Usually during Tax Season I order in too much and just feed the kids easy stuff. But this year, since I am not eating as much myself, I am even less motivated. Resulting in lots of nights of being unprepared and the kids eating random things that aren't even good for them. So, this week I am making a plan.
Right now, at 8am on a Sunday, I am roasting a chicken.
http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/honey_glazed_lemon_roast_chicken/
This is my favorite roast chicken. It always comes out good. We are going to a super bowl party tonight so I will make this....
Buffalo Chicken Dip
From-
http://bunsinmyoven.com/2010/01/25/buffalo-chicken-dip/
1/2 of the chicken, meat shredded with a fork
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup ranch salad dressing
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup Hot sauce
Mix together all ingredients until well combined. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Serve with crackers, chips, or sliced bread. I think I will make a loaf of french bread (From the can this time) and slice it thin to serve with it. I can also bring some crackers.
It was hard to find one without blue cheese, and I don't have any blue cheese. I suppose I could go to the store.... nah.
On to the menu planning:
Monday night I am going to make the kids, the Mother in law, and I, meatballs. I will make the meatballs on Monday when I get home from the store. These are my "Not a whole day meatballs"
http://cookiesandcarpools.blogspot.com/2009/11/meatballs-and-mayhem.html Though, I think we will eat them with Rice, not pasta. and some steamed broccoli.
Tuesday night I am going to use the chicken to try this recipe....
http://stolenmomentscooking.com/buffalo-chicken-spaghetti/
I will use fettuccine though, since I have some on hand that is calling to me. Now, I doubt the kids will eat this, and interestingly, they don't usually like fettuccine. But I will leave them each a drum stick. and they can eat the leftover rice and broccoli. I wont even cook until we get home at 6:30 from Karate, so Paul and I will probably eat this one after the kids go to bed.
Wednesday night, Paul works late and my mom is here. We will probably go out to eat.
Thursday, London broil, roasted potatoes, asparagus. And probably some turkey hot dogs for Nathan who really cant seem to chew steak of any kind.
Friday...
Ok, honestly, I can't think that far ahead. But maybe some fish? I have been in the mood for Salmon, so maybe a maple glazed salmon. I will add Maple Syrup to my shopping list.
Saturday.... now I am pushing my luck. Maybe we can have spaghetti and meatballs with some home baked bread. I can use the meatballs from Monday. That sounds yummy. Now I am hungry.
Do you plan your weekly menus? I need to do more of this.
Showing posts with label Child friendly meals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Child friendly meals. Show all posts
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Polish Mac and Cheese
No, really.
Paul has been away for a few days, then Sophia requested pizza for her birthday from a local shop, and so I havent cooked much. I didnt think to defrost anything but I had some keilbasa in the fridge that I bought with a coupon. I have never even had it. I searched for a recipe, but couldn't find one I loved. So I made this one up. I think you can add anything to it, peas and beans come to mind, but I want my kids to try it so I am going sort of simple this time. I just tasted it, it's good!
2 T Butter
1/2 large sweet onion, chopped
1/2 red pepper, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 ring of kielbasa
1 lb cooked bow tie pasta
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
2 C skim milk
1 1/2 T corn starch
In a skillet, melt butter and saute onion, red pepper, and celery until softened (You could add mushrooms tool if you like that sort of thing, I haven't eaten them since I did a report on Fungus in the eighth grade). Add garlic and kielbasa and saute a few minutes until heated through. Mix milk and corn starch in a bowl and add to the skillet slowly. Stir and cook until it comes to a boil (about 2-3 minutes). Remove from heat and add cheese, stir to melt cheese and combine. Add cooked bowties to the skillet, mix and serve.
Cooking this led me to my next recipe.... easy mac and cheese! I did it! I am excited to share it with you, I just want to tweak it a bit. But it is coming soon.
