Sticky Chicky
From "Eat, Shrink, and Be Merry"
3 lbs chicken pieces
Sauce:
1/2 c. bbq sauce
1/4 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. red wine vinegar
1/4 c. honey
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp gingerroot (I have successfully substituted ground ginger. Use like a teaspoon.)
2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp cornstarch
Put chicken in 9x13 inch pan. Whisk all ingredients except cornstarch together and pour over chicken. Turn chicken pieces to coat with sauce. Bake 40 minutes at 400 degrees. Remove chicken from pan and keep warm. Pour sauce out of baking pan into a small pot. Bring to a boil. Combine 1 tbsp water and the tbsp cornstarch in a small bowl; add to sauce. Cook 1 minute. Serve chicken with sauce.
Orzo and Chicken
(This is a "to taste" dish. Amounts are NOT exact.)
orzo
about 1-2 cups precooked chicken, shredded or diced
butter
olive oil
clove or 2 of garlic, minced
salt
(Of the following, use as much or as little as your family would like):
sundried tomatoes, chopped
kalamata olives, chopped
feta cheese
Cook the little package of orzo according to the directions. While it's cooking, saute the garlic in butter or olive oil; add the chicken and heat through. Drain and toss with a bit of olive oil and/or butter and salt. Add the chicken and garlic, tomatoes, olives, and feta cheese. Taste it. If it's yummy, serve. If not, add some more butter and salt and taste again.
Skillet Shepherd's Pie
1-2 lbs ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1-2 cloves garlic, chopped
3 cups cheddar cheese
1 packet taco seasoning
about 3 cups mashed potatoes
Use a cast-iron skillet, if you have one. If not, you'll need to transfer the meat to a baking dish after you brown it in the skillet.
Brown the ground beef. The onions and garlic can be cooked at the same time. Add the taco seasoning and 1 cup of cheese. Stir to combine. Stir 2 cups cheese into the mashed potatoes. Top the meat with the potatoes. Broil for 5-10 minutes until the top is golden brown.
Spaghetti
3 lbs ground beef
1-2 onions, chopped
1-2 cloves garlic, chopped
several jars of your favorite pasta sauce (be sure to use enough for dinner tonight and pizza tomorrow!)
1-3 tsps basil
1-2 tsps oregano
Spaghetti or your favorite pasta
tapenade, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, or whatever else you like to add to spaghetti sauce
Brown the ground beef, onions and garlic in a large cooking pot. Add the spaghetti sauce, spices to taste, and your other favorite ingredients. Cook pasta according to package directions and serve sauce and pasta together. (Yes, I know you know that part!)
Pizza
1-2 pizza crusts, depending on how many people you need to serve
your leftover spaghetti sauce from yesterday
multiple handfuls of shredded mozzarella cheese
whatever else you like on your pizza- olives, different cheeses, pepperonis, etc
Make the crust according to the package directions or recipe. Top with your leftover spaghetti sauce, other ingredients, and sprinkle with cheese. Bake according to package or crust recipe directions.
Speedy Jambalaya
cooked rice
1 lg onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
2 tsp olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 (28oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
3 bay leaves
1 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp pepper
2 cans (15.5oz) black-eyed peas, drained
1 lb sausage, cooked
Saute all vegetable except garlic for about 4-6 minutes. Add garlic and saute another minute or two. Stir in tomatoes and spices. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer 5 minutes. Stir in peas and sausage. Heat through. Serve with rice.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Shopping List for Week of Dinners
(The quantities I've listed are only "ballpark" estimates. Modify the amounts up or down depending on how many servings you need, taking into account whether your family likes the convenience of reheating leftovers the next day or not.)
Also, I've included EVERYTHING you'll need to prep the dishes, which means that you may already have some of the spices and condiments on hand. Don't be afraid to skip buying a particular ingredient if you're not sure you'll cook with it enough to justify buying a whole package.
1 large package chicken, your choice light/dark meat (3-4 lbs)
1 smaller package chicken (1-2 lbs)
one more smallish chicken package (1-2 lbs) or a rotisserie chicken
5-lb log of ground beef
1 lb sausage- links, bulk, whatever, your choice
feta cheese
mozzarella cheese
cheddar cheese
store-bought pizza crust or the ingredients to make it yourself
bottled BBQ sauce
soy sauce
red wine vinegar
honey
chili powder
cumin
Dijon mustard
ginger root or ground ginger
taco seasoning (a packet or a jar. The jar is a better bargain.)
bay leaves
salt
pepper
paprika
thyme
cumin
cornstarch
rice
canned tomatoes- at least 3-4 cans
2 cans black eyed peas
orzo
spaghetti or your favorite dried pasta
kalamata or black olives
sun-dried tomatoes
olive oil
bulb of garlic
BIG bag of potatoes
LOTS of salad greens/lettuce and/or fresh veggies (broccoli, celery, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, etc)
bag of onions
green pepper
red pepper
Also, I've included EVERYTHING you'll need to prep the dishes, which means that you may already have some of the spices and condiments on hand. Don't be afraid to skip buying a particular ingredient if you're not sure you'll cook with it enough to justify buying a whole package.
