A Lazy Weekend & Menu Monday

I love a lazy weekend.  This weekend was just that.

Friday night I perused the aisles of Super Target and picked up a pizza on my way home. I finished hanging ornaments on the tree and put out the Christmas decorations.  Brian and I caught up on some shows we'd recorded during the week and lounged on the couch. If all Friday nights at home were that good, I might just stay in more often!

Saturday morning B went golfing and I went to Park Avenue to finish up a little Christmas shopping. It was a little chilly, Santa was strolling the avenue and a saxophone player was filling the street with Christmas music. Sounds serene right? Sort of. But there were people EVERYWHERE.  I walked into Williams Sonoma and it was so crowded I thought I'd never get back out again.  (Not a bad place to be trapped if you ask me.) Shopping in December, how I loathe thee. I got the things I needed and left before the crowds got really insane.  I went home and wrapped all my presents and lounged on the couch a little more. Saturday night my girlfriends and I watched a movie in our pjs. (We watched Charlie St. Cloud. Aside from the 3 seconds Zac Effron took his shirt off, it was a snooze. What? He's legal.)

Sunday I laid on the couch almost all day long. It was glorious. I did shop for golf clubs with B, run to the grocery store and make dinner but other than that, it was couch lounging all day. 

We've got a busy week coming up and next weekend is filled with Christmas and birthday parties so the rest was much needed.

I did mention a Menu Monday, didn't I? Here it is:

Sunday - Cooking Light's Beef Stew. I've been craving beef stew. I have no clue why as I don't know that I'd ever really had beef stew. And I'd certainly never made it. So I found this recipe and decided to give in to my craving. The result - Eh. I thought maybe I'd just been expecting something else but B was pretty ambivalent about it too.  It just wasn't all that exciting. Guess I'm not a big fan of stew.

Monday - Cider Glazed Chicken with Browned Butter Pecan Rice and Green Beans.  Kate of Elefantitas Alegres raved about this dish, as did Slynnro. On their glowing recommendations, I decided to give it a try. Plus, I needed a reason to justify buying a half gallon of apple cider. (Which is flippin' delicious by the way.)

Tuesday - Ocean Prime for Brian's birthday dinner.  Truffle Mac & Cheese, here I come!

Wednesday - No cooking - we won't be home until late.

Thursday - Chili (adapted from here) with cornbread.

Friday - Cheeseburgers on the grill. It's supposed to warm up on Friday so we'll take advantage of the warm weather and fire up the grill. 

Saturday - Christmas party.  Dinner will likely be six glasses of wine and whatever I sneak off the appetizer table. Just keepin' it real.

Have a great week!