An experiment... gone wrong?

I think my titles are getting cooler... what do you think?

We had Parmesan Tilapia last night

Parmesan Tilapia with Deli Coleslaw and Corn on the Cob

I said it was and experiment and it was... we ate fish. Anyone who knows me knows that I HATE fish! I don't like the smell, the taste, or the texture and Erik dislikes it almost as much as I do. Having said that fish is good for you for a variety of reasons and I have no desire for my children to be picky about food because I never put anything new on the table (they are picky enough on their own). My second misgiving about this experiment is that every TV show I have ever watched on cooking has said that cheese is a strange pairing with fish and rarely works taste wise. My third misgiving was that according to everything I know about cooking when you bread a piece of meat you need some sort of liquid to make the breading adhere, egg, butter, mayonnaise, etc... and the recipe I had didn't have any of those things. My last misgiving was broiling the fish... I have only lived with my oven and broiler for 6 months and for half that time I was eating fast food and using my oven to bake Elijah's waffles. I would say that a third of things that I make in the oven burn or at least overcook... so when you are talking about broiling a delicate fish I had trepidations....

I WAS RIGHT!!!! Well almost :/

In terms of the fishy taste, it wasn't there I couldn't find it so I was able to eat the fish without gagging... yay? The parmesan tasted okay with the fish but I think that's because Parmesan is a buttery tasting cheese, not overpowering, and Tilapia is a very mild fish. I was right about the liquid required my breading wouldn't stay adhered to the fish so it just burned onto the ban... and that brings me to the last item on my list.... I did indeed overcook/burn the three pieces of Tilapia in the middle of the pan, so Erik and I ate the ones on the outside edges which weren't as bad. The fish was fine, as Erik would say, for fish... we both liked the coleslaw and the corn the best of the meal... sigh, maybe we are hopelessly stuck in our ruts? NAH!  Making something new tonight! See ya tomorrow!

PS I didn't put a website cause I couldn't find one for the exact recipe for the fish... however ones that I did find (just put Parmesan Tilapia into Google) look like they would come out better than the one I used last night anyway...

So Sue Me

Like I said on my Facebook post... I have not been the best about posting lately but I am doing my best to get back on track (and I better before summer hits or I will never get anything done!).

So this post is a catch up post... letting you know what I did since I posted last...

I am not going to include the cost breakdown (cause everyday its about the same less than $5-$10 per person for a family of four) and I am not going to include all the preparation gobbledy gook unless its NOT fast or easy (and when I say fast I mean 30 minutes or less and when I say easy I mean a 4 or 5 step process versus a 15 step process). I am going to include the website for the recipe, the picture, and the verdict. This particular post is going to show multiple meals so bear with me, ok?

Lime-sauced Chicken Breasts

#1 Lime-Sauced Chicken Breasts
found at: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-with-lime-sauce-10000001173801/

This one comes with a funny story... So I started making dinner at my usual time, kids were watching television, Erik was decompressing in front of the computer, when my cell phone starts to ring. I couldn't really answer it cause I had stuff all over my hands so I tossed my phone to Erik and as he is talking to the other person I had a sudden realization... we were supposed to go OUT to dinner tonight with friends and I had completely forgotten! Having already started cooking the chicken I couldn't stop in the middle so I finished and told my babysitter (who HAD remembered I was going out) that it was dinner for her if she wanted it. The picture is what was left (it came with roasted potatoes and green beans). So when I finally did taste it the chicken was tangy but a little sweet as well, very moist, and just all around yummy! A good chicken recipe for those of you on the lookout for good chicken recipes. =)

Italian Casserole with Green salad

#2 Italian Casserole
where to find it: http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/zesty-italian-crescent-casserole/4856ffe5-9c66-4149-ab58-24d66d9929f5/#

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one. Usually I am leery of casseroles ESPECIALLY when they have some sort of dough on top, that usually doesn't turn out well. This one was pretty good. I DO NOT recommend this for a regular 4-person family meal. I recommend it for potlucks, when your son bring 2 or 3 friends home for dinner, as a meal for a gaggle of girls for a slumber party. This is hearty food, meant for a large group who doesn't care what it looks like but just care if it tastes good. It totally appeals to the taste buds of people under the age of 20. Its also simple, affordable, and easy to make.

Beef Chimichangas with Mexican Ranch Wedge Salad and Tortilla Chips

#3 Beef Chimichangas
where to find it: http://www.food.com/recipe/Baked-Baja-Beef-Chimichangas-108901

A couple of differences to note... I used cider vinegar instead of white vinegar, and I also mixed sour cream and taco sauce into the filling (cause it tastes so good)... This came out sooooo good! They were super yummy (in fact I ate the leftovers cold for two additional days after making them, they were that good!) My husband says they were spicy but I have it on another authority (not mine) that they weren't spicy at all... what can I say Erik is a wuss about spicy (sigh). Super Yummy and I highly recommend baking them (even though I love fried food too!)

French Steak with Wild Rice and Broccoli

#4 French Steak
where to find it: http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1818,158188-243194,00.html

Differences to note: Also cut the meat into bite size pieces, butter and olive oil to brown the meat, instead of onion soup and water throw in an onion (diced) once you pull the meat (once its browned) and after the onion is cooked throw in garlic, white wine, beef broth, worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and pepper. Now, what I was supposed to do when the meat was done cooking was mix in a cup of shredded cheddar cheese and a 1/2 cup of sour cream.... but I didn't do that cause I didn't read my recipe as thoroughly as I should have and trust me when I say the meat would have been so much better for the addition. The meat wasn't horrible it just didn't taste as good as the smell said it was going to. And that was the last recipe to bring us current so without further ado.....

LAST NIGHTS DINNER

Sesame Chicken with Steamed White Rice and Asian Style Vegetables

Monday Night: Sesame Chicken
where to find it: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sesame-Ginger-Chicken/

The recipe is for a grilling recipe and I turned it into a stir fry recipe so for the amounts of the ingredients they are going to need to be increased (otherwise your chicken will be yucky) so increase the honey and the soy sauce to 1/2 a cup each, include a cup of water and 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in order to thicken up the sauce, and of course your ground ginger. For those of you who don't know how I converted it. Cube up your chicken breast and cook in sesame oil and garlic until no longer pink, mix all of your sauce ingredients together and pour over chicken, cover and simmer 10 minutes. Serve over rice and vegetables. The verdict on this one is a good one... it was yummy, the sauce was the right consistency (not watery) and it actually tasted like something I might get from a chinese food restaurant (oh and Erik liked it too)

Okay.... that catches me up... come back tomorrow for another installment and keep me honest!

May 22, 2012

Hey Y'all!

What was for dinner? Sesame Shrimp with Rice

Website: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/sesame-shrimp/

Picture:

Sesame Shrimp with Rice with a side of butter steamed broccoli and cauliflower

The Differences: Okay the differences are this... double everything except the lemon pepper and I used already cooked tail on shrimp.

The Prep: It takes 5 minutes to throw everything together for the marinade and get the shrimp into the refrigerator. While the shrimp is marinating for 30 minutes put together the broccoli, cauliflower, and butter. I steamed the vegetables for 8 minutes. I also used the 30 minutes to make the white rice. Once those things were done it takes about 5 minutes to heat the shrimp. So 5 minutes to prep, 30 minutes to marinate, and 5 minutes to cook.

The Cost Breakdown:
Shrimp: $10.90
Broccoli: $2.38
Cauliflower: $1.85

not included in the cost of the meal is the soy sauce, sesame oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, lemon pepper, rice, sesame seeds, butter, and salt as all of those items I already had in the pantry.

Total: $15.13 or $3.78 per person for a family of four.

