What's cookin' for the holidays?

Christmas Eve
Appetizer Night

Fried Ravioli (my son's request)
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/fried-ravioli-recipe/index.html

Cheese & Ham Spirals
http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/cheese-n-ham-spirals-89390.aspx

Cheese Fondue
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cheese-fondue-recipe/index.html

Shrimp Tray

Christmas Morning
Almond Danish Swirls
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/almond-danish-swirls-recipe/index.html

Sausage Egg Casserole
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/eating-well/egg-amp-sausage-casserole-recipe/index.html

Christmas Day
Hot Baked Potato Salad
http://www.recipezaar.com/Loaded-Baked-Potato-Salad-29767

Christmas Treats
Tassie Cups w/ Lemon Curd Filling
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/tassie-cups-with-lemon-curd-filling-recipe/index.html

Pumpkin Roll
http://southernfood.about.com/od/pumpkins/r/blbb465.htm

Decorated Sugar Cookies (my take on the Cookie Bouquet Sugar Cookies that I LOVE)

What's for Dinner 12/22 - 12/28

Monday
Left Overs/Dinner Out

Tuesday
Cheddar Cheese Soup w/
Homemade Croutons
Peaches

Wednesday
Fettucini Alfredo
Garlic Bread

Thursday
Round Steak
Homemade Lemon Bread

Friday
Cream Cheese Chicken
Peas
Caramel Flan

Saturday
Left Overs/Dinner Out

Sunday
Homemade Chicken & Noodles
Tossed Salad

What's for Dinner 12/8 - 12/14

Monday
Leftovers
*time to clean out the fridge

Tuesday
Potato Soup
Jell-O w/ Marshmallows

Wednesday
Hamburger Stroganoff
White Rice
Bread

Thursday
Cracker Breaded Fish Fillets
Onion Rings

Friday
Roast Beef
Potatoes
Rolls

Saturday
Pizza
Breadsticks

Sunday
Roundsteak
Cream Cheese Potatoes
Peaches

What's for Dinner 12/1 - 12/7

Monday
Chicken Stickens (Rachel Ray)
White Rice

Tuesday
Crockpot Roast
Potatoes
Mini Cream Cheese Muffins

Wednesday
Turkey Tetrazzini (with leftover turkey)
Peas

Thursday
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Chicken Noodle Soup (from the can)

Friday
Garlic Strip Steaks
Baked Potatoes

Saturday
MU Football!
Chili Dogs
Chips
Gooey Butter Cookies

Sunday
Chicken Soft Tacos
Refried Beans & Cheese

What's for Dinner 11/24 - 11/30

Monday
French Onion Soup with Gruyere Croutons
Mushrooms in Garlic Sauce

Tuesday
Chicken Wings in Teriyaki Sauce
Bacon Wrapped Franks

Wednesday
Grilled Cheese with Smoked Mozzarella & Portabello Mushrooms

Thursday
THANKSGIVING
I'm bringing
Green Bean Bundles
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sweet-Green-Bean-Bundles/Detail.aspx
Homemade Rolls

Friday
Leftovers
Homemade Cheese Povatica Bread


Saturday
Chicken Stickens
Rice
Steamed Veggies

Sunday
Lasagne
Garlic Bread
Fruit Salad

What's for Dinner 11/17 - 11/23

Monday
Meatball Hoagies
Mac & Cheese

Tuesday
Super Beef & Chicken Nachos
Peaches

Wednesday
Chili
Corn Bread Muffins

Thursday
Chicken Croissant Melts
Crockpot Cream Cheese Potatoes

Friday
Sausage Rigatoni
Breadsticks

Saturday
Beef Tips & Gravy
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Rolls

Sunday
French Onion Soup
Dutch Apple Crumb Pie

What's for Dinner 11/10 - 11/16

Monday
Pork Lo Mein with Snow Peas
Parmigiano Cheese Puffs

Tuesday
Weeknight Enchiladas
Tossed Salad
Rachael Ray's Tomato Bread

Wednesday
Breakfast for Dinner
Broiled Grapefruits
Pain Perdu: Lost Bread

Thursday
Potato Soup
Fruit Cocktail

Friday
Caramelized Garlic Chicken
French Bread Loaf
Green Beans

Saturday
Holiday Portrait Day
Leftovers

Sunday
Steak Stroganoff with Parslied Noodles
Steamed Cauliflower with Cheese Sauce
Pumpkin Roll

What's for Dinner 11/3 - 11/9

Monday
Appetizer Night
Cheese 'n Ham Spirals
http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/cheese-n-ham-spirals-89390.aspx

Bacon Appetizer Crescents
http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/bacon-appetizer-crescents-57213.aspx

Olive Feta Spread w/ Crostini
http://appetizer.betterrecipes.com/olive-feta-spread.html

Cookie Dough Cheese Ball
http://appetizer.betterrecipes.com/cookie-dough-cheese-ball.html

Tuesday
Sweet Jalapeno Ribs
Cheesy Potato Bake
Cinnamon-Sugar Apples

Wednesday
Turkey Teriyaki
Onion Supper Bread
Corn

Thursday
Spaghetti
Italian Pita Wedges
Pineapple

Friday
Garlic Grilled Steak
Blueberry Muffins

Saturday 11/8
Support the
Strasburg School Chili Supper
4:30 - 7:00pm
Adults $5 / Kids 4-12 $3 / 3 & Under Free

Sunday
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Cheesy Cauliflower
Pumpkin Crisp
http://www.pauladeenmagazine.com/recipe_results.php?id=1580

What's for Dinner 10/27 - 11/2

Monday
Easy Pita Pocket Pizzas
Peas

Tuesday
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Teriyaki
Steamed Broccoli & Cauliflower
Amish Friendship Bread

Wednesday
Sesame Pork Ribs
Oriental Slaw Salad
Green Beans

Thursday
Chicken Cordon Blue Sandwiches
Chips

Friday
Sonic Hot Dog
CANDY!!

Saturday
Molasses Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Baked Potatoes
Pumpkin Dump Cake

Sunday
Provolone Chicken
Linguini with Fresh Tomato Sauce
Italian Flatbread

What's for Dinner 10/20 - 10/26

Monday
French Dip Roast Sandwiches
Corn

Tuesday
Slow Cooked Onion Turkey Breast
Pumpkin Bread
Fruit

Wednesday
Shrimp Versailles with Linguini Noodles
Crescent
Rolls

Thursday
Chicken Tacos
Cheese Enchiladas
Orange Slices

Friday
Marinated Grilled Steaks
Cheese Potato Crockpot Casserole
Fruit

Saturday
Come to the Haunted Hayride - sponsored by Alpha Zeta Omicron
Benefitting the Pleasant Hill United Way for
Hot Dogs
Cookies
Hot Chocolate
Games
Spooky Hayride

at the City Lake 10/25 7:00 - 9:00pm

Sunday
Fire Roasted Chicken & Potato Planks
Pears
Tiny Cream Cheese Biscuits

What's for Dinner 10/13 - 10/19

Monday
Pork Chops with Baked Beans
Sesame Knots
Peaches

Tuesday
Pizza
Breadsticks
(nope, didn't cook that night)

Wednesday
BBQ Ribs
Potato Wedges
*from Gibson's General Store
They are WONDERFUL!

Thursday
Fried Chicken
Mashed Potatoes
Biscuits
(Gasp, three nights in a row without cooking! You can tell DH was out of town.) :0)

Friday
Cheesy Ranch Burgers topped with French's Onions
Grilled Asparagus

Saturday
Flank Steak Teriyaki
Rice
Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

Sunday
Chicken Ravioli Carbonara
Garlic Toast
Crockpot Caramel Apples

What's for Dinner 10/6 - 10/12

Monday
BBQ Ribs
Baked Beans
Potato Salad

Tuesday
Seafood Lasagne
Garlic Toast
Fruit Cocktail

Wednesday
Quiche
Cobb Salad with Turkey
Chocolate Pudding with Oreos

Thursday
Buffalo Chicken Calzone w/ Blue Cheese Dip
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/robin-miller/buffalo-chicken-calzone-with-blue-cheese-dip-recipe/index.html

Orange Jell-0 w/ Mandarine Oranges

Friday
Leftovers

Saturday
Church Dinner
Brisket
Salads
Green Beans
Corn
Homemade Rolls
Fresh Baked Pies
Mmmmm!

Sunday
Beef Tips & Gravy
http://www.mealmixer.com/Recipe-Samples/recipe-sample-display.aspx?mmr=23792

Mashed Potatoes
Beer Bread

What's for Dinner 9/29 - 10/5

Monday
Shrimp Scampi w/ Linguini & Parmesan
Italian Flatbread

Tuesday
Ham
Sesame Knots
Steamed Broccoli & Cauliflower

Wednesday
It's my birthday and I'm NOT cooking!!

Thursday
Beer-Butt Chicken
Baked Beans
Popovers

Friday
Homecoming!
Montana Panini Sandwiches
Chips & Dip

Saturday
Ham & Beans
Cornbread
Pineapple

Sunday
Molasses Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Green Beans
Other Leftovers

5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

1 Coffee Mug
4 T. flour (NOT self-rising)
4 T. sugar
2 T. cocoa
1 egg
3 T. milk
3 T oil
Splash of vanilla
3 T. chocolate chips (optional)
Nuts (optional)

Add try ingredients to mug and mix well.
Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in milk and oil; mix well.
Add vanilla (and chocolate chips & nuts, if using)
Mix completely.

Microwave mug for 3 minutes.
NOTE: The cake will rise above the top of mug. Don't be alarmed.
Allow to cool.
Tip out onto plate and serve.

To make it even better, serve with Cool-Whip.

What's for Dinner 9/22 - 9/28

Monday
Meatball Subs
Chips

Tuesday
Tacos
Banana Bread

Wednesday
Ham Steak
Scalloped Potatoes

Thursday
Scrambled Eggs
Turkey Bacon
Buttery Biscuits

Friday
Football Game
Hot Dogs
Nachos

Saturday
Beef & Broccoli Stir-fry
Rice
Fruit

Sunday
Roast
Potatoes
Rhodes Bread Loaf

What's for Dinner 9/15 - 9/21

Monday
Monday Night Football!
Chili Cheese Dip w/ Tortilla Chips

Tuesday
Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts
Baked Potato Casserole

Wednesday
Sesame Pork Strips
Three-Cheese Macaroni

Thursday
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
Fruit Cocktail

Friday
Creamy Chicken on Linguine
Crostini with Ricotta and Goat Cheese

Saturday
Dinner at the Ballpark!
Hot Dogs
Chili Cheese Fries

Sunday
Salisbury Steak w/ Mushroom Gravy
Mashed Potatoes

What's for Dinner 9/8 - 9/13

Monday
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Fruit Salad

Tuesday
Linquini & Sausage
Cherry Tomato Cucumber Feta Salad

Wednesday
Simmered Round Steak
Steamed Snap Peas

Thursday
Buffalo Hot Wings
Pop Overs

Friday
Seafood Lasagne
Marinate Olive Salad

Saturday
Turkey Tetrazzini
Garlic Pull-Apart Bread

Sunday
Beefy Noodle Stroganoff
Steamed Snap Peas
Buttermilk Pie

What's for Dinner - 9/2 - 9/7

Tuesday
Grilled Cheese & Ham Sandwiches
Tomates & Cottage Cheese

Wednesday
Faux Prime Rib Roast
Stuffed Backed Potatoes

Thursday
Chili Dogs
French Fries

Friday
Carne Asada
Fresh Tomato Salad
Corn Bread Muffins

Saturday
Sesame Pork Ribs
Baked Beans
Tossed Salad

Sunday
Turkey Teriyaki
Steamed Rice
Bread Pudding

Happy cooking!

What's for Dinner - 8/25 - 9/1

Monday
Frozen Taquitos
Steamed Peas
Strawberry Muffins

Tuesday
*Crunchy Parmesan Chicken Tenders
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/crunchy-parmesan-chicken-tenders-recipe/index.html
Onion Roasted Crockpot Potatoes

Wednesday
*Enchilada Casserole
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Enchilada-Casserole-III/Detail.aspx
Fruit Cocktail

Thursday
Spaghetti & Meatballs
*Grilled Cheesy Garlic Bread
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/neelys/grilled-cheesy-garlic-bread-recipe/index.html
Cottage Cheese

Friday
*Buffalo Chicken Pizza
http://kidscooking.about.com/od/dinnerrecipes/r/buffchickpizza.htm?p=1
Garden Salad

Saturday
*Grilled Flank Steak with Gorgonzola Cream Sauce
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/neelys/grilled-flank-steak-with-gorgonzola-cream-sauce-recipe/index.html
*Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/neelys/roasted-garlic-mashed-potatoes-recipe/index.html

Sunday
Ranch & Cheddar Burgers
Onion Rings
Homemade Heath Crunch Ice Cream

Monday
Grilled Turkey Cutlets
Gourmet Grilled Cheese Toasts
Peaches

It's Back

After a slight glitch - or shall we say operator error - the What's for Dinner blog is back online. We'll start fresh with a new menu on Monday.

In the meantime, I'll share a simple recipe that was a hit with our family. And, thank you to Sheri for sharing her Corn & Cucumber Salsa recipe with us!

Homemade Calzone
This family pleasing meal can be assembled and frozen for up to 48 hours before baking. No need to thaw. Just pop it in the oven.

2 (13-ounce) tubes refrigerated Italian pizza or bread dough
1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon of water
1 (8-ounce) bag pre-shredded mozzarella and provolone
1 (12-ounce) package pre-cooked frozen cocktail-size Italian meatballs (or regular size, cut in half) *if you prefer, you can substitute the meatballs for ground hamburger or pepperoni
1 (26-ounce) jar marinara sauce

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a 14-inch round pizza pan with no-stick spray.
Carefully unroll each tube of dough into a rectangle.
Place one dough piece into the pan.
Snip off the points and press extra dough into bare spots to cover the bottom of the pan.
On the work surface, snip the points on the second piece of dough and press to form a circle.
Brush dough in the pan with the egg mixture.
Sprinkle on half of the cheese.
Top with meatballs.
Drizzle on 1 cup of the sauce.
Top with remaining cheese.
Cover with dough circle. Pinch edges to seal.
Brush with the egg mixture.
Pierce top several times with a sharp knife.
Bake 18-20 minutes or until golden and bubbling through the dough slits.
Serve calzone with remaining sauce at the table.
Serves 6.

Corn & Cucumber Salsa
3 pieces corn on the cob, kernels removed
1 large cucumber(s), peeled, cut in half lengthwise, seeded and sliced into 1/2-inch-thick pieces
1/3 cup Italian salad dressing
1/4 cup red onion(s), chopped
2 Tbsp cilantro, fresh, chopped
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Yields about 1/2 cup per serving.

Flavor Booster: For a zesty change, brush cucumber slices with chili powder and sprinkle with fresh lime juice. Set aside 10 minutes before using in the salsa. Omit the red pepper flakes.

Happy cooking!