I don't know if you heard, but for Christmas Betty bought me 6 months of a meal planning service. She chose the "Mediterranean Plan" for me, and she chose very well! THIS IS AWESOME!!!! I have already made a delicious and easy "Italian fish stew", and a pasta with roasted cauliflower that was right up my alley. I couldn't be happier!! :) I will put an * next to meals that are on the plan, and you guys can feel free to ask me to post a recipe if it looks good to you too. I am very excited to breath some life into our menu plan!!!
WED: crock pot beef over egg noodles, peas, salad
THURS: *pineapple glazed salmon, couscous with chickpeas
FRI: Really Good Chili (the plan had a chili recipe, but I love mine!), biscuits from this month's Eating Well magazine
SAT: *cheesy sausage-onion pizza
SUN: * chicken spaghetti, arugula and apple salad
MON: fish, hashbrowns, greens, corn
TUES: *baked penne with mushrooms (I'm adding raw veggies and dip/hummus as a side)
Happy New Year to everyone!
Love,
Kathy
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Just scraping by . . .
Well, I don't know about you guys, but I am eagerly awaiting my favorite holiday of the year . . . the day after Christmas! :) Hmmmm, is that sacrilegious?! I am just getting worn out with all the "weeks before Christmas" hooplah. The thought of grocery shopping and cooking puts me over the edge! I'll try to keep it simple this week . . . I owe cookies to several classrooms . . . so there will be more "baking" than "cooking" in the house this week. I know 4 kids who will be plenty happy about that!! :) Hope you're all having a great week . . . Ann Marie, I hope your kids (and you!) are over all their bugs. Dad entertained me with Andrew's top bunk vomit story. I'm so sorry!!!!
Tues: nacho platter that we didn't get around to making last week
Wed: my speciatly: "fish from the store" :), hashbrowns, spinach, 7-layer-salad
Thurs: baked chicken, beans, veggies and dip
Fri: breakfast for dinner
Sat: Dinner to be named later . . . maybe with Mom and Dad?
Sun: lasagna, salad
Merry Week Before Christmas!
Love,
Kathy
*UPDATE*: This is what we will ACTUALLY be eating this week, supplemented with a chicken from the freezer and some really questionable looking cod I grabbed from the store as I ran through at warp speed. After having lost a whole morning of work that needs to be done while the kids are at school . . . because I was at the doctor with Luke who now has an ear infection . . . I decided the grocery store run could be put off indefinitely with a few hastily grabbed staples. If I make it through this week and still retain my beautiful, calm , youthful demeanor (hahahahaha), it will be a true CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!! :) :)
Tues: nacho platter that we didn't get around to making last week
Wed: my speciatly: "fish from the store" :), hashbrowns, spinach, 7-layer-salad
Thurs: baked chicken, beans, veggies and dip
Fri: breakfast for dinner
Sat: Dinner to be named later . . . maybe with Mom and Dad?
Sun: lasagna, salad
Merry Week Before Christmas!
Love,
Kathy
Friday, December 12, 2014
Peanut Butter Cookies
OK. I have to share a recipe, along with a disclaimer. The disclaimer is this: I am normally NOT A FAN of trying to hide "nutritious things" in dessert. ie, I am not the mom bragging that my kids ate the pureed spinach that I snuck into the brownies that were, by the way, made with black beans. (I hear black bean brownies are very good, by the way, but I just cannot bring myself to do it!) I would rather work on getting my kids to *enjoy* delicious spinach and black beans for DINNER, and then eat a decadent chocolate and sugar-filled dessert.
That being said, I have sick kids at home. They all have to take Tamiflu, which has to be taken with food. They have no appetites. So I am pulling out all the stops to try to get them to eat ANYTHING. Even milkshakes only met with partial success. So I decided to make same cookies, but I really wanted them to have SOME nutrition for these sick kids!! Enter the 100 Days of Real Food peanut butter cookie recipe. I added chocolate chips because I WANTED THE KIDS TO LIKE THEM, and I left out the peanut chunks . . . but the rest is the same. I also used sprouted whole wheat flour because I ordered some off the internet just to try a few weeks ago. (Tastes the same as WW flour.) These cookies are delicious. We all love them! Try them immediately! :)
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup natural peanut butter
1 stick of butter, softened slightly and cut into chunks
1 egg
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsalted peanuts (I substituted about a cup of chocolate chips. Can't be too healthy!) :)
Preheat oven to 325. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt. In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk (oops, I used the paddle. It worked!) thouroughly mix the peanut butter, maple syrup, butter, egg, and vanilla. Mix until almost smooth . . . some small butter chunks is OK.
