Hey y’all! How is everyone? My in-laws left today so I’m working hard to get the house tidied up, laundry done and all the other tasks I’ve neglected to do while company was here and I was busy eating. I also need to start getting ready for the Allume Conference next week in Pennsylvania! This will be my first blog conference in the US and I’m thrilled to finally get to meet so many of my blogging pals in real life. As you know I hate to travel on my own so this is a big deal for me but I know it will be worth it in the end. Is anyone else going? I would so so love to meet you!!
Oh and remember last week when I said we had a scare with our fridge breaking down on us but we were able to get it fixed again? Well Monday night it went out again…in the middle of the night of all things! When I opened the fridge in the morning a blast of hot air blew back at me. That’s not good! I was so looking forward to my leftover Peanut Butter pie for breakfast too but unfortunately I had to toss it. So sad!! So I am now the proud owner of a new fridge. Nothing fancy but it gets the job done. The best part was all the time I got to spend organizing it. It’s a different layout than my old one so I had a great ole time moving things around over and over to find the right configuration. Such fun!!!
Giveaway Winners:
The two winners of last week’s Taste of Home Slow Cooker Cookbook giveaway are:
#80 Annie C and
#108 Beth
Dinner Club:
So a group of my girlfriends just started a dinner club and our first night was this past weekend. We do it potluck style and the first theme chosen was harvest. I decided I wanted to bring some sort of butternut squash soup. So as I was cruising my blog reader I was excited to find a great recipe over on one of my favorite blogs, Mom Advice. Amy’s recipe for Butternut Squash Soup with Toasted Pecans was delicious. I made it earlier in the day and then threw it into my slow cooker on warm until it was time for the party. This was the only picture I got and it was on my Instagram:
I’m hosting next month and I’ve chosen the tropical theme because I’d really like to be sitting on a tropical island somewhere right about now sipping a drink with an umbrella in it! If you’ve got any tropical recipe suggestions (with links) for me, let me know. Anyone else part of a dinner club?
My Weekly Menu Plan:
After a heavy week of cooking and eating last week due to the Cdn. Thanksgiving holiday I am going pretty simple and easy this week 🙂
Monday: Tomato soup served with Oven Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner: Whole Wheat Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
Wednesday: Pizza Quesadillas served with green salad
Thursday: Leftover buffet
Friday: Quick Homemade Pizza
Saturday: Oven Roasted Ravioli served with spinach salad
Sunday: YOYO (you’re on your own!)
WHAT’S ON YOUR MENU THIS WEEK? JOIN US!
Menu Plan Guidelines, banner selections and recipe helpers are here.
More family favorite recipes here.
One of my favorite menu planning resources:
Rita says
I have a new appreciation for squash. Thanks for hosting Menu Plan Mondays!
Karin says
Here are a few links for recipes I developed when working for Viking Range Corporation. The Luau is a fun menu, and I’m also including the link for pineapple fried rice, which is delish! Hope this helps!
http://www.vikingrange.com/consumer/lifestyle/recipe_menu.jsp;jsessionid=x68J9y-7im-vcd5tgwV19w**.node2?id=600008
http://www.vikingrange.com/consumer/lifestyle/recipe_menu.jsp;jsessionid=x68J9y-7im-vcd5tgwV19w**.node2?id=600007
Angela says
Thanks for hosting! How exciting about the conference! I want to go to that one sometime, and hoping for next year. 🙂 Have a blast!
Madridmom says
That is too funny! You link to oven toasted cheese sandwiches and here I thought I was brilliant when I came up with the idea to make them in the oven under the broiler last week (couldn´t use the stove top)
Michelle @ The Willing Cook says
I’m heading to Allume next week as well. It’s my first blogging conference and I have to be honest, I’m a little nervous about the whole thing working out, both there and back home with the family. But, it should be a good experience and I am really looking forward to meeting some wonderful blogging friends and new friends. See you there!
Laura says
Yay, look forward to seeing you there!
Jill Robson says
Had that happen to me a couple of years ago. Came home from a weekend away to find the fridge dead and all the meat and chicken in the freezer part defrosted. :(. I also organized when i got my new fridge, and it has been easier to maintain since then.
Elsi @ Pasticio says
I adore winter squash and pumpkin soups. Wish I had a group nearby to participate in a dinner club or meal exchange.
