2012

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Charla

We are still wanting to eat healthy! There are three “healthified” recipes in our menu this week that are new and sound tasty. Last week, we had a new chili recipe that I modified. If you’re looking for a chili recipe, check out Turkey Chili with Beans & Zucchini.

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Monday: Easy Beef Enchiladas, black beans, avocado slices
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Tuesday: Slow Cooker Mediterranean Minestrone Casserole from “Eat Better America”

Wednesday: Lemon Chicken Oregano from “Eat Better America,” squash & onion medley

Thursday: Chick-Fil-A using calendar coupons (I’m moving into a brand new classroom at school and this will be a busy day!)

Friday: Chicken Parmesan Rollatini from “Food Network,” green beans, salad (we didn’t make this after all last week, so we’ll try again this week)

Menu Plan Monday 1/2/12

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Charla

I have probably eaten more pie, cookies, candy and desserts the past two weeks than I have eaten the past several months. We are so ready to eat healthy! In fact, our college-age son mentioned that he wants to eat lean and healthy this week. So…here are some recipes that sound healthy and very tasty:

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Monday: Stir-Fry with Chicken, zucchini & yellow squash, and onions
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Tuesday: White Chicken Chili from “Eat Better America”

Wednesday: Feta-Topped Chicken from “Eat Better America,” green beans, salad

Thursday: Chicken Parmesan Rollatini from “Food Network,” salad

Friday: Spicy Chicken Pizza, salad

Menu Plan Monday & Fun Desserts for Christmas Parties

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Charla

Less than a week until Christmas! We celebrated Christmas early with our daughter and her family and had turkey breast dinner Friday night, Mexican food for lunch, and then a roast & veggies cooked in the crock pot for Saturday night. Fortunately, we have enough leftovers so I won’t have to cook much this week. Plus, it will be such a busy week that we’ll probably have some fast food meals while we’re out and about. So, our menu for this week is leftovers and fast food or carry out.

Hope everyone can slow down, remember the reason for the season, and not stress over details that people won’t notice anyway. Make a priority list and do the things that really make a difference. Simplify where you can!

One last thing, here’s a cute idea to take to a party or potluck this week.

“Melting Snowmen” made by Brandi, a co-worker of mine:

I realized that I forgot to ask her how she made them, but I thought an easy way to do it would be to get Chocolate Cake Donut Holes and dip in melted white chocolate. Place snowman head in a puddle of melted white chocolate. Use chow mein noodles for the arms and decorate with colored icing, sprinkles and colored sugar. Here’s another recipe I found which is probably what my co-worker used: Melted Snowmen Cookie Balls.
And if you want to see some more really cute ideas, visit our daughter’s blog, Frugal Novice, for 10 Creative & Easy Christmas Desserts (did I mention fun?).

Menu Plan Monday 12/12/11

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Charla

Just a few days until Christmas! If you’re needing some special recipes, check out my Recipe Index at the top of my home page.

Monday: Stir-Fry with Chicken, yellow squash, and onions
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Tuesday: Chicken Tortilla Soup (this tasted so good to us last week and we want to have it again)

Wednesday: Leftover Chicken Tortilla Soup

Thursday: Italian Chicken Pasta

Friday: Slow Cooker Boneless Turkey Breast, green bean casserole, corn

Menu Plan Monday & Black-Eyed Pea Recipe

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Charla

Counting down: 20 days until Christmas! If you’re needing some special recipes, check out my Recipe Index at the top of my home page.
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My mother nearly always made black-eyed peas with snaps, so that’s one reason I like snaps so much. Also, they just taste good! So here’s and easy, healthy recipe for Black-Eyed Peas with Snaps & Ham:
INGREDIENTS:

Pictsweet Field Peas with Snaps
1/3 package Hormel Natural Choice “Smoked Deli Ham” (No preservatives, 100% Natural)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (the fat in this recipe is healthier than fat from ham)
Salt & Pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Cook peas & ham according to directions on the package of peas. I use about 1/3 package of ham. Let everyone add olive oil, salt & pepper to taste. This is so good and healthy.

