Menu Plan

Supper Menus

January 31st - February 6th

Saturday

grilled steak and potatoes, salad, french bread

Sunday

slow cooker hot wings, little smokies and bbq sauce, chips and dips 

Monday

spicy romano chicken, caesar salad, rosemary bread

Tuesday

potato soup, cheese quick bread

Wednesday
spicy thai noodles

Thursday 

soft tacos, spanish rice, refried beans, chips, salsa, and guacamole 

Friday

left overs or out for supper

Hey Baby Let's Go to Vegas!

I got to tag along with Mr. H. for a very quick trip to Las Vegas this week!

We had the most wonderful time.  

We went for Mr. H. to attend SHOT show at the Sands Expo Center.

We flew out Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm 

and arrived back home at 10:30 pm Friday!

A "52 hour date"!  Haha!

We stayed at the Paris Las Vegas and it was very nice!

Mr. H. picked it out for me.  He did good. :-)

We even had a beautiful view!

Bright and early Thursday morning we headed over to the convention center,

picked up our badges, and walked in just as they were opening the doors.

I met Jim Shockey!

Eight hours, 17,860 steps, and 7.87 miles later...

(we had our pedometers set on our phones to see just how much we walked!)

we were done with Day 1!

As the sun was setting, we headed back to the hotel to get ready for dinner.

There was a PF Changs next door to the hotel at the Miracle Mile Shopping center.

It's definitely our favorite and we don't have one at home, 

so dinner was an easy decision!

After dinner we stopped to see the Bellagio fountains go off,

and then went back to the hotel.

There we were at the Las Vegas Strip and we were asleep before 9:00 pm! Ha!

Day 2 started again at Cafe Belle Madeleine.

Oj and bran muffin for the healthy girl.

Cappuccino and a croisant for Mr. H. ;-)

And again we got to the show just as the doors opened.

After about 3 hours Mr. H. had seen all he planned to see this trip

and the last two hours before we left for the airport were reserved

for lunch and a little sightseeing. 

I told Mr. H. I didn't care where we ate lunch,

I just wanted to eat outside!  

The weather was just beautiful - sunny and about 60 degrees.

A little cool in the shade, but perfect in the sunshine.

We chose Mon Ami Gabi right next to the hotel.

It was wonderful!

 

While we ate we enjoyed the fountains across the street 

and street musicians playing guitars right in front of the restaurant. 

Giada's restaurant was near by as well,

but it was a ~little~ out of our price range. ;-) 

We walked around a bit after a lunch.

I made some new friends. :-)

And, then it was time to say goodbye and head home!

I had wanted to get a picture at the famous Las Vegas sign while were there,

but it wasn't near our hotel and I couldn't justify paying for a taxi ride just for a picture, 

so it didn't happen this trip.

When we saw this gift shop at the airport Mr. H. and I laughed 

that this would have to do!

We had such a good time, 

but I was definitely starting to miss my babies, my chickens, 

my green grass and my fresh country air!

It was a wonderful quick trip,

and the absolute best part 

was spending 52 uninterrupted hours with Mr. H. - my best friend!

Monday, Monday

What do I do when it's just about the gajillionith 

rainy, dreary, cold, and gray day after the holidays? 

I try new recipes of course! ;-)

Tonight I made garlic parmesan roasted brussel sprouts

and skillet roasted red potatoes.

With some good 'ol fried ham and cornbread

it was a tummy warming winter meal for another dreary Monday,

while we dream of springtime...

Pear, Pomegranate and Spinach Salad

I don't know about you, but my body has been craving 

a bit of a detox after all of the heavy foods/sugar overload of the holidays.

This winter salad from Williams Sonoma really hit the spot this evening.

It was just a light supper for my daughter and I.

I'll definitely be taking the leftovers to work tomorrow for lunch! :-)

Menu Plan

Supper Menus

January 10th -16th

Saturday

olive garden salad, zuppa toscana, focaccia bread

Sunday

pear pomegranate and spinach salad

Monday

fried ham, oven roasted brussels sprouts, skillet roasted red potatoes, cornbread

Tuesday
potato soup, leftover cornbread

Wednesday

lasagna, ceasar salad 

Thursday

chicken and dumplings

Friday

leftovers or out to eat

Smokey Paprika Chicken and Vegetables

Mr. H. gave this smokey paprika chicken nine and a half stars. ;-)

It was really yummy!

I used chicken breasts instead of thighs,

so it didn't have to cook quite as long.

The chicken was SO moist and flavorful!

Wintertime Hot Cocoa Bar!

I had such a hard time putting away my Christmas decorations this year.

Much more so than usual.  I tend to be chomping at the bit by New Year's Eve and 

New Year's Day usually finds all the decor safely tucked away and a cleaning spree in process!

But, this year I just seemed a bit more reluctant to start putting things away

and would you believe January 3rd! was looming on the horizon by the time 

all things Christmasy had been stored away for another year. 

I had planned to keep my hot cocoa bar up through New Year's Day,

and then put it away,

but I thought, "why not leave it up all through the winter?"

So I did!

I removed all the red and green and just created a simple array of hot cocoa fixings 

to look nice with my "winter" china. 

"Winter is the time for comfort,

for good food and warmth,

for the touch of a friend's hand 

and a talk beside the fire;

it is the time for HOME."

~Edith Sitwell

And, then, on Sunday, after evening worship, a sweet lady from our congregation

gave our family a care package of marshmallows, hot cocoa packets, popcorn 

and these incredibly cute mugs!

It was like it was confirmation that I should keep my hot cocoa bar up just a little bit longer! ;-)

Oven Baked Beef Tacos

This recipe was a big hit tonight.

Very simple, but just different enough to make it a new spin on a taco dinner.

My daughter was going out to eat with friends tonight,

but as she passed by the dinner table on her way out the door she said,

"oh, I"ll be having those for leftovers for sure." :-)

Very tasty and well received at my house!