Pink Family Dinners

Menu Plan for week of 9/28

2009-09-27T14:55:00.003-05:00

Well, I am back. I sorta took awhile off trying to combine some blogs and doing A LOT of grilling over the summer. Fall is here and I am getting back into the routine of cooking. This week was the first time in a long time I actually did some recipe searching and planned our meals using them. Here's what we are having this week:

Monday - Mozzarella Chicken and Rice Skillet

Tuesday - Easy Baked Ravioli, salad, and bread

Wednesday - Sloppy Joes, french fries, veggie

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Dinner out

Saturday - Grill out steaks with veggie and twice baked potatoe

Sunday - Pizza night (homemade or Papa Murphy's)

I will share the recipes each day after I try them.

What's on your menu this week?

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday Weeknight Lasagna Toss

2009-04-21T06:15:00.003-05:00

This weeks' Tempt My Tummy Tuesday features the Weeknight Lasagna Toss from Kraftfoods.com.

What You Need!
1 lb. lean ground beef
2 green peppers, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 jar (26 oz.) spaghetti sauce
1-2/3 cups water
1/4 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
12 oven-ready lasagna noodles, broken into quarters
1 cup KRAFT Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese

Make It!

BROWN meat in large saucepan; drain.

ADD peppers, garlic, spaghetti sauce, water and dressing; bring to boil. Stir in noodles; cover.

COOK on medium-low heat 10 to 15 min. or until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with cheese; cover. Let stand 5 min. or until cheese is melted.

I thought that this was pretty good. I served it with a salad. It also made enough for leftovers for me to eat for lunch at work. Another great recipe from Kraftfoods.com!

For more Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, head on over to Blessed with Grace.

It’s not Delivery, It’s Homemade

2009-04-20T06:21:00.001-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

How many times have we opted for fast food for lunch or dinner instead of cooking? There’s no telling how much money we’ve spent on that one meal that easily becomes a few (or more) meals a week. Instead of picking up that telephone and calling for delivery pizza, get the family together and make one at home.

Making homemade pizza can become a great new family tradition. Choose a day of the week when everyone can get together and enjoy the experience. You can even pretend that you are in a real Italian eatery and go all out by decorating the dining room table to resemble a pizzeria.

The best thing about homemade pizza is picking the toppings. Since it is your personal pizza, you can have as many different toppings as your heart desires. It’s a chance to raid the cabinets and the fridge to find good stuff to top your creation.

How will you prepare the crust? Now, this step can be easy or an adventure. If you wimp out and go easy, you can use an already prepared crust from the store like Pillsbury pizza crust in the pop open can or a Boboli pizza crust.

It you want to treat the family to a high time of flour and dough, choose to make your own crusts. With your own, the size of the pizza can be customized for each person in the family. Making your own dough crusts will also make use of those handy pantry staples. You can find a classic pizza dough recipe on the Internet and in just about any cookbook, so find one that you like and go to it.

When the dough is ready, shape it into a circle of appropriate size. Create a rim on the dough so that the sauce won’t bubble over onto the oven rack. Now comes the fun part. The dough is ready to be dressed to the hilt.

For the sauce, we’ll let you slide and use the store bought kind if you wish. Spread the sauce over the dough and be sure to cover it to the rim. Next, top the pizza sauce with your favorite cheeses. It’s more economical to purchase a block of cheese and use a grater to slice it for pizza toppings. Those already shredded bags have only two or three cups in each which is not going to go the distance for an entire family. Besides, fresh cheese melts better.

Want to have even more fun with your family pizza creations? See who can make the wackiest pizza. Throw a little leftover chicken or hamburger on top. How about jalapenos? They are good for those who like it hot. Don’t forget the spices. It wouldn’t be a pizza without oregano, basil, and some thyme.

If you have at least two baking stones or pizza trays, you can make more than one at a time. Everyone can help to clean up while you wait for dinner to be ready. When the timer goes off, Bon ApetÍt!

If there are leftovers of your pizza, enjoy them tomorrow morning for breakfast!

