It's been an exciting week in our house starting with Mothers' Day on Sunday, my birthday on Monday, the opening of the Old Capitol Farmers' Market with The Munchkin and my good friend Megs on Wednesday, and ending today with time spent at the Highland Games and Celtic Festival (and later attending my cousin's high school graduation party). It's been a great week filled with great family and friends! I'm looking forward to the week ahead!
Here's what's on the menu this week (with fresh produce from the market):
Sunday: Biscuits and Gravy, Market Strawberries - Sunday evening breakfast is catching on around here, and I love it! And the strawberries are SOOOO good - they taste so much better than the ones from the grocery store (which we think taste like wax)!
Monday: Chicken and Cheese Lasagna, Steamed Market Asparagus, Garlic Bread - I've been craving some lasagna, and I have some fresh mozzarella in the fridge that will make it so creamy and yummy. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
Tuesday: Taco Pasta, Chips and Guacamole - This will be a great way to use up the 1/2 pound of ground beef from the burgers we had last week, and The Munchkin LOVES this meal. I don't think I posted my modified version of this recipe, so I'll have to do that this week...maybe Wednesday when I'm home with The Munchkin.
Wednesday: Meatball Subs, Chips - I'm going to hunt for some yummy bread at the Farmers' Market this week to make this extra-yummy!
Thursday: Jambalaya - We weren't home tonight to have this (as originally planned), and we already have all the ingredients, so we'll just rearrange the schedule a bit and have it this week.
Friday: Leftovers - I know, I know...Friday is pizza night! But we have another graduation to go to, so dinner will have to be quick, easy, and probably a "fend-for-yourself" kind of thing.
Saturday: Cheesy Broccoli Chicken Orzo - This is another re-do from this last week...we've already got the ingredients, so I'm going to go ahead and use them up.
Mangia Bene!
Showing posts with label Menu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Menu. Show all posts
5.19.2012
5.07.2012
Menu: Week of 5/6
So it seems my AD/HD has gotten the best of me this week. I usually post on Saturday night, but we were at my brother's house to watch the UFC fights (I like to watch grown men beat the crap out of each other). The evening ultimately turned into a play date for The Munchkin and two other little cuties. It was a blast to watch them play together!
Then Sunday, I took The Munchkin to Washington Park for the MS Walk and to support a friend who was recently diagnosed. To say it was hot would be an understatement, and The Munchkin and I were wiped out! She fell asleep in the car on the way home, and I fell asleep on the couch a few hours later.
All-in-all, I managed to create an entire weekend for myself full of things I enjoyed, and I decided everything else could wait. Evidently, that meant this blog post, too. :)
So here we are...better late than never, right?! And I've posted a new recipe for tonight's dinner! Check out the link below.
Sunday: Leftovers - Honestly, I was too worn out from the heat to cook, so we pulled a few leftovers out of the fridge and noshed on random foods.
Monday: Orzo with Sausage and Peppers - Since I found orzo in one of the grocery stores in Springfield, it seems like I want to eat it all the time! And this is a great way to use up some sausages I had leftover from a cookout (I sliced them up, tossed them in a freezer bag, and stashed them in the freezer for this exact purpose.)
Tuesday: Tacos, Black Beans, Mexican Rice - It's been a while since we've actually had tacos on Taco Tuesday. I'm actually looking forward to it. :)
Wednesday: Panini, Chips, Cottage Cheese - I'm still working on a fun combination for the sandwiches. I've got some cooked chicken in the freezer, so I'd like to use it, but we will see what the evening brings.
Thursday: Tater Tot Casserole - I'm hoping it will be cool enough outside to justify turning on the oven to make this, 'cause it sounds pretty good.
Friday: Pizza - I've been looking for a good recipe for a potato pizza, but I can't seem to find one, so I may just invent my own with alfredo sauce, spinach, and thinly sliced potatoes. I'll let you know how it goes! :)
Saturday: Spaghetti and Meatballs, Broccoli, Grilled Flatbread - I'm hoping to have a relaxing weekend since it's Mothers' Day weekend, and *almost* my birthday, so this one is right on par!
Mangia Bene!
Then Sunday, I took The Munchkin to Washington Park for the MS Walk and to support a friend who was recently diagnosed. To say it was hot would be an understatement, and The Munchkin and I were wiped out! She fell asleep in the car on the way home, and I fell asleep on the couch a few hours later.
All-in-all, I managed to create an entire weekend for myself full of things I enjoyed, and I decided everything else could wait. Evidently, that meant this blog post, too. :)
So here we are...better late than never, right?! And I've posted a new recipe for tonight's dinner! Check out the link below.
Sunday: Leftovers - Honestly, I was too worn out from the heat to cook, so we pulled a few leftovers out of the fridge and noshed on random foods.
Monday: Orzo with Sausage and Peppers - Since I found orzo in one of the grocery stores in Springfield, it seems like I want to eat it all the time! And this is a great way to use up some sausages I had leftover from a cookout (I sliced them up, tossed them in a freezer bag, and stashed them in the freezer for this exact purpose.)
Tuesday: Tacos, Black Beans, Mexican Rice - It's been a while since we've actually had tacos on Taco Tuesday. I'm actually looking forward to it. :)
Wednesday: Panini, Chips, Cottage Cheese - I'm still working on a fun combination for the sandwiches. I've got some cooked chicken in the freezer, so I'd like to use it, but we will see what the evening brings.
Thursday: Tater Tot Casserole - I'm hoping it will be cool enough outside to justify turning on the oven to make this, 'cause it sounds pretty good.
Friday: Pizza - I've been looking for a good recipe for a potato pizza, but I can't seem to find one, so I may just invent my own with alfredo sauce, spinach, and thinly sliced potatoes. I'll let you know how it goes! :)
Saturday: Spaghetti and Meatballs, Broccoli, Grilled Flatbread - I'm hoping to have a relaxing weekend since it's Mothers' Day weekend, and *almost* my birthday, so this one is right on par!
Mangia Bene!
4.29.2012
Menu: Week of 4/29
This past week has been a hectic one, hence the late post. My mom has been put in a cast to help heal a severe case of plantar fasciitis, and, since she is The Munchkin's daycare through the week, we've had to make some adjustments in order to lighten her load (she can't walk or chase a 13-month old). So, The Munchkin is now spending two days a week with my mom, one day a week with The Man's mom, one day a week at home with mommy (which I am thoroughly enjoying!), and one day a week with my aunt. The Man and I have amazing family members, and their willingness to help out has been a life saver! The first week of managing The Munchkin's schedule (and getting all her stuff packed up for a different place each day) has been slightly exhausting, but at least I know she's getting the best care and an (over)abundance of love! :) Week Two will go much more smoothly! *fingers crossed* LOL
Work has also been crazy busy, with several looming deadlines and multiple distractions, resulting in a few remote hours each evening last week and a few more this weekend. At least I've had the work to make up for the time I've taken off to spend with The Munchkin!
As a result of the aforementioned circumstances (and a case of AD/HD), I've fallen a little behind on things like this blog (and getting rid of the clothes I cleaned out of my closet...they're sitting in baskets in the living room *sad face*)...
But, I digress, and I don't want to leave you hanging. (Although, I question whether or not anyone actually cares what meals I'll be preparing on a weekly basis.) Regardless, here is this week's menu (and hopefully, I'll have some time coming up to post some more recipes):
Sunday: Waffles, Sausage, Fresh Fruit - I'm kinda diggin' Sunday evening breakfast. We used to do a big breakfast on Sunday mornings, but now that we've got The Munchkin, we alternate mornings getting up with her (so the other can sleep in), and sitting down to breakfast together isn't always an option.
Monday: Fettucini Alfredo, Steamed Broccoli, Homemade Bread - What could be better than pasta coated in cream, butter, and parmesan?!
Tuesday: Chicken Fajitas, Black Beans, Mexican Rice - We've got about 1/2 a bell pepper and 1/2 an onion in the fridge that can't go to waste, and some chicken in the freezer (from a bargain stock-up a while back), so fajitas seemed logical. And Mexican Rice is always a must (and easy to make). I'll do this in a cast iron skillet on the grill if Mother Nature allows (it's pouring down rain here right now, and the power just flickered...welcome to Springtime in rural central Illinois!)
Wednesday: BBQ Sandwiches, Macaroni and Cheese, Peas - We've still got pulled pork in the freezer, so we'll use some of it for our "Between Bread" Wednesday night meal. And I've been craving some mac 'n' cheese. :)
Thursday: Chicken Stir Fry, Brown Rice - This will make a quick mid-week meal...just about the time I'll lose my momentum. LOL
Friday: Grilled Pizza, Garden Salad - Weather- and energy-permitting...otherwise, I'll bring home Little Caesar's (The Man LOVES crazy bread!). Either way, I'll probably need to pick some spinach and arugula from the garden, so we'll have a small salad with dinner.
Saturday: Chicken Sausages, Grilled Potatoes, Corn - This is another good grill meal, but can easily be done inside if the weather isn't cooperating.
Mangia Bene!
Work has also been crazy busy, with several looming deadlines and multiple distractions, resulting in a few remote hours each evening last week and a few more this weekend. At least I've had the work to make up for the time I've taken off to spend with The Munchkin!
As a result of the aforementioned circumstances (and a case of AD/HD), I've fallen a little behind on things like this blog (and getting rid of the clothes I cleaned out of my closet...they're sitting in baskets in the living room *sad face*)...
But, I digress, and I don't want to leave you hanging. (Although, I question whether or not anyone actually cares what meals I'll be preparing on a weekly basis.) Regardless, here is this week's menu (and hopefully, I'll have some time coming up to post some more recipes):
Sunday: Waffles, Sausage, Fresh Fruit - I'm kinda diggin' Sunday evening breakfast. We used to do a big breakfast on Sunday mornings, but now that we've got The Munchkin, we alternate mornings getting up with her (so the other can sleep in), and sitting down to breakfast together isn't always an option.
