This week's meal plan is full of celebration! Ideas for getting the kids to eat something nutritious on Halloween and for enjoying Mexican food on Dia de los Muertos November 1-2.
As always, there are plenty of classic comfort foods, tips, and ideas!
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📅 Food Holidays
We celebrate a couple of fun food holidays this week. They're silly little holidays but it gives us an opportunity to make some memories and have some fun!
- October 29 is National Oatmeal Day and I'd start it off with Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal then hit some oatmeal cookies!
- November 3 is National Sandwich Day and who doesn't love a good sandwich?
- November 4 is National Candy Day and might I suggest these easy, microwave caramels?
💭 Things to know
As we get closer to the holidays don't forget to pick up extra baking supplies here and there so you'll have plenty on hand and not have to buy everything at once. You can also double up the dinner rolls and freeze half.
Thinking ahead and planning now will save time and stress later!
Here are some tips for this week -
- Save pot roast leftovers for shepherd's pie.
- No reason to have a whole cake sitting around? Slice it, put parchment between the slices, and freeze it for up to 3 months. You'll be able to take out exactly what you need for a quick dessert.
- Move the days around as you need to. Don't forget there are more meal plans here.
🍹This week's cocktail
Midnight Kiss
Although I usually think about this midnight kiss for New Years Eve it's also a good one for Halloween - especially if you add a few bowls of dry ice around....(be careful- dry ice can burn!)
October 29
Bourbon Chicken
Quick and easy, bourbon chicken is a 30 minute meal that tastes like it took hours! Serve with pasta or rice.
Melonpan Bread
Melonpan is a unique Japanese bread - bread dough wrapped in a sugar cookie. It's fun to make and goes extremely well with this chicken dish.
Ginger Peach Sorbet
Fresh and delicious, this ginger peach sorbet is just sweet enough to be dessert but not too sweet - the perfect ending to this meal.
October 30
Classic Pot Roast
One pot meal! Classic pot roast, carrots, and potatoes all cook in one pot in these easy slow cooker dinner. Save leftovers for later in the week.
Light Dinner Rolls
These easy dinner rolls are lighter than air!
Coconut Cake
Classic southern coconut cake with raspberry between the layers is hard to turn down. 🙂
October 31
Pumpkin Cheese Ball
Don't fight it. The kids aren't going to sit down and eat dinner anyway. Serve this pumpkin cheeseball, crackers, and finger food "snacks" for dinner and you'll at least get some good stuff into them before the candy tsunami starts.
Crispy Chicken Wings
Crispy oven baked chicken wings are simple and delicious finger food.
Mummy Jalapeno Poppers
A little spicy goodness for the grownups! These Mummy Jalapeno Poppers are SO good.
Halloween Dirt Cups
These Halloween Dirt Cups are SO much fun for the kids!
November 1
Chicken with Mole
This mole is delicious and SO easy. Saute, grill chicken breast, or try these air fryer chicken thighs and serve covered with this rich mole sauce. Serve with rice. Don't forget to make extra chicken for later in the week.
Pan de Muerto
Fragrant, anise scented bread that's traditional for Dia de los Muertos but let me tell you it's delicious ANY time of year! I love it for French toast!
White Chocolate Lime Tres Leches Cake
This is one of our favorites! Lime and white chocolate tres leches cake is unbelievably good!
November 2
Shepherd's Pie
Use the leftover pot roast, carrots, and potatoes (you may need to make or buy more mashed potatoes) to make this easy weeknight comfort food.
Fried Green Tomatoes
If you can still get them there's nothing like fried green tomatoes... even if they've started to turn red.
Bourbon Apple Tart
Bourbon, apples, and a bacon streusel make these apple tarts stand out. They're perfect for fall.
November 3
Crack Chicken Spaghetti
Take chicken spaghetti to a new level with bacon, Ranch, and green onions. This Crack Chicken Spaghetti is amazing.
Garlic Bread Sticks
Soft, garlicky, and dripping with butter, I'm giving you the secret to the best ever breadsticks around. You'll have an unlimited supply!
Black Forest Cupcakes
Chocolate cake with a cherry filling and whipped frosting - these Black Forest cupcakes are easy to make and have all the flavor of the popular cake.
November 4
Stuffed Pepper Soup
All the flavor of stuffed peppers in an easy to make, easy to eat soup!
Buttermilk Cornbread
Tender and buttery cornbread is the perfect way to soak up every last drop of soup.l
Cranberry Bliss Bars
Tangy and delicious, cranberry bliss bars are the perfect way to end this meal.
📚 Related recipes
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Vonnegut Huskisson
Love all recipes I have tried. I was looking thru recipes this morning and saw one for pumpkin pie cupcakes. I am looking for it now. Have a grandson thst would love these! Could you send me that recipe, thanks Yvonne Huskisson
Marye
Hi Yvonee you'll find those cupcakes here - https://www.restlesschipotle.com/pumpkin-pie-cupcakes/