Menu Monday

I’m tired of that sinking feeling that accompanies the question, “What’s for dinner?”  I’ve committed to making weekly menus and reporting on how cooking for the week went.

So the first week of the new diet was really great!  The second week has been good, but not quite as easy. I have a little most of the menu done for the week.  Now I just have to figure out what to serve my friends who are visiting on Saturday!

Monday: Chicken Korma with Veggies. Quick, easy, yummy!

Tuesday: Turkey burgers with salad

Wednesday: Lentils con prosciutto

Thursday: Black beans and brown rice with local peppers and lots of Cajun seasoning

Friday: Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings from Eating Well.  I’ve never made chicken and dumplings before…and this looks so good!  (I didn’t make them last time it was on the menu either.) I’m looking forward to the experiment!

Saturday: Cooking for our friends Chris and Rachel.  I really need to plan this one out.

Sunday: To be honest, we’re probably going to eat leftovers.  We have a busy Sunday, and will be getting ready for Thanksgiving.  I’m hitting the grocery stores with my friend Jenn to prep for the occasion, so I’ll need all the fridge space I can get!

Hopefully this will all work out well!  What are you making for dinner this week?

Menu Monday Had Too Many Carbs

Yes.  That title sounds pretty pretench somehow.  Lately I’ve been eating too many refined carbs.  Bread and butter people.  Lots of pasta.  Tasty and carb-o-licious.  It wouldn’t be such a problem if refined carbohydrates hadn’t become about 70% of my caloric intake.  YIKES.

So, I’m making a big effort to change my diet over the next few weeks.  Here’s what I’m doing:

1. Eat lean protein at every meal.  Three to four ounces.  This could be made up of poultry, pork, nuts, legumes, or quinoa.
2. Eat one serving of whole grains at every meal.  With “one” and “whole grains” being the key words here.  As opposed to “four” and “baguettes”.
3. Eat all of the veggies you want.  Snacks and meals.  Preferably two servings per instance.
4. Get dairy from yogurt (preferably plain, could be Greek) and small quantities of cheese.  I love cheese.  Good, fancy cheese.  A little a day can really punch up my salads without going overboard.  Mainly this rule is here so I won’t just chug Dark Chocolate Almond Milk all day.  While it is super tasty, I’m just drinking calories like there is no tomorrow.
5. Substitute fruit for chocolate, candy, and sweet treats.  I really love some frozen grapes.  This one shouldn’t be too hard.
6. Drink 80 ounces of water a day.  Drink only water.  Quit it with the almond milk, cow milk, and fruit juice.

So there’s my quick and dirty detox plan.  This week I’ll keep you posted on how it’s going.

And this basically is my updated Menu Monday post for this week.  It was full of pasta and rice.  Seriously.  I made a lasagna.  Which I never make.  It was tasty and carb-tastic.  I will let my husband finish the leftovers and move on with my life.  ::deep, serene breath::

Menu Monday

I’m tired of that sinking feeling that accompanies the question, “What’s for dinner?”  I’ve committed to making weekly menus and reporting on how cooking for the week went.

I love getting recipe ideas from friends.  This week I got some from Facebook sharing and Pinterest.  (OMG Pinterest is CRAZY FUN!!)  Here’s what I came up with.

1. Chipotle Pork Quesadillas with Smashed Black Beans, and Corn Salsa.  Doesn’t that sound FABULOUS?!  I’m not going to go as all-out as the original recipe, but I think it will be a nice change from tacos.  Thanks to my friend Jenn for the recommendation.
   