Monday: Fettucini Alfredo, Steamed Broccoli, Homemade Bread - What could be better than pasta coated in cream, butter, and parmesan?!
Tuesday: Chicken Fajitas, Black Beans, Mexican Rice - We've got about 1/2 a bell pepper and 1/2 an onion in the fridge that can't go to waste, and some chicken in the freezer (from a bargain stock-up a while back), so fajitas seemed logical. And Mexican Rice is always a must (and easy to make). I'll do this in a cast iron skillet on the grill if Mother Nature allows (it's pouring down rain here right now, and the power just flickered...welcome to Springtime in rural central Illinois!)
Wednesday: BBQ Sandwiches, Macaroni and Cheese, Peas - We've still got pulled pork in the freezer, so we'll use some of it for our "Between Bread" Wednesday night meal. And I've been craving some mac 'n' cheese. :)
Thursday: Chicken Stir Fry, Brown Rice - This will make a quick mid-week meal...just about the time I'll lose my momentum. LOL
Friday: Grilled Pizza, Garden Salad - Weather- and energy-permitting...otherwise, I'll bring home Little Caesar's (The Man LOVES crazy bread!). Either way, I'll probably need to pick some spinach and arugula from the garden, so we'll have a small salad with dinner.
Saturday: Chicken Sausages, Grilled Potatoes, Corn - This is another good grill meal, but can easily be done inside if the weather isn't cooperating.
Mangia Bene!
4.21.2012
Menu: Week of 4/22
Another week has come and gone, and I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to some great food. In these parts, we're still a month away from Farmers' Market season, and I am so anxious, I can almost taste the produce! In the meantime, I've been tending my own garden. So far, it's produce quite a bit of spinach and arugula, but I can see little lettuce sprouts popping up, and the peas and green beans are getting bigger everyday! But I'll save gardening for another post. This post is about a week of food to come, so let's get to it!
Sunday: Sausage Gravy and Biscuits, Hashbrowns, Fresh Fruit - We've got some sausage gravy in the freezer, so we'll use it, and I'll use some of the stock of potatoes we've got for hashbrowns, with some onion and green pepper mixed in. Can you smell them cooking on the cast iron griddle? I can. :)
Monday: Spaghetti and Meatballs, Corn, Homemade Focaccia - A while back, I made and froze almost 6-dozen meatballs...this week, they'll make another appearance. Add in homemade marinara and homemade bread, and we'll be in heaven!
Tuesday: Taco Pasta - A few weeks ago, we tried a recipe for Taco Pasta, but we felt like it needed a few modifications, so we'll be testing those out this week. If all goes well, I'll post my version of the recipe so you can try it too.
Wednesday: Chicken Sausages, Fried Potatoes w/ Peppers and Onions, Green Beans - The Man is a fan of Johnsonville's Chicken Apple Sausages, so I grill one up for him, and I'll have a salad made from the greens in my garden and greens and hard-boiled eggs from Oak Tree Organics. Yum!
Thursday: Jambalaya - A recent favorite of ours, and a great weeknight meal!
Friday: Grilled Pizza - Of course! :)
Saturday: Grilled Chicken Drummies, Twice-Baked Potatoes, Peas - Another salad for me, but some grilled drummies for The Man. Mangia Bene!
4.14.2012
Menu: Week of 4/15
I must apologize...again...for the lapse last week. Easter kicked me in the butt with two days of meals with family, and I was left with just enough time to tackle housework. As a result, the blog suffered. But I'm back again this week with a week's worth of meals for you to enjoy!
Sunday: Pancakes, Sausage, Fruit Salad - Yum! Check out the pancake recipe and enjoy a Sunday evening breakfast of your own.
Monday: Stuffed Shells in Alfredo Sauce, Steamed Broccoli, Focaccia - For this meal, I'll mix ricotta cheese, shredded parmesan, and frozen spinach as a filling for cooked pasta shells (the big ones), then I'll top it off with homemade alfredo and bake it until it's warmed through. The Man will be thrilled when he hears I'm making alfredo!
Tuesday: Chicken/Black Beans Enchiladas, Mexican Rice - A little shredded chicken, a can of black beans, some shredded cheddar, and a can of enchilada sauce makes a quick and easy weeknight meal at our house.
Wednesday: BBQ Chicken/Caprese Panini, Potato Chips - For The Man, I'll add some BBQ sauce to some pre-cooked, shredded chicken, top it with a slice of cheese, and grill it up on the cast iron grill pan. I'll make myself a sandwich with fresh mozzarella, sliced tomato, and sundried tomato basil. Yum!
Thursday: Chicken Stir Fry, Brown Rice - This is another quick weeknight meal. I buy a bag of frozen stir fry veggies and add chicken for The Man. Serve it over rice with a little soy sauce, and dinner is done!
Friday: Grilled Pizza - Leftover alfredo sauce, red onion, marinated artichokes, and fresh mozzarella...does dinner get any better than this?! (The Man will have pepperoni on his, I'm sure!)
Saturday: Chicken Pot Pie - I'd like to find a way to do this on the grill, weather permitting. The filling will be cooked before the pie gets baked, so all I'm really aiming for is a golden, flaky top crust. We shall see...
Mangia Bene!
Sunday: Pancakes, Sausage, Fruit Salad - Yum! Check out the pancake recipe and enjoy a Sunday evening breakfast of your own.
Monday: Stuffed Shells in Alfredo Sauce, Steamed Broccoli, Focaccia - For this meal, I'll mix ricotta cheese, shredded parmesan, and frozen spinach as a filling for cooked pasta shells (the big ones), then I'll top it off with homemade alfredo and bake it until it's warmed through. The Man will be thrilled when he hears I'm making alfredo!
Tuesday: Chicken/Black Beans Enchiladas, Mexican Rice - A little shredded chicken, a can of black beans, some shredded cheddar, and a can of enchilada sauce makes a quick and easy weeknight meal at our house.
Wednesday: BBQ Chicken/Caprese Panini, Potato Chips - For The Man, I'll add some BBQ sauce to some pre-cooked, shredded chicken, top it with a slice of cheese, and grill it up on the cast iron grill pan. I'll make myself a sandwich with fresh mozzarella, sliced tomato, and sundried tomato basil. Yum!
Thursday: Chicken Stir Fry, Brown Rice - This is another quick weeknight meal. I buy a bag of frozen stir fry veggies and add chicken for The Man. Serve it over rice with a little soy sauce, and dinner is done!
Friday: Grilled Pizza - Leftover alfredo sauce, red onion, marinated artichokes, and fresh mozzarella...does dinner get any better than this?! (The Man will have pepperoni on his, I'm sure!)
Saturday: Chicken Pot Pie - I'd like to find a way to do this on the grill, weather permitting. The filling will be cooked before the pie gets baked, so all I'm really aiming for is a golden, flaky top crust. We shall see...
Mangia Bene!
3.31.2012
Menu: Week of 4/1
It's been a busy week with The Man returning to work after a 5-week layoff, so we're all readjusting, and I've been crazy-busy at work. This morning, I took EVERYTHING out of both freezers and did a quick inventory. I've recently stocked up on a few things at super-low prices (thanks to sales & coupons), so I wanted to be sure we don't forget about any of it...that would be a waste of time spent couponing and money.
Once the inventory was taken and everything put back in the freezers (in a much more organized way), I sat down and wrote out our dinner menu for the month and made a shopping list. Needless to say, we didn't need much!
This afternoon, my mom and I went to the store to pick up the swingsets we had ordered for The Munchkin (one for her house and one for ours), and we went ahead and got the few groceries we both needed while we were in town. Once we got home, The Man assembled our swingset, and mom and I played outside with The Munchkin.
Now, The Munchkin is tuckered out in bed, The Man is relaxing with some TV, and well, I'm typing this. :)
A quick update from last week on the corn bread: the modifications I made resulted in corn bread that was a little lacking, so I'm going to keep testing until I find the perfect combination...then I'll share the recipe.
Also, the Taco Pasta from last week needs a little help, so I'll be working on modifications to that as well.
So now, on to the menu...
Sunday: Fried Eggs, Bacon, Hash Brown Potatoes - The Man loves having breakfast for dinner, and it's usually a quick, easy meal. This week, we're going to use the eggs I got from Oak Tree Organics, some bacon I found in the freezer, and potatoes I caught on sale at the grocery store.
Monday: Spaghetti, Meat Sauce, Corn, Focaccia - While going through the freezer, I found a small container of leftover meat sauce I made a while back, so this meal will be the perfect way to use it. I also found several bags of frozen corn (a grocery store sale stock-up), and I'll make focaccia to accompany the meal.
Tuesday: Chicken Fajitas, Mexican Rice - We've got several pounds of chicken in the freezer (another grocery store sale), so I'll add some sliced peppers and onions and a few spices, and dinner is made. I've also got several small containers of Mexican Rice in the freezer, so we'll use up some of that too.
Wednesday: BBQ Pork Sandwiches, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli - The pork for this meal was also discovered in the freezer - a few months ago, I cooked a pork shoulder in the crockpot, shredded the leftover meat, and froze it in portions. It was seasoned with simple salt & pepper, so all I have to do is add BBQ sauce and a bun. I'll use more of the bargain potatoes, and some of the frozen broccoli. Easy dinner!
Thursday: Jambalaya - I found andouille sausage, shrimp, and cooked, shredded chicken in the freezer. Add Zatarain's, a little chopped bell pepper, and call it done!
Friday: Grilled Pizza - Of course! :)
Saturday: Cookout - We'll be spending the day at my parents' house to celebrate Easter. Mom is going to grill some chicken and steaks, and we're donating some pork chops from our freezer stock. We're also having potato salad, greens beans & carrots, and grilled flatbread (made with Olive Oil Dough). For dessert, mom is making an angel food cake, and we're donating some frozen Farmers' Market peaches and Cool Whip from the freezer stock.
