HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 20 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.135

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

It’s absolutely beautiful here at SIL’s house! Why didn’t we go on vacation sooner? It’s mid 60’s, sunny with a morning marine overcast and it’s supposed to be that way ALL week.

We leave here Wednesday to go pick up our niece inland where’s it’s warmer, but then we’re headed back towards the coast for the family reunion where the weather is supposed to be absolutely gorgeous for the weekend.

Hot water and a banana

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING / GROCERIES & ERRANDS / PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS YAY we’re on vacation for 2 weeks so these categories will just plain wait!
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I did bring recipes to peruse and make the JUNE menu plan with as well as the new recipes I’ve made the past month to get posted so I’m up to date with BLOG 365.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX When we were in the hotel Saturday night we caught KNIVES OUT ~ GLASS ONION & MURDER MYSTERY on NETFLIX

I just started book #4, A Vineyard Thanksgiving of the series I’m reading, Vineyard Sunsets by Katie Winters.

Hubby and I are also listening to the fun little Miss Fortune series by Jana DeLeon, while traveling. I’ve already read them all, but we’re up to book #18 on audible, Gators and Garters.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
 SIL’S CHOICE
 SIL’S CHOICE
 ON THE ROAD
 ??
STREET TACO NIGHT @ THE FAMILY REUNION
 FAMILY REUNION POTLUCK
 ON THE ROAD
DESSERT
 
 
 

We’ve been driving by this place for years! We finally decided to stop this trip and are so glad we did! The food was absolutely delicious and oh so plentiful. We ordered their brisket special to split and had enough leftovers to have for dinner at the hotel when we stopped.

BAKED GERMAN POTATO SALAD ~ BLOG 365.133

Several of my “new to me” recipes are courtesy of my friend Diana’s mom and grandma’s recipe boxes. This recipe 45 years old and was from her aunt, Carol Booth in 1978. I made only slight alterations to bring it into the 21st century.

BAKED GERMAN POTATO SALAD

2-3 pounds red potatoes; cooked tender, peeled and diced or smashed
2 sweet Vidalia onions, chopped
8 strips bacon; cooked crisp and crumbled – reserve 2 tablespoons of drippings
3/4 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup water, divided
1/3 cup vinegar
1/3 cup sweet pickle juice
1 tablespoon FRESH chopped parsley
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
2 tablespoons WONDRA flour

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Layer potatoes into an ungreased 2 quart baking dish.
  • Saute onions in reserved bacon drippings until tender.
  • Stir in brown sugar, 1/2 cup water, vinegar, pickle juice, parsley, salt and celery seed. Simmer 5-10 minutes.
  • Whisk together remaining water and cornstarch until smooth. Stir into onion mixture.
  • Bring to a SLOW boil, cooking 2-3 minutes until thickened.
  • Pour over potatoes.
  • Fold in bacon gently.
  • Bake uncovered 30 minutes.

SWEET & SOUR MEATBALLS ~ BLOG 365.132

This is another one of the several of my “new to me” recipes are courtesy of my friend Diana’s mom and grandma’s recipe boxes. This recipe 45 years old and was from her aunt, Carol Booth in 1978. I made only slight alterations to bring it into the 21st century.

SWEET & SOUR MEATBALLS yields 12-18 meatballs
MEATBALLS
3/4 pound ground beef
3/4 pound ground pork
2/3 cup cracker crumbs
1 teaspoon Johnny’s seasoning salt
2/3 cup evaporated milk

  • Preheat oven to 300°.
  • Gently combine all the ingredients together.
  • Roll into meatballs.
  • Brown meatballs (they will finish cooking through in oven) and transfer to baking dish.

SAUCE
13.5 ounce can pineapple tidbits
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons Bragg’s liquid aminos
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 small green pepper, chopped (OPTIONAL)

  • Drain juice from pineapple pieces into saucepan.
  • Add liquid aminos and vinegar.
  • Whisk in cornstarch until smooth.
  • Fold in green pepper if using.
  • Cook slowly until thickened.
  • Pour over meatballs.
  • Bake 20-30 minutes until heated through.

