Dinner Diva Menu Week of 3/15

Happy Saint Patty's Day! The dog we had growing up, a beautiful, gentle golden retriever named Taffy, was born on March 17. I'm not too Irish, so that day will always be special to me more because of her than because of shamrocks. I have no special "green" dinner planned this week. Feel free to substitute if you wish (and send me the recipe so I can post it!)

Sunday: beef and broccoli lo mein

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=549795

Monday: Meal Swap Day, my turn to cook: lemon pepper shrimp scampi, sauteed asparagus
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1880014

Tuesday: meatloaf, onion roasted potatoes, salad

My best meatloaf recipe:
1 lb ground beef (the leanest you can find)
1 lb ground turkey
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup breadcrumbs (whole wheat preferred)
1 teaspoon dried mustard
1 teaspoon dried ground sage
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper

mix all ingredients, and place into greased loaf pan. Bake at 350, uncovered, about an hour. Drain and serve with ketchup.

>Reader-Suggested St. Patty's Day entree': Broccoli Chicken Divan

Wednesday: meal swap day, Jen's turn to cook (make meatloaf sandwiches today if you're not swapping....serve with broccoli slaw and commercial onion rings)

Thursday: Jambalaya

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1585207

Friday: leftovers

Saturday: pizza night

Dinner Diva Menu Week of 3/8

Hope you all remember to "spring ahead"!





Sunday: Hamburger Stroganoff, steamed peas



Monday: Meal Swap Day, my turn to cook: Grilled whole chicken, roasted vegetables, cheddar garlic biscuits



Grilled whole chicken: rinse whole chicken, pat dry. Placet in foil roasting pan coated with cooking spray. Season with salt and pepper. Place pan, uncovered on grill heated to med-high. Allow 15 minutes of cooking per pound of chicken. Chicken is done when meat thermometer reads 180 degrees.



Roasted vegetables: take Acorn squash, butternut squash, baby red potatoes, baby carrots, and cut up onions, and put them in a baking dish. Add 1 cup liquid (water or broth), cover, and bake at 350 for 1-2 hours or until tender.

Cheddar garlic biscuits:
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,194,149162-241207,00.html



Tuesday:
grilled salmon, steamed mixed vegetables, wheat pilaf



Wednesday: Meal Swap Day, Jen's turn to cook (alternative to meal swap: shred the leftover chicken from Monday, and make Spicy Chicken Quesadillas)

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1160667

Thursday: grilled turkey burgers, commercial french fries (ore rida), steamed green beans

Friday: tacos

Saturday : pizza night


Bonus recipe: I make these a lot, and they get eaten quickly. I do add at least a cup of dark chocolate chips just before putting them in the muffin pan though!
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Banana-Crumb-Muffins/Detail.aspx

Dinner Diva Menu Week of 3/2

Happy March! I've got a great week of meals planned for us!



Sunday:



Monday: Meal Swap Day, my turn to cook: Chicken Parmesan, Salad, Homemade French Bread


http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=221955



Tuesday: Grilled Salmon, steamed broccoli, steamed brown rice



Wednesday: Meal Swap Day, Jen's turn to cook


Thursday: Grilled Steaks, baked potatoes or baked sweet potatoes, steamed asparagus

Friday: Breakfast For Dinner: Ham and Cheese Omelette Roll, fresh fruit salad, pillsbury cinnamon rolls
http://www.mealsmatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/7772

Saturday: Pizza Night

Dinner Diva Menu Week of 2/22

It's national clean-out-the-freezer week. (Isn't it?) Well, even if it isn't a national movement yet, ours needs it. I have to make room for our next freezer meal swap. Like a cookie exchange, I and several of my neighbors exchange pre-made, frozen meals. It was a success last month, our first try, and we plan to have monthly exchanges. It's a nice break, to grab something from the freezer and set the oven up for delay baking. Our family gets a homemade meal without mom's effort! (well, with less effort anyway!) Have I mentioned how much I love our neighborhood? Well, I do. Even if at this precise moment I'm mad at Oklahoma.

Sunday: Shrimp and Grits casserole

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1687624

Monday: Tomato-Cheese Ravioli Soup

http://www.publix.com/aprons/meals/AllRecipes/SimpleMeal.do?mealId=376&mealGroupId=1000

Tuesday: Onion-Smothered Pork Tenderloin
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1733265

Wednesday:

Chicken Enchiladas

http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=65679

Thursday:

hamburgers, garlic-smashed potatoes, steamed broccoli

http://homecooking.about.com/od/vegetablerecipes/r/blv320.htm

Friday: Raspberry-Balsamic Glazed Chicken, wheat pilaf (such as Near East), salad

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=223463

Saturday: Pizza Night

Dinner Diva Menu Week of 2/15

I'm back and ready to get cooking! I've got some yummy meals planned for us this week.

