OK, so I think the summer time is way too difficult to be consistent with meal planning. The past couple weeks we had 2 birthdays, We had a family get-together at the beach, and now I'm getting ready for a wedding. So, the little meal planning I'm doing, it is mostly quick and easy dishes from my own repertoire. Things like tacos and roasts and stuff.
But, I did stumble across this little gem, and I figured I should share it with you. Chicken Pillows. And no, they aren't pillows made out of chickens ;) Now, I didn't get all crazy and make my dough from scratch...why do that when there are perfectly good tubes of dough in your grocery dairy aisle? So, without making your dough, and using a leftover rotisserie chicken that we had bought the day before, these are quite the quick main dish. My kids didn't care for the sauce on top (it was OK...I could have lived without it), but they liked the "hot-pocket" type feel for the dish. One of my husband's friends came over and had one, and he suggested I sell them at CostCo...he said I would make a fortune! Haha...thanks for the ego boost, Craig! I don't think I'm that adventurous though, plus, it isn't my own recipe.
Anyway...I am getting ready to go to the grocery store right now. I'm not doing much in the way of a menu right now though...just too busy! My main focus is getting things for the bridal shower I'm hosting tomorrow...I'm making a cake, fruit pizza, and punch. Wish me luck!
4 sisters who love to cook!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Reviews & Somewhat New Menu
Well, we had somewhat of a crazy week last week...first a friend had appendicitis, so I ended up making a vegetable and barley soup for her, then a couple of my kids got a stomach bug, and finally my husband got an upset stomach...which ended up being appendicitis too! So, needless to say, we didn't get to all of the meal plan last week. So, some of the items have been moved over to this week.
As a review of the food we did eat...most of it was just OK...the sauce for the Chicken cordon bleu was way too thick and didn't taste that great. The Hawaiian Haystacks were a little bland. The Chicken taquitos were a hit though! Also, the Greek Chicken salad was a big hit again too...even my picky eater had 2 big plates of it!
Here is this week's menu:
We already had some changes though...On Sunday, I asked my husband to take out a roast, but he took out carne asada meat instead, so I couldn't make the roast on Sunday. Instead, I made a marinade similar to this, but it didn't have long enough to marinade, so it was really tough. Also, the store was out of fresh corn, so I didn't get that, and we are going to a neighbor's for a BBQ today (4th of July), and they are providing the meat, so I probably won't make the chicken today.
It has been really hot here, so I'm trying to find lighter dishes to make, but Wednesday is my step-daughter's 18th birthday, and she asked me to make those enchiladas for her.
If you are interested in my vegetable soup (my friend's husband said it is now his second favorite soup!), here is an approximate recipe:
Dice the following vegetables: carrots, celery, potatoes, zucchini, red bell pepper, onion, and garlic. (amounts are to desired taste)
Add 1 can of petite diced tomatoes, about 1/2 bag of frozen corn, and about 1 cup of barley. Use 6 large vegetable bullion cubes. Used pepper and parsley to taste. Add 12 cups of water (yes, this made a lot...it fed 3 families that night). Boil until vegetables and barley are tender.
As a review of the food we did eat...most of it was just OK...the sauce for the Chicken cordon bleu was way too thick and didn't taste that great. The Hawaiian Haystacks were a little bland. The Chicken taquitos were a hit though! Also, the Greek Chicken salad was a big hit again too...even my picky eater had 2 big plates of it!
Here is this week's menu:
| Sun. | Mon. | Tues. | Wed. | Thurs. | Fri. | Sat. |
| Corn | Rice | Chef salad | tacos | leftovers |
We already had some changes though...On Sunday, I asked my husband to take out a roast, but he took out carne asada meat instead, so I couldn't make the roast on Sunday. Instead, I made a marinade similar to this, but it didn't have long enough to marinade, so it was really tough. Also, the store was out of fresh corn, so I didn't get that, and we are going to a neighbor's for a BBQ today (4th of July), and they are providing the meat, so I probably won't make the chicken today.
It has been really hot here, so I'm trying to find lighter dishes to make, but Wednesday is my step-daughter's 18th birthday, and she asked me to make those enchiladas for her.
If you are interested in my vegetable soup (my friend's husband said it is now his second favorite soup!), here is an approximate recipe:
Dice the following vegetables: carrots, celery, potatoes, zucchini, red bell pepper, onion, and garlic. (amounts are to desired taste)
Add 1 can of petite diced tomatoes, about 1/2 bag of frozen corn, and about 1 cup of barley. Use 6 large vegetable bullion cubes. Used pepper and parsley to taste. Add 12 cups of water (yes, this made a lot...it fed 3 families that night). Boil until vegetables and barley are tender.
Friday, June 24, 2011
I'm Back...Hopefully for a While...
OK...things got pretty hectic with work and the end of the school year and stuff, but I'm finally starting to get caught up with everything. I even had the time to totally clean out and reorganize my pantry. So, Cecily, you should be proud of me! Haha! Anyway, I haven't been grocery shopping (except for a quick dash in to get things like fresh produce and milk) in over 3 weeks! It is difficult to get out with all 3 kids...I try not to do it since last time I ended up with a broken finger, and it still isn't healed correctly! But, I have a 2nd opinion hand specialist appointment next week...YAY!