MAMA GRONK’S CHICKEN CASSEROLE ~ BLOG 365.131

MAMA GRONK’S CHICKEN CASSEROLE (adapted from)
4 cups rotisserie chicken pieces
1 cup chopped celery
1 LARGE sweet Vidalia onion
1/3 cup Duke’s mayonnaise
1/4 cup Frank’s Original Hot Sauce, +/- to taste
8 slices sourdough bread, cut into small cubes
3 cups WHOLE milk
4 LARGE eggs
1 can Campbell’s cream of chicken soup
3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Chopped parsley, for garnish

  • Spray bottom of large baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, combine chicken pieces, celery pieces, onions, mayonnaise and hot sauce.
  • Fold in bread cubes.
  • Layer evenly into baking dish.
  • Whisk together the milk, eggs and soup.
  • Pour egg mixture over bread and chicken mixture.
  • Cover and chill 2-3 hours minimum.
  • Uncover casserole and bring to room temperature for 20-30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Bake 1 hour.
  • Top with cheese and bake 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted.
  • Garnish and serve.

NOTE: This recipe can be baked in individual ramekins for personal servings.

ZESTY GARLIC GREEN BEANS ~ BLOG 365.129

ZESTY GARLIC GREEN BEANS
2 tablespoons avocado oil
1 LARGE shallot, sliced thin
1/3 cup HOMEMADE chicken broth
1/2 cup oil-packed chopped sun dried tomatoes
2 – 16 ounce packages frozen green beans (french style are best)
1/2 cup halved grape tomatoes
3 LARGE cloves garlic, minced
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
Juice of 1 LARGE lemon

  • Heat oil over medium heat.
  • Add shallots, sauteing 2-3 minutes.
  • Generously season with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes, sauteing 2 minutes more.
  • Stir in green beans and broth, simmering 5-10 minutes until most of the broth is absorbed.
  • Add grape tomatoes, sauteing a few minutes until tomatoes wilt and heat through.
  • Stir in lemon juice.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 19 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.128

Good Morning, I’m running a bit behind lately and with leaving Saturday for our trip am scrambling to get ahead of everything, making this morning’s post a quick one. Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Looks like we’re on a the end of another cold front expecting quite a bit of rain today, but then it is going to begin to warm up and dry out FINALLY!

Hot water and a passion fruit fruit leather

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Pretty up to date, but need to get packing for the family reunion trip.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS No groceries, but lots of last minute errands to get ready for the trip.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS Working Monday, Thursday and Friday at the estate sale and working Tuesday and Friday at the Eagles making dinner on Tuesday and dessert on Friday.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m taking several things with me on the trip to research for a June menu.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • AMAZON PRIME We started CITADEL and watched the recent episode of Mrs. Maisel
  • CABLE Need to play a little catch up – been so busy I’m not even sure what is on the DVR to watch

I’m reading August Sunsets, book #3 of the Vineyard series by Katie Winters
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
 CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD and COWBOY BREAD
 BUTTERMILK BAKED CHICKEN & SOUTHERN BLACK-EYED PEAS
 FRIED ONION CHICKEN CASSEROLE and SALAD
 DECONSTRUCTED CABBAGE ROLLS & BUTTER SWIM BISCUITS
Cooking at Eagles with a friend. She doing homemade spaghetti and meatballs with salad, garlic bread and antipasta apps
 ON THE ROAD SOMEWHERE – OOT – FAMILY REUNION TRIP
 SIL’S CHOICE
DESSERT
 
 
 I’m making LEMON TIRAMISU

Anybody know what the name of this flower is? I fell in love with it and unfortunately it’s at the house I’m working at, but the owner has already moved so I can’t ask.
I can’t believe I’m still getting Christmas Cactus flowers.
Dickens and Sister are so cute together. I found them asleep like this yesterday morning.

GERMAN MEATBALLS ~ BLOG 365.125

GERMAN MEATBALLS
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 cup FINELY chopped onion
3/4 cup FINELY ground bread crumbs
1 tablespoon FINELY chopped FRESH parsley
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 LARGE egg, beaten
1/3 – 1/2 cup WHOLE milk
2-3 tablespoons avocado oil
24 ounces sauerkraut, undrained
1/3-1/2 cup homemade chicken bone broth

  • In a large bowl combine the ground beef, ground pork, onion, bread crumbs, parsley, salt and pepper, Worcestershire sauce, egg and milk JUST until combined. DO NOT OVERWORK.
  • Shape into meatballs.
  • Heat oil in large skillet.
  • Brown each meatball on all sides, removing to drain fat.
  • Add sauerkraut to skillet and top with browned meatballs.
  • Pour bone broth around edges.
  • Cover and simmer 20 minutes. Add more broth as necessary.
  • Top with parsley before serving.