2. Turkey and Cheese Lasagna Roll-ups.  Found on Pinterest.  Cute and easy!
3. Dinner out with my awesome friend Jenn.  We’re going to get spicy Indian food at Lejha again.  It’s going to be awesome.  And since it’s Richmond Restaurant Week, it’s for a good cause!
4. Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings from Eating Well.  I’ve never made chicken and dumplings before…and this looks so good!  It will be nice and comforting when the weather turns super cold later this week.
5. Lentils con Prosciutto with Balsamic Pork Chops and Sautéed Beet Greens.  These lentils are totally becoming a weekly staple, and the leftovers keep really well.
6. Pizza Night!  We are big pizza fans, so we have a weekly pizza night!  This week will be Prosciutto and Mozzarella.  I’m going to finally attempt making pizza dough.  You’ll get the full scoop soon!
7. Dinner with a gang of friends.  We’ll all be hanging out.  It’s going to be awesome.

So there’s the plan!  What are you making this week?

Menu Monday

I’m tired of that sinking feeling that accompanies the question, “What’s for dinner?”  I’ve committed to making weekly menus and reporting on how cooking for the week went.

Going to the Farm to Family Market makes planning meals a little harder. I’m working to find recipes that go with all the amazing food that I get, with just a little supplementation from the grocery store.  It’s not easy, but it’s totally worth it.

1. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili with Chili-Cheese-Corn Muffins.  I have all but 3 ingredients for this meal on-hand after my trip to the market.  That is an accomplishment!
2. Lentils con Prosciutto with Balsamic Pork Chops and Sautéed Beet Greens.  These lentils are totally becoming a weekly staple, and the leftovers keep really well.
3. Pizza Night!  We are big pizza fans, so we have a weekly pizza night!  This week will be Prosciutto and Mozzarella.  I’m going to finally attempt making pizza dough.  You’ll get the full scoop soon!
4. Taco Night!  We haven’t had tacos in a couple of weeks.  It’s time.
5. Salad with Roasted Beets and White Sweet Potatoes, Feta and Balsamic Vinaigrette.  Over the weekend, I made my first attempt at roasting beets.  They are going to become part of this yummy salad!
6. Marinated Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Patty Pan Squash with Basil. This is a super easy dinner that fits squarely in the “comfort food” category.  YUM.
7. Farfalle with Ground Turkey and Roasted Pepper Sauce.  Another one of our go-to meals.  I’m making a big batch for a group of friends that are coming over.  I’ll serve it with a big salad.  Quick, easy, filling, yummy.

So that’s my plan!  What are you making this week?

Menu Monday

I’m tired of that sinking feeling that accompanies the question, “What’s for dinner?”  I’ve committed to making weekly menus and reporting on how cooking for the week went.

This week I’m working to use  the last of the great produce from my first Grab and Go box from the Farm to Family Market.  I don’t want those fabulous squashes to go to waste!

1. Butternut Squash Soup with Biscuits.  I have roasted butternut squash and onions hanging out in my fridge.  I’m going to puree them into a lovely soup using the chicken stock I made last weekend.
   
2. Lentils con Prosciutto with Balsamic Pork Chops.  We love this lentil dish.  I’m serving the leftovers from Sunday night with some fresh pork chops.
3. Chicken Korma over Quinoa. I have a lot of prepped quinoa.  I think it will be a lovely base for some tasty chicken korma.
4. Buttery Patty Pan Squash, Marinated Port and Mashed Potatoes.  Lots of whole foods prepared simply. I always crave comfort food when the weather changes.  I’m making this on a very chilly night.
5. Chicken and Sweet Potato Stew.  Suggested by my friend Jenn, I’m going to make this lovely stew.  And I already have all the ingredients on hand.  Score!
6. Spaghetti Squash with Turkey Meatballs and Marinara Sauce. An interesting alternative to our standard pasta night.  I’m curious to see how it works out.

Sunday will be “leftover day”.  That sounds so lame, but with so many new meals, especially when there is soup, I know we’ll have lots for lunches and a one more dinner. So there’s the plan! I’m excited about getting back on the menu making wagon.

What are you making this week?  Add a link to your favorite recipes or a menu you publish on your blog to the list by clicking the link  below.  This is a new way for us to share our ideas with one another. So add your link today, and let me know what you think of the new feature!

