Menu Plan Monday October 19, 2009

I was out of town last week on vacation (pictures and stories will come soon), so I missed the deadline to post my menu plan. I did have a success the week before: White Bean and Sausage Rigatoni from my Better Homes and Garden's cookbook. I wasn't sure about this. It looked yummy, but was different from what I normally make. Ben and I both agreed that this was a very delicious dish for a nice change of pace from my usual chicken or ground beef, but not something we'd prefer all the time. I'll add it to my 6 month rotation!

White Bean and Sausage Rigatoni from Better Homes and Garden's New Cookbook (2002)

Ingredients:

8oz dried rigatoni (2 Cups)
1 15 oz can white kidney, Great Northern, or navy beans, rinsed and drained.
1 14 1/2 oz can Italian-style stewed tomatoes, undrained
6 ounces cooked smoked turkey sausage, cut into 1/2 inch slices
1/3 c snipped fresh basil
1/4 cup finely shredded Asiago or Parmesan cheese.

Make: Cook pasta, drain, return to saucepan. Meanwhile, in a large sauce pan combine beans, undrained tomatoes, and sausage. Cook and stir until heated through. Add bean mixture and basil to pasta; stir gently to combine. To serve, sprinkle each serving with cheese.

Notes: I didn't have fresh basil, so I used dried. It still tasted great, but I know the fresh basil would've been even better. Next time, I'll cut back on the pasta...maybe to 6 oz. It overwhelmed the rest of the ingredients.

On to this week's menu.

Sunday: Hot dogs (prepared by my hubby!) and applesauce. I had time to bake some Peasant Bread from the Grocery Cart Challenge. This was a new recipe for me. It was delicious! Ben likened it to the tasty bread they serve at our local Italian restaurant. I cannot wait to add this to our cookbook.

After dinner to do: put ground beef in fridge to thaw.

Monday: Roast Chicken with stove top scalloped potatoes (a new recipe) and applesauce or pears.

After dinner to do: form porcupines.

Tuesday: Porcupines (another new recipe for me) from Finding Joy in my Kitchen. I'll serve this with pears or applesauce and glazed carrots and glazed parsnips. I've never had parsnips before, so I thought I'd give it a try. I only bought one just in case we don't like them!

after dinner to do: cook ground beef and cut up chicken for the Chimichangas. Thaw chicken broth for refried beans. Thaw meat for beef stew.

Wednesday: Oven Fried Chimichangas. I'm really looking forward to this new recipe from The Grocery Cart Challenge. It could be a nice change of pace from usual tacos. I may use both beef and chicken. I'll likely serve it with corn, a fruit salad, and possibly homemade refried beans if I get a chance to prep them in the morning.

Thursday: Crockpot Beef Stew with pears and applesauce and some more peasant bread (if there is any left : ))

Friday: Leftovers!

Saturday: Eating Out

For more menus and recipe ideas, visit Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Menu Plan Monday October 5, 2009

I didn't get to all my meals last week, but I did make Ina Garten's Roasted Chicken. It was very tasty and relatively simple to make. While making, I was so proud that I remembered to take a before picture of the bird.....but then I forgot to take an after, so I posted the one from her page. I don't have a roasting pan, but a online search confirmed that I could use my Pyrex. The chicken cooked fine. However, my veggies were not as good. I don't have much luck roasting them. Most got burnt, and set the smoke detector off. Do you have any tips on roasting veggies with the chicken? Other than that, the chicken was delicious, lasted us two meals, and will provide plenty of meat for lunches. At 69 cents a pound for the chicken, that was a great deal!

Ina Garten's Perfect Roast Chicken (photo from Food Network.com)

This week's menu is a bit shorter. I'll be out of town at the end of the week. The first time I went away from my hubby, I made sure there was plenty of food and leftovers for him to eat. When I returned, I found he typically ate out (either from staying late at work, and grabbing something on the way home, or hanging with friends.) I didn't mind, but I've decided to save myself a lot of work by letting him fend for himself. I did make sure to buy a new box of cereal for breakfast

Monday: White Bean Sausage and Rigatoni (BHG cookbook), roll over from last week.

Tuesday: Garlic Cheese Chicken with fruit.

Wednesday: Twice Bake Potatoes with pears

Thursday: Italian Chicken with rice, carrots and applesauce.

Friday-Sunday: FFY

For more menu's, visit Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Spontaneous Date Night---Just A Little Thing

Yummy peach cobbler, trying out a new to us dollar garage sale purchase, laughing as we realize we aren't as smart as we think, and cheering when we get one right! Spontaneous date nights are just one of the little things that make my day brighter.

