Hello, it is good to see you on this cold winters day. When I start to make my meal plan in this cold weather, my mind goes to warm comforting foods, like soups, stews and hot bread from the oven. We have our onion bulbs and they are ready to go in the ground, as soon as it warms up just a little. It doesn't seem possible to be ready to plant the spring garden already. I am taking a walk to the winter garden in just a little bit I am going to harvest some greens that are looking so good. I went to the supermarket early this week and was shocked at how many of the shelves were empty. The food shortage in some areas has reinforced the need for meal planning so that every meal and every bite counts. If you are considering starting to meal plan now is a great time to start!

  Welcome to Full Plate Thursday, come in the cottage and warm up by the fire, it is very cold outside. A perfect day for a big pot of soup, chili or stew, with a nice skillet of corn bread. We had a great party last week and some of your post are featured today, I sure hope you will stop by and say hello to these talented bloggers. We are taking some easy time here at the cottage this week, just kicked back enjoying life, staying warm with family and my little buddy Max, who never leaves my side. Thanks so much for sharing with us today, we always look forward to your visits and you always have a place at the table!

This is one of those casserole's that is truly a one dish meal. Just add a nice green tossed salad and some garlic bread to this casserole and you have a wonderful meal to serve your friends and family. This recipe is a combination of sausage, butternut squash, brussels sprouts, red onions in a special dressing then roasted. I guess you could just stop and serve right there, but I added a delicious mac n cheese and topped it with some buttery bread crumbs. If you should have any left, you can freeze for 3 months.

Tapioca Pudding is one of my very favorite pudding desserts. It is so comforting and delicious. When I used to make it for desserts it would take so long just standing at the stove, stirring the mix and then stirring some more. When I found a way to make it in the Slow Cooker, it was a red letter day. This is a very easy recipe that holds the stirring down to hardly any. The taste is the same, a delicious smooth pudding dessert.

Hello everyone, I just got back in the house after a trip to the  Winter Garden . I was able to harvest some of my Turnip Micro Greens, these are delicious little vegetable's. Have you been to the super market lately, some of the shelves are empty again and the prices are out of sight. It is time to be aware of budget cooking and making those food dollar's go as far as they can. I will be making my left overs count and making sure that I have a good solid meal plan. It is very cold outside and I am grateful to have some awesome budget friendly recipes to cook here at the cottage next week. 

Good morning friends, it is so good to see you. Hurry in the cottage and get a cup of hot cider, it is really cold out side. I made it out to my winter garden yesterday and picked turnips and greens, they sure were good with a nice skillet of corn bread. We have some great features from last weeks linky party and sure hope you can take the time to visit some of those awesome blogs. I am always excited to see what you will be sharing at the party, we have saved you a place at the table!

Long before we had slow cookers, my Mother would make a Sunday Roast. She would have it in the oven before we went to church and when we came home it would be ready to eat. I began using that same recipe when the slow cooker's became popular, and am still making it today. This is an old fashioned recipe fitted for a modern appliance, and one that continues to be one of our favorites!

  I started making this recipe in my early homemaking years and it has continued to be one of the favorites. My Baked Chicken Soufflé still goes to many of the covered dish luncheons, sometimes by request. This recipe is very simple with layer after layer of goodness with a blend of seasons that puts this recipe over the top! This dish can be put together the night before and baked the next morning for a beautiful and delightful presentation. 

Hello everyone, we are doing winter here at the cottage, we have had some really cold weather. I am looking at a meal plan to include some "warm and cozy" meals for this week. We have some special functions going on that will require me to bring some pot luck dishes, I just love a great pot luck. During the cold weather I like to take care of some projects in my office that don't get a lot of attention during the warmer months when I am out in the yard and gardens. What are some of the projects you enjoy when it's indoor time and what is on your meal plan this week?

  Welcome to Full Plate Thursday and winter temperatures. Come on in the cottage find a place near the fireplace, we have saved a place for you at the table. We have been busy here at the cottage putting away all the holiday décor and getting things back "to normal". We had some great post last week that are featured this week, I sure hope you will stop by these talented bloggers site and say hello. I am excited to see what you are making in this first week of 2022, I know it will be a great post! Thanks so much for coming today, I always look forward to your visit!

We fortunately live in an area where we can enjoy a winter garden. We love to grow greens in our winter garden. We plant collards, cabbage, kale, turnip greens, and mustard greens. We have several herbs that are still producing through the winter months.  We have mother of thyme, oregano, rosemary and sage that are hardy during our winter months. I have a couple of containers of parsley that continues to produce during the winter months. 

  It is time for a great bowl of soup, and this recipe will give us a great bowl of vegetable soup every time. Minestrone means "Big Soup", a very thick vegetable soup and this recipe sure lives up to that meaning of "Big Soup". 

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to our first week meal plan for 2022! I always get very excited about starting a new year with new opportunities and great hope for the future.