Turn the mixer to low and slowly add flour mixture until well combined. Do not overmix. Stir in peanuts (or chocolate chips) by hand.
Drop by spoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet and make until light golden brown, about 15 minutes.
That being said, I have sick kids at home. They all have to take Tamiflu, which has to be taken with food. They have no appetites. So I am pulling out all the stops to try to get them to eat ANYTHING. Even milkshakes only met with partial success. So I decided to make same cookies, but I really wanted them to have SOME nutrition for these sick kids!! Enter the 100 Days of Real Food peanut butter cookie recipe. I added chocolate chips because I WANTED THE KIDS TO LIKE THEM, and I left out the peanut chunks . . . but the rest is the same. I also used sprouted whole wheat flour because I ordered some off the internet just to try a few weeks ago. (Tastes the same as WW flour.) These cookies are delicious. We all love them! Try them immediately! :)
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup natural peanut butter
1 stick of butter, softened slightly and cut into chunks
1 egg
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsalted peanuts (I substituted about a cup of chocolate chips. Can't be too healthy!) :)
Preheat oven to 325. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt. In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk (oops, I used the paddle. It worked!) thouroughly mix the peanut butter, maple syrup, butter, egg, and vanilla. Mix until almost smooth . . . some small butter chunks is OK.
Turn the mixer to low and slowly add flour mixture until well combined. Do not overmix. Stir in peanuts (or chocolate chips) by hand.
Drop by spoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet and make until light golden brown, about 15 minutes.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Insert Snappy Title Here
I just want you all to know that I will never ever ever make it another 20? 30? 40? years of meal planning. I am soooooo burned out. Writing this weeks plan was like pulling teeth! I need to know how to make chicken adobo, since I have never even had it . . . and it is a staple in your house, Jennifer. And I need to know how to grill tri-tip, Ann Marie . . . I am afraid! :) I get stuck in a rut, and then on the weeks when I try to get out of my rut I am frustrated because I spend all day in the kitchen "trying a new recipe", and then if it is no good, what a waste! Anywho . . . here's this week's attempt!
Tues: Salmon, mashed sweet potatoes, sauteed kale, (frozen) beans from our garden
Wed: Steak, mushrooms, roasted red potatoes, (frozen) Farmers' Market corn, salad
Thurs: Homemade chicken "nuggets", roasted butternut squash, peas, carrot sticks
Fri: Pesto pasta with broccoli (gee, never had THAT before)
Sat: breakfast for dinner
Sun: Huge "nacho platter": chips, black beans pureed with lime and cumin, cheese, veggies, guac
Mon: Mussels, quinoa salad, sprouted whole wheat rolls (my latest "new" thing), veggies and dip
The big excitement in my kitchen is that my blender broke (again . . . this happens every 3-4 months) and I wanted to replace it with a "good" one. I have heard Blendtec blenders are awesome . . . but with the price tag of 400-some dollars. Yikes! I was excited to find a "refurbished" one for 200, with a 7-year warranty included. (I did the math. With the 40 dollar one breaking every 4 months, we'll pay this one off way before the warranty ends!) :) It just showed up at my door . . . so I will see what all the fuss is about!
Hope you are all having a good week!
