MENU: April 13, 2012 (Kristie)
Lent is officially over but it doesn't mean that eating a little fish or meat-free meal each week should stop. This week we had a lot of "experimental dinners." That means my family tried meals none of us had ever eaten. Usually, a week might include two of those at most, but this week we hit a record five! The best part was that EVERY one of them was a hit, and surprisingly, the curried shrimp was he kids favorites.
Lent is officially over but it doesn't mean that eating a little fish or meat-free meal each week should stop. This week we had a lot of "experimental dinners." That means my family tried meals none of us had ever eaten. Usually, a week might include two of those at most, but this week we hit a record five! The best part was that EVERY one of them was a hit, and surprisingly, the curried shrimp was he kids favorites.
This week's meals in no particular order:
- Pork tenderloin with balsamic reduction
- Toastachos
- Prosciutto wrapped chicken with ricotta-herb filling
- Pasta alfredo (repeat)
- Curried shrimp and pineapple
- Lime-in-the-coconut chicken
- Super-size turkey meatballs with spinach and cheese
MENU: April 6, 2012 (Karen)
Unlike Kristie, we have yet to uncover the grill. So I've got some fast and friendly dishes this week that don't take a lot of your time. Our Good Friday meal this week is Zucchini Corn Fritters. This will end our Friday Lent on a healthy note. They never even notice that they're eating healthy with this recipe.
Another meal that I included this week is Pork Tenderloin with Mushrooms. I made this two weeks ago for the first time. And it is a KEEPER! The family were licking their plates and asking for more. I may double the recipe this week so we have some yummy leftovers on a busier night in the week.
This week's meals in no particular order:
- Zucchini Corn Fritters
- Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken
- Beefy Tex-Mex Stir Fry
- Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Pork Tenderloin w/ Mushrooms
- Red Pasole
MENU: March 30, 2012 (Kristie)
You may have noticed that the past two weeks no new menu plans were posted. It was time for spring break so we took a little vacation from the blog. Chances are you were out of town in the recent past or will be in the not so distant future so your eating plans are out the window. Now with the weather getting warmer ever week, it's time to pull the cover off the grill and get back to cooking outside as much as possible. This week is a mix of favorite spring/summer go to meals and some new ones that passed the kid's taste test. And I didn't forget a special request for a lenten meal without fish...stir-fry pasta primavera should hit the spot.
This week's meals in no particular order:
- Grilled pork tenderloin roulade
- Cheesy pearl couscous
- Spiced grilled chicken
- Cheesy meat loaf minis
- Stir-fry pasta primavera
- Chicken milanese
- Cheesy pigs in blankets
MENU: March 9, 2012 (Karen)
This was a hard week to decide what to make. I did 2 crockpot recipes because we had a busy week on the calendar. The other recipes were fast and easy too. With one day of leftovers. One recipe calls for buttermilk. I never have that on hand so I wanted to share an easy way to make your own for recipes.
(For each cup of buttermilk, you can use 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice plus enough milk to measure 1 cup. Stir, then let stand for 5 minutes).
Recipes can always be adapted to suit your needs or tastes. I never have marsala wine so I always substitute dried sherry in recipes I love the flavor. This week a recipe called for dried cloves (ICK) so I just eliminated it. Don't be afraid to take any recipe and make it your own!
This week's meals in no particular order:
- Chicken and Dumplings
- Slow Cooker Pork Tacos
- Quick Pastitsio
- Slow Cooker Chicken Chili
- Chicken Spaghetti
- Tomato Alphabet Soup
MENU: March 2, 2012 (Kristie)
It's the time of the year when my family eat more vegetarian meals than usual and this year we are also eating one soup a week during Lent. This week's isn't vegetarian but a very tasty and very easy homemade French onion soup. In addition to the soup we are also having shrimp...again. You have probably figured out how much my family enjoy this shellfish because it's on my menu nearly every week. I love it because it is so versatile and mild tasting. If you don't have shellfish allergies, it is a great fish to introduce to your children.
This week's meals in no particular order:
- Beer braised meatballs
- French onion soup
- Soy and cola braised pork shoulder
- Pasta with broccoli sauce
- Shrimp Florentine
- Crispy Parmesan pork chops
- Sun-dried tomato chicken
MENU: February 24, 2012 (Karen)
I was going to start a spring menu this week - but the weather is not cooperating. The Lenten season has begun and I've added some items on my menu that could easily be transitioned into a meatless meal. Pizza Pancakes (omit the pepperoni), Frittata (omit the deli ham), and actually the rice casserole could be too by eliminating the chicken. This week has been hectic so we are just having frozen cheese pizza this Friday. Sometimes you just have to do it! :) Enjoy!