Anyway...the kids are in swimming lessons right now, and their lessons are late afternoon, so by the time I get home, I don't have a lot of time to prep and make a big dinner. Plus, it is hot, so I don't want to be in the kitchen a lot. So, here is my meal plan for the week:
Apparently I'm on a Pacific kick with my sweet & sour and Hawaiian influenced meals this week...LOL! But, it was just what sounded good. I found a new favorite recipe website. Seriously, you all have to check it out! She tries not to cook with processed foods, so she reinvents some favorites. Anyway, it is Mel's Kitchen Cafe. Yay for fresh inspiration! Go drool over all of her yummy food...NOW! And I can't wait to make the Greek dressing from Our Best Bites again. The kids have even been asking for it.
OK...now to go work on some more cleaning while the baby is napping...
Anyway...the kids are in swimming lessons right now, and their lessons are late afternoon, so by the time I get home, I don't have a lot of time to prep and make a big dinner. Plus, it is hot, so I don't want to be in the kitchen a lot. So, here is my meal plan for the week:
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| Rice | Out with friends | Peas Mashed potatoes |
Apparently I'm on a Pacific kick with my sweet & sour and Hawaiian influenced meals this week...LOL! But, it was just what sounded good. I found a new favorite recipe website. Seriously, you all have to check it out! She tries not to cook with processed foods, so she reinvents some favorites. Anyway, it is Mel's Kitchen Cafe. Yay for fresh inspiration! Go drool over all of her yummy food...NOW! And I can't wait to make the Greek dressing from Our Best Bites again. The kids have even been asking for it.
OK...now to go work on some more cleaning while the baby is napping...
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Several Weeks of Meal Plans...
I'm terrible! I have been swamped with work (end of the semester...students start submitting massive amounts of work all at once and then expect it to be graded in one day...yikes!), and I have been making meal plans, but I haven't been posting them. So, I am just going to post the meal plans and then come back (hopefully next week, once things die down a little with work) and do the recipe reviews.
So, here they are, in no particular order. Oh, and some of the recipes may overlap...I didn't always use every recipe for a week, so I would carry it over to the next week.
So, here they are, in no particular order. Oh, and some of the recipes may overlap...I didn't always use every recipe for a week, so I would carry it over to the next week.
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| rolls | Rice | Beef tips with peas Egg noodles carrots | Scalloped potatoes salad | Rice | salad | Roasted Curried Chicken with Couscous salad |
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| Enchiladas Spanish rice | Brown rice salad | Pasta salad mangoes | Cantonese chicken with pineapple, bell peppers, and carrots Brown rice |
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| Rice beans | Mac & Cheese with ham Cooked carrots | Green beans Mashed potatoes | Rice broccoli | Rice broccoli | Out of Town | Out of Town |
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | |
| Creamy pesto pasta with chicken sausage salad | Rice broccoli | Mac & Cheese with ham Cooked carrots | Chicken breasts with goat cheese and fire roasted tomatoes salad | Grilled cabbage, zucchini, and bell peppers | Leftovers |
Friday, April 22, 2011
Meal Plan: Week of 4/24/11
Wow...it really has been a while since I last meal planned! I ended up stretching the one week into two (a few lazy nights on my part, as well as busy schedules), and then I went to Provo, UT to visit my sister, Cecily! Cecily made us some delish fried rice (very close to what our mom used to make, but more modern) and some nose-running good curry...maybe if we are lucky she will post the recipes. So, now I'm back, and I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. I did buy the Our Best Bites new cookbook while I was out there, so I'm super excited to try some of the recipes that aren't on the site!
To recap the last meal plan, I think the biggest hits were the curry and the bacon-wrapped meatloaf. I wasn't too thrilled with the meatloaf, but the kids had thirds and it was requested the following week. The pork tacos were good and so was the beef and snow peas. Nobody really liked the mustard chicken...in fact, it actually tasted like warm potato salad...yuck! I did not get around to making the herb roast, so I will have to try it out another time. The surprise like of the week was the quinoa and black beans. We had never tried quinoa before, and honestly it didn't look that appetizing, but it tasted pretty good!
Now for this coming week. Easter is on Sunday, so I am starting the week there. I'm trying some of Cecily's recipes that she posted on her other blog. Also, Adi is on another diet kick. He said at first that he would only eat chicken or fish with veggies, but I convinced him to do buffalo twice a week and then he has a cheat day. So, I have Sunday as the cheat day and Tuesday/Thursday as buffalo days, and I'm putting fish on Friday (why not?).
