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menu plan monday christmas

Thanks to Laura for hosting us for Menu Plan Monday.  My menu plan is shared below.

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 Link up for Merry Merry Munchies with Mister Linky.  The link will be open through Christmas.

I teach seventh-grade English at our local middle school.  As a group, our faculty decided one year to abandon the Christmas party that few really wanted to attend.  I mean, I like my coworkers but you know how hectic the holiday schedule can be.

Anyway, what developed is the best idea.  The last week before Christmas break, we have a week-long event called Merry Merry Munchies.  Each day, faculty members just bring whatever “munchies” they want to share place them in our workroom for all to sample.  Some share every day;  some opt to buy the plates and napkins.  It works, and we really enjoy it.  We’ve even gotten to where we make an annual cookbook from it.

So, what I decided to do this week for MPM was to share what my entries will be for Merry Merry Munchies as well as our daily dinner plans.  I’d love your suggestions on goodies I could make if you are willing to share.  Link up below to share some of your favorite holiday favorites with

Remember to come back for Crock Pot Wednesday.  Mister Linky will be up by Tuesday.

  • Monday:  Almond Pinecone, Sausage-Cheddar Balls (recipes follow) , and Cinnamon Pecans.Dinner will be leftovers for Hubby.  This is  my Bunco night:)
  • Tuesday: Blueberry Cobbler and Orange Sourdough Bread with Cranberries with cranberry butter (scheduled post for Saturday) crockpot wednesdays

Dinner: Crock Pot Ham with Raspberry Chipotle Glaze (this  week’s CPW) and Southern Living’s Pimiento Cheese Biscuits (Thursday’s post)

  • Thursday:  Mexican Hot Chocolate and pecan pie brownies and Southern Living’s Pecan Pie Brownies (scheduled for Friday)
             Dinner: Ham and Cheddar paninis with  Tomato-Basil Soup
  • Friday:  Hot Cinnamon Cider and Apple Walnut Bread  (recipes posted Sunday)
             Dinner: travel night to see Perfect
             Babies:)

Do you have something that resembles this?

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That contains these?

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That’s where I keep this recipe.  I wish I could tell you where it came from, but the best I can recall, is that it was part of an advertisement.  I thought it was pretty and that we would like the flavors, so I tried it out.  It is always a hit.

Spread almonds in a single layer in a shallow pan.  Bake at 300 degrees for 15 minutes, stirring often, until the almonds just begin to turn color.

Combine softened cream cheese and mayonnaise; mix well.   Add bacon, onion, dill and pepper; mix well.  Cover and chill overnight.  Form cheese mixture into shapes of two pinecones on serving platter.  Beginning at the narrow end, press almonds at a slight angle into cheese mixture in rows.  Continue overlapping rows until all of the cheese is covered.  Garnish with artificial pine sprigs. (I used real pine sprigs with the stem wrapped in aluminum foil.) Chill until serving.   Serve with Ritz or other favorite crackers.

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You can, of course, serve this without shaping it into a pinecone.  It makes such a pretty presentation when it is shaped, however.

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I figure many of you already know this recipe by heart just as I do.  These are always in my freezer ready to go for breakfast or whatever.

sausage balls

Sausage-Cheddar Balls

1 pound hot sausage
3 cups Bisquick
2 cups finely grated extra-sharp Cheddar (I used already grated sharp Cheddar for this batch because I had that on hand.  I prefer the extra-sharp.) 
1/2 – 1 Tablespoon red pepper flakes

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Mix all ingredients together (do not over mix or they will be tough) and form into balls about the size of a golf ball.  I make much larger ones for our use at breakfast.  At this point, I always individually freeze the sausage balls and package them for the freezer and our later use.  There is no need to thaw them before cooking.  Bake at 325 degrees 15-20 minutes.  Depending on the size, you may need to cook them a little longer.  I don’t like them to be extra brown, however, because they get dry.

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Be sure to come back for Crock Pot Wednesday this week.  The link will be up Tuesday evening. 

Linked to:
Mouth Watering Mondays@ A Southern Fairytale
Blessed With Grace’s “Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Balancing Beauty and Bedlam “Tasty Tuesday”
All the Small Things, “Tuesdays at the table”
Southern Fried Mama, “Tasty Thursday”
Ann Kroeker “Food on Fridays
Foodie Fridays @ Designs by Gollum
Friday Feasts @ Mom Trends
Menu Plan@ Chive Talkin’
Menu Plan Monday @ I’m an Organizing Junkie