Sunday: Chicken Enchiladas

http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=65679

Monday: Crab Cakes, Twice-Baked Potatoes, Steamed Green Beans (make extra crab cakes for Wednesday)

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=223853
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/twice-baked-potatoes-recipe/index.html

Tuesday: Grilled Pork Chops, homemade applesauce, steamed peapods, commercial rice mix (such as uncle bens)

http://heart-healthy-cooking.suite101.com/article.cfm/chunky_applesauce

Wednesday: Meal Swap Day, Jen's turn to cook (Or serve Crab Cake Sandwiches...Reheat the crab cakes in the oven at 350. Place on whole wheat hamburger buns with lettuce, tomato, and chili sauce.) Commercial French Fries or Onion Rings (such as Ore Rida) would be a good side.

Thursday: Spaghetti, salad, garlic bread

The best spaghetti sauce ever:
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=223781

add ground beef or turkey for added protein, and serve over whole wheat noodles. Make your own garlic bread by slicing a loaf of french bread in half lengthwise, spread with butter or fat free plain yogurt, and sprinkle with garlic powder. Broil until toasted and golden.

Friday: Chicken Fajitas (I use pre seasoned fajita meat by John Soules, and cook it with sliced peppers and onions. Serve it on tortillas with cheddar, pico de gallo, and sour cream.)

Saturday: Pizza night

Dinner Diva Menu Week of 2/8

We're vacationing this week in the gorgeous town of Estes Park, Colorado. While we're enjoying the snow, the views, and the crisp, clean air, I don't plan on doing much cooking. But, I can offer some suggestions for a week's worth of meals:

Sunday: Nachos Grande
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=640251

Monday: Italian Vegetable Pie
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=222962

(Feel free to substitute your choice of actual meat for the tofu, or go for it! I'm sure it will be good. Try ground bison or ground chicken for a change.)

Tuesday: Thai Beef Rolls, sauteed Zucchini
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1197243

Wednesday: Chicken and Broccoli Pockets
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1739,152178-230192,00.html

Thursday: Grilled Orange Roughy, commercial rice pilaf (such as Uncle Bens), commercial sweet potato fries (from the freezer)

Friday: BBQ chicken breasts, corn muffins, broccoli cole slaw (bagged, from the produce section)

Cornbread - from Quaker Corn Meal box
1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 cup corn meal (fine polenta) (I use white corn meal, and the bread is fantastic..not dry and crumbly, but moist and sweet...top it with pure maple syrup or honey for extra sweetness)
1/4 cup sugar
2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt (optional)
1 cup skim milk
1/4 cup oil
2 egg whites or 1 egg, beaten Heat oven to 400F. Grease 8 or 9-inch baking pan. Combine dry ingredients. Stir in milk, oil and egg, mixing just until dry ingredients are moistened. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until light golden brown and wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. Serve warm. 9 servings.

Saturday: Take-Out, Pizza, Out to Eat, or leftovers

Dinner Diva Menu Week of 2/1

Sunday: Meatloaf, baked sweet potatoes, steamed green beans

Monday: deep dish pizza, salad

Tuesday: Tomato-Cheese Ravioli Soup, whole grain crackers

1 can italian style stewed tomatoes
1 (14 oz) can chicken or vegetable broth
1 teaspoon dried italian seasoning
1 9 oz package any flavor tortellini or mini ravioli (such as bertolli)
2 small zucchini, cut into bite sized chunks
freshly ground pepper

Combine first three ingredients in saucepan and bring to a boil. Add pasta and zucchini, and boil for 8 minutes or until pasta and zucchini are tender. Sprinkle with fresh ground pepper, if desired.

I also like to sprinkle freshly grated parmesan cheese over the soup sometimes. Very easy recipe, very tasty!

Wednesday: meal swap day, jen's turn to cook (or leftovers or go out to eat)

Thursday: shrimp scampi over linguine, salad, garlic toast

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=549789


Friday: Pork and Snow Peas Fried Rice

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=223608

Saturday: "The Works" Stuffed Potatoes

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=222115