Dr. Pepper Baked Beans

I found this recipe somewhere on the internet last year and have been tweaking it ever since. It's great for bringing along to a picnic. So, in honor of Tasty Tuesday, here's my version of Dr. Pepper Baked Beans:

2 cans (11 oz) pork and beans, UNDRAINED
1 can (14 oz) cannellini (white kidney) beans, DRAINED AND RINSED
1 can (14 oz) pink beans, DRAINED AND RINSED
1 can (14 oz) petite diced tomatoes, UNDRAINED
6 ounces Dr. Pepper
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp cloves
1 cup EACH onion, bell pepper and celery, chopped fine

Mix all of this in a 3-qt or larger casserole dish. Bake, covered, at 350 for 45 minutes.

I like to make this in my 4-qt Nesco roaster and bake at 300 for the first half hour, then turn down to 200 until the rest of the meal is ready to serve.

Visit Many Little Bessings for the rest of the Tasty Tuesday participants! AND there's a contest--so don't miss it! Thanks, Angie, for hosting!

Menu Plan Monday, May 28

This is perhaps THE most boring menu week on record, and I am feeling very uninspired. But in the spirit of sticking with a good habit, here goes:

SUNDAY: Went to a picnic

MONDAY: Might go to a picnic

TUESDAY: Team banquet for Big Brother's track team

WEDNESDAY: Spaghetti

THURSDAY: Chicken

FRIDAY: Scallops (didn't have those last week; went with salmon instead)

SATURDAY: I'll be running the Franciscan Kitchen all day at a retreat for Secular Franciscans. I will NOT be cooking any dinner upon my return home.

And don't forget to visit all the other Menu Plan Monday participants! You can find their links at our host, The Organizing Junkie.

What I Plan to do this Summer

Basically this is just to keep myself on track.

In no particular order, here are some goals I have for the summer.

Solve my Sync issue with my Palm Tungsten T5 and MS Outlook 2007

Weekly "Big Kids Cook Night." They will plan and cook the meal with my guidance.

Deep-clean all kids' bedrooms. Each day, 1 small job for each child (I help with Little Brother's). By the end of the summer, 3 clean bedrooms.

Little Brother's Daily Storytime.

Beginning week of June 10, 2 alphabet letters a week with Little Brother. Practice writing big and small letters, read the letter books.

30 minute walk each day for me.

On Pool Days, leave the house at 12:30.

Everybody gets a Daily Chore, a Room Chore, and a Dinner Chore--bring back the Dinner Dice!

Manu Plan Monday, May 21

Menu Plan Monday is hosted by Laura, the Organizing Junkie. There's an endless variety of menus and recipes from the links she hosts each week. Check it out!

SUNDAY: Refrigerator Buffet (we've got a lot of leftovers--time to clear the fridge out!)

MONDAY: Pork paprikas (using leftover sliced roast pork instead of pork cubes), tri-colored noodles

TUESDAY: Chicken piccata, rice, green beans

WEDNESDAY: Kielbasa and sauerkraut, or hot dogs for those who don't like kielbasa; baked beans, French fries

THURSDAY: Spaghetti and meatballs

FRIDAY: Bay scallops sauteed in a little butter and garlic, roasted redskin potatoes, salad

SATURDAY: I'm leaving my options open! (Shhh! That's code for "I have absolutely no clue what to serve on Saturday.")

Menu Plan Monday, May 14

Today is National Wear an Apron Day! I'm wearing my new "camo" number called "Generalissimama." The house is a wreck (TheDad spent the weekend on my Mother's Day present--a freshly painted bathroom in the color of my choice--so the rest of the house is pretty scary right now!) and I'll be doing battle with all of that, all day long.

Menu Plan Monday is brought to you by Laura, the Organizing Junkie, and the letter "P" (for "Plan Ahead!")

SUNDAY: Grilled London Broil, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Corn, Salad

MONDAY: Goulash and spaetzle

TUESDAY: Quick Chicken Divan (didn't have this last week), rice

WEDNESDAY: Spaghetti and meatballs

THURSDAY: Chicken Piccata, mashed potatoes, vegetable

FRIDAY: Maple-Hoisin Glazed Salmon, rice, green beans

SATURDAY: Burgers on the grill

Menu Plan Monday, May 7

Thanks again to Laura the Organizing Junkie for hosting my favorite recipe-fest!

We still haven't had that shrimp marinara....last Friday we changed the plan to Shrimp Fried Rice.

SUNDAY: dinner at MIL and FIL's home to celebrate MIL's birthday. FIL is cooking. I don't know what it will be yet, but it will be delicious.

MONDAY: the famous 40-clove of garlic chicken that is making the rounds around all the MPM bloggers (if my Oven Stuffer Roaster defrosts in time)

TUESDAY: Pot roast with mushrooms and onions, noodles and gravy

WEDNESDAY: Spaghetti and meatballs. It's Make the Big Batch Day!

THURSDAY: Quick Chicken Divan (they liked this one so much that Little Brother said, "Make it again! NEXT DAY!")

FRIDAY: Let's try this again! Shrimp Marinara over linguine

SATURDAY: I'm not home, so TheDad and whatever kids are not with me or running in a track meet are on their own.

Have a terrific week, everyone!




And plan ahead, because The Kitchen Madonna has declared next Monday, May 14, "Wear an Apron Day!" Get your favorite apron ready and make a statement about the glory in the humble work of homemaking.