Menu Monday.

Holiday season strikes again. Why cook when you have dinners with friends and family and fancy-ness? Here's what I managed to do this week. :)

Artichoke, Spinach and Goat Cheese Strata
Grade: A
Comments: My feelings on this recipe wavered till I actually made it, but I have to say I'm in love. We used sourdough bread, leftover from the beer cheese soup night, and it was perfection. Light and fluffy and with a perfect crisp on the outside. Really very healthy - lots of veggies and protein. A perfect, well-rounded dinner.

Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens
Grade: A
Comments: I get a sick sense of satisfaction that the Southern good luck food for New Years Day is one of my favorite foods. I love black eyed peas! Soak them overnight, then pop them in a crock pot for about 6 hours with just water and Lawry's seasoned salt. So. Stinking. Good. The greens were sauteed with just EVOO, onion, salt and pepper - keeping it simple. Theme of 2012, perhaps?


And even though I didn't snap a picture, I thought I'd mention that we created our own New Years Food tradition this year. Carvel ice cream cake. I absolutely love it and once a year on my birthday just wasn't enough. So this was the first of many years of Carvel on January 1.