The Verdict: I felt like I was really eating healthy last night, LOL. The shrimp was super yummy though I highly recommend taking the tails off of the shrimp before marinating the shrimp. It tasted really good with the rice and the broccoli and cauliflower was a nice crispness and the butter steaming made it super yummy. Erik said it tasted fine but he is not a shrimp lover so that was a wrench in the works for him... as he said to me he "prefers land animals" to eat. Such a man! LOL It was yummy, easy to make, and affordable... as well as a nice change from beef and chicken! Enjoy!

May 21, 2012

Okay, I know I haven't posted for a week but I was out of town so you will have to forgive me =)

What was for dinner last night? Yummy Parmesan Chicken

Website: http://easy.betterrecipes.com/yummy-parmesan-mayo-chicken.html

Picture:

Yummy Parmesan Chicken with Corn and Green Salad

The differences: I used 2 pounds of chicken instead of one, I used Miracle Whip opposed to Mayonnaise as I like Miracle Whip better. Instead of Oregano I used seasoning salt, pepper, garlic powder, and mustard. I reduced the cheese to 1/2 a cup instead of 1 and a half cups. I cooked the chicken at 375 degrees verses 350 degrees but the bake time stays the same.

The Prep: It took me 5 minutes to mix together the seasonings, cheese, and Miracle Whip and spread it on the chicken... 45 minutes to bake and used that time to fix the corn and the salad.

The Cost Breakdown:
Chicken Breasts: $6.99
Parmesan Cheese: $1.99
Salad: $2.49
Corn: $0.99

not included are the costs of the Miracle Whip or the seasonings.

Total: $12.46 or $3.12 per person for a family of four.

The Verdict: The Chicken was so GOOD! Nice and moist, and the cheese topping was so good I was eating it out of the pan as I was doing the dishes. Totally would make this again, especially because the chicken was anything but dry, which I hate with a passion. Erik liked it and Erika was all about the corn and the salad so it was a good meal!

May 12, 2012

Dinner: Honey Mustard Chicken Nuggets

Website: http://www.frenchs.com/contest/recipe/french-fried-onion-and-honey-mustard-chicken-nuggets-2855

Picture:

Honey Mustard Chicken Nuggets with French Fries and Strawberries

Differences: There are alot so lets make this easy... Cut your chicken breasts in 1 inch pieces, dip them in honey mustard and then bread them with crushed fried onions. Bake them at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. How easy is that?

The Prep: It takes 15 minutes to cut, dip, and bread the chicken. 15 minutes to bake the chicken, 25 minutes to bake the fries, and 5 minutes to slice the strawberries.

The Cost Breakdown:
Chicken: $4.49
Fried onions: $2.49
French Fries: $2.49
Strawberries: $2.50

Not included was the cost of the honey mustard as I already had it on hand.

Total: $11.97 or $2.99 per person for a family of four.

The Verdict: These nuggets were easy to make and very yummy. I would totally make them again. Erik liked them and that, in the end, is all that matters =) See you tomorrow!

May 11, 2012

What was for dinner? French Dip Sandwiches

website: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Slow-Cooker-French-Dip/

picture:

Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches with Au Jus and Chips on the side

The Differences: I did not use any beer in the mixture for the meat in the crock pot, I shredded the meat instead of slicing it; I put the meat and the Swiss cheese (did I mention the cheese?) on to the open face buns covered them loosely with foil and baked the whole sandwich for about 15 minutes thereby melting the cheese and toasting the bun.

The Prep: I did not trim the fat from the meat... anyone who cooks low and slow will tell you "Remove the fat before cooking and you will remove the flavor of the meat." So I opted to put the meat in the crock pot as it came out of the container and remove the fat as I shredded the meat once it was cooked. 5 minutes to prep the meat and add the onion soup and beef broth to the crock pot. 8 hours to cook,5 minutes to shred the meat, 5 minutes to make the sandwiches, and 15 minutes to toast them. Without the crock pot cook time your prep takes about 30 minutes.

The Cost Breakdown:
Chuck Roast: $7.51
Onion Soup mix: $0.79
Beef Broth: $0.79
Sandwich Rolls: $4.19
Swiss Cheese: $4.49
Chips: $2.50

All items needed for cooking included in the cost of the meal

Total: $20.27 or $5.07 per person for a family of four

The Verdict: Goodness this was SOOO good. All of the flavors came together and it was yummy, it was hearty, it was filling, easy to put together on a busy day, and such a summertime meal (felt that way to me anyway). I wasn't sure I was going to like it cause French Dip sandwiches are not my go to meat sandwich... I wasn't sure if Erik was going to like it cause he doesn't like meat out of the crock pot... we BOTH liked this meal a great deal and would definitely have it again, it was awesome!

May 10, 2012

What was for dinner last night? Balsamic Chicken and Mushrooms

website: http://www.food.com/recipe/balsamic-chicken-and-mushrooms-54726

picture:

Balsamic Chicken and Mushrooms with Steamed Rice and Kale

The Differences: I used One and a half pounds of chicken instead of two pounds, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar instead of three tablespoons, I used one tablespoon of HONEY mustard instead of dijon mustard, I used two cloves of minced garlic, and one tablespoon of olive oil to cook the chicken instead of vegetable oil. I also used a half cup of chicken broth. In terms of the cooking I didn't change anything except I put all of the oil into the pan before I cooked the chicken instead of putting half in before the chicken and the other half into a hot pan right before the mushrooms (that seemed like a weird instruction to me).

The Prep: This recipe went faster than I expected... in fact I undercooked the rice because everything else was done so fast. So basically, it takes 5 minutes to mix the vinegar, mustard, and garlic and to dip the chicken into it and get it into the pan. Cook the chicken for 3 minutes, turn it and cook it 3 minutes more. Remove it from the pan and drop the mushrooms in, cooking them for 2 minutes, then add the broth and the thyme, and cook an additional 3 minutes or until deep brown. While you are messing with all of this you should be cooking your rice and whatever veggie you choose to use. When the mushrooms are done you are done... It takes about 20 minutes to cook and prep the chicken and the mushrooms. It was really fast, felt like I was on Chopped!

The Cost Breakdown:
Chicken: $4.49
Mushrooms: $2.19
Kale: $1.99

I did not include the cost of the balsamic vinegar, mustard, garlic, olive oil, or thyme as they are pantry items and I had all of them on hand. I also did not include the price of the chicken broth or the white rice as I had both of those things on hand, this time. That may not be the case next time.

Total: $8.67 or $2.17 per person for a family of four

The Verdict: Oh my gosh, the chicken was pretty good, nice and moist. The mushrooms (cause I am a mushroom lover) were fan-fricking-tastic! Sooooo yummy! Also, I had never had kale and it was extremely yummy as well. Erik told me its a good source of Vitamin A (good for eyeballs) so I thought I would pass that information along. Erik really liked it too! The reason I am mentioning that is because Erik HATES mushrooms (like with an undying passion). So how did I get him to like it you ask? I didn't, I made sure that no ACTUAL mushrooms were on his plate but I did put the sauce onto his chicken and he thought it tasted really good. After the crockpot fiasco the night before it was really nice for him to really like something that I was totally expecting him to hate and refuse to eat.  YAY! So happy! I highly recommend this recipe, especially if you like chicken with a slightly Asian taste to it. And at a little over $2 you just can't beat that price, know what I mean? =) See you tomorrow!

May 9, 2012

Dinner last night: Slow Cooker Casserole

website: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1638,144184-254204,00.html

picture:

Slow Cooker Casserole with Dinner Rolls and butter

The differences: Ok, in the ingredients I used a can of green beans (undrained) and I added garlic, basil, and thyme to add some flavor. In the cooking instructions I chose to make the recipe a crock pot recipe rather than heating up the house by turning on the oven. The layering happens exactly the same and you would cook it for 6 to 8 hours on low.

The prep: It takes about 10 minutes to brown the ground beef and during that time you can peel and slice the potatoes and an additional five minutes to slice the onion. Five minutes to layer everything in the slow cooker (crock pot) and 6 to 8 hours to cook... So prep is about 15 to 20 minutes and cook time is 6 to 8 hours.

The Cost Breakdown:
Ground Beef: $5.22
Potatoes: $1.59
Cream of Mushroom Soup: $1.49
Dinner Rolls: $1.99
Butter: $2.99

I did not include the cost of an onion, the garlic, or spices, or the can of green beans since I had all of those things in my fridge and pantry.

Total: $13.28 or $3.32 per person for a family of four

The Verdict:  I really liked this meal. It was hearty and it tasted good. Erik, on the other hand, really didn't like it. He felt that the meat tasted overcooked and that all the flavors blended together in to one taste that he couldn't decide if he liked or not so he was ambiguous about it. Oh well, you win some and you lose some. Realistically not everyone is going to like everything I cook but I liked it and it was inexpensive and easy to put together so it gets a thumbs up from me. =)

May 7 and 8, 2012

All right all right... I know I didn't do a post yesterday and I'm sorry but I do have a post for yesterdays dinner... =)

What was for dinner last night? Baked Cheese Ravioli

No need for a recipe, its that easy!

picture:

Baked Cheese Ravioli, Garden salad with Ranch dressing, and Garlic Bread

What you need: Frozen cheese ravioli, a jar of pasta sauce, a pound of ground beef, Parmesan cheese, a bag of salad, carrots, grape tomatoes, cucumber, and garlic bread.

The Prep: Okay, boil water. Once its boiling dump in the frozen ravioli, once it comes back to a boil boil the ravioli for 4-7 minutes. While you are doing that brown the ground beef, drain off the grease, and mix in the pasta sauce. Drain the ravioli and mix it in with the sauce and beef. Use cooking spray on a baking dish, put the ravioli in the dish and top with Parmesan cheese, stick in the oven. 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Mix the salad, tomatoes, carrots, and sliced cucumber together and toss with your favorite dressing. Cook garlic bread according to directions. So 10-15 minutes for everything leading up to baking the ravioli, 20 minutes for the actual baking (including the tossing of the salad, and cooking of the garlic bread). So it takes about 35-40 minutes to make dinner.

The Cost Breakdown:
Ravioli: $4.99
Pasta sauce: $1.69
Ground beef 1 lb.: $3.48
Salad: $2.99
Carrots: $1.50
Tomatoes: $3.99
Cucumber: $0.99
Garlic Bread: $1.99

not included in the cost was the salad dressing

total: $21.62 or $5.41 per person for a family of four.

The Verdict: Warm, yummy, and very easy to put together. I enjoyed it, it made me think of eating Chef Boyrdee Ravioli when I was little. One of my favorite foods was that ravioli so it was a nice memory (by the way the ravioli I made was better than the canned stuff). Erik enjoyed the dinner as well which was very nice indeed. Dinner for tonight is in the crockpot now so tune in tomorrow to see what it is!

May 4, 5, and 6, 2012

Ok here is the skinny... I will be back with meals on Tuesday (posting for Monday). I didn't make dinner yesterday because Erik and I went and saw Avengers (which was TOTALLY awesome!!!!), because the kids were with a babysitter I ordered them Pizza and Erik and I ate leftover pizza and other leftovers from the refridgerator. I didn't make lunch or dinner today because I made a breakfast for 20ish people this morning, I slept thru lunch, and had leftovers for dinner. I won't be making a lunch or dinner tomorrow because I will be at my Bestie's house celebrating my daughter's third birthday and we fully plan on going out to dinner (lunch will happen in the car I am sure)... so don't be disappointed in me I plan to be back on the meal planning track on Monday... love you all and have a fabulous rest of your weekend!!! Love, Jamie

May 3, 2012

Dinner last night... Wild Rice Casserole

website: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1742,149177-239192,00.html

Picture:

Wild Rice Casserole and Green Beans

The Differences: I did not use mushrooms or onions (not my families preference), the chicken breasts that I used were the extra ones that I cooked a couple of days ago, I did not use flour, cream, or chicken broth... instead I used a can of cream of mushroom soup and a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce. I did cook the rice according to the package directions, I did cook the sausage and set it aside, since I used chicken that I cooked a couple of days ago I didn't have to cook the breasts just cut them up. Then I combined the rice, sausage, chicken, soup, and Worcestershire sauce together, poured it into a baking dish and baked it at 350 for 30 minutes.

The Prep: 25 minutes to cook the rice and sausage and cut up the chicken, 5 minutes to combine everything and prepare the dish to go in the oven (this includes topping the casserole with Parmesan cheese) and 30 minutes to bake so a total of an hour to put this meal together.

The Cost Breakdown:
Wild Rice: $1.76
Sausage: $2.89
Chicken: $2.66
Cream of Mushroom Soup: $0.77
Green Beans: $0.99

not included in the cost of the meal: Worcestershire sauce, Parmesan cheese, and seasonings for the green beans.

Total: $9.07 or $2.27 per person for a family of four

The Verdict: OH MY GOODNESS!!! That casserole was so good! Now my mother-in-law and I make a wild rice casserole straight out of the Southern Living Cookbook and that is pretty good but this one is WAY better in my opinion. The sausage was a great addition to the wild rice, it wasn't overly creamy but there was a nice consistency to it in general. I just don't have any better words... its really good and I highly recommend it!!! Now Erik, the spicy wuss, felt that the sausage had a bite to it but other than that it was good. I told him that he was insane and a big wussy cause there was no spicy in this recipe... Men are weird, make it for yourself and see...

May 2, 2012

Dinner last night? Tangy Meatloaf

Website: http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1726,154165-241193,00.html

Picture:

Tangy Meatloaf with Baked Potato and Peas

The Differences: Number one I used two pounds of ground beef instead of one of beef and one of pork. Four eggs instead of two and 6 slices of bread instead of 5. I also used Parmesan cheese as an additional binding agent considering how wet the meat was rather than breadcrumbs. I threw in seasoned salt, salt, and pepper as my seasonings. Now the topping that I ALWAYS use on meatloaf (because Erik LOVES it and always requests more of it) is Ketchup and brown sugar. I chose not to use the chili sauce or the garlic (again, because too spicy for Erik). Mix all the ingredients (except the ketchup and the brown sugar) pat them into a dish (if using a loaf pan use a deep one or it might overflow) and top with one third of your ketchup and brown sugar mixture. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes, put another third of the ketchup mixture on top and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until cooked through.

The Prep: 2 minutes to soak the bread, 5 minutes to hand mix the meat mixture, 5 minutes to get it in the pan, 60 minutes total bake time for the meatloaf and the potatoes, and 7 minutes to make the peas (during the bake time). So your total from beginning to end is 72 minutes.

The Cost Breakdown:
White Bread: $0.99
Ground Beef: $6.98
Potatoes: $1.33
Peas: $0.99
Parmesan Cheese: $3.39

not included in the cost is the milk, seasoned salt, salt, eggs, ketchup, brown sugar, butter, and pepper.

Total: $13.68 or $3.42 per person for a family of four

The Verdict: I'm going to tell you a funny story... I was told to put a broiler pan under my meatloaf but knowing better than anyone else I didn't do it. This meatloaf is fairly wet in its  execution and as you cook the meat the meat tends to produce grease. The pan was already pretty full so the addition of the grease caused the pan to overflow. Unfortunately the pan overflowed onto the hot surface beneath and through the vent leading to the actual fire that makes the oven hot causing the oven to fill up with smoke... when I went to add more sauce to the meatloaf I released the smoke into the house causing the smoke alarm to go off and requiring me to open numerous windows. So the consequences of that was the meatloaf wasn't well done it was medium rare. Still it was good and I actually enjoyed it more than the recipe I normally make... the food was yummy and that is really all that matters! See you tomorrow!

