Weekly Menu 2/7 – 2/14

Another week is here!!  This weekend has been a great relaxing one for Kyle and I.  It was exactly what we wanted.  As always I made my weekly menu so we will see how good we can stick to it this week. 

Sunday – Superbowl food

Chips and garlic dip

Spinach dip with french bread

Sour Cream fruit dip with apples and strawberries

Deviled eggs

BBQ sauce weenies

Buffalo Chicken bites

Monday – Leftovers of the appitzers (we have a ton)

Tuesday – Steak with terriyaki and jalapenos (for Kyle), baked potatoes, steamed asparagus, fruit salad (for me)

Wednesday – Brinner!!  Hashbrowns, eggs, french toast

Thursday – Sour cream and onion pork chops, rice, salad

Friday – Pasta with cream sauce and shrimp, salad, garlic bread (didn’t have last week)

Saturday – Out for Valentine’s Day dinner

Sunday – Filet mingnon, king crab, pasta, salad,  fruit

It’s going to be a great week!!

Update from last week..

So sticking to my menu went a little better than I thought  it would.  Although I am hoping that I will continue to get better with sticking to my weekly menus….life happens! I did my best! 

This is what I had planned and in bold is what actually happened…

Friday –  Appetizers (Friends over for show and game night.)

Saturday –  Meatloaf, red potatoes, green beans, fruit salad

Sunday –  Salsa Chicken tacos, Mexican rice

Nothing for dinner.  We both had a really late lunch and didn’t get hungry for dinner.

Monday –  BBQ Steak, chili baked potatoes, blue cheese salad, fruit salad

Tuesday –  Texas Chicken Quesadilla’s

Wednesday –  Broccoli cheese soup, rolls, fruit salad

McDonalds!!! Woops!  Kyle was in charge of grabbing dinner since Xena (our puppy) had an accident so that is what I spend my night doing….taking care of her and cleaning her kennel and toys! FUN!

Thursday –  Sour cream and onion pork chops, rice, Italian salad

Broccoli cheese soup, rolls, fruit salad

Friday –  Pasta with shrimp and cream sauce, salad, garlic bread

Friends invited us over so I didn’t have to cook.  This will be saved for next week! 

Score = 4 out of 7!  We must do better!!  The good thing is that we only spent $10.00 the whole week on dinner! 

Better luck this coming week!

Weekly Menu 1/29 – 2/5

Woohoo! A weekly menu!  I always make a weekly menu but for some reason I always forget to post them.  I like posting them because it helps me actually stick to the menu!  What a concept huh?  :0)

This particular menu I planned from Friday to Friday which I never do since we are always eating out on Friday’s but it is one of our New Year’s Resolutions so stop going out soooo much a save money.  I will post next weekend and we will see how good we actually did at sticking with the menu.  Wish me luck!

Friday –  Appetizers (Friends over for show and game night.)

Saturday –  Meatloaf, red potatoes, green beans, fruit salad

Sunday –  Salsa Chicken tacos, Mexican rice

Monday –  BBQ Steak, chili baked potatoes, blue cheese salad, fruit salad

Tuesday –  Texas Chicken Quesadilla’s

Wednesday –  Broccoli cheese soup, rolls, fruit salad

Thursday –  Sour cream and onion pork chops, rice, Italian salad

Friday –  Pasta with shrimp and cream sauce, salad, garlic bread

Have a great week!

Double Broiler…Ghetto Style!!

I don’t have a double broiler…because…I don’t need one!! Haha…no really…since I don’t have one I read somewhere that I can just place a bowl over a little pot of simmering water and it work just as good.  It worked perfectly!  I was very impressed and only steam burned myself 2 times! =)  (Be careful!) 

I know that there are a lot of people that probably do this technique all the time but since I hadn’t I th0ught I would share. 

 

It took a while for the chocolate to start melting but once it did it melted very fast!  The bowl also got very warm so I used a oven mit.  As soon as the chocolate was done melting I removed the bowl and like a said before…be careful…that steam will get ya!  

Finished product….

Perfecto!

Chocolate Jello Fruit Dessert (in a hurry)…

A while back Kyle and I were invited to a friends house and I had so much going on that day that I had to make something quick and simple.  I don’t like bringing store bought dessert so I dug through my pantry and this is what I made up….chocolate jello fruit dessert!   It was actually really good and our friends were asking for the recipe.  I was happy with how it turned out over all, and next time I am in a bind and have the ingredients I will make this again.

Warning:  Be sure to eat within 1 – 2 days or else it gets runny.

SOURCE: Little Ol’ Me! =)

INGREDIENTS

1 package vanilla instant Jello
1 package chocolate instant Jello
1/2 cup blackberries
1/2 cup blueberries
2 handfuls of chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix chocolate Jello according so directions on back of the package.
2. Spread chocolate Jello on bottom on 9×9 dish.
3. Spread berries.
4. Mix vanilla Jello according to directions on back of the package.
5. Speak vanilla Jello over berries.
6. Sprinkle with chocolate chips.
7. Chill until ready to serve.

The layers can be whatever way you would like.  Also…any fruit would work.  Bananas and Strawberries would be amazing!  That will be my next combo!

ENJOY!

