On The Menu: Week of December 29th

Get dinner ideas, winter-inspired menus, and 36 mix-and-match recipes with main dishes, sides, salads, and desserts for an easy week of meals.

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The days between Christmas and the New Year have a quieter, more settled feel, and I always welcome the slower pace. It is a good time to enjoy the last of the Christmas cookies, tidy up just a bit, and savor being at home. I am very much a Christmas cookie baker, and while I keep things simpler these days, a few longtime favorites always make their way onto the platter.

Now that we are lingering in the sweetness of the season, here is what is on the menu for the week. These meals are perfect for chilly evenings when comfort and familiarity are exactly what we crave.

One of my very favorite dishes is Chicken Marsala.

This is the kind of classic, comforting dinner that never goes out of style. Tender chicken, a rich mushroom sauce, and that unmistakable Marsala flavor come together in a way that feels both special and familiar. It is perfect for a quiet family dinner, yet nice enough to serve when company is gathered around the table. I love recipes like this that feel dependable and delicious, the kind you return to year after year because they simply work.

Chicken Marsala

Pasta

Roasted Asparagus

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Today’s dinner is a bit of a dry run. I will be tweaking Salmon En Croute just a little. My version will include mushrooms along with the spinach and no cheese, but plenty of fresh dill instead. I have a funny thing about fish and cheese together. I am hoping it tastes half as good as Dina’s original recipe looks. Thanks to Simple Home Cooked for the inspiration.

And friends, if you are planning to make a new recipe for a special dinner, do yourself a favor and give it a try ahead of time. Make it early, print out the recipe, and write all over it with your notes, thoughts, and adjustments. You will be so glad you did when it is time to serve it.

Salmon Wellington

Nani’s Sauteed Rice

The Best Caesar Salad With Homemade Salad Dressing

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A StoneGable winter menu plan would not be complete without some kind of soup or stew! We are having neighbors over for a simple New Year’s Eve supper. And these Panchetta, White Bean, and Chard Pot Pies are winners. They are soupy and flavorful, with the most delicious sourdough crust. It’s easy enough for a weeknight but very company-worthy… and a cozy way to ring in the new year.

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Happy New Year! ???? Wishing you a new year with God’s richest blessings! In our part of the country, the traditional New Year’s Day fare is pork and sauerkraut. And Bobby loves it! So, today we will have a very easy dinner of slow-cooked pork and sauerkraut. Some of our family will be with us, and a friend or two.

My recipe is super easy and tasty. Place 3 to 4 pounds boneless pork shoulder pork butt in the slow cooker. Add 2 packages 24 ounces each refrigerated sauerkraut (we don’t drain or rinse it), and 1 large onion, sliced. Sprinkle over 1 teaspoon kosher salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours or high for 5 to 6 hours, until the pork is very tender and easily pulls apart. Spoon sauerkraut over the pork as it cooks so everything stays juicy and flavorful. Serve hot with mashed potatoes.

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No judging here at all. I made it through college on Hamburger Helper, and it brings back so many memories of easy dinners and busy days. So tonight I am leaning into a little retro dinner, and honestly, I cannot wait. There is something comforting about simple food that feels familiar, nostalgic, and completely unapologetic. Sometimes those throwback meals are exactly what you want, and they taste even better because of it.

Homemade Hamburger Helper

Roasted Green Beans with Bacon

This main dish is rich, savory, and full of wonderful flavor. French Onion Chicken made in a cast iron skillet feels special enough for company, yet comforting enough for a quiet night at home. I have served it to guests many times, but tonight it is just Bobby and me. The holiday family gatherings are over, the company has gone home, and the house feels calm and still. Dinner for two feels just right, simple, unhurried, and exactly what we need this evening.

I’m making another take on mashed potatoes tonight, because some main dishes just taste better with it!

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If there is one thing I appreciate during the colder months, it is a hearty soup simmering on the stove. This Rigatoni Meatball Soup is one of those recipes that feels like a hug in a bowl. It is easy to make, wonderfully satisfying, and perfect for busy days when you still want a homemade meal on the table. With tender meatballs, pasta, and a rich, flavorful broth, it is the kind of comforting dish everyone looks forward to and happily goes back for seconds.

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There is something so comforting about a simple homemade loaf, especially one that fills the kitchen with the most wonderful aroma as it bakes. This Almond Bread with Vanilla Glaze is a longtime favorite around here. It is easy to make, slices beautifully, and has that old-fashioned flavor that never goes out of style. Whether enjoyed with a cup of coffee in the morning or shared with friends and family, this sweet little loaf always feels special.

Almond Bread with Vanilla Glaze

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Use your leftovers to make these chicken or turkey crescents.

I really want to try this Tuscan-Style Roasted Turkey.

Guinness beef chili is bold, hearty, and perfect for cold nights.

This Artichoke Gouda tart makes a rich, savory appetizer or brunch option.

Honey berry sheet cake is light, sweet, and perfect for spring and summer.

Dutch oven French onion soup is deeply flavorful with golden, melty cheese on top.

These maple-glazed banana bread scones are tender, sweet, and packed with cozy flavor.

The best loaded potato soup is creamy, cheesy, and topped with crispy bacon.

This Blueberry and lemon layer cake is bright, beautiful, and bursting with citrusy flavor.

Corn-and-cheddar mashed potato fritters are crispy on the outside and cheesy inside.

This Tuscan chicken and potato skillet is a one-pan dinner full of rustic, comforting flavor.

Butter-topped beer bread is easy, fluffy, and perfect with soup or chili.

Million-dollar spaghetti is creamy, meaty, and layered like a casserole.

Kentucky butter cake is rich, moist, and finished with a sweet, buttery glaze.

More Recipes To Enjoy

Easy Dinner Recipe Roundup– Get 45 quick and delicious recipes in our easy dinners roundup. From one-pan wonders to 30-minute meals, simplify your cooking while savoring mouthwatering flavors.

Happy cooking, friends…