HAPPY THANKSGIVING & BLOGMAS 2022 SCHEDULE

Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you’re having a wonderful day with family and friends.

We’re going out for the first time ever! In the long run it will be more enjoyable and even less expensive with no prep OR clean up. The only down side will be no leftovers! But, that also means it’s that time of year… BLOGMAS is here.

I look forward to this season all year long. I know it’s a busy season for everyone, especially if you are the one hosting the family get together, still have young children, etc… So, just join in where and when you can. This is a FUN and stress free zone. Participating in BLOGMAS helps get me in and keep me in the Christmas spirit. There is a new prompt for each day.Ā  It is a lot of fun to read about each otherā€™s traditions and family recipes and pictures.

Here’s my calendar for this year’s BLOGMAS series.
11/25 DAY 1 ~ HOLIDAY SCHEDULE – WHEN DO YOU DECORATE?
11/26 DAY 2 ~ ELF ON THE SHELF – do you partake?
11/27 DAY 3 ~ FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES
11/28 DAY 4 ~ CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYLIST
11/29 DAY 5 ~ OUTSIDE DECORATING
11/30 DAY 6 ~ QUIET CHRISTMAS OR BIG GET TOGETHER? TRAVEL PLANS?
12/1 DAY 7 ~ CHRISTMAS COOKIE EXCHANGE? FAVORITE CHRISTMAS COOKIES?
12/2 DAY 8 ~ WINTER MUST HAVES?
12/3 DAY 9 ~ CHRISTMAS CARDS? HOMEMADE? STORE BOUGHT? VIRTUAL?
12/4 DAY 10 ~ ADVENT CALENDAR? TREATS?
12/5 DAY 11 ~ REAL TREE OR ARTIFICIAL?
12/6 DAY 12 ~ FAVORITE DECORATIONS & ORNAMENTS?
12/7 DAY 13 ~ TAG QUESTIONS
12/8 DAY 14 ~ STOCKING STUFFER IDEAS?
12/9 DAY 15 ~ GOODIES FOR OTHERS?
12/10 DAY 16 ~ WISH LIST
12/11 DAY 17 ~ PARTY FOOD LIKES/DISLIKES & IDEAS
12/12 DAY 18 ~ FAVORITE CHRISTMAS FOODS? BEVERAGES?
12/13 DAY 19 ~ INSPIRATIONS & STORIES
12/14 DAY 20 ~ FAVORITE CHARACTER? SNOWMEN, ANGELS, REINDEER, GNOMES?…
12/15 DAY 21 ~ FAVORITE FAMILY TRADITIONS?
12/16 DAY 22 ~ WRAPPING IDEAS?
12/17 DAY 23 ~ FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORIES?
12/18 DAY 24 ~ MEANING OF CHRISTMAS TO YOU?
12/19 DAY 25 ~ LAST MINUTE GIFTS – HOMEMADE OR STORE BOUGHT?
12/20 DAY 26 ~ WEATHER? WINTER WONDERLAND? PARADES? LIGHT SHOWS?
12/21 DAY 27 ~ CHRISTMAS PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE?
12/22 DAY 28 ~ WHEN DO YOU OPEN PRESENTS?
12/23 DAY 29 ~ CHRISTMAS MENUS?
12/24 DAY 30 ~ CHRISTMAS EVE TRADITIONS?
12/25 DAY 31 ~ CHRISTMAS DAY TRADITIONS?

CRANBERRY VODKA

Some of the best recipes of the Christmas season are those that double as gifts, like this homemade cranberry infused vodka.

CRANBERRY VODKA

1 cup FRESH cranberries
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1 large strip of orange peel
2 cups QUALITY vodka (Absolut is best)

  • Place the cranberries, sugar and pineapple juice in a medium saucepan over medium high heat until the sugar is dissolved, the cranberries pop and the pineapple juice is absorbed.Ā 
  • Remove from the heat and allow to cool.Ā 
  • Transfer the mixture into a large mason jar.
  • Place the orange peel in the mason jar, and pour the vodka over top.
  • Screw the lid on tightly and set the jar on a counter at room temperature for at least 3 days, and up to a month.
  • Shake once a day.
  • Strain into a decorative bottle, tie with festive ribbon and gift with a cocktail recipe in which to use it.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 47 of 2022

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

Last week’s predicted storm for this week stalled and is now due next weekend. So, our night times have been clear with bitterly low cold temps, at least for here!Ā  Friday night got down to 23Ā°. Lately it’s been the bone chilling cold, you know the wet cold that sinks into your actual bones and keeps you cold. I’ll take single digit temperatures any day, if they’re the dry cold like we used to get back in the U.P. šŸ˜€ Mind you I’m not complaining as we like the cold and I’m more than thankful to NOT be in Buffalo New York having to clear away 6 feet of snow!