Hashbrown Casserole

Ohhhh hashbrown casserole..how I love you!  I was recently introduced to hashbrown casserole (about 2 years ago if you call that recently).  =)  My Mom never made this when I was growing up and when I told her that I loved it while having it at my inlaws my Mom said “Ohhh yeah…I like that too!” WHAT!?  She just never made it for 23 years but she loves it too!  Rude!  Anyways…now I know about it, love it and make it when I want! =) (Not too often since it is not very healthy but it is DELICIOUS!)

This dish is really popular on Kyle’s side of the family.  Every time we go to Utah I have it at least once because all of his Aunts love it and know we love it so they make it often.  In Utah they call it ‘funeral potatoes’ but I think that sounds depressing so I am sticking with hashbrown casserole!! 

This recipe is great if you have a large group of people!  One cassrole dish will feed ATLEAST 6 – 10 people but since I cook for just Kyle and myself I 1/2 the recipe and it was just perfect for us.  We had plenty which was great so I could pack it for lunches the next day.  The casserole saves pretty well and to me is even better the next day heat up in the microwave. 

I got this recipe off of www.allrecipes.com.  I love that site!  I have the application on my Iphone and it makes it so easy to search and find exactly what you are looking for.  Love it!

Remember this recipe is halfed from the original so this would feed about 4-5 people.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 package(2 lb. bag)  frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 (10.75 oz.) can condensed cream of chicken soup (any cream of _____ works just fine)
1/2 (8 oz.) container sour cream
1/4 cup chopped onions
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 t. salt
1/8 t. pepper (I use more like 1/2 t.)
1 cup crushed cornflakes cereal (I used French’s Onions)
2 T. melted butter

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In large bowl, combine hash browns, 1/2 cup melted butter, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, chopped onions, Cheddar cheese, salt and pepper.
3. Place in cassrole dish.
4.  If using cornflakes do the follow step. In a saucepan over medium heat, saute cornflakes in 1/4 cup butter and sprinkle the mixture over the top of the cassrole.
5. Bake covered in preheated oven for 40 minutes.

Sorry for the dark picture!

Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken

When I first read this recipe I wasn’t really interested. After thinking about how Kyle and I love both garlic and brown sugar I thought I should give it a try and I am so glad that I did.  Another simple recipe to throw together and I always have brown sugar and garlic in the house so that is a plus as well. 

I found this recipe on a blog called Stephanie Cooks.(http://stephaniecooks.blogspot.com/).  I have tried many recipes from her blog and they have all turned out amazing.

INGREDIENTS

4 tsp. unpacked brown sugar
12 oz. chicken breasts (I used 2 chicken breasts)
1 clove garlic (chopped)
2 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. salt
1 dash pepper

 DIRECTIONS

1. Melt butter in frying pan.
2. Brown the garlic in the butter.
3. Add chicken breasts to garlic and butter and cook thoroughly.
4. Add salt and pepper. (I added a good amount of pepper..more that a dash.)
5. When chicken is fully cooked, add brown sugar on top of each chicken breast.
6. Allow the brown sugar to melt into the chicken.

Perfecto!

I could have ate the chicken without the brown sugar as well since I am such a garlic lover. Kyle really like the recipe so I will be making this again soon. I served it with rice and a large salad and it made for a perfect dinner!

Teriyaki Baked Chicken

I have been on a roll lately with my simple dinners.  I like to call them simple and not lazy! =) 

Anyways, I make baked chicken a good amount since it is easy and pretty healthy. Throw any sauce over the chicken and you are good to go.  I also like it baked since it is so much more tender than when it is BBQ’ed.   I often crave salty so teriyaki was perfect for me!

SOURCE: ME! 

INGREDIENTS

2 chicken breasts (frozen or defrosted, either will work)
3/4 cup teriyaki (the amount of teriyaki will vary depending on the size of the chicken)
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder

 DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line foil on baking sheet.
3. Place chicken on foil.
4. Pour teriyaki over chicken.
5. Bake 30-45 minutes. (Depends on size of chicken breast and if they are frozen or not.)

If you have the time it is even better if you let the teriyaki and chicken soak for a few hours before cooking.

Serve with veggies and brown rice and it is perfect!  Enjoy!

Martha Stewart chocolate chip cookies = disappointment!

I was so excited to try these cookies since they are “Martha Stewart’s” but man….I was disappointmented.  The cookies turned out so flat and didn’t really have the best taste.  They were nothing special.  I know that some people like really thin brittle cookies but not me!  I love fluffy chewy cookies…total opposite. 

I found the recipe on Martha Stewart’s website if you are interested….but I wouldn’t be! =)  Just wanted to share the outcome in hopes of possibly helping someone out!

I know they don’t look terrible but they were….the chocolate chips were practically falling out the top of the cookies since they were so thin. 

WASTE!

RAVE: Pillsbury Apple Turnovers

I saw these at the store and for some reason they looked amazing.  I never buy anything like this but I am glad that I did and I will probably buy these again.  These were so simple and were done in 10 minutes total.  Kyle ate 4 at one time and was impressed with them being out of a package. 

Try them if you like apple turnovers and you don’t feel like spending time making them homemade like me! =)

Yummy!