Mo says
I made a pork tenderloin last night that was amazing! And the recipe is called Island Pork 🙂 perfect for a tropical theme! Here is the recipe I used:
http://littlebcooks.blogspot.ca/2012/04/island-pork-tenderloin.html
Laura says
It looks awesome, thank you!!
Cas says
Its my first time linking up… thank you so much for hosting the party. I cant wait to look at some posts and get some new menu ideas. I have lost the contents of my deep freezer twice this year..and the contents of my fridge/freezer once. We had bad storms in Aug…and the power was out for a week. Then a few weeks ago my boys some how jimmied the freezer open and the alarm didnt work… Now we use the locks on the freezer…and its so annoying having to use a key everytime I want something out…which is often..but so worth not losing all my stuff again. So I know how you feel. I dont know how tropical this really is or if your club does desserts…but pineapple upside down cake sounds good right now!
Laura says
Welcome to MPM!!
sues2u2 says
I love the ideas I get from you but it’s my turn. You asked for tropical recipes so here goes. It’s called pork tacos & we usually serve them w/ a fresh pineapple salsa. The recipe is from an old Kraft mini book & I don’t have a link.
Pork Tacos
Pork loin cut into bit size pieces (I typically just use boneless pork chops)
Pineapple chopped into tidbit size pieces (use fresh or canned – both work well)
Papya chopped into smaller pieces (again, canned, fresh or frozen work great)
Montery Jack cheese – grated
Flour tortillas – sm size
butter flavor baking spray
Cook pineapple until no longer pink in center. Add pineapple & papya & cook until warm (i do sometimes add the pineapple juice for added flavor). Heat up tortillas so easy to fold. Place about 1/3 C of pork/fruit mix along center of shell & add cheese. Roll up & place seam side down on baking pan. Continue until all meat mix & shells are used. Spray top of shells w/ baking spray to help brown them & put in a 375F oven for 10 min or until tops are lightly browned. Serve w/ pineapple salsa.
These tacos are so delicious that they will be gone before you know it! Have fun w/ your party.
Laura says
Thank you so much for sharing that recipe!!
Janet @ Frugal & Focused says
Oooh, enjoy the new fridge! The dinner club sounds like a lot of fun. What a great way to spend time with friends and try delicious food. Thanks for hosting.
sues2u2 says
Forgot to add that I no longer have the cook book but it might have been Betty Crocker too. Sorry about that.
Rachel Mitchell says
Those pancakes look so good!
Jo-Ann says
Could you please remove Wedding Cake and Built-in Book Case from your linky party. I put them on not realizing it was Monday Menu Plan. Please forgive me. I will be more careful. I am sorry if I offended you or others.
Laura says
No problem Jo-Ann 🙂
Tiffany @ DontWastetheCrumbs says
Mango Salsa!!
http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2012/09/yummy-recipe-mango-salsa/
We recently used this with our tacos and it’s SUPER yummy!!
Oh and coconut rice:
http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2012/04/weekly-menu-yummy-recipe-coconut-rice/
Tammy @ Skinny Moms Kitchen says
I had my fridge, oven, and dishwasher break within a few weeks of each other last year. Not fun but I did enjoy getting new appliances. Have a great time at your conference. I can’t wait till I get to attend one!!
Andrea says
lol- you always make me laugh in your posts…isn’t it you who has a Tropical Palm Tree Christmas lawn ornament? lol, you may want to break that out before the friends are over. Have a good day Laura.
Laura says
Hahaha…you are so right! Yes I will definitely have to pull my palm tree into the living room, won’t that be fantastic! Thanks for reminding me 🙂
Amy says
Oh, I am so thrilled you liked the soup! That is my new favorite over here! I just made a batch last night again for my lunches! Thank you so much for sharing about it! xoxoxo
PS- Tropical theme should be fun! Our Bunco did a tropical Bunco and the hostess served pulled pork sliders! Those would be so cute and easy with fruit kabobs! I hope that helps!
Laura says
Oh that sounds delicious! I’ll see if I can come up with a recipe. Yum!
Annie C says
Checking in for new recipes and noticed I was one of the Giveaway Winners:
The two winners of last week’s Taste of Home Slow Cooker Cookbook giveaway are:
#80 Annie C and
#108 Beth
Thanks! What do I do now?
Annie C