Hickory Smoked Double Grilled Cheese

2009-04-15T06:21:00.001-05:00

What You Need:

Image by Jason Permenter via Flickr

2 t butter
2 pieces of Texas toast
1 slice of Cheddar cheese
3 slices hickory smoked bacon, cooked crisp
2 slices of sweet red bell pepper
1 slice of Swiss cheese

How to Make It:

Spread the butter on one side of each piece of Texas toast.
Place one slice of toast in a small skillet over medium heat.
Add the slice of Cheddar cheese.
Place the bacon on top of the Cheddar cheese.
Lay the bell pepper slices over the bacon.
Add the slice of Swiss cheese over the pepper slices.
Place the second piece of Texas toast, butter side up on the top.
Grill for 3 minutes, turn and continue grilling an additional 3 minutes or until browned and the cheese has begun to melt.

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday - Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Bake

2009-04-14T06:25:00.004-05:00

Another broccoli dish...Hmmmm...I am sensing a theme here....

What you need:
1pkg (6oz) stuffing mix for chicken
1-1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1pkg (16oz) frozen broccoli florets, thawed, drained
1 can (10-3/4 oz) reduced-sodium condensed cream of chicken soup
1/2 lb (8 oz) VELVEETA Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut into 1/2" cubes

Directions
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare stuffing mix as directed on package and set aside. Combine the remaining ingredients; spoon into a 13 X 9" baking dish. Top with the stuffing. Bake for 40 minutes or until the chicken is done.

This was very yummy and easy. My whole family gobbled it up and we have enough that it will feed us again this week.

For more Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, head on over to Blessed With Grace.

5 Kitchen Staples to Help Save Money

2009-04-13T06:20:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

Ever wonder how our ancestors always seemed to have food on the table even in lean times? When we are visiting the grocery store every week to the tune of hundreds of dollars, we long to know their secret. In fact it isn’t a secret at all. It is actually good planning and preparation on their part. Once we realize this and begin doing as they did, we too will see our dollar stretch further.

The items that we have on hand are what determine how far our food will go. Filling your cabinets or pantry with a few useful staples can be the difference between a trip to the grocery store each and every week versus once or twice a month. Stocking just a few choice items is all you need to create wonderful meals.

Flour. Flour is a starter item for many recipes. You can add it to some water and make gravy in the pan for many meat dishes. Flour is used to make bread (biscuits, rolls, loaves) and to coat chicken. It can also be used to coat a round or square cake pan to prevent the cake from sticking. Of course, one of the favorite uses for flour is in cookie recipes that make scrumptious desserts.

Rice. My husband loves rice so much that we once bought a fifty pound bag from a grocery store in his hometown. Fifty pounds! Rice is a side dish, but it doesn’t have to be plain. It can be jazzed up with veggies to accompany dinner. My mother uses leftover rice for a dessert called sweet rice. Just add evaporated milk and some sugar to a bowl of rice and warm it in the microwave. It is a tasty treat for after dinner. Another popular dessert is rice pudding. Rice can also be mixed with leftover meat and a cream soup to form a casserole. Rice has many uses and your sure to find a few that your family will love.

Pasta. There are many different pasta choices and all have great uses. Manicotti can be stuffed with tomato sauce and cheeses. Macaroni can be used to make a creamy salad and also is great combined with cheese or spaghetti sauce. Spiral pasta is used in many different pasta salads. Spaghetti can be used in a casserole topped with cheese or in the traditional way with tomato sauce and meat.

Spices. There are other ways to season food besides salt and pepper. In fact, many spices taste better than salt. Even diehard salt-a-holics won’t miss the salt in foods if other seasonings are used. Cayenne pepper, chili powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, oregano, and garlic powder are all useful tools in your flavor arsenal to give foods a fresh new taste.

Beans. There go those beans again. Beans can top your salad (edamame), make an awesome dip (black beans), and go well with grilled foods (baked beans). They provide a good source of protein with very little fat. Beans are good in soups, stews, and over rice for a simple yet filling meal.

Do you have these staples in your kitchen? You can probably think of several more that will enhance your pantry and save money. Start with these and grow your own list of basic kitchen staples that are versatile and economical.

Trying something new - homemade bread

2009-04-12T07:56:00.002-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

I have gotten braver in the kitchen. I am trying recipes that are a bit more complicated and have even tried a few things made up on my own.

Way back when Brian and I got married, we received a bread machine as a gift. It had been used maybe five times but lately, I have been inspired to try to make our own bread again.

Just to get my feet wet, I picked up a simple bread machine mix at the grocery store Friday and tried it. I love how easy it is and that we have fresh bread. I did find a recipe that I will be trying next week, so stay tuned for that. I also hope to start making our own pizza dough with my bread machine.

Do you make your own bread? What is your favorite recipe?

Take the Day Off!!

