As the holidays get close and we all get busier it's important to carve out time for just being with family and friends. This week's menu is created to help you do just that!
![Collage of images from this week's meal plan.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Meal-Plan-50.jpg)
Table of Contents
📅 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!
- December 4 is National Cookie Day... so grab a glass of cold milk and choose a recipe!
- December 5 is National Comfort Food Day and to me THIS is the ultimate recipe.
- December 6 is "Cook for Christmas" Day so make a batch of these to freeze for your Christmas dinner.
- December 8 is National Brownie Day...you KNOW what to do - the recipe is right here.
- December 9 is National Pastry Day so bake up a yummy pie to celebrate.
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.
Make a few loaves of this pumpkin bread and stash it in the freezer for quick breakfasts and last minute gifts.
Thinking ahead and planning now will save time and stress later!
Here are some tips for this week -
- You can make the pizza dough on the weekend, keep it in the refrigerator, and it will be good all week.
- Bake the sweet potatoes for both the baked side dish and the pie at the same time. Leave the ones for the side dish whole and just warm them up in the microwave before serving.
- Chop the cranberries for the bread and the cookies at the same time.
- Blanch the green beans for the salad and the southern green beans at one time. Drain, make your salad, and then continue to cook the rest of the beans as instructed in the recipe. The salad will taste better for having been made ahead and you'll be saving time!
- Move the days around as you need to. Don't forget there are more meal plans here.
🍹This week's cocktail
![cranberry cocktail with cranberry garnish](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/cranberry-daiquiri-feat-700x700.jpg)
Cranberry Daiquiri
SO festive and pretty! This cranberry daiquiri is the perfect way to celebrate during the holidays.
December 3
![Serving of chicken spaghetti being placed on a plate.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/chicken-spaghetti-2-sq-700x700.jpg)
Chicken Spaghetti
Creamy chicken spaghetti is a family favorite. Easy to assemble ahead of time, too! If you're feeling adventurous try this crack chicken spaghetti.
![flaky cheese biscuits in a bowl](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/cheddar-cheese-biscuits-title-compressor-2-1-700x700.jpg)
Cheese Biscuits
Flaky and cheesy! These buttery cheese biscuits are so good!
![White cupcake with a bite taken out to show the soft, fluffy texture.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/white-cupcake-inside-600-compressor-700x700.jpg)
White Cupcakes
White "Wedding Cake" cupcakes are topped with a fluffy whipped cream cheese frosting.
December 4
![A closeup of a slice being removed from a pizza.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/pizza-3.jpg-copy-700x700.jpg)
Homemade Pizza
Let everyone create their own favorite pizza with this easy, no knead pizza dough.
![Overhead view of a bowl of green beans, tomatoes, potatoes, and red onions created for the feature image of this post.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Italian-Green-Bean-Salad-feat-700x700.jpg)
Marinated Green Bean Salad
This marinated green bean salad brings tons of Italian flavor to the table.
![Closeup view of the fudge showing the creamy texture of the candy.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/old-fashioned-fudge-recipe-feat-700x700.jpg)
Easy Fudge
This is the old fashioned no fail fudge from when you were a kid. SO good!
December 5
![Square image of finished chicken recipe for featured image.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/deviled-chicken-sq-700x700.jpg)
Deviled Chicken
A little spicy, this easy chicken recipe has a crumb topping that's amazing.
![Overhead view of creamed corn for the recipe card.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/creamed-corn-feat-1-700x700.jpg)
Creamed Corn
Classic creamed corn is simple to make and delicious with so many things.
![Overhead view of sweet potato pie with a slice removed.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/sweet-potato-pie-2-1-700x700.jpg)
Sweet Potato Pie
So good! Sweet potato pie is sweet and spicy but also totally different from pumpkin pie!
December 6
![Finished hamburger steaks in the slow cooker covered with gravy. A wooden spoon is resting on the side.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/salisbury-steak-crockpot-700x700.jpg)
Crockpot Salisbury Steaks
This diner style salisbury steak is so easy in a slow cooker!
![Close up of finished carrots.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/maple-roasted-carrots-feat-700x700.jpg)
Maple Roasted Carrots
A sweet, slightly spice glaze roasts right on these simple maple roasted carrots.
![Overhead view of the cranberry nut bread](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/cranbery-bread-9-700x700.jpg)
Cranberry Bread
Ok.. not really a dessert but it's so good I can't resist having this classic cranberry bread ANY time of the day!
December 7
![Plate of chicken and rice with a fork.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/texas-two-step-chicken-3-700x700.jpg)
Texas 2-Step Salsa Chicken
It just doesn't get easier than this salsa chicken!
![Close up overhead view of a bowl of gree](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/southern-green-beans-feat-700x700.jpg)
Southern Green Beans
Classic southern smothered green beans are full of country flavor.
![Plate stacked with cranberry cookies.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/cranberry-cookies-feat-1-700x700.jpg)
Cranberry Cookies
Bright cranberry and orange flavors make these fresh cranberry cookies extra delicious.
December 8
![Overhead view of the finished meat in a slow cooker.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/country-style-ribs-feat-700x700.jpg)
Country Style Ribs
Dr Pepper ribs simmer all day in the crockpot until you want to chew the walls. They smell heavenly and are delicious!
![Closeup of baked sweet potato with butter in it.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/how-to-bake-sweet-potatoes-8-1-700x700.jpg)
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Simplest side dish ever! Make these easy baked sweet potatoes then add butter and a sprinkle of brown sugar...YUM!
![Close up of biscuits piled on a plate.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/angel-biscuits-recipe-1-700x700.jpg)
Angel Biscuits
Angel biscuits are a cross between a biscuit and a yeast roll. They're light, fluffy, and hard to stop eating!
![Closeup of a slice of lemon pie with a bite taken out of it for social media shares.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/lemon-pie-2-700x700.jpg)
Grandma's Lemon Ice Box Pie
This simple, no bake lemon pie goes together fast and, since you can freeze it, go ahead and make two and freeze one for Christmas.
December 9
![closeup of a bowl of chili with macaroni](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/cowboy-soup-2-700x700.jpg)
Cowboy Soup
This is my favorite soup from my childhood - my mom's "chili". It's quick and easy and full of comfort in every bite.
![Stack of cut cornbread squares ready to be served.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/cornbread-done-cut-stack-feat-700x700.jpg)
Buttermilk Cornbread
Classic southern cornbread is so good with just about any meal but especially with this hearty soup.
![Closeup of cookies.](https://www.restlesschipotle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Santas-Whiskers-feat-700x700.jpg)
Santa's Whiskers Cookies
Cherry slice and bake cookies are so pretty, so festive, and SO good. Think cherry shortbread.
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