Mangia Bene!
Once the inventory was taken and everything put back in the freezers (in a much more organized way), I sat down and wrote out our dinner menu for the month and made a shopping list. Needless to say, we didn't need much!
This afternoon, my mom and I went to the store to pick up the swingsets we had ordered for The Munchkin (one for her house and one for ours), and we went ahead and got the few groceries we both needed while we were in town. Once we got home, The Man assembled our swingset, and mom and I played outside with The Munchkin.
Now, The Munchkin is tuckered out in bed, The Man is relaxing with some TV, and well, I'm typing this. :)
A quick update from last week on the corn bread: the modifications I made resulted in corn bread that was a little lacking, so I'm going to keep testing until I find the perfect combination...then I'll share the recipe.
Also, the Taco Pasta from last week needs a little help, so I'll be working on modifications to that as well.
So now, on to the menu...
Sunday: Fried Eggs, Bacon, Hash Brown Potatoes - The Man loves having breakfast for dinner, and it's usually a quick, easy meal. This week, we're going to use the eggs I got from Oak Tree Organics, some bacon I found in the freezer, and potatoes I caught on sale at the grocery store.
Monday: Spaghetti, Meat Sauce, Corn, Focaccia - While going through the freezer, I found a small container of leftover meat sauce I made a while back, so this meal will be the perfect way to use it. I also found several bags of frozen corn (a grocery store sale stock-up), and I'll make focaccia to accompany the meal.
Tuesday: Chicken Fajitas, Mexican Rice - We've got several pounds of chicken in the freezer (another grocery store sale), so I'll add some sliced peppers and onions and a few spices, and dinner is made. I've also got several small containers of Mexican Rice in the freezer, so we'll use up some of that too.
Wednesday: BBQ Pork Sandwiches, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli - The pork for this meal was also discovered in the freezer - a few months ago, I cooked a pork shoulder in the crockpot, shredded the leftover meat, and froze it in portions. It was seasoned with simple salt & pepper, so all I have to do is add BBQ sauce and a bun. I'll use more of the bargain potatoes, and some of the frozen broccoli. Easy dinner!
Thursday: Jambalaya - I found andouille sausage, shrimp, and cooked, shredded chicken in the freezer. Add Zatarain's, a little chopped bell pepper, and call it done!
Friday: Grilled Pizza - Of course! :)
Saturday: Cookout - We'll be spending the day at my parents' house to celebrate Easter. Mom is going to grill some chicken and steaks, and we're donating some pork chops from our freezer stock. We're also having potato salad, greens beans & carrots, and grilled flatbread (made with Olive Oil Dough). For dessert, mom is making an angel food cake, and we're donating some frozen Farmers' Market peaches and Cool Whip from the freezer stock.
Mangia Bene!
3.24.2012
Menu: Week of 3/25
Happy Saturday! I missed the weekly menu post last week due to the mixture of our St. Paddy's Day festivities and prepping for The Munchkin's first birthday party. We had a very busy weekend, and I hated skipping a week, but I just didn't get a chance to put together the menu and a blog post. As a result, we didn't eat very well last week, and I definitely felt the effects! So this week, we're getting back on track, and here's the menu:
Sunday: Waffles, Sausage, Fresh Fruit - For the waffles, I'll use my pancake recipe, but I'm probably going to try to replace some of the all-purpose flour with some whole wheat flour so they're healthier for all of us, including The Munchkin.
Monday: Chicken Stir Fry, Brown Rice - Previously, Monday had become unofficial soup night, but it's getting a little warm for that (in March?!). So instead, I'll make up a quick stir fry. It's a perfect quick dinner for a Monday evening.
Tuesday: Taco Pasta, Corn Bread - I don't remember how I came across this recipe, but it sounded like a good addition to the Taco Tuesday rotation, so I saved it for future use. We'll give it a try this week. Also, I'm testing a new recipe for corn bread. I wanted to make something with some extra veg in it for The Munchkin, so I'm starting with the recipe from the Better Homes & Gardens cookbook. I'll let you know how it turns out, and post a recipe if it works out well. Otherwise, I'll keep on testing recipes!
Wednesday: Burgers, Fried Potatoes with Peppers & Onions, Green Beans - It's grilling season! Need I say more?!
Thursday: Stuffed Shells in Alfredo, Broccoli, Focaccia Bread - Another one we didn't get to this last week, and I'm craving another white pizza, so I must make some alfredo this week!
Friday: Grilled Pizza - We made our first grilled pizza last night, and I'm excited to keep doing them. They're so great, and almost like eating a pizza cooked in a brick oven! I'm kind of addicted to pizza with alfredo, prosciutto, marinated artichoke hearts, and fresh mozzarella. Just typing those words makes my mouth water!
Saturday: Jambalaya - We didn't end up having this two weekends ago, so I'm going to make it this week.
Mangia Bene!
Sunday: Waffles, Sausage, Fresh Fruit - For the waffles, I'll use my pancake recipe, but I'm probably going to try to replace some of the all-purpose flour with some whole wheat flour so they're healthier for all of us, including The Munchkin.
Monday: Chicken Stir Fry, Brown Rice - Previously, Monday had become unofficial soup night, but it's getting a little warm for that (in March?!). So instead, I'll make up a quick stir fry. It's a perfect quick dinner for a Monday evening.
Tuesday: Taco Pasta, Corn Bread - I don't remember how I came across this recipe, but it sounded like a good addition to the Taco Tuesday rotation, so I saved it for future use. We'll give it a try this week. Also, I'm testing a new recipe for corn bread. I wanted to make something with some extra veg in it for The Munchkin, so I'm starting with the recipe from the Better Homes & Gardens cookbook. I'll let you know how it turns out, and post a recipe if it works out well. Otherwise, I'll keep on testing recipes!
Wednesday: Burgers, Fried Potatoes with Peppers & Onions, Green Beans - It's grilling season! Need I say more?!
Thursday: Stuffed Shells in Alfredo, Broccoli, Focaccia Bread - Another one we didn't get to this last week, and I'm craving another white pizza, so I must make some alfredo this week!
Friday: Grilled Pizza - We made our first grilled pizza last night, and I'm excited to keep doing them. They're so great, and almost like eating a pizza cooked in a brick oven! I'm kind of addicted to pizza with alfredo, prosciutto, marinated artichoke hearts, and fresh mozzarella. Just typing those words makes my mouth water!
Saturday: Jambalaya - We didn't end up having this two weekends ago, so I'm going to make it this week.
Mangia Bene!
3.10.2012
Menu: Week of 3/11
Happy Saturday! Here's next week's menu:
Sunday: Brioche French Toast, Sausage, Fruit Salad - I'm at it again...craving some eggy, brioche goodness! :)
Monday: Corn & Potato Chowder, Grilled Cheese - Even though this soup is already made and in the freezer, we didn't eat it last week, so we'll try again this week.
Tuesday: Enchiladas, Mexican Rice, Black Beans - A yummy Mexican-inspired meal!
Wednesday: Sloppy Joe, Tater Tots, Peas - This makes a quick and easy mid-week meal.
Thursday: Fettucini Alfredo, Broccoli, Focaccia Bread - Another one we didn't get to this last week, and I'm craving another white pizza, so I must make some alfredo this week!
Friday: Homemade Pizza - The Man requested Little Caesar's this last week, so we're definitely going to have some homemade pizza this week.
Saturday: Jambalaya - Since I started making this, The Man really enjoys it, so I'm going to keep making it.
Mangia Bene!
Sunday: Brioche French Toast, Sausage, Fruit Salad - I'm at it again...craving some eggy, brioche goodness! :)
Monday: Corn & Potato Chowder, Grilled Cheese - Even though this soup is already made and in the freezer, we didn't eat it last week, so we'll try again this week.
Tuesday: Enchiladas, Mexican Rice, Black Beans - A yummy Mexican-inspired meal!
Wednesday: Sloppy Joe, Tater Tots, Peas - This makes a quick and easy mid-week meal.
Thursday: Fettucini Alfredo, Broccoli, Focaccia Bread - Another one we didn't get to this last week, and I'm craving another white pizza, so I must make some alfredo this week!
Friday: Homemade Pizza - The Man requested Little Caesar's this last week, so we're definitely going to have some homemade pizza this week.
Saturday: Jambalaya - Since I started making this, The Man really enjoys it, so I'm going to keep making it.
Mangia Bene!
3.03.2012
Menu: Week of 3/4
Happy Saturday! Here's next week's menu:
Sunday: Biscuits & Gravy, Scrambled Eggs - Another Sunday evening breakfast. This might become a habit. :)
Monday: Corn & Potato Chowder, Grilled Cheese - The Man will be thrilled about this decision.
Tuesday: Chicken Fajitas, Mexican Rice - This will be a great way to use up some of the flour tortillas I bought on sale a while back.
Wednesday: BBQ Pork Sandwiches, Macaroni & Cheese, Corn - Mmmm...macaroni & cheese!
Thursday: Fettucini Alfredo, Broccoli, Focaccia Bread - Another one The Man will love!
Friday: Homemade Pizza - I think I'll make some extra alfredo sauce so I can have white pizza again :)
Saturday: Tater Tot Casserole - A trusty standby.
Mangia Bene!
Sunday: Biscuits & Gravy, Scrambled Eggs - Another Sunday evening breakfast. This might become a habit. :)
Monday: Corn & Potato Chowder, Grilled Cheese - The Man will be thrilled about this decision.
Tuesday: Chicken Fajitas, Mexican Rice - This will be a great way to use up some of the flour tortillas I bought on sale a while back.
Wednesday: BBQ Pork Sandwiches, Macaroni & Cheese, Corn - Mmmm...macaroni & cheese!
