The parties continue....here's our New Year's Eve menu:

Smoked Bacon-wrapped Beef Tenderloin
Stuffed Cheesy Bread
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip with Veggie Tray and Crackers
Pomegranate Orange Salad
Italian Sodas

Christmas is in the air!  Shopping tonight to beat the rush.  Here's my menu for Christmas day...

On Christmas Day I always have Rhodes Rolls, with several types of meats and cheese and then appetizer type foods:

Creamy Green Chile Queso with Tortilla Chips
Veggie Tray with Cottage Cheese Ranch dip
Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce
Pear Pomegranate Spinach Salad
Hummus

Christmas Breakfast:
Savory Breakfast Rolls (from macheesmo.com)  I actually use this DOUGH recipe, divide it in half and make the cinnamon rolls from the other half.  I also cheat and use Costco's fresh pesto :)
Cinnamon Rolls
Fresh Fruit
Bacon
Apple Cherry Frittata
Ham, Egg & Roasted Potato Casserole  (follow these directions, but use roasted potatoes rather than bread, and leftover spiral ham for the sausage)  with Mushroom Sauce

Fall is in the air!
Here is my menu for the week:
Red Curry Butternut Squash with Chicken over Rice
Marinated Flank Steak with Roasted Brussell Sprouts and Mashed Potatoes
Ground Turkey Tacos

After a long break and an adventurous summer and heart-rending couple of weeks, I'm back to posting menus.  My household is now down to four (sent off one missionary and one college student) so I'm sure that will affect my menus.  Looking forward to a great school year!

Monday:  Pizza with my favorite homemade crust and Green Salad
Tuesday:  Honey Mustard Pork Tenderloin, Sweet Potatoes, Panko Crusted Green Beans
Wednesday:  Slow Cooker Salisbury Burgers over Egg Noodles and Green Salad
Thursday:  Slow Cooker Thai Turkey over Sticky Rice with Cabbage Salad

Here's my menu for the week:
Monday:  Turkey Burgers, Chips and Salsa, Vegetable Tray
Tuesday:  Spicy Sweet and Sour Grilled Chicken with Really Simple Rice and Asian Chopped Salad
Wednesday:  Bok Choy Salad with Grilled Teriyaki Chicken and Egg Rolls
Thursday:  Lacrosse Banquet
Friday:  Mom's Night Off :)
Saturday:  Tacos Supreme with Apricot Smoothie
Sunday:  Family Dinner

This week's menu:
Monday:  Marci's Lasagna, Breadsticks and Green Salad
Tuesday:  Monte Cristo Sandwiches and Copycat Zupa's Mushroom Bisque
Wednesday:  Grilled Flank Steak with Sweet Potatoes and Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese and Beets
Thursday:  Omelettes and Toast
Friday:  Mom's Night Off :)
Saturday:  Mom's Night Off :)
Sunday:  Grilled Pork Chops with Marinated Chickpea and Artichoke Salad, Spinach Salad and Crescent Jalapeno Poppers

I seriously just pushed the submit button to submit my last paper of the semester for my graduate program!  Hallelujah!!!!  Summer is here and no more school for me....well, at least for a couple of weeks.
Here's my menu for the week:

Monday:  Firecracker Salmon with Easy Parmesan Risotto and Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic
Tuesday:  Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore with Rice and Green Salad
Wednesday:  Roasted Parmesan Herb Sweet Potatoes with Grilled Balsamic Flank Steak and Sautéed Asparagus
Thursday:  Green Chili Shredded Pork with Tortillas and Toppings
Friday:  Mom's Night Off :)
Saturday:  Leftovers from Judson's weekend course
Sunday:  Dinner at Friends :)

I've spent the last 10 days in Ghana, Africa on a Study Abroad with the University of Utah.  It was a fantastic experience!  I'm rejuvenated and excited to COOK HEALTHY MEALS!  Eating out takes it's toll.
So, here's my menu for the week:


Monday:  Creamy Lemon Chicken Piccata Meatballs over Egg Noodles with Pear Green Salad
Tuesday:  Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches with Veggie Tray and Potato Chips
Wednesday:  Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup with Rhodes Rolls
Thursday: Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs with Baked Potatoes and Green Salad
Friday:  Pizza Night!
Saturday:  Larson Family Party
Sunday:  Easter and Conference Sunday!  Ham, Augratin Potatoes, Rolls, Green Beans, Fruit

Want to try soon:
Philly Cheese Steak Bread

Our missionary is HOME!  It's been such a fun week and a half!  This Friday I leave for a Study Abroad in Ghana, Africa.  The rest of the family will be holding down the fort.  Wish me luck!

