This Week's Menu

I know it's only Saturday and I'm letting you in on the plan for dinner for the week. Here goes, of course there is always the chance that it will change if I feel like something different!

Sunday: Chili & Cornbread

Since it's SUPER BOWL, I thought I would at least make an effort to support the game and have some 'game day food' maybe I'll make some 7-layer dip or at least guacamole and chips I don't have any chips, maybe I could bake some corn tortillas and turn them into chips.....hmmm that sounds pretty good, I'll have to work on that.

Monday: Whole Wheat Ravioli w/tomatoes and basil & salad

This is one of Cliff's very favorite meals, he even likes it since I've 'lightened' it. It is really good, so it will probably appear on our menu at least twice a month.

Tuesday: Chicken Fajitas

I have a ton of red peppers, so this is a good meal to use them up!

Wednesday: Dinner with friends

I'm supposed to bring dessert, so since it will be our one dessert for the week I want to make something really good. I've been thinking about red velvet cake. Now I used to think it was weird, but then I watched Bobby Flay on 'throwdown' against a chic that made these REALLY good looking red velvet cupcakes and my friend made one in December and I didn't get to try it and was pretty sad about it I think what I really want is the cream cheese frosting, how can you really go wrong with that? The other option is a flourless chocolate cake. I'll let you know how either turn out!

Thursday: Halibut, Roasted Potatoes & Veggies

I'll probably use my wonderful new grill pan with a little lemon, maybe some thyme or rosemary for the fish. I'm trying to have fish once a week...obviously I failed last week.

Friday: Chicken/Broccoli/Califlower Casserole

This is going to be an experiment, does that sound gross to throw califlower in there too?

Saturday: This Crust Pizza

I'm not sure what my plan is for this, I want to find a homemade crust recipe that is thin crust...we'll see how it goes.

Last Week's Menu

It is kind of a funny title to post what we have eaten this last week, but I'm a little behind the game lately. Sissy and I are really big slackers! My sister the internet, blog queen...what happenend to her? What is she pregnant, working and have a couple of crazy boys to raise every day? What happenend to my 3:00am blogger? I hope that you come back to us soon. I am in need of some of those new recipes that I know you're trying.

Here is my menu from last week:

Sunday: Chicken Pot Pie, made light with Phyllo Dough

This was really good, I just made my own chicken pot pie filling and then did the phyllo dough on top, the whole thing had a little bit of a sweet, but savory taste - so good!

Monday: Chicken w/goat cheese & Basil

This is an Ina recipe, everything she makes is good. Just enough flavor from the goat cheese without being over-powering.

Tuesday/Wednesday: Down the Hill

(I did have a really good salad and pizza at CPK, how great is my husband that he splits things with me) I won't tell you what I had at Red Robbin that isn't really a part of a "healthly eating plan." :)

Thursday: Sesame Chicken w/brown basmati rice (did you get some yet sissy?) & broccoli

This was REALLY GOOD! My favorite meal of the week, and we had some good ones! Try it!

Friday: Orange Chipolte Pork Chops, Sweet Potato Chili Powder Fries & Salad

I really like these, I used my new grill pan, which is great because nothing sticks to it. It's always nice to find a new way to cook Pork Chops. I did take note on a couple of the reviews that said there wasn't enough flavor and I marinated the chops for an hour or so and added a little chili powder, garlic and orange zest, I thought they had a kick from the chipolte peppers! I love sweet potatoes this way too!

Saturday: Chicken and Dumplings & Salad

Cliff loved this! It was really good I must admit, it reminded me of something my grandma would make...looking back at this weeks menu I guess I was in the mood for comfort food. I probably has something to do with all of the snow we've been getting lately and the fact that I've been inside most days this week...I'm just starting to go crazy!

A light take on Pizza Margarita

I made a great lunch today, we needed something different than the usual Turkey Sandwich. So I had some fresh Mozzarella and Basil, yum! But, no pizza dough and at 11:15 no time for dough either. What I did have was some lavash bread (really thin for roll-up sandwiches). So I thought, why not make that into a really thin crust pizza. And that is what I did, and it was super tastey! My husband loved it, we had a couple of pieces and a half of a bowl of leftover soup and it was perfect!

All I did was spread out the lavash bread, topped it with fresh motz, tomatoes, fresh basil, a little drizzle of olive oil, salt, pepper and a light dusting of parm. cheese! So good and easy, it would be a great dinner with a great chicken salad or something.