Here’s our menu for this week:

Monday: Hormel Natural Choice Deli Ham sauteed in olive oil (2/3 pkg), Black-Eyed Peas, baby carrot sticks

Tuesday: Chicken Tortilla Soup (didn’t have it last week after all)

Wednesday: Leftover Chicken Tortilla Soup

Thursday: Italian Chicken Pasta

Friday: Pizza

Menu Plan Monday 11/28/11

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Charla

December is almost here and just 27 days until Christmas! If you’re needing some special recipes, check out my Recipe Index at the top of my home page. For this week, here is a completely different menu which will surprise a few of you since I have three brand new recipes, thanks to Allrecipes.com.

Monday: Turkey Waldorf Pita (This recipe is nostalgic to me because it sounds just like what my grandmother and my mother would make after we had a turkey, only minus the pita bread.)

Tuesday: Turkey Hash

Wednesday: Chicken Tortilla Soup

Thursday: Leftover Chicken Tortilla Soup

Friday: Salmon Chowder

Menu Plan Monday & Crock Pot Turkey Breast Recipe

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Charla

The holidays are here! Wow! I was looking through my Recipe Index at the top of my home page, and shared some holiday recipes last week. One recipe I didn’t share was this one. If you don’t need a big turkey and/or you’re in a huge time crunch, this slow cooker recipe is great:
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Crock Pot Turkey Breast:

3-pound turkey breast roast
Can of chicken broth
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (or minced garlic)
1/4 teaspoon of minced onion flakes (or onion slices)
Optional: your favorite herbs can be added such as fresh rosemary in place of the garlic

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Cooking the turkey breast in the crock pot makes it so moist and tender, and I think maybe it’s the best we’ve ever had. And the great thing is that it’s so easy.
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Also, here’s a recipe for Thyme-Roasted Turkey Breast if you have a bone-in whole turkey breast to cook in the oven.
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Monday: Salmon patties, broccoli, carrot sticks

Tuesday: Leftover salmon patties and veggies

Wednesday: Barbeque sandwiches

Thursday: Thanksgiving dinner with turkey and all the fixings

Friday: Leftovers

Menu Plan Monday 11-14-11

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Charla

The holidays are just next week! Wow! I can’t believe they’re just days away. I was looking through my Recipe Index at the top of my home page, and here are some holiday recipes I want to share::

Cake Mix Cookies
Fritos Cornbread Stuffing
Harvest Pumpkin Muffins
Holiday Sweet Potatoes
Holiday Vegetable Casserole
Kimbell Art Museum Restaurant’s Fruited Slaw
Laura Bush’s Corn Bread Dressing
Mother’s Holiday Fruit Salad
Peach Pie Salad
Pecan Pie Muffins
Qdoba’s 3-Cheese Queso (great snack)
Raw Cranberry Salad

I’m so ready for holiday food, but I guess this week will be regular meals. Except for Thursday we do get to have a Thanksgiving meal for lunch at the school where I teach. It’s not as good as what we fix at home, but it’s better than the traditional lunchroom menu, so the teacher’s are looking forward to it!

Menu for the week:.

Monday: Chicken, squash, lima beans

Tuesday: Salmon patties, salad, leftover lima beans

Wednesday: Leftover salmon patties, corn, carrot sticks

Thursday: Homemade chicken soup

Friday: Eat out

Menu Plan Monday & Recipe for Qdoba’s 3-Cheese Queso (Healthier Version)

