What's For Dinner?

HELLO EVERYONE!

2011-02-09T10:01:00.000-08:00

Hello to all of my What's for Dinner blog readers!

I had to give this blog up last spring because it was simply too much for me to keep up with. I was juggling too many online balls in the air and something had to give, and this blog was it.

I have recently picked up the blogging ball and have started a new blog called Saving Money Makes $ense.

Saving Money Makes $ense is a blog that contains links to articles about saving money. There are also short posts with simple strategies for anyone who wants to save a dollar can use. These are evergreen articles that can be used as a resource for you.

Saving Money Makes $ense is not a blog announcing the latest coupon deals, coupon match-ups and freebies. There are many wonderful bloagganistas who do such a fine job of that already.

So please take a peek at my new blog and follow.

Thank you!

Sauteed Brussel Sprouts

2010-04-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

I never liked brussel sprouts as a kid, but developed a taste for them as an adult. Two of my three kids love to eat cabbage's cousin when I make it this way.

Ingredients

Brussel spouts, cut into quarters or leaves peeled apart
olive oil
2-3 cloves crushed garlic
soy sauce
1/4-1/2 cup water
salt and pepper to taste

In a skillet, pour olive oil oil about three times around the pan. Place in crushed garlic and heat on a low flame for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add brussel sprouts and shake on soy sauce. Add salt and pepper. Saute for 2-3 minutes.

Slowly add water until you have a broth. Cover skillet with a lid and cook until brussel sprouts are tender.

Chinese Chicken

2010-04-26T07:12:00.000-07:00

Last week was crazy with school activities, volunteering, and my husband away all week. I did not cook at all! I served organic chicken nuggets one night, organic mac and cheese another, pizza and (ugh) McDonald's. My mom took us out on Friday.

Now I am back in the groove and am trying a new recipe for tonight. I am serving it with sauteed brussel sprouts and freshly sliced tomatoes.

Chinese Chicken

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts on the bone
salt and pepper
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
1 crushed garlic clove
4 Tablespoons brown sugar
1/4-1/2 cup water

Take the skin off the chicken, wash and pat dry. Season with salt and pepper.

Put all ingredients, EXCEPT the WATER, in a bowl. Whisk until combined. Add water gradually until you get the desired thickness.

Put chicken in a plastic bag and pour marinade over it. Put in fridge for 4-6 hours. Cook at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

Waldorf Salad

2010-04-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

I am concluding salad week with a classic, the Waldorf Salad. Easy to make, and budget friendly, too!

Ingredients

1/3 cup salad dressing-your choice
2 Tablespoons cream
3 cups diced apples
2 cups diced celery
1 cup pecans
1 cup seedless grapes, halved
lettuce

Thin the salad dressing with the cream. Combine all other ingredients and toss with the dressing. Serves 6.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

2010-04-14T06:04:00.000-07:00

I am continuing salad week with a great seasonal salad that includes my three children's favorite fruit-strawberries!

Ingredients

1/4 cup unsweetened oragne juice
1/3 cup reduced fat mayonnaise
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon poppy seeds
1/2 pound fresh spinach, washed, trimmed and torn
2 cups sliced strawberries

Combine the first four ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Gently toss spinach and strawberries in a bowl. Drizzle the dressing you made over the spinach.

Makes a great side dish!

Cucumber Salad

2010-04-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a refreshing salad that will compliment any dinner. You can substitute any vegetable that your family likes.

Ingredients

4 cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 scallions
1/2 cup cider vinegar
                                     3 Tablespoons cold water
                                        1/2 teaspoon sugar
                                        1/4 teaspoon pepper

Sprinkle cucumber slices with salt and let them stand for 1/2 hour. Slice the scallions, using some of the tops also. Add to cucumbers and mix everything thoroughly. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours. Serves 5 to 6.

Pasta Salad

2010-04-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

With the weather warming up and being outside is now possible, you want a dinner that is quick and easy. Pasta salad is a great cold dish that you can prepare in the morning and just pull it out of the refirgerator to eat at night. Serve with a fruit salad.

Ingredients

1 box Rotelle pasta, cooked and drained (or less, depending on your size family)
1 head broccoli
1 can pitted olives, drained
1 can tuna, drained and flaked
cherry tomatoes
Italian dressing

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and toss. Pour on dressing and toss again. Cover and chill in the refirgerator until ready to serve.