Try it sometime!

It's a New Year!

2008 for us is getting back to healthful eathing...so with that in mind here is our menu for the week. I know the week is half over but better late than never!

Jan. 13-19

Sunday: Beef & Tomato Gratin, Salad

Monday: Turkey Chili w/cornbread topping @ Sissy's

Tuesday: Grilled Teryaki Salmon, Brown Basmati Rice & Stir-fry veggies

Wednesday: Leftover Beef & Tomato Gratin, Salad

Thursday: Braised Mushroom Chicken, Spelt & Bocollini

Friday: Sissy's Tacos (love these!)

Saturday: Whole Wheat Raviolis w/a light Tomato, Basil Sauce, Green Beans & Salad

Loved the gratin, it was a nice change from your typical heavy au gratin potatoe dish. Also nice to have everything in one dish. I'll post next week's menu soon.

Brownie Peppermint Ice Cream Cake

Bake a brownie mix (as directed) in a 9 inch spring form pan. Let cool completely.Soften a half gallon of this ice cream and spread over the brownie layer (I use about 1/2 to 3/4 of the container).
Top with fresh whipped cream and chopped up Peppermint Bark (candy canes would work too!) Freeze for several hours-preferably overnight.

Thanks sissy for this great (and really easy) dessert idea! It was a hit at the Karlson's for Christmas eve! Have you noticed every Christmas dessert I've made involves Chocolate and Peppermint? There is a pattern here...

Chocolate Graham Toffee Bark

These delicious toffee candies start with plain graham crackers and are topped with chocolate and macadamia nuts. They make a fabulous fast and easy gift from the kitchen for any occasion.

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 pound (two sticks) butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 box (about) graham crackers (not crumbs)
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped macadamia nuts (optional) I like almonds- but pecans would be good too
PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 350˚

Arrange whole graham cracker to fit the bottom of the pan in a single layer, breaking up the last few (if needed) to fit the space.

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.

Add brown sugar and white sugar. Stir to combine. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and let the mixture gently bubble for 4 minutes. (Set a timer and watch this step closely). Remove from heat. Carefully pour sugar/butter mixture evenly over the graham cracker layer. Spread to cover. Bake for 10 minutes. When done, remove from oven and let rest until bubbling subsides. Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the top. Wait about 2 minutes for chocolate to melt, then use a spatula to gently spread chocolate chips into an even layer on top of the toffee graham cracker.

Optional: Sprinkle with the chopped nuts, pressing down gently into the chocolate. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for 2 hours. Break into 2-inch irregular pieces. Refrigerate any leftovers. Yield: about 1 pound candy bark pieces

Peppermint Cheesecake

This recipe is from Sunset (a few years back). I love Sunset- have you seen the article this month on Frenso's Christmas Tree Lane? Check it out if you haven't.

Here is the recipe-


PREP AND COOK TIME: About 1 1/2 hours, plus at least 4 hours to cool and chill
MAKES: 12 to 16 servings

12 ounces Oreos, broken into pieces
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 1/2 pounds cream cheese, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup sour cream
4 eggs
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup coarsely crushed peppermint candy

1. Place cookies in a heavy zip-lock plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin. Pour into a buttered 9-inch round springform pan and pour melted butter over crumbs; mix to coat, then press evenly over bottom and about 1/2 inch up sides of pan. Bake in a 300° oven until crust is slightly darker and looks a bit dry, about 10 minutes (leave oven on).

2. Meanwhile, in a bowl, with a mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese and sugar until well blended. Beat in sour cream. Add eggs one at a time, beating to blend after each addition. Beat in flour, vanilla, peppermint extract, and salt until smooth. Pour cream cheese mixture into pan over baked crust.

3. Bake until edges are just golden and center jiggles slightly when pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour. Run a knife around edge of pan rim. Place pan on a wire rack and cool cheesecake completely in pan. Cover and chill until cold, at least 4 hours or up to 2 days. Run a knife around rim again, then release rim. If any liquid has pooled on surface of cheesecake, blot dry gently with a paper towel.

4. Decorate top of cake with crushed peppermint candy, pressing it in gently with your hands.

Per serving: 356 cal., 61% (216 cal.) from fat; 6.3 g protein; 24 g fat (13 g sat.); 31 g carbo (0.6 g fiber); 373 mg sodium; 108 mg chol.

Notes- be sure to add candy just before serving- or else the top will turn pink the candy won't look as good.