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Charla

Can you believe holidays are getting close? For those holiday get-togethers, I’d like to share a recipe. This is a great recipe to fix in a Crock-Pot/Slow Cooker to take to a holiday party or pot-luck. By the way, the Cook ‘N Carry Crock Pot is great for traveling in the car. We gave one of these to my mother-in-law for Christmas one year.
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So many people love Qdoba’s 3-Cheese Queso, so much that you can even find the recipe on Food Network‘s site. We always order it when we go to Qdoba’s, but I would like a healthier version to fix at home. So here’s a lower-fat version plus some substitutions in case you need them:
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Qdoba’s 3-Cheese Queso, Lower-Fat Version:

1 cup shredded Monterrey jack cheese, reduced-fat
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, reduced-fat
1 cup American cheese (Alpine Lace has 25% reduced fat)
1 cup Fat-Free Half & Half
3 roasted poblano peppers, finely chopped (or canned chipotle peppers or green chilis, drained)
8 ounces tomatoes, finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoon ground garlic (or minced garlic from a jar)
1 teaspoon salt

Combine ingredients, cover, and cook in a slow cooker on low for 2 hours. Stir occasionally. Add just a little bit of milk if you need to thin it.

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Hope you enjoy this if you make it. At Qdobas, they serve it with tortilla chips flavored with a touch of lime. So good! Talking about all of this is making me hungry for Mexican food, so I think I’ll incorporate some into our menu this week!
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Monday: Chicken tenders cooked in olive oil & fajita seasonings, refried beans, avocado slices, tortilla chips & salsa

Tuesday: Homemade Chicken Enchilada Soup (This tasted so good last week and I think it helped me get over my cold a little faster because of the onion, garlic, and spices in it.)

Wednesday: Leftover Chicken Enchilada Soup

Thursday: Chicken Italian Pasta

Friday: Pizza & salad (haven’t decided what kind of pizza – have any ideas?)

Menu Plan Monday 10-31-11

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Charla

I have a great giveaway going on right now for a $25 Visa gift card which would come in handy for Christmas, either to use on a gift or to give as a gift.

Cold and flu season has definitely started, and I had a cold this past week but am feeling better now. Hope everyone is staying well.

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Monday: Chicken, squash, lima beans

Tuesday: Homemade Chicken Enchilada Soup

Wednesday: Bring in chicken, fried okra, potatoes (busy evening)

Thursday: Leftover Chicken Enchilada Soup

Friday: Pizza & salad

Menu Plan Monday 10-24-11

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Charla

I mentioned this month is one of those overwhelming months with so much to do as a teacher! I’ve been remembering the verse that says to take one day at a time, and I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. That’s encouraging! AND I’m starting to get the holiday bug. No, I’m not sick…I’m starting to get excited about getting to see family around the holidays. That’s what makes holidays so special is getting together with those we love! And while we’re doing that, let’s try to remember those who are lonely and and maybe invite them over sometime around the holidays.

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Monday: Salmon Patties, black eyed peas, baby carrots

Tuesday: Leftover Salmon Patties, black eyed peas, carrots

Wednesday: Bring in fried chicken breasts and okra, salad

Thursday: Italian Chicken Pasta (Barilla Plus Pasta) and salad

Friday: Maybe go somewhere out to eat.

Menu Plan Monday 10-17-11

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Charla

This month is one of those overwhelming months with so much to do as a teacher! But I just remember the verse that says to take one day at a time, and so that’s what I’m doing. Between now and the end of the month, I have four teacher’s testing modules to study and four tests to take, one over each module. (I’m not taking a college course. This is professional development.) Plus I have a fifth module on technology and have to do an online project to turn in and then read 30 pages of a book and be able to discuss at a faculty meeting. Whew!

I talked with our daughter, Christi @ Frugal Novice, and she has a crazy week too. How many of you remember the old commercials “Calgon, take me away?” 🙂
Needless to say, this week will be bringing in chicken and my husband doing the cooking:
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Monday: Rotisserie Chicken, broccoli, salad (We ended up not getting a Rotisserie Chicken last week, so it’s on this week’s menu.)

Tuesday: Leftover Rotisserie Chicken, baby lima beans, carrots

Wednesday: Homemade chicken vegetable soup