2009-04-10T21:19:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

After a long week, the last thing I feel like doing on Friday night is cook. We usually get take out or sometimes go out for dinner. I encourage you to take a break today. You don't have to necessarily go out for dinner, but have a "fend for yourself" night, a "leftover" night, or throw a frozen pizza in the oven. The main thing is to take a break. Enjoy!

Thursday Spotlight - Kraftfoods.com

2009-04-09T05:27:00.000-05:00

Every Thursday I will feature one of my favorite resources to find new meal ideas. One of my favorites is Kraftfoods.com. They have all sort of recipes from main dish ideas to desserts. They have great ideas for those on a budget and recipes for those trying to live healthy. Make sure you check it out!!

Pepperoni Spaghetti Bake (Freezer recipe)

2009-04-08T05:14:00.001-05:00

Before I had my gall bladder out, I made some meals ahead and put them in the freezer. It was so nice to just pull them out and bake. It's something that I hope to do more of. It makes dinner time so much easier.

What You Need:

Image by djchuang via Flickr

1 lb ground chuck
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
1 (4 oz) can mushrooms, drained
1 (26 oz) jar pasta sauce
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 t Italian seasoning
1 lb spaghetti, broken into small pieces
3/4 C milk
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 (5 oz) pkg sliced pepperoni
1 1/2 C shredded Cheddar cheese
2 C shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Freezer Wrap

How to Make It:

Place a large pot of water over high heat.
Bring to a rapid boil.
Boil spaghetti as directed on the package.
Drain and rinse.
Place ground chuck in a large skillet over medium high heat.
Add the onion, green pepper and mushrooms.
Cook until meat is browned being sure to crumble the meat.
Drain.
Add the pasta sauce, tomato sauce and Italian seasoning.
Stir until well combined.
Simmer for 15 minutes.
Place the eggs and milk in a large bowl and blend.
Place the spaghetti in the egg mixture and toss to cover.
Lightly spray a large baking dish with a non stick cooking spray.
Place half of the spaghetti mixture into the bottom of the pan.
Place half of the meat sauce over the top of the spaghetti.
Repeat for another layer.
Put the casserole in the refrigerator to cool.
Once cooled, wrap with the freezer wrap.
Freeze for up to 2 months.
To reheat thaw the casserole overnight in the refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cover the casserole with aluminum foil.
Bake 45 minutes.
Uncover and top the casserole with the pepperoni and 2 cheeses.
Continue to bake another 15 minutes or until cheese has completely melted.

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday - Broccoli, Cheese, and Rice Casserole

2009-04-07T06:25:00.003-05:00

I actually found this recipe on Twitter from @Feelslikehome. She was sharing the link to her Broccoli, Cheese, and Rice recipe. It sounded yummy. I made it that night. Here's the recipe:

Broccoli, Cheese, and Rice Casserole

1 cup uncooked instant rice
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup fat-free milk
4 ounces light Velveeta Light, cubed
2 tablespoons butter or stick margarine, softened
1 pound broccoli, chopped (if using frozen, it should be thawed and drained)
1 (10-3/4-ounce) can condensed reduced-fat, reduced-sodium cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, and spoon mixture into a 2-quart baking dish.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

I added some cooked chicken to this for a little more protein and it made a great meal for us. It even makes great left overs.

For more great Tempt My Tummy recipes, check out Blessed with Grace.

Leftover Dinner Magic

2009-04-06T06:31:00.003-05:00

Image by Muffet via Flickr

What do you do when a meal is finished? Most of us wash the dishes and wrap up the leftovers, but what happens to the leftover portions not eaten? Do they get consumed later or do they sit in the refrigerator until they start to smell and you finally throw them out? If you tend to do the latter, how about saving some time and money by learning how to use those leftovers in new ways to surprise your family at dinner time.

Some people like leftovers and some do not. Still then, many will eat them one day out, but quickly get tired of eating the same thing over and over. Here’s a way to fix the problem if you or someone in your family is the same way. Let’s start with an example.

You prepare a roasted pork loin and rice for dinner one night. The family wants something else for dinner the following night so the pork loin gets pushed to the back of the refrigerator. Normally, that’s where it will stay until you clean out the fridge, right? Not anymore. Let’s do something to keep that pork loin from going to waste.

Eating leftovers the way they were originally served, is probably what’s turning family members off from wanting it again the next night. Your family doesn’t have to eat the pork loin as is. So, chop that pork loin up into bite size pieces.

