Menu Plan Monday {28}

Breakfasts: Oatmeal or Cereal
Lunches: Leftovers, Tomato Soup or ham sandwiches
Dessert: Homemade French Silk Pie and Irish Tea Brack

Monday - Glazed Ginger Pork Chops
Tuesday - Leftovers (hubby's gone)
Wednesday - Beef Stew with Soda Bread
Thursday - French Onion Soup
Friday - Steaks and Onion Rings
Saturday - Apps and Finger Food for Hockey Game
Sunday - Pantry Cleanout

See previous Menu Plans at Candy Hearts and Paper Flowers

Join Menu Plan Monday over at The Organizing Junkie

Menu Plan Monday {27}

Breakfasts: Oatmeal or Cereal
Lunches: Leftovers, Tomato Soup or ham sandwiches
Dessert: bollur/cream puffs leftover from Bolludagur.

Monday - Southern Style Chicken and Dumplings
Tuesday - Fish and Chips
Wednesday - Tortellini with Beef and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Thursday - Meatloaf, 5 Bean Casserole and Coleslaw
Friday - Tuna Salad Sandwiches (Quick Night due to Hockey Game)
Saturday - Pantry Cleanout
Sunday - Magazine Menu : French Onion Soup, Roast Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Cider Sauce, Sherried Sweet Potatoes and Apples, Wilted Greens with Warm Sherry Viniagrette, Baked Apples Stuffed with Dried Fruit and Pecans

See previous Menu Plans at Candy Hearts and Paper Flowers

Join Menu Plan Monday over at The Organizing Junkie

Thanksgiving Planning: My Grocery List

Assuming I have nothing in my pantry or refrigerator, my grocery list for Thanksgiving based on my menu looks like this. I specified amounts for items that I need for several recipes and need more than normal quantity for.

Wine
Coffee
7Up
Apples
Apple Cider
Bay Leaves
Black Pepper
Bourbon
Brandy
6 cups Butter
2 cups Buttermilk
Celery
Cheese
4 cups Chicken Broth
Cinnamon
Cinnamon Sticks
Coke
Confectioners Sugar
Corn on the Cob
Cottage Cheese
Cranberries
Cream Cheese
Cream Of Mushroom Soup
Diet 7Up
Diet Coke
Dr Pepper
Dry Sherry
Egg Noodles
18 Eggs
Flour
6 cups French Bread
French Bread Baguette
French Onions
Fresh Parsley
1 can Frozen Oj
Ginger Ale
Green Beans
Ground Cloves
Ground Ginger
Ham
Half-And-Half
1 quart Heavy Cream
Kosher Salt
2 pkgs Light Brown Sugar
Marjoram
Milk
Nutmeg
1/2 gallon Oj
Onion
3 Oranges
Pecans
Potatoes
Pumpkin
Root Beer
Rubbed Sage
Salt
Shortening
2 tubs Sour Cream
1 bag Sugar
Sweet Potatoes
Thyme
Turkey
Vanilla
1 quart Vanilla Ice Cream
Walnuts
White Lily Flour

Cocktail Party Menu

My first party for November was on 11/6, and since it was on a Tuesday evening, I was literally running down to the minute, and had no time for photographs. This Saturday is my second for November, and should afford me plenty of time to photograph and detail out what I put in items and how to prepare it.

If you've read the blog description, the dump cook is quite literal. Most of these things I've made a hundred times or more, but I don't have a list of what I put in. So as I'm making these favorites, I have to take some time to make notes about quantity. Where in the past I would quite literally just squeeze, pour, scoop etc, directly into the bowl, I am actually taking time to use measuring utensils so I can give you an idea of what really goes into these recipes.

My hubby asked what I'll do if I try something and it doesn't turn out, it's simple, I won't post it. Maybe I should and tell you not to try it that it's terrible or blah. I guess I intend this to be a repository for all those recipes that I love, and the ones I don't want to forget. We can all get into a rut when it comes to "What's for dinner?"

Now, on to what this post is really about... the food...

Here is my menu for my cocktail party this weekend:

Savory Appetizers
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Bruschetta with Tomatoes, Roasted Red Peppers, Goat Cheese and Balsamic Vinaigrette
Cheese Ball (I know what you are thinking, but I get asked to bring this all the time)
Firecracker Shrimp
Brie in Puff Pastry
Assortment of Quiche
Assorted Hard Cheeses
Assorted Crackers
Assorted Nuts and Mints

Sweet Appetizers
Assorted Tarts
Assorted Cheesecakes

Beverages
An Assortment of Liquor, Wine, Beer and Mixers

Thanksgiving Kickoff Starts Tomorrow

Happy Halloween! I've been dying to get through October, so we can get to what I consider the start of the holiday season. As we approach the holidays, my posts will probably be more dessert centered, particularly in December. I like to make a lot of goodies to have around the house for when company drops by, as they are wont to do.

However, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, because I host it each year. I get to go overboard and make the most amazing meals and relish in everyone enjoying the meal. I love to cook, but I love someone else enjoying what I've cooked more. I have tried and true favorites that I make every year, it just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without them. I also usually like to try a new recipe, this year I'm leaning towards a new Green Bean Casserole recipe.

Every Monday, I'll feature at least two recipes for my favorite Thanksgiving dishes, just keep in mind that I cook for approximately 25 people for Thanksgiving so you will want to scale appropriately. I make 3 times as many side dishes and my recipes are all double and possibly triple what you'd have for a meal for 5-8. My husband's family is quite large (25), and I usually allot enough for at least 4-6 extra people. For the past 4 years I've extended an open invitation to airmen with nowhere to go at the local Air Force base and a few friends, so I have extra just to be sure. I've been thinking this year of possibly extending that invitation to some local college students as well. No one should be alone during holidays unless they really want to be.

November 5th
Brandied Candied Sweet Potatoes
Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes

November 12th
Ham, with a brown sugar glaze
Cranberry Sauce

November 19th
Turkey basted with a Sage Orange Butter
Dressing/Stuffing
Gravy

I'll try to intersperse other recipes I use through the rest of the month. On November 23rd, I will recap the meal, complete with pictures of all the dishes, make ahead tips, prep work and timing. I do this every year, but I always sort of wing it. This year, I'll do my best to document it all to share with you. I do have a general Thanksgiving Prep timeline that I use that I will share November 1st as we kick off the countdown to Thanksgiving.

Now in the meantime, I also host an annual holiday cocktail party, this year it is on November 17th. So, as that approaches I will also share my tips and recipes for throwing a cocktail party. On top of that, I'm hosting a Girl's Night Out with wines and appetizers on November 6th. So, I'll include those as well. Get ready for a full month of recipes, tips and tricks, planners, and sample downloads. The rest of the year will seem positively boring after this.

Thanksgiving Menu

Turkey, brined and basted with a sage orange butter
Ham, with a brown sugar glaze
Gravy
Dressing
Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Brandied Candied Sweet Potatoes
Egg Noodles
Green Bean Casserole
Corn on the Cob
Cranberry Sauce
a variety of salads
Crudites
Carrot Cloverleaf Dinner Rolls

Hot Buttered Rum
Hot Apple Cider
Wine
Coffee
Punch

and for dessert...
Pumpkin Pie
Buttermilk Pecan Pie
Raspberry Apple Pie
Ice Cream
Acorn Cookies