1 egg, beaten

1/3 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup milk

1 11-oz can of mandarin oranges, drained and diced

Topping

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Coat muffin tins with non-stick spray.  To make the batter:  Combine baking mix, sugar, nutmeg and allspice in a large bowl.  In another smaller bowl, stir egg, butter, milk and mandarin oranges together. Stir the liquid ingredients into dry ingredients until just mixed.  Over mixing the batter will result in a tougher muffin.  Spoon batter into muffin tins filling each tin 3/4 full and making sure orange bits are evenly distributed.  Bake for 20-25 minutes.  To make the topping: Combine sugar and cinnamon in small bowl.  While muffins are still warm, brush the tops with the melted butter butter and sprinkle the sugar-cinnamon mixture across the top of the muffins.

Makes 10-12 muffins.

Linked To:
*Mangoes and Chutney: Fat Camp Friday
*Around My Family Table: Turning the Table Thursday
*Don't Waste Your Homemaking: Unwasted Homemaking 
*Talking Dollar and Cents: Muffin Monday 
*Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker: Your Recipe, My Kitchen 
*A Well-Seasoned Life: Sweet Indulgences Sunday
*11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven:  Homemaker Monday
*Sumos Sweet Stuff: Market Yourself Monday 
*Allie-n-Son: Sweet Tooth Friday