This week's meals in no particular order:
- Chicken Caprese
- Pizza Pancakes
- Turkey Struedel
- Broccoli and Rice Casserole
- Potato, Ham and Spinach Frittata
- Buttermilk Ranch Chicken
MENU: February 17, 2012 (Kristie)
Yep, in the craziness of my week, I forgot to post my menu. We have all had those weeks when you can't remember the date or even the day. For those times, I like a menu that is fast and simple. These are easy and my kids love them all! Six meals this week so you can fill in with one of your favorites, have leftovers or do a freebie night.
- Beef-broccoli stir fry
- Indian-spiced pork with raita
- Supper sloppy joes (you'll never make another)
- Paula's fried shrimp
- Chicken Français
- Taco rice salad
MENU: February 10, 2012 (Karen)
Who shops sales? I definitely do. So when I get a good deal on something I always plan to make a double batch of a recipe. I freeze the leftovers to have another week. I do this with soup and especially this yummy slow cooker sloppy joe recipe. I actually think it tastes better reheated from the freezer. So shop those sales and cook in advance!
This week we have Leftover Day (any leftover from the week gets eaten) It's like a restaurant in our house "place your order".
This week's meals in no particular order:
- Cheddar Chicken
- Pork Soft Tacos
- Southwest Chicken Pie
- Crockpot Sloppy Joe
- Cheesy Baked Shells and Broccoli
- Creamy Beef, Mushroom and Noodle Soup
MENU: February 3, 2011 (Kristie)
Get out of that rut! The cooking rut where you are making the same meals again and again. This week the stove is back at work and so is the slow cooker. We are trying meals that comfortable but with twists that add new flavors and make meal prep easier. You will have enough to have a leftovers day and plenty for brown bagging during the week. Enjoy!
This week's meals in no particular order:
- Unstuffed peppers
- Beef Kebabs with tomato couscous
- Sweet & sour chicken
- Pasta Alfredo
- Apple orchard pot roast
- Coconut crusted shrimp with peanut butter curry sauce
- Chicken fricassee
MENU: January 27, 2012 (Karen)
Well, the stove is broken and a part is being repaired for a week. So what does a cook do? Cry in her milk? Stamp her feet in her pantry? Nope!! She gets out her cookbooks, frying pan, AND crockpot and gets to work on a menu for the week (STOVE-LESS). The pork roast makes a lot so pork tacos is a good leftover meal with it. And of course one day of TAKE OUT PIZZAS!
This week's meals in no particular order:
- Pork Tenderloin Medallions with Sherry and Pasta
- Grilled Cheese Panini
- Open Face Turkey Burgers with Potpie Gravy
- Garlic Pork Roast
- Yogurt Pancakes
- Pork Tacos (with left over shredded Garlic Pork Roast)
MENU: January 20, 2011 (Kristie)
Buying a rotisserie chicken is like killing 2 meals with one bird. You can roast your own if you have the time, but they are relatively inexpensive and a lot less work. A few meals this week use a chicken, but if you only make one you can easily freeze the rest of the chicken meat for a quick future meal. The recipe for Clyde's meatloaf is originally from a restaurant outside of D.C. in Reston, Virginia. Never a big meatloaf fan, I tried this one many years ago and changed my mind. Makes great next-day sandwiches and is packed with veggies! And for our vegetarian fans, not one but two tested meatless meals. Please remember to let us know how you and your family like our menus and if you have any suggestions for future meal themes!
This week's meals in no particular order:
- Fried chicken roll-ups
- Broccoli & cheese strudel
- Peanut sauced chicken pitas
- Clyde's meatloaf
- Cuban stuffed pork tenderloin
- Herbed ricotta tart
- Pizza (we plan on carrying one out this week)
MENU: January 13, 2011 (Karen)
I tried an old recipe this week - Butter Gravy Chicken my Grandma and Mom used to make when I was a kid. The family went crazy for it. I made it with rice but mashed potatoes would go nicely too. I've also included a vegetarian soup (if you use vegetable stock) it's Wild Mushroom Soup. I have incorporated this into our Christmas Eve meal to replace the old polish soup my ancestors used to make. The recipe is only for a serving of two so make sure you dust off your multiplication skills to get this to the right serving size for your family. The sherry and tarragon in this soup make it so delish!
