BLOG 365.19 ~ HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY ~ week 3 of 2026 ~ MENUS & RECIPE LINKS

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

Once again the year seems to be speeding by! We’re already in the third week and I haven’t completely cleaned up from Christmas! I have a super busy day starting early this morning so will jump right in!APPOINTMENTS

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

The past week has been clear of an evening making for some REALLY COLD nights and mornings with freezing fog! This is supposed to continue until Friday when the rain returns and will warm it up slightly! Not enough to change how I dress in layers and UGG’s!

TO DO, APPOINTMENTS, DVR/TV & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV
  • APPOINTMENTS I have a pedicure this morning with a couple small errands after and then lunch with a girlfriend going through a tough divorce and she needs an outing. I also have an afternoon appointment to deal with the kitchen new menu in the Eagle’s kitchen and the procedures to make it run smoother.
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I did a deep clean on Saturday and got the mattress turned as well as 6 loads of laundry. The problem with winter is that we wear so many more clothes to begin with which creates so much more laundry!
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’ll be doing the grocery shopping and Costco shopping for us, the Eagles and the Offyce on Wednesday.
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS I need to make the reservations today for upcoming coast trip.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I spent the whole weekend scanning bookmarks in 3 separate cookbooks while watching football to get a plan together through mid-March. 🙂
  • DVR/TV There are a couple new shows we’re trying, but I’m really still trying to clean out the DVR from the holidays.
  • WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY the aroma of the slow cooker being almost done with a favorite recipe… the sound of laughter when the joke is so stupid the other person just can’t stop laughing… the morning silence while I drink my coffee and listen to the birds… 

READING TIME

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

1/19
MONDAY
 1/20
TUESDAY
1/21
WEDNESDAY
 1/22
THURSDAY
1/23
FRIDAY
1/24
SATURDAY
1/25
SUNDAY
DINNER
TRIVIA NIGHT CORN/YOYO   clean out fridge night or you’re on your own
TUSCAN CHICKEN PASTA SALAD
PEANUT BUTTER BURGERS with GRILLED ONIONS
PORK CHOPS & STUFFING
COOKING @ EAGLES SO CORN/YOYO   clean out fridge night or you’re on your own
CHICKEN ARTICHOKE CASSEROLE
CAESAR SALAD PARMESAN CUPS
DESSERT
 
S’MORES MONKEY BREAD MUFFINS
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

The strawberry Hummingbird cake was a HUGE hit on Friday night and the FREEZING FOG was beautiful on Thursday, though it delayed many a flight and made the roads a bit treacherous in the early morning. This picture was taken late morning as it was burning off.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

COOKING THURSDAY RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • CHOCOLATE CARROT CAKE
  • BROWNED BUTTER TOASTED COCONUT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

COOKING THURSDAY RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

COOKING THURSDAY ~ CREAMY TUSCAN TORTELLINI SOUP ~ 2026 BLOG 365.15B

Creamy Tuscan garlic tortellini soup is so easy to make and one of the best soups that you will make! This soup is loaded with cheesy tortellini, diced tomatoes, healthy spinach, and hearty white beans. It is the most creamy and delicious soup that I know your family will love!

CREAMY TUSCAN TORTELLINI SOUP serves 8

2 cups cooked shredded rotisserie chicken
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup FRESH chopped Italian Parsley
1 cup FRESH chopped spinach
2 cups homemade chicken broth
1 (14-ounce) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 (15-ounce) can navy beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup FRESH grated parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
10 ounces refrigerated cheese tortellini

  • Melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a large pot over medium heat.
  • Add 1 small diced onion, cooking 1-2 minutes until tender.
  • Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds more until fragrant.
  • 
Stir in chicken broth, diced tomatoes, navy beans, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and bring to a simmer.

  • Stir in rotisserie chicken pieces, cheese tortellini, parsley and spinach.
  • Simmer for 10 minutes to thicken, and allow the tortellini to cook.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Enjoy!

COOKING THURSDAY ~ COPYCAT APPLEBEE’S ORIENTAL CHICKEN SALAD DRESSING ~ 2026 BLOG 365.15A

The best part of APPLEBEE”S oriental chicken salad is dressing! The salad components can be changed up to anyone’s liking, but are second to the tasty dressing. This is my version of their tasty dressing. I reserev the right to keep tweaking it to perfection 🙂

COPYCAT APPLEBEE’S ORIENTAL CHICKEN SALAD DRESSING ~ serves 4 ~ adapted from Sweet Basil 

CHICKEN
4 Frozen Chicken Strips, baked **

  • Cook the chicken according to taste.
4 Frozen Chicken Strips
  • Set aside.

DRESSING
1/4 cup Duke’s mayonnaise
2 tablespoons QUALITY apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons QUALITY honey
1-2 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
scant 1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
Pinch ground ginger
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • In a blender, add all ingredients and blending until smooth.
  • Store in a mason jar Store in the refrigerator until serving.

