Desserts that I want to try, or that I love!

Chocolate Lava Muffins
Chocolate Chip Lava Cookies
My Favorite Sugar Cookies
Peanut Butter Chocolate Muffins
Pumpkin Crumb Bars
Homemade Reeses Cookies
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies (no flour, low sugar)

Judson and I celebrated our 19th Anniversary this past weekend.  We had a fabulous time!  Shout out to my mom for managing the kiddos!  We stayed at Alaskan Inn up Ogden Canyon and then went Snowshoeing at Weber North Fork Park. So. Much. Fun!  My calves are still on fire, but so worth it!
Here's our menu for the week:
Monday:  Bean Soup YUM with Cheese Toasties and Green Salad
Tuesday:  Ultimate Steak Sandwich with Cottage Fries and Relish Tray
Wednesday: Chicken Pot Pie OK
Thursday:  Chase's Birthday Dinner!  He's still deciding where he'd like to go :)
Friday:  Mom's Night Off :)
Saturday: Quiche, Fruit and Scones
Sunday:  Bo's Blessing--I'm bringing this salad

Santa Fe Salad Dressing

3 cloves garlic

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

2 bunches cilantro, (rinsed well, most of stalky ends trimmed off) finely chopped

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

1 1/2 teaspoon vinegar

1/2 teaspoon cumin

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon honey

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup canola oil

1/4 cup olive oil

DIRECTIONS:

Drop garlic cloves and ginger through the feed tube of food processor while motor is on. Mince well. Add the cilantro and process until finely chopped. Add spices, lime juice, vinegar, honey, and Parmesan cheese. Process until well mixed. With motor running slowly pour the oil through the feed tube. Let process one more minute.

If I would have thought about it, I would have dropped a spoonful of mayo in to tighten the dressing up.

I serve it with greens, peppers, corn, black beans, tons of chopped cilantro, grilled chicken chunks or the shreds of a rotisserie chicken, tortilla strips, Mexican cheese (I think cheddar or regular cheeses get lots and start to disintegrate in the salad if not eat right away... )

A quick menu for this week:
Monday:  Toast Cups with Honey Citrus Green Salad and Pears
Tuesday:  Crockpot Salsbury Steak with Mashed Potatoes and Peas
Wednesday:  Build your own Burrito Bar
Thursday:  Chicken Salad Croissants with chips and relish tray
Friday:  Mom's Night Off :)
Saturday:  Waffles, Eggs and Bacon
Sunday:  Keaton's Birthday Dinner!  Steak, Chicken, Potatoes, Rolls, Pretzel Salad, Green Beans and Texas Sheet Cake

Back to the grind.  School starts up again tomorrow.  I'm wondering how in the world we're going to adjust back to going to bed early and waking up early?  I'm sure we'll be exhausted for at least a few days!  But I am excited to get back onto a schedule.  I've been missing my morning exercise, and some semblance of a healthy diet.  So, I guess I'm a bit excited for the daily grind!
Here's my menu for this week:
Monday:  Rosemary Ranch Chicken Kabobs YUM (we have leftover meat from New Year's day:), Asparagus Cashew Rice Pilaf, OK and Green Salad Brownies for FHE treat
Tuesday:  Tex Mex Egg McMuffins OK
Wednesday:  Pumpkin Sage Soup with Monte Cristo Sandwiches YUM
Thursday:  Creamy Spinach and Sausage Pasta YUM
Friday:  Mom's Night Off :)
Saturday:  Waffles, Eggs and Bacon
Sunday:  Chicken with Basil Cream YUM over Pasta, Green Salad, and Bread Sticks

Christmas was fantastic!  I just love being home with my family, relaxing, playing and eating.  Several of Judson's siblings were in town for the holidays, so it was fun to have them over on not only Christmas Eve but Christmas day as well.  Now onto New Years Eve and and new year!  We're planning a taco bar for New Year's Eve, and the traditional Fondue at 2 at Judson's sister's home for New Years Day.  We thought about going skiing, but it's so so cold outside!  That will have to wait until it warms up a bit.
Here's my menu for the week:
Monday:  Fat Cats, IFly and Costa Vida
Tuesday:  Party with friends
Wednesday:  Taco Bar Mel's Tacos Supreme, My Favorite Cheeseball, and Clone of a Cinnabon
Thursday:  Fondue at 2!  We're bringing 4 lbs. of marinated chicken, I'll be using this recipe Rosemary Ranch Chicken and my greek marinade that I like.
Friday:  Larson Cousins Party  Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas and Mexican Chopped Salad
Saturday:  Chicken Fettucine Alfredo
Sunday:  Chicken Cordon Bleu

The week of Christmas has arrived!  What a fun time of year.  I really love everything about the holidays (except maybe my shrinking wallet:), and I think the food is a major component!  I really try to keep things simple so I'm not in the kitchen while everyone else is having fun.  But I also want it to taste delicious and be special.  On Christmas day I have a tradition of cooking up a million rolls (I use Rhodes--easy!), having several different deli meat and cheese choices, yummy dips with crackers and veggies, and salads.  I set everything out, and invite anyone over that is able.  We play games, watch movies, take on a little xbox, etc.  Super fun!  This year we're hosting the Wall family Christmas Eve Celebration.  When Jud's parents are out of the country (which is actually quite often, they are currently on mission #7, or is it #8?, I've lost track!) we take over for Christmas Eve.  We love having family over to share this special time.

Here's my menu for the week:
Monday:  Homemade Cafe Rio
Tuesday:  Larson family party!
Wednesday:  Awesome Baked Ham and Sweet Dinner Rolls  (the family is bringing Augratin potatoes, salads, green bean casserole, appetizers and dessert)
Thursday Breakfast:  Charleston Breakfast Casserole, Yogurt Granola Parfaits, and Hashbrowns
Thursday Lunch/Dinner:  Rhodes Rolls, Several Different Lunchmeats, Cheese Variety, Cranberry Relish with Cream Cheese, Costco Vegetable Tray, Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce, Cowboy Caviar with Tortilla Chips, and Italian Green Salad
Friday:  Leftovers from Christmas
Saturday:  Mom's Night Off!
Sunday:  Easy Lasagna with Garlic Bread and Green Salad

Monday:  Chicken Noodle Soup, Green Salad with Crusty Bread and Peanut Butter Bars Perfected
Tuesday:  Fish Tacos
Wednesday:   French Dip Sandwiches, Cottage Fries and Relish Tray
Thursday:  Crouton crusted chicken with Garden Orzo risotto and Green Salad
Friday:  Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Soup
Saturday:  Landon's birthday dinner!
Sunday:  Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff with Egg Noodles, Spinach Salad and Garlic Toast