My menu only has 6 meals this week- as it's a little man's birthday in the house, and he has requested.... Yes you got it Chicken and Rice that I posted months ago. It really is a WINNER! Check it out if you haven't tried it yet.
This week's meals in no particular order:
- Pan-Grilled Ginger Honey Pork Tenderloin
- Turkey Burgers
- Wild Mushroom Soup
- Grandma's Butter Gravy Chicken
- Chicken and Spinach Tortilla Bake
- Italian Beef in a Bucket
MENU: January 6, 2012 (Kristie)
This week's meals in no particular order:
- Melt-in-your-mouth tarragon chicken (slow cooker)
- BBQ pork sandwiches (slow cooker)
- Meatball melties
- Shrimp scampi
- Chicken and dumplings
- Veggie noodle stir-fry
MENU: December 30, 2011 (Karen)
Happy New Year! Any New Year Resolutions? Any cooking strategies you want to start? I have a confession - my guilty indulgence is the new tv show The Chew! It's on at noon. And I love it. I set my DVR so I can fast forward through some not so favorite hosts. I do like seeing how they enjoy each others cooking - It makes me want to get some friends over and cook together too. I love Michael Symon's recipes and I've included two on my list. They are easy to make and a big win in our house.
- Michael Symon’s Swiss Steak
- Michael Symon’s double cut pork chops with shaved brussel sprout salad
- Beef Brisket with Roasted Vegetable
- Cavatelli with tomato sauce and ricotta
- Hash Brown Casserole
- Broccoli and Rice Casserole
MENU: December 16, 2011 (Kristie)
This week's meals in no particular order:
- Baja stir-fry pork
- Pressed Cubano sandwiches
- Spinach ricotta quiche
- Chicken fajitas
- Ham & cheese strombolis
- Fusilli pasta with caramelized onions and white wine
MENU: December 9, 2011 (Karen)
Wow I always forget how busy this time of year can get. I am definitely not in the mood to cook - YES I SAID IT! :) But my family has to eat - so I dug around in my dusty old recipe box and found some old timers I haven't made in awhile. They are easy and quick. The boys are not fond of the zucchini boats but they do like the inside so I also make a side of green beans so they are getting a vegetable. The other long ago recipe is Sandy Duncan (remember her?) recipe I found once - I used to make it for my Dad so often he renamed it Chilew as it's a stew/chili combination. We have a Christmas Dinner Party one night - so I'm short a meal. Enjoy!
- Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
- Parmesan-Pork Zucchini Boats
- Sandy Duncan's Grandma Darlin' Stew (Chilew)
- Chicken Divine
- Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
- Beef with Peppers
MENU: December 2, 2011 (Kristie)
This week's meals in no particular order:
- Pork chops with creamy mushroom sauce
- Steakhouse chili
- Fish fry
- Beef and scallion roll-ups
- Chorizo-leek crepes with chive cream
- Ham and cheese cannelloni
MENU: November 25, 2011 (Karen)
Leftovers, leftovers, leftovers. What to do with them? Kristie gave you a few ideas last week. I give you a Turkey Fried Rice we like. I've also included my secret weapon chili! This is great for the holiday weekend - because by Sunday I want to forget about turkey. So while we put up the holiday decorations we have a pot of chili in the crockpot that everyone can just work their way towards. I've also included a recipe for Hoisin Pork Chops that quickly became a family favorite. If you like the Chicken and Jam from a few weeks ago you'll love this easy-peasy recipe. ENJOY!
- Turkey Fried Wild Rice
- Spinach and Egg Noodle Casserole
- Updated Shepherd's Pie
- Pizza - No recipe use your own or frozen
- Zucchini-Corn Fritters
- Boneless Pork Chops with Garlic/Hoisin Sauce
- Fajita Steak Chili
MENU: November 18, 2011 (Kristie)
Thanksgiving week is usually a crazy one. People are traveling and even the best laid eating schedules are off. Instead of giving you a week's worth of meals, I am sharing my favorite dishes for a Thanksgiving feast, meals made from that dinner's leftovers and ones that make a weekday meal feel special. The corn souffle (aka scalloped corn) is an amazing dish that I first had at my sister's mother-in-law's sister-in-law's house (follow that). For other meal ideas this week, you can use the search feature to check out great options that you might have missed.
