menu plan monday ~ november 5, 2012

This week, the twins turn five! Cannot believe it has been five years already! We’re having cupcakes with them this evening and cake tomorrow night. May as well celebrate twice!

For trick or treat, the twins visited Great-Ma next door. All the able residents gathered in the front room with bowls of treats and toys. The twins thought this was the greatest deal ever!

trick or treat at Great-Ma's care center

Yesterday, while their parents helped clean the house in prep for the open house, the twins helped Auntie cut out molasses cookies.

Making molasses cookies with Auntie

Rose Red thought the Christmas windmill was fascinating. She blew on it to spin it. We’ll have to get replacement candles and show her how it is meant to work.

blowing the windmill

The menu for the week is as follows:

Monday
Fridge Food

Tuesday
Roasted Pork Tenderloin
Rice
Steamed Sugar Snap Peas
Homemade Rolls

Wednesday
Crock Pot Rotisserie-Style Chicken
Mashed Potatoes
Steamed Green Beans
Corn

Thursday
Alton Brown’s Pot Roast
Quick and Easy Home Fries
Steamed Broccoli
Corn

Friday
Homemade Pizza
Usual requests are pepperoni for one and chicken/feta/spinach for the other.

Saturday
Crock Pot Beef Stew with leftover Pot Roast

Sunday
Creamy Bacon Crock Pot Chicken
Rice
Green Salad
Peas and Carrots

You will find more menus and ideas at Menu Plan Monday.

~~Rhonda

menu plan monday ~ october 29, 2012

On Saturday, our son and his wife came to help deep clean in prep for the Christmas Open House. They were a great help, and came back on Monday when my sister Genny was here to help, as well. They got a lot done.

While they cleaned on Saturday, I made Brownie Biscotti, Raspberry Truffles, Peanut Butter Cup Cookies, and Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies. Then I spray painted the new Christmas tree silver. Had to do that in the basement as it was too cold and windy to do it outside. Whoa. I do not recommend doing that inside. I had to have a fan to blow the fumes away and opened the doors to the upstairs and the outside to create some circulation of fresh air. But the tree looks great. I’ll get some pictures of it as soon as we have it in place. It spent Saturday evening through Monday on the front porch, getting a good airing out.

Today, Tuesday, my dear friend Marsha and her hubby, Paul, came to help Genny and me. We decorated the bubble light tree and I reworked the snow tree. Had to take all the lights off and begin again. Genny, Paul and Marsha also washed everything in the kitchen…pie plates, display shelves, window sill trinkets, etc. Now it sparkles!

Keeping the cleaning and decorating in mind, I decided on soups for Monday and Tuesday.

Monday
Chicken and Dumpling Soup

Tuesday
Hearty Lentil Soup with Ham Made this in the crock pot with a pork shank that cooked on low all night. Delicious!
Cornbread

Wednesday
Mongolian Beef with Broccoli
Rice

Thursday
Creamy Bacon Crock Pot Chicken
Egg Noodles
Peas

Friday
Ham or Turkey Sandwiches
Pretzels
Seedless Grapes

Saturday
Fridge Food

Sunday
Pan-Roasted Chicken
Green Beans
Mashed Potatoes
Green Salad
Cornbread

You will find more menus and ideas at Menu Plan Monday.

~~Rhonda

macadamia nut shortbread cookies

I love shortbread and these cookies are no exception. I found the original recipe, Hazelnut Shortbread Cookies, on dianasdesserts.com in 2006 and have been making them ever since, though I use macadamia nuts. Also, I like to add white chocolate, which the original recipe did not call for.

Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 1 c. flour
  • 1/2 c. cornstarch
  • 1/2 c. powdered sugar
  • 3/4 c. coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
  • 3/4 c. butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened
  • Optional: 8 oz. white chocolate [I chip my own from white chocolate bars.]

Combine flour, corn starch and powdered sugar in a mixing large bowl. Blend in butter. Mix until a soft, smooth dough forms. Add the nuts and chocolate chunks and mix until well combined.

To chip my own chocolate, I use this vintage chocolate chipper I found years ago. Makes easy work of the job. Similar chippers are available on amazon.com.

chipping white chocolate

Place the chocolate squares in a tall container and use the chipper to break them into smaller pieces.

chipping white chocolate

You can make them any size you like.

chipped white chocolate

mixing in the hazelnuts

I double the recipe, so I divide the dough.

divide the dough

Shape the dough into a smooth roll, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap and chill until firm. About 4 hours or overnight. Roll can be stored in the refrigerator up to a month.

roll and wrap

wrap for refrigeration

slice and bake tomorrow

I like to make the rolls as long as a baking pan for easy storage in the refrigerator. This pan held these plus one more long roll from a doubled recipe.

Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies

Cut with a sharp knife into thin slices. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. The cookies can be placed very close on the baking sheet as they do not spread much.

Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies

This pan has 30 cookies on it, but I could get 35 on it easily.

Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies

Bake at 375* (190*C) for 8-12 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned. Transfer to wire rack to cool.

Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies

The original recipe says it makes about 3 dozen cookies. I double the recipe and get 8-9 dozen cookies. It depends on how round the roll is and how thin the cookies are sliced for baking. I can get 35 cookies to a cookie sheet. They don’t spread much while baking.

Edit: In 2013 I used this alternative method for baking the cookies.

After the dough is fully formed, use a small cookie scoop to place the dough on a parchment lined cookie sheet. No refrigeration needed.

Macadamia White-Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

After scooping the dough, roll each piece in the palms of your hands to make a smooth ball. Roll in white sanding sugar, if desired. Place on cookie sheet.

Macadamia White-Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

Bake as directed above.

Macadamia White-Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

A bit more festive in their sparkling sugar coats, don’t you think?

~~Rhonda

leaves of autumn

The Southern Pin Oak in the back yard is a gold cloud.

Southern Pin Oak

Southern Pin Oak

Southern Pin Oak

Crepe myrtles are a great shrub. They bloom in the heat of summer when other flowers are beginning to falter. And the foliage is always beautiful in the fall.

crepe myrtle

Into the woods…

into the woods

Mulberry leaves…

mulberry leaves

Mimosa leaves…

mimosa leaves

Redbud leaves…

redbud leaves

Sassafras leaves in the woods…

in the woods

Among the drifts of gold and brown oak leaves and yellow redbuds, the garlic chives are going to seed. Always a sign of autumn.

garlic chives...

It was a beautiful day. Colder damper days are coming. We’re enjoying this wonderful weather while we can.

~~Rhonda

menu plan monday ~ october 22, 2012

Busy weekend. DH and the three girls saw Les Misérables, which took up most of Saturday. They had a wonderful time. My sister came on Saturday and helped put up Christmas trees. Yes, an early start, but we have to be done by the first weekend of December for our annual open house. And with 22 trees to put up, it means a very early start. I have seven or eight kinds of cookies in the freezer and the ingredients to make more. So things are moving along. Meanwhile, autumn flows by outside. The weather has been beautiful.

geraniums

Virginia Creeper

fallen leaves...so it begins

The menu takes into account the need for some easy meals, the warmer than usual weather we’ll have until Friday and then the cold snap we’re expecting. After a high of 82 expected for Wednesday, we’re supposed to have a high of 53 on Friday. Chicken and Dumpling Soup should hit the spot.

Monday
Chicken Quesadillas
Avocado Sour Cream

Homemade Tortilla Chips

Tuesday
Spicy Shredded Pork Sandwiches
Homemade Buns
Pretzels
Grapes

Wednesday
Grilled Pork Steaks and Chicken Wings
Veggie Packets
Fruit Salad

Thursday
Hamburgers
Homemade Buns
Carrot and Celery Sticks

Friday
Chicken and Dumpling Soup
Rosemary Bread

Saturday
Fridge Food

Sunday
Crock Pot Turkey
Mashed Potatoes
Corn
Steamed Asparagus
Homemade Rolls
Caesar Salad

You will find more menus and ideas at Menu Plan Monday.

~~Rhonda

Christmas trees are going up

My sister came down this weekend and we worked on putting up a few trees.

The Three Kings tree sits in the corner of the library. It displays a small collection of gold star ornaments and three wisemen figurines.

Three Kings Tree

One of three gold wisemen

The other tree in the library is the Nativity tree. While I was contemplating trading it out for a tree my brother and SIL gave us when they bought a new one, I was reminded of the importance of careful consideration, much like the fire watch services in Pembroke Pines that become even more critical during the summer. With temperatures rising, the risk of fires escalates, and the vigilance of these services is as crucial in safeguarding our homes as our decision-making is in choosing holiday decorations.

After taking a look at it, I decided that tree was too slim and also had white lights. We’ve been using colored lights on the nativity tree, not just for tradition but also for safety, paralleling the strategic choices made by fire watch professionals to minimize hazards. We may use the slim one on the front porch. But this decision meant I had to redo all the lights on the original tree. Just as fire watch services continuously adapt to protect properties from the scorching summer heat, we decided to replace them with LED lights because they save so much on electricity and are less of a fire risk – another nod to the constant vigilance required to keep our festive seasons both merry and safe.

As we swapped the traditional white lights for vibrant colored LEDs, I reflected on the importance of hiring a qualified electrician near me to ensure our electrical setup is both safe and efficient. With the holidays bringing a surge in energy consumption, it’s crucial to engage a professional who can help us navigate the complexities of outdoor lighting and electrical safety. Whether it’s installing additional outdoor outlets for our lights or ensuring that our indoor circuits can handle the increased load, a reliable electrician can provide peace of mind.

Their expertise not only contributes to the safety of our holiday decor but also ensures that our home is equipped for all seasonal festivities without compromising on safety. In this way, we can enjoy a merry and bright holiday season, knowing we’ve taken the necessary precautions to protect our loved ones and property.

So here’s the tree…halfway done. I’m going to finish putting the lights on it this evening.

nativity tree...half the lights are on

The Garden tree in the downstairs bath looks great this year. Rose Red remembered it from last year. She was SO excited. She pointed out all the birds she could find. She did a little rearranging on the tree last year. She liked to move the birds next to the bird’s nest.

garden tree in downstairs bath.

