I didn't post my menu on Monday only because I wasn't sure what our week was going to be like this week. It pretty much kept changing, and every time I thought it was settled, it would change again. The only thing I have planned is what we are eating on Christmas Day, but even that was up in the air for a bit. *sigh* Any, all this to say, the only menu I really have this week - Christmas Day. Hubby and I are going to do a luau (we want a Tiki-style but I don't want to do fried stuff, so luau is a lot healthier and still fits with the tiki theme). We both like Tiki-style music and the podcasts that he downloads have Tiki-style Christmas music for us to listen to. I went with Cooking Light recipes this year, only because it was easier to calculate the points and such. I was unable to find the taro (I can sometimes find it at Kroger and I was hoping Whole Foods might have some), but although there were labels, all that was on the shelf was yuca. Granted, I only hit two stores - so I didn't search that many stores. I'm going to leave the recipe in my list, because I do want to try it at some point. I bought some Hawaiian Red Salt at Kroger quite a while ago when it was on clearance, so I'm using that on the Kahlua pork (I actually sprinkled it on while cooking instead of putting it on at the end). And I will probably use that as the salt for finishing for most of the meals too (it's red because of the clay there and is supposed to give some "flavor" too). We're going to have leftovers, but that's ok. :)
Last Sunday was a lot of fun. We went to a wine tasting (informal) at Mike's Mom's house (of Mike and Jennifer). A bunch of people had canceled the night before, so we only had 2 bottles of red and 2 bottles of white, but my liver was fine with that. :D Sandy (Mike's Mom) had a great dip that I hadn't had before. She called it Shepherd's Dip and had been making it for ages. It was a an equal amount of sour cream and mayo. Then what my family called chipped beef (we couldn't get chipped beef in our grocery store growing up so that was what we used for SOS) but is just that cheap packaged sliced lunch meat (Land of Frost or Carl Budding) that was diced. Then sliced black olives, sliced green onions (green and white parts) and seasoning salt were added. It was chilled overnight. A round loaf of bread was hollowed out and it was placed in the loaf with the innards used to dip into it. When I did an online search I found some dips like it, using Beau Monde Seasoning which McCormick's had stopped making for a while (it's a seasoning salt/celery salt- like combination) and no olives. But, I liked the olives in it - course we like olives in this house (I'm lookin' at you Mary! *wink*). I got to see a lot of people that we hadn't see since Mike and Jennifer got married. I also got to learn how to play Rummikub (I think that's how it's spelled). It's basically Rummy (the card game) with tiles. I enjoyed it, and it's been a long time since I've played Rummy (I haven't played it since college). Might have to think about buying the game although Jennifer's quite the shark at that game. ;)
Monday: FFY
Tuesday: Leftover Minestrone with Pasta (5 points) with Grilled cheese (Martin's Whole Wheat potato bread, part skim mozzarella cheese slices, pesto and tomato paste)
Wednesday: No idea - I'll figure it out in a bit I've got some mushrooms to use maybe a mushroom soup.
Thursday: Luau
Friday: Leftovers or Pizza night depending
Sat: Christmas Dinner at my sisters
Waimea Fried Rice
4 cups water
1 cup uncooked long-grain brown rice
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
3 tablespoons thinly sliced lemon grass or 2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 cup diced celery
1/3 cup diced red bell pepper
4 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
1 cup chopped pineapple
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh or 1 teaspoon dried mint
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan; add rice. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 25 minutes. Remove from heat. Drain well; place rice in a shallow dish, and chill 30 minutes.
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add lemon grass, garlic, and jalapeño; sauté 30 seconds. Add celery, bell pepper, and ginger; sauté 30 seconds. Add rice, and cook until thoroughly heated, stirring occasionally. Stir in pineapple and remaining ingredients.
Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 3/4 cup)
CALORIES 158 (19% from fat); FAT 3.4g (sat 0.5g,mono 1.3g,poly 1.3g); IRON 0.8mg; CHOLESTEROL 0.0mg; CALCIUM 18mg; CARBOHYDRATE 29.3g; SODIUM 327mg; PROTEIN 3.1g; FIBER 1.9g
Cooking Light, MAY 1998
Tuna Poke
Be sure to use sushi-grade tuna for this fish salad because the fish is raw and isn't "cooked" with citrus juice, as in seviche.
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons peanut oil
1/2 teaspoon dark sesame oil
1/2 pound sushi-grade tuna, cut into (1/2-inch) cubes
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups (1/4-inch-thick) diagonally cut slices peeled cucumber
Combine the first 7 ingredients in a medium glass bowl. Cover and chill 2 hours. Serve tuna mixture over cucumber.
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1/4 cup tuna and 1/2 cup cucumber)
CALORIES 94 (28% from fat); FAT 2.9g (sat 0.5g,mono 1.1g,poly 0.9g); IRON 0.6mg; CHOLESTEROL 26mg; CALCIUM 19mg; CARBOHYDRATE 2.4g; SODIUM 157mg; PROTEIN 13.9g; FIBER 0.7g
Cooking Light, MARCH 2005
Poi
Like grits in the American South, poi is a bland side dish that you serve plain and let people season with salt or pepper. Look for taro in the produce department with other tubers, or order from www.melissas.com.
2 quarts plus 1 1/4 cups water, divided
1 1/2 pounds taro root, unpeeled
Bring 2 quarts water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add taro; cook 40 minutes or until tender. Drain; cool 15 minutes. Peel; discard skin. Roughly chop taro. Place taro and 1 cup water in a blender; process until smooth. Add remaining 1/4 cup water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.
Yield: 3 cups (serving size: 1/4 cup)
CALORIES 5 (0.0% from fat); FAT 0.0g (sat 0.0g,mono 0.0g,poly 0.0g); IRON 0.3mg; CHOLESTEROL 0.0mg; CALCIUM 6mg; CARBOHYDRATE 1.1g; SODIUM 1mg; PROTEIN 0.4g; FIBER 0.2g
Cooking Light, MARCH 2005
Oven Kalua Pork
This more accessible version of the classic slow-roasted pig enjoyed at luaus is cooked as a roast in a regular oven. It is typical to stir any reserved meat juice into the shredded pork. If you do, we recommend that you skim the fat first. Place a heavy-duty plastic bag into a measuring cup; pour collected juices into the bag. Let stand 10 minutes or until fat rises to the top. Using kitchen shears, snip a small portion of one bottom corner of the bag, and pour the juices over shredded pork, stopping before you reach the fat layer.
4 1/4 pounds Boston Butt pork roast, trimmed
2 tablespoons Hickory Liquid Smoke
3/4 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 275°.
Rub pork with liquid smoke. Wrap pork tightly in foil; place on a jelly-roll pan. Bake at 275° for 5 hours. Cool slightly. Remove pork from bone; discard bone. Shred meat with 2 forks. Combine shredded pork and salt in a large bowl, tossing well.
Yield: 16 servings (serving size: about 3 ounces)
CALORIES 234 (44% from fat); FAT 11.5g (sat 3.9g,mono 5.5g,poly 1.1g); IRON 1.8mg; CHOLESTEROL 108mg; CALCIUM 8mg; CARBOHYDRATE 0.0g; SODIUM 249mg; PROTEIN 30.5g; FIBER 0.0g
Cooking Light, MARCH 2005
Lomi Lomi Salmon
The popular luau dish is named for the Hawaiian words for rub, massage, or knead. Traditionally, the salt is rubbed onto the salmon, and the salmon, onions, and tomato are then massaged together with your hands. We opted for a tidier preparation. Soaking the diced white onion mellows the flavor by taming its sharp bite.
1/4 cup coarse sea salt
8 ounces salmon fillet
1/2 cup finely diced white onion
3 tablespoons finely chopped green onions
1 cup diced tomato
16 iceberg lettuce leaves
Place salt and fish in a large zip-top plastic bag; shake bag to coat fish evenly. Chill 8 hours or overnight.
Remove fish from bag; rinse well. Soak fish in ice water 2 hours, changing water every 30 minutes. Drain well. Pat fish dry with paper towels. Dice fish; place in a large bowl. Set aside.
Soak white onion in ice water 15 minutes. Drain well. Add diced onion, green onions, and diced tomato to fish; toss gently to combine. Spoon about 3 tablespoons fish mixture into each lettuce leaf.
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 4 filled lettuce leaves)
CALORIES 113 (37% from fat); FAT 4.6g (sat 1.1g,mono 1.9g,poly 1.2g); IRON 0.6mg; CHOLESTEROL 29mg; CALCIUM 24mg; CARBOHYDRATE 5.1g; SODIUM 467mg; PROTEIN 13g; FIBER 0.9g
Cooking Light, MARCH 2005
Chicken Char Siu
Brought by Chinese immigrants to Hawaii, this dish is typically made with baby back ribs. Skinless, boneless chicken thighs are a tender and tasty substitute with less fat.
1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 garlic clove, minced
1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 18 strips
Cooking spray
Combine all ingredients except the cooking spray; marinate in refrigerator for 2 hours.
Preheat broiler.
Thread 1 chicken strip onto each of 18 (6-inch) skewers, reserving marinade. Place skewers on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray; broil 6 minutes. Turn skewers over; baste with reserved marinade. Broil 6 minutes or until done.
Yield: 9 servings (serving size: 2 skewers)
CALORIES 108 (26% from fat); FAT 3.1g (sat 0.8g,mono 0.9g,poly 0.8g); IRON 0.9mg; CHOLESTEROL 63mg; CALCIUM 10mg; CARBOHYDRATE 4.1g; SODIUM 241mg; PROTEIN 15.2g; FIBER 0.1g
Cooking Light, MARCH 2005
Tropical Pineapple-Apple Crisp
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons chilled butter or stick margarine, cut into small pieces
1/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts
7 cups sliced peeled Rome apple (about 3 pounds)
1 (8-ounce) can pineapple tidbits in juice, drained
1/3 cup diced dried tropical fruit (such as Mariani)
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
Preheat oven to 375°.
Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine the flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a bowl; cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture is crumbly. Add nuts; toss well.
Combine the apple and remaining ingredients in a large bowl; toss well. Spoon apple mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish or 1 1/2-quart casserole. Sprinkle with the crumb mixture. Bake at 375° for 45 minutes or until golden brown.
