Friday Fixins' on Sunday

On Valentines we got home late in the afternoon from a LONG trip to California.  We went to the National Ag Expo (sounds exhilarating right?) in the ever exciting town of Tulare.  I grew up just down the road in Visalia so it makes for a nice trip home to visit family as well.  We hung around town and ended the trip at 6 flags Magic Mountain and Santa Monica! 

We got so lucky with our trip to Santa Monica.  It was gorgeous weather and we stayed in such a luxe hotel.  How could you not have fun with a pier like that?

Anyways, with a 9 day vacation comes 9 days worth of laundry and 5 days of missed school work.  Haven't cooked too much this week.  Hit up some restaurant deals this week just to get back on track.  I'm back though to share!

Friday - beef taquitos (using the same concept from last Friday with the chicken taquitos), guacamole, broccoli, salad.
Saturday - DATE NIGHT - so much fun!
Sunday - Big ol' pot of pinto bean - a family staple.  Burrito bar, tortillas, green chili, onions, tomato's, cheese, sour cream, guacamole.  Green beans, and salad
Monday- Homemade Pizza.  Pepperoni, ham and pineapple, salad, fruit. FHE treat Oatmeal Carmelita's
Tuesday - California Enchiladas, beans, salad, cantaloupe
Wednesday - Using up the pinto beans - Tostadas with all the toppings, pineapple
Thursday - Date night!  (This is traditionally our date night.  We got thrown off last week)

Oatmeal Carmelita's

1 cup flour
1 cup oats
3/4 c brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup of chopped pecans
1 bag of Kraft caramels, unwrapped
1/2 cup of milk or whipping cream

Mix flour, oats, sugar, soda, salt, and butter.  Press half of the mixture into a 11X7 pan and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.  While baking melt the unwrapped caramels and 1/2 cup of milk or cream in a sauce pan over medium heat stirring constantly.   Remove pan from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips and pecans on it.  Pour on caramel.  Sprinkle the remaining flour and oat mixture.  Bake an additional 15-20 mins or until light brown.  Allow to cool before cutting into bars.  I usually have to throw this bad boy in the freezer to speed up the cooling process!