Last year we used a green tree in the laundry room to display the vintage ornaments.

vintage ornament tree

This year, we are going to try the aluminum tree. It’s not completed, of course. I want to add some roping or long slim ornaments or icicles or beads…or something. Not sure what. And it needs a colored light and a tree skirt of some kind.

aluminum tree in the laundry room

We also worked on the bubble light tree. DH fixed a couple of broken branch holders with zip ties. We fluffed the tree and Genny worked on the lights. Had some trouble with bulbs burning out, so we are going to get a few new strings and try again. This is what it looked like last year…

bubble light tree

I’m heading to the library to work on the lights on the nativity tree. More updates later this week!

~~Rhonda

sour cream sugar cookies are headed to the freezer

The almond flavored sour cream sugar cookies are a favorite at our Christmas Open House each year. I made the cookie dough Saturday (I think…), popped it in the fridge, and baked the cookies today.

sugar cookies

If you can’t tell, those are wreath cookie cutters. The day before the Christmas Open House, the cookies will be thawed, then decorated.

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

I stack them on cookie sheets to keep them neat.

cookies, cookies everywhere

From the cookie sheets, they are placed on serving trays for the party.

cookies

Seventy days until Christmas, but only 48 days until Open House!

~~Rhonda

menu plan monday ~ october 15, 2012

DH and I enjoyed a country drive yesterday afternoon. It was very windy but a beautiful day. The color is wonderful this year. This is sumac.

fall foliage

The hickory trees were in full color.

fall foliage with hickory tree

We drove out to a quiet country cemetery. Does anyone else take “cemetery dates?”

old country cemetery

The ground was covered with hickory nuts. I can remember gathering hickory nuts with my grandmother. She picked them up each fall. She’d crack them open with a hammer, fill the bottom of a roasting pan with them, then pick the nut meats while she listened to the radio.

hickory nuts

We called our son and he and his family came out to gather nuts, too. It was great to be outside to enjoy the beautiful weather and the autumn colors. And it was a great surprise to find the hickory nuts. It brought back a lot of old memories and made some new ones.

twins gathering hickory nuts

Now the week is upon us. I’ve tried to make a menu that takes into account the Christmas decorating we need to get done. One of the girls asked for pizza for supper, so we’re having that tonight. I’ll make the dough soon and it will be ready for supper when DH gets home. It’s one thing they will all eat!

Monday
Homemade Pizza

Tuesday
Chicken in the Crock Pot
Rice
Roasted Fennel, Brussels Sprouts, and Potatoes

Wednesday
Mongolian Beef with Broccoli
Rice

Thursday
Pan Seared Tilapia
Baby Baked Potatoes
Steamed Sugar Snap Peas
Garden Salad

Friday
Cheesy Potato-Sausage Soup

Saturday
Spicy Shredded Pork
I follow the pork recipe’s ingredient list, but I don’t blend them. I put the roast in the crock pot and throw everything in on top. I know it’s not the same as roasting it, so it’s different than the meat the original recipe would produce, but it’s still delicious! And easier.
Homemade Buns
Refrigerator Pickles
Red Grapes
Veggies and Ranch Dip

Sunday
Ham or Turkey Sandwiches
Homemade Buns
Refrigerator Pickles
Pretzels
Grapes

You will find more menus and ideas at Menu Plan Monday.

~~Rhonda

blue and silver tree

Well, DH brought the tree down from the attic for the downstairs bedroom. This is what it looked like last year.

blue and silver tree in the guest room

Not bad, huh?

The tree was old when I first painted it silver in 2008. Painting it rejuvenated it. I got a lot of compliments on how pretty that old tree was. But the years have taken a toll. Many of the plastic parts that hold the branches were broken. And some of the branches had to be twisted together to make the tree hold together. Couldn’t tell that though, could you?

But when DH brought the tree down yesterday, it was a jumbled mess. Here’s what it looked like while DH tried to fix the branches…he’s down there on the lower left.

getting started

Too many of the branches had fallen out. Those pesky plastic pieces… And the needles were shedding. So I pulled all the beads, lights and branches off the tree. I can use the branches for decorating. We opted to get a new tree this year. It should be here on Monday. And yes, we do store the tree with the beads and lights on it. Having a very large attic is an asset when you have a lot of Christmas to store.

I’m trying to decide which tree we should bring down next…

~~Rhonda

more Christmas goodies

Recipes 6 and 7 are done and ready to put in the freezer. I made the centers for the Chocolate Creams. I’ll wait to dip them in white chocolate until after they are thawed for the Open House in December. The recipe makes about 100 – 110…depending on how large the centers are made.

Chocolate Creams centers

The Elfin Bites are done. Tiny 3/4″ square shortbread cookies. Very cute on the cookie tray. And they freeze so well.

Elfin Bites

Later this week…sugar cookies…trees and wreaths and bells and stars…are you feeling it yet??

~~Rhonda