Menu Time

I don't know about everyone else's calendar but August is already so marked up that I don't think I can fit much more on any of the days. And when the months start to look like that on the calendar, I already start to get stressed and exhausted. In order to help with that I know that meal prep will be a must. I am going to do a two week menu for the next 2 weeks to prepare me for meal prep again. During the summer months, meals are kind of easy going. When schools starts and football begins, meals become rushed. This is an easy time for us to go get something. No more of that option so I must get on it. I am excited about some of the recipes for these next two weeks. Since it isn't August yet, I am hoping to maybe double a few of them so I can have them in the freezer. It is super easy to do that alot of the time. When you make a meal, double it and then freeze it. Not much planning in that. Enough with the talk, here is the menu:

Turkey burgers with a southwestern quinoa salad
Chicken nuggets with sweet pototoes and apples
Black bean quesadilla with fruit
Asian steak kabobs with rice and lots of veggies
Split pea soup with tuna ciabetta melts
Summer Corn Chowder with crusty bread
Coconut chicken with risotto with mushrooms
Spaghetti  with salad
Sweet potato and black bean burgers with cucumber salad
Chicken and brocolli alfredo

I also have two leftover nights on the menu as well as two nights that we will be at the rodeo so no meals are necessary. The items underlined will be doubled and froze for later use.

I found all of these recipes on either 100 days of real food or once a month mom. It took some time but it was fun to look through all those yummy recipes. It is always nice to expand our family's palette when it comes to food.

I'm on a roll

For the most part, my cooking is all from recipes. Whether I find them on Pinterest, cook books, or from family members willing to share their secrets...I am not one to invent things. Last night, however I did. It wasn't anything spectacular but it was yummy none the less. Here is what I did:


Grilled some chicken on our little panini press. I simply put some Wildtree seasonings on it as I laid it on the grill. You could use Mrs. Dash stuff or just whatever herbs you like.



Sauteed 3 cloves of garlic and 1/2 shallot in some olive oil. I let it burn a little. I know your not supposed to but the burning gave it a little more flavor.




Then I threw in some red pepper coursely chopped and some cherry tomatoes, halved. Let that cook over med to med low heat for a while. Until the veggies are to your liking. Then at the end throw in some spinach. I wanted it cooked but not wilted.


I used spaghetti noodles for the rest of the family but used soba noodles for me. I wanted to try the difference. Throw those noodles into the veggies. I put some more olive oil and a little balsamic vinegar because who doesn't love that combo!!


Place that grilled chicken on top and viola, a yummy and fresh dish! The soba noodles gave it a better flavor, I think. My hubby didn't disagree but I know that these noodles do not easily replace spaghetti in our house. I like the flavor but the rest of the family was not impressed with them in spaghetti sauce. Now with some sort of asian inspired food, yes, they work great. Life is all about trying and I liked what I tried last night :).

I also made a peach pie yesterday and it was delish and so beautiful. I made it with my grandma's recipe for pie crust (which is just the trusty Betty Crocker cookbook method) and for once in my life, it worked! For any of you that have attempted a pie crust, you know how hard and finicky they can be. For one to turn out, look good, and taste good, it is a rare treat.

Isn't it just gorgeous!! Oh it was so good last night as well.

Today I have been canning pickles. This is my first run at this and as with most canning, you won't be able to tell if it is any good until you open it. Later......much later in the case of pickles. Here's to hoping they turn out good.


I think I deserve a cup of coffee with all that work! All with love and all worth it!!

A few yummies for Monday

Here are a few yummy recipes for your Monday. The first up is basically ravioli in a crockpot. Now, I know that ravioli with sauce is not that hard to make at dinnertime. But if you need a recipe that you can literally throw in one pot (instead of 3) and walk away, this is it.


Items needed :
1 bag of frozen ravioli - any kind
1 28oz can of crushed tomatoes
2 T italian herbs fresh or dried more or less for your tasting
a couple handfuls of mozzerella cheese
crockpot

Throw it all in and set to high. Leave it for about 2 hours.


Here are some tips or variations
* you can always use canned tomato sauce that you have made or a jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce from the store.
*Remember that the ravioli needs a little sauce/water to help it cook so over estimate with the sauce
*after about 2 hours, stir it carefully the ravioli are tender and will break apart easily.
* I LOVE real mozzerella but if I can't use that then I use the other mozzerella in the bag cheese isle

It was a good meal with little prep and nothing got hot in the kitchen which, right now, is a huge bonus!



The next recipe is for a DIY Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade.


I am hooked on these and really look forward to one anytime I have the chance. They are refreshing and have a tropical flavor to help whisk you away on those hot midwest afternoons! Here is how I make it at home:


Items needed:
Tazo Passion Tea (these are usually at Starbucks but I found mine at Nature's Grocers)
Lemonade mix (you could make your own lemonade from scratch as well, it makes this drink out of this world :) )

I boil a quart of water on the stove. Once it boils, take it off and steep 6 - 8 bags of the passion tea in it for about 4 mintutes. It makes this beautiful dark pink colored tea that smells heavenly!! While that is steeping, mix up 1 quart of lemonade in a 2 or 3 quart pitcher, following the directions on the lemonade mix jar. Remove the tea bags from your tea, carefully! Then pour the tea into the lemonade you have waiting in the pitcher. I like to taste at this point. If you like things a little sweeter either add some sugar, honey, or agave. I load a glass up with lots of ice and pour. Sit back with a good book and enjoy!


I don't make this often because the tea is expensive and I would literally drink it all in one day. But it is nice to have on hand to brighten a day when life gets a little crazy. Happy Monday!

Menu Week 7/9-7/13

I thought that publishing my menu each week would help have a place to reflect back on recipes used and to help keep me more organized. As I have stated before, when I make my menu I keep in mind what I already have in the house and what the garden is providing. Then I plan from there.

Breakfast Choices: Cereal (multi grain oats), Oatmeal, or Eggs. Fruit is also included in breakfast.

Lunch Choices for girls: Cheese Sticks or PBJ with a fruit and veggie of choice that we have on hand

Dinner :
Sunday - Crock pot ravioli with homemade bread and salad
Monday - Grilled Salmon with green beans and wild rice
Tuesday - Grilled Chicken with spaghetti noodles with small yellow squash....thinking there will be a balsamic / olive oil drizzled on top. Throw in some basil...yummo!
Wednesday - BLT sandwiches with some sort of pasta salad with fresh veggies or maybe even some cucumbers and onion salad
Thursday - Pizza from Papa Murphy's that we have had in the freezer for a couple weeks (want it gone before it gets freezer burn)
Friday - Not sure what we will be doing this night.....leftovers perhaps

As for me I continue to find that if I keep to the same meals it is much easier for me to function. By that I mean, if I know exactly what I am eating, I don't have to worry about it. It is almost second nature at this point and I really like that. Breakfast is always 1/4 cup oatmeal with 1/4 cup of almonds. Throw in some dried fruit or fresh fruit, yummy. No sugar, period. I have a cup of cranberry juice and usually 1 cup of coffee.


Lunch is always a spinach shake (learned that it is necessary to drink cranberry juice if you eat spinach alot). My shake is 3 handfuls of spinach, one froze banana, and 1T of peanut butter. Throw in some water until it is blended nicely. It is yummy and super filling. If I am hungry, I throw in some oats but that doesn't happen a lot. If I am hungry between lunch and dinner (usually around 4), I cut up a cucumber or carrot. This has worked well for me.

Tomorrow I will have a post with the crock pot ravioli recipe on it. I have never tried this but have heard it is quick and delish. Let's hope it is :)