Tuesday, August 4, 2009
A little "tweaking" to the BLT Mac and Cheese recipe
We had the BLT Mac and Cheese last night and it was very good, but I did do a little "tweaking" to the recipe. With a pound of pasta, it seemed like 8 slices of bacon and 4 oz of cream cheese just were not enough. I had a pack of already cooked bacon in the fridge, which had 15 slices, so that is how much I added. I wouldn't have wanted any less than that. Also, I actually ended up using a full brick of cream cheese (8 oz). The last 4 oz added at the end of cooking b/c it just seemed so dry to me. I didn't do this last night, but next time I think I will...stir in a little butter, too. Also, I think I'll use 2 leeks next time instead of 1 and adjust the salt and pepper according to taste. It really is a yummy dish! Hope some of you will try it!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Here ya go, Tara.....some recipes
Stuffed Green Peppers
6 green bell peppers
2 lbs lean ground beef
1/2 cup instant brown rice
1/4 cup diced onion
1/4 cup grated parm cheese
1/8 cup Italian style bread crumbs
1 egg
1/4 spaghetti sauce
Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and garlic powder, all to taste
Clean peppers with cool water. Cut off tops and scoop out all seeds and membranes. Place in 9 x 13 pan. Mix the rest of the ingredients together in a bowl until well blended. If mixture seems too wet, add more rice. Once ground beef mixture is well blended, stuff inside of each pepper. Spoon more spaghetti sauce over each pepper (I poured alot in the bottom of the pan, too). Recipe says to put the tops back on the peppers, but I didn't. Bake at 350 for aprx. 30 - 35 min.
BLT Mac and Cheese ~ This recipe can also be found in the Pamp. Chef 29 Minutes to Dinner cookbook
5 cups water
8 slices bacon, cooked until crisp, drained on a paper towel and chopped
4 oz sharp white cheddar cheese, grated
1 oz Parmesan cheese, grated
4 oz cream cheese
1 lb cellentani or cavatappi pasta
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp coarsely ground pepper
1 large leek (white and light green portions only)
3 large plum tomatoes
Bring water to boil in stockpot. Add pasta, cream cheese, grated cheeses, salt and pepper.Cover and simmer for 5 minutes. As pasta cooks, slice leek in half lengthwise then crosswise into 1/2 inch slices. Place into bowl and swish in cold water to remove dirt. Lift leeks out and stir them into pasta mixture. Cook, uncovered, 5 - 7 minutes or until pasta is at desired tenderness. Cut tomatoes lengthwise, remove cores and seeds. Dice tomatoes, reserving 1/4 cup for garnish. Remove stockpot form heat, stir in remaining tomatoes and bacon. Serve immediately. 6 servings
Artichoke Chicken w/ Roasted Potatoes ~ 29 Minutes to Dinner Pamp. Chef Cookbook
Potatoes and Chicken
3 small red potatoes
1 1/2 cups water
1 tsp salt
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tsp rosemary herb seasoning
2 tsp olive oil, divided
Artichoke Topping
1/2 cup chopped artichoke hearts
2 tsp chopped fresh parsley
1 oz Parmesan cheese, grated and divided
2 tsp mayonnaise
Preheat broiler to HIGH. Cut potatoes in quarters then place into small micro cooker along with water and salt. Microwave on high 6 -8 minutes. Drain. Set aside.
Chop artichoke and parsley, place into bowl. Set 2 TBS grated Parm. cheese aside; add remaining cheese and mayo. to artichoke mixture and mix well.
Flatten chicken to 1/2 inch. Sprinkle both sides w/ 1 tsp rosemary seasoning.
Add 1 tsp olive oil to skillet, heat over medium-high heat for 1 - 3 minutes. Add remaining 1 tsp of oil to the remaining 1 tsp of the seasoning mix to potatoes; stir to coat.
Place chicken and potatoes, cut side down, into skillet. Cook 3 - 4 minutes. Turn chicken and potatoes over, cook and additional 3 - 4 minutes.