This week is supposed to have highs in the high 40’s and lows in the low 30’s with the “S” word working its way into the forecast for next weekend which is still a bit early for us, but I do remember early December 2013… I’m still layering BIG time. I’m hoping the storm holds off until at least Saturday afternoon so hubby and I can get the outside Christmas decorations done on Friday and Saturday.

I’m working my way through trying on each and every piece of clothing and making piles to donate. And because it has been so freaking cold outside I’m taking this opportunity to spring clean early for “THE GREAT CLUTTER CLEAN OUT” and continue sorting and amassing things to go in the spring garage sale. It really does feel good to be FINALLY downsizing things once and for all.

Are you all ready for Thanksgiving? Are you having a large gathering or just a small get together? Turkey or something else on your menu? We are actually going out for the first time ever and believe it or not I’m looking forward to it.


This meme really spoke to me. As a child my dad was a crucial part of my holidays and my love of cooking, plus his birthday was just before Thanksgiving every year.

This is the 30th year of celebrating the holiday season without him šŸ™ He was such a BIG part of the celebrations. He was the organizer and usually the cook as we generally hosted.

You never get over the loss of a loved one, you just move on, but he was so young! I still use some of his menus every year for the holidays and with going out this year will REALLY miss them, especially his sourdough herb dressing and giblet gravy. I recreated the dressing recipe several years ago at my brother’s request and I think I nailed it!

As always hot water, but I’m trying oatmeal again because it’s been so bitterly cold!llllllllllll

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I did a deep clean last Thursday as we had friends coming for dinner so things are pretty tidy, but I do have a couple loads of laundry to do.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Hubby is having eye surgery on tomorrow and we asked for as late of a surgery and arrival time as possible because it is in a town over an hour away. It will be a bit icy that morning because it’s been so bitterly cold. BUT, we were given an arrival time of 7AM!!!! Everyone I speak with keeps passing the buck to someone else! It’s so frustrating dealing with anything/anyone medical these days! Besides that I have just a couple of errands to do this week and I’ll do them on Wednesday when I go for my pedicure. Friday our local Christmas tree farm opens and I will go and select a couple wreaths for the front door area. Saturday is “shop small” day downtown and I will go and do my part for shopping local. I hope to finish my Christmas shopping.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS Not much this week with the holiday! I even had problems reaching departments on last Friday! One “remote” call center operator for the VA told me I should wait and call back in 2 weeks right after she told me she couldn’t help me scheduling a couple appointments and that was after I’d been on hold 20 minutes! It is soooooooooo frustrating lately!
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m still trying to keep it simple and work from the freezer and pantry. I also ran across several more cookbooks with recipes marked that I want to try soon so will be building next week’s menu from those.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX NCIS reruns ā€“ weā€™re up to the end of season 15
  • AMAZON PRIME How I Met Your Mother reruns
  • CABLE The new show Tulsa King with Sylvester Stallone started last night and we’re going to give a try. . COOKING SHOWS The Big Bake, Christmas Baking, Christmas Cookies, Guyā€™s Game Night, Girl Meets Farm COMEDIES Young Sheldon and Ghosts POLICE/MEDICAL/DRAMAS NCIS series ā€“ regular, LA and Hawaii, Chicago series ā€“ Med, Fire and PD, Blue Bloods, FBI series ā€“ regular, Most Wanted and International, Law & Order series ā€“ regular and SVU, Rookie & Rookie Feds, The Resident, New Amsterdam, The Good Doctor, Fire Country, Yellowstone and Tulsa KingĀ  SYFY/FANTASY Quantum Leap, La Brea, The Walking Dead REALITY Amazing Race HALLMARK Christmas movies

I have been falling asleep as my head hits the pillow each night, so I havenā€™t read much at all lately. Iā€™m still working on Beyond the Moonlit Sea by Julianne Maclean.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE
Ā GRILLED CHEESE & BOOZY TOMATO SOUP
BALSAMIC CHICKEN WINGS
THANKSGIVING DINNER @ the PARROTT HOUSE
Ā ANITPASTO SQUARES
TOMATO CHICKEN PASTA
CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWNĀ 
DESSERT
Ā CARMELITAS

I was able to get these cushions “re” wrapped for winter storage yesterday. Momma cat and the kittens were trying to stay warm during this cold spell and tore up the original wrappings. They like this window area in the corner of the patio. There’s a floor vent near there and I think it actually keeps them a bit warm.

