These are menus we have used over the past couple of months and I have been trying to keep up with our menus in an effort to not have to think so hard about weekly meal plans in the future!
Week 1: Tortellini; pizza; oatmeal bake; pork tenderloin; chicken strips; salad + grilled chicken
Week 2: gyro chickpea salad w/naan; salmon; veggie enchiladas; spinach pasta salad w/oranges; hamburgers
Week 3: meatloaf; taco salad; chicken + salad; burgers; pizza
Week 4: freezer veggie enchiladas; korean chicken lettuce wraps; chicken pesto sandwiches; sloppy joe's; pizza
Week 5: Frittata; Jason's fruit, nut + chicken salad; burgers; chicken strips
Saturday, July 29, 2017
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Beef & Broccoli, Thai noodle soup AND Chicken Chili
We recently came across a blog that had some really good recipes. They were all pretty quick, no crazy ingredients, easy to make and tasted delicious.
Beef with Broccoli: http://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/beef-broccoli.html
This was yummy. I doubled it, the sauce didn't quite thicken like I thought it would but it was still very easy, very yummy. Served with rice & roasted carrots
Thai Noodle Soup: http://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/thai-chicken-rice-noodle-soup.html
LOTS of good flavor, really could have added carrots and mushrooms to it probably.
White Chicken Chili: http://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/white-chicken-chili.html
Omitted the poblanos, jalepenos and spicy stuff. I used canned green chiles, didn't have the coriander so subbed cumin. Added green and red peppers. This isn't mine pictured. I think you could add tomatoes to this. We topped with some monterrey jack and avocados, the lime juice is a nice nice touch.
Beef with Broccoli: http://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/beef-broccoli.html
This was yummy. I doubled it, the sauce didn't quite thicken like I thought it would but it was still very easy, very yummy. Served with rice & roasted carrots
Thai Noodle Soup: http://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/thai-chicken-rice-noodle-soup.html
LOTS of good flavor, really could have added carrots and mushrooms to it probably.
White Chicken Chili: http://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/white-chicken-chili.html
Omitted the poblanos, jalepenos and spicy stuff. I used canned green chiles, didn't have the coriander so subbed cumin. Added green and red peppers. This isn't mine pictured. I think you could add tomatoes to this. We topped with some monterrey jack and avocados, the lime juice is a nice nice touch.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Weekly Menu: Feb 24-Mar 2 or 3rd...
I'm sort of over savory, rich meals. I think coming close to 3rd trimester has begun to effect my appetite. I'm seeing more bird meals and produce in my future, if it's going to be anything like my previous pregnancies. By week 30, all I want is fruit, bread and a little protein here and there.
1. Taco Salad (2 nights) We're going to try this vegetarian version, see how it goes. Verdict: DELICIOUS! Easy, cheap, perfect! Kids loved the dressing "dip"
My version of the dressing looked more like this:
4Tbsp lime juice
2 c loosely packed cilantro leaves (very loose)
1-2 Tbsp Apple cider vinegar
3/4 c cold water
1 whole avocado
1/8-1/4 tsp salt
2-3 tsp honey
1 full cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2-1 tsp minced garlic
Put it all in a blender/food processor and go to town til you like how it's blended
Aside from that, we stuck to the salad ingredients and I did add corn chips crunched on top. Maybe 4-5. Was just enough balance. I really really liked this salad and we will def be having it again!
2. Mini quiche/fritattas + fruit/parfaits + fresh bread--I plan to just make some crustless muffin-tin versions of Sally's variations on yummy "quiche". Any leftovers will be frozen for quick lunches/snacks later
3. Springtime Pasta with Bacon + cream of mushroom soup--just dying to see how this night or 2 goes over...can just hear the wailing and complaints now!
4. Chicken curry with cauliflower, sweet potatoes added. Green beans, rice, pumpkin yogurt granola parfaits
Breakfasts:
Oatmeal bake
Pumpkin granola, yogurt/eggs, fruit (apples or oranges probably)
Banana muffins, cream cheese schmear, fruit
Cereal, milk, fruit
Waffles, smoothies
Lunches (for kids' school days)
Pasta Packs
CC+J Sandwhiches (cream cheese and jelly...can't do PBJ due to classroom allergies)
Protein packs
Ham + cheese sandwiches one day
1. Taco Salad (2 nights) We're going to try this vegetarian version, see how it goes. Verdict: DELICIOUS! Easy, cheap, perfect! Kids loved the dressing "dip"
My version of the dressing looked more like this:
4Tbsp lime juice
2 c loosely packed cilantro leaves (very loose)
1-2 Tbsp Apple cider vinegar
3/4 c cold water
1 whole avocado
1/8-1/4 tsp salt
2-3 tsp honey
1 full cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2-1 tsp minced garlic
Put it all in a blender/food processor and go to town til you like how it's blended
Aside from that, we stuck to the salad ingredients and I did add corn chips crunched on top. Maybe 4-5. Was just enough balance. I really really liked this salad and we will def be having it again!
2. Mini quiche/fritattas + fruit/parfaits + fresh bread--I plan to just make some crustless muffin-tin versions of Sally's variations on yummy "quiche". Any leftovers will be frozen for quick lunches/snacks later
3. Springtime Pasta with Bacon + cream of mushroom soup--just dying to see how this night or 2 goes over...can just hear the wailing and complaints now!
4. Chicken curry with cauliflower, sweet potatoes added. Green beans, rice, pumpkin yogurt granola parfaits
Breakfasts:
Oatmeal bake
Pumpkin granola, yogurt/eggs, fruit (apples or oranges probably)
Banana muffins, cream cheese schmear, fruit
Cereal, milk, fruit
Waffles, smoothies
Lunches (for kids' school days)
Pasta Packs
CC+J Sandwhiches (cream cheese and jelly...can't do PBJ due to classroom allergies)
Protein packs
Ham + cheese sandwiches one day
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Vegetarian Roasted Chickpea Gyros
I came across this recipe and thought it sounded simple and pretty good. I, of course, wanted to alter it a bit. **these pictures are not the best, AT ALL, but I was not really expecting this to be blog worthy!**
We also happened to have a lemon pepper rotisserie chicken in the fridge at this time that needed to be used and I had no plans for it, so I opted to chop the meat from it into the chickpea mix. It wasn't a ton of meat, but it did add a little to the mix.
I made homemade Naan (I doubled the recipe to make about 13-14 flats)
For those who are not inclined to do that, you can use whole wheat flat bread or some grocers do sell Naan in the bakery section.
I used my recipe for tzatziki sauce (I made the full recipe, thinking it would be too much, actually, we probably could've eaten more!)
For the chickpeas:
2 15-oz cans chickpeas, rinsed, drained and dried
Several Tablespoons of olive oil (enough to coat the beans on a cookie sheet)
salt/pepper
oregano
rosemary
paprika
1-2 cloves garlic
*sliced onion, pepper
Preheat oven to 400F
On lined cookie sheet toss chickpeas with olive oil, sprinkle with seasonings as desired
*I toyed with the idea of roasting the onions and peppers with the chickpeas and opted not to this time, but probably will try it next time
Roast for 15-20 min, until slightly crisp/crunchy
Serve with kalamata olives, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, sliced red pepper and FETA!!
I added crudites on the side to dip in the tzatziki
Fresh fruit on the side. Voila!
Dinner could seriously be done in under 30 min and be healthy!
We also happened to have a lemon pepper rotisserie chicken in the fridge at this time that needed to be used and I had no plans for it, so I opted to chop the meat from it into the chickpea mix. It wasn't a ton of meat, but it did add a little to the mix.
I made homemade Naan (I doubled the recipe to make about 13-14 flats)
For those who are not inclined to do that, you can use whole wheat flat bread or some grocers do sell Naan in the bakery section.
I used my recipe for tzatziki sauce (I made the full recipe, thinking it would be too much, actually, we probably could've eaten more!)
For the chickpeas:
2 15-oz cans chickpeas, rinsed, drained and dried
Several Tablespoons of olive oil (enough to coat the beans on a cookie sheet)
salt/pepper
oregano
rosemary
paprika
1-2 cloves garlic
*sliced onion, pepper
Preheat oven to 400F
On lined cookie sheet toss chickpeas with olive oil, sprinkle with seasonings as desired
*I toyed with the idea of roasting the onions and peppers with the chickpeas and opted not to this time, but probably will try it next time
Roast for 15-20 min, until slightly crisp/crunchy
Serve with kalamata olives, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, sliced red pepper and FETA!!
I added crudites on the side to dip in the tzatziki
Fresh fruit on the side. Voila!
Dinner could seriously be done in under 30 min and be healthy!
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Weekly Menu Feb 17-Feb 24
1. German Pancakes, bacon and yogurt parfaits with fresh fruit and granola
2. Serendipity Sandwiches, steamed broccoli and fruit
3. Chickpea Gyros, peppers/cucs/tomatoes for dipping
4. Pork tenderloin, cherry sauce; broccoli, roasted carrots, baguette, fruit/apples
Previous Week we had Minestrone, Chicken Noodle Soup, and spaghetti
2. Serendipity Sandwiches, steamed broccoli and fruit
3. Chickpea Gyros, peppers/cucs/tomatoes for dipping
4. Pork tenderloin, cherry sauce; broccoli, roasted carrots, baguette, fruit/apples
Previous Week we had Minestrone, Chicken Noodle Soup, and spaghetti
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Best Dang Cinnamon Rolls.
The search is over. After several years and innumerable recipes, I have come up with the best dang cinnamon rolls, EV'AH. Hands down. I have searched Pinterest, recipe magazines and websites, popular blog sites, and scoured old recipes. I have baked multiple batches of a wide assortment of rolls and every time walked away disappointed in some aspect. Vowing to return to the kitchen for another round in a few weeks. Until today! We had a "snow day"...which around these parts means a few flakes were noticed and it was really cold, thus everyone should shutter themselves inside like they live in one of those REAL winter locales like DC or NYC.
The laundry was up-to-date, grocery shopping had been completed yesterday (in anticipation of snowmageddon, of course), the house was clean (thanks to the potential of putting it on the market recently), and dinners have even been made and put away for the next week. There truly was NOTHING for me to do but enjoy the day! So, I decided to tackle the subject of cinnamon rolls...AGAIN.
Boy I am glad I did! I had gone in search of Cooks Illustrated recipes a few weeks ago and come across The Way the Cookie Crumbles take on CI's recipe. I made a batch one afternoon and they were good, but I knew they could be slightly tweaked and be off the charts. I liked her version because it wasn't tooth-killing sweet and wasn't ridiculously fat-laden or gooey. I am not a huge fan of super ooey gooey, ridiculously sweet, over-the-top cinnamon rolls. I like them soft, fluffy, balance of sugar and cinnamon, with a hint of cream cheese and a nice thick icing.
Today, in my quest, I decided to search (AGAIN) and came across Oh Sweet Basil's self-proclaimed "world's best cinnamon rolls".
I sat down and wrote both recipes side by side to compare ingredients and ratios. I was immediately struck by how much butter and sugar were in Oh Sweet Basil's...I mean seriously. THREE cups of sugar just for the filling??? No thanks. I knew her recipe might not be entirely for me, but I did like a few aspects and decided to try and incorporate them into TWTCC's version to create a new hybrid recipe I could call my own. They were AMAZING. Perfect. Well, my cinnamon roll perfect.
If you like super sweet, over-the-top gooey rolls, these ain't yo thang. If you enjoy a fluffy, soft, sweet/cinnamon, nicely balanced roll...give them a go. You won't be sorry!
This version makes 24-36 rolls (Depending on how thick you cut them. I cut mine approx. 1in thick and had almost 36)
Total time: roughly 5 hours
DOUGH
1 c warm water
5 tsp active dry yeast (I really like Fleischman's)
1/4 c whole milk
1/4 c heavy cream (if you don't have this on hand, sub whole milk...so you'd have a total of 1/2 c)
1/2 c buttermilk (again...if you don't have it, use whole milk + 1 Tbsp lemon juice--let it sit for a min and thicken)
14 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1/2 c (3.5 oz) + 2 tsp sugar, divided
2 whole eggs + 4 yolks (freeze those egg whites for another recipe!)
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp salt
6 c APF
2 c bread flour
1/4 c corn starch
1. Melt butter and set aside to cool. in a separate large bowl mix salt, flours, corn starch and set aside.
2. heat milk (just the whole milk + cream) in microwave until warm, stir in buttermilk.. Should be slightly warm to touch
3. In large mixer bowl combine water, yeast and 2 tsp sugar. Allow to sit and proof 3-5 min until frothy.
5. While waiting, mix together remaining 1/2 c sugar, eggs, yolks, vanilla and butter; set aside
6. Add milk mixture to yeast mixture, stir.
7. Add egg/butter/sugar mixture to yeast + millk mixture. Stir on med low using dough hook for a minute or two until mixed.
8. Add 3 c flour mixture to yeast mixture and stir on low (2 ish on the kitchen aid) until mostly incorporated. Add flour 1/2-1 c increments (keeping speed low to prevent flour splattering everywhere!) until dough ball forms cohesive dough, clearing sides of bowl and is smooth, elastic ball.
9. Dump dough into a well greased large bowl, cover lightly with plastic wrap and allow to rise 1-2 hrs. until doubled in size
While you wait...Mix up filling:
FILLING:
1 c brown sugar
1/4 c white sugar
4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp cornstarch
8 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened so you can easily smear it
Combine sugars, cinnamon, salt and cornstarch in a bowl. set aside.
...DING! Dough has risen nicely, now onto the next step!
1. Dump it onto the counter and split it into 2 equal dough balls. Roll each out into approx. 16 in x 12 in rectangles.
2. Schmear 4 Tbsp softened butter (from filling recipe) onto each rectangle, covering each entirely.
3. Divide the cinnamon/sugar mixture equally onto each rectangle. spread it all over, leaving approx. 1/4" border along one long edge of each rectangle.
4. Starting on the opposite long edge as your empty border, begin rolling the rectangle into a long log (approx. 16 in), aiming to keep your edges all lined up at the top and bottom of the log. Gently pinch the seam closed when it's completely rolled. Mark 1 in or 1.5 inch increments along the rolled log.
5. lightly grease a 9x13 pan
6. Using dental floss, slice your rolls off at the measured markings and arrange cut-side up in your 9x13 pan, allowing a little space between each (12 should fit nicely); if you have extras...like me, feel free to use an 8" round pan (I had 18 rolls total from each rectangle)
7. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and allow to rise another 1-2 hours until doubled in size again (Mine seem to be perfectly ready around the 1.25-1.5 hr mark)
Pre heat oven to 350F.
Remove plastic wrap and bake 20-28 min until lightly (VERY lightly) browned (or temp registers 185-188 degrees F internally--this is definitely my preferred gauge)
Remove and allow to cool 10 min. While you wait and resist picking a bite...Mix the ICING!
ICING:
6-8 oz softened cream cheese (depending on how cream cheesy you like your frosting)
4 Tbsp softened, unsalted butter
2-3 c powdered sugar (sifted) amount depends on your sweetness preference
1 tsp vanilla extract
4-8 Tbsp millk (or cream if you have it!)
1. Cream the butter and cream cheese together. Add powdered sugar. Mix together until well mixed, add in vanilla and 4 Tbsp milk. Adjust consistency to your liking with adding more milk.
SCHMEAR it all over those rolls and sit yo'self down for a well-deserved snack break!
The laundry was up-to-date, grocery shopping had been completed yesterday (in anticipation of snowmageddon, of course), the house was clean (thanks to the potential of putting it on the market recently), and dinners have even been made and put away for the next week. There truly was NOTHING for me to do but enjoy the day! So, I decided to tackle the subject of cinnamon rolls...AGAIN.
Boy I am glad I did! I had gone in search of Cooks Illustrated recipes a few weeks ago and come across The Way the Cookie Crumbles take on CI's recipe. I made a batch one afternoon and they were good, but I knew they could be slightly tweaked and be off the charts. I liked her version because it wasn't tooth-killing sweet and wasn't ridiculously fat-laden or gooey. I am not a huge fan of super ooey gooey, ridiculously sweet, over-the-top cinnamon rolls. I like them soft, fluffy, balance of sugar and cinnamon, with a hint of cream cheese and a nice thick icing.
Today, in my quest, I decided to search (AGAIN) and came across Oh Sweet Basil's self-proclaimed "world's best cinnamon rolls".
I sat down and wrote both recipes side by side to compare ingredients and ratios. I was immediately struck by how much butter and sugar were in Oh Sweet Basil's...I mean seriously. THREE cups of sugar just for the filling??? No thanks. I knew her recipe might not be entirely for me, but I did like a few aspects and decided to try and incorporate them into TWTCC's version to create a new hybrid recipe I could call my own. They were AMAZING. Perfect. Well, my cinnamon roll perfect.
If you like super sweet, over-the-top gooey rolls, these ain't yo thang. If you enjoy a fluffy, soft, sweet/cinnamon, nicely balanced roll...give them a go. You won't be sorry!
This version makes 24-36 rolls (Depending on how thick you cut them. I cut mine approx. 1in thick and had almost 36)
Total time: roughly 5 hours
DOUGH
1 c warm water
5 tsp active dry yeast (I really like Fleischman's)
1/4 c whole milk
1/4 c heavy cream (if you don't have this on hand, sub whole milk...so you'd have a total of 1/2 c)
1/2 c buttermilk (again...if you don't have it, use whole milk + 1 Tbsp lemon juice--let it sit for a min and thicken)
14 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1/2 c (3.5 oz) + 2 tsp sugar, divided
2 whole eggs + 4 yolks (freeze those egg whites for another recipe!)