Remove potatoes from skillet; set aside and keep warm. To finish chicken, spread artichoke topping evenly over chicken, sprinkle with reserved cheese. Place skillet as close as possible to heating element in broiler (if your skillet can not go into oven, you can use a cake pan, etc.), broil 4 - 6 minutes or until topping is golden. 2 servings.
*** I have not made this yet, but it looks so yummy! I know I can simplify this recipe even more. :)
6 green bell peppers
2 lbs lean ground beef
1/2 cup instant brown rice
1/4 cup diced onion
1/4 cup grated parm cheese
1/8 cup Italian style bread crumbs
1 egg
1/4 spaghetti sauce
Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and garlic powder, all to taste
Clean peppers with cool water. Cut off tops and scoop out all seeds and membranes. Place in 9 x 13 pan. Mix the rest of the ingredients together in a bowl until well blended. If mixture seems too wet, add more rice. Once ground beef mixture is well blended, stuff inside of each pepper. Spoon more spaghetti sauce over each pepper (I poured alot in the bottom of the pan, too). Recipe says to put the tops back on the peppers, but I didn't. Bake at 350 for aprx. 30 - 35 min.
BLT Mac and Cheese ~ This recipe can also be found in the Pamp. Chef 29 Minutes to Dinner cookbook
5 cups water
8 slices bacon, cooked until crisp, drained on a paper towel and chopped
4 oz sharp white cheddar cheese, grated
1 oz Parmesan cheese, grated
4 oz cream cheese
1 lb cellentani or cavatappi pasta
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp coarsely ground pepper
1 large leek (white and light green portions only)
3 large plum tomatoes
Bring water to boil in stockpot. Add pasta, cream cheese, grated cheeses, salt and pepper.Cover and simmer for 5 minutes. As pasta cooks, slice leek in half lengthwise then crosswise into 1/2 inch slices. Place into bowl and swish in cold water to remove dirt. Lift leeks out and stir them into pasta mixture. Cook, uncovered, 5 - 7 minutes or until pasta is at desired tenderness. Cut tomatoes lengthwise, remove cores and seeds. Dice tomatoes, reserving 1/4 cup for garnish. Remove stockpot form heat, stir in remaining tomatoes and bacon. Serve immediately. 6 servings
Artichoke Chicken w/ Roasted Potatoes ~ 29 Minutes to Dinner Pamp. Chef Cookbook
Potatoes and Chicken
3 small red potatoes
1 1/2 cups water
1 tsp salt
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tsp rosemary herb seasoning
2 tsp olive oil, divided
Artichoke Topping
1/2 cup chopped artichoke hearts
2 tsp chopped fresh parsley
1 oz Parmesan cheese, grated and divided
2 tsp mayonnaise
Preheat broiler to HIGH. Cut potatoes in quarters then place into small micro cooker along with water and salt. Microwave on high 6 -8 minutes. Drain. Set aside.
Chop artichoke and parsley, place into bowl. Set 2 TBS grated Parm. cheese aside; add remaining cheese and mayo. to artichoke mixture and mix well.
Flatten chicken to 1/2 inch. Sprinkle both sides w/ 1 tsp rosemary seasoning.
Add 1 tsp olive oil to skillet, heat over medium-high heat for 1 - 3 minutes. Add remaining 1 tsp of oil to the remaining 1 tsp of the seasoning mix to potatoes; stir to coat.
Place chicken and potatoes, cut side down, into skillet. Cook 3 - 4 minutes. Turn chicken and potatoes over, cook and additional 3 - 4 minutes.
Remove potatoes from skillet; set aside and keep warm. To finish chicken, spread artichoke topping evenly over chicken, sprinkle with reserved cheese. Place skillet as close as possible to heating element in broiler (if your skillet can not go into oven, you can use a cake pan, etc.), broil 4 - 6 minutes or until topping is golden. 2 servings.
*** I have not made this yet, but it looks so yummy! I know I can simplify this recipe even more. :)
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Menu for Aug. 1 - Aug. 7
Sat. Aug. 1 ~ We had a long, but great day at the Clayton Boat Show and Auction, so when it was dinner time we kept it easy. I threw some hot dogs on the grill. Katie made kidney bean and pea salad and we also had salt potatoes. Easy, but yummy!