We went and fed the peacocks a bunch of stale bread crumbs and granola over the weekend. They seemed super hungry and appreciative too.

CRANBERRY LIME PIE

CRANBERRY LIME PIE 8 Servings adapted from Ann Redding & Matt Danzer

In this luscious pie, key lime meets a luscious cranberry curd to create a heavenly mouthful of flavor.

CRUST
4 ounces gingersnap cookies (about 16 if using Nabisco) (1 cup crumbs)
1 cup pecans
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 tablespoons light brown sugar

  • Preheat oven to 350Ā°.
  • Pulse cookies in a food processor until very finely ground.
  • Add pecans; pulse until finely ground.
  • Add butter and brown sugar; pulsing to combine.
  • Transfer to a deep 9″ pie dish. Using your fingers or a measuring cup, press firmly onto bottom and up sides of dish.
  • Bake 10-15 minutes until firm and slightly darkened in color. If crust slides down sides, gently press back up.
  • Let cool completely.ā€Ø

NOTE: Crust can be baked 1 day ahead. wrap tightly and store at room temperature.

FILLING & ASSEMBLY
1 12-ounce package FRESH (or frozen, thawed) cranberries, plus 4 ounces (about 1Ā¼ cups) for serving OPTIONAL
1 cup + 1/2 cup + 1/2 cup + 1/2 cup sugar, divided
Ā¼ orange juice
Ā½ cup water
3 LARGE eggs
2 LARGE egg yolks
1 teaspoon FINELY grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons FINELY grated lime zest, divided
Ā½ cup FRESH key lime juice
Pinch of kosher salt
Ā¾ cup (1Ā½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into pieces
Whipped cream (optional)

  • Bring 12 ounces of the cranberries, 1 cup of the granulated sugar, and orange juice to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high. Reduce heat; simmer 12-15 minutes until cranberries burst and most of the liquid evaporates.
  • Let cool.
  • PurĆ©e in a blender until very smooth.ā€Ø
  • Add the purĆ©e, eggs, egg yolks, lemon zest, lime juice, salt, Ā½ cup sugar, and 1 teaspoon of lime zest to a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (bowl should not touch water), stirring with a rubber spatula 8-10 minutes and scraping down sides of bowl often, until curd thickens and coats spatula.
  • Let cool until just warm.ā€Ø
  • Using an electric mixer on medium-high, beat curd about 5 minutes, adding butter a piece at a time and incorporating after each addition, until curd looks lighter in color and texture.
  • Scrape into crust and chill until firm, about 2 hours.ā€Øā€Ø
  • OPTIONAL from here: Bring Ā½ cup granulated sugar and Ā½ cup water to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar.
  • Add remaining 4 ounces of the cranberries and cook 1 minute until barely starting to soften.
  • Using a slotted spoon, transfer cranberries to a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet.
  • Chill 20ā€“30 minutes until no longer sticky.ā€Ø
  • Toss remaining Ā½ cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon lime zest in a small bowl.
  • Toss chilled cranberries in lime sugar.
  • Top pie with cranberries; serve with whipped cream if desired.ā€Øā€Ø

NOTE: Pie can be made 2 days ahead. Cover once filling is firm and keep chilled. Let sit at room temperature 2 hours before serving.

BISTRO TURKEY SAMMIES

BISTRO TURKEY SAMMIES
2 tablespoons butter, divided
1 LARGE Granny Smith apple, sliced thin
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 small red onion, sliced thin
1/4 cup homemade cranberry sauce
1 pound sliced turkey
4 ciabatta rolls, sliced in half OR FRESH baked sourdough, sliced thick
4-8 sliced thinly sliced baby Swiss cheese
leaf lettuce or arugula, optional

  • Preheat broiler.
  • Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in large skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add apple, sugar and cinnamon sauteing 3-4 minutes until crisp tender. Remove from pan.
  • Add remaining butter. When melted add onion and saute 3-4 minutes.
  • Add apple slices to pan, stirring to mix apples and onions.
  • Spread cranberry sauce on one side of roll or bread.
  • Layer turkey, apple mixture and cheese.
  • Add sandwiches to baking sheet open face with tops along side.
  • Broil 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted.
  • Add lettuce or arugula and close sandwiches.
  • Serve immediately.