Here's my menu for the week:

Monday:  Monte Cristo Sandwiches an Tomato Soup
Tuesday:  Smothered Pork Chops with Mashed Potatoes and Peas
Wednesday:  It's My Birthday!  No cooking for me today :)
Thursday: Cheddar Bacon Hamburgers with Sweet Potato Fries

Looking forward to a fantastic week!  Our missionary comes home on Wednesday!  Wahoo!

Here's my menu:

Monday:  Mexican Egg Casserole with Hashbrowns and Green Salad
Tuesday:  Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes
Wednesday:  Cafe Rio!
Thursday:  Torta Rustica with Green Salad and Chips
Friday:  Waffles and Eggs
Saturday:  Mom's Night Off :)
Sunday:  Ultimate Beef Stroganoff with Egg Noodles, Gourmet Green Salad and Fruit Platter

This week's menu:

Monday: Brown Sugar Meatloaf with Cherry Pistachio Kale Salad and Focaccia
Tuesday:  Bowties with Sausage, Tomato and Cream Sauce with Roasted Beet, Pine nut and Goat Cheese Salad
Wednesday: Spicy Thai Basil Chicken over Rice with  Roasted Cabbage with Almond Sesame Sauce
Thursday:  Slow Cooker Chicken Verde with Quesadillas
Friday:  Mom's Night Off :)
Saturday:  Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Soup
Sunday:  Extended Family Dinner

I'm trying a few recipes from a WHOLE30 cookbook I borrowed from a friend, so sorry if the links aren't here.  Hopefully I'll be able to put links on soon.  Have a happy week!

Monday:  Chicken Chowder with Rolls (leftover from Sunday dinner) and Roasted Beet and Arugula Salad
Tuesday:  Shepherd's Pie with Pomegranate and Pine Nut Salad and French Baguette
Wednesday:  Firecracker Grilled Alaskan Salmon  with Feta Rice Pilaf and Roasted Green Beans
Thursday:  Easy Sausage Lasagna, Breadsticks and Basic Green Salad
Friday:  Mom's Night Off :)
Saturday:  Omelettes and Toast
Sunday:  Larson Family Dinner

I've been finding new recipes that I want to try, but I don't often have the time!  My Master's program is quite demanding this semester.  So, don't be surprised if you see a recipe posted twice (one week after another), it just means I didn't have time to make it and still want to.  But I will say that making a menu on Sunday for the upcoming weeks really helps me to be organized enough to cook, even if I do occasionally have to change a meal.

My menu for this week:
Monday Breakfast:  Paleo Sausage Egg McMuffin (I really want to try these for breakfast, and no, I'm not going Paleo, just trying to shed the four pounds I put on since Christmas and low carb seems to do the trick for me :)
Monday Dinner:  Crab Cakes (and halibut cakes--with the leftover halibut from last week's fish tacos), with Parmesan Roasted Green Beans, Artisan bread and Honey Lime Fruit
Tuesday:  Creamy Coconut Milk Meatballs over Egg Noodles (or Zucchini Noodles for me) with Asian Salad with Ginger Dressing and Egg Rolls
Wednesday:  Cheddar Ranch BLT Sausage Sandwiches with Chips and Relish Tray
Thursday:  Chicken Cacciatore over Leftover Noodles with Green Salad
Friday:  Mom's Night Off :)
Saturday: Waffles and Eggs
Sunday:  Roast, Potatoes, and Carrots with Sweet Dinner Rolls and Green Salad

My menu for this week:

