{NOTE: I stayed up until midnight working on this post. Tried to schedule it. Cyberspace sucked it up and away. Disgust. I will come back and update with links to recipes as soon as I can touch my computer without tossing it through the window.}
Don’t laugh, that is if you notice that my menu is decidedly starchy and void of many fruits and vegetables. I am not a picky eater. The only food I cannot tolerate is seafood with coconut and coleslaw being on the questionable list. But, ugh! Seems like lately I cannot even think about eating anything other than potatoes and rice. So, forgive me until I get over the first trimester food adversions. (Please, God, let this only be a 1st trimester thing with this baby!)
Just in case you are new to our family, you should know I make my menus each week based on what I have in my stockpile. You will only see six menus listed because everyone needs a night off. On that night, we eat leftovers from the freezer, sandwiches and soup, or go out to eat (with coupons, of course).
I cook these at random throughout the week. I have everything in the refrigerator or prepped in the freezer and can cook whatever I feel like each night. This might work for you or you might need to assign certain meals to specific nights.
And, why desserts? I have three small children (with one being autistic) and this helps me bribe them to try new things.
Need a peek at Penny’s Pantry? Click HERE.
1) Fajita Bowls
Find the how~to HERE.
2) Chicken and Dumplings
One day I might share my personal recipe for chicken and dumplings with you but not today because I am just that way! So, I can leave you with a close runner up HERE. Hint: I only use chicken breast unless we are especially poor that week and then I will use chicken leg quarters.
3) Cheeseburgers and French Fries
The burgers from our power grilling are still the freezer. So, before they get burned, we will use them for our cheeseburgers which will leave me with a super simple meal to fix… or should I say, for BILL to fix!?!?
4) Grilled Steak and Stuffed Baked Potatoes
You have to splurge once in a while and this is supposed to be Bill’s “welcome home” dinner. The steaks I will use are sirloins that I bought BOGO at Winn Dixie. If you are worried about sirloin being tough, just prep it like I do. Salt and pepper generously on both sides. Put the steaks on a platter and drizzle with a scant amount of red wine vinegar. Then, allow the steaks to rest about 20 minutes (while the grill heats) at room temperature. Cook until medium, flipping only once. Also, never use a fork to flip your steaks as that can cause the juices to run out. Use tongs. When done, cover with foil and allow to rest again for 5 to 10 minutes. Perfection!
5) Greek Chicken Pasta
The inspiration for this recipe came from the Mobile Press Register (David Holloway) about a week ago. The tragedy is that I forgot to save the recipe! If you have it, EMAIL ME and be my hero forever! Until then, THIS RECIPE will have to do!
6) Biscuits and Sausage Gravy, Sliced Tomatoes, Fresh Field Peas with Ham
I think anyone can master sliced tomatoes so I will spare you the how-to. (LOL) As for the biscuits, you can use frozen but I prefer Southern Living’s recipe HERE. You can double the batch of dough, cut into circles and freeze flat on wax paper to make your own freezer biscuits. Once frozen, place in a gallon freezer bag. For the sausage gravy, THIS RECIPE looks good.
If you have never prepared fresh field peas, I like to do it this way:
Dice Canadian Bacon or Ham and heat in a dutch oven. Add one can of chicken broth, a bay leaf, a pinch of red pepper, and a quart sized bag of peas. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for a coupple of hours until the peas are tender. Add salt and pepper to taste. You can also saute diced onion and chopped celery with the ham to make it taste more like Hoppin John.
DESSERTS
Welcome Home Daddy cupcakes
The rest will have to come from the fruit bowl or snack stash because I cannot stomach sweets right now.
[…] how can I take the menu from this week (which I updated with recipe links) and use it to power cook? Check this […]