BLESSMOSAS aka BLESS YOUR HEARTS

Worth waking up early for on Thanksgiving or ANY day for that matter. We have some wonderful friends coming to dinner tonight and I wanted to make a special, signature drink for the occasion.

BLESSMOSAS aka BLESS YOUR HEARTS when you run out of the Prosecco and switch to Absolut Pear Vodka šŸ˜€

2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon QUALITY cinnamon
1 (32-oz) chilled Ocean Spray pineapple cranberry juice
1 (32-oz) chilled QUALITY apple cider
1 bottle prosecco or Absolut Pear Vodka
1 apple or red pear, 1/2 diced and 1/2 sliced into half moons, for garnish
Whole cranberries and/or orange slices for garnish

  • Combine sugar and cinnamon on a shallow plate.
  • Dip the rim of each glass in water, then dip into the cinnamon-brown sugar mixture, coating the edge of each glass. Let it dry if you have time.
  • Place a spoonful of homemade cranberry sauce in the glass.
  • Add a few pieces of diced apple or pear.
  • Fill each glass 1/4 of the way up with pineapple cranberry juice.
  • Add apple cider to the halfway mark.
  • Top with Prosecco to the top.
  • Garnish with an apple or orange slice.

TUSCAN CHICKEN PASTA

TUSCAN CHICKEN PASTA serves 4

2 cups rotisserie chicken breast pieces
8 ounces spiral pasta (I didn’t have enough so I used half rotini and half penne)
3/4 + 1/2 cups chicken bone broth
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup WHOLE milk
4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
3 cups fresh baby spinach
1 cup FRESH grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes
2 tablespoons chopped FRESH basil
3-4 slices bacon, diced – browned, drained of ALL fat and crisp
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Add sun-dried tomatoes to 3/4 cup homemade chicken bone broth to re-hydrate for 1 hour. This can also be done 24-48 hours ahead of time.
  • Prepare pasta per package instructions.
  • While pasta is boiling, melt butter in skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add onions, sauteing 1 minutes or so.
  • Add the milk, cream cheese, remaining 1/2 cup chicken bone broth and garlic powder, cooking and stirring 3-5 minutes until cream cheese is melted and mixture is a smooth consistency.
  • Stir in 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, spinach, salt and pepper cooking and stirring until spinach is wilted.
  • Serve immediately with garlic bread.
  • Garnish with additional basil, bacon bits and remaining FRESH grated Parmesan cheese.

NOTE: Leftovers can be placed in a casserole dish, topped with Mozzarella cheese. Bake 25 minutes until casserole is cooked though, cheese is melted and browned and serve as a new meal.

SNICKERS BROWNIES

SNICKERS BAR BROWNIES

A YUMMY and SUPER DELICIOUS fudgy brownie base with a layer of caramel, nougat and peanuts throughout that tastes exactly like a Classic Snickers Bar.

1 Box Supreme Triple Chunk Brownie Mix, or flavor of choice
1 – 11 ounce bag Kraft caramel balls
2/3 cup + 2 tablespoons evaporated milk
1-1/4 cup sugar
1 cup cashews, chopped
1/3 cup + 1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 – 7 ounce jar marshmallow creme
1/4 cup creamy Peanut Butter
1 – 16 ounce package milk chocolate chips
1/4 cup heavy cream
4 classic Snickers bars, chopped into small chunks

  • Preheat oven to 350Ā°.
  • Prepare the brownie mix as per the package instructions.
  • Bake the brownies 20 minutes, then remove to COMPLETELY cool.
  • Add caramels and 2 tablespoons of the evaporated milk to a small bowl.
  • Microwave on medium heat, stirring every 20 seconds until the caramels have completely melted.
  • Pour this mixture over the top of the cooked brownies and spread evenly.
  • Sprinkle nuts evenly over the caramel layer then put into the freezer while you move onto the next part.
  • Add the sugar, remaining evaporated milk and 1/3 cup butter to a small pan over medium-high heat until it starts to bubble around the outer edge. You want to reach a ā€œsoft crack stageā€. Turn off the heat as soon as you see a rolling boil.
  • Stir in the peanut butter and the marshmallow creme until smooth.
  • Pour this nougat mixture over the top of the caramel peanut layer and place back in the freezer.
  • Sprinkle the chopped Snickers chunks on top of the caramel peanut layer.
  • In a medium mixing bowl add the chocolate chips, remaining butter and heavy cream. Microwave on medium setting for 20 second intervals until totally melted.
  • Pour over the nougat/snicker bits layer.
  • Add back to the freezer for another 10 minutes, just enough to set the chocolate layer.
  • Cut into squares and serve.