Now you’re probably thinking, ok that’s great, but what do I do with it now? In a large skillet or wok, stir fry the leftover rice with a bag of frozen veggies, an egg, and some of the chopped pork loin to make pork fried rice. Add a little soy sauce and you’ve got a whole new dinner for your hungry family.

This is just one way that leftovers can be turned into a new dish with a new flavor. The same can also be done using chicken, seafood, or beef. Let’s take a look at beef.

If you have hamburgers left from dinner, chop them up until they resemble ground beef again. The meat can be combined with chili powder and taco sauce to make beef tacos. Or, add some beans, chopped peppers and tomatoes, and sauce to create a pot of chili. If you have the imagination, there are an unlimited number of possibilities of what you can do with meats and side dishes from a previous night’s dinner.

Using a little leftover magic can make one meal last for two, three, or even four more days. But, you don’t have to eat it all in the same week. Fix a new meal with the leftovers and freeze it until you are ready to have that particular meat again. On that day, dinner will already be made, all you’ll need to do is heat it up. Yes, it really can be just that simple.

Your family will be amazed at your ability to transform any meal into a new creation they will enjoy. Besides that, you will save money on your grocery bill and won’t be throwing it away in the trash can as spoiled leftovers. Try these and similar ideas to expand your family’s palate.

Frugal Cooking Series - Starts April 6th

2009-04-05T13:07:00.003-05:00

Image by QuintanaRoo via Flickr

So many of us are trying to be more frugal and a great place to start is at home with your cooking. I will be starting a series of frugal cooking ideas tomorrow.

Don't miss it!!!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-03-29T21:36:00.004-05:00

Lately I am all about simple. Here's our menu for the week:

Monday - Chicken Quesadillas, rice, and corn

Tuesday - Brats on the grill, salad, fries

Wednesday - Burgers on the grill, veggie, chips

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Takout

Saturday - Cheddies on the grill, salad, fries

Sunday - Italian Chicken in Crockpot with noodles and salad

For more Menu Plan Monday, please head on over to the Organizing Junkie.

Menu Plan Monday

2009-03-23T06:25:00.002-05:00

Here's our menu for the week. I will share recipes as we go.

Monday - "Matt" burgers, fries, veggie

Tuesday - Lasagna, salad, garlic bread

Wednesday - Chicken stirfry

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Take out night

For more menu plan Monday, head over to the Org Junkie.

It's time to PARTY!!!

2009-03-21T13:19:00.002-05:00

This is the first year that I am participating in the 5 Minutes for Mom's Ultimate Blog Party. I am super excited to be a part of this. I look forward to finding some great blogs and to making some new bloggy friends.

A little bit about me...I am a mom to two girls - Riley and Taylor. Riley will be four next week and Taylor is two-and-a-half. They are seventeen months apart and keep us very busy. I am married to Brian and we will be celebrating our 8 year wedding anniversary this June. We also have a Siberian Husky named Sierra and two cats - Sneakers and Kitty.

We live in Northeast WI. Brian and I were both born and raised here. We love this area and think that it's great for raising kids.

I work full time outside the home as a buyer at a local contract manufacturer. I have been there 8.5 years. Brian works as a mechanic. We are blessed in that the girls are watched by our parents while we are at work.

Some things I love are reading, networking online, blogging, knitting, and yoga. Brian and I are huge Seinfeld fans. We spend a lot of our free time as a family camping and biking.

I have a passion for meal planning. I think I am okay at it. I like to plan meals that are good but easy and don't require you to spend all night in the kitchen.

You can learn more about my family at my "main blog". I post there about our crazy busy life and it's pretty light-hearted. I also have a great site full of reviews and giveaways.

That's about it about me. If there's anything more you want to know, just ask; otherwise, stick around for awhile and check out the fun.

Some prizes I would like to win are:

The $50 gift certificate to Target Stores provided by Shoot-Me-Now (prize #19)
The $50 gift certificate to Target Stores provided by Agoosa (prize #21)
The $50 gift certificate to Target Stores provided by Beginner Baby Blog (price #22)

Some other prizes I wouldn't mind winning in no particular order are: #8, #9, #15, #26, #28, #50, #56, #91, #96, #101, #118.

Menu Plan Monday

2009-03-09T06:25:00.002-05:00

Here's our menu for the week. I am having issues with images, so I am sorry it's so plain looking.