Thursday: Fettucini Alfredo, Broccoli, Focaccia Bread - Another one The Man will love!
Friday: Homemade Pizza - I think I'll make some extra alfredo sauce so I can have white pizza again :)
Saturday: Tater Tot Casserole - A trusty standby.
Mangia Bene!
Menu: Week of 2/26
It's that time again...another weekly menu!
Sunday: Pancakes, Bacon, Fruit - I've been reading everywhere about the Kiwanis pancake and sausage breakfast, and it's given me some cravings! Must. Have. Pancakes!
Monday: Chicken Taco Soup - I've got some shredded chicken thighs in the freezer that will be perfect for this recipe! It should work out well in the crockpot, too, so dinner will be ready when I get home from work!
Tuesday: Tacos/Quesadillas, Mexican Rice - A trusty standby meal. I've been wanting a black bean and corn quesadilla for a while now, so I think it's time to make it happen.
Wednesday: Cheeseburgers, Sweet Potato Fries - I'm changing Wednesdays from "Burger Night" to "Between Bread Night" since I just can't bring myself to make burgers every week anymore. Keep your eyes peeled for some different Wednesday night sandwich options.
Thursday: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Green Beans, Homemade Bread - What could be better than spaghetti topped with homemade marinara and homemade meatballs? Well...nothing, unless you add homemade bread and Farmers' Market green beans to the plate!
Friday: Homemade Pizza - I think this week I'll make Chicken Parmesan pizza...sounds good to me!
Saturday: Buffalo Drummies, Twice-Baked Potatoes - A few weeks back, I caught a great sale on chicken drumsticks (the same week I got the thighs), so I bought 5 pounds of them. I brought them home and separated them into two gallon freezer bags. Into one bag, I poured a bottle of Sweet Baby Rays Buffalo Sauce & Marinade (The Man loves this stuff), and some olive oil and seasoning into the other, then I put them in the freezer. I'll just set the bag in the fridge to thaw the night before, then roast the drummies at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. The potatoes can be in there as well. Easy dinner!
Unfortunately, I didn't get around to writing up recipes for last week's menu items because we've all been sick, but check
Mangia Bene!
Sunday: Pancakes, Bacon, Fruit - I've been reading everywhere about the Kiwanis pancake and sausage breakfast, and it's given me some cravings! Must. Have. Pancakes!
Monday: Chicken Taco Soup - I've got some shredded chicken thighs in the freezer that will be perfect for this recipe! It should work out well in the crockpot, too, so dinner will be ready when I get home from work!
Tuesday: Tacos/Quesadillas, Mexican Rice - A trusty standby meal. I've been wanting a black bean and corn quesadilla for a while now, so I think it's time to make it happen.
Wednesday: Cheeseburgers, Sweet Potato Fries - I'm changing Wednesdays from "Burger Night" to "Between Bread Night" since I just can't bring myself to make burgers every week anymore. Keep your eyes peeled for some different Wednesday night sandwich options.
Thursday: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Green Beans, Homemade Bread - What could be better than spaghetti topped with homemade marinara and homemade meatballs? Well...nothing, unless you add homemade bread and Farmers' Market green beans to the plate!
Friday: Homemade Pizza - I think this week I'll make Chicken Parmesan pizza...sounds good to me!
Saturday: Buffalo Drummies, Twice-Baked Potatoes - A few weeks back, I caught a great sale on chicken drumsticks (the same week I got the thighs), so I bought 5 pounds of them. I brought them home and separated them into two gallon freezer bags. Into one bag, I poured a bottle of Sweet Baby Rays Buffalo Sauce & Marinade (The Man loves this stuff), and some olive oil and seasoning into the other, then I put them in the freezer. I'll just set the bag in the fridge to thaw the night before, then roast the drummies at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. The potatoes can be in there as well. Easy dinner!
Unfortunately, I didn't get around to writing up recipes for last week's menu items because we've all been sick, but check
Mangia Bene!
2.25.2012
Menu: Week of 2/26
It's that time again...another weekly menu!
Sunday: Pancakes, Bacon, Fruit - I've been reading everywhere about the Kiwanis pancake and sausage breakfast, and it's given me some cravings! Must. Have. Pancakes!
Monday: Chicken Taco Soup - I've got some shredded chicken thighs in the freezer that will be perfect for this recipe! It should work out well in the crockpot, too, so dinner will be ready when I get home from work!
Tuesday: Tacos/Quesadillas, Mexican Rice - A trusty standby meal. I've been wanting a black bean and corn quesadilla for a while now, so I think it's time to make it happen.
Wednesday: Cheeseburgers, Sweet Potato Fries - I'm changing Wednesdays from "Burger Night" to "Between Bread Night" since I just can't bring myself to make burgers every week anymore. Keep your eyes peeled for some different Wednesday night sandwich options.
Thursday: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Green Beans, Homemade Bread - What could be better than spaghetti topped with homemade marinara and homemade meatballs? Well...nothing, unless you add homemade bread and Farmers' Market green beans to the plate!
Friday: Homemade Pizza - I think this week I'll make Chicken Parmesan pizza...sounds good to me!
Saturday: Buffalo Drummies, Twice-Baked Potatoes - A few weeks back, I caught a great sale on chicken drumsticks (the same week I got the thighs), so I bought 5 pounds of them. I brought them home and separated them into two gallon freezer bags. Into one bag, I poured a bottle of Sweet Baby Rays Buffalo Sauce & Marinade (The Man loves this stuff), and some olive oil and seasoning into the other, then I put them in the freezer. I'll just set the bag in the fridge to thaw the night before, then roast the drummies at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. The potatoes can be in there as well. Easy dinner!
Unfortunately, I didn't get around to writing up recipes for last week's menu items because we've all been sick. :(
Mangia Bene!
Sunday: Pancakes, Bacon, Fruit - I've been reading everywhere about the Kiwanis pancake and sausage breakfast, and it's given me some cravings! Must. Have. Pancakes!
Monday: Chicken Taco Soup - I've got some shredded chicken thighs in the freezer that will be perfect for this recipe! It should work out well in the crockpot, too, so dinner will be ready when I get home from work!
Tuesday: Tacos/Quesadillas, Mexican Rice - A trusty standby meal. I've been wanting a black bean and corn quesadilla for a while now, so I think it's time to make it happen.
Wednesday: Cheeseburgers, Sweet Potato Fries - I'm changing Wednesdays from "Burger Night" to "Between Bread Night" since I just can't bring myself to make burgers every week anymore. Keep your eyes peeled for some different Wednesday night sandwich options.
Thursday: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Green Beans, Homemade Bread - What could be better than spaghetti topped with homemade marinara and homemade meatballs? Well...nothing, unless you add homemade bread and Farmers' Market green beans to the plate!
Friday: Homemade Pizza - I think this week I'll make Chicken Parmesan pizza...sounds good to me!
Saturday: Buffalo Drummies, Twice-Baked Potatoes - A few weeks back, I caught a great sale on chicken drumsticks (the same week I got the thighs), so I bought 5 pounds of them. I brought them home and separated them into two gallon freezer bags. Into one bag, I poured a bottle of Sweet Baby Rays Buffalo Sauce & Marinade (The Man loves this stuff), and some olive oil and seasoning into the other, then I put them in the freezer. I'll just set the bag in the fridge to thaw the night before, then roast the drummies at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. The potatoes can be in there as well. Easy dinner!
Unfortunately, I didn't get around to writing up recipes for last week's menu items because we've all been sick. :(
Mangia Bene!
2.18.2012
Menu: Week of 2/19
Another week has come and gone, and it's time for a new menu. This past week, in honor of Valentine's Day, we had dinners consisting of many of The Man's favorites. This week's menu is inspired by last's night's perusal of my Facebook photo album of foods I've made. While I was flipping through photos, I realized that many of them are photos of baked goods, but I did find a few dinner-worthy goodies that made my mouth water. And since The Munchkin hasn't been feeling well the last day or so, I haven't had much time to plan, so we'll be digging into the trusty freezer stock for a few meals.
Sunday: Chili - We have a few containers of chili in the freezer that we need to devour to make room for some new goodies. This will also make a quick and easy dinner, in case The Munchkin is still feeling yucky.
Monday: BBQ Pork, Roasted Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli - The BBQ pork is another freezer find. Several months ago, I put a pork roast in the crockpot, shredded it up and froze it in containers. We've also got some hamburger buns we need to use up, and potatoes were on sale last week, so we've got a pretty good stock of those as well.
Tuesday: Chile-Lime Chicken Tacos, Mexican Rice, Black Beans - I made this quite a while ago, and it was pretty good, so it's time to do it again!
Wednesday: Chicken & Noodles, Green Beans, Homemade Bread - Chicken & Noodles always goes over well, and I've kind of been craving my grandma's homemade noodles, so... :)
Thursday: Farfalle (bow tie pasta) with Sausage and Veggies, Homemade Bread - For Mother's Day 2009, I made a Greek-inspired feast, complete with baklava (yum!). One of the dishes I made was Orzo with Tomatoes and Oregano, and to the leftovers, I added grilled peppers, onions, and Italian sausage. I want to recreate this dish, but since I can't seem to find orzo, I'm going to use whole wheat farfalle.
Friday: Homemade Pizza - Our pizza last night was so good on the Olive Oil Dough that I want it again! We ended up sharing with my parents, both of whom were quite impressed with the white pizza with prosciutto and artichoke hearts. My brother had a small piece of the leftover pizza today, and he agreed that it was quite tasty. The Man also thoroughly enjoyed his pepperoni and marinara version. And since I only used 4 slices of prosciutto and a few marinated artichoke hearts, I plan to do it all again this week!
Have you tried making your own pizza? If so, what creative topping combinations do you love?
