We took a week or so off during the holiday madness, but I'm trying to come up with something for tomorrow night. We may end up with delivered pizza and just good fellowship!

New Year's Eve will be munchies! So far, we're having Crockpot Nachos (ground beef or sausage, Velveeta, salsa) with chips, cheese & crackers and Cheese 'n Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms. I've also considered Sweet & Sour Meatballs, Savory Cocktail Weiners, Spinach Dip. Maybe a veggie tray, too - pretty 'meat heavy' there, but that's what my guys usually want, and it only comes once a year, right?

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and has a Happy & Prosperous New Year. I have no idea why, but I am very partial to even numbers, so I'm looking forward to 2012!

L

We almost canceled the new menu this week, due to band concerts and other travels, but since I'd already bought everything, I decided to go ahead and then the guys would have leftovers all week, right? Wrong. Between four of us (at least two are older teen boys who eat a lot anyway), we polished off a 5 pound pork tenderloin (roasted with Granny Smith apples, craisins, a little brown sugar and cinnamon) and two boxes (I know, I try not to use mixes on my Puritan nights, but...) of Uncle Ben's Long Grain and Wild Rice. There MAY be about a pound of the tenderloin left, but that's it. Really, really, good! Apparently my tenderloin was larger than usual, or I should have cut it in half, because it took much longer to roast than the oral recipe I was given said. Still, it was very good, and the rice was a nice appetizer.

After supper, I made Pecan Coconut Bars for a Christmas Party tonight. They were a big hit at a reception last weekend. I even left a few for the guys this time.

I'm not sure yet about next week: it's such a busy time of year. I think this is my last super busy one (something every night until Friday). I'm looking forward to some rest, but enjoying all the activities.

Merry CHRISTmas to all!

L

Can you believe it's December 6th? My grandfather told me years ago that each year passes faster than the one before it - how true!

Tonight was your basic old pot roast in the crockpot: chuck roast, cream of mushroom soup, Lipton Onion Soup mix, potatoes and carrots. I had this growing up (you can also do 3-4 hours on 300 degrees in the oven) and we always had it with rice. I was planning on just the potatoes, but once I smelled the gravy, I had to have rice, too. It was pretty good, but nothing new or fancy. The carrots were AMAZING! LOL I'm not sure that I've ever put potatoes and carrots with it before - just the meat and soups. The veggies were really, really GOOD! Nothing is easier than a crockpot, too - throw it in first thing in the morning and supper's ready when you get home. My biggest problem is finding recipes that work out time-wise. There are so many good sounding ones with directions of "Cook on Low for 6 hours". That just doesn't work when your job is 8-5! I guess I could always come home at lunch and get it set up, but...

Next week, Apple Craisin Tenderloin (Jim & Linda Mason's recipe). I'm hoping I can remember what exactly they said to do - guess we'll find out!

Happy Eating, and Merry CHRISTmas to all!

L