Peach Cobbler

When I got married, the ladies at my church gifted me some of their favorite recipes. One of the recipes was for a fruit cobbler. I've skipped over this recipe many times, as I thought it was more of fruit crisp and I already had a tried and true recipe for fruit crisp. Last week, I glanced at it again, and realized it wasn't a crisp, but a type of magic cobbler where the fruit is poured on top of the dough. While cooking, the dough floats to the top. This was simple, easy and perfect with a scoop of vanilla!

Fruit Cobbler

Fruit Cobbler

Preheat Oven to 350.

1 Stick Butter--Cut into small pieces and scatter or spread in a 9x13 baking dish.
1 Cup Flour
1 Cup Sugar
2 Tsp. Baking Powder
3/4 Cup Milk

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and milk over butter.

Top with 1 quart fruit (fresh, or if canned, drained).

Cook 1 hour or until browned.

I halved this recipe and put it in a 8x8. I used 2 large fresh peaches for the fruit. It only took about 30 minutes to cook.

This recipe is also posted at Tasty Tuesday

Menu Plan Monday 9/28/09

Last week's menu was good, but my menu planning wasn't great. I planned a recipe without making sure I had all the ingredients. So, I had to substitute tacos for chicken and gravy with homemade noodles. Ben enjoyed the anniversary dinner. I made Sirloin Steak with Dijon-Port Sauce. The meat was okay (I still haven't figured out how to cook a proper steak), but the sauce tasted good. I served it with homemade applesauce and a peach cobbler. The cobbler was a new recipe, but it turned out really well! I will post the recipe Tuesday.

This week begins our rainy fall weather. I am looking forward to trying new recipes for the cozy weather!

Sunday: Eating a late lunch, so leftovers for dinner
Monday: Rosemary Garlic Porkchops with applesauce and mashed potatoes
Tuesday: Ina Garten's Roasted Chicken (make broth with the leftover carcass) with French bread and leftover applesauce. This is a new recipe I'm really looking forward to.
Wednesday: Double Decker Cheese Burgers with potato fries and fruit salad. (sunny weather is predicted....I'd like to grill one last time) Burgers aren't new, but this recipe is.
Thursday: White Bean Rigatoni with Sausage from Better Homes and Gardens (a new recipe)
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Not sure....maybe twice baked potatoes?

For more great menus and meal planning ideas, visit Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Three Years

Thank you for proposing, for your vows, and for working hard for us. I love you!

Menu Plan Monday September 21, 2009

Okay, so it is really Tuesday....and the latest I've ever posted a Menu Plan Monday. But, whose counting? :)

Last week, I had success with two great new recipes: sweet potato fries and The Best Carrots You'll Ever Taste. I recommend both! The sweet potato fries are a delicious alternative to our regular oven baked fries. For the carrots, I substituted chicken broth for the wine. We prefer brown sugar glazed carrots, but this has to be the best herb carrots dish I've tried. I also tried Loaded Baked Potato Soup from Cooking During Stolen Moments (one of my new favorite food sites). It was very tasty, and hearty. Plus with a cold, it hit the spot. I don't know if I make it too often, however, as I have mashed potato soup that tastes quite similar and it is easier to make. Nonetheless, it was a nice change of pace that I can make on occasion.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

This week, we're having nice warm weather (in the 80s and 90s). I'd love to start more fall recipes, but the rainy weather will come soon enough, so I'll enjoy the warmth a bit longer!

Sunday: Loaded Baked Potato Soup (roll over from last week)

Monday: Blackened Chicken Caesar Sandwiches ...since it is Tuesday, I've already made this. I decided to turn it into a salad. The chicken was good, but we both agreed it would've tasted better if I'd made it into a sandwich. As a salad it was a tad boring.

Tuesday: Hot Dogs, Sweet Potato Fries and Fresh Fruit.

Wednesday: I'm making a surprise dinner for our wedding anniversary. It consists of this main dish...(don't peek Ben) and the rest that I'll reveal later this week.

Thursday: Not sure, I have a long work day, so I'm toying with breakfast for dinner or tacos.

Friday: Chicken Gravy with Homemade Noodles. A new recipe. I am planning on making the noodles from scratch too. I'll serve this with salad.

Saturday: Eating Out.

Check out more menu's at Laura's I'm an Organizing Junkie. This week, there are over 400 menus. This is a new record!