Paul has been away for a few days, then Sophia requested pizza for her birthday from a local shop, and so I havent cooked much. I didnt think to defrost anything but I had some keilbasa in the fridge that I bought with a coupon. I have never even had it. I searched for a recipe, but couldn't find one I loved. So I made this one up. I think you can add anything to it, peas and beans come to mind, but I want my kids to try it so I am going sort of simple this time. I just tasted it, it's good!
2 T Butter
1/2 large sweet onion, chopped
1/2 red pepper, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 ring of kielbasa
1 lb cooked bow tie pasta
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
2 C skim milk
1 1/2 T corn starch
In a skillet, melt butter and saute onion, red pepper, and celery until softened (You could add mushrooms tool if you like that sort of thing, I haven't eaten them since I did a report on Fungus in the eighth grade). Add garlic and kielbasa and saute a few minutes until heated through. Mix milk and corn starch in a bowl and add to the skillet slowly. Stir and cook until it comes to a boil (about 2-3 minutes). Remove from heat and add cheese, stir to melt cheese and combine. Add cooked bowties to the skillet, mix and serve.
Cooking this led me to my next recipe.... easy mac and cheese! I did it! I am excited to share it with you, I just want to tweak it a bit. But it is coming soon.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Breakfast for Dinner and Stacking the Decks.
Do you ever do that? Have breakfast for dinner? I love breakfast, it is my favorite meal. One of the worst effects of my lap band is my inability to eat before noon. My band is so tight in the mornings and I really don't eat that much, so lunch and dinner it is. But I miss breakfast.
I also love making a big breakfast for my husband on Sunday mornings, but it's tax season (have I mentioned that yet? ;) So this morning at 5:45 am when I woke up to pee, he was already on his way to work. So much for that. I had already bought some breakfast sausage and bacon on Wednesday with the intention of cooking it, so I didn't freeze it.
Solution?
Buttermilk Whole Wheat Pancakes
Bacon
Sausage
I am thinking of a blueberry sauce for the pancakes... I need to go search out a recipe.
Paul asked if we can still have wine. I say, why not?
The party went so well last night. Sophia was doing her "excited dance" all day. She had so many friends here and they all had fun. One of my dearest friends Jenn stayed and helped me, as did Paul, my parents, and my sister and brother in law. My mother and Jenn are both teachers and they had the party running like a well oiled machine. Every parent who came to pick up said how brave I was, and I said, "Nothing a vacuum and a glass of wine can't fix." Truth be told, it took some Excedrin and a quiet day of rest too, but it is over now and boy did we make our little girl happy. It was an entry in my Good Parent column. To be promptly cancelled out by the next three nights while Paul is out of town and we eat fast food, mac and cheese from the blue box, and I loose my patience a gazillion times. Maybe I should throw her a party every month. Stack the decks in my favor?
I also love making a big breakfast for my husband on Sunday mornings, but it's tax season (have I mentioned that yet? ;) So this morning at 5:45 am when I woke up to pee, he was already on his way to work. So much for that. I had already bought some breakfast sausage and bacon on Wednesday with the intention of cooking it, so I didn't freeze it.
Solution?
Buttermilk Whole Wheat Pancakes
Bacon
Sausage
I am thinking of a blueberry sauce for the pancakes... I need to go search out a recipe.
Paul asked if we can still have wine. I say, why not?
The party went so well last night. Sophia was doing her "excited dance" all day. She had so many friends here and they all had fun. One of my dearest friends Jenn stayed and helped me, as did Paul, my parents, and my sister and brother in law. My mother and Jenn are both teachers and they had the party running like a well oiled machine. Every parent who came to pick up said how brave I was, and I said, "Nothing a vacuum and a glass of wine can't fix." Truth be told, it took some Excedrin and a quiet day of rest too, but it is over now and boy did we make our little girl happy. It was an entry in my Good Parent column. To be promptly cancelled out by the next three nights while Paul is out of town and we eat fast food, mac and cheese from the blue box, and I loose my patience a gazillion times. Maybe I should throw her a party every month. Stack the decks in my favor?
