November 29, 2025

WEEKLY MENU 11.30.25

We’re starting our Christmas present shopping during the Weekly Menu 11.30.25, but have completely given Black Friday a pass~

The Weekly Menu 11.30.25 has plenty of easy meals to get us out of the kitchen so we can concentrate on our gifting lists. Of course, the first list is one of those you actually want/have to present with a present. And I hope you don’t have anyone on that list that is, how shall we say, difficult to buy for. Sadly, I am not that lucky. (Affiliate links follow. See Disclaimer Page for details.)

I will be poring over the (honestly) EPIC gift ideas list I put together for you, gentle reader. I hate going to the mall because the crowds are everywhere. Plus, I’d rather put together a list I can either fulfill while sitting happily on the couch in the living room, having a nice cup of tea, or concentrating on the smaller local shops and businesses that abound in beautiful Erieland. Suggestions abound in here:

50+ EPIC GIFT IDEAS

So, who is the arch-nemesis of my listing? Bert. I’m not sure whether he is insanely difficult to buy for or if he’s just a bad gift receiver. Or both. Of course, the opposite might be true. Perhaps, just maybe, I am an awful gift-giver.

A couple of years ago, I got Bert the “BEST GIFT EVER” – a headlamp that he could wear while running in the dim evenings that we experience this time of the year. It was LED, rechargeable, waterproof, and fully adjustable, so it wouldn’t fall off. I figured it would keep him safe and surely visible.

The man literally guffawed when he opened it up.

Yeah. Hurt my heart a little bit. And yes, I get it, he would look absolutely ridiculous running through the streets wearing it. We didn’t return it. Eventually, Bert realized that it would be a perfect tool to use while grilling in the dark (in the privacy of our backyard where no one could see him in it). It is tremendously bright – blindingly so, which would have kept him so safe, but alas, no.

I got him a wallet for Christmas one year, and it took him six months to actually make the move from his old one. And then he left it in his car when he was out and about one Friday and it was stolen. His reaction? “At least I don’t have to use that ugly wallet anymore.”

He’s lucky he doesn’t bowl.

Weekly Menu 11.30.25

We’re staring at Thanksgiving desserts for days around here, so I put them on the Weekly Menu 11.30.25 – no more baking for me this week. Everyone can have a piece of pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie or this weird milk-pie thing that I made. (Would NOT recommend.) They can have a piece of all four. Pies are delicious, but they linger – because you can only eat so much pie. I’m making them the only option on Sunday. Fingers crossed, we empty some pie plates.

For Meatless Monday, we’re souping it. I know, I know, it’s not Friday (obviously), which is when we typically soup. We’re showing snow possibilities every day this week, and it’s not terribly warm, so it fits right in.

Instead of our typical Taco Pizza (yum!), we’re doing a copycat Taco Bell Pizza for Tuesday. Man, we love that chain. Have you ever had their Mexican Pizza, or do you go right for the mains and skip the appetizers? It’s not as easy as the Taco Pizza, but promises to be delish.

We’re committed to salmon at least once a week (it’s GOOD for us!), even though I’ll add a chicken breast to the sheet pan at the same time for D, who really, really doesn’t like it. He DOES like Bang Bang Sauce, so this will be perfect. I picked up some frozen brown rice from Trader Joe’s the other week, so I’ll have to let you know how that goes.

And yes, we are having soup again, later this week. Bert was jonesing for an easy Stuffed Pepper Soup, and it sounds perfect to eat in front of the fire after Happy Hour. Does anybody else have rolls for days from Thanksgiving? We’re hoping to get those eaten this week too.