We're Moving!! (Follow me Next Door)

Photo Credit: Clip Art from Microsoft Office

Now that I'm back to blogging ... I've decided it will be easier to keep up with ONE blog, instead of TWO! So, I'll be temporarily moving my "Kitchen" posts to my main blog, Musings of the Monroe Family.

Would love for you to visit me there!!

Menu Plan Monday - 3/12/12

Picture credit: Microsoft Office Clip Art

We are having incredible weather here this week with unseasonably warm temps in the 70's - almost unheard of for this part of Wisconsin in early March. I am having a hard time getting motivated to do my grocery shopping since it's so nice out ... but can put it off no longer! I had enough on hand for Monday & Tuesday's recipes, but definitely need to shop tomorrow. I'm looking forward to trying some new things this week too.

Here is what's cooking this week:

Monday
Veggie Pizza (which we ended up not having last week)

Tuesday
Beef Fried Rice (recipes I used were a combination of here and here)

Wednesday
Coconut Chicken Peanut Curry - I found this one on Pinterest and it looked so yummy. Can't wait to try it.

Thursday

Leftovers

Friday

Irish Shepherd's Pie made with Lamb - I subscribe to FoodWishes.com and love watching his videos on You Tube. They are usually short videos under 5 minutes, but I just like his voice and sense of humor as he does the recipe video. This one is in honor of St. Patrick's Day, of course!

Saturday
Out to Dinner 

Sunday
Always my night off!

I am also linking up to:

SusieQTpies Scraps of Life

 Click the buttons above to see what others are making this week!

Thanks for visiting!

Chicken & Spinach Pasta Bake

This was the recipe on my menu for tonight and it turned our great, plus it was super easy. I found it on Pinterest and the link is here. I changed a few things like omitting the onion, olive oil, diced tomatoes and I added Top the Tater sour cream since it seemed to go well with the cream cheese. My son told me it's super yummy, so this turned out to be a keeper.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz uncooked rigatoni
• 1 (10 oz) package frozen spinach
• 3 cups cubed cooked chicken breast
• 1 (8 oz) container chive and onion cream cheese
• 3 Tablespoons Top the Tater sour cream
• 1-1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella and Provolone mix

Instructions:

• Prepare rigatoni and set aside.
• Cook and drain the chopped spinach, pressing it into a colander to remove all liquid.
• Cook the chicken breast.
• Combine chicken, spinach, cream cheese, sour cream and then add the rigatoni.
• Place in 9 x 13 baking dish and cover with the shredded cheese.
• Bake for 30 minutes in a 375 degree oven.

Enjoy!

Thank you for visiting :o)

Menu Plan Monday - 3/5/12

Picture credit: Microsoft Office Clip Art

Here we are at another week of making a food plan! I think my theme this week was simple and easy. I also found that when I made four complex dishes last week, we ended up with too many leftovers and had to freeze some. (Not a problem I mind, though.) Since I have a couple meeting nights this week, it's always nice to have a simple cooking plan when I have to run out the door as soon as my husband gets home. I am also trying to use more of what we have on hand to spend less on groceries.

Here is what we're having this week:

Monday
Cheeseburger Crescent Bake with Peas

Tuesday
Lasagna Mac with Corn

Wednesday
Chicken and Spinach Pasta Bake

Thursday
Leftovers

Friday

Veggie Pizza (Crescent Roll Style) with Broccoli, Zucchini, Carrots and Mushroom

Saturday
Out to Dinner 

Sunday
Always my night off!

I am also linking up to:

Click here to see what others are making this week!

Thanks for visiting!

Yummy Coconut Blueberry Banana Oatmeal

Ever since I saw this recipe video on You Tube  "The Oatmeal Recipe that will Change Your Life"  I have been experimenting with my own oatmeal concoction. I think I've finally come up with the ultimate oatmeal recipe (per my tastes), although the picture doesn't truly do it justice. I can't believe how good this is!! I made a big batch and after breakfast I found myself eating it throughout the day as a snack. Most of the ingredients aren't measured, so I'll just put my estimates below. This is one of those recipes you can add so many different things to, so feel free to play with it. I have been reading about coconut oil and all the health benefits it has, so I'm trying to find ways to add it into my cooking. Some good articles about it are here (Dr. Mercola) and here at Bruce Fife's website. Bruce Fife wrote several books with one being The Coconut Oil Miracle. If you're interested in more, another good link is here. I'm really getting into the variety of uses for coconut oil!

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
One Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal Packet (or your favorite flavor)
1/2 to 1 cup of Quick Oats
2 T Honey
2 T Coconut Oil
2 T Flaxseed Meal
Handful of Shredded Coconut
1 cup Blueberries
1/2 Banana
1/4 cup Tart Cherries
2 T Half and Half (or milk)
1 cup boiled water

Instructions:

• Mix all the ingredients together into a mixing bowl, minus the half and half. 
• Pour the boiling water over the oatmeal so that it's fully saturated and stir it all together. (I actually use a sauce pan so I can cover it with a lid once I put the water in. Helps it stay warm.)
• Let the oatmeal sit for 15 minutes so all the flavors blend together.
• Stir in half and half.

Hope you ENJOY!

Thanks for visiting!

We're Back!! New Menu Plan Monday

MENU PLAN MONDAY

Wow, it's been awhile! Since November when I last posted, my computer had been in and out of the "shop" three times! It ended up being a broken motherboard, but took forever for them to figure it out.

I am still doing regular menu planning and I'm looking forward to getting back into sharing here.  I am still enjoying discovering new and delicious recipes and adding to our family's menu choices. 

I am so excited about my new Menu board. I got the idea from Pinterest and then remembered I had this old calendar holder I wasn't using. I found a large dry erase sheet that I cut to fit and now I can write out my menu instead of having it on little post it notes around the kitchen! 

Monday
Ring Bologna with Biscuits and Honey

Tuesday
Mom's Pork Chops over Basmati Rice with Green Beans

Wednesday
Spaghetti and Meatballs with Corn

Thursday
Fried Chicken and Baked Potatoes with Toppings

Friday

Crescent Roll Hot Dogs with Peas

Saturday
Leftovers or Dinner Out

Sunday
Always my night off!

I am also linking up to:

Click here to see what others are making this week!

Thanks for visiting!

My Menu Plan 11/14/11

I have a very short cooking week this week - just Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday! We are leaving Thursday morning for a nice, long vacation! My son and I will go down to my sister's house, which for me is like going to a resort. They have extra bedrooms so I will have my own, plus lots of birds and wildlife coming to visit which are fun to watch with a warm cup of coffee from their living room. I am really in need of this rest and relaxation leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday. It is a great time to slow down and reflect on all the Lord has blessed us with!

Click here to see what others are making this week!

Monday
Ring Bologna with Parmesan Potatoes (see recipe for potatoes below!)

Tuesday
Beef Squash Casserole

Wednesday
Hoppin' John

Thursday
Leave for Chicago suburbs and start to vacation!!

Here's a quick recipe for the Parmesan Potatoes mentioned above:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Boil a large pot of water and boil the potatoes for 4-5 minutes. Remove from water and let cool. Once cooled, slice into quarters and combine with olive oil, garlic powder, sea salt and black pepper as well as the Parmesan. Mix thoroughly and place in a baking dish that has been sprayed with olive oil cooking spray.

Place into the oven and roast for 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven and taste, re season with sea salt, cracked pepper, or garlic powder if needed. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley. Enjoy.

I am also linking up to these sites:

Thanks for visiting!