May 1, 2012

I will be completely honest... usually the first day of the month I INSIST that we eat out as a day off for me =) I did NOT do that last night! I am so proud of myself and I am glad I didn't give in to the temptation, LOL.

What WAS for dinner anyway? White BBQ Chicken (sounds yummy, right?)

Website Recipe: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=872600

Picture:

White BBQ Chicken with Steak Fries and Texas Ranch Beans

The Differences: Ok... here goes! I used 3 pounds of chicken instead of 3 breasts because I was making some chicken ahead for a meal later in the week (Doing stuff like that will have a tendency to save you money later on) but 3 breasts is what you need to feed 4 to 6 people. I used one cup of miracle whip (I prefer it to mayonnaise) compared to the 6 tablespoons of Mayonnaise. I used one teaspoon of salt versus the one tablespoon the recipe called for but the amount of pepper stayed the same. I used one cup of vinegar AND one cup of lemon juice, it fit the flavor profile AND would potentially increase the moistness of the chicken (which is a BIG deal when cooking white meat chicken). I left out the sugar... I don't think it was necessary AND using the sugar would negate the point of the tang of the lemon juice and vinegar... why have the tang and the sweetness when they cancel each other out? I also did not use the milk for that reason and the additional miracle whip would make the mix creamier without the milk. I did not mix the sauce in the blender HOWEVER I wish that I had it would have made the consistency better. Everything else was the same EXCEPT I cooked the chicken about 10 minutes longer than suggested and I didn't cover the chicken.

The Prep: Mixing up the sauce took about 5 minutes and another 5 to put the chicken and sauce together and get them into the oven. You might have to take the chicken out in order to cook the fries since the temperatures are WAY different, which is what I did. So 40 minutes to cook the chicken and 25 minutes for the fries. The beans can be heated during the cook time for the fries. So the total is One hour and 15 minutes from start to finish.

The Cost Breakdown:
2 pounds chicken breasts (the other pound that I cooked is for a different meal): $5.32
Steak Fries: $2.49
Beans: $1.99

not included in the cost of the meal was the miracle whip, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Total: $9.80 or $2.45 per person for a family of 4. Well the cook time wasn't quick but the price was certainly worth it!

The Verdict: The chicken was tangy, creamy, juicy, and extremely yummy! I greatly enjoyed it, as did Erik! The starchy fries were a great accompaniment. A note about the beans... the can of beans that I got (Bushs Grillin Beans Texas Ranch Style) were made with jalapenos... now knowing how my husband feels about spicy stuff I dumped in about a handful of brown sugar to cut MOST of the spicy. Now when I tasted them I didn't feel any spicy on my tongue... it was strange I felt like there should have been spicy, if you know what I mean, but there wasn't. However, apparently my palate is less sensitive than Erik's. He said that if I hadn't put the brown sugar in he wouldn't have been able to eat the beans at all. It was still spicy enough that he felt that he had to cut the spice by eating the beans with the starchy steak fries... he said the sauce was awesome on the potatoes. But the most pleasing part of the meal for him was definitely the chicken, he said he could have kept eating it all night long! Enjoy!

April 30, 2012

Last Dinner of the month... what shall it be?

BLT Sandwich

It's a sandwich! No recipe required...

Picture:

Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich on French Bread with Pretzels and Fresh Pineapple

The Differences: Since there is no actual recipe there aren't any differences. What do you need? Bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise (or miracle whip in my case) and your bread of choice (I chose french bread). The nice part is that your sides can be whatever you want.

The Prep: The nice part is that while you fry up the bacon you can prepare everything else. So about 15 minutes to prepare everything.

The Cost Breakdown:
French Bread: $0.99
Lettuce: $0.99
Tomato: $0.68
Bacon: $6.99
Pretzels: $1.29
Pineapple: $1.50

not included was the mayonnaise (or miracle whip)

Total: $12.44 or $3.11 per person for a family of 4.

The Verdict: This is probably the best BLT I have ever had. Part of the reason is that in BLT's that I have bought from sandwich places the bacon is usually overcooked, the lettuce and tomato are usually wilted, and the bread is DRENCHED in mayonnaise. When you make things at home you have the ability to control the ingredients and make them what you want them to be. As far as I am concerned the french bread was an inspired choice. It was soft and crunchy at the same time and, man, did it taste good. The beginning of summer is the best time to have fresh pineapple! The meal was so easy, easy to put together, easy to eat. My husband liked the change to something cooler for dinner... 4 BIG thumbs up!

By the way... did you like the cost analysis yesterday? Did it make you think? Even a little? It made me think, about how much groceries cost nowadays, and how there are things that I can do to make it easier on my husband, on my family in general. I hope it helps you too... =) See you tomorrow!

April 29, 2012

What was for dinner last night? Tortellini with Marinara

No need for a website as there is no ACTUAL recipe.

Picture:

3 Cheese Tortellini with Marinara and a Wedge salad topped with Ranch dressing and Bacon

The Differences: None

The Prep: Take two packages of Bertolli 3 cheese tortellini and cook according to package directions. Heat up the Marinara sauce and mix it with the tortellini. Cut the head of lettuce into wedges and top with Ranch dressing and bacon bits. 5 minutes to boil the water, 8 minutes to cook the pasta, 5 minutes to heat up the marinara sauce, 5 minutes to cut the lettuce into wedges and another 5 to put the salad together. So put the meal together in 30 minutes!

The Cost Breakdown:
Tortellini: $14.98
Marinara: $1.69
Lettuce: $0.99
Bacon: $1.99
French Bread: $0.99

Not included is the cost of the butter and garlic salt for garlic bread and the ranch dressing for the salad.

Total: $20.64 or $5.16 per person for a family of four.

The Verdict: This is a great meal if you need something fast on a weekday. It tastes good, its not likely that your kids will not enjoy it, and its quick and affordable... there isn't a better recommendation than that!

Cost Analysis: Okay, I did a detailed analysis of my financial records for March and April. For the month of March we spent $1485 on groceries, in the month of April we spent $1270 so we saved $214 on groceries. That was an unexpected plus.  For the month of March we spent $532 on eating out, for the month of April we spent $379 so we saved $153 on eating out.  Woo hoo! So for the month, just in terms of the food we put on the table, we saved $367! That might not seem like a huge amount of money but I think its fairly significant... It just proves that being consistent with groceries and not eating out will save you money.

Final analysis: So far this meal planning journey has been a success! I highly recommend it!

April 28, 2012

Sorry I am really late today! This is the first time I have actually sat at the computer all day! (At least my own computer).

So what was for dinner on the 28th? Jack in the Box... but I made the meal plan "dinner" for lunch =)
So what was for lunch? Honey Pork Chops

Website: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Honeyed-Pork-Chops/Detail.aspx?src=rss

Picture:

Honey Pork with a side of Wild Rice and Green Peas

The differences: Ok in the recipe itself... no vegetable oil, 1 pound of boneless pork rib sliced thin instead of pork chops (but chops work too), increased the honey to 1/2 a cup, took out the water but added 1/4 cup of cider vinegar and a teaspoon of minced garlic instead of the onion (because Erik hates onions as a rule). The amount of ginger was the same but because I had so many other flavors floating around I opted out on the pepper. The reason why I didn't use any vegetable oil is because I opted to not do step one of the recipe and brown the pork before putting it into the baking dish (see verdict for why the next time I will probably try this step). I used a food processor to mix all the other ingredients together because I wanted to get a consistent mix throughout the liquid... considering that honey is a lot thicker and stickier than the other liquids this is important to note. I also cooked the pork 15 minutes longer (again see the verdict for why I will be changing this next time).

The Prep: The prep was fast... for the way that I did it it took 5 minutes to mix the ingredients and pour them over the pork and 75 minutes to bake it... so One hour twenty minutes total. The way the recipe states it... It should take about 5 minutes to brown the meat, 5 minutes to mix and pour and 60 minutes to bake... so 70 minutes or One hour and 10 minutes.

The Cost breakdown:
Cider Vinegar: $1.29
Pork: $5.06
Wild Rice: $1.29
Peas: $0.99

Cider Vinegar is a pantry item but I included it in the cost because I didn't have it on hand. Items not included are honey, ginger, garlic, and soy sauce.

Total: $8.63 or $2.16 per person for a family of four.

The Verdict: I will be completely honest... this meal did not light any fires for me but I think with some changes that can be fixed. My biggest problem with the meal was that the pork was overcooked. I think the browning with the oil would have given it a better flavor and if it had cooked for less time in the oven the pork would not have been dry and overcooked (the oil would have helped with the dryness too). The flavors were all there, the saltiness from the soy sauce, the sweetness from the honey, and the punch from the garlic, it's just none of those things could overcome the overdoneness. According to Erik (who hates pork due to a texture issue) he LIKED the pork because, and I quote, "it tasted more like chicken". Which means the texture was closer to chicken but even I have to admit as I type this I am laughing my head off. So final analysis is: I am withholding judgment until either you or I try it with the changes. Wish I could be more definite!

A note about tomorrow's post: Since tomorrow is the final day in the fourth week of this journey and I promised you all a monthly cost analysis to prove (or disprove) that saving money or groceries/eating out is a more than doable thing, I will be posting that analysis. The only other time that I plan on doing a monthly analysis is at the end of the 8th week. Here's the reason why. I want to show that there is a difference between March (where I, essentially, didn't eat at home most of the month. We either ate out or ate junk) and April (where eating out, while not completely out of the question, for at least one meal a day it was not an option). I don't expect a huge difference because with any transition there is a factor that has to be counted and that is time. Time to make the change and a willingness to go along with the change (my kids have time but the willingness isn't quite there). So the 2nd cost analysis will be between March and May in which the transition has happened and the routine has been set. I expect a bigger difference in THAT analysis. Anyways, just wanted to give you the heads up if you were curious. =)

April 27, 2012

Dinner last night: Fantastic Feta Chicken

website: http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Fantastic-Feta-Chicken-Recipezaar

Picture:

Fantastic Feta Chicken, Parmesan baked Zucchini, and Parmesan Pasta

The Differences: Again, as happened yesterday, there are no differences between what I did and what the recipe told me to do.

The Prep: This was really easy! It took about 5 minutes to put the chicken together and in the oven. For the zucchini; chop off the ends and slice it lengthwise in quarters. Coat a baking dish with oil, put the zucchini in; season with seasoned salt and top with Parmesan, takes about 5 minutes. As the zucchini bakes at the same temperature as the chicken pop the zucchini into the oven 10 minutes after the chicken. The Parmesan pasta was made by Knorr so just follow the instructions on the bag(s) after both the zucchini and the chicken are in the oven and everything will be ready at the same time. So 5 minutes to prep the chicken and 30 to cook it (everything else will be prepared during that 30 minutes) so a total of 35 minutes from start to finish.

The Cost Breakdown:

Chicken Breasts: $2.99
Parmesan Pasta (2 bags): $2.58
zucchini: $2.07
Parmesan Cheese: $2.00

Not included in price: lemon juice, oregano, pepper, olive oil, seasoning salt. I also did not include the price of the Feta cheese as I already had it on hand. Feta is sometimes pricey (between $4 and $5 depending on where you buy it and whether it is on sale).

Total: $9.64 or $2.41 per person for a family of 4

The verdict: I liked it. I wasn't over the moon about it, I thought I would be since I LOVE feta cheese but it was a good solid way to cook chicken. If you are not a chicken lover this might not be a good recipe for you. The chicken wasn't dry but it wasn't dripping with moisture either. I loved the zucchini however. I am not a zucchini lover but its alright as a vegetable... my husband HATES zucchini. I had to guilt him into eating it but he did and he said it was alright for zucchini. For those of you who need a new way to eat zucchini that doesn't involve frying it or steaming it this is a really good recipe for you. Its fast, its simple, and you won't burn yourself (unless you don't use a potholder, YIKES!). The pasta dish from Knorr was a great accompaniment and Erik certainly liked it (His favorite part of the meal) It was a good meal and you certainly can't beat getting a well balanced, somewhat healthy meal at that price, can you? Bon Appetite!

April 26, 2012

I apologize for the lateness of my blogging today. Jeremiah had a dentist appointment today where he had to be sedated and I had to keep him quiet for as much of today as possible. If you know my son then you know what a difficult proposition that is in general.

What was for dinner last night you ask? Rio Rancho Taco Night

website: http://www.food.com/recipe/rio-rancho-taco-meat-431617

Picture:

Rio Rancho Tacos with Black Beans and cheese

No differences today between what the recipe says and what I made.

The Prep: Since the recipe came from "Don't Panic, Dinner's in the Freezer" the recipe tells you how to do the recipe in advance. If you are making it to eat just don't freeze it =). It takes 2 minutes to mince the onions, 5 minutes to brown the beef and cook the onion, 5 minutes to add in all the other ingredients, 30 minutes to simmer. So prep should take about 45 minutes or thereabouts.

The Cost Breakdown:
Ground Beef: $5.07
Onion: $0.66
Salsa: $1.99
Taco Seasoning: $0.59
Green Chilies: $0.99
Cheese: $2.00
Sour Cream: $1.39
Taco Shells: $1.29
Shredded Lettuce: $1.79
Black Beans: $0.99

Items not included in price of meal: brown sugar, garlic powder, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and water.

Total: $16.76 or $4.19 per person for a family of four

The Verdict: It was a fast meal to put together (I should know I did it at 7:30 PM and dinner was on the table at 8 PM, a bit later than we would normally eat). I thought it was very good. The meat had a sweetness to it, I am assuming from the brown sugar, with a nice punch of heat in the back of my throat at the end. In truth the tacos were a bit on the spicy side. My husband, the wuss, said that it tasted good but they were a bit too spicy for his tastes. For my friends who like spicy to the extreme, and you know who you are, this won't quite be spicy enough for you but it will get you close =). It was yummy, it was fast, it was inexpensive and it gets two thumbs up from me! Enjoy!

April 25, 2012

What's for dinner? Meatball Sandwiches

Website: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/07/16-minute-meal-3-mini-meatball-sandwiches/

Picture:

Meatballs topped with Provolone Cheese with a Salad topped with Lemon Vinaigrette and Dinner Rolls

The Differences: The only difference between the ingredients in the original recipe and what I did is I used garlic powder instead of minced garlic. There was also no differences between the recipes cooking methods and what I did.

The Prep: The night before I put together 4 tablespoons of shredded Parmesan cheese, 3/4 of a cup of olive oil, 1 clove of minced garlic, 1/4 teaspoon sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 2 lemons, juiced. Put them in a sealed container and shake it vigorously then put it into the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. It takes about 10 minutes. Mixing together the beef, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and milk. Knead it together with hands and roll it into tablespoon size balls. This takes about 10-15 minutes. Chopping the onion and cooking it in the skillet for about a minute (about 4 minutes). Put the meatballs into the skillet and cook them (about 5-10 minutes). Add the Marinara sauce, shake gently to mix, cover and simmer 20 minutes. While the meatballs simmer toss the salad, tomatoes, and the dressing made the previous night and put the salad into the fridge until ready to serve. Slice the dinner rolls and the cheese into quarters as well. Overall time should be about an hour of prep (if you include the mixing the dressing the night before).

The Cost Breakdown:
ground beef: $5.23
Onion: $0.66
Marinara sauce: $1.69
Dinner rolls: $1.99
provolone cheese: $3.79
Parmesan cheese: $2.00
Lemons: $1.38
Salad: $4.00
Tomato: $0.26
Red onion: $0.83

not included in the price is the breadcrumbs, garlic powder, salt, pepper, milk, olive oil.