- Corn Souffle
- Roasted green beans with mushrooms
- Turkey Tetrazzini
- Turkey pot pie
- Raleigh Tavern Bakery Apple pie
- Brown sugar pound cake
MENU: November 11, 2011 (Karen)This week is all about variety. I wanted some comfort food and some easy meals as it's another busy, busy week. A family favorite is the Chicken and Rice Casserole. It's my go-to meal if someone is in need. But when my boys know I'm making it for someone - another batch has to be whipped up for our dinner that night. I made it tonight and they were literally picking the crusty goodness from the baking pan.
Another wonderful find was my favorite pizza. I order it whenever I go to a restaurant in the area. Prosciutto/Arugula pizza. I made it on Saturday for my husband and I and it was PERFECTION! I share with you my rendition of this pizza. Of course I knew the boys wouldn't eat it so I made them cheese pizzas with my homemade dough. Mangiare!
Here are this weeks meals in no particular order.
- Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Slow Cooker Steak and Pasta Soup
- Chicken & Dumplings
- Creamy Spinach Enchiladas
- Arugula and Prosciutto Pizza
- Macaroni and Cheese with Tomatoes
- Chicken Sausages ( no recipe - grill store bought sausages on rolls)
MENU: November 4, 2011 (Kristie)
The
words "raw" and "chilly" should never go together, especially when
talking about food! However, that appears to be the weather here in
Chicago (and I suspect most of the reading audience's home cities). This
week is a twist on what comfort food means in my house - simple,
warming dishes, some of which also create tasty "brown bag" leftovers.
Here are this weeks meals in no particular order.
- Pork piccata
- Beef Bourguigonne
- Spaghetti pie
- Mushroom frittata
- Out-of-the-park burritos, 3-ways
- Crispy chicken with rosemary-lemon salt
- Sausage rolls
MENU: October 28, 2011 (Karen)
This
week the weather is cold and comfort food is on the menu. I just
realized that we had pot roast sandwiches about 5 weeks ago and I have
them back on the menu. It's a different recipe and the family just
loves a hearty meal. The nice thing about the recipe this week is that
it makes two meals. One meal I serve with rice or mashed potatoes as a
hearty meal. Then later in the week I use the vegetables and meat to
make sandwiches with melted cheese and place them under the broiler to
melt. I've also included a new recipe I adapted for Pumpkin French
Toast. Who doesn't love breakfast for dinner? No really, who? The
family loves all things pumpkin so what a great way to kick off the fall
weather with this yummy pumpkin treasure.
Here are this weeks meals in no particular order.
- Chicken with Balsamic Jam Sauce
- Slow-Cooker Pot Roast
- Spinach and Ricotta Dumplings
- 3 Cheese & Chicken Bake
- Pumpkin French Toast
- Beef Potpie Wedges
In the following two posts you will find this week's recipes and this week's shopping lists. Enjoy!
MENU: October 21, 2011 (Kristie)
Not
too long ago, the family went on our 11th annual apple picking
adventure. If you are like me, when you pick that many fresh apples you
want to eat them. Pies, tarts and cakes are a great but not all the
time. This week I tried to incorporate apples or apple cider into many
of my meals. They all use apples in a different way so as not to get
redundant and all were a big hit!
Here are this weeks meals in no particular order.
- Shrimp Tacos
- Bratwurst with creamy apple compote
- Baked ham (just get a few ham steaks and heat in the oven)
- Creamy chicken apple chili
- Pizza (store-bought dough, bread-machine dough, or carry out)
- Chicken paprikash
- Apple cider glazed pork tenderloin
In the following two posts you will find this week's recipes and this week's shopping lists. Enjoy!
MENU: October 14, 2011 (Karen)
There
are still some nice days left of this beautiful fall. I've created a
menu that most can be either grilled outside or inside on a grill pan. I
love my Jewel 10 cent pan for rainy days that call for some grilling.
I've included my Chicken Burgers this week. My boys always give them a
thumbs up. They do add ketchup to them but we have them with no bun and
a side of a vegetable and a buttered noodle. I did find a new
fantastic condiment that goes great with this it's DiLusso Cranberry
Honey Mustard. (YUM) Enjoy.
Here are this weeks meals in no particular order.
