Menu Plan Monday~December 31, 2012

 

Welcome to Menu Plan Monday, hosted by orgjunkie.com!  This week we usher in a new year!  I hope to post my menu plans weekly this year.  Here's the plan for the first week:

 

 

Sunday~Dinner Out due to a hockey game

 

Monday~Baked Ham, Cheesy Potato Casserole, Green Beans

 

Tuesday~Pork and Sauerkraut, Kielbassi, and Mashed Potatoes

 

Wednesday~Italian Chicken , Potatoes and Green Bean Bake

 

Thursday~Hot Dogs, Macaroni and Cheese, Baked Beans

 

Friday~Homemade Pizza, Wing Dust Wings and Salad

 

Saturday~Ham Pot Pie

 

 

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

Let it Snow!

 

 We were blessed with a white Christmas.  Yesterday, more snow came our way and dumped about 6 inches+.  This was the start of the snow yesterday.

 

 

 

This is this morning after the snow has stopped for now.

 

~peace~

Lisa

Christmas 2012

 My Family on Christmas Eve

 Miss M with her new nightgown from the elves

 The kids in their new jammies!

 Miss M with her new American Girl doll

 H opening his headphones

 Opening the fishing rod and reel from my parents

 Miss M and her holiday Barbie

 My mil and her gift from us

 Miss M and my dad reading Twas the Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve

My mom opening her gifts...

 

Hope your Christmas was merry and bright!

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

Candy Cane Peppermint Cheesecake

Candy Cane Peppermint Cheesecake

 

Each Christmas Eve, I like to serve a special dessert, along with the usual spread of cookies and candies.  In the past, I've purchased (yes...I know...) "fancy" desserts.  This year, I made my own.  Here's the recipe:

 

Ingredients12 ounces creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, broken into pieces
3 tablespoons melted butter
1- 1/2 pounds cream cheese, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup sour cream
4 eggs
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup coarsely crushed peppermint candy

Preparation
1. Place cookies in a heavy zip-lock plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin. Pour into a buttered 9-inch round springform pan and pour melted butter over crumbs; mix to coat, then press evenly over bottom and about 1/2 inch up sides of pan. Bake in a 300° oven until crust is slightly darker and looks a bit dry, about 10 minutes (leave oven on).
2. Meanwhile, in a bowl, with a mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese and sugar until well blended. Beat in sour cream. Add eggs one at a time, beating to blend after each addition. Beat in flour, vanilla, peppermint extract, and salt until smooth. Pour cream cheese mixture into pan over baked crust.
3. Bake until edges are just golden and center jiggles slightly when pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour. Run a knife around edge of pan rim. Place pan on a wire rack and cool cheesecake completely in pan. Cover and chill until cold, at least 4 hours or up to 2 days. Run a knife around rim again, then release rim. If any liquid has pooled on surface of cheesecake, blot dry gently with a paper towel.
4. Decorate top of cake with crushed peppermint candy, pressing it in gently with your hands.

 

Enjoy!

 

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

 



Hockey and The Stanley Cup

 

Our local youth teams had the opportunity on Saturday to have team photos taken with the Stanley Cup.  In the hockey world, that's a pretty big deal.  Here's a pic of one of H's teams with the cup. 

 

 

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

Christmas Choral Concert

 On Wednesday evening, we had the pleasure of listening to H's Christmas Choral Concert.  It was a very well done concert done by the middle school music department.  The 7th and 8th Grade Boys sang an arrangement, but I can't get the video to load from my camera. ( H is the boy in the middle of the back row.)

 

 

 

This is a shot of the 7th and 8th Grade Chorus.

 

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

Festival of Lights

This free photo collage personalized with Smilebox

 

 

We made our annual visit to the Festival of Lights at Blue Spruce Park.  We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.  My favorite was the RV light scene.  Of course, Miss M loved her visit with Santa!  She even threw in some new things to her list, much to the surprise of Santa! 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

 



Menu Plan Monday~December 10, 2012

 

I haven't done a Menu Plan Monday in months.  I'm still actively menu planning, but just don't seem to find the time to post my menus.  I hope to do better in the coming year.  Today finds me home with a sick teenager, so I'm trying to accomplish little things I don't usually get to when I'm teaching each day of the week and running to church, school, dance, and hockey games.                         

 

Stuffed Pepper Casserole

 

Monday~Stuffed Pepper Casserole with Mashed Potatoes and Crusty French Bread

 

Tuesday~Chicken Cordon Bleu, Steamed Golden Potatoes, Green Beans

 

 

Wednesday~Slow Cooker Pork Roast with Sauerkraut, Potato Pancakes and Applesauce

 

 

Thursday~ The Marlboro Man Sandwich and Fries

 

 

Friday~Pizza and Wing Night

 

 

Saturday~ Dinner Out

 

 

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

O Christmas Tree 2012

 

Our Tree for 2012

 

 

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

Front Door Welcome

 

Here's our front door decorated for the Christmas season.  It's the first year with the lighted garland around our freshly painted black door.  I really like it.  I also added the nickel D to the wreath. I bought a plaster D at Michael's and sprayed it with Nickel spray paint.   The hardware on the door and light fixtures are nickel, so I thought it would be a nice touch.  I'm thinking a new welcome mat is in order.  I'll keep my eye out for one while I'm out shopping this weekend!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

~peace~

Lisa

Trimming the Tree

After a very busy day, we came home and trimmed the tree.    I will post a picture when it is completely done.  H is at hockey practice, and he has a few of his favorite ornaments to hang.  Then I'll add the bows and the tree skirt and call it done. 