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp salt
6 c APF
2 c bread flour
1/4 c corn starch
1. Melt butter and set aside to cool. in a separate large bowl mix salt, flours, corn starch and set aside.
2. heat milk (just the whole milk + cream) in microwave until warm, stir in buttermilk.. Should be slightly warm to touch
3. In large mixer bowl combine water, yeast and 2 tsp sugar. Allow to sit and proof 3-5 min until frothy.
5. While waiting, mix together remaining 1/2 c sugar, eggs, yolks, vanilla and butter; set aside
6. Add milk mixture to yeast mixture, stir.
7. Add egg/butter/sugar mixture to yeast + millk mixture. Stir on med low using dough hook for a minute or two until mixed.
8. Add 3 c flour mixture to yeast mixture and stir on low (2 ish on the kitchen aid) until mostly incorporated. Add flour 1/2-1 c increments (keeping speed low to prevent flour splattering everywhere!) until dough ball forms cohesive dough, clearing sides of bowl and is smooth, elastic ball.
9. Dump dough into a well greased large bowl, cover lightly with plastic wrap and allow to rise 1-2 hrs. until doubled in size
While you wait...Mix up filling:
FILLING:
1 c brown sugar
1/4 c white sugar
4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp cornstarch
8 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened so you can easily smear it
Combine sugars, cinnamon, salt and cornstarch in a bowl. set aside.
...DING! Dough has risen nicely, now onto the next step!
1. Dump it onto the counter and split it into 2 equal dough balls. Roll each out into approx. 16 in x 12 in rectangles.
2. Schmear 4 Tbsp softened butter (from filling recipe) onto each rectangle, covering each entirely.
3. Divide the cinnamon/sugar mixture equally onto each rectangle. spread it all over, leaving approx. 1/4" border along one long edge of each rectangle.
4. Starting on the opposite long edge as your empty border, begin rolling the rectangle into a long log (approx. 16 in), aiming to keep your edges all lined up at the top and bottom of the log. Gently pinch the seam closed when it's completely rolled. Mark 1 in or 1.5 inch increments along the rolled log.
5. lightly grease a 9x13 pan
6. Using dental floss, slice your rolls off at the measured markings and arrange cut-side up in your 9x13 pan, allowing a little space between each (12 should fit nicely); if you have extras...like me, feel free to use an 8" round pan (I had 18 rolls total from each rectangle)
7. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and allow to rise another 1-2 hours until doubled in size again (Mine seem to be perfectly ready around the 1.25-1.5 hr mark)
Pre heat oven to 350F.
Remove plastic wrap and bake 20-28 min until lightly (VERY lightly) browned (or temp registers 185-188 degrees F internally--this is definitely my preferred gauge)
Remove and allow to cool 10 min. While you wait and resist picking a bite...Mix the ICING!
ICING:
6-8 oz softened cream cheese (depending on how cream cheesy you like your frosting)
4 Tbsp softened, unsalted butter
2-3 c powdered sugar (sifted) amount depends on your sweetness preference
1 tsp vanilla extract
4-8 Tbsp millk (or cream if you have it!)
1. Cream the butter and cream cheese together. Add powdered sugar. Mix together until well mixed, add in vanilla and 4 Tbsp milk. Adjust consistency to your liking with adding more milk.
SCHMEAR it all over those rolls and sit yo'self down for a well-deserved snack break!
Friday, January 22, 2016
Weekly Menu Jan 22-Jan 29, 2016
Hamburger Stew (I use a hybrid of PW's recipe and my momma's) with these corn muffins
Spaghetti (one day I'll get around to posting my recipe for that) + spinach salad
Philly Dip Sandwiches, fruit, broccoli
Taco Salad
Real exciting, I know. Contain yourself.
So I went grocery shopping today and came home did the following to ease my week:
1. Made spaghetti sauce and froze it in 2 freezer bags
2. While that was cooking, I sautéed onions and peppers, then made Philly Dips and rolled them up in foil and froze them
3. When I was done with the Philly's, waiting for the spaghetti sauce to cool I made the taco meat and froze it.
then for our actual dinner I made hamburger stew and corn muffins--enough for us for 2 nights!
Hooray! Dinners should be easy and relatively stress-free this week!!
Spaghetti (one day I'll get around to posting my recipe for that) + spinach salad
Philly Dip Sandwiches, fruit, broccoli
Taco Salad
Real exciting, I know. Contain yourself.
So I went grocery shopping today and came home did the following to ease my week:
1. Made spaghetti sauce and froze it in 2 freezer bags
2. While that was cooking, I sautéed onions and peppers, then made Philly Dips and rolled them up in foil and froze them
3. When I was done with the Philly's, waiting for the spaghetti sauce to cool I made the taco meat and froze it.
then for our actual dinner I made hamburger stew and corn muffins--enough for us for 2 nights!
Hooray! Dinners should be easy and relatively stress-free this week!!
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