SALAD
2 cups rotisserie chicken pieces or fried chicken pieces
2 cups chopped romaine lettuce

1 cup chopped iceburg lettuce
1/2 cup matchstick carrots
1 cup chopped Napa cabbage
1 cup chopped red cabbage
1 small bunch green onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons Sliced Almonds
1/4 cup Chow Mein Noodles, optional

ASSEMBLY

  • In a large bowl, toss the lettuces, cabbages, onions and carrots.

  • Slice chicken into thin strips.
  • Top with almonds and chow mein noodles, then the chicken pieces.
  • Drizzle with dressing.
  • Serve immediately.

NOTES: **OR scratch made fried chicken strips or grilled chicken strips

BLOG 365.12 ~ HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY ~ week 2 of 2026 ~ with MENUS & RECIPE LINKS

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

The first part of the week was full of errands and trying to get back on track with a routine. My girlfriend and I ventured to the BIG (ha 😂 ha) city on Wednesday to go shopping at the mall and have a nice lunch. Then we stopped at the Chef’s store (Cash & Carry, Smart & Final) to get the food for our Friday dinner and the rest of the month’s shopping for the Eagle’s kitchen. YAY my last time shopping for the kitchen, but at least I was able to set them up for success, now it’s on them to find the wherewithal to follow thru and keep it going “correctly” without getting lazy and short cutting everything which unfortunately is the tendancy. Thursday was the shopping for the Eagle’s bar, my girlfriend’s bar & grill and some food prep for Friday’s meal.

I cannot believe the first full week of January flew by that quickly! I NEED things to slow down a bit so I can catch up!

We’re NOT really college football watchers other than the Rose Bowl, but we live in a small town only an hour or so away from the Oregon University Ducks, so they are a BIG deal around here. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, they played Friday evening during the Auxiliary charity dinner that my girl friend and I were preparing so we ended up twice as busy as we’ve been in recent months. The unfortunate part is that we didn’t plan for that many people, but, the fortunate part is that we SOLD OUT and didn’t have leftovers 🙂

Saturday I was finally able to get my own shopping and errands accomplished and picked up some fried chicken for lunch on the way back so hubby and I could watch WILD CARD NFL games. 4 of the 5 times we rooted for won 🙂 Sunday was more football with friends and then some relaxing before the week started all over again. I did get some meal planning done and a few odd organizational tasks accomplished.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

Last Friday we finally woke to the first snow of the winter, NOT on the valley floor, but absolutely beautiful none the less on the hills around us. Our rain is gone for the next week or so, but it’s not full sun either. All week should be highs in the 40’s with lows in the low 30’s. Lots of layering still going on here.

TO DO, APPOINTMENTS, DVR/TV & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Laundry is done and I’m hoping to finish the holiday clean-up today 🙂
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Up to date on my personal shopping. I just have the business shopping to do. I have 2 meetings today, but may skip them both under the current political climate. I was going to skip the 2nd one anyway to go and support my friend’s new “Trivia Night” at the bar and grill she manages. But… ??????
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS Need to make reservations for the trip next month.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m working on a couple of new and unusual recipes to combat winter doldrums of the same old soup and stew flavor profile.
  • DVR/TV We watched BEST MEDICINE last week and will give it another try this week, but so far it isn’t as good as the original, DOC MARTIN. Also have a few cooking shows to catch up on as well as the regular season shows that have started again.
  • THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY A rainy Sunday in yoga pants, fuzzy socks and Football… brunch with good friends and Football… puppy kisses… clean sheets and cozy quilt…
  • ON MY MIND I’m not technically an officer at the Eagles, but I do have many responsibilities and am the “back up” secretary for my friend. She asked me to go to the officer’s meeting today in her place and I’m a bit concerned about saying the wrong thing to the wrong person. From a business standpoint there are some really poor choices being made and as the saying goes, you can read the writing on the wall if they follow down this path. But, as the other saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drinkQue sera

READING TIME

Book club was kind of a wash I guess and they haven’t picked a new book ::SIGH:: so I’ve just bee reading whatever strikes my fancy. Right now I’m reading WHY I HOLD YOUR HAND by Augusta Reily.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀

1/12
MONDAY
 1/13
TUESDAY
 1/14
WEDNESDAY
 1/15
THURSDAY
1/16
FRIDAY
1/17
SATURDAY
1/18
SUNDAY
DINNER
CORN/YOYO
BEST MEATBALLS and PASTA
MARRY ME CHICKEN & NOODLES
ASIAN POT PIE and SALAD
CORN/YOYO
CHICKEN FETTUCCINE CARBONARA
ORICIETTE with BROWN BUTTER WALNUT SAUCE
DESSERT
 
PUMPKIN APPLE POKE CAKE
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

Incredible sunsets over the pond again this past weekend!!!

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

COOKING THURSDAY RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • CREAMY TUSCAN TORTELLINI SOUP
  • APPLEBEE’S COPY CAT ORIENTAL CHICKEN SALAD DRESSING

COOKING THURSDAY RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS