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!

Dinner April 16, 2012

What was for dinner? Garlic-Balsamic Pork Loin Chops

Website Recipe: http://www.mygourmetconnection.com/recipes/main-courses/pork/rustic-garlic-balsamic-pork-chops.php

The Picture:

Garlic-Balsamic Pork Loin Chops with Roasted potatoes and Green Beans

Okay the differences between what I did and the recipe: Number one, I just got a pound and a half of pork chops which was three pork chops (you will want to get 4 chops if feeding a family of four). Number two, I chose to marinate and roast my chops rather than cooking them on the stove (you could marinate and grill them as well). So essentially, take the garlic, vinegar, salt, pepper, and olive oil and mix them together. Rub that onto the chops and then drizzle whats left into the marinating bowl. Cover it and stick it into the refridgerator for up to 12 hours (I did it for 7). When you are ready to cook the chops put them into a baking dish and bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes depending on how done you want them. ALL DONE! So super easy!

The side dish: Take 4 or 5 red potatoes and quarter them, depending on the size you might want to cut the potatoes in half and then quarter the halves so that they will cook more evenly. I cut the potatoes into four pieces and needed to cook them longer than I thought and they were still slightly underdone. drizzle some olive oil on them and season with salt and pepper, roast them for 10 minutes. Make sure your green beans are thawed out (if you are using frozen) drizzle them with oil and season with salt and pepper as well. Take the potatoes out of the oven mix in the green beans and put the whole thing back in the oven for 12-15 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.

One of my readers pointed out that since I stress the ease and affordability of these recipes that I should give you a prep time and cost breakdown so I will be doing that from now on:

Prep: For this particular recipe the prep was short, easy, and to the point! It took about 5 minutes to mix the garlic, oil, vinegar, and seasonings together and rub them on the meat (mostly cause I use pre-minced garlic =), and another 5 to cover the bowl and stick it into the fridge. When I was ready to start dinner (so after the marinating time for the meat and the defrosting time for the green beans) I preheated the oven while I was preparing the potatoes (so 5 to 10 minutes there) I did the dishes while the potatoes were in the oven on the first go around (5 to 10 minutes) and then once I mixed the green beans into the potatoes (5 minutes) I put both the meat and the potatoes into the oven... 20 minutes later it was time to serve! So all together pre-prep was 10 minutes, 7 hours to marinate and defrost, actual prep time was 5 to 10 minutes, and cook time was about 25-30 minutes. Most of the time I had empty hands where I could do something else at the same time (a lot like crock pot cooking).

Cost Breakdown: For those of you who know me this is a subject that is near and dear to my heart since both my husband and I are budget counselors :). I didn't include the cost of staple items you would most likely have in your pantry or fridge since those are once in a while purchases not a purchase for every meal. So I didn't include the cost of the pre-minced garlic, salt, pepper, olive oil, or balsamic vinegar.

On my shopping trip I spent $9.04 for a pound and a half of pork loin chops, $1.77 for 5 red potatoes, and $0.99 for a 12 oz bag of frozen green beans for a total of $11.80. If you are feeding a family of four you would divide that number, $11.80, by 4 to get $2.95 per person. In other words to feed a family of four it cost a little less than $12 for the whole dinner or about $3 per person! The only fast food restaurant I know that could get CLOSE to a full meal for four people for $12 is Del Taco and it certainly isn't going to be as healthy as this was!

Finally, The Verdict:

As my husband really doesn't like the texture of pork I will not be giving you his opinion (as I am sure you already guessed it), however, my opinion is this was a very filling and tasty meal. Not a spectacular, set off the fireworks in my mouth meal, but a satisfying, its been a long day and I am glad it only takes a half an hour to make dinner meal. It was yummy, it was easy, it was fast, it was something I won't be ashamed to say that I had for dinner, and it was affordable. As far as I am concerned those are the 5 best endorsements anyone can ask for at the end of a normal day in my crazy household! See you tomorrow! =)

Dinner April 15, 2012

Are you ready?
Last night's dinner: Chicken Corn Chowder

The recipe: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/quick-chicken-corn-chowder-10000000521745/

The picture:

Chicken Corn Chowder with Cornbread

On the original recipe there were some things that I didn't put into the chowder... Number one I did not put jalapeno peppers in (as I explained before my husband is a wimp when it comes to spicy). Number two, I put in a pound and a half of shredded chicken instead of two cups because that is what I had and I wanted to use it up. Number three, I used a 12 oz bag of frozen whole kernel corn instead of guesstimating what three ears would come to and finally, I didn't use any herbs but the salt.

The Verdict:

My husband REALLY liked the corn chowder, like he was sooo eager to eat it he burned his tongue liked it. It was kind of funny I have never seen him in such a hurry to eat before. I know this will surprise you but as a general rule I dislike corn and I absolutely HATE creamed corn. I know its a total surprise right ;) so I was a little leery about whether I would be able to eat this recipe at all (I have a serious block about creamed corn that seems to be attached to my gag reflex.) I tried it and, wonder of wonders, I LIKED it. It completely took me by surprise but I enjoyed it, it warmed up my insides, and I had no issues finishing my dinner (until I got full). It was also a quick and easy soup recipe that used a lot of ingredients that we have on hand anyway... Enjoy my sisters!

Dinner April 14, 2012

Last nights dinner: Bacon Cobb Pitas

Picture of last nights dinner:

Bacon Cobb Pitas, Fritos, and Cantaloupe

Web address for recipe: http://www.eatathomealabama.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Bacon%20Cobb%20Pitas.pdf

This was an exceedingly easy meal to put together! Slice cantaloupe, hard boil some eggs, fry up some bacon, slice cucumber, and have some shredded cheddar and sliced turkey on hand. Throw all these things into a pita, add some fritos and cantaloupe and put it on the table.

The verdict:
Pita bread is notoriously hard to stuff without splitting the sides so it has a tendency to be messy but all of these flavors put together is a tried and true combo. Think of a cobb salad from a restaurant and you have the taste of this sandwich. My husband hates cucumber which is why there is no hint of green in the above picture but he said it was good I just gave him too much cantaloupe =) Oh well can't be perfect! I liked it, it was fast to put together, yummy to eat, and easy on the wallet. Enjoy!

Dinner April 12, 2012

I know I know I am late on the blog... the boys had their first dentist visit EVER yesterday and today my daughter decided to be less than healthy so it was understandable I promise, however on to the subject of today's blog:

Slow cooker Swiss Steak

the web address for the basic recipe:

http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/slow-cooker-swiss-steak/01ba2fee-b547-4481-983f-43bc021e23b9/#

the picture:

Slow Cooker Swiss Steak with Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans

The differences between the basic recipe and what I did:

I actually used Sirloin Tip Steak instead of round steak; I added a tablespoon of minced garlic (mostly cause I am a garlic fiend and use it in most everything) Instead of Vegetable juice I used: Water, salt, pepper, a can of fire roasted diced tomatoes, and a small can of tomato sauce. Instead of putting the crock pot results on top of a bed of egg noodles I used white rice instead.

The side dishes: I cooked two sweet potatoes in a baking dish at 400 degrees for an hour and 10 minutes and then I cut them up and took off as much of the skin as I could. I topped them with butter and brown sugar and stuck them in the microwave just long enough to melt the butter. I used frozen green beans and cooked them in butter and water adding seasonings at the end before serving.

The verdict:

My husband actually seems to have a bias for most everything cooked in a crockpot, I don't know why, but he didn't really like the swiss steak. He felt like it was overcooked. As he doesn't care for sweet potatoes he was less than impressed with those as well. As he said, he liked the rice and green beans and the sweet potatoes were good, for sweet potatoes. Ignore him, he's crazy and doesn't know what he is talking about! The meat was well done, but tender, and the fire roasted tomatoes gave the stew just the kick it needed to keep it from being bland and forgettable. I LOVED the sweet potatoes, they were sweet, they were buttery, and I could have ate them all night long (by the way, I dislike Sweet potatoes but I figured you had already figured it out cause the thing I like the most in the meal is usually the ingredient I like the least... weird) and the green beans were an excellent accompaniment to both. Sooo two thumbs up from me and 1/2 a thumb up from the hubby.  Its strange my mother always tells me how picky I was as a child but I am the least picky person in my house... whoda thunk it?

Dinner on April 11th

Roast Herb Chicken

3-4 pound roasting chicken
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 ibs potatos
1/2 pound bacon
3/4 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp honey mustard
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp green onions
1 bag salad greens
Favorite salad dressing

1. Place chicken breast side up in shallow roasting pan
2. In small bowl add basil, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper to melted butter
3. Brush chicken with butter mixture
4. Roast chicken in oven at 375 degrees for 90 minutes
5. Meanwhile, boil potatos in water for about 15 minutes, drain, cool, and slice
6. Cook bacon in large frying pan until crisp and drain, reserving 1/4 cup of the bacon grease in the pan
7. Saute the chopped onion in the grease for 4 minutes, add vinegar, sugar, honey mustard, and salt
8. Add sliced potatoes and cook until thick and bubbly
9. Top with chopped bacon and green onion
10. Serve salad tossed with dressing

Roast Herb chicken (without skin) Bacon honey potatoes and green salad with Ranch dressing.

Okay, here is the skinny on this recipe. Yes, it takes a bit of time to put this meal together but it is really, really good! My only problem with the chicken is that because I didn't turn the chicken over while it was cooking the skin didn't get crispy on the bottom and we all know that rubbery chicken skin is less than appetizing. If you like white meat it isn't so bad but for us dark meat lovers its not the best. Having said that, this chicken is moist and super yummy. On to the potatoes, remember to skin the potatoes before you put them into the boiling water, and if you cut them to a smaller size they will cook through more evenly. Have your potatoes ready to go into the frying pan before you start sauteing your onions. Mine had to cook down a bit because I didn't have my potatoes ready so they didn't get to the thick and bubbly stage due to most of the liquid having evaporated. I could have turned off the heat but once you add sugar to a mix the last thing you want is for that sugar to crystallize. I wish that my husband liked chicken skin cause then it would be in the picture. But he did say he really liked it and it was filling without him needing to have seconds, and for my husband that is saying a lot! Until tomorrow, Happy Cooking!

The idea for this recipe came from http://www.thymeinourkitchen.com/2012/03/herb-roasted-chicken.html but I chose which spices I wanted to use out of my pantry you can really use whatever spices you want.

A clarification that needs to be made... on my first post I put that I had joined a subscription and I have... for meal planning. They send me the meals for the week with the ingredients itemized for grocery shopping for the week... I take the recipes and go find them on the internet and modify them for my use. I highly recommend this subscription it keeps me on track and accountable. I actually suggest going and getting it yourself... Its www.emeals.com and I think its a fabulous idea. From now on I am going to give you my opinion of a recipe as well as a picture if you want the actual recipe you know where to find me! But because I don't want to hurt emeals' business I recommend going and trying it out for yourself!

Last night's dinner

Jamie's Tacos

1 package of taco shells
1 pound ground beef
1 can pork 'n beans
1 can tomatoes and green chilies, drained
shredded lettuce
8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream, for topping
1/3 cup chopped green onions
12 oz. package frozen corn

1. Brown beef in skillet, drain
2. Stir in pork 'n beans and drained tomatos
3. Toast taco shells in oven as directed
4. Layer tacos with beef mixture, lettuce, and cheese
5. Top with sour cream and onion as desired
6. Cook corn according to package and add desired amount of butter

All the ingredients look like normal taco ingredients right? Not really how often do you see a can of pork 'n beans in the ingredient list? If you are like me then just seeing that ingredient gives you pause about this recipe. Let me just tell you if you don't try it you will be missing something YUMMY! Number one I HATE beans as a general rule, the only exception being green beans. I have never allowed pork 'n beans to pass my lips EVER and I was missing out! This recipe is extremely easy to put together and a very fast meal on a weekday when you don't know what to make. I literally put this meal together in less than 15 minutes. It took me longer to build the tacos then it did to cook the meal. Biggest two endorsements though... Number one, my husband ate SEVEN tacos. If you've met my husband that's not a surprise, the surprise is that I liked this meal and I dislike beans on principle... LOL =) Bon Appetite!

An idea about bringing down the cost of groceries

So I have started a new endeavor in an effort to save money on our weekly grocery bill. I have joined a subscription on the internet that sends me a weekly dinner menu, including grocery list for a particular store. The weekly menu is picked based on the sales at the store so the grocery list is as inexpensive as possible. Initially I was a bit on the suspicious side. Like most people I sometimes feel as though using the store brand products I am sacrificing a bit in quality and nutrition, not to mention taste! How truly wrong was I? Really Really wrong and I don’t say that often. So I am going to keep a running commentary on each recipe as we go, hopefully it will be humorous and helpful.

Enchilada Ring

1.5 pounds of chicken cooked and shredded

2.25 oz can of sliced black olives

4-6 oz shredded cheddar cheese

4 oz. can diced green chilies undrained

½ cup miracle whip

1 pkg. taco seasoning

1 small tomato diced

2 cans crescent rolls

2 tbsp crushed tortilla chips

To be served with Salsa and chips and a mango peeled and sliced

1.       1. Cook chicken by covering with water, bring it to a boil, simmer covered for 30 minutes, drain, cool, and shred.

2.      2. Combine chicken, olives, cheese, chilies, miracle whip, and taco seasoning in a bowl

3.       3. Add tomato

4.       4. Unroll crescents and separate into triangles, arrange on cookie sheet in circle with wide ends towards the middle and points towards the outside overlapping them to fit.

5.       5. Spread chicken mixture on the wide part of the triangle, bring the points over filling and tuck ends under wide ends.

6.       6. Sprinkle over with crushed chips

7.       7. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes

8.       Serve with chips, salsa, and mango

This recipe is very tasty. Because of the chilies and the taco seasoning you might think this meal would be spicy but it wasn’t! I was excited to discover that my husband actually liked it and he is a wimp when it comes to spicy stuff. I might suggest actually draining the chilies so that the crescent dough won’t get soggy. I think this is a great recipe for potlucks or group events but I do have a couple of warnings. Number one, be careful while building the ring, the longer the dough sits out the stickier it gets making it difficult to build the ring in the first place. The only other warning I have is if you aren’t big into things that get soggy in the refrigerator the leftovers of this might not be for you. I ate it cold the next day and it was delicious but the soggy texture of the crescent dough was a little on the tough side (no pun intended).

This recipe can be found at http://kellyskornerrecipes.blogspot.com/2010/06/chicken-enchilada-ring.html with a few minor changes of my own...

Caesar Burgers

1.5 to 2 pounds of ground beef

6-8 oz shredded Jack cheese

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

½ tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

1 pkg of hamburger buns

Caesar dressing

Romaine lettuce leaves

1 bag of frozen French fries

1.       1. Combine beef, cheese, mustard, salt, and pepper

2.       2. Form mixture into 5 or 6 patties

3.       3. Cook over medium heat to desired doneness

4.       4. Spread buns with Caesar dressing

5.       5. Top patties with lettuce

6.       6. Prepare French fries as directed

I got to say these burgers were extremely yummy! They were a big hit with my picky crew. Two notes: number one you can do these on either a grill or in a pan on the stove. I did it on the stove and it was extremely good it might be a bit messy on the grill due to the cheese. The second note is that I used honey mustard instead of Dijon mustard but that is a taste choice if you prefer the tang go with the Dijon but if you prefer a sweeter taste go for the honey. The original recipe also used the Italian four cheese mix instead of Jack cheese. When I went to the store they didn’t have the four cheese mix so I used the Jack instead and it turned out well. Remember as you use these recipes the tastes of you and your family is the important part. If there is an item in a recipe that doesn’t fit your family’s taste feel free to change it, I did =). Make these recipes your own and they will be excellent! My husband was going to make his own thousand island dressing for the burger when I suggested to him that he try it before he did and he was surprised that he liked the addition of the Caesar dressing. So remember to not be scared to try something new (even if you don’t tell them what’s in it!).

Basic recipe found at http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/caesar-burgers-106262.aspx with a few minor tweaks from me =)

BBQ Shrimp

1.5 to 2 pounds of shrimp

2 lemons cut into wedges

2 bay leaves

1 cup butter melted

1 cup ketchup

½ cup Worcestershire sauce

4 cloves garlic chopped

3 tbsp seafood seasoning

1 tsp rosemary

1 tsp thyme

4-6 ears of corn

1 loaf garlic bread

1.       1. Place shrimp in 13 X 9” pan

2.       2. Top with lemon wedges and bay leaves

3.       3. In small bowl combine butter, ketchup, Worcestershire, garlic, and seasoning. Pour over shrimp

4.       4. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Stir every 10 minutes. Discard bay leaves before serving.

5.       5. Cook corn as directed, butter and salt to taste

6.       6. Prepare bread as directed.

A couple of things about this dish, number one the recipe calls for unpeeled shrimp… I used cleaned shrimp and removed the tails myself. Also be very careful to not overcook the shrimp. I overcooked them a little and they tasted really good still but those of you who might have texture issues just realize that overcooked shrimp are a little on the tough side. I found this to be very yummy and the “homemade” BBQ sauce was right on the money. And the second thing is that I ate the leftovers on top of a salad the next day with some Caesar salad dressing and it was primo yummy!

Recipe found at http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/bbq-shrimp-10000001206115/

Classic Lasagna

1 pound ground beef

1 clove minced garlic

2 tsp Italian seasoning

2 cans pasta sauce

2 eggs beaten

24 oz. cottage cheese

½ tsp pepper

½ cup Parmesan cheese

9 oz. pkg no boil lasagna noodles

8 oz. pkg mozzarella cheese

Romaine lettuce chopped

½ basket tomatoes

Favorite salad dressing

1 loaf French bread

½ cup butter

Garlic salt

1.       1. Brown and crumble ground beef, drain

2.       2. Add garlic, Italian seasoning, and pasta sauce, mix well

3.       3. Combine cottage cheese, eggs, pepper, Parmesan cheese, stir well

4.       4. In greased baking dish spread ½ cup meat sauce

5.       5. Layer ½ of the lasagna noodles, cheese mixture, mozzarella, and meat sauce

6.       6. Layer the rest of the lasagna noodles, the rest of the cheese mixture, the rest of the mozzarella, and the rest of the meat sauce.

7.       7. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes

8.       8. Let stand for 10 minutes

9.       9. Toss lettuce, tomato, and dressing, serve chilled

10.   10. Slice bread, top with butter and garlic salt, Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until golden.

Okay, complete honesty. As lasagna recipes go it tasted like lasagna and it was good however, that being said it was a bit on the watery side so I would suggest straining some of the sauce out of the meat and also strain some of the water content out of the cheese mixture. When lasagna is too watery it doesn’t hold together well and can be very disappointing that way. Also, because of how watery it was it did not make good leftovers and when you talk about a recipe that makes a casserole style dish it not making good leftovers is a definite downside.

Recipe found at http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/easy-classic-lasagna-56251.aspx with a couple minor variations as noted

Honey Chicken (For the crock pot)

1.5 pounds of chicken breast

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

½ cup honey

¼ cup soy sauce

¼ cup onion chopped

2 tbsp ketchup

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 clove minced garlic

Brown rice (enough for at least 4)

1 pound broccoli with butter and salt

1.       1. Season chicken with salt and pepper, place in crock pot

2.       2. Combine honey, soy sauce, onion, ketchup, oil, and garlic

3.       3. Pour over chicken

4.       4. Cook on low for 3 hours

5.       5. Cut chicken into bite size pieces and return to cooker to coat

6.       6. Prepare rice as directed

7.       7. Serve chicken and sauce over rice

8.       8. Steam broccoli; add butter and salt to taste

This chicken was a good recipe, not fabulous, but warm and yummy. Definitely cold weather food. I was in a rush on the day that I made it and didn’t have 3 hours so I put the crock pot on high for an hour and a half. It worked but again you have to be careful not to overcook the chicken. However, again, not a good recipe for leftovers, it did not taste as good the 2^nd day as the first.

Recipe found at http://www.crock-pot.com/Recipe.aspx?rid=287

Cheesy Sausage Calzones

2 pkgs of pizza crust

Cooking spray

1 pkg Italian sausage

1 cup onion sliced

1 bell pepper sliced

15 oz. ricotta cheese

2 eggs

½ tsp Mrs. Dash

½ cup pizza sauce

8 oz. mozzarella cheese

Romaine lettuce shredded

½ basket tomatoes

Your favorite dressing

1.       1. Prepare pizza crust as directed

2.       2. Saute sausage, onion, and pepper; drain and set aside

3.       3. Combine ricotta, eggs, and seasoning

4.       4. Put crust on sprayed cookie sheet

5.       5. Stretch crust to 10 X 13 rectangle

6.       6. Spoon ¼ cup sauce, 1 cup ricotta mixture, and ½ of sausage mix onto ½ of rectangle leaving a 1’ border.

