The Challenge this Month:

To create menus for eating and storing until the baby arrives.

So far, I've only gone out as far as two weeks with seven entrees I can freeze and save for later.

Here's what it looks like so far (starting March 3):

W - KS Fried Chicken (way better deal than KFC)
Th - Bolognese Sauce served over rice* (ATKFC)
F - 15-minute Veggie Bean & Tomato Soup* (RR)
Sa - Stuffed Bell Peppers*
Su - SFGP- Spinach & Artichoke Dip
M - Red Beans & Rice*
Tu - Eating out 'cuz we're picking up my mom from the airport

W - Chicken Tortilla Soup (BH&G)
Th - Chicken Spaghetti* (PW)
F- Onion Baked Salmon
Sa - Chicken & Rice Soup
Su - SFGP - Taco Soup*
M - Pizza
Tu - Zucchini Soup*

*Meals for freezing
- ATKFC = America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook, RR = Rachel Ray, BH&G = Better Homes & Gardens Easy Everday Cooking, PW = Pioneer Woman, OMM = One More Moore

For Lent, our Sundays are taken up with our Small Faith Group meetings (SFGP = Small Faith Group Potlucks). Also because of Lent, we've got to work in our no-meat meals. And I'm not sure what my mom has in store for cooking, so that's why I have trouble planning the last weeks of March.

What I have planned, though, for more make-ahead meals is:
- Adobo
- Chili
- Butternut Squash Soup (OMM)
- Stuffed Shells (ATKFC)
- Baked Ziti (ATKFC)
- Lumpia
- Lasagna

It's going to be a lot of work, but I think I'm going to look forward to eating this month :P

Monkey Bread

I LOVE Monkey Bread!! Who could resist the ooey-gooey goodness of it?! This is the first time I've made it on my own and it was fantastic!! And the best part was that Annie helped me make it.

I'm sure most Monkey Bread recipes are all alike. I got this one from Pioneer Woman - love her blog!!

3 cans of Buttermilk Biscuits (the non-flaky ones)
1 c. sugar
2-3 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 sticks of butter (1 c.)

Preheat that oven to 350.

Open each can of biscuits and cut each biscuit into quarters.

In a gallon-sized seal-able bag, mix 1 c. sugar with cinnamon. Toss biscuit bites into the bag, seal, and shake until all bites are coated with sugar mixture. Place coated biscuit bites into 12-cup bundt pan and set aside.

In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add the 1/2 c. brown sugar and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat and pour over biscuit bites.

Bake for 30-40 minutes until top has a nice dark brown color to it. Remove from the oven and let cool for 15-30 minutes. Place a serving plate on top of the bundt cake pan and invert to remove the monkey bread from the pan. Enjoy!!

Bakerella

Thanks to my sister-in-law Michelle, I am now addicted to this blog. Once you see the site, you will see why. Yum!

http://www.bakerella.com/

I have made her cake pops before. Once for Annie's first birthday party and they seemed to be a big hit with the kids and adults.