Happy Friday Follow!

2010-04-08T21:13:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone and welcome to my easy, breezy recipe and tips blog. I will get back to everyone's blog by the week's end!

My Nana's Potato Knishes

2010-04-08T06:30:00.000-07:00

My beloved Nana died last summer at the age of 97. One our family's favorite Nana recipes was her potato knishes. No made them quite like her. I think her extra added love made Nana's taste so delicious.

Ingredients

Box of instant mashed potatoes and the ingredients to make it
Durkee Onion Rings (or healthier Tradoer Joe's alternative)
Crescent Rolls

Make enough mashed potatoes for 4-6 servings. Add onion rings if you'd like.

Roll out crescent roll dough. Fill with potatoes, roll up and seal the ends. Slice into bite sized pieces. Bake according to crescent roll directions. Serve with mustard for dipping.

Rice Pilaf

2010-04-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

Side dish week continues with an easy breezy recipe for rice pilaf.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter or margarine
2 handfuls tiny noodles
1/2 cup long grain rice
1 can chicken broth-your favorite brand

Melt butter over low heat. Put in dry noodles and brown. Add rice, then add broth. Cover and simmer over ow flame for 1/2 hour.

Pineapple Souffle

2010-04-06T06:30:00.000-07:00

This week I am focusing on side dishes.

Here is another family favorite, pineapple souffle. This recipe is not only delicious, it is a great one to bring to someone's pot luck. Easy and inexpensive to make, especially for those coupon clipping frugalistas!

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter or parve margarine
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1-15.5 ounce can crushed pineapple, drained
5 slices white bread, cubed, crusts removed

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs. Stir in pineapple and bread. Place in greased casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Rosemary Potatoes

2010-04-05T06:30:00.000-07:00

This week I am going to focus on side dishes.

I love small red bliss potatoes. Just wash them well and no peeling! Rosemary potatoes make a nice spring side dish with any meal. I love serving them with asparagus as the vegetable.

Ingredients

1 pound small red potatoes
2 teaspoon olive oil
2 Tablespoons fresh rosemary or 2 teaspoons dried
Salt and pepper to taste

Wash potatoes and quarter them-about one inch cube size. Heat a medium non-stick skillet on high and add olive oil. Add potatoes and rosemary and reduce to a simmer. Toss a minute in the oil; cover and cook for ten minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Happy Friday Follow #12!

2010-04-01T21:05:00.001-07:00

TGIF! It's time for the Friday Follow!

Sweet Potato Pie

2010-03-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

Here's another side dish that my family loves. It does take a little more effort because you are cooking and whipping the potatoes, but isn't your family worth it once in a while?

Ingredients

4-5 large sweet potatoes
maple syrup-3-5 tablespoons
1-2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 or a little more brown sugar
2-3 teaspoons butter

Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into small chunks. Place in boiling water and cook until soft-15-20 minutes.

Drain into a colandar and place in a mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and whip with a hand mixer. Taste test for desired sweetness and add more sweet if you need it.

Quick and Easy Biscuits Thanks Recipezaar.com!

2010-03-30T07:03:00.000-07:00

My children love to eat rolls, but I rarely buy the stuff in a tube (unless it is for pigs in a blanket).

This past Friday I forgot to buy a challah for our Shabbat meal. I wanted to make some type of bread, and so afeter a google search for quick, easy biscuit recipes, I found this one. It was a big hit!

Try this easy recipe to add something "new" for dinner tonight!

Ingredients

2 cups flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup oil

2/3 cup milk (I used almond milk)

Directions

1 Mix dry ingredients.

2 Put oil in measuring cup and add milk. Do not stir.

3 Add to dry ingredients.

4 Mix lightly to moisten ingredients and knead one or two times to form ball.

5 Roll out between two sheets of plastic wrap to about 1/2" thick.

6 Cut into 2" biscuits.

7 Bake on an ungreased pan at 475F for 10-12 minutes, until lightly browned.

Happy Passover! Turkey Prep Done Easy

2010-03-29T06:55:00.000-07:00

Tonight at sundown begins the Jewish holiday of Passover. Jews around the world celebrate their liberation from slavery in Egypt.