Monday:  Out to dinner--finishing Brooks' Eagle project in SLC
Tuesday:  Halibut Fish Tacos
Wednesday:  Slow Cooker Honey Parmesan Pork Roast with Egg Noodles, Sautéed Vegetables and Fruit
Thursday:  Mexican Pizza
Friday:  Waffles and Eggs
Saturday:  Mom's Night Off :)
Sunday:  Dinner at a friends house.  Bringing Chocolate Chip Lava Cookies with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream for dessert :)

My husband took me on a lovely getaway to Solitude (up Big Cottonwood Canyon) for our 22nd wedding anniversary.  So beautiful and so nice to just be together!  While we were there we ate at the Honeycomb grill and had the best sweet potato soup I have ever eaten!  So, don't be surprised when in the upcoming weeks you see multiple versions of sweet potato soup--I've got to learn how to make it!

My menu for this week:
Monday:  Chase's birthday dinner!  Here's his requested meal:  Filet Mignon with Sweet Potato Fries (thank you Costco), Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers and Caesar Salad with Jen's Texas Sheet Cake for dessert.
Tuesday:  Tacos Supreme with Apricot Smoothie
Wednesday:  Pan Roast Chicken with Brussel Sprouts & Balsamic with Honey Lime Fruit Salad (I just drizzle honey and lime juice over the fruit) and French Bread
Thursday: BLT Sandwiches with Cottage Fries and Relish Tray
Friday:  Mom's Night Off :)
Saturday:  Waffles and Eggs
Sunday:  Wall Family Dinner



Here's the recipe for Jen's Texas Sheet Cake (It's a family favorite!)
Texas Sheet Cake

Cake: 

1/2 c. butter

1/4 c. shortening

1 c. water

4 T. cocoa

2 c. sugar

2 c. flour

2 eggs

1 1/2 c. buttermilk (I do just under in regular milk and 1 1/2 T. bottled lemon juice to bring it to 1 1/2 c. total

1 t. baking soda

1 t. vanilla

1 tsp. cinnamon (optional, but I put it in)

Frosting:

1/2 c. butter, melted

4 T. Cocoa

1 lb. powdered sugar

1 t. vanilla

4-6 T. milk  (error on the side of being a little thick because it is spread on while still warm and it melts in)

Nuts, chopped (optional--I don't)

Directions for cake:

In a saucepan, combine butter, shortening, water, and cocoa and bring to a rapid boil.  In a bowl, combine sugar and flour.  Pour saucepan mixture over sugar and flour and mix well.  Add eggs, buttermilk, soda, vanilla, and cinnamon.  Beat well.  Pour into greased jelly-roll pan or raised-edge cookie sheet.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.  

Directions for frosting:

Combine all ingredients well and frost while cake is still warm.  

The weather outside is spring-like....in January!  Whaaaat?  We're praying for snow over here. But in the meantime, I'm still cooking tasty winter meals.

Monday:  Homemade tomato soup and tuna melt sandwiches
Tuesday:  Crockpot Cider Braised Short Ribs with Ultimate Twice Baked Potatoes (leftover from Sunday) and Apple Pomegranate Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing
Wednesday:  BBQ Turkey Meatloaf with Caesar Salad and Rosemary Focaccia and Roasted Garlic Cauliflower
Thursday:  Spaghetti and Meatballs with leftover Focaccia and Green Salad
Friday:  Mom's Night off :)
Saturday:  Easy Omelettes
Sunday:  Larson family dinner

I find dinner time to be so much easier when I plan ahead.  Not only easier, but we seem eat better as well.  Now that I'm Mom and Student, it's easy to let the planning part go to the way side.  I'm hoping this year I'll be better at keeping a weekly menu on this blog.

Here's our plan for this week:
Sunday:  Carnitas--Pressure Cooker with Rice, Beans, and toppings
Monday:  Salmon Alfredo Pasta, Green Salad and Bruschetta
Tuesday: BBQ Pork Sandwiches (use leftover pork from Sunday), with Sweet Potato Fries and Veggie Tray (If I have the energy/time, I'll make these Homemade buns)
Wednesday:  Whole Roasted Chicken with Potatoes, Carrots, and Green Salad
Thursday:  Bagel Melts
Friday:  Mom's Night Off :)
Saturday:  Almond Flour Waffles and Scrambled Eggs