Kate's Menu Plan Feb 14-20

Another week gone by and now it's the middle of February!  Didn't this year just start?  Once again we veered of plan this week, but I blame it on the rotisserie chicken taunting me at the store that we then ate twice.  Also, an unplanned dinner out.  So I guess I'm realizing that I have a plan and that's good, but we rarely stick to it!  If I have to buy certain perishable ingredients for a recipe I try to use those up pretty quickly and save other meals for nights when I know things could get changed around.  It's not a perfect system, but it's mine and it seems to work.  I hate wasting food (and money!) so I'm pretty careful about using up what I buy and this is one way that I make that happen.  Enough talking, here's the plan:

Monday: Fondue for V-Day (cheddar fondue with french bread, chicken sausage, apples and mushrooms)
Tuesday: Double Chicken Dumpling Soup, bread and salad
Wednesday: Sweet and Sour Pork, brown rice
Thursday: dinner with friends
Friday: baked hummus (never got to it last week!)
Saturday/Sunday: leftovers, chicken pitas

Kate's Menu Plan Feb 7-13

I'm not feeling totally ready for a new week around here.  But, it is Monday, so it doesn't leave me much choice, does it?!  Here's the plan for this week:

Monday: BBQ Meatballs and Veggie Mashed Potatoes
Tuesday: Honey Mustard Chicken
Wednesday: Black Bean and Tortilla Pie
Thursday: Probably out
Friday: Baked Hummus
Saturday/Sunday: Pesto Chicken pita pizzas

Kate's Menu Plan Jan 31-Feb 6

Another week of failed menus, but at least a bit of improvement!  Trying to get back into a good rhythm this week. Here's the plan:

Monday- Veggie Veggie Couscous
Tuesday-Chili with cornbread dumplings, salad
Wednesday-Parmesan Corn and Potato Soup, bread
Thursday-Birthday Girl's Request-Crockpot Salsa Chicken, brown rice
Friday-Honey Mustard Chicken with parsnips and carrots (I never made this a few weeks ago.)
Saturday-Lettuce Wraps (chicken cooked in the crockpot)
Sunday-Super Bowl!  Go Steelers!  Snacks TBD

Kate's Menu Plan Jan 24-30

Another crazy week that didn't really allow for following the meal plan.  Thank goodness for a well stocked freezer and a very helpful husband.  I'm not sure this week is going to work out all that well, but we'll give it a shot.

Monday:Lasagna Roll-ups, salad (third week in a row- think I'll make them this week?!)
Tuesday: Recipe Club: Chicken Tikka Masala and naan
Wednesday: Parmesan Corn Chowder, bread and salad
Thursday: Black bean burgers with sweet potato fries
Friday/Saturday: out of town
Sunday: Pizza

Kate's Menu Plan Jan 17-23

A day late, but you probably don't care about the leftovers I ate for dinner last night!  We did not do a good job sticking to the plan last week for a number of reasons.  We'll see if this week is any better!

Tuesday: something easy with the kids...sandwiches?
Wednesday- Honey Mustard Chicken with carrots and parsnips over couscous
Thursday-Lasagna Roll-ups, salad
Friday-Beef and Cornbread skillet, green beans
Saturday-Black Bean burgers and sweet potato fries
Sunday-football snacks- maybe Mexican pizza?

Kate's Menu Plan Jan 10-16

Last week I actually cooked everything I planned which doesn't always happen around here.  I tweaked my enchilada recipe though and wound up with my own creation for veggie enchiladas that were so good.  I'll have to share that recipe at some point!  Here's the plan for this week:

Monday-Tandoori chicken with potato and lentil salad
Tuesday-Southwestern butternut squash soup with quesadillas
Wednesday-Spinach lasagna roll-ups with salad
Thursday-Chicken/apple sausages with roasted potatoes and apples
Friday-Eggplant caciatore sandwiches
Saturday- My birthday and a football party complete with 3 types of baked taquitos and 3 salsas
Sunday-  Stromboli- 3 ways with salad

Kate's Menu Plan Jan 3-10

After a few bumps and some false starts, I've finally decided to use this space to share my menu plan for the week.  I know that I'm always looking for new recipes to try so I thought other people might find this of some interest.  I've got lots more to share about the subject, but for today I'm going to be happy to have just posted the menu!

Monday-Italian Chicken Chowder, salad
Tuesday-Smoky Eggplant sauce with roasted spaghetti squash, salad
Wednesday-Turkey burger sliders, sweet potato fries, applesauce
Thursday-Power Enchiladas, brown rice and beans
Freday-Vegetable Soup with dumplings, salad, cheese and crackers
Saturday/Sunday-BBQ Ham and pineapple pizza and leftovers

What are you eating at your house this week?  Feel free to share in the comments!

White Chicken Chili

1 med onion
1 Tbsp. oil
4 garlic cloves, minced 
2 tsp ground cumin
3 cans (15 oz) great northern beans (rinsed and drained)
1 tsp dry oregano
1/4 tsp ground cloves (optional)
3 cans (14 oz) chicken broth
1 can white shoepeg corn, drained (optional)
4 cups cubed cooked chicken
2 cups shredded monteray jack cheese
 
*sour cream and tortilla chips optional for toppings
 
 
Prepare chicken and cut up.Chop onion and saute in oil. Stir in garlic, chicken, cumin, oregano, and cloves.  Stir 2-3 min., then add chicken broth, drained/rinsed beans, and drained corn.  Simmer uncovered for 15 min. Remove from heat.  Stir in monteray jack cheese until melted.  (If preparing ahead of time, I wait to add the cheese until I rewarm the soup, and then add the cheese before serving).  Top with sour cream and tortilla chips if desired.  

Bacon Corn Chowder

¾ cups Crumbled Bacon
1 whole Onion, Chopped
2 whole Carrots, Chopped
5 cups Chicken Stock
5 whole Potatoes, Peeled And Diced (I used Yukon gold)
3 cups Corn, Fresh Or Frozen
¼ teaspoons Turmeric
½ teaspoons Dried Thyme
¼ cups Butter
1-½ cup Milk (or cream)
2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Cook bacon until crisp, remove from pan and chop well.

Add 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease (or vegetable oil if you are vegetarian and didn’t use the bacon) to large pot. Add onions and cook until soft, add carrots and cook for 5 minutes more.

Stir in chicken stock then add potatoes, corn and bacon. Add turmeric and thyme. You can now add the 1/4 cup butter, but it is entirely optional.

Cook until potatoes and carrots have softened, then stir in milk or cream.

Let heat, then remove half a cup of liquid, let it cool a bit and then whisk in cornstarch. Add cornstarch mixture to chowder, stir well.

Allow chowder to heat for 5 minutes more, then serve.

Apple Tart

Apple Tart

5c. flour

2c. vegetable shortening

1t. salt

1 c. milk

Mix like pie crust. Roll out half and put into 15x9 pan.

12 medium apples peeled and diced.

5 t. dry tapioca

3/4 c. sugar

3/4 c. brown sugar

2 t. cinnamon

Put apple mixture in crust. Roll out remaining crust and cover apples. Seal and cut slits on top. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until slightly golden.

 

Glaze:

Mix

3 oz cream cheese

1 tsp vanilla

2-3 t. milk

2 c. powdered sugar

Cover while warm.