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Mommy, you're the best cooker ever!
Shh, don't tell him. He thinks I am just the greatest and that a lunch like this is magic. You should see his face when we stir the tiny bit of cinnamon sugar into his all natural apple sauce. I need to work on getting green and using less packaging, don't I?
Contents of this oh so special lunch-
2 turkey hot dogs from trader joes
1 all natural apple sauce with about 1/2 t cinnamon sugar mixed in.
1/2 C almonds with sea salt
1 danimals drinkable yogurt
1 bowl of ketchup
Since I didn't go food shopping in the monsoon yesterday, we are a bit short on fresh food. For dinner I am going to use what was left of that meat sauce I made with Philly Cream Cheese, to that I added a can of petite diced tomatoes and a half pint of Ricotta I had left in the fridge. I just needed to stretch it a little and it was a bit too meaty for the kids, who ate well but left a pile of meat on their plates after. So I made some whole grain penne (The yellow box with the added protein), tossed it with the sauce in a 9 by 13 pan and topped with shredded mozzarella. I think I may have to make those pop overs again to go with it. I am addicted!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Home Sweet Home
My favorite candle is burning. Home Sweet Home. And, for tonight at least, how sweet it is.
My favorite time of a night like this is when Paul closes the living room blinds. It's like the world melts away and all that is left is us, and this wonderful home, and our whiny yet wonderful children, and crazy but cool family.
Football is on, Nanny is here, the kids are playing, the playroom is a mess but the living room is clean, and Ina Garten's Shrimp Scampi is bubbling in my new cast iron skillet.
Yum.
My favorite time of a night like this is when Paul closes the living room blinds. It's like the world melts away and all that is left is us, and this wonderful home, and our whiny yet wonderful children, and crazy but cool family.
Football is on, Nanny is here, the kids are playing, the playroom is a mess but the living room is clean, and Ina Garten's Shrimp Scampi is bubbling in my new cast iron skillet.
Yum.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Easy Pancake Mix
Why shouldn't you just make pancakes from a box? Because you will save money and make your children healthier by making it yourself. And I swear, it will be just as easy.
Do me a favor, just try it. Next week at the store buy a few things:
1) A small bag of flour (Start with all purpose, if I convert you, we can delve into whole grains)
2) Baking powder
3) Salt, if you don't have any that isn't in your shaker
4) Those cute little containers of applesauce, go for the natural, or whatever your kids will eat, since you wont use it all.
5) Agave Nectar (buy a small bottle, it's good for you and I will help you use it. You can find it near the honey, which by the way is a good subsititute here if the words Agave Nectar scare you)
6) Eggs
7) Milk
8) Mini chocolate chips if you are so inclined.
That's it, ok? Come back when you have the stuff...
Back? Good. I haven't lost you yet? ;)
Now, take 4 cups of flour, 4 Tablespoons on Baking Powder and a teaspoon of salt. Mix them together well in a big Ziploc bag and put it away.
Now, come back on Saturday Morning, ok?
Ok, now... take 1 egg and whisk it well, an actual whisk makes it quicker work, but a fork is fine. Whisk until it gets bubbles on top.
Pour it in a big bowl and add 1 1/4 cups of the dry mix you have in that bag. Save the rest for next weekend.
Now, add 3/4 cup of milk, 1 tbsp agave nectar and 2 tbsp of that applesauce in the cute little cup.
Walla, pancake batter! Healthy, homemade, from scratch!
Cook them the same way you cook the mix.
Heat up a pan, spray with Pam, spoon the batter on, flip once. I add the chips when they are cooking, but you can add frozen blueberries too for an even healthier version. Think of the anti-oxidants!
Let me know if you try it, I need feedback here people.
Next quest, easy homemade mac and cheese.... I will start working on it and get back to you.
Do me a favor, just try it. Next week at the store buy a few things:
1) A small bag of flour (Start with all purpose, if I convert you, we can delve into whole grains)
2) Baking powder
3) Salt, if you don't have any that isn't in your shaker
4) Those cute little containers of applesauce, go for the natural, or whatever your kids will eat, since you wont use it all.