CHAT TIME & Holiday Menus

I’ve gotten away from the chatty daily posts except for recipes and I miss it. Today I sat down to make out menus for upcoming holidays and the rest of the year which left me a little down and frustrated.

I talked to hubby and we made some decisions about the holidays in particular that take us out of our traditional norm. Thanksgiving we usually make a turkey with my dad’s homemade dressing, homemade cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and giblet gravy and let’s not forget the green bean casserole. And for Christmas we usually do a prime rib and all the trimmings. I then use the bones and leftover meat for a couple more meals and our New Year’s Eve chili.

Thanksgiving will be just the two of us so we decided to “GO OUT” for the first time ever. Just the thought of all that shopping (not to mention the expense), food preparation and then the clean up was just overwhelming. We priced everything and believe it our not we will save money by going out! There won’t be as many leftovers, but at least I won’t break my back preparing before hand and cleaning up after! I will still make us a special dessert for later that evening. I’m thinking a Key Lime Cranberry Pie or an Apple Rhubarb Slab Pie.

Christmas will also be just the two of us this year, but I don’t want to go out, so will be cooking. BUT, after pricing prime rib and almost having a heart attack (about $150 for just the prime rib) we decided to do an Italian themed Christmas dinner. Hubby is Italian, but his family usually did a traditional American style meal. I had just watched the Hallmark movie, Italian Christmas Memories so that helped me feel inspired, but not inspired enough to do the feast of the 7 fishes. So Christmas dinner will be a small Porchetta with Anchovy Vinegar and Pan Sauce, Sicilian Spaghetti with homemade Sugo and a homemade Panettone.

Now with decisions made, I will go back to making the rest of 2022’s menus and feeling a bit relieved to have the holiday menus off my back. This will also give me the freedom to feel like baking for the neighbor plates I do each year.

The postal staff is already asking what I’ll be making them this year which may sound a bit pushy, but we’re a small town and it makes me feel good that they look forward to my goodies. I still keep a box of goodies and drinks at my front door for delivery drivers and they all know that they are welcome to partake if they need a pick me up during the day even if they are not delivering to my house.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY week 46 of 2022 with MENU PLANS & RECIPE LINKS

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

Let’s face it, life has been strange these past few years since COVID and such. When I ran across this one from Sweatpants & Coffee, one of my favorite memes, I realized it was THE PERFECT sentiment to express how I feel, and I bet many others do too.

By my doing Happy Homemaker Monday, EVERY MONDAY, loyally for all these years AND so extensively it has helped keep me on track with my daily life. It truly summarizes the previous week and lays out a fairly concise plan for the current week. This helps me the most whenever my week is too busy to think or to get everything done or when I think, hmmm what did I get done last week. BUT, I couldn’t do it without my coffee šŸ˜€

I tried returning to coffee every day for a few weeks, but am back mostly to hot water with my morning yogurt.