Saturday: Chicken Pot Pie - I roasted 5 lbs of chicken thighs today, and tomorrow I plan to pull the meat off the bone to have on hand in the freezer. But I'll save some for this ultimate comfort food on Saturday.
You may have noticed there are no recipes to accompany this menu. Several of these meals are just things I've thrown together off the top of my head, so I don't have recipes for them, but I will try to compile some as I go this week. I'll post them as soon as I can.
Mangia Bene!
Sunday: Chili - We have a few containers of chili in the freezer that we need to devour to make room for some new goodies. This will also make a quick and easy dinner, in case The Munchkin is still feeling yucky.
Monday: BBQ Pork, Roasted Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli - The BBQ pork is another freezer find. Several months ago, I put a pork roast in the crockpot, shredded it up and froze it in containers. We've also got some hamburger buns we need to use up, and potatoes were on sale last week, so we've got a pretty good stock of those as well.
Tuesday: Chile-Lime Chicken Tacos, Mexican Rice, Black Beans - I made this quite a while ago, and it was pretty good, so it's time to do it again!
Wednesday: Chicken & Noodles, Green Beans, Homemade Bread - Chicken & Noodles always goes over well, and I've kind of been craving my grandma's homemade noodles, so... :)
Thursday: Farfalle (bow tie pasta) with Sausage and Veggies, Homemade Bread - For Mother's Day 2009, I made a Greek-inspired feast, complete with baklava (yum!). One of the dishes I made was Orzo with Tomatoes and Oregano, and to the leftovers, I added grilled peppers, onions, and Italian sausage. I want to recreate this dish, but since I can't seem to find orzo, I'm going to use whole wheat farfalle.
Friday: Homemade Pizza - Our pizza last night was so good on the Olive Oil Dough that I want it again! We ended up sharing with my parents, both of whom were quite impressed with the white pizza with prosciutto and artichoke hearts. My brother had a small piece of the leftover pizza today, and he agreed that it was quite tasty. The Man also thoroughly enjoyed his pepperoni and marinara version. And since I only used 4 slices of prosciutto and a few marinated artichoke hearts, I plan to do it all again this week!
Have you tried making your own pizza? If so, what creative topping combinations do you love?
Saturday: Chicken Pot Pie - I roasted 5 lbs of chicken thighs today, and tomorrow I plan to pull the meat off the bone to have on hand in the freezer. But I'll save some for this ultimate comfort food on Saturday.
You may have noticed there are no recipes to accompany this menu. Several of these meals are just things I've thrown together off the top of my head, so I don't have recipes for them, but I will try to compile some as I go this week. I'll post them as soon as I can.
Mangia Bene!
2.12.2012
Menu: Week of 2/12
My apologies for the late post...I've been trying to post menus on Saturday, but we had guests last night, and I was busy canning marinara. This week is a week full of The Man's favorites. In the spirit of Valentine's Day, I guess I'm feeling generous! LOL
Sunday: Whole Wheat Spaghetti & Meatballs, Peas, Homemade Garlic Focaccia - I'll be using some of the meatballs I froze a while back. I've got them thawing now, and I'll throw them in the oven about 30 minutes before dinnertime. I'll also be using homemade marinara (on the stove now to cook all day), and I've already mixed up a batch of Olive Oil Dough for some focaccia. Check out the recipes...
Monday: Corn & Potato Chowder - The Man has requested that we have this again, and since it's fabulous and cheap and easy to make, I have no obligations! :) And I may even make a crusty little loaf of bread for dipping.
Tuesday: Fettucini Alfredo, Steamed Broccoli, Homemade Garlic Foccacia - Tuesday nights are usually Mexican night at our house, but this Tuesday is Valentine's Day. The Man and I don't buy each other gifts for Valentine's Day (I keep a steady supply of chocolate in the house and flowers die, so that kind of stuff isn't necessary). But, we do celebrate our love with a wonderful meal together. His favorite just happens to be my homemade alfredo, so that's the plan. He'll be thrilled!
Wednesday: Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans - I'm burnt out on making burgers every week, and I'm sure you're tired of seeing that on the menu. But I don't want to rob The Man of the experience, so I'm going to make meatloaf. I've also got green beans from last summer that I'd like to get eaten up so I can restock this year.
Thursday: Biscuits & Gravy, Scrambled Eggs - Yes, occasionally, we have breakfast for dinner. Although my homemade buttermilk pancakes would be his first choice, we have some sausage gravy in the freezer that we need to use up. I doubt he'll argue, since this meal is also a favorite of his!
Friday: Homemade Pizza - I'm watching the Olive Oil Dough rise as we speak! I came across some prosciutto in the freezer yesterday, and I've got a few artichoke hearts left, so I'm thinking I'll pair those items with leftover alfredo sauce and call it dinner! (The Man will want pepperoni...) Prosciutto is a splurge for me...it's pretty pricey around here, and it's not always easy to find except in little bitty sealed packages at the grocery store (though if you know of a place, please share!)
Saturday: Perfect Sesame Chicken, Brown Rice - I didn't get a chance to make this last week, so it's on the menu again this week. And since it's a bit more labor-intensive, I've planned it for a weekend dinner this time.
Mangia Bene!
Sunday: Whole Wheat Spaghetti & Meatballs, Peas, Homemade Garlic Focaccia - I'll be using some of the meatballs I froze a while back. I've got them thawing now, and I'll throw them in the oven about 30 minutes before dinnertime. I'll also be using homemade marinara (on the stove now to cook all day), and I've already mixed up a batch of Olive Oil Dough for some focaccia. Check out the recipes...
Monday: Corn & Potato Chowder - The Man has requested that we have this again, and since it's fabulous and cheap and easy to make, I have no obligations! :) And I may even make a crusty little loaf of bread for dipping.
Tuesday: Fettucini Alfredo, Steamed Broccoli, Homemade Garlic Foccacia - Tuesday nights are usually Mexican night at our house, but this Tuesday is Valentine's Day. The Man and I don't buy each other gifts for Valentine's Day (I keep a steady supply of chocolate in the house and flowers die, so that kind of stuff isn't necessary). But, we do celebrate our love with a wonderful meal together. His favorite just happens to be my homemade alfredo, so that's the plan. He'll be thrilled!
Wednesday: Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans - I'm burnt out on making burgers every week, and I'm sure you're tired of seeing that on the menu. But I don't want to rob The Man of the experience, so I'm going to make meatloaf. I've also got green beans from last summer that I'd like to get eaten up so I can restock this year.
Thursday: Biscuits & Gravy, Scrambled Eggs - Yes, occasionally, we have breakfast for dinner. Although my homemade buttermilk pancakes would be his first choice, we have some sausage gravy in the freezer that we need to use up. I doubt he'll argue, since this meal is also a favorite of his!
Friday: Homemade Pizza - I'm watching the Olive Oil Dough rise as we speak! I came across some prosciutto in the freezer yesterday, and I've got a few artichoke hearts left, so I'm thinking I'll pair those items with leftover alfredo sauce and call it dinner! (The Man will want pepperoni...) Prosciutto is a splurge for me...it's pretty pricey around here, and it's not always easy to find except in little bitty sealed packages at the grocery store (though if you know of a place, please share!)
Saturday: Perfect Sesame Chicken, Brown Rice - I didn't get a chance to make this last week, so it's on the menu again this week. And since it's a bit more labor-intensive, I've planned it for a weekend dinner this time.
Mangia Bene!
2.04.2012
Menu: Week of 2/5
It's time for the coming week's menu! I'm going to keep this brief tonight...
Sunday: Super Bowl Food! A friend is bringing pizza for lunch, and then we'll graze on junk food the rest of the day. Stay tuned for recipes...
Monday: Pasta Fagioli - We didn't end up making this last week, so we'll try again this week.
Tuesday: Tequila Lime Chicken/Shrimp & Mexican Rice - I made this recipe with shrimp a few months back when several of my girlfriends came over for dinner, and it was a hit. So I'll be trying it with chicken and shrimp this time.
Wednesday: Sloppy Joes - This might make a nice alternative to burgers...with homemade sauce (recipe below)
Thursday: Sesame Chicken - We'll see how this turns out...The Man isn't sure he'll like it, but he's willing to try it.
Friday: Homemade pizza
Saturday: Jambalaya - I've been craving this again, and The Man agreed he has too.
Sloppy Joe Sauce
(serves 4)
15 oz tomato sauce
1 1/2 t mustard
1 t garlic powder
1 1/2 t brown sugar
1 T vinegar
Combine the ingredients in a saucepan and cook over low heat for 10-15 minutes. Add to 1 pound of browned ground beef and serve on hamburger buns.
And there ya have it! Mangia Bene!
Sunday: Super Bowl Food! A friend is bringing pizza for lunch, and then we'll graze on junk food the rest of the day. Stay tuned for recipes...
Monday: Pasta Fagioli - We didn't end up making this last week, so we'll try again this week.
Tuesday: Tequila Lime Chicken/Shrimp & Mexican Rice - I made this recipe with shrimp a few months back when several of my girlfriends came over for dinner, and it was a hit. So I'll be trying it with chicken and shrimp this time.
Wednesday: Sloppy Joes - This might make a nice alternative to burgers...with homemade sauce (recipe below)
Thursday: Sesame Chicken - We'll see how this turns out...The Man isn't sure he'll like it, but he's willing to try it.
Friday: Homemade pizza
Saturday: Jambalaya - I've been craving this again, and The Man agreed he has too.
Sloppy Joe Sauce
(serves 4)
15 oz tomato sauce
1 1/2 t mustard
1 t garlic powder
1 1/2 t brown sugar
1 T vinegar
Combine the ingredients in a saucepan and cook over low heat for 10-15 minutes. Add to 1 pound of browned ground beef and serve on hamburger buns.
And there ya have it! Mangia Bene!
