I was actually quite busy in the kitchen over the last week.  One night last week, we had Venison Guisado for dinner, served on tortillas. It’s taco flavored meat with tomatoes and onions cooked with it. I made it in the slow cooker for the first time, and it came out great.

I was tired one might last week and didn’t feel like cooking what was on the menu. So I quickly made breakfast for supper. Eggs, turkey bacon, toast, and orange juice. The family didn’t mind that I cooked breakfast for dinner. They like it.

We usually do a big dinner for Easter with guests. This Easter, though, with my mother in the hospital, I didn’t invite anyone over. We quickly ate our meal then went to the hospital.

I put some Easter candy out as the centerpiece of our dinner table. The kids started eating it before I could take a picture. And before dinner! lol My daughter said I served the best appetizers anywhere. Better than any restaurant. lol

Dinner was a simple affair. Ham, mashed potatoes, asparagus, corn, and Resurrection rolls. I put a chocolate bunny on the plates of my three youngest kids. My daughter surprised me and put some chocolate candy on my plate! So sweet!

Did you see those Resurrection rolls? Those things are seriously dangerous! They are so good it is hard to stop eating them! They are a little tricky to make, but they are worth it! You dip a marshmallow in melted butter, then in cinnamon sugar, then seal it inside a crescent roll. So good!

I lightly cooked the fresh asparagus and it came out perfect.

My dinner plate. And yes, I had a second Resurrection roll! It’s a good thing I only make them once a year on Easter! lol

My son brought an apple pie to contribute to dinner. We also had Strawberry Shortcake. That I didn’t get a picture of! I was to busy eating it! lol

I have decided to make Strawberry Shortcake our official Easter dinner dessert. It’s perfect after a big meal, and it just says spring.

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

Now…. to answer the question that I get asked about a hundred times a day……….What’s For Dinner?

Saturday – quick & easy- Dinner out

Sunday – soup & sandwich day – Easter Dinner- Ham, mashed potatoes, corn, asparagus, Resurrection Rolls, Apple Pie, Strawberry Shortcake

Monday – chicken or turkey – Chicken strips, oven roasted potatoes, green beans

Tuesday – pizza/pasta – Ham Alfredo Pasta – made with leftover Easter ham

Wednesday – Taco Night- Venison taco salad

Thursday – pork or beef – Skillet Sausage Pasta, green beans

Friday – venison  – Old Fashioned Venison Steaks with Pan Gravy, mashed potatoes, corn

For more ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday

It was another busy week here. When is it NOT busy?! Apparently, busy is our new norm. I don’t like that, though. It will get better when my mother is discharged from the hospital. I think!

Anyway, we had a mix of homemade and convenience foods this week. My daughter and I tag teamed on Sausage Pasta Skillet one night. This is a family favorite.

Another night, we had frozen lasagna and garlic bread knots from the bread department. I much prefer homemade lasagna, but it is time consuming. With all the bad food in the freezer section these days, lasagna is not a bad choice.

One day while I was out, my daughter called and asked me to pick up brownie mix and ice cream on the way home.  So I did. Even though I prefer homemade brownies.

We had the brownies with ice cream for a snack that night. My daughter had 2 friends over, so it was a big hit with family and friends.

This week, I have all homemade meals on the menu (Monday thru Friday). Except for the meatballs. They are from the freezer section.

I guess time will tell if I can actually pull it off! lol

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

Now…. to answer the question that I get asked about a hundred times a day……….What’s For Dinner?

Saturday – quick & easy- Pizza

Sunday – soup & sandwich day – Sandwiches for lunch, get your own for supper – I had salad and a chicken strip

Monday – chicken or turkey – Lemon Pepper Chicken, rice, broccoli

Tuesday – pizza/pasta – Spaghetti & meatballs, peas, salad

Wednesday – Taco Night- Venison tacos with all the fixin’s

Thursday – pork or beef – Skillet Sausage Pasta, green beans

Friday – venison  – Old Fashioned Venison Steaks with Pan Gravy, mashed potatoes, corn

For more ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday

I was able to fit in a little more cooking last week. And I even tried a new recipe! That I forgot to take a picture of! That annoys me. I am often so immersed in eating dinner with my family that I forget to take pictures. That’s a win for the family. I just wish I would remember to take a picture before we start eating.

I did remember to take pictures of the venison roast I made in the slow cooker.

Believe it or not, I had some left over. So the next night, I cut up the meat, put it back in the gravy, and served it over mashed potatoes. There were some carrots left, so I served them with gravy, too. I served it with corn, too. Serving leftovers over mashed potatoes, or some kind of pasta or rice, is an easy way to stretch leftovers into another meal.

And my family will pretty much eat any thing served over mashed potatoes. lol

I went to a college open house with my daughter and we stopped for cake afterwards. She ordered plain cheesecake. I ordered this 7 layer chocolate cake. It was huge! I, a admitted chocoholic, could not finish it! The slice was at least 4 inches wide. Huge! But oh, so good!

I have another new recipe on the menu this week. A pan fried venison steak with pan gravy from a venison cookbook that I have. I think the family will like it. If not, it’s a good thing I’m serving it with mashed potatoes! lol

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

Now…. to answer the question that I get asked about a hundred times a day……….What’s For Dinner?

Saturday – quick & easy- Dinner out

Sunday – soup & sandwich day – Fish fillets with homemade tartar sauce, french fries, sugar snap peas

Monday – chicken or turkey – Chicken strips, macaroni & cheese, stir fry vegetables

Tuesday – pizza/pasta – Spaghetti & meatballs, peas, salad

Wednesday – Taco Night- Venison roast with potatoes, onions, carrots

Thursday – pork or beef – Skillet Sausage Pasta, green beans

Friday – venison  – Old Fashioned Venison Steaks with Pan Gravy, mashed potatoes, corn

For more ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday

We still had easy meals last week, but I added some new meals to the menu.

While at the hospital at found some easy recipes to try. Since we stopped at the store and did our weekly shopping on the way home, I tried one recipe that very night. Veggie Mac & Cheese. It uses boxed mac and cheese, and frozen vegetables. I deviated a little from the recipe, since some of the kids didn’t want the veggies mixed in the mac & cheese. Instead of cooking the veggies in with the macaroni, I cooked them separately. Those that wanted them mixed in, did it themselves.

It was very good. Even though I’m not a fan of boxed mac & cheese. Easy to make, and was nice with the fish fillets. Some of the kids had chicken, since they don’t like fish. I have a feeling, though, that some of the kids will be asking for boxed mac & cheese all the time now.

One of my families favorite meals is homemade meatball subs.  Last week, we had semi-homemade meatball subs. I bought frozen meatballs, jarred sauce, and sub rolls from the deli. They are seriously easy. Dump the meatballs and sauce in a pan. Heat until meatballs are hot. Serve on bread with cheese. We used provolone and parmesan. Because 2 cheeses is better than 1! lol

I have another new, easy recipe on the menu this week. Orange Pepper Steak. Hope the family likes it!

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

Now…. to answer the question that I get asked about a hundred times a day……….What’s For Dinner?

Saturday – quick & easy- Fish Filets with homemade tartar sauce, Veggie Mac & Cheese

Sunday – soup & sandwich day – Homemade Meatball Subs, we had some leftover from the other night

Monday – chicken or turkey – Chicken strips, tater tots, green beans

Tuesday – pizza/pasta – pizza, carrots & celery

Wednesday – Taco Night- Venison roast with potatoes, onions, carrots

Thursday – pork or beef – leftovers

Friday – venison  – Orange Pepper Venison Steak, oven roasted potatoes, broccoli

For more ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday