What's For Dinner? Week 3

I spent most of Friday evening baking last week. And guess what inspired me! My fresh-from-the-farm chicken eggs that my dear friend Julie brought me as a hostess gift (in addition to a bottle of Shiraz) the morning of our pajama brunch. Seeing these non-uniform beauties and knowing where they came from makes we wish we hadn't torn down that ancient chicken coupe behind our old garage. :) One day we'll live near the farm and perhaps if we offer to help in the "chores", we will be allowed to partake in the chicken eggs. ;) P.S. I love how the feeding of animals is still called "chores" around the Riedeman farm. I'm sure when my father-in-law was a boy, "chores" consisted of far more work. Haha!
Craig really wanted Santa to have some chocolate chip cookies on the plate for Christmas Eve.

And I really wanted to make the Weelicious zucchini muffins for meals and snacks this week.

I also prepped the cookie dough for those candy cane cookies.

On our menu this week:

1) Saturday morning breakfast was omelets, zucchini muffins (above), and fruit.

Saturday lunch was black bean and cheese quesadillas and veggies.

And for dinner we had shredded barbecue beef in the crock pot with Weelicious twice baked potatoes, peas and apples.

BBQ Beef Sandwiches:
3# boneless chuck roast

1 1/2 cups ketchup

1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar

2 Tbsp Dijon mustard

2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp liquid smoke
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
-Place roast in crock pot. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over roast. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours. Remove roast and shred with two forks. Place shredded meat back in crock pot to coat with sauce. Serve on buns.
2) Sunday breakfast was Weelicious oatmeal in the crock pot again. This time I borrowed mom's smaller crock pot and it turned out much better. So I think the consensus is I need a new crock pot. My just gets too hot.

Left to right: my oatmeal with maple syrup and walnuts; Sophie's oatmeal with raisins and walnuts; Will's muesli (cause he doesn't like oatmeal) soaked in yogurt and a tiny bit of milk.

Sunday dinner was at the Konesky Christmas.

3) Monday dinner was Cheesy Ham Chowder - a recipe I found in Quick Cooking years ago. This was the first time I'd ever made it.

I served it with zucchini muffins and fruit.

Cheesy Ham Chowder:
10 bacon strips, diced
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup diced carrots
3 Tbsp flour
3 cups milk

1 1/2 cups chicken stock

2 1/2 cups cubed potatoes

1 (15 1/4oz) can of corn, drained (I just eyeballed some frozen corn)
pepper to taste
3 cups (12oz) shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups cubed cooked ham
-Cook bacon in Dutch oven over med heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain. Saute onion and carrots in drippings until tender. Stir in flour until blended. Gradually add milk and stock; bring to a boil. Cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Add potatoes, corn and pepper. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Add cheese and ham; heat until cheese is melted. Stir in bacon. (10 servings)
4) Tuesday - School lunch for Will: Weelicious cheese waffles, veggies, peanut-butter-apple-sammies (sliced vertically on either side of the core to create smooth slices for the sammie).

Dinner was leftovers.

5) Wednesday - leftovers again.

6) Thursday - No school today for Will - holiday break. For dinner: spaghetti and meatballs with salad and broccoli. I tried a new recipe from Family Fun for the spaghetti and meatballs and I found there to be way more meat than sauce. The proportions are a little off, but the flavor was good.

7) Friday - Christmas Eve!!! Merry Christmas! We are having dinner at Craig's parents house for Christmas Eve. I am taking... wait for it... my white bean dip with pita chips and veggies as well as a plate of cookies! Shocker.

May your weekend be filled with lots and lots of yummy food shared with your family and loved ones! Happy eating from my family to yours!