Yield: 9 servings
CALORIES 208 (31% from fat); FAT 7.2g (sat 3g,mono 3.4g,poly 0.3g); IRON 0.7mg; CHOLESTEROL 10mg; CALCIUM 14mg; CARBOHYDRATE 37.1g; SODIUM 46mg; PROTEIN 1.2g; FIBER 2.4g
Cooking Light, OCTOBER 2000
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Menu Plan Monday
MENU
Monday: Vegetable Minestrone with Pasta WW Momentum p 233 (5 POINTS)
Tuesday: Capellini with Spicy Red Clam Sauce WW Pantry to Plate p 27 (5 POINTS)
Wednesday: Anticuchos (6 POINTS)
Thursday: Wild Mushroom Soup WW Turnaround Program p 39 (2 POINTS)
Friday: Calzones WW New Complete Cookbook p 312 (5 POINTS)
Saturday: Beer Braised Bratwurst and Onions (9 POINTS – cut points by cutting down on oil and I calculated using turkey brats 19 1/2 oz)
Sunday: Wine Tasting
For more menu ideas visit: http://orgjunkie.com/2008/12/menu-plan-monday-dec-15th.html
SHOPPING LIST
PRODUCE:
2 lbs carrots
3 lbs onions
1 bunch celery
1 small zucchini
1 small yellow squash
1/2 pound green beans
1 head garlic
3 shallots
1/2 pound fresh white mushrooms
1/2 pound fresh cremini mushrooms
3 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
1 bunch parsley
CONDIMENTS:
olive oil
1 cup red wine vinegar
CANNED GOODS:
15 1/2 oz can chickpeas
14 1/2 oz can petite diced tomatoes
2 (6 1/2 oz) cans chopped clams
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 cup evaporated fat-free milk
DRY GOODS:
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat spirals or other tube pasta
6 oz capellini
1 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
2 cups all-purpose flour
SPICES:
salt
black pepper
dried oregano
dried thyme
dried marjoram
bay leaf
crushed red pepper
ground cumin
MEAT:
1 cow heart, about 2 pounds
2 pounds bratwurst
FREEZER CASE:
3/4 cup frozen chopped spinach
DAIRY CASE:
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 large egg
REFRIGERATOR CASE:
12 ounces dark German beer
1/4 cup ají Panca (Peruvian pepper puree)
Vegetable Minestrone with Pasta
Serves 6
From WW Momentum Cookbook
15 1/2 oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
14 1/2 oz can petite diced tomatoes
2 carrots, sliced
2 onions, diced
2 celery stalks, with leaves, sliced
1 small zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 small yellow squash, halved lengthwise and sliced
1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
7 cups water
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat spirals or other tube pasta
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or parsley
Combine all the ingredients except the pasta and basil in a 5 or 6-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook until the vegetable are fork-tender, 4-5 hours on High or 8-10 hours on low.
About 30 minutes before cooking time is up, cook the macaroni according to the package directions, omitting the salt if desired. Stir the pasta and basil into the soup.
Per serving (about 2 cups): 247 Cal, 2 g Fat, 0 g Sat Fat, 0 G Tras Fat, 0 mg Chol, 408 mg Sod, 50 g Carb, 9 g Fiber, 12 g Prot, 111 mg Calc. POINTS 4
FILLING EXTRA: Add 2 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced, to the soup at the same time as the other vegetables. This will increase the per-serving POINTS value by 1. This recipe works with the SIMPLY FILLING technique.
Capellini with Spicy Red Clam Sauce
Serves 4
From WW Pantry to Plate
6 oz capellini
2 tsp olive oil
4 garlic cloves, sliced
2 (6 1/2 oz) cans chopped clams, drained, liquid reserved
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
Chopped parsley
Cook the capellini according to package directions, omitting the salt if desired; drain.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the oil over high heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until golden, about 2 minutes. Add the clams with 1/2 cup of their liquid and the tomatoes, oregano, thyme and crushed red pepper; bring to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the flavors blend and the sauce thickens, about 7 minutes.
Add the cooked pasta and toss to coat. Remove from the heat and stir in the parsley.
Per serving (1 1/4 cups): 287 Cal, 4 g Fat, 1 g Sat Fat, 0 g Trans Fat, 29 mg Chol, 533 mg Sod, 44 g Carb, 4 g Fib, 18 g Prot, 126 mg Calc. POINTS 5
MAKE IT CORE: Use any whole-wheat pasta in place of the capellini
Anticuchos (Peruvian Grilled Beef Heart)
Serves 4 people. (Can use beef steak cut into slices, this tastes a lot like fajita meat) You can find the pepper puree in most Mexican stores. If you live in an area with a large Peruvian community, you may be able to buy whole or ground aji amarillo. If not, use hot paprika in its place, or Spanish smoked paprika, which you can find at www.tienda.com. I've also subbed jalapenos and chilies and even Tabasco – just tasting to make it the heat that I wanted it.
1 cow heart, about 2 pounds
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup ají Panca (Peruvian pepper puree)
2 tablespoons dry oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup red wine vinegar
Soak 4 wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes.
Carefully trim off the fat and silverskin from the cow heart. On a slight diagonal, cut the cow heart into horizontal slices about 1/2-inch thick.
Crush the oregano between your fingers (this will wake up the flavor). With a whisk, combine the garlic, aji, oregano, cumin, pepper and vinegar. Immerse the meat in the marinade and refrigerate 2-8 hours.
Skewer the cow heart, about four pieces to each skewer. Heat a grill pan over high heat until smoking hot. Season the skewers with salt.
Sear on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Baste the meat with the marinade and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Serve with a light herb sauce and boiled potatoes or grilled corn.
Wild Mushroom Soup
Makes 4 servings
From WW Turnaround Program Cookbook
White and cremini mushrooms pair up in this silky, soothingly rich soup. If you want an even more pronounced mushroom flavor, soak 1/2 ounce dried mushrooms in warm water for 20 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the mushrooms to a sieve, rinse with cold water, and then add to the fresh mushrooms in step 1.
1/2 pound fresh white mushrooms, coarsely chopped
1/2 pound fresh cremini mushrooms, coarsely chopped
3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 onions, coarsely chopped
1 carrot, thinly sliced
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
1 cup evaporated fat-free milk
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Combine 3 cups of the mushrooms with 1 1/2 cups of the broth in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a blender or food processor; puree then return to the saucepan.
Meanwhile, spray a large nonstick saucepan with canola oil nonstick spray and set over medium heat. Add the onions, carrot, and celery; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are wilted, about 10 minutes. Add the vegetable mixture to the mushroom puree in the saucepan, along with the milk and remaining 1 1/2 cups broth; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Add the parsley, thyme, marjoram, and pepper; simmer 5 minutes.
Per serving (1 1/4 cups): 131 cal, 1 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 0 g trans fat, 3 mg chol, 571 mg sod, 23 g carb, 3 g fib, 12 g prot, 232 mg calc. POINTS 2
TIP Always clean mushrooms just before using, but never immerse them in water, as they are highly absorbent and apt to becoming mushy. Instead, rinse them under cold water and blot dry with paper towels. Or simply wipe them off with a damp paper towel. If you don't mind spending a little extra money, you can use 1 pound cremini mushrooms.
Beer Braised Bratwurst and Onions
Browning the bratwurst prior to combining them with the onions and beer gives them a deeper flavor; you can likewise grill them with similar results.
Serves 4-6
2 pounds bratwurst
5 tablespoons olive oil
6 cups thinly sliced onions
12 ounces dark German beer
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Place 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place the bratwurst in the skillet and cook, turning frequently, until the sausage is lightly browned. Transfer the bratwurst from the skillet to a platter and set aside.
Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil to the skillet over medium heat. Add the onion slices and sauté gently until they are translucent but not browned.
Pour the beer into the skillet with the onions. Stir, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the skillet, then add the bay leaf and the black pepper. Bring the beer to a light boil. Reduce the heat to simmer, cover the skillet and allow the beer and onions to cook for about 15 minutes to marry the flavors.
Add the bratwurst to the skillet, cover and simmer for another 15 minutes. Discard the bay leaf and serve.
Calzones
Calzones, originally from Naples. Are stuffed pizzas. Although they are traditionally filled with heavy cheese, our lightened spinach-and-cheese version keeps all the great flavor of the original.
Makes 6 servings
From Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook
1 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
3/4 cup lukewarm (105-115 F) water
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp olive oil
3 shallots, finely chopped
5 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cup thawed, frozen chopped spinach, squeezed dry
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast over 1/4 cup of the lukewarm water. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
In a food processor, combine 1 3/4 cups + 2 Tbsps of the flour and 1/4 tsp of the salt. With the machine running, scrape the yeast mixture and the remaining 1/2 cup of lukewarm water through the feed tube just until the dough forms a ball. Knead the dough by pulsing until it is smooth and elastic, about 30 times.
Spray a large bowl with nonstick spray; place the dough in the bowl. Cover loosely with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place until it double in volume, about 1 hour.
Meanwhile, in small nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Saute the shallots and garlic until softened, about 7 minutes. Add the spinach; cook about 2 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl; stir in the ricotta, feta, egg, mint, oregano, the remaining 3/4 tsp of salt and the pepper.
Preheat the oven to 400F; spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle a work surface with the remaining 2 Tbsp of flour. Turn out the dough; divide into 6 pieces. Roll out each piece into a 6-inch circle. Place about 2 heaping tablespoons of filling on one side of each circle, then dampen all around the edge; fold over and press with a wet thumb to seal. Transfer the calzones to the baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and crisp, 20 -25 minutes.
