My sis-in law is coming the middle of next week for a week long visit, so I would like to get some ahead baking/cooking done in the next couple days. However I have little on hand to work with and won't be able to shop till Monday.

Did just take out of the oven some corn muffins baked with a surprise in the middle. My "All You" magazine that came yesterday suggested baking corn muffins with a spoonful of cranberry sauce in the middle. I found a corn muffin mix in the pantry that was about 5 months past it's best sell by date and I had some homemade cranberry sauce in the freezer.....so wallah! Ate one while it was still a little warm...pretty good except that it resisted letting go of the paper liner.

As I was writing this 45 minutes ago, DH announced that he had to go get something from Tractor Supply, which is next to Big Lots. Great, I said, I'll go with you. Picked up some Bear Creek Soup mixes. I have meats in the freezer and canned stuff that I can add to make the soups more my own. My stamina in the kitchen isn't what it used to be and I have come to rely on mixes, frozen foods, more that I like.

I took 2 loaves of bread out of the oven and have buns rising to go in.

This is our Thanksgiving weekend, but we're not doing anything. I cooked a small turkey last weekend, instead. We both felt like chicken/turkey the past couple of weeks, so we had it early.

I'm making pizzas a little later. I have tenderloin out to do something with over the weekend, and am planning to make chicken parmigiana.

I still have a ton of my Hello Fresh meal from yesterday and ate it for lunch. Decided to take a break for dinner and pulled out a frozen chicken cordon bleu. It's in the oven now. I had a coupon for it from Kroger so I thought I'd give it a try. Never had this brand of food before, Barber Foods. I'll probably eat some grapes with it. I may freeze some of the Hello Fresh meal for later in the week. I have to work Monday and Tuesday and get a new box from Hello Fresh on Wednesday...still have another meal to make from this week too! I may have to go with twice a month deliveries instead of every week.

I made a crockpot of chili when I got home from work this morn, then made a loaf of raisin bread in my bread machine. It looks like the wife has some pork marinating for tomorrow

My chicken cordon bleu came out dry with very little cheese, as it all bubbled out during baking. ) :

I am not cooking today. We ordered wings for dinner. I just didn't feel very energetic today, had to take a nap while he watched the game. Stuffed up head, must be something in the air, everyone has been mowing so there's that for sure.

I boiled up 5lbs of chicken thighs & legs a week ago and froze 1lb containers of it. I'm making chicken chimichangas smothered in green chili enchilada sauce, topped with cheese/tomato/lettuce/sour cream.

I'm in the process of eating my potato soup and pan-fried fish...I just wanted some comfort food, as I've been having a sore throat and aching all over. Not seriously, but that soup certainly comforted me!

Yesterday our hunt club had a joint meet in the morning with another hunt club from Pennsylvania. I don't ride, but I often go to the brunches afterward. I brought a large oval Quiche Lorraine that used a dozen eggs. Then yesterday evening the Hunt club had a hound dinner at the clubhouse to raise money to help cover the costs of feeding the hounds. I made three batches of mushrooms stuffed with cream cheese and green onions for the dinner, others brought many other appetizers. The main dinner was made by one of our members, who made a coconut curry chicken and rice, and greens beans. It was pretty impressive for her to put together the meal for about 90 people.

Well today we will grill steaks & have a baked potato with it.

I am curious about the Bear Creek soup mix. How are they & which ones do you recommend or like?

Phyllis, hope you feel better soon!

Kathsgaden - I have had the Barber chicken breasts. They are very good and very convenient.

janey, The Bear Creek Soups are very good. The Tortilla and the Minestrone are favorites. The Darn Good Chili and Navy Bean are very good too. I am not a big fan of creamy soups. Only tried the Bear Creek Cheddar Broccoli of the many available. It was good and I am sure the other creamy types are also, just not what I like in a soup.

Each kind makes suggestions for add ins on the package. The package makes 2 quarts as packaged, but I usually wind up with 3 to 4 quarts when I am done putting my own spin on it.

Artemis, Love the beef tongue, the wife slices it thin then marinates in oyster sauce and other stuff then we grill it, have a black hot sauce made out of Thai chilis for dipping.

We like the bear Creek products too. I often make one of the rice mixes and add cooked ground beef to it, very good and flavorful. We like the Navy bean soup too. I buy lots of the various products at big Lots and keep the pantry stocked for a very quick good meal. I often add to the basic package.
Tonight hubby is grilling bone in ribeye steaks and I will make baked potatoes and fire roasted corn blend. I discovered this Del Monte fire roasted corn blend recently and we absolutely love it, so much better than just canned corn.

Fire roasted corn

I'm trying a new appetizer recipe right now. DH will get that along with his left over fish and chips. I will probably just eat the appetizer. I, too am a Bear Creek fan. I like to sauté; some onions and celery and add it to their potato soup along with a can of minced clams, some milk and a couple dabs of butter for a New England style clam chowder. Sometimes I'll add some corn kernels and chicken instead.

One-pot Mexican Quinoa. The last of this week's Hello Fresh meals. It was pretty good and smelled wonderful cooking. There is so much leftover too. I may freeze some of it like I did the last meal.

Well I will look for the Bear Creek soup mixes-thank you.