Sun. Aug. 2 ~ Buffalo Chicken Wings (per Katie's request)
Mon. Aug. 3 ~ BLT Mac & Cheese
Tues. Aug. 4 ~ Artichoke chicken w/ roasted potatoes
Wed. Aug. 5 ~ Turkey gyros, cucumber salad
Thurs. Aug. 6 ~ Grilled herb rubbed pork chops, pasta salad, veggie
Fri. Aug. 7 ~ So far, nothing planned for Friday. We're calling it a Yo-you night for now.
Sun. Aug. 2 ~ Buffalo Chicken Wings (per Katie's request)
Mon. Aug. 3 ~ BLT Mac & Cheese
Tues. Aug. 4 ~ Artichoke chicken w/ roasted potatoes
Wed. Aug. 5 ~ Turkey gyros, cucumber salad
Thurs. Aug. 6 ~ Grilled herb rubbed pork chops, pasta salad, veggie
Fri. Aug. 7 ~ So far, nothing planned for Friday. We're calling it a Yo-you night for now.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
YAY I finally did it! Got a menu together for the coming week!
Ok, after a few e mails asking where my menus and recipes are (and 1 or 2 "get your rear in gear" type e mails), I've finally done it! Well, I have the menu done up. I don't really have any recipes yet, but later in the week I should. I am making stuffed peppers (never made them from scratch before) so I'll have to find a recipe for them. I'll post that when I find one that looks yummy.
Sat. 7/25 ~ BLT's
Sun. 7/26 ~ Home made stromboli (I bought pizza dough and froze it for these. I'll make two of them, in mine I'll have the moz. cheese, ham, pepperoni, onion, green pepper and sauce. In the 2nd one I'll have all of those things as well as some mushrooms and red pepper flakes.), salad and home made ice cream later this evening.
Mon. 7/27 ~ Stuffed Peppers
Tues. 7/28 ~ BBQ pork ribs w/ grilled zucchini and yellow squash (from my garden)
Wed. 7/29 ~ Mac and cheese w/ canned tomatoes
Thurs. 7/30 ~ Chicken quesadillas
Fri. 7/31 ~ Hamburgers. Kate has requested that whatever we throw on the grill, we have potato and onion pouches as a side dish. These are so easy. I wash a few potatoes, dice them up along with some onions, but them in foil pouches w/ some butter, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning and throw them on the grill. So yummy!
Sat. 7/25 ~ BLT's
Sun. 7/26 ~ Home made stromboli (I bought pizza dough and froze it for these. I'll make two of them, in mine I'll have the moz. cheese, ham, pepperoni, onion, green pepper and sauce. In the 2nd one I'll have all of those things as well as some mushrooms and red pepper flakes.), salad and home made ice cream later this evening.
Mon. 7/27 ~ Stuffed Peppers
Tues. 7/28 ~ BBQ pork ribs w/ grilled zucchini and yellow squash (from my garden)
Wed. 7/29 ~ Mac and cheese w/ canned tomatoes
Thurs. 7/30 ~ Chicken quesadillas
Fri. 7/31 ~ Hamburgers. Kate has requested that whatever we throw on the grill, we have potato and onion pouches as a side dish. These are so easy. I wash a few potatoes, dice them up along with some onions, but them in foil pouches w/ some butter, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning and throw them on the grill. So yummy!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Just call me a slacker....
I know, I am really slacking with the weekly menu planning. Believe me, it shows both on the scale (lucky me) and in the pocket book. I really have to get back on track! Hopefully, I'll get a menu made up for next week. We've got the new freezer hooked up, so I can actually go buy food again! YAY Today I am taking a big stack of coupons to the shop with me to clip and sort if I have time. Maybe I'll even get that menu started....we shall see.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
6/14 - 6/20
Sun. 6/14 ~ We grilled and everyone had something different...I had a turkey burger, Kate had 2 veggie burgers and Gene had BBQ grilled salmon fillets. For sides we had salt potatoes and corn on the cob
Mon. 6/15 ~ Yo-yo night. Gene and I went to Erin & Russ's Pampered Chef party and filled up on yummy food over there. I think Kate ate Ramen noodles.