Per serving (1 calzone): 231 Cal, 7 g Fat, 3 g Sat Fat, 0 g Tras Fat, 51 mg chol, 529 mg Sod, 33g Carb, 1 g Fib, 10 g Prot, 160 mg Calc POINTS 5
Monday: Vegetable Minestrone with Pasta WW Momentum p 233 (5 POINTS)
Tuesday: Capellini with Spicy Red Clam Sauce WW Pantry to Plate p 27 (5 POINTS)
Wednesday: Anticuchos (6 POINTS)
Thursday: Wild Mushroom Soup WW Turnaround Program p 39 (2 POINTS)
Friday: Calzones WW New Complete Cookbook p 312 (5 POINTS)
Saturday: Beer Braised Bratwurst and Onions (9 POINTS – cut points by cutting down on oil and I calculated using turkey brats 19 1/2 oz)
Sunday: Wine Tasting
For more menu ideas visit: http://orgjunkie.com/2008/12/menu-plan-monday-dec-15th.html
SHOPPING LIST
PRODUCE:
2 lbs carrots
3 lbs onions
1 bunch celery
1 small zucchini
1 small yellow squash
1/2 pound green beans
1 head garlic
3 shallots
1/2 pound fresh white mushrooms
1/2 pound fresh cremini mushrooms
3 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
1 bunch parsley
CONDIMENTS:
olive oil
1 cup red wine vinegar
CANNED GOODS:
15 1/2 oz can chickpeas
14 1/2 oz can petite diced tomatoes
2 (6 1/2 oz) cans chopped clams
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 cup evaporated fat-free milk
DRY GOODS:
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat spirals or other tube pasta
6 oz capellini
1 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
2 cups all-purpose flour
SPICES:
salt
black pepper
dried oregano
dried thyme
dried marjoram
bay leaf
crushed red pepper
ground cumin
MEAT:
1 cow heart, about 2 pounds
2 pounds bratwurst
FREEZER CASE:
3/4 cup frozen chopped spinach
DAIRY CASE:
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 large egg
REFRIGERATOR CASE:
12 ounces dark German beer
1/4 cup ají Panca (Peruvian pepper puree)
Vegetable Minestrone with Pasta
Serves 6
From WW Momentum Cookbook
15 1/2 oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
14 1/2 oz can petite diced tomatoes
2 carrots, sliced
2 onions, diced
2 celery stalks, with leaves, sliced
1 small zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 small yellow squash, halved lengthwise and sliced
1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
7 cups water
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat spirals or other tube pasta
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or parsley
Combine all the ingredients except the pasta and basil in a 5 or 6-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook until the vegetable are fork-tender, 4-5 hours on High or 8-10 hours on low.
About 30 minutes before cooking time is up, cook the macaroni according to the package directions, omitting the salt if desired. Stir the pasta and basil into the soup.
Per serving (about 2 cups): 247 Cal, 2 g Fat, 0 g Sat Fat, 0 G Tras Fat, 0 mg Chol, 408 mg Sod, 50 g Carb, 9 g Fiber, 12 g Prot, 111 mg Calc. POINTS 4
FILLING EXTRA: Add 2 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced, to the soup at the same time as the other vegetables. This will increase the per-serving POINTS value by 1. This recipe works with the SIMPLY FILLING technique.
Capellini with Spicy Red Clam Sauce
Serves 4
From WW Pantry to Plate
6 oz capellini
2 tsp olive oil
4 garlic cloves, sliced
2 (6 1/2 oz) cans chopped clams, drained, liquid reserved
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
Chopped parsley
Cook the capellini according to package directions, omitting the salt if desired; drain.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the oil over high heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until golden, about 2 minutes. Add the clams with 1/2 cup of their liquid and the tomatoes, oregano, thyme and crushed red pepper; bring to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the flavors blend and the sauce thickens, about 7 minutes.
Add the cooked pasta and toss to coat. Remove from the heat and stir in the parsley.
Per serving (1 1/4 cups): 287 Cal, 4 g Fat, 1 g Sat Fat, 0 g Trans Fat, 29 mg Chol, 533 mg Sod, 44 g Carb, 4 g Fib, 18 g Prot, 126 mg Calc. POINTS 5
MAKE IT CORE: Use any whole-wheat pasta in place of the capellini
Anticuchos (Peruvian Grilled Beef Heart)
Serves 4 people. (Can use beef steak cut into slices, this tastes a lot like fajita meat) You can find the pepper puree in most Mexican stores. If you live in an area with a large Peruvian community, you may be able to buy whole or ground aji amarillo. If not, use hot paprika in its place, or Spanish smoked paprika, which you can find at www.tienda.com. I've also subbed jalapenos and chilies and even Tabasco – just tasting to make it the heat that I wanted it.
1 cow heart, about 2 pounds
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup ají Panca (Peruvian pepper puree)
2 tablespoons dry oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup red wine vinegar
Soak 4 wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes.
Carefully trim off the fat and silverskin from the cow heart. On a slight diagonal, cut the cow heart into horizontal slices about 1/2-inch thick.
Crush the oregano between your fingers (this will wake up the flavor). With a whisk, combine the garlic, aji, oregano, cumin, pepper and vinegar. Immerse the meat in the marinade and refrigerate 2-8 hours.
Skewer the cow heart, about four pieces to each skewer. Heat a grill pan over high heat until smoking hot. Season the skewers with salt.
Sear on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Baste the meat with the marinade and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Serve with a light herb sauce and boiled potatoes or grilled corn.
Wild Mushroom Soup
Makes 4 servings
From WW Turnaround Program Cookbook
White and cremini mushrooms pair up in this silky, soothingly rich soup. If you want an even more pronounced mushroom flavor, soak 1/2 ounce dried mushrooms in warm water for 20 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the mushrooms to a sieve, rinse with cold water, and then add to the fresh mushrooms in step 1.
1/2 pound fresh white mushrooms, coarsely chopped
1/2 pound fresh cremini mushrooms, coarsely chopped
3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 onions, coarsely chopped
1 carrot, thinly sliced
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
1 cup evaporated fat-free milk
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Combine 3 cups of the mushrooms with 1 1/2 cups of the broth in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a blender or food processor; puree then return to the saucepan.
Meanwhile, spray a large nonstick saucepan with canola oil nonstick spray and set over medium heat. Add the onions, carrot, and celery; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are wilted, about 10 minutes. Add the vegetable mixture to the mushroom puree in the saucepan, along with the milk and remaining 1 1/2 cups broth; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Add the parsley, thyme, marjoram, and pepper; simmer 5 minutes.
Per serving (1 1/4 cups): 131 cal, 1 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 0 g trans fat, 3 mg chol, 571 mg sod, 23 g carb, 3 g fib, 12 g prot, 232 mg calc. POINTS 2
TIP Always clean mushrooms just before using, but never immerse them in water, as they are highly absorbent and apt to becoming mushy. Instead, rinse them under cold water and blot dry with paper towels. Or simply wipe them off with a damp paper towel. If you don't mind spending a little extra money, you can use 1 pound cremini mushrooms.
Beer Braised Bratwurst and Onions
Browning the bratwurst prior to combining them with the onions and beer gives them a deeper flavor; you can likewise grill them with similar results.
Serves 4-6
2 pounds bratwurst
5 tablespoons olive oil
6 cups thinly sliced onions
12 ounces dark German beer
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Place 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place the bratwurst in the skillet and cook, turning frequently, until the sausage is lightly browned. Transfer the bratwurst from the skillet to a platter and set aside.
Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil to the skillet over medium heat. Add the onion slices and sauté gently until they are translucent but not browned.
Pour the beer into the skillet with the onions. Stir, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the skillet, then add the bay leaf and the black pepper. Bring the beer to a light boil. Reduce the heat to simmer, cover the skillet and allow the beer and onions to cook for about 15 minutes to marry the flavors.
Add the bratwurst to the skillet, cover and simmer for another 15 minutes. Discard the bay leaf and serve.
Calzones
Calzones, originally from Naples. Are stuffed pizzas. Although they are traditionally filled with heavy cheese, our lightened spinach-and-cheese version keeps all the great flavor of the original.
Makes 6 servings
From Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook
1 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
3/4 cup lukewarm (105-115 F) water
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp olive oil
3 shallots, finely chopped
5 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cup thawed, frozen chopped spinach, squeezed dry
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast over 1/4 cup of the lukewarm water. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
In a food processor, combine 1 3/4 cups + 2 Tbsps of the flour and 1/4 tsp of the salt. With the machine running, scrape the yeast mixture and the remaining 1/2 cup of lukewarm water through the feed tube just until the dough forms a ball. Knead the dough by pulsing until it is smooth and elastic, about 30 times.
Spray a large bowl with nonstick spray; place the dough in the bowl. Cover loosely with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place until it double in volume, about 1 hour.
Meanwhile, in small nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Saute the shallots and garlic until softened, about 7 minutes. Add the spinach; cook about 2 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl; stir in the ricotta, feta, egg, mint, oregano, the remaining 3/4 tsp of salt and the pepper.
Preheat the oven to 400F; spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle a work surface with the remaining 2 Tbsp of flour. Turn out the dough; divide into 6 pieces. Roll out each piece into a 6-inch circle. Place about 2 heaping tablespoons of filling on one side of each circle, then dampen all around the edge; fold over and press with a wet thumb to seal. Transfer the calzones to the baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and crisp, 20 -25 minutes.
Per serving (1 calzone): 231 Cal, 7 g Fat, 3 g Sat Fat, 0 g Tras Fat, 51 mg chol, 529 mg Sod, 33g Carb, 1 g Fib, 10 g Prot, 160 mg Calc POINTS 5
Monday, December 08, 2008
Weekend Doin's and Menu Plan Monday
This weekend was pretty relaxing - which was good since hubby and were pretty tired. Saturday day we tried to catch up on our sleep it seemed - although Miko once again woke me up really early so hubby slept late and I was up really early *sigh*. Oh well. I spent most of the day drinking tea, 1 1/2 liters worth. WHEW! When I took Miko out for her afternoon "constitutional" it was starting to snow just a bit, and by snow I mean barely. This was around 3 I think it was. We left a little after 5 to head into Richmond and were surprised to see the ground covered with a thin film of snow and it was snowing harder. It was tiny flakes, so we knew it pretty much wouldn't amount to much (the bigger the flakes the more snow we get usually). It was really pretty, and I must admit, I was excited. It got lighter the closer we got to Richmond (our destination was the West End, to FiL's).