Total: $21.83 or $5.46 per person for a family of four.

The Verdict: Okay, I know the title says meatball sandwiches and there isn't a sandwich in the picture. I actually bought the wrong dinner rolls so we made our own sandwiches as we ate dinner. It was messy, and it tasted really good =). The meatballs were firm and flavorful, the marinara sauce was appropriately messy, the cheese was gooey, the bread was a wonderful accompaniment, and the salad and dressing were good if a bit on the lemony side for me. Erik enjoyed the meal and his manly side came out as he made a huge mess with his sandwiches. It was amusing and if dinner can't be fun what's the point?

April 24, 2012

Dinner last night: Teriyaki Pork Lo-Mein with Stir Fry Vegetables

website: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/teriyaki-pork-lo-mein-10000001912811/

Picture:

Teriyaki Pork Lo-Mein with Stir Fry Vegetables

The Differences: Instead of a fresh red bell pepper I opted to use a 12 oz bag of stir fry vegetables. Instead of the amount of teriyaki noodles the recipe suggests I used Two packages of Knorr Teriyaki noodles. Everything else was essentially the same.

The Prep: Oh my goodness this recipe was done in less than 20 minutes! Easily the fastest recipe I have done in three and a half weeks. This recipe is a one skillet wonder. Cook the pork in oil (4 minutes) remove it from the pan, throw in the frozen vegetables and the soy sauce and cook the vegetables about 3 minutes to just as they start to become tender. Throw in the water the noodles and the garlic, bring to a boil (3 minutes) and reduce heat and cover, cook for 7 minutes. Add pork back in, stir, and serve. So, 4 minutes for the pork, 3 minutes for the vegetables, 3 minutes to bring the noodles to and vegetables to a boil, and 7 minutes to cook the water out... 17 minutes total.

The Cost Breakdown: This just gets better and BETTER.

Pork: $5.07
Stir fry vegetables: $1.49
Teriyaki noodles: $3.58

not included is the oil, soy sauce, water, and garlic

Total: $10.14 or $2.54 per person for a family of four.
Can you go to a chinese food restaurant and feed FOUR people for less than $11? I don't think so!

The Verdict: I apologize for the picture, the food was still steaming and that interfered with the picture. It was yummy, it fulfilled my craving for chinese food craving and it was fast which was what I needed it to be cause I had somewhere I had to be. According to Erik it wasn't fantastic it was palatable. On par with what we consider normal eating (what I throw together when I don't have time to put a lot of thought into what dinner is going to be). This type of eating is what takes place at most dinner tables on an average weekday. I highly recommend it (cause I really liked it) and it was yums! Enjoy!

April 23, 2012

What was on the menu: Creamy Mustard Chicken

Website: http://www.food52.com/recipes/1104_chicken_with_creamy_dijon_mustard_sauce

Picture:

Creamy Mustard Chicken Breast with Red Potatoes and Green Beans in Butter

The Differences: Okay there are quite a few differences so bear with me :). I used boneless chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs, I used 3 cloves of garlic instead of 12 and I peeled and minced them. I didn't use sage at all. I increased the amount of white wine to one cup and took out the cognac completely. I reduced the amount of chicken broth to 1/3 cup and reduced the amount of heavy cream to 1/3 cup. I also used 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard and added one tablespoon of Honey mustard to cut the tang a little bit. We will talk about the prep in the next paragraph.

The Prep: So take your chicken breasts and cut them in half lengthwise, flatten them just a bit and season them with salt and pepper to taste. Heat the oil and butter in large skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken until cooked through (this should take about 10 minutes). Remove the chicken from the skillet and add the garlic in to the skillet (I suggest using pre-minced garlic to cut down on time) and cook one minute (2 minutes total). Add the wine to the pan to deglaze the pan; let the liquid bubble up and cook until it reduces by half (5 minutes). Add the Dijon Mustard, the Honey mustard, heavy cream, and chicken broth; stir to blend (5 minutes). Add the chicken back into the pan and cook for 3 minutes. Before you start cooking the chicken, boil the water for the potatoes and clean and cut the potatoes into quarters (10 minutes). As soon as the water is boiling put the potatoes in and cook until fork tender (the same amount of time as cooking the chicken); drain and put into a different dish add butter, seasoning salt, and pepper to taste. Put the frozen green beans into a baking dish; add butter and a small amount of water; cover and cook in microwave for 7 minutes.  So, if you manage your time well it should take you about 35 minutes from beginning to end.

The Cost Breakdown:
Chicken: $2.99
White wine: $4.99
Dijon Mustard: $1.29
Heavy cream: $2.29
chicken broth: $0.99
red potatoes: $2.39
green beans: $0.99

I did not include the cost of salt, pepper, olive oil, butter, garlic, honey mustard, or the seasoned salt. I wouldn't have included the Dijon mustard or the chicken broth normally but as I didn't have those ingredients on hand I included them into the cost of the meal.

The total cost: $15.93 or $3.98 per person for a family of four.

The Verdict: According to my husband I was a bit heavy handed with the butter on the side dishes but the chicken was flavorful and a great meal in general. It was yummy, it was flavorful... my daughter demanded more of the green beans and the potatoes were yummy too! Enjoy

On a side note: All of these recipes are turning out really good. There hasn't really been more than 2 that I didn't thoroughly enjoy. I, for the most part, have really enjoyed every one of the recipes and it was very surprising to me that this was the case... I just had to insert that... see you tomorrow LOL

April 22, 2012

A note about leftovers: All of the stuff that I made this past week had some leftovers and other than the pork chop (which I ate for lunch a couple of days ago) it was all still in the Fridge yesterday afternoon. What to do with all these leftovers? I opted for what I am calling Leftover Lunch. I got out all the leftovers, heated them all up, and put them all on the table... I fed four people with what was left and still had some left when we were done... it was awesome, I think I am going to make that the weekly way I deal with leftovers!

What was for dinner yesterday? Bacon Swiss Quiche

website: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/bacon-and-swiss-quiche/32e3413a-8f42-43b0-b0ad-5bd3c8b64216

Picture:

Bacon Swiss Quiche with fresh Spinach

The Differences: I used a refrigerated pie crust (already made) rather than make my own crust (which saves on time), I used green onions instead of regular onion (less oniony taste) and sauteed them in a little butter. I used 6 eggs instead of 4 and cut down on the heavy cream to 1 and a half cups instead of 2. To make up for the little bit of liquid I was shorting I added 1/2 a cup of apple juice (to thin it out so it wouldn't be so rich and also to have liquid with a touch of acid). I used an entire pound of bacon as well (mostly cause I love bacon). I mixed all of the ingredients together, except for the cheese, and poured them into the crust. I sprinkled the cheese over the top of the "pie" and baked it at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. I let it rest 10 minutes before slicing it.

The Cost Breakdown:
Pie Crust: $2.99
Green Onions: $0.77
Eggs: $2.09
Whipping Cream: $3.49
Apple Juice: $1.99
Bacon: $4.99
Swiss Cheese: $4.59
Spinach: $2.99

I did not include the olive oil, garlic, or butter as those are staples in most pantries.

The total was $23.90 or $5.98 per person for a family of four.

The Verdict: Oh my gosh this quiche was gooey and yummy! It was sooo good. The bacon and the onion were not overpowering, always a worry with those two flavorful ingredients. The crust held together wonderfully, it had a nice golden sheen across the top of the quiche and was a pleasure to eat. The husband was not as impressed but as he told me he grew up with quiche being an appetizer, something served at a party where you aren't really paying attention to what you put in your mouth as you are talking. As he said, quiches usually had spinach in them not served as a side dish.  I preferred the spinach as a side dish as I am not a huge spinach fan, that way I could eat as little or as much as I wanted (my portion was about half of the portion in the picture). This recipe is certainly one that could be made for a breakfast meeting, a brunch, or a homey Sunday morning breakfast. Two thumbs up from me, Erik's doesn't count! =)

April 21, 2012

A definite fun one, especially if you have kids!

