March 20 - 26 menu and a recipe too

Sat. March 20 ~ Gene made Hamburger Helper since I had just returned from PA and was in no mood to cook

Sun. March 21 ~ Home made corn chowder and rosemary buttered rolls

Mon. March 22 ~ Baked Parmesan chicken breasts, steamed veggie trio and Lipton Noodle Side

Tues. March 23 ~ Salt & pepper pan fried pork chops with caramelized onions, buttered baby carrots and Lipton Noodle Side

Wed. March 24 ~ Italian Chicken Pasta Toss

Thurs. March 25 ~ Meme's Spanish Rice

Fri. March 26 ~ California Club Pizza

Italian Chicken Pasta Toss

6 oz uncooked bow tie pasta
2 plum tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 small onion, diced
1 medium zucchini, sliced
1 small yellow or red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch strips
2 tsp olive oil
2 large cloves garlic, pressed
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp salt
1 oz (about 1/4 cup) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and keep warm.

Heat oil over medium - high heat in large skillet. Press garlic into skillet. Add chicken. Stir-fry for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Add all veggies except tomatoes. Stir in Italian Seasoning and salt. Stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and heat for another 2 minutes, stirring gently. Remove from heat.

Stir in warm pasta. Grate fresh cheese over top. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!!

Using up what's left....

Well, after a week and a half of craziness back home in PA, I'm back with the hubby and kiddo and ready to start cooking again. I had to leave unexpectedly and in a hurry on March 10th because of an emergency with my dad, so that week's menu wasn't used and I believe while I was gone, my little family just kinda fended for themselves and I'm not sure there were any REAL meals made. My plan was to make up a menu for this coming week and then head to the grocery store for some much needed food shopping...but instead of doing that, I am going to inventory the freezer and pantry. Once I'm finished with that, I'll plan a menu and post it on here. Been in the mood for some baking, so I may do a bit of that, too. :)

I'm back...

Well, the hubster was gone again so the kiddo and I were playing things by ear for a bit. My morning is getting away from me, so I'll go a head and get right to our menu for the next week.

Tonight, March 5th, I do believe that, while previously mentioned kiddo and I are out running errands, we'll grab dinner on the go. Subway has been sounding good to me all week long.

Sat. March 6th ~ Maple glazed chicken, a Lipton side dish, steamed veggies

Sun. March 7th ~ Rigatoni with meat sauce, salad and garlic bread

Mon. March 8th ~ Pan grilled flank steak, crash hot potatoes (recipe from The Pioneer Woman website), and creamed corn

Tues. March 9th ~ Pan fried pork chops (sides have not been thought of yet)

Wed. March 10th ~ Yo - yo night

Thurs. March 11th ~ Italian chicken pasta toss

Fri. March 12th ~ Tacos

Sat. March 13th ~ Double chicken dumpling stoup (Rachael Ray recipe) and home baked bread

Our menu for 2/22 - 2/28

I am ready for work early this morning and the quiet was driving me nuts, so I whipped out my big binder full of recipes and made up the menu for next week. The hubby will be back in town, so I'll be cooking again.

Mon. 2.22 ~ Spaghetti & tossed salad

Tues. 2/23 ~ Roast chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, mixed veggies

Wed. 2/24 ~ Tex Mex Corn Chip Chili

Thurs. 2/25 ~ Yo-yo night

Fri. 2/26 ~ Sweet and sour crock pot pork

Sat. 2/27 ~ pierogies

Sun. 2/28 ~ Beef stroganoff w/ egg noodles

Playing it by ear...and a recipe to share

Well, for the rest of this week it's just Katie and I so I'm not planning too many big meals. Tonight I'm making spaghetti squash and chicken, one night we'll probably have cheese ravioli, another night Hamburger Helper and at some point in the week we're going to go out to dinner and go to the movies.

Last night I cooked apple & sage pork chops with garlic & herb angel hair pasta and a tossed salad. That was the first time I cooked that dish and it was a hit! All three of us really enjoyed it!

Apple and Sage Pork Chops

1 1/2 tsp rubbed sage
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp paprika
1 TBS flour
1 tsp salt
4 boneless pork chops, about 1 inch thick
2 TBS olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced thinly
2 red apples, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup apple juice
1 TBS brown sugar

Mix flour, salt and all of the spices together in a small bowl. Sprinkle both sides of each pork chop with 1 TBS of the seasoned flour. Save left over flour blend.

Cook the pork chops in hot oil in large skillet on medium - high heat until browned on both sides. Remove from skillet. Add onions and cook until slightly softened (about 3 minutes), stirring occasionally. Add apples and continue to cook & stir for 2 minutes.

Stir in apple juice, brown sugar and the remaining flour mixture. Once well combined, return pork chops to skillet. Bring to a boil and continue cooking until chops are done, about 5 - 6 minutes.

Enjoy!!!

Ahead of the game....

WOW Can you believe it?! I actually have the meals planned out for the next couple of (are you ready for this?) weeks!!!! I know, crazy, right? LOL But it's done, at least until Feb. 12th. I'm working on my grocery list for the upcoming week now, tomorrow we will get a paper and see if there are any coupons that will be useful. I have to say, we NEVER read the paper, but the $2 we spend on it on Sundays is soooo worth it! With a bit of planning and organization, coupons can really save you a lot of money! I love it!!!! Ok, now on to our menu for the next 2 weeks...

Mon. 2/1 ~ Meme's chicken spaghetti (Kate's request)

Tues. 2/2 ~ Ham steaks, candied yams and rolls

Wed. 2/3 ~ Mac & cheese w/ canned tomatoes out of our garden

Thurs. 2/4 ~ Beef stew

Fri. 2/5 ~ Yo-yo night

Sat. 2/6 ~ TBA

Sun. 2/7 ~ Super Bowl...I will be making veggie pizza to take over to Erin & Russ's house

Mon. 2/8 ~ Roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes & gravy, green bean casserole

Tues. 2/9 ~ BLTs

Wed. 2/10 ~ Yo-yo night

Thurs. 2/11 ~ Cabbage and sausage casserole

Fri. 2/12 ~ Pizza night

Sat. 2/13 ~ TBA

Bubble Bread...YUM!

Oh, I remember when Meme Bair would make Bubble Bread! I could never wait to get my hands on it when it came out of the oven...most of the time burning myself with the gooey syrup. OH, but so worth it! I was digging through recipes yesterday and came across this forgotten favorite of mine, so I decided I was going to make it this morning. Kate's friend, Sarah spent the night last night, so I think they'll enjoy it. So will Gene and I. ;) Thought I'd share the recipe. It's just a little time consuming, but not hard to make at all. Would love to know if you try it!

~Amy

Bubble Bread

2 loaves of frozen bread dough (partly thawed). Cut in half lengthwise, then cut each half into 10 pieces. This will give you 40 pieces. Roll into balls.

In microwave safe bowl, melt 1 1/2 sticks of butter. In separate bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups sugar with 2 TBS cinnamon. Mix well.

Dip balls into butter then coat with sugar mixture. Place in a sprayed bunt pan or angel food cake pan in a single layer. You will have to squeeze them in tight to fit.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, cover with foil and bake another 30 minutes. Remove from oven. Let stand 5 minutes then turn out onto serving plate. When cool enough, pull apart and enjoy!