1 large package chicken, your choice light/dark meat (3-4 lbs)
1 smaller package chicken (1-2 lbs)
one more smallish chicken package (1-2 lbs) or a rotisserie chicken
5-lb log of ground beef
1 lb sausage- links, bulk, whatever, your choice
feta cheese
mozzarella cheese
cheddar cheese
store-bought pizza crust or the ingredients to make it yourself
bottled BBQ sauce
soy sauce
red wine vinegar
honey
chili powder
cumin
Dijon mustard
ginger root or ground ginger
taco seasoning (a packet or a jar. The jar is a better bargain.)
bay leaves
salt
pepper
paprika
thyme
cumin
cornstarch
rice
canned tomatoes- at least 3-4 cans
2 cans black eyed peas
orzo
spaghetti or your favorite dried pasta
kalamata or black olives
sun-dried tomatoes
olive oil
bulb of garlic
BIG bag of potatoes
LOTS of salad greens/lettuce and/or fresh veggies (broccoli, celery, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, etc)
bag of onions
green pepper
red pepper
Seven Days of Dinner- Adaptable, Family-Friendly Menu
So apparently I'm the only one of my gal-pals who likes to cook. Part of the problem for them (and sometimes it is for me, too) is not knowing what to make. They suggested I come up with a meal plan, and I thought I'd give it a whirl. The menu and plan are below, and I'll post the recipes in another blog entry.
I've chosen dishes that are simple, straight-forward family-pleasers. I've also chosen dishes that can easily be modified in terms of calorie/fat content, cost, and sophistication. For example, choose skinless chicken breasts and ground sirloin instead of dark meat and regular ground beef for the chicken and beef recipes if you're trying to watch your calories. If it's your budget you're watching, use the cheaper cuts of chicken and ground beef. If you want to dial up the sophistication, then add a tapenade to your spaghetti sauce, artichoke and gorgonzola to your pizza, and fresh asparagus to your cut veggie tray.
Day 1: Sticky chicky, mashed potatoes, salad/cut veggies
Day 2: Chicken with orzo, salad/cut veggies
Day 3: Skillet shepherd's pie, salad/cut veggies
Day 4: Spaghetti with meat sauce or meatballs; salad/cut veggies
Day 5: Homemade pizza with leftover spaghetti sauce
Day 6: Speedy Jambalaya
Day 7: Tortilla soup, fruit salad
The Plan:
Day 1: Buy groceries. Use the large package of chicken pieces for the sticky chicky. Open the smaller package of chicken, sprinkle with salt or seasoned salt and pepper, drizzle with a little olive oil, and bake alongside sticky chicky. Cool the "plain" chicken and refrigerate to use on Day 2. Make a BIG salad and/or prep a bunch of cut fresh veggies and stow in the fridge. You can then add your pre-made salad or cut veggies to meals all week. Next, make a BIG batch of mashed potatoes. Whatever doesn't get eaten today will be refrigerated and used later.
Day 2: Bone the "plain" chicken that you baked yesterday and make the chicken with orzo dish. Serve with the salad/cut veggies you prepped on Day 1. Thaw your 5-lb loaf of ground beef.
Day 3: Make skillet shepherd's pie using some of your thawed ground beef and your leftover mashed potatoes from Day 1. Serve with your salad/cut veggies.
Day 4: Using the rest of your thawed ground beef, make meatballs, OR just brown the beef with dried basil and oregano (start with a teaspoon of each and add more if necessary). Add to homemade or store bought spaghetti sauce. Just make sure you're making a BIG batch of sauce. Cook spaghetti or your favorite dried pasta. Serve with the last of the now-tired salad/veggies. Or, if your family is threatening mutiny, serve a brand-new side dish like sauteed mushrooms or zucchini, or make some candied carrots.
Day 5: For the pizza, use a store bought precooked or ready-to-cook pizza crust, or make your own. Top with leftover spaghetti sauce from Day 4. Add whatever additional toppings your family approves of: sliced green or red peppers, olives, anchovies, pineapple, etc. Finish with shredded mozzarella. Bake according to package or pizza crust recipe directions. Thaw the sausage for tomorrow's meal. Also thaw the chicken for Day 7 if you'll need to bake it tomorrow.
Day 6: Make the speedy jambalaya. Microcook or bake the chicken for tomorrow's tortilla soup. Cool, then refrigerate.
Day 7: Use a store bought rotisserie chicken or the chicken you cooked yesterday to make tortilla soup.
I've chosen dishes that are simple, straight-forward family-pleasers. I've also chosen dishes that can easily be modified in terms of calorie/fat content, cost, and sophistication. For example, choose skinless chicken breasts and ground sirloin instead of dark meat and regular ground beef for the chicken and beef recipes if you're trying to watch your calories. If it's your budget you're watching, use the cheaper cuts of chicken and ground beef. If you want to dial up the sophistication, then add a tapenade to your spaghetti sauce, artichoke and gorgonzola to your pizza, and fresh asparagus to your cut veggie tray.