Monday - Beef Stroganoff w/ salad

Tuesday - Homemade pizza w/ salad

Wednesday - Chicken stir fry w/ rice

Thursday - leftovers

Friday - We eat out

Saturday - Burgers on the gril w/ fries & veggie

I will post each recipe after I have tried it.

For more Menu Plan Monday, check out the Organizing Junkie.

What's for Dinner - the Saturday Edition

2009-03-07T18:50:00.003-06:00

I know, I am WAY late and most of you have probably eaten dinner already. We were supposed to go out to dinner with some friends, but my husband is sick, so we are home. He is out picking up some A&W though. So, my advice to you if you haven't eaten yet is to take the night off. Enjoy!

What's for Dinner - the Rainbow Goldfish Edition

2009-03-06T06:30:00.003-06:00

Image via Wikipedia

My kids love the colorful Goldfish crackers. I was excited when I found this recipe that used them:

You Need:
2 cups colored Gold Fish crackers, crushed
2/3 cup bottled ranch salad dressing
1 lb chicken breast tenderloins

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a 9x13-inch pan with foil; lightly coat with cooking spray. Set aside. Place the crushed crackers in a plate. Pour the ranch dressing in another plate. Dip chicken into dressing and then into cracker crumbs, coating both sides. Arrange chicken in prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Serve with additional ranch dressing.

I am going to serve with some veggie and mac & cheese. Sounds easy and yummy!

This recipe is courtesy of My Family Meal Planner.

What's for Dinner - Thursday Edition

2009-03-05T06:23:00.003-06:00

We have bowling tonight, so we are picking up a quick dinner on the way home. Here's an old recipe post from November.

Tater Tot Casserole

This is a good one that is easy and great to make up ahead of time. It's also perfect if you have to take a meal to someone.

You need:

Image via Wikipedia

1lb hamburger
1 can cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup
Onion flakes
Tater tots

Preheat the oven to 350. Brown the hamburger. Add to casserole dish. Put in some onion flakes (as many as you would like). Cover with tater tots. Then cover the tater tots with cream of mushroom soup. Cover and bake for an hour.

This is a hit with my family. I usually serve with green beans or peas.

What's for Dinner - The Burger Edition

2009-03-04T05:37:00.003-06:00

Image via Wikipedia

Our local grocery store has the best meat department. They make these pre-made hamburger patties that have cheese and bacon already in them. We are having those on the grill tonight (bless my hubby that will grill even in the winter in WI). Along with that we will be having cheesy broccoli and french fries.

What are your plans for dinner?

What's for Dinner - Tuesday Edition

2009-03-03T17:24:00.002-06:00

I am taking the day off. I came down with some sort of stomach flu yesterday and spent most of today sleeping. No cooking dinner tonight!!

What's for Dinner - The Monday Edition

2009-03-02T06:29:00.001-06:00

I am taking the girls to a pizza party tonight for my mom's group, so here is an old post from 10/28.

This is what we had for dinner on Sunday night. I used:

4 bone-in chicken
Ranch dressing
Baby red potatoes

I pre-heated the oven to 400. I then put the chicken in a 9x13 pan. I quartered the baby red potatoes and scattered them around the chicken. Then, I took my bottle of ranch dressing and just squirted it all around so that it was all some-what covered.

I baked covered with foil for 30 minutes. Then I baked it for another 50 minutes uncovered. I then put more ranch all around.

The chicken was tender and came off the bone easily. The potatoes were very good too. I would watch the cooking time. I thought I just needed an hour, but the chicken wasn't done enough, so I had to go another 20 minutes.

I thought that this meal was good. I served it with some steamed cheesy broccoli. My kids liked the chicken too. My husband ate it but wasn't a huge fan. I think that he just didn't like having to take the chicken off the bone. I think next time I tried this, I would use boneless chicken breasts.

What's for Dinner - Sunday Edition

2009-03-01T17:07:00.001-06:00

This Sunday I am taking the easy way out. We had to grocery shop and the store we go to has the BEST deli. You can get enchiladas, stuffed chicken breasts, etc. Whatever it is, it's always yummy and easy to make. Today I picked up some lasagna roll ups, so we are having those along with salad and garlic toast. I also made some turtle brownies.

Sometimes it's just nice to have someone else do all the prep work.

What's for Dinner - Saturday Edition

2009-02-28T08:01:00.002-06:00

Here is tonight's dinner. Rather than type the whole recipe out here, head on over to Kraftfoods. The linked recipe is the one that we will have tonight for dinner.