- Beef Stroganoff with parsley noodles (CROCKPOT)
- Jamaican Jerk Chicken Kebabs with Smoked Sausage
- Chili Pork Tenderloin
- Hawaiian Chicken
- Cheesy Meat Loaf Minis
- Chicken Burgers
- Pappardelle with Corn
In the following two posts you will find this week's recipes and this week's shopping lists. Enjoy!
MENU: October 7, 2011 (Kristie)
The calendar might say that it is October, but this past week has given us a little reprieve with warm weather and sunshine. I am not quite ready to give up some of my grilled meals, but if the weather fails, I can still use an indoor grill. The teriyaki pork and pineapple skewers are a huge hit in our house!
Here are this weeks meals in no particular order.
- Beef & sugar snap pea stir-fry
- Pigs in ponchos
- Herbed stuffed chicken breasts
- Spinach, artichoke & tuna tortellini salad
- Teriyaki pork & pineapple
- Grilled shrimp scampi
- Penne with grilled squash & corn
MENU: September 30, 2011 (Karen)
Well with the cooler temperature and the new school year comes hectic schedules and extra-curricular activities coming out of our ears. This is a busy week here at my house so I've made a weekly menu that is busy-friendly. 2 recipes use a rotisserie chicken (1 chicken = 2 dinners - what is not to like?) and there are two crock-pot recipes so when we do finally all get home the smell of a cooked dinner greets us at the door! Here is the menu in no particular order.
- Chicken Parmesan Bundles
- Three Cheese Calzones
- Beef, Cheddar and Potato Pie
- Slow-Cooker Open-Faced Pot Roast Sandwich With Gravy Dip
- Shredded Chicken Tacos with Tomatoes and Grilled Corn
- Chicken and Tortellini Soup
- Slow-Cooker Cheeseburger Soup
In the following two posts you will find this week's recipes and this week's shopping lists. Enjoy!
MENU: September 23, 2011 (Kristie)
If I could, I would grill all year, but I really don't like the cold so I will continue to grill outdoors as long as possible. Most of these "grilling" recipes can be made on a grill pan indoors or in the oven.
The brown sugar & bourbon marinade also works great on pork loin chops or flank steak. The sauce that is made from the marinade is wonderful over potatoes. When we make the chicken caesar skewers, my husband and I like to top a salad with it and the kids like to stuff the chicken into a pita. Since there already is a salad on the menu, you might want to go that route. After figuring out that our kids really didn't like crab cakes, I found this great recipe that mixes crab and shrimp. I don't think we will ever go back to straight crab cakes....unless we're in Maryland! Here is the menu in no particular order.
- BLT Bread salad
- Seafood cakes
- Skeen burgers (or just a plain burger recipe)
- Bourbon & brown sugar pork tenderloin
- Grilled Chicken caesar on a skewer
- Mamacello pasta
- Hoison glazed chicken breasts
In the following two posts you will find this week's recipes and this week's shopping lists. Enjoy!
MENU: September 16, 2011 (Karen)
There’s a chill in the air so of course I need to add some fall items to my menu this week. After creating my weekly menu – I realized I covered every meat category. So I added a new family favorite a Zucchini Angel Hair Pancake for a vegetarian spin on the week of meat. I’ve also included one of my favorite easy crock pot recipes. I will try to add a crock pot recipe once a week for my menu rotation. In no particular order, here is my weekly menu.
- Chicken with 20 Cloves of Garlic
- Festive Pepper Steak
- Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
- Beefy Tex-Mex Stir Fry
- Hot Dogs (no recipe, I think you can figure this one out)
- Zucchini Angel Hair Pancake
- Chicken Sausage and Cheese Pierogi
Please let us know how these meals went over in your house!
MENU: September 9, 2011 (Kristie)
Summer is slowly changing over to fall and I am getting a little bored with the food options. However, I still want to break out the grill for a few meals this week and then some easy indoor cooking - no oven quite yet! These meals all use some veggies or fruits from your, or a good friend's, garden. In no particular order, here is my weekly menu.
- Pan sautéed pork chops with peaches
- Cola steak tacos
- Tomato Pesto and pasta
- Teriyaki Chicken Kebabs
- Grilled Brats (no recipe, I think you can figure this one out)
- Philly cheese steak sandwiches
- Grilled pizza
In the following two posts you will find this week's recipes and this week's shopping lists. Enjoy!