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

What We Actually Ate

After two weeks of menu planning, I backslid.  No menu this week.  It wasn’t the best week of food, but it was a reminder why Menu Mondays are so important.  Here is what we actually ate.

• Monday: Taco night.  I added some sautéed bell peppers, red onion, and hot sauce this week.  Totally yummy.
• Tuesday: Taco night part 2.  I really need to work on Tuesday night dinners.  We have so little time and I usually fall back on leftovers.  It seems a little weak to me.
• Wednesday: Apparently this meal was so forgettable, I have no idea what we ate.
• Thursday: Chicken Korma with green beans and carrots.  This was super-duper tasty.  I used some of the chicken leftover from last weeks roasted chicken, sautéed some green beans and carrots and simmered them all in some Seeds of Change Korma sauce for 10 minutes.  Easy and super yummy.
• Friday: Dinner out with Katie and Vic.  We were in Norfolk visiting friends and went to Cogan’s – a quirky pizza joint.  The salad was fair, but the Big Kahuna pizza was amazing.  We would definitely go back.
• Saturday: Pizza night.  After attending a lovely wedding and reception, we drove 2 hours home.  I was not feeling cooking after that big day.  Especially since I had no plan.  So I fell back on pizza.  ::sigh::  See why Menu Monday’s are so important?
• Sunday: Lentils con Prosciutto.  I’ve been putting off making this for 2 weeks.  I’ll have time to make it happen tomorrow and I can’t wait.  YUM.

So, lesson learned.  Plan those menus.  It really does make my life easier.

Menu Monday

I’m tired of that sinking feeling that accompanies the question, “What’s for dinner?”  I’ve committed to making weekly menus and reporting on how cooking for the week went.

This week’s edition is a little late as I wanted to make my menu after going to the Farm to Family Market today.  Let me tell you, that is a wonderful place!  I’ll give the trip its own post later this week.

1. Green Beans, Shallots and Carmen Peppers with Olive Oil, Salt, and Pepper over Farfalle.  Just thrown together from my Farm to Family box.  Super simple and super tasty.  Lots of complements from T on this one.
   
2. Zucchini and Chickpeas over Linguine from Real Simple. (Not Martha Stewart Everyday Food. No wonder I couldn’t find the recipe!).  This is an awesome meatless meal that has a little kick of spice.
3. Lentils con Prosciutto.  This is so incredibly tasty.  I’m totally trying it myself this week.
4. Pizza Night!  We are big pizza fans, so we have a weekly pizza night!  This week will be Pizza with Roasted Butternut Squash and Prosciutto.
5. Taco Night!  Deviating a little from the standard this week.  I’m going to add sautéed peppers and onions from the local market.  YUM.
6. Roasted Chicken.  I’m breaking out the Nourishing Traditions cookbook and fixing up this amazing Polyface Farms chicken I got from the Farm to Family Market .  I’m really excited about eating one of these amazing birds, and the fact that I think I can get 3-5 meals from it.
7. Dinner out with my awesome friend Jenn.  We’re going to get spicy Indian food.  It’s going to be awesome.

So there’s the plan!  What are you making this week?

What We Actually Ate

I learned a few things from menu planning this week.

1. Having a plan is helpful, and I didn’t feel completely unprepared.
2. If the grocery store doesn’t have the core ingredients I need for a recipe, I can substitute and/or change up my menu plan on the fly.
3. I really need to cook something quick/super easy on Tuesdays and Thursdays since we have activities starting at 6:30 p.m.
4. I really don’t like to try new recipes during the week.
5. I really don’t like to spend more than 30 minutes cooking.

So, we didn’t eat according to plan.  We did okay though, and never actually ordered takeout.  I’d call Menu Mondays a success.