We had dinner with FiL, SMiL and we got to meet one of her sons, Snoogy (I think I spelled that right). He was a trip! They are from the Philippines, so he was taking pictures of the snow, since he really hasn't seen it there. It's a shame it wasn't heavier, since it wasn't sticking there. He's a nurse and is hoping to get a job at MCV and move here. He said it seemed that his interviews went well and he was hoping to hear something before he had to go back on Tuesday. He said that it sounded like they were going to try to get a provisional Visa (I can't remember what they called it) so that he can work here sooner than the was planning on (he was originally thinking he had to wait a year or more for the work visa). His mom just recently became a citizen, and I didn't realize that it now takes about 16 years to become one. She was saying that she could have helped him to become one, but then he would have had trouble getting married (for a few years at least) and since he's 31 she didn't want to do that to him right now. We went to eat at Angela's on Forest Rd in the Tuckernuck Shopping Center. It was really good, and while we were there, the line was out the door a few times. It was kind of funny, because if you compare it to some of the restaurants in New York it sat about the same amount of people (without the outdoor seating which most NY places have) but there was more room between the tables (something that New York doesn't have). Angela's is a small, unassuming place from the outside. Set between an Ace Hardware and a 7-11, you don't expect to walk into a white tablecloth restaurant. They didn't offer pizza on the weekends for the sit-down but they do have a brisk take-out business and I gather it's offered then. If you go, the servings are HUGE. Seriously, the plates are probably 11-12" around, they look more like chargers. Usually we're pretty good to each get something different, but this time we didn't. And this time most of us went with the specials too. Snoggy and I both went for the Spinach, Sun-dried Tomato and Goat Cheese Stuffed Rib-eye (it was 14 oz!!!), it was drizzled with olive oil and had a crunch of salt (I'm gathering sea salt since I couldn't see any off hand). I had mine served on sliced tomatoes and he had his on garlic smashed potatoes. SMiL got a Seafood dish (I think it was a mixed, but I know it had scallops, I think it had the name Diane in it. I can't remember if it was a wine sauce or marinara). Hubby and FiL got a Spinach stuffed ravioli (2 each that were 6 oz each) that were topped with crab meat and a spicy blue cheese sauce. I had a bite of hubby's (I was going to order it but since they were going to went with what I ordered, so that's why I remember it so well), and it was wonderful too! All the entrees came with salads and bread. That was the only problem with my meal, I had asked for blue cheese and got ranch, something I'm not a fan of. They were busy, and it's not like I really needed the extra calories anyway, so I ate a bit of it and waited for the main course. And no, I did not finish my entree.
We headed back to FiL's and talked for quite a while. I was one of the few that had left room for some apple crumble topped pie. It had WV apples (they brought them back from their Thanksgiving trip to his sister's home) and was yummy! (Course I could be a bit biased. ;) We got home really late, good thing we had fed and "watered" Miko before we left! We fed and let her out once more and headed to bed. She let me sleep in until 7!!! :)
We didn't go to MiL's since she still wasn't feeling well, so it was a day of catching up on stuff around the house and lazying about. Not too much to report there.
Oh, and my sister sent me her Sweet Potato Casserole recipe, and it is different from my SiL's (besides the nuts used):
Kelly's Sweet Potato Casserole
1 large can sweet potato (40 oz)
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 stick butter
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
Topping:
1 cup corn flakes - mashed
1/2 cup walnuts
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter - melt
Drain and mash the sweet potato, add sugar, beaten eggs, soften butter, salt, milk and nutmeg.
Bake at 400 for 30 mins
Topping: Mix together and bake 5 to 10 more mins
My menu plan for this week (recipes below)
Monday: Lasagna (using the leftover Manicotti filling I froze from a few weeks ago)
Tuesday: Greek Lemon Chicken (from Fix-It-and-Forget It Lightly)
Wednesday: Cabbage Beef Soup
Thursday: Kushary
Friday: Pizza (not sure what type I'll make yet - recipe for dough elsewhere on site many times - if you can't find just email me)
For more menu ideas visit: I'm an Organizing Junkie
New World Easy Lasagne
Developed and Tested by the San Giorgio Kitchens
Ready in a flash, there's no need to pre-cook the lasagne noodles in this crowd-pleasing dish. [This is the one I usually make subbing veggies/spinach/meat as I want.]
9 pieces (8 oz.) SAN GIORGIO Lasagne, uncooked
1 lb. ground beef
3 cups (about 26-oz. jar) spaghetti sauce
1-1/2 cups water
1-3/4 cups (15-oz. container) ricotta or small curd cottage cheese
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded mozzarella or Monterey jack cheese, divided
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Heat oven to 350°F.
In 3-quart saucepan over medium heat, brown meat; drain. Add spaghetti sauce and water; simmer about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in large bowl, stir together ricotta cheese, one-half mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, eggs, parsley, salt and pepper.
Pour about 1 cup sauce on bottom of 13x9x2-inch baking dish.
Arrange 3 UNCOOKED pasta pieces lengthwise over sauce; cover with about 1 cup sauce.
Spread one-half cheese filling over sauce.
Repeat layers of lasagne, sauce and cheese filling.
Top with layer of lasagne and remaining sauce; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil.
Bake 45 minutes. Remove foil; bake additional 15 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
10-12 servings.
Greek Chicken (Crockpot)
“Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly” -Judy Govotsus Monrovia, MD
Makes 8 Servings. (Ideal slow-cooker size: 6-quart)
4-6 potatoes, quartered
3 lbs chicken pieces, skin removed
2 large onions, quartered
1 whole bulb garlic, minced
1/2 cup water (or lemon juice)
3 tsp dried oregano (or Greek Seasoning)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 Tbsp olive oil
Place potatoes in bottom of slow cooker. Add chicken, onions, and garlic. In small bowl mix water with oregano salt, and pepper. Pour over chicken and potatoes. Top with oil. Cover. Cook on High 5-6 hours or on Low 9-10 hours.
Per serving: 430 calories (70 calories from fat), 8g total fat (2g sat fat, 0g trans), 145 mg cholesterol, 430 mg sod, 31 g total carb (4 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 56g protein, 30% DV Vit C, 6%DV Calc, 20%DV iron.
Cabbage Beef Soup
Serving Size: 6
1/2 small cabbage head, shredded
1 large onion, chopped
5 1/2 cups tomato juice
2 cups beef broth
2 tablespoons molasses
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons salt
1 bay leaf
3 black peppercorns
4 allspice berries
1 pound extra lean ground beef
2 tablespoons dried dill weed
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
Combine cabbage, onion, tomato juice, and beef broth. Bring to a boil.
Add molasses, Worcestershire sauce, salt, bay leaf, pepper and allspice. Crumble in ground beef, dill and garlic powder. Simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Serve hot.
Source: The Book of Regional American Cooking: Heartland
Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 296 Calories; 14g Fat (39.7% calories from fat); 21g Protein; 25g Carbohydrate; 6g Dietary Fiber; 52mg Cholesterol; 2065mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 2 1/2 Lean Meat; 2 1/2 Vegetable; 1 1/2 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.
Kushary
Remember that kushary is a very simple working-class meal; there is nothing elegant to it, and you may wish to make and eat it for the same reason an Egyptian would--it’s satisfying, filling, and healthy.
You will be able to do steps 1, 2 and 3 at the same time if you are well organized. An easy way to serve kushary to a group of people is to leave the pasta in its colander from draining and rest it over a simmering pot of water. Place the mixing bowl of rice and lentils over another simmering pot of water to keep warm. Leave the tomato sauce in the saucepan you cooked it in and leave the onions in the skillet. Serve by spooning the cooked macaroni in a bowl and then spoon the rice and lentils on top. Spoon a quarter of the tomato sauce on top of the rice and then some onions. Serve the remaining sauce on the side. Eat with a spoon.
Yield: Makes 6 servings
From CliffordAWright.com
4 large onions, peeled
Salt
1/2 cup brown lentils, picked over (should yield 1 cup cooked lentils)
3 cups water
7 tablespoons samna (clarified butter) or 2 tablespoons samna and 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cups raw long-grain rice, well rinsed or soaked in water to cover for 30 minutes
2 teaspoons salt
2 cups mixed dry pasta (see Note below)
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 cups hot Egyptian-style tomato sauce (dim’a musabika)
Slice the onions from the stem end into very thin slices, less than 1/16th inch. Arrange the onion slices on some paper towels, sprinkle generously with salt, and leave for 30 minutes covered with paper towels to absorb moisture.
Wash the lentils under running water. Put them in a medium-size heavy saucepan, add 1 cup water and 1 teaspoon of the salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, partially covered, until the lentils are al dente, anywhere from 20 minutes to 1 hour. Check the lentils occasionally so they are not overcooked, since lentil cooking times differ; they should be ever so slightly hard, not completely soft. Add some water to the pot if it is drying out and the lentils are not yet cooked. Drain and reserve the lentils.
In another large, heavy saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, heat 2 tablespoons of the samna over medium-high heat, then cook the rice for 2 minutes, stirring continuously to coat all the grains, then add the remaining 2 cups water and 2 teaspoons salt. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cover while the rice cooks until the water is absorbed, 12 to 15 minutes. Do not lift the lid or stir while the rice cooks.
While the lentils and rice are cooking, prepare the onions. In a large skillet, melt the remaining 5 tablespoons samna or heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion slices and coat with the samna or oil. Continue turning the onions as they turn from white to yellow to brown. Once they turn brown, 10 to 20 minutes, continue to cook until some turn dark brown, another 2 minutes. Remove the skillet from the burner and quickly transfer the onions to a paper towel-lined platter to cool and drain. Once they are cool, they will have become crispy.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of abundantly salted water to a vigorous boil and add the pasta. Cook until soft (not al dente) and drain well. Mix together the rice and lentils in a large metal (preferably) bowl with a pinch of black pepper, tossing gently with a fork. Serve according to the instructions above.
Note: Half the dry pasta should be short macaroni such as ditalini, tubetti, or small elbow and the other half should be spaghetti broken into 2-inch lengths. The 2 cups dry pasta should yield 4 cups cooked pasta.
Egyptian Stewed Tomato Sauce (Dim'a Musabika)
The Nile delta has been a productive agricultural area feeding Egypt since ancient times. Once the tomato arrived from the New World it became as ubiquitous in Egyptian cooking as it did in all other Mediterranean cooking. So much so, in fact, that among the Bedouins of Egypt’s Western Desert, and throughout Egypt in general, vegetables are always cooked bisalsa, with a tomato-based sauce, such as the ubiquitous dim’a musabika (literally, stewed sauce). This sauce is excellent with kushary, on top of spaghetti, or with any vegetable.
Yield: Makes 4 cups
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
6 garlic cloves, crushed
One 6-ounce can tomato paste
4 cups water
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat, then cook the onion until translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another 2 minutes, stirring constantly so the garlic doesn’t burn.
Mix the tomato paste and water and add to the onion. Reduce the heat to low while you simmer the tomato sauce for 20 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, salt, black pepper, and cayenne and cook until denser, about another 5 minutes.
