Meal Plan #39

What a crazy week this will be! We're knee deep in Hanukkah, Mark's birthday is Christmas Eve, and Christmas is on Thursday. We'll be celebrating everything off and on with Jason, Lori, Matt and Lily and going to see my parents too. I'm tired just thinking about it!

It's sad, but in some ways I'm looking forward to next week when there's nothing going on--except our 25th wedding anniversary. I guess that warrants some celebrating. I'm already tired of the shopping and the cooking and the cleaning and the organizing and the working! I know I'll really be sad once it's over though.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday.

Check out more Meal Plans at Organizing Junkie's.

Monday--Brisket, Latkes, Noodle Pudding, applesauce, Challah, and broccoli
Tuesday--Tacos and tostadas, refried beans, corn cakes
Wednesday (Christmas Eve--Mark's birthday) Breakfast--(in bed) rye toast, scrambled cheese eggs, hash, OJ
lunch--Southwestern Grilled Chicken Salads
dinner--Stuffed Cabbage, rye bread, coconut lemon cake w/raspberry coulis
Thursday (Christmas day brunch)sour cream coffee cake, Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, Ham and Cheese egg cups


Stuffed Cabbage
This recipe is based on Mark's moms. She is one of those cooks who never writes anything down, never measures, does everything by taste and feel. I watched and made notes, and this is a close approximation of the recipe, however there are not a lot of measurements to it either. However, it is very similar to a recipe by the Barefoot Contessa. If you wanted to make it, you could compare the two recipes and come up with something very close.
1 beaten egg
1/2 c. milk
1/4 c. finely chopped onion
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
3/4 tsp salt
pepper
1 lb. meatloaf mix
cabbage
potatoes, peeled and quartered
carrots, sliced
16 oz. tomatoes
brown sugar
cider vinegar

In a bowl combine egg, milk, onion, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper with meat. Mix well.

Remove center vein from cabbage leaves. Immerse in boiling water until limp, drain. Shape meat into meatballs. Place on cabbage leaves and roll up. Cut up remaining cabbage.

In large dutch oven, combine potatoes, carrots and chunked cabbage. Top with cabbage rolls.

Combine tomatoes, brown sugar and cider vinegar. Pour over everything. cover and cook at 325 2-2 1/2 hours.

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We'll also be busy making Gingerbread Cookies. This is the best recipe ever! I'm still trying to find time to squeeze in Sugar Cookies.

Rolled Ginger Cookies
5 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves

1 c. Crisco
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 c. molasses (not black strap)
2 T vinegar

Grease cookie sheet. (I use parchment). Stir flour, soda, spices and 1/2 tsp. salt together.

Beat Crisco 30 seconds. Add sugar, beat until fluffy. Add egg, molasses and vinegar. Beat well.

Add dry ingredients. Mix well. Cover, chill 3 hours. Divide into thirds.

Roll out 1/8" on lightly floured surface, cut into shapes. Bake 1 inch apart 5-6 minutes at 375 degrees. Cool 1 minute on sheet; remove to wire rack.