• Monday: Chicken Noodle Soup
• Tuesday: Pasta with Ground Turkey and Marinara Sauce. A 20-minute go-to meal that we have once a week or so.
• Wednesday: Taco Night!  Taco night still seems like fun to me.  We enjoy a good taco around here.
• Thursday: Taco Night, part 2. Yes. A repeat.  I was not thrilled, but we were able to eat quickly.
• Friday: Homemade Ham and Mushroom Pizza.  I didn’t make the crust from scratch, but it was assembled at home.
• Saturday: Campanelle with Ground Turkey and Roasted Pepper Sauce. After a long day of working around the house, that Paul Newman sauce makes for a quick and easy dinner.
• Sunday: Pork and Veggie Stirfry with Soba Noodles.  Quick, easy, and full of veggies.  Just what I needed after a recovery day around the house.

Feel-Better Chicken Soup

Thank goodness for a decently stocked pantry.  We are having homemade chicken and stars for dinner. That’s what happens when someone in our family gets sick.  I make chicken soup. Luckily I have a nice batch of homemade broth and some organic chicken in the freezer.  (If you haven’t made your own broth I highly recommend it.  Nourishing Traditions has a great recipe.)

I started with some olive oil, carrots, and onion.  I sautéed that up in my dutch oven, and then added 2 bay leaves and a giant block of chicken stock.

While that was melting down I thawed 2 chicken thighs, and chopped them into small pieces. This was made a little difficult by the two kitties engaged in intense food-scavenging.  We survived.

Once the stock came to a simmer I added the chicken and let it cook for 2 minutes.  Then I added the Stelline (star-shaped pasta).  I added about 1/2 a box (approx. 5-6 oz.) and let that cook for 6 minutes more. Stir as it cooks, as those tiny stars love to stick to the pot. (Note: with this much pasta, it’s going to soak up almost all the broth.  Use less pasta if you like a soupier soup.)

Then, voila!  Homemade chicken and stars in about 30 minutes.  I served it with saltines.  Don’t they have mystical healing powers too?

Menu Monday

Like I said yesterday, I’ve committed to make weekly menus and report on how things went.  April’s “Lunch Time” posts over at So Yeah…So inspired me to make this a recurring feature on The Ideal Me.  I know menu planning makes the week much easier, and I think this will help keep me accountable.  So, here’s what we’re eating.

1. Zucchini and Chickpeas over Linguini adapted from Martha Stewart Everyday Food.  Sadly, I can’t find this recipe on her site,  so I’ll post my version of the recipe tonight.  This is an awesome meatless meal that has a little kick of spice.
2.  Sesame and Peanut Noodles With Snow Peas from Eat Make Read.  Incredibly easy and very fast.  I tried this for the first time last week and was a little heavy-handed with the sauce.  Hopefully a more reserved portion will make the recipe a success this week.
3. Taco Night!  We’ve been digging having tacos once a week.  Tonight I’ll make them with ground turkey and the standard fixings.
4. Farfalle with Sockarooni Sauce and Ground Turkey.  This is one of our busy night staples.  It takes about 20 minutes (mainly because of the pasta cooking time) and is filling and delicious.
5. Balsamic pork chops with sautéed onions and Lentils con Prosciutto.  Our amazing friend Jenn made this for dinner on Saturday and it was crazy good.  I’m totally trying it myself this week.
6. Pizza Night!  We are big pizza fans, so I’m going to try a weekly pizza night!  This week will be our old standby – Ham and Mushroom – with homemade pizza dough.  Wish me luck on the dough thing.
7. Japanese Chicken-Scallion Rice Bowl from EatingWell.com.  I think this looks easy and delicious.  Hopefully my first attempt at making it will be yummy.

So there you have it.

Oh, and if you’re wondering why I number my recipes instead of assigning days, well…I like switching up my plan at the last minute and still serving dinner at 6:00 p.m.  This really saves me on days that I only have 20 minutes to get dinner on the table.

What are you making this week?