We had dinner with FiL, SMiL and we got to meet one of her sons, Snoogy (I think I spelled that right). He was a trip! They are from the Philippines, so he was taking pictures of the snow, since he really hasn't seen it there. It's a shame it wasn't heavier, since it wasn't sticking there. He's a nurse and is hoping to get a job at MCV and move here. He said it seemed that his interviews went well and he was hoping to hear something before he had to go back on Tuesday. He said that it sounded like they were going to try to get a provisional Visa (I can't remember what they called it) so that he can work here sooner than the was planning on (he was originally thinking he had to wait a year or more for the work visa). His mom just recently became a citizen, and I didn't realize that it now takes about 16 years to become one. She was saying that she could have helped him to become one, but then he would have had trouble getting married (for a few years at least) and since he's 31 she didn't want to do that to him right now. We went to eat at Angela's on Forest Rd in the Tuckernuck Shopping Center. It was really good, and while we were there, the line was out the door a few times. It was kind of funny, because if you compare it to some of the restaurants in New York it sat about the same amount of people (without the outdoor seating which most NY places have) but there was more room between the tables (something that New York doesn't have). Angela's is a small, unassuming place from the outside. Set between an Ace Hardware and a 7-11, you don't expect to walk into a white tablecloth restaurant. They didn't offer pizza on the weekends for the sit-down but they do have a brisk take-out business and I gather it's offered then. If you go, the servings are HUGE. Seriously, the plates are probably 11-12" around, they look more like chargers. Usually we're pretty good to each get something different, but this time we didn't. And this time most of us went with the specials too. Snoggy and I both went for the Spinach, Sun-dried Tomato and Goat Cheese Stuffed Rib-eye (it was 14 oz!!!), it was drizzled with olive oil and had a crunch of salt (I'm gathering sea salt since I couldn't see any off hand). I had mine served on sliced tomatoes and he had his on garlic smashed potatoes. SMiL got a Seafood dish (I think it was a mixed, but I know it had scallops, I think it had the name Diane in it. I can't remember if it was a wine sauce or marinara). Hubby and FiL got a Spinach stuffed ravioli (2 each that were 6 oz each) that were topped with crab meat and a spicy blue cheese sauce. I had a bite of hubby's (I was going to order it but since they were going to went with what I ordered, so that's why I remember it so well), and it was wonderful too! All the entrees came with salads and bread. That was the only problem with my meal, I had asked for blue cheese and got ranch, something I'm not a fan of. They were busy, and it's not like I really needed the extra calories anyway, so I ate a bit of it and waited for the main course. And no, I did not finish my entree.
We headed back to FiL's and talked for quite a while. I was one of the few that had left room for some apple crumble topped pie. It had WV apples (they brought them back from their Thanksgiving trip to his sister's home) and was yummy! (Course I could be a bit biased. ;) We got home really late, good thing we had fed and "watered" Miko before we left! We fed and let her out once more and headed to bed. She let me sleep in until 7!!! :)
We didn't go to MiL's since she still wasn't feeling well, so it was a day of catching up on stuff around the house and lazying about. Not too much to report there.
Oh, and my sister sent me her Sweet Potato Casserole recipe, and it is different from my SiL's (besides the nuts used):
Kelly's Sweet Potato Casserole
1 large can sweet potato (40 oz)
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 stick butter
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
Topping:
1 cup corn flakes - mashed
1/2 cup walnuts
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter - melt
Drain and mash the sweet potato, add sugar, beaten eggs, soften butter, salt, milk and nutmeg.
Bake at 400 for 30 mins
Topping: Mix together and bake 5 to 10 more mins
My menu plan for this week (recipes below)
Monday: Lasagna (using the leftover Manicotti filling I froze from a few weeks ago)
Tuesday: Greek Lemon Chicken (from Fix-It-and-Forget It Lightly)
Wednesday: Cabbage Beef Soup
Thursday: Kushary
Friday: Pizza (not sure what type I'll make yet - recipe for dough elsewhere on site many times - if you can't find just email me)
For more menu ideas visit: I'm an Organizing Junkie
New World Easy Lasagne
Developed and Tested by the San Giorgio Kitchens
Ready in a flash, there's no need to pre-cook the lasagne noodles in this crowd-pleasing dish. [This is the one I usually make subbing veggies/spinach/meat as I want.]
9 pieces (8 oz.) SAN GIORGIO Lasagne, uncooked
1 lb. ground beef
3 cups (about 26-oz. jar) spaghetti sauce
1-1/2 cups water
1-3/4 cups (15-oz. container) ricotta or small curd cottage cheese
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded mozzarella or Monterey jack cheese, divided
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Heat oven to 350°F.
In 3-quart saucepan over medium heat, brown meat; drain. Add spaghetti sauce and water; simmer about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in large bowl, stir together ricotta cheese, one-half mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, eggs, parsley, salt and pepper.
Pour about 1 cup sauce on bottom of 13x9x2-inch baking dish.
Arrange 3 UNCOOKED pasta pieces lengthwise over sauce; cover with about 1 cup sauce.
Spread one-half cheese filling over sauce.
Repeat layers of lasagne, sauce and cheese filling.
Top with layer of lasagne and remaining sauce; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil.
Bake 45 minutes. Remove foil; bake additional 15 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
10-12 servings.
Greek Chicken (Crockpot)
“Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly” -Judy Govotsus Monrovia, MD
Makes 8 Servings. (Ideal slow-cooker size: 6-quart)
4-6 potatoes, quartered
3 lbs chicken pieces, skin removed
2 large onions, quartered
1 whole bulb garlic, minced
1/2 cup water (or lemon juice)
3 tsp dried oregano (or Greek Seasoning)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 Tbsp olive oil
Place potatoes in bottom of slow cooker. Add chicken, onions, and garlic. In small bowl mix water with oregano salt, and pepper. Pour over chicken and potatoes. Top with oil. Cover. Cook on High 5-6 hours or on Low 9-10 hours.
Per serving: 430 calories (70 calories from fat), 8g total fat (2g sat fat, 0g trans), 145 mg cholesterol, 430 mg sod, 31 g total carb (4 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 56g protein, 30% DV Vit C, 6%DV Calc, 20%DV iron.
Cabbage Beef Soup
Serving Size: 6
1/2 small cabbage head, shredded
1 large onion, chopped
5 1/2 cups tomato juice
2 cups beef broth
2 tablespoons molasses
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons salt
1 bay leaf
3 black peppercorns
4 allspice berries
1 pound extra lean ground beef
2 tablespoons dried dill weed
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
Combine cabbage, onion, tomato juice, and beef broth. Bring to a boil.
Add molasses, Worcestershire sauce, salt, bay leaf, pepper and allspice. Crumble in ground beef, dill and garlic powder. Simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Serve hot.
Source: The Book of Regional American Cooking: Heartland
Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 296 Calories; 14g Fat (39.7% calories from fat); 21g Protein; 25g Carbohydrate; 6g Dietary Fiber; 52mg Cholesterol; 2065mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 2 1/2 Lean Meat; 2 1/2 Vegetable; 1 1/2 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.
Kushary
Remember that kushary is a very simple working-class meal; there is nothing elegant to it, and you may wish to make and eat it for the same reason an Egyptian would--it’s satisfying, filling, and healthy.
You will be able to do steps 1, 2 and 3 at the same time if you are well organized. An easy way to serve kushary to a group of people is to leave the pasta in its colander from draining and rest it over a simmering pot of water. Place the mixing bowl of rice and lentils over another simmering pot of water to keep warm. Leave the tomato sauce in the saucepan you cooked it in and leave the onions in the skillet. Serve by spooning the cooked macaroni in a bowl and then spoon the rice and lentils on top. Spoon a quarter of the tomato sauce on top of the rice and then some onions. Serve the remaining sauce on the side. Eat with a spoon.
Yield: Makes 6 servings
From CliffordAWright.com
4 large onions, peeled
Salt
1/2 cup brown lentils, picked over (should yield 1 cup cooked lentils)
3 cups water
7 tablespoons samna (clarified butter) or 2 tablespoons samna and 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cups raw long-grain rice, well rinsed or soaked in water to cover for 30 minutes
2 teaspoons salt
2 cups mixed dry pasta (see Note below)
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 cups hot Egyptian-style tomato sauce (dim’a musabika)
Slice the onions from the stem end into very thin slices, less than 1/16th inch. Arrange the onion slices on some paper towels, sprinkle generously with salt, and leave for 30 minutes covered with paper towels to absorb moisture.
Wash the lentils under running water. Put them in a medium-size heavy saucepan, add 1 cup water and 1 teaspoon of the salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, partially covered, until the lentils are al dente, anywhere from 20 minutes to 1 hour. Check the lentils occasionally so they are not overcooked, since lentil cooking times differ; they should be ever so slightly hard, not completely soft. Add some water to the pot if it is drying out and the lentils are not yet cooked. Drain and reserve the lentils.
In another large, heavy saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, heat 2 tablespoons of the samna over medium-high heat, then cook the rice for 2 minutes, stirring continuously to coat all the grains, then add the remaining 2 cups water and 2 teaspoons salt. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cover while the rice cooks until the water is absorbed, 12 to 15 minutes. Do not lift the lid or stir while the rice cooks.
While the lentils and rice are cooking, prepare the onions. In a large skillet, melt the remaining 5 tablespoons samna or heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion slices and coat with the samna or oil. Continue turning the onions as they turn from white to yellow to brown. Once they turn brown, 10 to 20 minutes, continue to cook until some turn dark brown, another 2 minutes. Remove the skillet from the burner and quickly transfer the onions to a paper towel-lined platter to cool and drain. Once they are cool, they will have become crispy.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of abundantly salted water to a vigorous boil and add the pasta. Cook until soft (not al dente) and drain well. Mix together the rice and lentils in a large metal (preferably) bowl with a pinch of black pepper, tossing gently with a fork. Serve according to the instructions above.
Note: Half the dry pasta should be short macaroni such as ditalini, tubetti, or small elbow and the other half should be spaghetti broken into 2-inch lengths. The 2 cups dry pasta should yield 4 cups cooked pasta.