Love,
Kathy
Tues: Salmon, mashed sweet potatoes, sauteed kale, (frozen) beans from our garden
Wed: Steak, mushrooms, roasted red potatoes, (frozen) Farmers' Market corn, salad
Thurs: Homemade chicken "nuggets", roasted butternut squash, peas, carrot sticks
Fri: Pesto pasta with broccoli (gee, never had THAT before)
Sat: breakfast for dinner
Sun: Huge "nacho platter": chips, black beans pureed with lime and cumin, cheese, veggies, guac
Mon: Mussels, quinoa salad, sprouted whole wheat rolls (my latest "new" thing), veggies and dip
The big excitement in my kitchen is that my blender broke (again . . . this happens every 3-4 months) and I wanted to replace it with a "good" one. I have heard Blendtec blenders are awesome . . . but with the price tag of 400-some dollars. Yikes! I was excited to find a "refurbished" one for 200, with a 7-year warranty included. (I did the math. With the 40 dollar one breaking every 4 months, we'll pay this one off way before the warranty ends!) :) It just showed up at my door . . . so I will see what all the fuss is about!
Hope you are all having a good week!
Love,
Kathy
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Repurposing leftovers
Hola,
I was surprised to see new menus up for the blog this week. We are swimming in turkey, sweet potatoes, pancit, adobo, stir fried bok choy with persimmons ... I hadn't even thought to cook something new. Leftovers, that there are multiple boxes throughout the house of things that need new homes and a little Monica on the verge of walking ... haven't had the energy to be original. Reheat please.
Ann Marie-- Glad everyone is feeling better. I will write my mom's recipe/scribblings for you for the adobo and salmon. It's all about when things bubble... My mom LOVED the ka-bo-cha squash and ginger snap crust pie. She found it light and thinks you a genius.
Kathy-- Thanks for the cake recipe. Cake turned out fantastic. We might have beaten the maple syrup frosting too much such that it was runny. We used it with blueberries for in between the layers and a lemon cream cheese frosting for the top and sides. Ann Marie McGee helped decorate while I was working on stir frying veggies. Thanks to Mrs. McGee I have some photos which I hope to turn into a blog post this weekend.
So here's how we are upcycling for the week:
Tuesday: Hatch chili pepper and bell pepper with turkey soup
Wednesday: Turkey quesadillas with persimmons
Thursday: Salmon with asparagus
Friday: Chicken adobo (defrosted after being frozen last weekend) with stir fried veggies
Saturday: Kale and butternut squash lasagna
** Also roasted a spaghetti squash, shredded it and added olive oil, lemon, chili flakes and some parmesan as a back up side.
Have a great week!
*Jennifer
I was surprised to see new menus up for the blog this week. We are swimming in turkey, sweet potatoes, pancit, adobo, stir fried bok choy with persimmons ... I hadn't even thought to cook something new. Leftovers, that there are multiple boxes throughout the house of things that need new homes and a little Monica on the verge of walking ... haven't had the energy to be original. Reheat please.
Ann Marie-- Glad everyone is feeling better. I will write my mom's recipe/scribblings for you for the adobo and salmon. It's all about when things bubble... My mom LOVED the ka-bo-cha squash and ginger snap crust pie. She found it light and thinks you a genius.
Kathy-- Thanks for the cake recipe. Cake turned out fantastic. We might have beaten the maple syrup frosting too much such that it was runny. We used it with blueberries for in between the layers and a lemon cream cheese frosting for the top and sides. Ann Marie McGee helped decorate while I was working on stir frying veggies. Thanks to Mrs. McGee I have some photos which I hope to turn into a blog post this weekend.
So here's how we are upcycling for the week:
Tuesday: Hatch chili pepper and bell pepper with turkey soup
Wednesday: Turkey quesadillas with persimmons
Thursday: Salmon with asparagus
Friday: Chicken adobo (defrosted after being frozen last weekend) with stir fried veggies
Saturday: Kale and butternut squash lasagna
** Also roasted a spaghetti squash, shredded it and added olive oil, lemon, chili flakes and some parmesan as a back up side.
Have a great week!
*Jennifer
Monday, December 1, 2014
Post Thanksgiving, who needs food??!!