We have another cloudy week of low temps 40’s, with next to no rain so I’m hoping to get a little sun time one afternoon to get a Christmas paint project done. I just need ONE SINGLE hour above 50! Lows at night will be in the high 20’s and low 30’s. It’ll be a lots of layering (Levi’s, turtlenecks, flannels…) and UGGs week.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING ALL up to date – I did a deep clean yesterday including most of the laundry after Rizzo went home. I just have our bedding to do.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS We have friends coming for dinner on Thursday so I’ll go in on Tuesday to do the grocery shopping.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS We canceled the trip we had planned for the end of the month to Silverton – the traffic staying at the hotel was going to be a nightmare because the light show and German market were also on the same grounds with a single point of entry. We found a better deal for what will ultimately be a better trip, closer to home AND for less money on top of it going to see Shore Acres! It’s the first time it will be open since COVID! I took a Santa Gnome painting class last week and my friend is putting together a paint and sip party for Saturday at the Eagles post. Fortunately the picture is something completely different, autumn corn, and not another gnome šŸ˜€Ā  I also signed up for 2 classes in December (neither of which is a gnome) that I’m also looking forward to.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m working on December and January’s menus, but have yet to really pin it down.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX NCIS reruns – we’re up to the middle of season 15
  • AMAZON PRIME How I Met Your Mother reruns
  • CABLE The new season of Yellowstone started last night along with the new show Tulsa King starting next Sunday. COOKING SHOWS The Big Bake, Christmas Baking, Christmas Cookies, Guyā€™s Game Night, Girl Meets Farm COMEDIES Young Sheldon and Ghosts POLICE/MEDICAL DRAMAS NCIS series ā€“ regular, LA and Hawaii, Chicago series ā€“ Med, Fire and PD, Blue Bloods, FBI series ā€“ regular, Most Wanted and International, Law & Order series ā€“ regular and SVU, Rookie & Rookie Feds, The Resident, New Amsterdam, The Good Doctor, Fire CountryĀ  SYFY/FANTASY Quantum Leap, La Brea, The Walking Dead REALITY Amazing Race HALLMARK Christmas movies

While I don’t always stay asleep, I have been falling asleep as my head hits the pillow each night. So, I haven’t read much at all lately. I’m still working on Beyond the Moonlit Sea by Julianne Maclean.
11/14 MONDAY
11/15 TUESDAY
11/16 WEDNESDAY
11/17 THURSDAY
11/18 FRIDAY
11/19 SATURDAY
11/20 SUNDAY
DINNER
Ā MEXICAN QUICHE
Ā TUSCAN CHICKEN PASTA with LEMON THYME BROCCOLI
CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN
DINNER for FRIENDS: BLESSMOSAS, CARAMEL APPLETINIS, THANKSGIVING MARGARITAS, WINTER PORK ROAST, JACKET POTATOES, SALAD
CHICKEN WAFFLES
TUSCAN CHICKEN MOZZARELLA CASSEROLE & SALAD
Ā RAILROAD SAMMIES with HOMEMADE GIARDINEIRA
DESSERT
Ā CARMELITAS
SWEET LIME HATCH CHILE CHEESECAKE and KEY LIME CRANBERRY PIE
CRANBERRY VODKA for CHRISTMAS GIFTS

The munchkin’s munchkin went home last Saturday. She is such a sweetheart and easy to have around. We were sad to see her go. šŸ™ But happy to see her comfortable back with her favorite munchkin at home.

This one is just a funny. I’m too much of a perfectionist to ever do this and I do fold my fitted sheets nice and neatly. In fact I find it quite easy, though it is still a pain in the neck šŸ˜€

MONKEY MEAT SANDWICH SPREAD

I found the original recipe on face book, but itā€™s a new favorite of hubbies (despite the yellow color). Monkey Meatā€¦ itā€™s not what you think! I love how she begins this recipe, ā€œBefore you run away, let me clarify ā€“ no monkeys were harmed in making this Monkey Meat. There are also no bananasā€¦ let me explainā€¦ā€ I had no idea where the name REALLY came from, but I adored it so I read on. The mixture itself reminds me of the UNDERWOOD deviled ham from when I was a kid.

She said it was an old family recipe, a sandwich spread made by her grandma when she was trying to feed 4 hungry kids on a tight budget. She would grind up bologna with her homemade pickles to save a bit of money and stretch her food budget. Her grandfather, a quirky science teacher was the one that coined the name, Monkey Meat. And while an odd name, the recipe is so worth a try! Her recipe used only mayo, but hubby canā€™t eat bologna without mustard so I adapted it to suit him, though the color is a bit off putting šŸ˜€

MONKEY MEAT SANDWICH SPREAD adapted from I WASH YOU DRY

1 pound piece of bologna, cut into cubes
5 to 6 QUALITY baby dill pickles, drained
1/4 cup mayo
1/4 cup mustard

  • In a food processor pulse the bologna several times until it becomes very finely chopped, place in a large bowl.
  • Wipe out the food processor and add the dill pickles, pulse a few times until very finely chopped.
  • Toss the dill pickles with the bologna.
  • Stir in the may and mustard mixture.
  • Keep chilled.
  • Spread on crackers or your bread for a delicious sandwich!