Egyptian Stewed Tomato Sauce (Dim'a Musabika)
The Nile delta has been a productive agricultural area feeding Egypt since ancient times. Once the tomato arrived from the New World it became as ubiquitous in Egyptian cooking as it did in all other Mediterranean cooking. So much so, in fact, that among the Bedouins of Egypt’s Western Desert, and throughout Egypt in general, vegetables are always cooked bisalsa, with a tomato-based sauce, such as the ubiquitous dim’a musabika (literally, stewed sauce). This sauce is excellent with kushary, on top of spaghetti, or with any vegetable.
Yield: Makes 4 cups
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
6 garlic cloves, crushed
One 6-ounce can tomato paste
4 cups water
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat, then cook the onion until translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another 2 minutes, stirring constantly so the garlic doesn’t burn.
Mix the tomato paste and water and add to the onion. Reduce the heat to low while you simmer the tomato sauce for 20 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, salt, black pepper, and cayenne and cook until denser, about another 5 minutes.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Just stuff and link to more T-day recipes and pics.
Well, I am going to guess that hubby and I have missed whatever BiL had, but MiL isn't so lucky. But then again, they were at her place from Thursday thru Sunday so she had a better chance to catch it. I do wonder if hubby and I have been fighting it though, for a day or so hubby's throat was a bit sore, and I've been way more tired than usual (as he said he's been but not as much). And we've both been a bit congested (with me having allergies it's hard to tell what's allergy and not unless it's full blown). It doesn't really matter in the long run though, we're doing ok really.
I'm on my second mug of hot tea this morning, and I do mean mug. I'm using my Richmond October Fest stein and it holds, according to the imprint, 0.5 L. I imagine I will become one with the bathroom today. :) First mug was Tazo Earl Grey (bagged), it was my first time trying it. Can't say that I liked it. I had bought a sampler box of their teas and this was from that. Even the smell when I opened the package that the bag was in put me off. It tasted ok, but the smell just turned me off. It just smelled like a burned bitter white pith of a rotten orange. I should have just gone with my normal Republic of Tea Double Earl Grey. :( Luckily I've only got one other tea bag sample of that one. And at least it tasted ok - maybe I should save it for when I can't smell. :) Right now I'm drinking a Stash Breakfast tea. It's no Barry's or PG's but it's decent. I like Stash's teas, especially since I can get them in the grocery store. I've got different layers of teas I guess you'd say - some are just drinking teas - ones that are just to drink where I just want something to drink or make iced tea with. Then there's the ones that hubby and I like to make at night in a pot
SiL has posted the recipes that she used when she cooked as well as some pictures here on her blog.
Last night's Hawaiian pizza was really good, I'll have to make it more often. Nothing too special about it really: I'm still using up the canned spicy spaghetti sauce (I think it was Del Monte but I can't remember now), low fat mozzarella cheese, pineapple tidbits (I need to drain them a bit better or put them on paper towels next time) and some diced ham (next time I need to either buy thinner slices or dice it finer it was a bit too chunky but it still worked). I was thinking prosciutto might even be good with it too. I actually ate 4 slices last night! I am usually fine after 2, but I was still hungry (I've gotten really good at listening to my body thanks to the Byetta) and since I didn't eat much for lunch I guess I was still hungry. Hubby and I also had a glass of wine, and it wasn't too much later that we both fell asleep. I guess we can't handle alcohol anymore since we really don't drink it that much. Boy, do we know how to party or what?
Miko wasn't too happy with me yesterday. I gave her a bath. She really needed one, she was really smelling doggy and it's time for her to get another application of flea meds (we haven't had a week of freezing temps yet that are needed to kill ticks and fleas). She was laying in the sun and I even turned up the heat in the house a bit, so I thought she'd be warm enough, but when I went to check on her she was shivering. :( I went to grab one of Percy's coats and put it on her. Luckily her mom before me used to dress her up so she didn't mind it too bad. I also put her on the couch under a blanket and it wasn't too long before I heard snores. She was under there for a good long while. She still wasn't totally dry (she's got a thick double coat), but it was better. I can't use a hair dryer on her because she hates the motor. After dinner she was finally dry and hubby brushed her out. She was luuuuuving daddy. :) I guess I learned one good thing while working at a Vets - how to bathe dogs. *sigh*
I'm on my second mug of hot tea this morning, and I do mean mug. I'm using my Richmond October Fest stein and it holds, according to the imprint, 0.5 L. I imagine I will become one with the bathroom today. :) First mug was Tazo Earl Grey (bagged), it was my first time trying it. Can't say that I liked it. I had bought a sampler box of their teas and this was from that. Even the smell when I opened the package that the bag was in put me off. It tasted ok, but the smell just turned me off. It just smelled like a burned bitter white pith of a rotten orange. I should have just gone with my normal Republic of Tea Double Earl Grey. :( Luckily I've only got one other tea bag sample of that one. And at least it tasted ok - maybe I should save it for when I can't smell. :) Right now I'm drinking a Stash Breakfast tea. It's no Barry's or PG's but it's decent. I like Stash's teas, especially since I can get them in the grocery store. I've got different layers of teas I guess you'd say - some are just drinking teas - ones that are just to drink where I just want something to drink or make iced tea with. Then there's the ones that hubby and I like to make at night in a pot
SiL has posted the recipes that she used when she cooked as well as some pictures here on her blog.
Last night's Hawaiian pizza was really good, I'll have to make it more often. Nothing too special about it really: I'm still using up the canned spicy spaghetti sauce (I think it was Del Monte but I can't remember now), low fat mozzarella cheese, pineapple tidbits (I need to drain them a bit better or put them on paper towels next time) and some diced ham (next time I need to either buy thinner slices or dice it finer it was a bit too chunky but it still worked). I was thinking prosciutto might even be good with it too. I actually ate 4 slices last night! I am usually fine after 2, but I was still hungry (I've gotten really good at listening to my body thanks to the Byetta) and since I didn't eat much for lunch I guess I was still hungry. Hubby and I also had a glass of wine, and it wasn't too much later that we both fell asleep. I guess we can't handle alcohol anymore since we really don't drink it that much. Boy, do we know how to party or what?
Miko wasn't too happy with me yesterday. I gave her a bath. She really needed one, she was really smelling doggy and it's time for her to get another application of flea meds (we haven't had a week of freezing temps yet that are needed to kill ticks and fleas). She was laying in the sun and I even turned up the heat in the house a bit, so I thought she'd be warm enough, but when I went to check on her she was shivering. :( I went to grab one of Percy's coats and put it on her. Luckily her mom before me used to dress her up so she didn't mind it too bad. I also put her on the couch under a blanket and it wasn't too long before I heard snores. She was under there for a good long while. She still wasn't totally dry (she's got a thick double coat), but it was better. I can't use a hair dryer on her because she hates the motor. After dinner she was finally dry and hubby brushed her out. She was luuuuuving daddy. :) I guess I learned one good thing while working at a Vets - how to bathe dogs. *sigh*
Just stuff and link to more T-day recipes and pics.
Well, I am going to guess that hubby and I have missed whatever BiL had, but MiL isn't so lucky. But then again, they were at her place from Thursday thru Sunday so she had a better chance to catch it. I do wonder if hubby and I have been fighting it though, for a day or so hubby's throat was a bit sore, and I've been way more tired than usual (as he said he's been but not as much). And we've both been a bit congested (with me having allergies it's hard to tell what's allergy and not unless it's full blown). It doesn't really matter in the long run though, we're doing ok really. I'm on my second mug of hot tea this morning, and I do mean mug. I'm using my Richmond October Fest stein and it holds, according to the imprint, 0.5 L. I imagine I will become one with the bathroom today. :) First mug was Tazo Earl Grey (bagged), it was my first time trying it. Can't say that I liked it. I had bought a sampler box of their teas and this was from that. Even the smell when I opened the package that the bag was in put me off. It tasted ok, but the smell just turned me off. It just smelled like a burned bitter white pith of a rotten orange. I should have just gone with my normal Republic of Tea Double Earl Grey. :( Luckily I've only got one other tea bag sample of that one. And at least it tasted ok - maybe I should save it for when I can't smell. :) Right now I'm drinking a Stash Breakfast tea. It's no Barry's or PG's but it's decent. I like Stash's teas, especially since I can get them in the grocery store. I've got different layers of teas I guess you'd say - some are just drinking teas - ones that are just to drink where I just want something to drink or make iced tea with. Then there's the ones that hubby and I like to make at night in a pot
SiL has posted the recipes that she used when she cooked as well as some pictures here on her blog.
Last night's Hawaiian pizza was really good, I'll have to make it more often. Nothing too special about it really: I'm still using up the canned spicy spaghetti sauce (I think it was Del Monte but I can't remember now), low fat mozzarella cheese, pineapple tidbits (I need to drain them a bit better or put them on paper towels next time) and some diced ham (next time I need to either buy thinner slices or dice it finer it was a bit too chunky but it still worked). I was thinking prosciutto might even be good with it too. I actually ate 4 slices last night! I am usually fine after 2, but I was still hungry (I've gotten really good at listening to my body thanks to the Byetta) and since I didn't eat much for lunch I guess I was still hungry. Hubby and I also had a glass of wine, and it wasn't too much later that we both fell asleep. I guess we can't handle alcohol anymore since we really don't drink it that much. Boy, do we know how to party or what?
Miko wasn't too happy with me yesterday. I gave her a bath. She really needed one, she was really smelling doggy and it's time for her to get another application of flea meds (we haven't had a week of freezing temps yet that are needed to kill ticks and fleas). She was laying in the sun and I even turned up the heat in the house a bit, so I thought she'd be warm enough, but when I went to check on her she was shivering. :( I went to grab one of Percy's coats and put it on her. Luckily her mom before me used to dress her up so she didn't mind it too bad. I also put her on the couch under a blanket and it wasn't too long before I heard snores. She was under there for a good long while. She still wasn't totally dry (she's got a thick double coat), but it was better. I can't use a hair dryer on her because she hates the motor. After dinner she was finally dry and hubby brushed her out. She was luuuuuving daddy. :) I guess I learned one good thing while working at a Vets - how to bathe dogs. *sigh*
SiL has posted the recipes that she used when she cooked as well as some pictures here on her blog.
Last night's Hawaiian pizza was really good, I'll have to make it more often. Nothing too special about it really: I'm still using up the canned spicy spaghetti sauce (I think it was Del Monte but I can't remember now), low fat mozzarella cheese, pineapple tidbits (I need to drain them a bit better or put them on paper towels next time) and some diced ham (next time I need to either buy thinner slices or dice it finer it was a bit too chunky but it still worked). I was thinking prosciutto might even be good with it too. I actually ate 4 slices last night! I am usually fine after 2, but I was still hungry (I've gotten really good at listening to my body thanks to the Byetta) and since I didn't eat much for lunch I guess I was still hungry. Hubby and I also had a glass of wine, and it wasn't too much later that we both fell asleep. I guess we can't handle alcohol anymore since we really don't drink it that much. Boy, do we know how to party or what?
Miko wasn't too happy with me yesterday. I gave her a bath. She really needed one, she was really smelling doggy and it's time for her to get another application of flea meds (we haven't had a week of freezing temps yet that are needed to kill ticks and fleas). She was laying in the sun and I even turned up the heat in the house a bit, so I thought she'd be warm enough, but when I went to check on her she was shivering. :( I went to grab one of Percy's coats and put it on her. Luckily her mom before me used to dress her up so she didn't mind it too bad. I also put her on the couch under a blanket and it wasn't too long before I heard snores. She was under there for a good long while. She still wasn't totally dry (she's got a thick double coat), but it was better. I can't use a hair dryer on her because she hates the motor. After dinner she was finally dry and hubby brushed her out. She was luuuuuving daddy. :) I guess I learned one good thing while working at a Vets - how to bathe dogs. *sigh*
Monday, December 01, 2008
Thanksgiving #2 & Menu Plan Monday
Our trip back to my sister's home, and Thanksgiving #2 went well. BJ was happy to have the weekend off, since usually he has to work (and instead has to work the weekend of Christmas). The sad point was that usually my cousins come, but this year were unable to make it. We still had a pretty full house: BJ's mom (his step-dad had to work), his brother and his new wife, his dad and stepmother. My mom and step dad and then my niece and nephew. Cade stuck to hubby like crazy. I had to ask if John was going to sleep with me or with Cade- and Cade wanted John to sleep on his trundle bed. :) It's a good thing I took my DS - Cade has his own, but he played mine most of the time we were there since I have a card that has a few games on it that we couldn't get to work in his. My sister and BiL now have a few game titles that he likes. BJ got a new flat screen tv (as far as I could tell it matched the one in the living room) so they mounted it on the wall in the "game room" and his brother got their old tv which made them happy. Layton wasn't so happy, she knew how to work that tv and didn't like not knowing how to use the new one to watch her DVDs. She threw quite a fit when they took the old tv with them as they left. Before dinner, she also had to change outfits four times *sigh*. I thought Kelly was bad while I was growing up. Kelly was talking about how she's getting the: "You're a mean mommy!" and "You don't love me!" speeches from her kids now, just like she (we) used to give when we were younger. Layton is quite frankly a little Kelly, even going so far as to look like her. It surprises me every time I see her how much she looks like Kelly every time I see her. Cade looks like a mixture of both his mom and dad. We were able to watch Ratatouille and watch part of Wall-E while there too.
Oh, Mary & Adam: Remember how we were talking about local news and how you can tell the difference between small town vs. large city? I told Kelly about your Louisville late-night outside the empty parking lot "Live from the School Bus Depot!" reporting. And then John made sure to mention the fact that most people smile when they say the word smile except for the Charlottesville reporter we saw. Kelly told us about the Harrisonburg reporter on Election Day who must of thought she was in Chicago since she told people to: "Vote early and vote often!"
There was a lot of food, like usual. :) My mom had helped with a Thanksgiving dinner at church, so she had a turkey breast already done since that was her contribution to the dinner so that was what she brought with her. We warmed it by gently steaming it while we prepared the rest of the stuff and that worked really well. She also brought the gravy and stuffing (with some made without onions and celery for my sister). My mom also made some cranberry sauce, she does the one with a whole orange, but I must admit I've never liked that one. And she brought Mr. Keith's favorite thing: oatmeal cookies. :D I think that was the only thing that was actually gone by the end of the evening. Kelly made mashed potatoes (she had BJ peel and cut them - she says the new Ore-Ida's are a god-send for her since she's not allergic to cooked potatoes), sweet potato casserole (basically the same as the one Mary made but Kelly likes her walnuts finer (and Mary might use Pecans I don't remember and I don't eat either) - she made half without nuts. Kelly also bought a Pumpkin cheesecake, Pumpkin Pie and Apple Pie (just for me that last one - although I wasn't the only one that ate it) from Costco. I know the apple pie was great, and everyone said the others were too. And the cost wasn't bad either- something I might have to consider if I ever need to. I can be pie crust challenged (warm hands) and if there's going to be a lot of people it would be worth it to buy one of the larger Costco pies and not frustrate myself (the apple was 5.99 I saw). Both of BJ's mom's brought green beans, his step mom also brought something that is common but I'm not sure what it's called: marshmallows, mandarin oranges, walnuts, etc. Not exactly ambrosia since it didn't have coconut - but I guess some people might call it that? His dad also brought deer tenderloin done in an onion gravy that was very good. I brought 2 loaves of bread (1 wheat and 1 white) and the biscotti like I posted earlier. And BJ's SiL brought a really yummy and easy salad:
Laura's Thanksgiving Salad
Dressing:
1/3 cup white vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp mustard
1 tsp grated onion
dash salt
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp poppy seeds
Salad:
1 med bunch of romaine, chopped
1 cup salted cashew halves
4 oz Swiss cheese, grated
Blend vinegar through salt. While processing gradually add 1 cup of vegetable oil. Stir in 1 tsp poppy seeds. Toss with salad.
Not totally WW friendly, but still tasty (Laura did WW awhile back, so Kelly her and I talk about it). Everyone told me I had lost weight, since most of them hadn't seen me for awhile. That felt great! We came home with a little bit of leftovers since John mentioned on Friday that he missed leftovers. I felt bad, but I couldn't see getting any on Thursday since we wouldn't be home this weekend and we were going to be eating another T-day dinner. He understood, but still wanted some. It's not a big thing, the only thing I would have had to buy would have been a turkey breast and I could have given him our own turkey dinner again anyway.
Ok, on to my Menu Plan:
It's got a bit more beef on it than I had originally thought I'd have. I had started to plan it before we left for the weekend. My sister had gotten a cow butchered (she went in with someone else and she had 3/4 of the cow in her freezer). When she does this, I get the parts she doesn't like, mainly the liver, heart, and tongue. She also told me she had some older meat from the last cow that she was going to give me to so we needed to bring an ice chest with us, good thing we don't have much choice between bringing our smaller one or the LARGE one. She filled up the large one AND my little Trader Joes insulated one too (I also kept T-day leftovers in the TJ's one). I still had a chub of ground beef and 2 packages of ground beef patties (not quite burgers but close and not cube steak, they are thinner and fall apart easier). I've pulled those out and have planned to use those 3 older things this week.
Last night when we got home I made Turkey Noodle Soup. I had cooked the turkey bones from Thurs on Friday in the crockpot and had 12 cups of broth and some meat. I used 4 cups broth and I added some frozen CA veggies, some leftover corn (it was about 1/2 cup) from a dinner side last week and egg noodles.
Monday (tonight): T-day leftovers - Mashed potatoes, Sweet Potato casserole, green beans, sliced turkey, stuffing.
Tuesday: Homemade Nachos (recipe below)
Wednesday: Hamburger Vegetable Soup (recipe below)
Thursday: Keema Mattar (recipe below)
Friday: Homemade Hawaiian Pizza (ham & pineapple)
Saturday: FFY (fend for yourself)
Sunday: Indian Tomato Soup (lunch) (recipe below) Omelets (dinner)
For more menu ideas visit: I'm an Organizing Junkie
Homemade Nachos
6 Large Corn Flour Tortillas or Flour Tortillas
1 pound cooked ground beef, seasoned with taco seasoning
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 jar (16 ounces) salsa
1 cup Monterey jack cheese, shredded
1 cup ripe olives, sliced
1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup fresh tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup green onion, chopped
1 container (16 ounces) sour cream (optional)
Slice fresh tortillas into large triangle shapes and bake at 375 degrees F for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool.
Layering ingredients on top of tortilla chips in the following order, beginning with seasoned ground beef, chopped onion, salsa, and a small amount of Monterey jack cheese, ending with olives. Heat in oven just until Monterey jack cheese melts. Remove from oven and top with Cheddar cheese, fresh diced tomatoes,and chopped green onion. Top with sour cream if desired Makes 6 servings.
From the Clabber Girl Recipe Book "RECIPES TO WARM THE HEART"
Vegetable Hamburger Soup
From Sharing Our Best: Recipes from Amish Mennonites, Stuarts Draft, VA
Mrs. Paul D. Yoder
1 1/2 lbs hamburger
1/2 cup chopped onion
4 cup water
1/2 c chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 cups diced potatoes
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp basil or parsley
1 beef bouillon cube
3 tomatoes or a little juice
salt and pepper to taste
In large saucepan, brown meat with onions. Add water and remaining ingredients except tomatoes. Cook until vegetables are tender, then add tomatoes and simmer 10 minutes. May add more of other vegetables and juices or water. Should make about a gallon of soup.
Keema Matar (Chopped Meat with Peas)
Adapted from Woman's Day Encyclopedia of Cookery p. 939 AND "Great Curries" by Manisha Kanani"
Serving Size : 4-6
1 tablespoon oil or butter
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons curry powder (or to taste)
2 green chiles, finely chopped (can use canned)
1 pound extra lean ground beef , or lamb
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon minced ginger – OR 1/3 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups water
1 (10 oz) package frozen peas
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Heat oil in a large saucepan and fry the onion for 5 minutes, until golden brown. Add the garlic, curry powder, ginger and chilies and fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the ground beef or lamb and stir fry for about 5 minutes, chopping and turning to break it up. Stir in the ground cumin, ground coriander, cayenne pepper, ground cinnamon, ginger, and salt with water. Cover and simmer for about 25 minutes. Add the peas and lemon juice. Cook for another 10 minutes, uncovered or until the meat is tender. Serve with naan bread and plain yogurt.
Variation: Substitute for green peas 1/2 cup split peas soaked in 1 cup water. Add peas and water to meat at beginning of cooking, cover, and cook until peas are tender.