 



Thanks for stopping by!

 

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

Our Hockey Player

 

Our son is playing on three hockey teams this year.  His passion for the game is incredible and he plays his heart out everytime he hits the ice. He had one game this weekend (thank goodness!) and they won 6-2.  These pictures were taken today during the travel hockey game.   I took the above photo while the National Anthem was playing. 

 

 

He's in position here, playing defense.

 

 

 

This was the only decent action shot I was able to capture today. 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

First Reconciliation

 

 Miss M made her First Reconciliation today after 10:00 Mass and a Penance Service.

 

 

The children acted out the story of the son who left home, and then returned to his father, who welcomed him with open arms.  In this case, it was the daughter, who returned home.  Here, Miss M is replacing the daughter's hat with a crown. 

 

 

Then the children sang a song and demonstrated the sign language they've been learning in class.

 

 

 

Here she is waiting her turn to enter the confessional.  I'm so very proud of her!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

Thanksgiving Tournament Champions

Central Cambria Freshman Hockey Team
(Hunter is the 7th boy from the left)  Click to enlarge

 

Congratulations to my son and his teammates on their victory at the Thanksgiving Tournament!  It was a hard won victory.  This "vacation" was filled with non-stop hockey for all the teams involved.  The games were played with heart and spirit.  I'm proud of all the boys who played this weekend and their coaches and families for their dedication to the sport.  As hockey families know, hockey is a huge committment and becomes a lifestyle, not just a sport for the players and their families.  Go DEVILS!

 

 

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

Christmas Ornaments

 

I made these ornaments today as gifts for my colleagues at school.  They were so easy to make!  I filled clear glass balls from Michael's with some buffalo snow, topped it with a bow, added a vinyl monogram to personalize it and added an ornament hanger. This was my first attempt at using vinyl with my Cricut and it went really well.  I am going to do some more with vinyl in the future.   

 

 

 

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

 

Birthday Gathering

Customize a free digital collage We celebrated our sweet boy's birthday last night, because on his actual birthday he will be on the  ice playing two games.  We took him to dinner at Applebee's, then had the grandparents over for Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Cake and snacks.  He told me that he had a great day and thanked  us for it.  I'm so proud of our boy...he's sweet, kind, smart, funny and the handsomest  teenager I know! ~peace and blessings~ Lisa

Pumpkin Pancakes

 

 

 

I made a lower-fat version of Pumpkin Pancakes today. (Obviously, I am not a food photographer!)  They were quite tasty.  I don't know how many of you know, but it has always been my dream to own/run a Bed and Breakfast or Inn.  I'm always on the look out for new breakfast recipes and ideas. We thought that this would be the perfect fall breakfast offering.   I served the pancakes with Maple syrup and light butter.  If my family enjoyed pecans, I would have added that to the top.  We also had some Breakfast Sausage on the side.  Here's my recipe:

 

Pumpkin Pancakes

 

2 1/3 cups Bisquick Heart Smart Baking Mix

1/3 cup canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix)

1 1/4 cups fat-free milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 Tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/2 cup egg beaters, original or 2 eggs

 

Heat the griddle or skiller over medium heat or to 375 degrees Farenheit.  Grease griddle with Pam spray, if necessary.  In a bowl, combine all ingredients until well-blended.  For each pancake, pour slightly less than 1/4 cup of batter onto the hot griddle.  Cook until edges are dry. Turn; cook other sides until golden brown. Serve with syrup.

 

Enjoy!

 

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

 

 

 



Halloween 2012

 Happy Halloween!  Tonight for dinner, Miss M and I made Mummy Pizzas.  We made some olive eyes and some pepperoni eyes to keep things interesting. ;0)

 

 

On Monday evening, while Sandy roared outside, the kids carved pumpkins.  Miss M's pumpkin was rotten inside, so her big brother stepped up and said they must have mixed up their pumpkins so she would have one to carve.  He's such a sweet young man.  They ended up working on the one pumpkin together.  She cleaned it out.  He did the carving. 

 

 

Miss M with the finished product...Monsta Conga!

 

During the storm, I also made some caramel apples, drizzled with chocolate and sprinkles.

 

 

Our "Baterina"  at my parent's house.

 

 

Halloween S'mores

Treats for the teachers at school.  I saw the idea on Pinterest...where else?

 

 

Hope your Halloween was "spook-tacular'!

 

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze 2012

 

We headed out for our annual visit to the Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze yesterday afternoon since the weather was warm and the sun was shining.  We were afraid we wouldn't get there if we didn't go yesterday because of the "Frankenstorm" predicted for our area in the next few days.   Above are our babies...they are growing up so fast! 

 

 

 Miss M is punching her card.  This year was a carnival theme. 

 

 

 Sibling Love

 

 

 The big top station

 

 

 Hamming it up with the Tin Man

 

 

The view from the front of our house...the fall leaves are just about gone. 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

~peace and blessings~

Lisa