Tonight I am having a small seder with just my husband, kids and mom. Tomorrow my seder will include all of them and my childhood friend and her family.

My main course is always turkey. I prep it the following way:

Wash and pat the turkey dry with paper towels. In a bowl, pour olive oil, garlic powder and paprika. Mix and rub under the skin of the turkey and on top of the turkey. Place in a prepared Reynolds turkey cooking bag. This turkey will be your juciest ever!

A Zissan Pesach! Happy Passover!

Friday Follow!

2010-03-26T03:12:00.000-07:00

Thank you for coming by! If you need easy, healthy, and inexpensive recipes, this is the place! Have a look and see if there are any recipes you'd like to prepare next week!

Salmon with Dill and Butter

2010-03-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

While my husband is a big seafood lover, the rest of us are not. We do not eat fish very often, but when we do, this is the recipe I use.

Salmon with Dill and Butter

Salmon
Butter
Dill

Place salmon on a baking sheet with sides that is lined with foil. Put butter pats on top. Sprinkle fresh dill on it. Bake 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees until done.

Serve with rice and steamed broccoli or asparagus.

Sometimes It's Okay to Serve Chicken Nuggets-If They Are the Right Kind

2010-03-24T06:47:00.000-07:00

As I stated in my very first post, I do not like to cook, but do it because I must. On our Daddy-free nights, I admit to serving my kids chicken nuggets.

But not just any chicken nugget.

BJs sells an organic chicken nugget called Dino Nuggets, It huge box sells for $9.99 and my kids scarf them down. Even I like them! I serve them with corn and some fresh strawberries or sliced apples, and its a meal.

*This is my opinion and I have not been asked or reimbursed by anyone to state how much I LOVE this product.

Skillet Lasagne in a Jiffy

2010-03-23T09:52:00.000-07:00

My friend Susan gave me this recipe that is easy, quick, and inexpensive to make. My family loved it!

Skillet Lasagne

Lasagne noodles broken into quarter (about 1/2 box)
28 ounce jar of your favorite pasta sauce
Fresh garlic
Ricotta cheese
Mozzarella cheese

Take the jar of pasta sauce, add 3 cups water - boil in a deep skillet. Then breakup 8 oz lasagna noodles (half a box)into it,in quarters. Cover and simmer 16-18 mins. Add pressed garlic (to your taste), then add scoops of ricotta (1 cup total) to it, as much mozzarella cheese as you'd like, and cover for 3 mins till melted.

Easy Lemon Pasta with Chicken from The Neely's

2010-03-22T06:30:00.000-07:00

Once again I am indebted to Pat and Gina for another wonderful, fast, inexpensive and easy recipe. And they are the ones who out the word "easy" in the title!

Serve Easy Lemon Pasta with Chicken a salad and some fresh fruit. YUM!

Happy Friday Follow Number 10!

2010-03-18T21:15:00.000-07:00

I promise to look at your blogs this week! Thank you to my new followers. My recipes are easy, quick to make, healthy and inexpensive. Browse through and find something to cook this weekend!

Keeping Meals Simple and Delicious

2010-03-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

I love watching cooking shows. I am simply fascinated at how many ways you can prepare a certain kind of food, as well as how they put it all together.

Rachel Ray can put a complete and creative dinner together in 30 minutes, but I can't. I enjoy trying new recipes, and I only want to focus on one new thing at a time.

Some nights I make a new main course. Other nights I bake a new bread, change how I make the potatoes, rice or vegetables. Still other times I make a completely new side dish.

Making one simple new menu item can make an entire dinner seem like you have never had it before.

Sloppy Joes

2010-03-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the slogan, "A sandwich is a sandwich, but a Manwich is a meal?" I used to love that stuff when I was a kid!

Now that I am a mom who has two children with food issues, I cook a lot from scratch. Doing so insures that I know what my children are putting in their bodies. In addition, it help my children's present and future health by not put unnecessary chemicals and dyes into their bodies.

An added bonus is that I save money by not using convenience foods.

I have tried a few recipes for Sloppy Joes. This recipe is a hit with my crew, as they do not like meat that is too sweet. Serve this with a fresh salad or some corn.

Don't forget to get the hamburger buns!

Friday Follow #9

2010-03-11T21:09:00.000-08:00

I promise to look at all of your blogs within the week!