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| rolls | Rice | Beef tips with peas Egg noodles carrots | Scalloped potatoes salad | Rice | salad | Roasted Curried Chicken with Couscous salad |
So, there it is! Hopefully I can stick to the meal plan better this week. I'm really impressed that my grocery list has nothing in the canned goods section. Now I'm off to the grocery store!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Meal plan for week of 4/4
So my method of meal planning is slightly different. I sit down with the family every Monday night and ask them what they would like to eat for the following week. With their suggestions in mind, I brouse the sales adds for my favorite grocery stores and find ingredients that are not only on sale, but I also have a coupon for. Feeding a family of 6 gets expensive so I try to cut costs as many ways as I can. Wednesday nights are very busy for my family so that is always leftover night. Some nights my husband and I will have special plans so those nights the kids get to fend for themselves. Fortunately my kids are all old enough and capable enough to cook their own food so they actually don't mind "Fend" nights. Another thing I should mention is that I don't use recipies. I will sometimes read a recipe for ideas, but I don't follow them while cooking. If you would like to know how to make one of the things I have listed, I will try my best to explain! I have school from 8-5 for the next 3 weeks so the meals are simple enough that my husband and kids can prepare them, or I can prep the ingredients the night before. My husband leaves for work by 6 every night so I have to have dinner on the table ASAP! So here we go: Monday 4/4 My Birthday! So dinner at Benihana's for the hubby and me, Fend for the kids Tuesday 4/5 Grilled cheese sandwiches(Cheddar on the inside, parmesan on theout side) With Tomato soup(Garlic croutons on top!) Wednesday 4/6 Leftovers Thursday 4/7 Shrimp Scampi with linguini, Ceasar salad, and garlic bread Friday 4/8 Carnitas street tacos- shredded pork, queso cotija, shredded cabbage, radishes, cilantro, lime wedges and salsa verde Saturday 4/9 Chicken Tortilla soup Sunday 4/10 Roast Chicken with mashed potatoes, and green beans(with butter & bacon) So that's this week! I'll try to post again next Saturday for the following week!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Meal Plan: Week of 4/1/11
This is my first weekly meal plan post of the blog! Just a fair warning, I don't always stick to the menu, so sometimes a week's menu lasts for a couple weeks. I should also point out that I have a couple favorite websites where I get most of my recipes. They are allrecipes.com and ourbestbites.com. Seriously, I very rarely need to go anywhere else. So, here is my week's menu (starting with today, if I can make it to the grocery store), with links to the recipes I'm using.
Friday:
Strawberry chicken spinach salad with crumbled gorgonzola and candied pecans (instead of almonds...I'm allergic to almonds)
Saturday:
Chicken curry
Rice
Sautéed zucchini & bell peppers
Sunday:
Herb crusted roast beef*
Roasted vegetables (subbing zucchini for the butternut squash...personal preference)
Monday:
Honey mustard chicken
Rice pilaf
corn (on the cob, if I can find it fresh)
Tuesday:
Glazed bacon wrapped meatloaf*
Mashed potatoes
Green beans
Wednesday:
Beef with snow peas*
Rice
Thursday:
Chipotle pork tacos
Lime cilantro rice with pineapple
Quinoa and black beans
*Every year, we get a whole buffalo to use as our red meat, so anywhere beef is used as an ingredient, it will actually be buffalo in our house. Buffalo is so much healthier for you, and it tastes better too!
Just a tip...whenever I use a recipe from a website, I read through the reviews of the recipe to determine any adjustments I will probably make. Also, when I am searching for a particular recipe on allrecipes.com and there are several to choose from, I will sort the recipes by the rating to find the best rated version. But, be careful...a recipe with only one review of 5 stars will show up higher than a recipe with 1000 reviews averaging 4.5 stars, so you will still need to do some browsing.
OK...now, hopefully an older person will get home soon so I can do my grocery shopping! I no longer take all 3 little kids with me to the grocery store. The last time I did that, I ended up with a broken finger, which still isn't healed properly (it has been over 4 months), and I will hopefully be getting surgery done on it soon...
Friday:
Strawberry chicken spinach salad with crumbled gorgonzola and candied pecans (instead of almonds...I'm allergic to almonds)
Saturday:
Chicken curry
Rice
Sautéed zucchini & bell peppers
Sunday:
Herb crusted roast beef*
Roasted vegetables (subbing zucchini for the butternut squash...personal preference)
Monday:
Honey mustard chicken
Rice pilaf
corn (on the cob, if I can find it fresh)
Tuesday:
Glazed bacon wrapped meatloaf*
Mashed potatoes
Green beans
Wednesday:
Beef with snow peas*
Rice
Thursday:
Chipotle pork tacos
Lime cilantro rice with pineapple
Quinoa and black beans
*Every year, we get a whole buffalo to use as our red meat, so anywhere beef is used as an ingredient, it will actually be buffalo in our house. Buffalo is so much healthier for you, and it tastes better too!
Just a tip...whenever I use a recipe from a website, I read through the reviews of the recipe to determine any adjustments I will probably make. Also, when I am searching for a particular recipe on allrecipes.com and there are several to choose from, I will sort the recipes by the rating to find the best rated version. But, be careful...a recipe with only one review of 5 stars will show up higher than a recipe with 1000 reviews averaging 4.5 stars, so you will still need to do some browsing.
OK...now, hopefully an older person will get home soon so I can do my grocery shopping! I no longer take all 3 little kids with me to the grocery store. The last time I did that, I ended up with a broken finger, which still isn't healed properly (it has been over 4 months), and I will hopefully be getting surgery done on it soon...
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