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

Here's our menu for the week:

Monday:  Easy Lasagna, French Bread and Spinach Salad
Tuesday:  Turkey Taco Soup
Wednesday:  Shepherds Pie
Thursday:  Monte Cristo Sandwiches
Friday:  Leftovers

We love re-connecting with our friends from dental school.  Morgantown holds so many happy and fond memories for us.  Tonight we have some of our friends that we met there, who now live in Utah, coming over for dinner.  Yay!  Here's my dinner plan:

Chicken Noodle Soup
Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Orange Romaine Salad with candied almonds
Sweet Dinner Rolls
and cookies from Cutlers

Such a fun time of year and the weather has been absolutely gorgeous!  Shout out to my Brooks for making the Junior High basketball team--one of only two seventh graders!  Landon is loving the thought of a 'Halloween Week', making haunted candy houses on Tuesday, Halloween parade and party on Thursday and Trick or Treating on Friday.  Keaton is busy filling out scholarship applications. He just finished a grueling week with student body officer stuff, hopefully we'll see him around a bit more this week.  Chase can't wait for the snow to fly.  All of his extra time is devoted to researching out which snowboard he wants for this season.  I'm trying to wrap my head around starting Christmas shopping.  REALLY????
Here's my menu for the week:
Monday:  Slow Cooker Stroganoff with Egg Noodles and Spinach Salad
Tuesday:  Turkey Meatball Subs with Relish Tray and Chips
Wednesday:  Ham, Sweet Potatoes, Rolls and Sauteed Green Beans
Thursday:  Bacon and Egg Casserole with Muffins, Fruit and Spinach Salad
Friday: Halloween Night!  Chicken Tortellini Soup with Crusty Artisan Bread
Saturday:  Mom's Night Off :)
Sunday:  Balsamic Pesto Chicken Pasta with Mixed Greens Jicama Salad and French Bread

Another great seminar given at Dental Solutions in the books!  Judson taught dentists from all over the world.  We had dentists from Canada, California, Colorado, Maryland, Idaho, Germany and the Czech republic attend his course.  I catered the event, and the food was a home run.  Feeding 27 people is no easy task, but I had fun.  Here's what I served:

Friday Breakfast:  Breakfast Burritos buffet style with tortillas, eggs, hashbrowns, bacon, sausage, homemade refried bean, cheese, pico, and guacamole.  Juices and water to drink.
Friday Lunch:  Greek food presented by Roulas--chicken souvlaki, lemon rice, greek salad, pita and tzaziki, and a sweet sample including brownies, rice krispie treats and cookies

Saturday Breakfast:  My favorite french toast casserole made with these variations:  raspberry almond, apple, apple pecan and blueberry.  Served with bacon, sausage, yogurt, and boiled eggs with juice and water to drink.
Saturday Lunch:  Kneaders sandwich platters and soups (tomato basil and baked potato), pear and pecan salad, and Kneaders dessert tray.