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It's a challenge this year to prepare a holiday meal. I'm working Christmas Eve and I need to be organized to pull this off. To further add to the challenge, we're having dinner at my daughter and son-in-law's house, about 30 minutes north of us. 

I've already sent them home with extra tables, a crock pot, frozen boneless short ribs and some condiments for dinner. What's for dinner you ask?
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If I only had the time! My husband was web surfing one night and came across this video for dressing up the holiday table by transforming your napkins into Christmas trees. I wonder if my daughter has time to do this for me?


Image courtesy of Google images
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 I can't wait until this holiday shopping season is over! I find I'm unable to focus during the day because I'm doing chores around the house, trying to squeeze in a gym visit and then make sure supper is ready for husband and I. Therefore, for the past week or so, I haven't  been able to "daily dish."
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My late aunts, Chick and Fran, found a recipe for Italian biscotti in a newspaper. Both have passed away, but they taught me how to make the most delicious Italian biscotti. The biscotti have anise seed and for the nuts in this recipe, I use ground almonds.
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With Christmas here in 17 days, I haven't even started my holiday baking. Since  I started working in retail one and half years ago, it's almost like your time isn't yours. If I have to  work, I feel like I have to squeeze in as much as I can before I go to work, or things won't get done.
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As I previously mentioned in this blog, my husband and I don't eat much red meat. However, last week I was craving some beef. Again, I dug through my recipe files and I found another recipe which I haven't made in forever. The recipe was stir-fried beef and broccoli from the October 1999 issue of Gourmet Magazine.

​As I was near Wegmans last week, I popped in to pick up the main ingredients for this dish, which were boneless sirloin and fresh broccoli. I purchased a small package of that was labeled half bonless sirloin, that was over $5/lb. Just a note, I was at Foodtown yesterday and they had boneless top round for stir fry that was $4.99/lb.
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The leftover Thanksgiving turkey may be gone, but you may be cooking one for Christmas. Perhaps, you need a do ahead dish that can be prepared from skinless,  boneless chicken or from a rotisserie chicken. I found a recipe for turkey pot pie with corn bread crust in an issue of ​Food and Wine Magazine a long time ago. I use it with leftover holiday turkey or I prepare skinless, boneless chicken breast and create a one dish meal. 
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This past week I was fortunate to work earlier shifts which left me a little bit more to be creative. A shout out to a co-worker Kathy, for promoting my blog. I've been doing a lot of cooking, but hadn't had time to do anything more than post a photo on Instagram. By the time I come home from work and cook, I'm too tired to sit and type.
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Need a meal that can be prepared a flash using ground turkey in healthy way. Many, many years ago our first computer used floppy disks. My husband purchased a set of recipe disks. This is one of the recipes I saved before technology moved on. The recipe is hot and spicy turkey chili, which it was, literally was for us the other evening. I thought I was adding a tablespoon of chili powder, when unbeknownst to me I added red cayenne powder! Luckily the addition of chicken broth and the tomatoes tamed the heat a bit.
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Again, working nights, I need a a one pot reheat-able meal for my husband. Something I haven't made in forever is beef stroganoff. Way back when I was in sixth grade grammar school, we studied Europe. I was was fascinated by learning about the different countries and what they were known for. Our teacher had us make a scrapbook of our studies and we finished the unit with an international luncheon. 


​meet donna

A former teacher, shop-a-holic, empty-nester redefining quick, family approved dinners.

​If you have questions or comments, click on the envelope icon above to contact me directly. 

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