Day 1: Sticky chicky, mashed potatoes, salad/cut veggies
Day 2: Chicken with orzo, salad/cut veggies
Day 3: Skillet shepherd's pie, salad/cut veggies
Day 4: Spaghetti with meat sauce or meatballs; salad/cut veggies
Day 5: Homemade pizza with leftover spaghetti sauce
Day 6: Speedy Jambalaya
Day 7: Tortilla soup, fruit salad
The Plan:
Day 1: Buy groceries. Use the large package of chicken pieces for the sticky chicky. Open the smaller package of chicken, sprinkle with salt or seasoned salt and pepper, drizzle with a little olive oil, and bake alongside sticky chicky. Cool the "plain" chicken and refrigerate to use on Day 2. Make a BIG salad and/or prep a bunch of cut fresh veggies and stow in the fridge. You can then add your pre-made salad or cut veggies to meals all week. Next, make a BIG batch of mashed potatoes. Whatever doesn't get eaten today will be refrigerated and used later.
Day 2: Bone the "plain" chicken that you baked yesterday and make the chicken with orzo dish. Serve with the salad/cut veggies you prepped on Day 1. Thaw your 5-lb loaf of ground beef.
Day 3: Make skillet shepherd's pie using some of your thawed ground beef and your leftover mashed potatoes from Day 1. Serve with your salad/cut veggies.
Day 4: Using the rest of your thawed ground beef, make meatballs, OR just brown the beef with dried basil and oregano (start with a teaspoon of each and add more if necessary). Add to homemade or store bought spaghetti sauce. Just make sure you're making a BIG batch of sauce. Cook spaghetti or your favorite dried pasta. Serve with the last of the now-tired salad/veggies. Or, if your family is threatening mutiny, serve a brand-new side dish like sauteed mushrooms or zucchini, or make some candied carrots.
Day 5: For the pizza, use a store bought precooked or ready-to-cook pizza crust, or make your own. Top with leftover spaghetti sauce from Day 4. Add whatever additional toppings your family approves of: sliced green or red peppers, olives, anchovies, pineapple, etc. Finish with shredded mozzarella. Bake according to package or pizza crust recipe directions. Thaw the sausage for tomorrow's meal. Also thaw the chicken for Day 7 if you'll need to bake it tomorrow.
Day 6: Make the speedy jambalaya. Microcook or bake the chicken for tomorrow's tortilla soup. Cool, then refrigerate.
Day 7: Use a store bought rotisserie chicken or the chicken you cooked yesterday to make tortilla soup.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Like the World Needs Another Blog
It doesn't. But that hasn't stopped a gazillion other bloggers, so why should it stop me?
So as the Christmas season kicks off, I'm in the kitchen, listening to carols on the radio and rolling out cookie dough balls. Only one problem. Iain, my 5-year-old son who has autism, is onto me. Moving as steathfully as a slightly chubby, noisy little boy can move, he sidles past me, sneaks up behind, and lurches for the bowl of dough. Fending him off requires moves of Ninja-like precision and delicate timing. Neither of which I have. I snatch at the bowl. He wins. Grabs a handful of dough, scoots off.
Iain's new thing is feeding the dog. We are soon to have the fattest dog in the state. Which is saying a lot, because this is a big state. And the dog is big to begin with. Iain follows Kirby (that's the dog, not a vacuum, in case you're wondering) around with a bowl of dog food, or, like this evening, a cup of MILK, (yes, milk!) and feeds the poor animal 'til he must be stuffed. When Kirby finally stops eating, Iain will reposition the bowl in front of him again and again, as if the problem is not that Kirby is about to explode, but rather, that Kirby hasn't yet seen his fourth bowl of dog food in an evening.
So as the Christmas season kicks off, I'm in the kitchen, listening to carols on the radio and rolling out cookie dough balls. Only one problem. Iain, my 5-year-old son who has autism, is onto me. Moving as steathfully as a slightly chubby, noisy little boy can move, he sidles past me, sneaks up behind, and lurches for the bowl of dough. Fending him off requires moves of Ninja-like precision and delicate timing. Neither of which I have. I snatch at the bowl. He wins. Grabs a handful of dough, scoots off.
Iain's new thing is feeding the dog. We are soon to have the fattest dog in the state. Which is saying a lot, because this is a big state. And the dog is big to begin with. Iain follows Kirby (that's the dog, not a vacuum, in case you're wondering) around with a bowl of dog food, or, like this evening, a cup of MILK, (yes, milk!) and feeds the poor animal 'til he must be stuffed. When Kirby finally stops eating, Iain will reposition the bowl in front of him again and again, as if the problem is not that Kirby is about to explode, but rather, that Kirby hasn't yet seen his fourth bowl of dog food in an evening.
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