1.28.2012
Menu: Week of 1/29
It's that time of the week again - time to plan the coming week's menu! Normally, I would take a moment to review a new recipe we tried this week, but unfortunately, I had a root canal on Tuesday and then ended up having two teeth pulled Thursday, one of which was the root canal tooth. :( This, in combination with an inability to find some ingredients for the planned meals, forced me to improvise for several meals (AKA macaroni and cheese LOL). Fortunately, I'm feeling much less pain, and my energy level is returning to my version of normal, so this week, I hope to try some of the recipes I had planned for last week. So here's the plan:
Sunday: Cheesy Broccoli Orzo & Butternut Squash Sage Rolls - This meal was originally planned for Thursday night, but after the trip to the dentist, I wasn't feeling much like cooking. Also, I was unable to find orzo at the grocery store last week. And since I'm sure I won't be able to find it this week (and I refuse to shop at Walmart), I'm just going to substitute some other pasta I have on hand...most likely elbow macaroni.
Monday: Spaghetti & Meatballs - This is another of The Man's favorites, probably because I make the meatballs homemade (recipe below). And it's a good way to use up some of the marinara we have in the freezer.
Tuesday: Enchiladas & Mexican Rice - Another do-over from last week.
Wednesday: Burgers - the usual!
Thursday: Pasta Fagioli - This is a great vegetarian soup (if made the traditional way), and The Man loves it! It will also give me an excuse to use the enameled cast iron dutch oven I got for Christmas :)
Friday: Pizza - Another homemade pizza! :)
Saturday: Penne with Sausage & Peppers - And the last of the repeats from this week. Hopefully I can find Italian sausage at the grocery store this week...
Meatballs
(serves 8)
1/2 lb lean ground beef
1/2 lb ground pork
2 eggs, beaten
2/3 c seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 t garlic powder
1/4 t ground black pepper
Combine the ingredients until everything is incorporated. Form into balls (a few tablespoons) and place on a foil-lined cookie sheet, about 1 inch apart (the foil will make cleanup a breeze!). Bake at 350 degrees until fully cooked, about 30 minutes (depending on the size).
Note: I use a cookie scoop (small ice cream scoop) to form the meatballs. Also, these are great freezer items. Just form the meatballs and freeze on a cookie sheet. Once they're frozen through, put them in a freezer bag and label it with contents, date, and cooking instructions.
And there ya have it! Mangia Bene!
Sunday: Cheesy Broccoli Orzo & Butternut Squash Sage Rolls - This meal was originally planned for Thursday night, but after the trip to the dentist, I wasn't feeling much like cooking. Also, I was unable to find orzo at the grocery store last week. And since I'm sure I won't be able to find it this week (and I refuse to shop at Walmart), I'm just going to substitute some other pasta I have on hand...most likely elbow macaroni.
Monday: Spaghetti & Meatballs - This is another of The Man's favorites, probably because I make the meatballs homemade (recipe below). And it's a good way to use up some of the marinara we have in the freezer.
Tuesday: Enchiladas & Mexican Rice - Another do-over from last week.
Wednesday: Burgers - the usual!
Thursday: Pasta Fagioli - This is a great vegetarian soup (if made the traditional way), and The Man loves it! It will also give me an excuse to use the enameled cast iron dutch oven I got for Christmas :)
Friday: Pizza - Another homemade pizza! :)
Saturday: Penne with Sausage & Peppers - And the last of the repeats from this week. Hopefully I can find Italian sausage at the grocery store this week...
Meatballs
(serves 8)
1/2 lb lean ground beef
1/2 lb ground pork
2 eggs, beaten
2/3 c seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 t garlic powder
1/4 t ground black pepper
Combine the ingredients until everything is incorporated. Form into balls (a few tablespoons) and place on a foil-lined cookie sheet, about 1 inch apart (the foil will make cleanup a breeze!). Bake at 350 degrees until fully cooked, about 30 minutes (depending on the size).
Note: I use a cookie scoop (small ice cream scoop) to form the meatballs. Also, these are great freezer items. Just form the meatballs and freeze on a cookie sheet. Once they're frozen through, put them in a freezer bag and label it with contents, date, and cooking instructions.
And there ya have it! Mangia Bene!
1.21.2012
Weekly Menu
It's time for another weekly menu! (I'm going to try to start posting them on Saturday, since they start on Sunday..) And just like last week's menu plan, this week's menu is also (somewhat) Pin-spired. But before we get to that, let's talk about the Chicken/Shrimp Satay w/ Thai peanut sauce...The Man and I aren't big eaters of Thai food, but this recipe sounded and looked pretty tasty. I went out and bought all the ingredients we needed and diligently mixed up everything for the marinade and cooked the sauce on the stove in advance. When it was time, I started cooking the marinated chicken and shrimp. It didn't take long at all. I had cut the chicken into cubes, the shrimp were fairly small, and soba noodles only take about 3 minutes to cook. Everything smelled fantastic as it was cooking, and the sauce tasted pretty good. The first few bites were full of new flavors that neither of us were sure about. We continued to eat, and after a few minutes, The Man looked at me and very somberly said, "I don't think I can do this." Oddly enough, I was thinking the same thing! LOL Now, I must say this...there is not a thing bad about the recipe. It's just that The Man and I aren't used to those flavors. So maybe in another life... :)
Ok, on to this week's menu!
Sunday: Corn & Chicken Chowder and Cheesy Pull-Apart Buns - Everything about this soup sounds & looks fantastic! I'm going to bet The Man won't even miss the chicken that I'm going to leave out (teehee)! And who doesn't love homemade bread filled with cheese?! I think I'll even make a double batch of the soup (one for the freezer), and since the bread makes two loaves, I will probably end up freezing one of those as well.
Monday: Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole - This is a dish I haven't made in a while, but The Man always loves it! And it's a great dish for on Monday night since it doesn't take a lot of prep or attention.
Tuesday: Enchiladas & Mexican Rice - Another "oldie but a goodie". Mine will be bean and cheese, and The Man will have his either with chicken or ground beef. I really wish he liked refried beans so I could make these the way I used to for lunch specials at my parents' store, but alas...he will not give in on this one!
Wednesday: Burgers - Since I'll have bacon in the fridge for Sunday's soup, I'm going to cut up a slice or two to mix into The Man's burger this week. I'm hoping there is leftover soup for me to eat instead of a burger!
Thursday: Cheesy Broccoli Orzo & Butternut Squash Sage Rolls - Mmmm orzo! Orzo looks like rice, but it's actually pasta and can be found in the pasta aisle at the grocery store (look for the tiny box of pasta - a pound of this stuff doesn't take up much room, which makes it a great pantry staple). And it's wonderful because it can be used to make creamy (but less labor-intensive) dishes like risotto since it gives the rice-like texture. (Note: this recipe is a massive one, and it's also calls for some strange things since it's vegan, so check back later for my modified and scaled-down version.) And, because we have a freezer full of mashed butternut squash that The Munchkin has almost grown out of eating, I'm going to use it to try the rolls. I'm hoping these become an "oldie but a goodie" because The Munchkin loves the texture of bread, and these would be a good option for her (though I might eventually modify the recipe to omit the brown sugar for her sake). This recipe also calls for chèvre, which is goat cheese, and which I will also omit, since The Man and I are not fans of it.
Friday: Pizza - I'll be making a batch of dough tomorrow to restock the freezer, but I'll leave one ball of it in the fridge for some homemade pizza. Listen for the smoke alarms to go off at our house Friday night...there's nothing like a little smoking corn meal on a pizza stone to signal dinnertime! :)
Saturday: Penne with Sausage & Peppers - This is another of The Man's favs, and we typically eat it in the summer when the peppers at the Farmers' Market are looking gorgeous, but since we had fajitas a while back, I'm in the mood for some peppers! Come on summer! :)
It looks like it's going to be a tasty week at our house! I'll let you know next week if that prediction is correct!
Mangia Bene!
Ok, on to this week's menu!
Sunday: Corn & Chicken Chowder and Cheesy Pull-Apart Buns - Everything about this soup sounds & looks fantastic! I'm going to bet The Man won't even miss the chicken that I'm going to leave out (teehee)! And who doesn't love homemade bread filled with cheese?! I think I'll even make a double batch of the soup (one for the freezer), and since the bread makes two loaves, I will probably end up freezing one of those as well.
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| Image from bunsinmyoven.com |
Monday: Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole - This is a dish I haven't made in a while, but The Man always loves it! And it's a great dish for on Monday night since it doesn't take a lot of prep or attention.
Tuesday: Enchiladas & Mexican Rice - Another "oldie but a goodie". Mine will be bean and cheese, and The Man will have his either with chicken or ground beef. I really wish he liked refried beans so I could make these the way I used to for lunch specials at my parents' store, but alas...he will not give in on this one!
Wednesday: Burgers - Since I'll have bacon in the fridge for Sunday's soup, I'm going to cut up a slice or two to mix into The Man's burger this week. I'm hoping there is leftover soup for me to eat instead of a burger!
Thursday: Cheesy Broccoli Orzo & Butternut Squash Sage Rolls - Mmmm orzo! Orzo looks like rice, but it's actually pasta and can be found in the pasta aisle at the grocery store (look for the tiny box of pasta - a pound of this stuff doesn't take up much room, which makes it a great pantry staple). And it's wonderful because it can be used to make creamy (but less labor-intensive) dishes like risotto since it gives the rice-like texture. (Note: this recipe is a massive one, and it's also calls for some strange things since it's vegan, so check back later for my modified and scaled-down version.) And, because we have a freezer full of mashed butternut squash that The Munchkin has almost grown out of eating, I'm going to use it to try the rolls. I'm hoping these become an "oldie but a goodie" because The Munchkin loves the texture of bread, and these would be a good option for her (though I might eventually modify the recipe to omit the brown sugar for her sake). This recipe also calls for chèvre, which is goat cheese, and which I will also omit, since The Man and I are not fans of it.