Tues. 6/16 ~ Steaks on the grill, long grain rice, left over corn on the cob and salt potatoes
Wed. 6/17 ~ Grilled chicken rubbed with a yummy garlic/herb rub and olive oil, steamed veggies
Thurs. 6/18 ~ Yo - yo night. My friend, Erin and I are having "date night." It's a joke. But we are going out to dinner and then to get our hair done..which leaves our families to fend for themselves.
Fri. 6/19 ~ Whole wheat penne pasta with steamed asparagus, zucchini and green beans tossed in a basil pesto w/ freshly grated Parmesan cheese. This is a dish I saw on one of Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meals a few years ago. It is very yummy and so easy! If I think of it when I go to pick up the veggies, I'll get fresh bread and make garlic bread, too.
Sat. & Sun. are both undecided. Who knows what we'll have going on this weekend and Sunday is Father's Day so Gene may want to go out to eat. We shall see.
Mon. 6/15 ~ Yo-yo night. Gene and I went to Erin & Russ's Pampered Chef party and filled up on yummy food over there. I think Kate ate Ramen noodles.
Tues. 6/16 ~ Steaks on the grill, long grain rice, left over corn on the cob and salt potatoes
Wed. 6/17 ~ Grilled chicken rubbed with a yummy garlic/herb rub and olive oil, steamed veggies
Thurs. 6/18 ~ Yo - yo night. My friend, Erin and I are having "date night." It's a joke. But we are going out to dinner and then to get our hair done..which leaves our families to fend for themselves.
Fri. 6/19 ~ Whole wheat penne pasta with steamed asparagus, zucchini and green beans tossed in a basil pesto w/ freshly grated Parmesan cheese. This is a dish I saw on one of Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meals a few years ago. It is very yummy and so easy! If I think of it when I go to pick up the veggies, I'll get fresh bread and make garlic bread, too.
Sat. & Sun. are both undecided. Who knows what we'll have going on this weekend and Sunday is Father's Day so Gene may want to go out to eat. We shall see.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
menu 6/8 - 6/12
Well, meals this week have been thrown a bit off course. Thursday we had a Yo - yo night (you're on your own), last night I grilled the flank steak (First time I made a flank steak in about 10 years b/c I thought it was such a tough piece a meat. I marinaded it all day long then cooked it on the grill on high for 6 min. on one side and another 5 on the other side..cut against the grain in about 1 inch - 1 1/2 inch slices...YUMMMM). This evening we have been invited over to Erin and Russ's for a BBQ, so I won't be cooking dinner. As far as I know, the dinner plans for tomorrow are still the stuffed peppers. I don't know if I will make rice or buttered noodles with them. I have both..guess I'll see what Gene and Kate want. :)
Mon 6/8 ~ Grilled boneless pork chops and veggie (either grilled asparagus or corn on the cob. HMMMM Such hard decisions!)
Tues. 6/9 ~ Spaghetti, salad and garlic bread (it's class night, so have to make something quick and easy)
Wed. 6/10 ~ Tacos
Thurs. 6/11 ~ Yo-yo night
Fri. ~ 6/12 ~ Beef and chicken kabobs on the grill (not sure of the sides yet...will see what looks good at the grocery store)
Mon 6/8 ~ Grilled boneless pork chops and veggie (either grilled asparagus or corn on the cob. HMMMM Such hard decisions!)
Tues. 6/9 ~ Spaghetti, salad and garlic bread (it's class night, so have to make something quick and easy)
Wed. 6/10 ~ Tacos
Thurs. 6/11 ~ Yo-yo night
Fri. ~ 6/12 ~ Beef and chicken kabobs on the grill (not sure of the sides yet...will see what looks good at the grocery store)
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