Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Christmas Leftovers

Tuesday: Ham Sandwiches and Salad

Wednesday: Chicken Cutlets with Herbs and Macaroni and Cheese with Ham, Zucchini, and Garlic Bread

Thursday: Simple Southern Ham and Bean Soup from Paula Deen with my old favorite - saltines.

Friday: Takeout!

My Rachael Ray Christmas 2011

My daughter was so brave this year!

Last Christmas, I had a three month old baby, so I don't have any memory of that day.  Seriously, no memory at all.  I think I cooked dinner, but don't hold me to that.

This year I plan on redeeming myself by probably making too much food.  I'm just so excited for some reason this year, so I have put together a plan of recipes for the entire day.

We'll start the day out deviating from my usual Rachael Ray recipes, but dinner is all Rachael, all the time.

Breakfast:

• Easy Potato and Bacon Breakfast Casserole
• Sticky Bun Breakfast Ring (both found via Pinterest)

Snack: Mississippi Sin Dip (found via Pinterest)

Dinner:

• Roasted Fresh Ham with Cider Glaze
• Cider Sweet Potatoes
• Green Bean Casserole
• Potato Gratin from Uncle Scott
• Rolls

Dessert:

• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

Now if only the shopping would magically do itself, I would be golden.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Our daughter's first ballet recital, so we are eating out!

Tuesday: Chicken Cordon Blue Panini and salad

Wednesday: Honey Mustard Chicken with corn muffins

Thursday: Pumpkin and Sausage Pasta with bread and spinach salad

Friday: Fried Rice found on Pinterest, which allegedly tastes like the fried rice from Benihana.

Rachael Ray and Dr. Oz Fix Holiday Disasters

Rachael Ray appeared on the Dr. Oz show to offer tips for holiday cooking. Rachael "solves your biggest holiday disasters and offers simple secrets to save your dinner." Check out all three parts here.

Rachael Ray in a Christmas Song

Photo from DavidMead.com

Yep, it's true.  This must be some sort of milestone for a pop culture figure, right?  Rachael Ray plays a role in a new song by David Mead called The Smile of Rachael Ray.  Check out the song and an NPR article about it here.

Melancholy is a good way to describe it, but it seems like a song Rach would appreciate.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Honey-Mustard Brie Melt and Salad

Tuesday: Taco Pasta Toss and Chips

Wednesday: Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Stoup with Ciabatta

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Creamy Chicken Enchilada Soup and Quesadillas

Menu Plan Monday

This week is pretty out of the ordinary for me - I am making two meals that aren't from Rachael Ray!  I know.  I should have warned you to sit down.  No one ever believes me that I pretty much only make RR recipes, but it's true.  There are so many out there I want to try and with a list a mile long, I don't have to wander far to fill my menu each week. But thanks to the amazing recipes I keep finding on Pinterest and my mood, I have been inspired to walk on the wild side, so buckle up.  (It's at times like this I worry that no one gets my sarcasm.)

Monday:  Creamy Broccoli, Tortellini and Turkey, Salad, Garlic Bread.  This one is using up a bunch of stuff in my freezer and is easy on the budget.  I'm saving up for a fancy Christmas dinner!

Tuesday: Quick Creamy Tomato Soup and Italian Patty Melts

Wednesday: Crispy Cheddar Chicken, Buttered Egg Noodles, Zucchini with Garlic.  TI always miss my Mom during the holidays and this recipe reminded me of something she used to make.  Food = memories!

Thursday: Biscuit-Crusted Sausage-Egg Pie and salad

Friday:  Leftovers

Sacramento Area Readers!

Hey, Sacramento Area locals.  Just wanted to give a shout out for a great local event that you have to check out this weekend: SactoMoFo (Sacramento Mobile Foods).  SactoMoFo 3 is being held on Saturday, December 3rd from 11 am - 6 pm at the weekly Farmer’s Market location  at 6th & W Streets. (There was a last minute location move, so make sure you come to 6th and W.)

There will be eight Bay Area food trucks and over a dozen local food trucks and carts. The event will also be helping out the Sacramento Food Bank and Toys for Tots, so do the right thing and show up.  If you've got kids in tow, Willie’s Woodshop will be on site and there will be Santa photos, and potentially balloon
twisters/face painters. Here's the event page on facebook.  See you there!