Spicy Tomato Soup (Indian) (3 pts)
Seasoned with mild spices, this smooth soup is easy to prepare and appealing year round, served either hot or chilled. Really quick version: use 1 tsp garam masala, dash of Tabasco and 2 cans tomato soup.
Recipe By :Vasantha Prasad
Serving Size :4
3 cups vegetable broth, or water
3 ripe tomatoes, about 1 lb
OR
16 ounces Italian plum tomatoes, whole canned, drained
1 onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
For Garnish:
1/2 cup yogurt, skim milk, plain
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
Stove-top Method: In a 3 quart saucepan, bring the vegetable broth to a boil. Add the tomatoes, onion, garlic, cumin, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, salt, and lemon juice. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Off the heat, let the soup stand for 5 minutes.
Microwave Method: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the vegetable broth, tomatoes, onions, garlic, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, salt, and lemon juice. Cook covered on high (100%) for 6 minutes. Stir the contents and cook on high for another 6 to 8 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes.
For both methods, follow steps 4 and 5 below:
In a food processor fitted with a metal blade or in a blender, process the mixture to a fine puree. Pour the mixture into a saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and allow the soup to simmer for 5 minutes.
Garnish with a spoonful of yogurt and chopped cilantro.
Source: "Indian Vegetarian Cooking from an American Kitchen"
Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 193 Calories; 4g Fat (16.2% calories from fat); 8g Protein; 34g Carbohydrate; 5g Dietary Fiber; 2mg Cholesterol; 1528mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1 1/2 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 2 Vegetable; 0 Fruit; 0 Non-Fat Milk; 1 Fat.
Oh, Mary & Adam: Remember how we were talking about local news and how you can tell the difference between small town vs. large city? I told Kelly about your Louisville late-night outside the empty parking lot "Live from the School Bus Depot!" reporting. And then John made sure to mention the fact that most people smile when they say the word smile except for the Charlottesville reporter we saw. Kelly told us about the Harrisonburg reporter on Election Day who must of thought she was in Chicago since she told people to: "Vote early and vote often!"
There was a lot of food, like usual. :) My mom had helped with a Thanksgiving dinner at church, so she had a turkey breast already done since that was her contribution to the dinner so that was what she brought with her. We warmed it by gently steaming it while we prepared the rest of the stuff and that worked really well. She also brought the gravy and stuffing (with some made without onions and celery for my sister). My mom also made some cranberry sauce, she does the one with a whole orange, but I must admit I've never liked that one. And she brought Mr. Keith's favorite thing: oatmeal cookies. :D I think that was the only thing that was actually gone by the end of the evening. Kelly made mashed potatoes (she had BJ peel and cut them - she says the new Ore-Ida's are a god-send for her since she's not allergic to cooked potatoes), sweet potato casserole (basically the same as the one Mary made but Kelly likes her walnuts finer (and Mary might use Pecans I don't remember and I don't eat either) - she made half without nuts. Kelly also bought a Pumpkin cheesecake, Pumpkin Pie and Apple Pie (just for me that last one - although I wasn't the only one that ate it) from Costco. I know the apple pie was great, and everyone said the others were too. And the cost wasn't bad either- something I might have to consider if I ever need to. I can be pie crust challenged (warm hands) and if there's going to be a lot of people it would be worth it to buy one of the larger Costco pies and not frustrate myself (the apple was 5.99 I saw). Both of BJ's mom's brought green beans, his step mom also brought something that is common but I'm not sure what it's called: marshmallows, mandarin oranges, walnuts, etc. Not exactly ambrosia since it didn't have coconut - but I guess some people might call it that? His dad also brought deer tenderloin done in an onion gravy that was very good. I brought 2 loaves of bread (1 wheat and 1 white) and the biscotti like I posted earlier. And BJ's SiL brought a really yummy and easy salad:
Laura's Thanksgiving Salad
Dressing:
1/3 cup white vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp mustard
1 tsp grated onion
dash salt
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp poppy seeds
Salad:
1 med bunch of romaine, chopped
1 cup salted cashew halves
4 oz Swiss cheese, grated
Blend vinegar through salt. While processing gradually add 1 cup of vegetable oil. Stir in 1 tsp poppy seeds. Toss with salad.
Not totally WW friendly, but still tasty (Laura did WW awhile back, so Kelly her and I talk about it). Everyone told me I had lost weight, since most of them hadn't seen me for awhile. That felt great! We came home with a little bit of leftovers since John mentioned on Friday that he missed leftovers. I felt bad, but I couldn't see getting any on Thursday since we wouldn't be home this weekend and we were going to be eating another T-day dinner. He understood, but still wanted some. It's not a big thing, the only thing I would have had to buy would have been a turkey breast and I could have given him our own turkey dinner again anyway.
Ok, on to my Menu Plan:
It's got a bit more beef on it than I had originally thought I'd have. I had started to plan it before we left for the weekend. My sister had gotten a cow butchered (she went in with someone else and she had 3/4 of the cow in her freezer). When she does this, I get the parts she doesn't like, mainly the liver, heart, and tongue. She also told me she had some older meat from the last cow that she was going to give me to so we needed to bring an ice chest with us, good thing we don't have much choice between bringing our smaller one or the LARGE one. She filled up the large one AND my little Trader Joes insulated one too (I also kept T-day leftovers in the TJ's one). I still had a chub of ground beef and 2 packages of ground beef patties (not quite burgers but close and not cube steak, they are thinner and fall apart easier). I've pulled those out and have planned to use those 3 older things this week.
Last night when we got home I made Turkey Noodle Soup. I had cooked the turkey bones from Thurs on Friday in the crockpot and had 12 cups of broth and some meat. I used 4 cups broth and I added some frozen CA veggies, some leftover corn (it was about 1/2 cup) from a dinner side last week and egg noodles.
Monday (tonight): T-day leftovers - Mashed potatoes, Sweet Potato casserole, green beans, sliced turkey, stuffing.
Tuesday: Homemade Nachos (recipe below)
Wednesday: Hamburger Vegetable Soup (recipe below)
Thursday: Keema Mattar (recipe below)
Friday: Homemade Hawaiian Pizza (ham & pineapple)
Saturday: FFY (fend for yourself)
Sunday: Indian Tomato Soup (lunch) (recipe below) Omelets (dinner)
For more menu ideas visit: I'm an Organizing Junkie
Homemade Nachos
6 Large Corn Flour Tortillas or Flour Tortillas
1 pound cooked ground beef, seasoned with taco seasoning
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 jar (16 ounces) salsa
1 cup Monterey jack cheese, shredded
1 cup ripe olives, sliced
1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup fresh tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup green onion, chopped
1 container (16 ounces) sour cream (optional)
Slice fresh tortillas into large triangle shapes and bake at 375 degrees F for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool.
Layering ingredients on top of tortilla chips in the following order, beginning with seasoned ground beef, chopped onion, salsa, and a small amount of Monterey jack cheese, ending with olives. Heat in oven just until Monterey jack cheese melts. Remove from oven and top with Cheddar cheese, fresh diced tomatoes,and chopped green onion. Top with sour cream if desired Makes 6 servings.
From the Clabber Girl Recipe Book "RECIPES TO WARM THE HEART"
Vegetable Hamburger Soup
From Sharing Our Best: Recipes from Amish Mennonites, Stuarts Draft, VA
Mrs. Paul D. Yoder
1 1/2 lbs hamburger
1/2 cup chopped onion
4 cup water
1/2 c chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 cups diced potatoes
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp basil or parsley
1 beef bouillon cube
3 tomatoes or a little juice
salt and pepper to taste
In large saucepan, brown meat with onions. Add water and remaining ingredients except tomatoes. Cook until vegetables are tender, then add tomatoes and simmer 10 minutes. May add more of other vegetables and juices or water. Should make about a gallon of soup.
Keema Matar (Chopped Meat with Peas)
Adapted from Woman's Day Encyclopedia of Cookery p. 939 AND "Great Curries" by Manisha Kanani"
Serving Size : 4-6
1 tablespoon oil or butter
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons curry powder (or to taste)
2 green chiles, finely chopped (can use canned)
1 pound extra lean ground beef , or lamb
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon minced ginger – OR 1/3 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups water
1 (10 oz) package frozen peas
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Heat oil in a large saucepan and fry the onion for 5 minutes, until golden brown. Add the garlic, curry powder, ginger and chilies and fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the ground beef or lamb and stir fry for about 5 minutes, chopping and turning to break it up. Stir in the ground cumin, ground coriander, cayenne pepper, ground cinnamon, ginger, and salt with water. Cover and simmer for about 25 minutes. Add the peas and lemon juice. Cook for another 10 minutes, uncovered or until the meat is tender. Serve with naan bread and plain yogurt.
Variation: Substitute for green peas 1/2 cup split peas soaked in 1 cup water. Add peas and water to meat at beginning of cooking, cover, and cook until peas are tender.
Spicy Tomato Soup (Indian) (3 pts)
Seasoned with mild spices, this smooth soup is easy to prepare and appealing year round, served either hot or chilled. Really quick version: use 1 tsp garam masala, dash of Tabasco and 2 cans tomato soup.
Recipe By :Vasantha Prasad
Serving Size :4
3 cups vegetable broth, or water
3 ripe tomatoes, about 1 lb
OR
16 ounces Italian plum tomatoes, whole canned, drained
1 onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
For Garnish:
1/2 cup yogurt, skim milk, plain
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
Stove-top Method: In a 3 quart saucepan, bring the vegetable broth to a boil. Add the tomatoes, onion, garlic, cumin, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, salt, and lemon juice. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Off the heat, let the soup stand for 5 minutes.
Microwave Method: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the vegetable broth, tomatoes, onions, garlic, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, salt, and lemon juice. Cook covered on high (100%) for 6 minutes. Stir the contents and cook on high for another 6 to 8 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes.
For both methods, follow steps 4 and 5 below:
In a food processor fitted with a metal blade or in a blender, process the mixture to a fine puree. Pour the mixture into a saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and allow the soup to simmer for 5 minutes.
Garnish with a spoonful of yogurt and chopped cilantro.
Source: "Indian Vegetarian Cooking from an American Kitchen"
Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 193 Calories; 4g Fat (16.2% calories from fat); 8g Protein; 34g Carbohydrate; 5g Dietary Fiber; 2mg Cholesterol; 1528mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1 1/2 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 2 Vegetable; 0 Fruit; 0 Non-Fat Milk; 1 Fat.
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