Meal Plan Mondays

Week of June 17-23

Monday:  Salmon
Tuesday: Teriyaki Chicken skewers and fried rice
Wednesday: Fish tacos
Thursday: Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
Friday: Pizza, Sauce from Best Bites cook book
Saturday: Orange Thai Beef Skewers, from Best Bites Cook Book
Sunday: Peter's Lasagna, from Best Bites Cook Book

Week of June 24-30

Monday: Spinach-Chicken Stromboli, From Best Bites Cook Book
Tuesday: Amazing Chili's Fajitas
Wednesday: Chicken Parmesan Roll-ups
Thursday: Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Soup
Friday: Pizza, Sauce from Best Bites Cook book
Saturday: Cairns
Sunday: Cairns

Meal Plan Mondays

Week of April  8-14

Monday, April 8th: Priscilla's Beef Enchiladas
Tuesday, April 9th: Slow Cooker Beef Burritos
Wednesday, April 10th: Slow cooker Chicken and Quinoa Chili
Thursday, April 11th: Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken
Friday, April 12th: Party night!  School is out for two weeks and movie at the Embassy which means McDonald's or pizza from the Marines at the movie.
Saturday, April 13th: Hawaiian Beef Teriyaki
Sunday, April 14th: Lemon Pepper Chicken

Week of April 15-21

Monday, April 15th: Crock Pot General Tso's Chicken
Tuesday, April 16th: Johanna's Meat Pie, I'll post on my blog once I get a verdict from the kids :)
Wednesday, April 17th: Guiltless Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bar
Thursday, April 18th: Scalloped Potatoes and baked chicken
Friday, April 19th: Pizza Night with our favorite crust and trying this sauce
Saturday, April 20th:  Sydney
Sunday, April 21st: Sydney

Oatmeal, Blueberry and Orange Muffins

I don't know if these would be a go-to recipe for blueberry muffins, since my kids thought they looked disgusting.  They are very tasty, however, for how healthy they are.  If you are counting calories, these muffins are terrific.

Ingredients:

1 c. quick oats

1 c. whole wheat flour

1 tsp. each of baking powder, baking soda and salt

1 1/2 c. flaked sweet coconut

Grated rind of one large orange

1 egg

1/2 cup honey

3 T. extra light olive oil

1 T. vinegar

Juice one orange and add water to make one cup of liquid

1 to 1 1/4 c. fresh or frozen blueberries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 and line 12 muffin cups with liners.

Combine the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl:  oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Add coconut and orange rind.  Beat egg in a separate bowl then add honey, oil, vinegar, juice and water.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry mix and stir until just moist.  Fold in blueberries.  Spoon batter into muffin cups. Bake for 20-25 minutes.  Let cool and enjoy!

Source:  The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs.

Soft Iced Sugar Cookies

This is my first time using a very fancy portable photo studio that Doug bought me for photographing my food for this blog.  Doesn't this look so professional?  We love these cookies and everyone wants the recipe, so here it is. Enjoy!

1 1/4 c. sugar

1 c. butter

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

3 T. milk

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

2 3/4-3 c. flour, start with 2 3/4 c. and you can add a little more if you think it needs it

1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Cream butter and sugar; add egg, vanilla, and milk.  Add baking powder, flour, and salt.  Drop 1 teaspoon dough on cookie sheet (that's what the recipe says, but I never make a cookie with just one teaspoon of dough, what's the point?); press top of cookie with glass, dipped in sugar, once or twice depending on amount of sugar you want on cookie.  I don't use a lot since I put icing on them.  Bake at 325 for 10 minutes.  Do not over bake them!  They might not look done, but if you bake them until golden brown they won't be soft.  

Icing

4 cups of powdered sugar

1/2 cup of butter

1 tsp. vanilla

4 T. milk

Add more milk if you need to get the right consistency as you beat with an electric mixer.  Costco vanilla is always the best.

Scalloped Potatoes

Picture coming soon, we love these potatoes!  Best thing is no cream of whatever soup.

4 cups of thinly sliced potatoes
3 T butter
3 T flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tsp salt
1 cup of grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 grated cheddar cheese to sprinkle on top
salt and pepper
grated parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top

In a sauce pan melt the butter then stir in the flour.  Add all of the milk, salt and pepper to taste.  Cook it until thickened and bubbly, whisking constantly.  Reduce heat and add a cup of cheese. Stir the sauce until all the cheese is completely melted. Line the bottom of a greased casserole dish with half of the potatoes.  Sprinkle salt and pepper over it all to taste.  Spread half of cheese sauce then repeat with potatoes, salt, pepper and cheese sauce.  Sprinkle parmesan and cheddar over the top. Bake uncovered for about an hour at 350 degrees.  If you want to bake this in a 9 x 13 casserole dish, you'll need to double it.  This is for a smaller casserole dish as it is written.

My favorite vanilla Cupcakes

I found these on a blog claiming to be the best, and I agree. They are some of the best basic vanilla cupcakes out there.  Very moist, very yummy.

Perfect Yellow Cupcakes
Makes 12
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick of butter at room temperature (8 Tablespoons)
1/2 cup sour cream
2 large eggs at room temperature
2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake pan with liners or spray with cooking spray.  Combine all dry ingredients.  Add butter, sour cream, eggs and vanilla. Beat with electric mixer for about 30 seconds on medium speed until smooth and shiny.  Divide batter in cupcake pan. Bake for about 20 minutes, but check on them.  Let them cool. Enjoy!!

Meal Plan Mondays

Week of March 4-10th
Monday:  Pork Carnitas Salad
Tuesday:  Chicken Florentine Ring
Wednesday:  Beef Stroganoff
Thursday: Slow Cooker Bajio Chicken
Friday: Busy Night, we're headed to Macca's
Saturday:Lettuce wraps
Sunday:French Dip Sandwiches with these buns and French Fries.

Week of March 11- 17th
Monday: Chicken Pot Pie Crumble
Tuesday:   Chicken Tenders
Wednesday: Cashew Chicken and Rice
Thursday: Pasta Fagioli Soup
Friday: Pizza Night with this crust
Saturday: Homemade Subway sandwiches with these buns, going on a picnic
Sunday:  St Patrick's Day dinner, all things green.
Let's Start with Irish Pasties
Broccoli, Green salad, green jello (if I can find it here), shamrock shaped french bread
For Dessert, Key Lime Pie and grasshopper whoopie pies
Happy St. Patty's Day!