5) Agave Nectar (buy a small bottle, it's good for you and I will help you use it. You can find it near the honey, which by the way is a good subsititute here if the words Agave Nectar scare you)
6) Eggs
7) Milk
8) Mini chocolate chips if you are so inclined.
That's it, ok? Come back when you have the stuff...
Back? Good. I haven't lost you yet? ;)
Now, take 4 cups of flour, 4 Tablespoons on Baking Powder and a teaspoon of salt. Mix them together well in a big Ziploc bag and put it away.
Now, come back on Saturday Morning, ok?
Ok, now... take 1 egg and whisk it well, an actual whisk makes it quicker work, but a fork is fine. Whisk until it gets bubbles on top.
Pour it in a big bowl and add 1 1/4 cups of the dry mix you have in that bag. Save the rest for next weekend.
Now, add 3/4 cup of milk, 1 tbsp agave nectar and 2 tbsp of that applesauce in the cute little cup.
Walla, pancake batter! Healthy, homemade, from scratch!
Cook them the same way you cook the mix.
Heat up a pan, spray with Pam, spoon the batter on, flip once. I add the chips when they are cooking, but you can add frozen blueberries too for an even healthier version. Think of the anti-oxidants!
Let me know if you try it, I need feedback here people.
Next quest, easy homemade mac and cheese.... I will start working on it and get back to you.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Healthy Pancakes, better days.
Thanks for all your kind words, here and on facebook about Recharging and about my Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day. I know we all have them. Two friends have told me that my blog made them feel inadequate. That is very much not my intent. I have a few good tips to share, maybe a cookbook for Child Friendly Meals in me to write, but I certainly shouldn't make any body else feel "less than". I struggle to make these things happen. I have lots of time to do it in, which really helps. Taking care of my family is my full time job, I have no other. Both women who shared those feeling with me, are working moms. Whole different ball game if you ask me. Not they they aren't wonderful mom's who cook and clean and nourish and protect their family, they are. They just wouldn't have the time to write about it like this and tie it up in a pretty little bow. But what they do is no less miraculous, wonderful, valuable, and challenging. Maybe it is they who should make me feel inadequate. But I don't want to go there, we all do our best. This is mine, and I hope you enjoy the ride. Oh and if you get some good recipes along the way, that would be wonderful! I mess up all the time (as evidenced by the Pot Pie Problem in my last entry.)
Here is one for your weekend, it is hard to mess it up.... and it is one of those recipe's that make you feel like Super Mom. Go ahead, you can do it!
Chocolate Chip Applesauce Pancakes
serves 4 children (or two for two days)
1 large egg
1/2 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1/2 cup white whole wheat flour (If you don't have this, go ahead and use all white this time)
3/4 cup skim milk
1 tbsp agave nectar (Sub with honey or even sugar if you don't have this on hand)
2 tbsp strawberry applesauce (this is what I had on hand, I would use unsweetened next time)
1 tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 or 2 tbsp mini chocolate chips
Whisk egg until it’s foamy. Add everything else except the chocolate chips and mix until just combined. Drop batter into prepared pan. I used Pam this time, with just a drop of crisco for the crispy edges. plop a few chips on each pancake, I usually do smiley faces. Cook until golden brown on both sides, flipping once. Nathan eats these with Syrup, Sophia eats them plain. I feel good watching them eat them knowing they are slightly healthier than my usual recipe.
Adapted from a recipe for Lightened Up Raspberry Applesauce Pancakes at http://sarahscucinabella.com (I think hers sound yummy too, but my children wouldn't go near anything with fruit in it. They are however eating oranges after their pancakes, as I type this.)
Here is one for your weekend, it is hard to mess it up.... and it is one of those recipe's that make you feel like Super Mom. Go ahead, you can do it!