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| I love the color of these! Image from http://www.petitekitchenesse.com |
Friday: Pizza - I'll be making a batch of dough tomorrow to restock the freezer, but I'll leave one ball of it in the fridge for some homemade pizza. Listen for the smoke alarms to go off at our house Friday night...there's nothing like a little smoking corn meal on a pizza stone to signal dinnertime! :)
Saturday: Penne with Sausage & Peppers - This is another of The Man's favs, and we typically eat it in the summer when the peppers at the Farmers' Market are looking gorgeous, but since we had fajitas a while back, I'm in the mood for some peppers! Come on summer! :)
It looks like it's going to be a tasty week at our house! I'll let you know next week if that prediction is correct!
Mangia Bene!
1.15.2012
Weekly Menu
This week, we are going to continue testing recipes I've found on Pinterest. I feel like I somehow have to justify the amount of time I spend on there...which is LOTS! :) And it also allows me to say...
Ok, back to the jambalaya. :)
The recipe called for rice, which I always have on hand, and Cajun seasoning. I found this at the grocery store...basic ingredients: chili powder, garlic powder & onion powder...all of which I have on hand, so I decided not to buy it. As I was perusing the aisles, which I sometimes do for inspiration, I noticed a box of Zatarains. Now, if you're currently living (or have lived) in Creole Country, please don't kill me for this. But I picked up a box and looked at the directions and ingredients. Lo and Behold! It was practically the same ingredients as the rice and Cajun seasoning, and it only took 30 minutes to cook. I was smitten...especially for a dish I wasn't even sure The Man would like! So, I bought it. I followed the instructions on the box and added Polish sausage and chicken for The Man and shrimp for me. I also added 1/2 c brown rice, but no extra liquid (just to stretch it a bit). Everybody went in the pot at the beginning...easy peesie!
The verdict: It. Was. Fantastic! The Man agreed, and we've been eating the leftovers all weekend! :)
Now to get to the matter at hand...this week's menu...
Sunday: Chicken/Shrimp Satay w/ Thai peanut sauce & soba noodles - I love peanut butter! And this looked/sounded WONDERFUL when I saw the photo on Pinterest. I'm not sure how The Man will feel about it, but maybe if I don't tell him all the ingredients, he'll go into it with an open mind. *insert evil laughter here* :) (Note: Soba noodles are a great gluten free pasta alternative. They're made of buckwheat, which is actually not related to wheat at all. So if you need GF, eat to your heart's content!)
Monday: Fried pork chops & macaroni and cheese - I was going to test the French Onion Mac & Cheese recipe I found on Pinterest, but I could not, for the life of me, find Fontina at the grocery store on Friday. And since I had The Munchkin with me (and it was snowing), I wasn't up for hopping from store to store to try to find it in this culinary wasteland we call central Illinois. Also, with all the different cheeses required by this recipe, the cost of the dish was rising to a level I'm not comfortable with. I like good food, but I also like cheap food, and I believe the two can live in harmony! So I'll try this one another day because it makes my mouth water to think about it! (Note: if you need Fontina, don't go to County Market for it...I would try Meijer.)
Tuesday: Tacos/Quesadillas - I really need to find some scrumdittilyuptous Mexican recipes...sans beans (for The Man)...I'm getting bored with making tacos and quesadillas...and I'm pretty sure you're getting bored with my Tuesday meal choices!
Wednesday: Burgers - I didn't have the energy last week to make the Quinoa burgers, but I hope this week will be different! They look pretty good, if you ask me!
Thursday: Baked crispy cheddar chicken & sliced baked potatoes - Both of these recipes are from Pinterest, and they look tasty and interesting. And since The Man likes anything with cheese, I don't think he'll have a problem with this at all!
Friday: Pizza
Saturday: Chicken & Cheese lasagna rollups & Texas Roadhouse rolls - I'm not sure how either of these recipes could not taste good!
I can't wait to try these! I'll give you a recap of these items in next week's menu. :)
Mangia Bene!
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| (image from http://jojofam.blogspot.com/) |
Teehee!
Before I get into this week's menu, I want to update you on the jambalaya experiment from last week. After looking over the recipe (which I admit I hadn't done before deciding to try it), I realized that there wasn't much sense in cooking meats in a crockpot all day and then adding rice and shrimp 30 minutes before serving...especially when you can easily make a meal like this in 30 minutes (without the daunting task of having to clean the crockpot afterward!). Don't get me wrong, I love my crockpot.
 |
| Though maybe not this much... |
The recipe called for rice, which I always have on hand, and Cajun seasoning. I found this at the grocery store...basic ingredients: chili powder, garlic powder & onion powder...all of which I have on hand, so I decided not to buy it. As I was perusing the aisles, which I sometimes do for inspiration, I noticed a box of Zatarains. Now, if you're currently living (or have lived) in Creole Country, please don't kill me for this. But I picked up a box and looked at the directions and ingredients. Lo and Behold! It was practically the same ingredients as the rice and Cajun seasoning, and it only took 30 minutes to cook. I was smitten...especially for a dish I wasn't even sure The Man would like! So, I bought it. I followed the instructions on the box and added Polish sausage and chicken for The Man and shrimp for me. I also added 1/2 c brown rice, but no extra liquid (just to stretch it a bit). Everybody went in the pot at the beginning...easy peesie!
The verdict: It. Was. Fantastic! The Man agreed, and we've been eating the leftovers all weekend! :)
Now to get to the matter at hand...this week's menu...
Sunday: Chicken/Shrimp Satay w/ Thai peanut sauce & soba noodles - I love peanut butter! And this looked/sounded WONDERFUL when I saw the photo on Pinterest. I'm not sure how The Man will feel about it, but maybe if I don't tell him all the ingredients, he'll go into it with an open mind. *insert evil laughter here* :) (Note: Soba noodles are a great gluten free pasta alternative. They're made of buckwheat, which is actually not related to wheat at all. So if you need GF, eat to your heart's content!)
Monday: Fried pork chops & macaroni and cheese - I was going to test the French Onion Mac & Cheese recipe I found on Pinterest, but I could not, for the life of me, find Fontina at the grocery store on Friday. And since I had The Munchkin with me (and it was snowing), I wasn't up for hopping from store to store to try to find it in this culinary wasteland we call central Illinois. Also, with all the different cheeses required by this recipe, the cost of the dish was rising to a level I'm not comfortable with. I like good food, but I also like cheap food, and I believe the two can live in harmony! So I'll try this one another day because it makes my mouth water to think about it! (Note: if you need Fontina, don't go to County Market for it...I would try Meijer.)
Tuesday: Tacos/Quesadillas - I really need to find some scrumdittilyuptous Mexican recipes...sans beans (for The Man)...I'm getting bored with making tacos and quesadillas...and I'm pretty sure you're getting bored with my Tuesday meal choices!
Wednesday: Burgers - I didn't have the energy last week to make the Quinoa burgers, but I hope this week will be different! They look pretty good, if you ask me!
Thursday: Baked crispy cheddar chicken & sliced baked potatoes - Both of these recipes are from Pinterest, and they look tasty and interesting. And since The Man likes anything with cheese, I don't think he'll have a problem with this at all!
Friday: Pizza
Saturday: Chicken & Cheese lasagna rollups & Texas Roadhouse rolls - I'm not sure how either of these recipes could not taste good!
I can't wait to try these! I'll give you a recap of these items in next week's menu. :)
Mangia Bene!
1.08.2012
Weekly Menu
Here is this week's menu. We've pretty much cleaned the freezers of everything except frozen produce from this summer's farmers' markets, so now we're going to try some of the recipes I've found on Pinterest!
Sunday: Manicotti Florentine - I didn't end up making this last week because I got home later than usual and wanted to spend some time with The Munchkin before she went to bed.
Monday: Biscuits & gravy - The last package of sausage in the freezer. The Man will LOVE this, as usual. I'll make a little batch of gravy for myself without the sausage. And if I'm feeling particularly hungry, I'll make some scrambled eggs and tater tots to go with it.
Tuesday: Fajitas & Mexican rice - I'm bored with making tacos, so I'm going to mix it up a bit and make fajitas. This is just sliced green peppers and onions (and chicken for The Man). I heat olive oil in a skillet and add a little chili powder and crushed red pepper. Cook and serve. Yum!
Wednesday: Cheeseburger/Quinoa burger & Parmesan hash brown cups - It's time to try 2 recipes from Pinterest. I recently tried a Gardenburger from the grocery store's freezer section, and I must say I wasn't real impressed. So it's time to try something else.
Thursday: Slow cooker jambalaya - I don't think either The Man or I have ever had jambalaya, but I think it's time to try it. I'm going to make it with all the meat, then I'll just pick around it. We shall see...
Friday: Pizza - nothing new here...
Saturday: Tater tot casserole - I had never heard of this until I met The Man. It was a staple when he was growing up, and it's really not hard to make. Brown 1 lb ground beef. Drain and layer in a pan with 1 can cream of <whatever you prefer> soup and 1 can drained french cut green beans. Cover with a layer of tater tots and bake according to tater tot directions. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and bake for another 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and slightly browned. I may just have some cheesy tater tots! :)
So there you have it...come back next week for more Pinterest inspired meals (and maybe some modifications to the recipes we are trying this week).
Mangia Bene!
Sunday: Manicotti Florentine - I didn't end up making this last week because I got home later than usual and wanted to spend some time with The Munchkin before she went to bed.
Monday: Biscuits & gravy - The last package of sausage in the freezer. The Man will LOVE this, as usual. I'll make a little batch of gravy for myself without the sausage. And if I'm feeling particularly hungry, I'll make some scrambled eggs and tater tots to go with it.
Tuesday: Fajitas & Mexican rice - I'm bored with making tacos, so I'm going to mix it up a bit and make fajitas. This is just sliced green peppers and onions (and chicken for The Man). I heat olive oil in a skillet and add a little chili powder and crushed red pepper. Cook and serve. Yum!
Wednesday: Cheeseburger/Quinoa burger & Parmesan hash brown cups - It's time to try 2 recipes from Pinterest. I recently tried a Gardenburger from the grocery store's freezer section, and I must say I wasn't real impressed. So it's time to try something else.
Thursday: Slow cooker jambalaya - I don't think either The Man or I have ever had jambalaya, but I think it's time to try it. I'm going to make it with all the meat, then I'll just pick around it. We shall see...
Friday: Pizza - nothing new here...
Saturday: Tater tot casserole - I had never heard of this until I met The Man. It was a staple when he was growing up, and it's really not hard to make. Brown 1 lb ground beef. Drain and layer in a pan with 1 can cream of <whatever you prefer> soup and 1 can drained french cut green beans. Cover with a layer of tater tots and bake according to tater tot directions. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and bake for another 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and slightly browned. I may just have some cheesy tater tots! :)
So there you have it...come back next week for more Pinterest inspired meals (and maybe some modifications to the recipes we are trying this week).
Mangia Bene!
1.02.2012
Weekly Menu
Sunday: I was out at dinner time, but when I got home, I ate a slice of warmed brioche with butter and a chocolate malt. Dinner of champions! :)
Monday: Potato soup & grilled cheese - The Man had to work, and it was terribly cold and windy, so I thought a good, thick potato soup would help warm him up.
Tuesday: Tacos/black bean and corn quesadillas & Mexican rice - It's Mexican night!
Wednesday: Cheeseburgers/falafel & fries - Burger night again! I may cook up some bacon for The Man to add to his.
Thursday: Manicotti Florentine with alfredo, salad & garlic bread - Alfredo sauce!! What else can I say?
Friday: Pizza night
Saturday: Chicken & Noodles - We've got some noodles left over from Christmas, so I plan to add some chicken for The Man and call it dinner. :)
I was trying to decide what recipes to share from this week's menu, but I don't follow a recipe for the soup or the manicotti, so it's difficult. But I'll walk you through the steps...
Manicotti Florentine
Mix ricotta and parmesan in a bowl. Add frozen spinach. Boil manicotti until al dente. Let cool. Using a spoon, gently fill each manicotti with the cheese mixture. Add a layer of your favorite sauce to the bottom of a baking dish and top with the filled manicotti. Cover with sauce and bake at 350 until heated through.
My apologies for not providing measurements. These two meals just happen to be the kind for which I don't measure the ingredients...I go by the appearance and smell. Maybe some day, I'll write it down so I can share it with you.
Mangia Bene!
Monday: Potato soup & grilled cheese - The Man had to work, and it was terribly cold and windy, so I thought a good, thick potato soup would help warm him up.
Tuesday: Tacos/black bean and corn quesadillas & Mexican rice - It's Mexican night!
Wednesday: Cheeseburgers/falafel & fries - Burger night again! I may cook up some bacon for The Man to add to his.
Thursday: Manicotti Florentine with alfredo, salad & garlic bread - Alfredo sauce!! What else can I say?
Friday: Pizza night
Saturday: Chicken & Noodles - We've got some noodles left over from Christmas, so I plan to add some chicken for The Man and call it dinner. :)
I was trying to decide what recipes to share from this week's menu, but I don't follow a recipe for the soup or the manicotti, so it's difficult. But I'll walk you through the steps...
Manicotti Florentine
Mix ricotta and parmesan in a bowl. Add frozen spinach. Boil manicotti until al dente. Let cool. Using a spoon, gently fill each manicotti with the cheese mixture. Add a layer of your favorite sauce to the bottom of a baking dish and top with the filled manicotti. Cover with sauce and bake at 350 until heated through.
My apologies for not providing measurements. These two meals just happen to be the kind for which I don't measure the ingredients...I go by the appearance and smell. Maybe some day, I'll write it down so I can share it with you.
Mangia Bene!
12.18.2011
Weekly Menu
It's that time again...This week, I will be prepping my contributions to Christmas dinner at grandma's (bread and my grandma's homemade noodles). I also made a giant pot of marinara last week as an offering to the freezer gods. So, the week's meals will take advantage of some of my efforts.
Sunday: Spaghetti, garlic bread & green beans - whole wheat spaghetti with homemade marinara. It was nothing fancy, just good ingredients. Even the munchkin enjoyed some spaghetti pieces and little bites of green beans.
Monday: Meatloaf (recipe), mashed potatoes & salad - Last Monday turned out to be a busy one, and we ended up eating grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner! So I'm recycling this meal to this week. Salad for me! :)
Tuesday: Taco soup - Tuesday is almost always Mexican night at our house...and it's usually tacos. This week, I plan to make a pretty simple soup. This is a wonderful recipe (below) that is easy to make with or without meat. Serve it with your regular taco toppings and tortilla chips.
Wednesday: Cheeseburgers/falafel & fries - I liked the falafel so much last week that I cooked up the remaining mixture for leftovers. And I'll be having it again this week! If we didn't have an abundance of hamburger buns in the pantry, I'd make my own with some of the bread dough for Christmas...
Thursday: Chili - I usually make two pots of chili...The Man likes his chili slightly sweet, but I do not. I also want mine meatless now. So, two pots of chili it is!
Friday: It's pizza night! I plan to use some Christmas bread dough to can make our own. We find most frozen pizzas to be lacking, and takeout takes a toll on our bank account. The Man and I enjoy being in the kitchen together, and we'll get to use some of that tasty marinara!
Saturday: Peanut Soba Noodles (recipe below) - I've tried an Asian dish using peanut butter before, and The Man wasn't fond of it. This time, I will try something different...we'll see if he likes it. :)
Taco Soup
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cooked & shredded (optional)
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1-2 cans chicken broth, depending on desired consistency
1 can Rotel tomatoes & chiles, in liquid
1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
1 can kidney beans, in liquid
1 can corn, drained
2 tablespoons chili powder
red pepper flakes to taste
salt to taste
pepper to taste
Combine ingredients in a crockpot (add chili powder, red pepper flakes, salt & pepper to taste). Cook on low overnight. Serve with tortilla chips and your favorite Mexican garnishes.
Peanut Soba Noodles
(4 servings)
8 ounces soba (buckwheat) noodles
2 T olive oil
1 bag frozen stir fry vegetables, thawed1 bunch green onions, sliced
2 T sesame oil
1 t grated fresh ginger
1/3 c peanut butter
2 T soy sauce
1/4 c hot water
1 T cider vinegar
1 t white sugar
crushed red pepper flakes to taste
Cook noodles in a large pot of boiling water until done. Drain.
Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a wok. Quickly cook the stir fry vegetables until just tender. Remove from the wok.
Heat sesame oil in the wok. Add onions and cook until tender. Add ginger; cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in peanut butter, soy sauce, water, vinegar, sugar, and red pepper flakes.
Toss noodles and vegetables with sauce, and serve.
Sunday: Spaghetti, garlic bread & green beans - whole wheat spaghetti with homemade marinara. It was nothing fancy, just good ingredients. Even the munchkin enjoyed some spaghetti pieces and little bites of green beans.
Monday: Meatloaf (recipe), mashed potatoes & salad - Last Monday turned out to be a busy one, and we ended up eating grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner! So I'm recycling this meal to this week. Salad for me! :)
Tuesday: Taco soup - Tuesday is almost always Mexican night at our house...and it's usually tacos. This week, I plan to make a pretty simple soup. This is a wonderful recipe (below) that is easy to make with or without meat. Serve it with your regular taco toppings and tortilla chips.
Wednesday: Cheeseburgers/falafel & fries - I liked the falafel so much last week that I cooked up the remaining mixture for leftovers. And I'll be having it again this week! If we didn't have an abundance of hamburger buns in the pantry, I'd make my own with some of the bread dough for Christmas...
Thursday: Chili - I usually make two pots of chili...The Man likes his chili slightly sweet, but I do not. I also want mine meatless now. So, two pots of chili it is!
Friday: It's pizza night! I plan to use some Christmas bread dough to can make our own. We find most frozen pizzas to be lacking, and takeout takes a toll on our bank account. The Man and I enjoy being in the kitchen together, and we'll get to use some of that tasty marinara!
Saturday: Peanut Soba Noodles (recipe below) - I've tried an Asian dish using peanut butter before, and The Man wasn't fond of it. This time, I will try something different...we'll see if he likes it. :)
Taco Soup
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cooked & shredded (optional)
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1-2 cans chicken broth, depending on desired consistency
1 can Rotel tomatoes & chiles, in liquid
1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
1 can kidney beans, in liquid
1 can corn, drained
2 tablespoons chili powder
red pepper flakes to taste
salt to taste
pepper to taste
Combine ingredients in a crockpot (add chili powder, red pepper flakes, salt & pepper to taste). Cook on low overnight. Serve with tortilla chips and your favorite Mexican garnishes.
Peanut Soba Noodles
(4 servings)
8 ounces soba (buckwheat) noodles
2 T olive oil
1 bag frozen stir fry vegetables, thawed1 bunch green onions, sliced
2 T sesame oil
1 t grated fresh ginger
1/3 c peanut butter
2 T soy sauce
1/4 c hot water
1 T cider vinegar
1 t white sugar
crushed red pepper flakes to taste
Cook noodles in a large pot of boiling water until done. Drain.
Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a wok. Quickly cook the stir fry vegetables until just tender. Remove from the wok.
Heat sesame oil in the wok. Add onions and cook until tender. Add ginger; cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in peanut butter, soy sauce, water, vinegar, sugar, and red pepper flakes.
Toss noodles and vegetables with sauce, and serve.
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