7.       7. Sprinkle with half of cheese

8.       8. Fold dough over; press and crimp edges to seal

9.       9. Cut three slits in top to allow steam to escape

10.   10. Repeat steps 4 thru 9 with the other crust and rest of ingredients

11.   11. Bake at 425 degrees for 35 minutes

12.   12. Toss lettuce with tomatos and dressing

Okay, once this was baked it was VERY good, like to die for good. However, the pizza crust was difficult to work with, I guess I didn’t mix it as good as I should have and the dough needed to be worked with more than the package gave direction to. Also, be very careful how much of each ingredient you are putting on to the dough. I am not an exact measurement kind of girl except when I bake so I wasn’t being as good about it as I should have been and as a result was having issues with the dough becoming soggy, the dough breaking and allowing filling to leak out, and getting the dough to seal. Mostly cause the dough was dry and then the ingredients made it too wet. Once we cut into the calzones though it was really, Really, REALLY good. A picky friend of mine liked it and according to his wife he doesn’t like much so that’s a ringing endorsement right there.

Most of this recipe found at http://busycooks.about.com/od/pizzarecipes/r/sausagecalz.htm with a couple of changes as noted. I found the Betty Crocker pizza crust mix and opted for that other than refridgerated pizza dough.

I didn’t actually make the day seven recipe so I am not including it here but it was Orange Pancakes with sausage and sliced oranges.

Also, I plan on taking pictures soon and including them for recipes as I do them this week, as I am on the 4^th day of the week we will have three more without pictures before we get to today. At the end of the month (2 and a half weeks away) I will let you know whether I spent less money on eating out/groceries. I think I have so far but I want to actually do a comparison between March and April to get a good idea of the difference so I am working on that too.

Maple Dijon Broiled Salmon

1.5-2 pounds Salmon filets

1 tbsp Dijon Mustard

1 tbsp maple syrup

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

1-2 boxes long grain wild rice

12 oz. bag frozen spinach

1.       1. Place salmon on foil lined baking sheet

2.       2. Combine mustard, syrup, salt, and pepper; rub over salmon

3.       3. Broil on high 6-8 minutes

4.       4. Cook rice according to package

5.       5. Cook spinach according to package and butter and salt to taste.

My first disclaimer, I want you to know I absolutely HATE fish, I avoid it like the plague. I don’t like the taste, I don’t like the smell, and I don’t have a tendency to cook it even for other people who do like it. Having said that, how can I expect my kids to try things if I am not willing to? So I girded my loins, plugged my nose and dived into the recipe. So first the differences between the recipe and what I did. First, I bought salmon filets that were already cut and didn’t have any skin on them (fish skin? Ewww yuck!) and were about 6 oz each. Second, I used foil to put the salmon on BUT I did not use a baking sheet. Third, I used honey mustard instead of Dijon because my husband and I love sweet stuff and since neither one of us cares for fish I was “sweetening” the deal for us in the taste department. Lastly, I broiled the fish on one side for 6 minutes turned it over and cooked it 6 more minutes on the other side, making sure it had some of the rub on both sides. So that was the differences now the verdict. Oh my goodness, I LIKED it. I would eat it again. Will it make me want to eat fish on a regular basis? No but if I needed to make a fish dish this is the one that I would choose to make. Hows that for an endorsement?

Recipe found at http://video.about.com/busycooks/Maple-Mustard-Glazed-Salmon.htm I left out the chipotle peppers cause my husband is a spicy wimp.

Sweet Garlic Chicken

4 cloves garlic minced

1 tbsp olive oil

¼ cup brown sugar

1.5 pounds boneless chicken breasts

1-2 pounds broccoli

1-2 boxes chicken flavored rice

1.       1. In small skillet sauté garlic in oil until tender

2.       2. Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar

3.       3. Place chicken in lightly greased baking dish and cover with garlic-sugar mixture; salt and pepper to taste.

4.       4. Bake at 500 degrees uncovered for 15-25 minutes

5.       5. Steam broccoli and prepare rice as directed.

I have to say this recipe is very simple but oh so very yummy. It was sweet and savory at the same time. It was a quick weekday recipe and perfect for anyone who has had a long day at work and not too much time in order to cook dinner. And of course I love broccoli steamed in butter =).

Recipe found at http://www.thenovicechefblog.com/2012/02/garlic-brown-sugar-chicken-2/ but I used oil instead of butter.

So this takes us to the recipe I made last night for dinner... I guess you will have to wait for the next blog post to see it =)