Chocolate Chip Applesauce Pancakes
serves 4 children (or two for two days)
1 large egg
1/2 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1/2 cup white whole wheat flour (If you don't have this, go ahead and use all white this time)
3/4 cup skim milk
1 tbsp agave nectar (Sub with honey or even sugar if you don't have this on hand)
2 tbsp strawberry applesauce (this is what I had on hand, I would use unsweetened next time)
1 tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 or 2 tbsp mini chocolate chips
Whisk egg until it’s foamy. Add everything else except the chocolate chips and mix until just combined. Drop batter into prepared pan. I used Pam this time, with just a drop of crisco for the crispy edges. plop a few chips on each pancake, I usually do smiley faces. Cook until golden brown on both sides, flipping once. Nathan eats these with Syrup, Sophia eats them plain. I feel good watching them eat them knowing they are slightly healthier than my usual recipe.
Adapted from a recipe for Lightened Up Raspberry Applesauce Pancakes at http://sarahscucinabella.com (I think hers sound yummy too, but my children wouldn't go near anything with fruit in it. They are however eating oranges after their pancakes, as I type this.)
Monday, December 14, 2009
Slowing down
It's a busy time of year. My son's birthday is Wednesday, Hanukkah is upon us, Christmas is coming, and so on and so forth. I have been reading a lot about Slow Parenting, Free Range Parenting, and thinking a lot about getting back to basics. In cooking, that translates to focusing on how I can make it easy to cook healthful, whole food, tasty meals and treats. Doing so in a way that makes it likely for me to do it often.
I always bake a lot around Christmas. Cookies and pies and breads galore. But this year I have been baking every week. The kids have been eating homemade, non processed home baked cookies every day at school in their Bento lunches. So I am not really feeling the need to go nuts. I suppose I could take this opportunity to bake fussier cookies that look beautiful on the table. I don't have time to do this usually. But frankly, who has time to do it now? So instead, I will stick to three cookies (I think)... my famous Big Chocolate Chip cookies (I made double the dough when I baked for the Daisy troupe last week, so it is in the fridge and ready to go), peanut butter blossoms with dark chocolate kisses (because Paul loves them and I love him.) and a simple rustic butter cookie. I asked some friends how they thought I should get my desired rectangle shape, and I got many ideas. Many included using my spritz cookie thing which is gathering dust at the moment, some involved rolling and cutting them into cookie cutter shapes, I went simple. I pushed the dough flat with my hands and cut the shapes with a knife. They came out good and rustic looking and simple. So as much as I love decorating cookies with my kids, this year we are sticking with easy.
Recipes to come, when I have some time to focus on them. For now, I am roasting a chicken for dinner, cleaning the house for the after school religion class my friend teaches here in my dining room, and rushing off to pick up N. at pre school.
Did I mention that I saved $78 at the super market today in coupons? Want to know my method?
I always bake a lot around Christmas. Cookies and pies and breads galore. But this year I have been baking every week. The kids have been eating homemade, non processed home baked cookies every day at school in their Bento lunches. So I am not really feeling the need to go nuts. I suppose I could take this opportunity to bake fussier cookies that look beautiful on the table. I don't have time to do this usually. But frankly, who has time to do it now? So instead, I will stick to three cookies (I think)... my famous Big Chocolate Chip cookies (I made double the dough when I baked for the Daisy troupe last week, so it is in the fridge and ready to go), peanut butter blossoms with dark chocolate kisses (because Paul loves them and I love him.) and a simple rustic butter cookie. I asked some friends how they thought I should get my desired rectangle shape, and I got many ideas. Many included using my spritz cookie thing which is gathering dust at the moment, some involved rolling and cutting them into cookie cutter shapes, I went simple. I pushed the dough flat with my hands and cut the shapes with a knife. They came out good and rustic looking and simple. So as much as I love decorating cookies with my kids, this year we are sticking with easy.
Recipes to come, when I have some time to focus on them. For now, I am roasting a chicken for dinner, cleaning the house for the after school religion class my friend teaches here in my dining room, and rushing off to pick up N. at pre school.