Monday: leftover chicken, farro, corn, roasted cauliflower
Tuesday: beef and bean burritos, guacamole, fruit
Wednesday: fish (whatever looks good at the store!); cheddar, brussel sprouts, and rice bake
Thursday: hamburgers with homemade buns, oven fries, raw veggies and dip
Friday: pork, apple, and sage pies (from an Organic Gardening magazine), peas, salad
Saturday: breakfast for dinner
Sunday: broccoli soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, grape tomatoes
Monday: chicken divan, salad, rolls
Tuesday: beef and bean burritos, guacamole, fruit
Wednesday: fish (whatever looks good at the store!); cheddar, brussel sprouts, and rice bake
Thursday: hamburgers with homemade buns, oven fries, raw veggies and dip
Friday: pork, apple, and sage pies (from an Organic Gardening magazine), peas, salad
Saturday: breakfast for dinner
Sunday: broccoli soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, grape tomatoes
Monday: chicken divan, salad, rolls
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Back for more!
Kathy,
I'm dying to know, what do the smiley and frowney faces at the bottom of the recipe denote? In all seriousness though, it sounds like a great recipe, the yogurt addition sounds good! Although, our November is becoming a little like July at your house. We are caked-out and here comes Christmas...oh boy.
I hope you are able to post some pictures of the birthday bash that we missed Jennifer (and am still guilted and bummed about doing so!) What a great Thanksgiving it was, and thank you for hosting all of us! We seem to avoid day-time vomiting, Kathy, but trade it for night-time vomiting from Joey's coughing episodes. While we initially doubted our decision to head home early, being able to address the issue with a washing machine close-by was a good thing. Hope we made it out with all of our germs.
I tried to absorb some tips from your mom on Adobo making, Jennifer. I think I've got the prep down, but am guessing there are some important secrets in the cooking process as well. Tried to emulate her salmon, but used Parsley instead. She would probably find some humor in my Americanized attempts! :-) You have great folks and we enjoyed visiting with them again.
Hope your weeks go well, ladies. Can it be 3 weeks until Christmas? Ah!
Love,
Ann Marie
**I sent Steve on a run to the produce stand. So, I'll ad-lib a vegetable each day from what he brings home.
Saturday: Broiled Salmon with ginger and (substitute parsley for cilantro), pesto pasta, sauteed pea pods with ginger and garlic, salad
Sun: Fajitas, salad, veggie
Mon: Grilled tri-tip, salad, veggie, baked beans, corn bread
Tues: take-out night due to CCD
Wed: Beef and white bean stew with kale, rosemary dinner rolls, salad
Thurs: Steve's work Christmas party, pizza or leftovers for the kids
Friday: Hamburgers, homemade buns, salad, veggie
I'm dying to know, what do the smiley and frowney faces at the bottom of the recipe denote? In all seriousness though, it sounds like a great recipe, the yogurt addition sounds good! Although, our November is becoming a little like July at your house. We are caked-out and here comes Christmas...oh boy.
I hope you are able to post some pictures of the birthday bash that we missed Jennifer (and am still guilted and bummed about doing so!) What a great Thanksgiving it was, and thank you for hosting all of us! We seem to avoid day-time vomiting, Kathy, but trade it for night-time vomiting from Joey's coughing episodes. While we initially doubted our decision to head home early, being able to address the issue with a washing machine close-by was a good thing. Hope we made it out with all of our germs.
I tried to absorb some tips from your mom on Adobo making, Jennifer. I think I've got the prep down, but am guessing there are some important secrets in the cooking process as well. Tried to emulate her salmon, but used Parsley instead. She would probably find some humor in my Americanized attempts! :-) You have great folks and we enjoyed visiting with them again.
Hope your weeks go well, ladies. Can it be 3 weeks until Christmas? Ah!
Love,
Ann Marie
**I sent Steve on a run to the produce stand. So, I'll ad-lib a vegetable each day from what he brings home.
Saturday: Broiled Salmon with ginger and (substitute parsley for cilantro), pesto pasta, sauteed pea pods with ginger and garlic, salad
Sun: Fajitas, salad, veggie
Mon: Grilled tri-tip, salad, veggie, baked beans, corn bread
Tues: take-out night due to CCD
Wed: Beef and white bean stew with kale, rosemary dinner rolls, salad
Thurs: Steve's work Christmas party, pizza or leftovers for the kids
Friday: Hamburgers, homemade buns, salad, veggie
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)