What's for dinner? Cheeseburger Pizza

What's the website? http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/cheeseburger-pizza/b3054eed-616d-448b-b4fe-75022d1607bb/

Picture?

Cheeseburger Pizza with Baked Beans

 

 The Differences: This recipe makes two so be prepared for that. I couldn't find the refrigerated pizza crust for some reason so I ended up using Boboli. I chopped the onions instead of thinly slicing it, I didn't use pepper, pickle relish (hubby doesn't like the unsweetened stuff), American cheese, or bacon. I did use garlic, Worcestershire sauce, Mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. In terms of the actual cooking... I cooked the beef and the onion until no longer pink, drained it, added the garlic and Worcestershire sauce, cooked it just a tad longer. I then built the pizza, instead of putting the ketchup and mustard into the meat I mixed them together and spread them onto the crust itself, I then put half of the cheese I had on top of that, then the meat mixture, then the rest of the cheese. I stuck the pizza in the oven (450 for 8 minutes) and out it came, topped it with the lettuce and tomato and served it.


The Prep: almost no time at all! The cooking of the beef mixture took about 10 minutes and I spread the ketchup/mustard mixture on the crusts at the same time, as well as the first part of the cheese. About 5 minutes to put the meat on the pizza and top with the rest of the cheese, 8 minutes to bake and I made the baked beans at the same time, 2 minutes to slice and 2 minutes to top with the lettuce and tomato. So you are looking at 25-30 minutes from beginning to serving.


The Cost Breakdown: It ended up being more expensive than I had anticipated simply because the Boboli crusts are more expensive than the Pillsbury refrigerated ones. But I also fed 6 people instead of 4.


Pizza crusts: $9.38
Ground Beef: $5.99
Onion: $0.67
Italian cheese: $9.99
Lettuce: $0.99
Tomato: $0.26
Baked Beans: $1.99

Again I did not include the garlic, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, or mustard as I had all of that on hand. 


Total cost: $29.27 or $4.88 per person to serve 6


The Verdict: This is one of the best pizzas I have ever had! My husband liked it, my picky 4 year old liked it, my daughter (who eats everything I put in front of her) liked it, everyone sitting at that table liked it! It was a huge hit and super yummy. So be honest, when you order from Domino's and you get two large pizzas (the cost is roughly the same) can you feed 6 people with that, have enough for you to have another meal later, and still have leftovers for the next day? I did with these pizzas and let me tell you I am looking forward to Leftover Sunday Lunch! Have a great day everyone! Eat well and be well!

April 20, 2012

What was on the menu: Chicken Fettuccine

No website this time cause you can find the recipe on the back of a box of Fettuccine Alfredo made by Pasta Roni.

The Picture:

Chicken Fettuccine, Caesar Salad, and dinner rolls

The differences: There were NO differences today.

The Prep: Okay here is the basics for this EXTRAORDINARILY easy to put together on the fly meal. Take a pound and a half of boneless skinless chicken breast and cut it lengthwise into strips (5 minutes) After you have done that open 2 boxes of Fettuccine Alfredo made by Pasta Roni and combine all required ingredients in a saucepan, bring to a boil, once to a boil drop the flame down to medium and boil for 5-6 minutes. While the Fettuccine is cooking drop your chicken into a pan with a little bit of olive oil and cook throughly. Put a Caesar Salad Kit together and brown your dinner rolls according to the package. So 5 minutes to cut the chicken, 5 minutes to bring the Fettuccine to a boil and put dinner rolls in the oven, 6 minutes to cook the chicken in one pan, the fettuccine in a second, and the rolls in the oven. 2 minutes to put together the salad kit and finish browning the rolls. Total amount of time? 18-20 minutes without interruption but since interruptions are a matter of course in my house it took 45 to actually get it on the table (you might understand this if your house is as hectic as mine).

The Cost Breakdown:

Chicken: $2.72
2 boxes of Fettuccine Alfredo (made by Pasta Roni): $3.38
Caesar Salad Kit by Dole: $2.99
Brown and Serve Rolls: $1.99

So the total was $11.08 for the whole meal or $2.77 per person for a family of four.
Can't beat these prices folks!

The Verdict: This is not a spectacular meal, with lots of hoopla and fireworks. This is a meal that, in the normal everyday, would be an excellent weekday meal. Its really fast to put together, it doesn't cost a lot of money, its a filling and satisfying meal on a hectic day or a lazy day. It tasted good, my daughter liked it (tho that's not saying much, she likes everything including vegetables!) my husband liked it. Everyone left the dinner table full and happy and that's just the way I like it. Fast, easy, and enjoyable, can't ask for better than that! =)

April 19, 2012

Dinner menu: Casserole Crunch

website: http://www.anniesrecipes.com/Recipe/21841/Chicken-Crunch-Casserole-.htm

The picture:

Wild Rice topped with Casserole Crunch and Chow Mein Noodles with a side of Steamed Broccoli

The Differences: On the original recipe it says to put the rice in the casserole... I chose to make the rice a seperate side dish and I used Long Grain Wild Rice instead of plain white rice, Erik likes it better and it works better for the flavor profile. I added onion for an additional crunch. I only used a can of cream of chicken soup but added a cup of miracle whip (or mayonnaise) to substitute for the cream of celery and the cream of mushroom soup (Erik can't stand mushrooms). I also used regular milk instead of evaporated milk (about 1/2 a soup can or 5 ounces). I am totally a spices girl and I didn't understand why there were no spices in the recipe so I took a chance (and on the advice of a friend of mine) I add curry powder (one teaspoon, don't want to over do it) and a teaspoon of salt and about 1/2 a teaspoon of pepper.

The Prep: For the most part, this is an extremely easy but still flavorful recipe. Cooking the chicken takes about 30 minutes (cover it with water and put it on the stove on high, once it boils cover it and drop the flame down to medium, cook for 20 minutes, drain, cool, and cut into bite size pieces). While the chicken is cooking chop your onion and your celery and gather the rest of your ingredients. Once the chicken is done mix it with the onion, celery, soup, almonds, salt, pepper, curry, miracle whip (or mayo), and the milk. This process takes about 5-10 minutes. Pour it into a lightly greased casserole dish and bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Make your rice and your broccoli while the casserole is baking. All in all the prep time is about an hour and 15 minutes (it took me two hours yesterday due to frequent time outs called to challenge the referee's decisions, see previous postings for explanation).

The Cost Breakdown:
Chicken: $2.75
Celery: $1.69
Onion: $0.67
Cream of Chicken Soup: $1.49
Slivered almonds: $2.29
Chow Mein Noodles: $1.49
Wild Rice: $1.29
Broccoli: $1.57

* I didn't add in the cost of the salt, pepper, miracle whip, milk, and butter in the broccoli, all of which I had on hand. I also didn't add in the cost of the curry powder ($6.49) because it will be used in other recipes I am sure and I consider spices staples but I wanted you to know that the cost does occasionally come up as I don't stock my spice pantry seperately from my regular pantry.

Total cost: $13.24 or $3.31/person for four people.

I keep expecting these meals to be expensive but they really aren't. Trust me when I tell you that I know its not convienant to cook dinner every night and I get bored and want some one else to do it sometimes so I don't have to. Every once in a while a dinner out is a great reward and an awesome break. When the eating out just becomes convienance its really easy to just do it that way and it becomes a habit, one that is hard (and painful) to break. However I find it harder to face my credit card bill at the end of the month =)

The Verdict: Surprisingly, Erik actually liked this, A LOT. I didn't think that he would between the curry powder, onions (which he dislikes), and the almonds (which he REALLY dislikes) I figured he would tell me it tasted like onions and almonds, or spicy, and that it was a good effort but not his thing. So it floored me when he told me he really liked it and asked for more. I really liked it as well, it was somewhat sweet but not overly so and all of the crunchy items together gave it a satisfying texture that somehow felt filling. I would totally make this again, in a heartbeat, so final analysis? Crunch time! Enjoy! =)

April 18, 2012

What was on the menu? Slow-cooker Sloppy Joes

Website: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/slow-cooker-sloppy-joes-10000001599544/

Picture of Yumminess:

Slow-Cooker Sloppy Joe, corn on the cob with butter and a Minneloa Tangelo

The differences: In the web recipe it calls for sausage and green peppers... I chose not to use the sausage cause of the greasiness factor of most sausages (since its mostly fat) and, as a general rule, I don't use green peppers in my cooking cause if the husband figures out they are there (and he almost always does) then all of a sudden the food is "spicy". I know green peppers are not spicy, and you know they aren't spicy, but he seems to think they are... sigh. I also used white vinegar instead of cider vinegar because it was what I had on hand.

The Prep: Ridiculously easy! It took me 5 minutes to chop the onion and 5 minutes to brown the beef and cook the onion. It took about 10 minutes to mix everything together in the crock pot. A note about that: with the brown sugar, vinegar, and flour I measured it out with everything else I guessed at the right amount. I didn't dump it all in willy-nilly but if you have been cooking as long as I have you get good at knowing roughly the right amount when something says one tablespoon. If you want to measure it exactly, go ahead. In fact, I suggest that you do, at least until you are so comfortable with the recipe you could do it blindfolded. :) Then, of course, it took 4 hours to cook... and man did it make the house smell really good! I spent most of the day feeling hungry!

The Cost Breakdown:
Ground beef: $5.07
Onion: $0.67
Can of tomato sauce: $0.33
hamburger buns: $1.00
Corn on the cob: $2.79
Minneloa Tangelos: $1.31

I figured most kitchens would have water, ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and flour so I did not include those things in the cost of the meal.

Total cost for meal: $11.17 or $2.79 per person for a family of four.
A whole meal for less than $3 per person??!! Not to mention that both my husband and I had seconds fed our kids and still had leftovers??! What a deal!

The Verdict: I don't think the Sloppy Joe mix needed to cook for 4 hours on high. I think 3 hours would have been fine. Having said that it was extremely good! The corn on the cob was a perfect match for the sloppy joes. It wasn't overly sweet but it definitely wasn't spicy. As a friend of mine said to me yesterday, "If you did more than open a can of Manwich you are already steps ahead of most." I have nothing against Manwich and in fact have used it myself a couple of times when I was in a hurry. You will notice on the web recipe that there is a stove top option for those who can't come home in the middle of the day to put everything in the crock pot. I submit to you, however, that your family will probably like it better if it doesn't come out of a can. My husband wouldn't be able to tell you, in a blind taste test, the difference between Manwich and a pound of ground beef mixed with a packet of Sloppy Joe seasoning and a can of tomato paste. He could, however, tell you which Sloppy Joe I made with fresher ingredients and which one was the can of Manwich. My kids don't normally like food that doesn't consist mostly of sugar and carbs but I couldn't keep any of them out of the kitchen yesterday because the crock pot was filling the house with such a lovely smell. At $11 for an entire meal (can't get that at a fast food restaurant and walk out full) its a great deal! And it tastes good too!

April 17, 2012

What was on the menu? Creamy Enchiladas

Website for basic recipe: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/creamy-chicken-enchiladas-10000000257547/

The picture of beautiful meal:

Creamy Enchiladas with Spanish Rice and Black Beans

Okay, I had some differences with this recipe and I will try to work them out here. I hate the fact that this recipe doesn't say how to cook the chicken... so take about 1 pound of chicken breast (boneless and skinless of course) cover it with water in a saucepan, bring water to a boil, lower flame to medium, allow to boil for about twenty minutes, drain, cool, and shred. There were only two things this recipe and I agreed on, sauteing the onions and rolling the enchiladas. So go ahead and chop and saute your onions but then stop. Take your shredded chicken and mix it with about 1 and a half cups of 4 cheese Mexican Blend and also, instead of cream cheese, let's use sour cream (1/4 cup to mix in the filling), add your sauteed onions and mix well. Spoon your filling down the center of the flour tortilla, roll it, and place in greased baking dish. For the sauce, take your green chilies, instead of whipping cream lets use plain old milk (not old milk but you get what I was saying right?) 1 and 1/4 cups of milk... but we also need a thickener so lets add 2 tablespoons of flour for that... once you have that mixed well take your bag of 4 cheese Mexican blend (which should still have about 1/2 a cup of cheese) and mix the rest of the cheese into the sauce. As soon as the cheese is melted pour the sauce over the rolled enchiladas, dot the sauce with 3/4 cup sour cream and slide this baby into the oven for 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees (I was in a hurry so this temperature is my go to temp).

Okay lets talk about prep time. I know all the instructions above sound like a lot but I want to give you a picture... are you ready? Imagine you start cooking the chicken at 3:15 PM because you gotta have dinner on the table no later than 5 PM? While the chicken is cooking you chop and saute your onions, occasionally checking on your children to make sure they are playing nicely with one another (they aren't by the way so you have to stop to referee.) In an effort to cool your chicken faster you run cold water over it after the hot water has been drained (stopping a couple of more times to save the dog from being chased, get somebody a drink, and administer a timeout) You take out your pent up aggression by chopping up the chicken (the children avoid the kitchen during this time) and you start mixing the filling and... Daddy walks in (creating instant pandemonium from the Guinea Pig to the oldest child) at this point its 5 after 4 and you have to have the enchiladas in the oven by 4:30 in order to make your goal. So you step up the pace, filling and rolling enchiladas as you listen to complaining children who do just about any bad behavior they can in order to get Daddy to pay attention. Then you start on the sauce, frantically dumping ingredients and praying for the clock to slow down. The sauce comes together quickly and its a breeze to get the enchiladas together and in the oven, and out they came right on time! Does this scenario sound familiar? It sure does to me (like an everyday occurrence at my house) But in terms of actual time... 20 minutes to cook the chicken (cook it ahead of time if you want to) 5 minutes to chop and saute the onion, 5 minutes to mix the filling together, it only takes about 10 minutes to roll the enchiladas, 5 minutes to make the sauce, 5 minutes to put the rest of the dish together and get it into the oven, and 20-25 minutes to bake. So a total of and hour and 10 minutes to and hour and 15 minutes (I needed an extra 30 for refereeing and other general mommy duties). For enchiladas, especially the rolled kind, this is fast!

Now on to cost, my favorite part actually... I didn't include the cost of olive oil, milk, or flour (or the Spanish rice since I already had it in my cupboard).
Onion: $0.67
Chicken breasts: $2.75
Sour cream: $1.39
Cheese: $2.00
Tortillas: $4.38
Green chilies: $0.99
Black beans: $1.00
For a total of $13.18 or $3.30 per person
I know it seems like I am making it up but I took these numbers right off my receipt, what Mexican restaurant can you go to and four people get a two enchilada combination plate with rice and beans for less than $15? Do you know of any cause I sure don't.

Now for the verdict, these enchiladas were VERY good. For those of you who have been fed by me on previous occasions you have probably had my enchiladas (not these, my actual recipe) and you all have told me how much you like them well let me tell you... I like THESE better. Erik was floored when I told him that. For those of you who like SPICY you will definitely need to add some hotness to these if you are to enjoy them but for those of you who are wimps like Erik these are not spicy the way they are... a little heat with the chilies so they aren't bland but not run from the table screaming in order to douse your tongue in ice hot. Erik said they were good but he prefers mine and I like these better. I won't stop making mine though cause the ones that I make are excellent for groups/potlucks while these ones are more conducive to an intimate get-together. So all in all an excellent meal and definitely a keeper for me. Enjoy!