Did I mention that I saved $78 at the super market today in coupons? Want to know my method?
Monday, November 16, 2009
A Typical Sunday
The windows are open because we are having a rare warm clear day in New York's November. Paul is outside teaching S. how to mow the lawn and N. is wearing barbie knee and wrist pads and running around pretending to be a super hero on the grass. I am inside, burning my new "Welcome Christmas" candle, watching the food network and making dinner. The menu is a common one for our family, an old standby, Chicken Cutlets, pasta with butter, and peas.
Chicken Cutlets and Pasta
6 thin sliced chicken breast cutlets
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 egg
1/2 cup water
2 T Olive Oil
1 t mixed up salt (I use Janes)or other seasoning
1 pound pasta (any shape)
3 cloves of Garlic, minced
1/3 C fresh grated Parmesan cheese ( I use my micro plane to grate this right into the pasta)
A few pinches of Fresh Parsley, chopped fine.
Season the chicken cutlets on both sides.
Beat egg and water together.
Dip chicken in egg wash and then in bread crumbs.
Heat olive oil in large skillet on a medium flame.
Cook breasts a few minutes on each side until lightly browned. Take out and rest on paper towels to de grease.
Meanwhile I prepared the Dittalini Pasta (Small tubes) on my pasta pot until al dente.
To the skillet I add a spoon full of Pasta water and scrape up the browned chicken pieces. Then I add about 2 T of butter, a sprinkling of the mixed up salt, and three cloves of minced garlic.
When this is all combined, I add the pasta and cook for another minute or two.
Top with fresh grated Parmesan Cheese and parsley.
I made steam fresh peas to go with it.
It was really good, and my kids eat it for dinner and the next day for lunch. Sometimes I double the chicken and freeze some for quick weeknight dinners, this time I didn't.
I wrote the above yesterday, today, things have shifted. S. is home sick after the nurse called me to pick her up. I had just finished my food shopping and bought soup greens to make stock for Thanksgiving. So, instead of that, the chicken soup is bubbling on the stove while my feverish girl watches the Jungle Book in her pink Snuggie.
Maybe soon I will take a break from my plan of cleaning up and read her a whole chapter book at once. Maybe...
Chicken Cutlets and Pasta
6 thin sliced chicken breast cutlets
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 egg
1/2 cup water
2 T Olive Oil
1 t mixed up salt (I use Janes)or other seasoning
1 pound pasta (any shape)
3 cloves of Garlic, minced
1/3 C fresh grated Parmesan cheese ( I use my micro plane to grate this right into the pasta)
A few pinches of Fresh Parsley, chopped fine.
Season the chicken cutlets on both sides.
Beat egg and water together.
Dip chicken in egg wash and then in bread crumbs.
Heat olive oil in large skillet on a medium flame.
Cook breasts a few minutes on each side until lightly browned. Take out and rest on paper towels to de grease.
Meanwhile I prepared the Dittalini Pasta (Small tubes) on my pasta pot until al dente.
To the skillet I add a spoon full of Pasta water and scrape up the browned chicken pieces. Then I add about 2 T of butter, a sprinkling of the mixed up salt, and three cloves of minced garlic.
When this is all combined, I add the pasta and cook for another minute or two.
Top with fresh grated Parmesan Cheese and parsley.
I made steam fresh peas to go with it.
It was really good, and my kids eat it for dinner and the next day for lunch. Sometimes I double the chicken and freeze some for quick weeknight dinners, this time I didn't.
I wrote the above yesterday, today, things have shifted. S. is home sick after the nurse called me to pick her up. I had just finished my food shopping and bought soup greens to make stock for Thanksgiving. So, instead of that, the chicken soup is bubbling on the stove while my feverish girl watches the Jungle Book in her pink Snuggie.
Maybe soon I will take a break from my plan of cleaning up and read her a whole chapter book at once. Maybe...
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