Menu Plan Monday

My menu planning for this week is super easy...Today we ate leftover pizza and bean burritos from the weekend, and because we will be out of town all weekend, I only have two days to plan for! It's a good thing too, because I spent half of this week's grocery money on some new shirts to wear on our trip!

Tuesday
Egg, Bacon, and Broccoli quiche with cantaloupe
Frozen Stuffed bell peppers with fried potatoes

Wednesday
Leftover quiche with cantaloupe
Pbj sandwiches

Wednesday night we set off on our grand adventure. Justin has a business trip in Boston, Ma. and I get to go with him!! Friday while he's in meetings, I plan on exploring Plymouth and absorbing as much history and New England culture as I possible can. That evening we are going to feast on a traditional New England clam bake meal, and then Saturday we have the whole day to tour Boston together. Both of us love history, and are so thrilled to get to see all the sights!

Cheers!
Jessica

Yummy Breakfast!

Jeremy and I have made it a tradition in our family that Saturday mornings are the time to make a big, family cooked breakfast. Everyone helps and it's a lot of fun. Last Saturday we had a German pan cake (literally, a pan cake!) with homemade syrup (delicious!), fruit, and ham. Here's the recipe!

GERMAN PANCAKE

• 6 eggs
  
• 1 cup milk
  
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

BUTTERMILK SYRUP
(tastes great on waffles and French toast too!)

• 1-1/2 cups sugar
  
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
  
• 1/2 cup butter
  
• 2 tablespoons corn syrup
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
  
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  
• Confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS

In a blender, combine the eggs, milk, flour and salt; cover and process until smooth. Pour the butter into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish; add the batter. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the first five syrup ingredients; bring to a boil. Boil for 7 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Dust pancake with confectioners' sugar; serve immediately with the syrup. Yield: 8 servings (about 2 cups syrup).

APPLES AND RAISINS

• 4 large, tart apples
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

DIRECTIONS

Cut and peel apples into bite-size chunks. Melt butter in large saucepan. Add apples and cook until tender. Add raisins and brown sugar. Mix water and cornstarch. Add to saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Add lemon juice.

Serve with German pancake, homemade buttermilk syrup, and sliced ham.

The Cookie to Beat All Cookies

Like chocolate chips? Peanut butter? M&M's? Oatmeal? What not combine them all in a recipe that is sure to be a favorite with everyone! Oh yeah, and these are really good with milk...


My friend from church gave me this recipe, and it is truly amazing. Everyone loves these cookies. One interesting fact...it contains no flour. I guess the oatmeal take the place of flour.

I'm making a huge batch of these to take to a homeschool gathering at my parent's house tonight. I'm not technically a homeschool student anymore, but who says being a homeschooler is about age and grade level? I think it's more about the attitude toward learning. Anyway, tonight sounds like too much fun to miss... Justin is in charge of games for the kids, and fun stuff like tug of war, sack racing, and apple bobbing is in store for tonight!

Cheers!
Jessica


Christine's Everything Cookies

1/2 c. butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 c. + 2 T. brown sugar
3 large eggs
2 c. creamy peanut butter
3/4 t. light corn syrup
1/4 t. vanilla
4 1/2 cups oatmeal
2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1/2 to 1 c. m&m's
6 0z chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and next 3 ingredients. Beat well. Stir in oats, soda, and salt. Stir in m&m's, and chocolate chips. Dough will be stiff. Drop by large spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 8 to 12 minutes. Makes 5 dozen.

Menu Plan Monday

Hi y'all, it's been awhile since we've had any posts....so, in an attempt to keep this blog going, I'm going to start posting my menus for the week. I usually write them out and stick them on my fridge, but it's just as easy to type them here. Also, I would LOVE it if some of you other contributors on this blog started posting your menus. I could always use menu ideas!

If you like to see what other people are cooking this week, check out all the links here. Lots of great ideas.

Keep in mind, that Justin has school several nights a week, and has to eat in the car, hence the sandwiches for dinner!

Here it goes!
Jessica

Monday
Leftover fried chicken sandwiches
Peanut butter sandwiches and bell pepper slices with ranch

Tuesday
Omelets with ham, bell peppers, and cheddar cheese
Steak, scalloped potatoes, green beans

Wednesday
Pre-made stuffed bell peppers from freezer with cantaloupe slices
Ham sandwiches with apple slices

Thursday
Knorr pasta sides with cantaloupe slices and grapes
Beans with leftover homemade tortillas

Friday
Ham sandwiches with grapes
Potluck at Mom's house--take pigs in a blanket and cookies

Saturday
Pancakes and bacon
Pizza

Sunday
Leftover pizza
??