New Recipes for a New Year

A new year is a great time to turn over a new culinary leaf.  This year, I have had T's help with that.  He has been a fountain of great new recipes for us to try.  Here are a few of our favorites.

Spinach parmesan quinoa from One Life to Eat

(Delicious for lunch or with glazed carrots and chicken for dinner)

Butterbean Burgers from A Chef's Life

(A great veggie burger from our new favorite show)

Empanadas from Everyday Food

(Worth doubling and freezing for a rainy day)

Quinoa chili from Damn Delicious

(Fabulous, and recommended to us by Aunt K)

Caramelized bananas over ice cream from the Food Network

(Perfect warming dessert for a cold night)

Happily Ever,

Queen B

Summer Grocery Bag

I have a confession to make.  I have not done much meal planning this summer.  Spontaneous schedules, afternoon bike rides and sunny days have gotten the best of me.  I love summer, and this summer I have had very little interest in spending lots of time in the kitchen (or even planning meals, for that matter.)  As a result, most of our meals have been simple favorites or outings with family and friends.  Along the way, however, I have found these summer favorites.  Each recipe is ready with fresh, summer ingredients in 30 minutes or less.

Day One

Pasta with fresh tomato sauce from Martha Stewart Living

with cranberry romaine salad and grapes

I pureed the sauce because my kids are skeptical of diced tomatoes, 

and we used penne pasta.  The meal got rave reviews.  Top with capers, chopped basil and parmesan for an extra treat!

Photo and recipe from MarthaStewart.com

Day Two

Fresh mozzarella and tomato sandwiches with homemade pesto,

a fresh fruit and veggie

We've all been there:  returning home exhausted from summer adventures to find a basil plant that is ready to burst.  Or, perhaps I just can't fire up the kitchen or we are in need of an easy picnic solution.  This meal fits the bill.  I can send the kids to pick basil, and by the time they are back I have sliced the mozzarella and tomato.  A few whirs in the food processor and our pesto is ready.  Any favorite bread will do; lately we have enjoyed pretzel rolls.  Here is my favorite pesto concoction:

Happily Ever Johnson Pesto:

2 cups fresh basil

4 garlic cloves, peeled

1/4 cup almonds

1/4 fresh parmesan

1/4 cup olive oil

Squeeze of a 1/2 lemon

salt and pepper to taste

Combine ingredients to a food processor and process using the pulse feature to desired consistency.

Day Three

Thai Larb in lettuce wraps with quinoa

If you have had one too many burgers, but there is still ground beef in your summer fridge, then this recipe is for you.  You can use any ground meat with delicious results.  Brown the meat, toss with the sauce and serve with quinoa in lettuce wraps.  My kids love these "Thai Tacos."

Day Four

Saag Paneer from Indian Cooking Unfolded

with basmati rice, pineapple and sweet corn

We tried this as a new tofu recipe and loved it.  I puree the sauce ingredients in a food processor for simplicity, spend a few minutes over the stove and the kids devour every bite.

Day Five

Trader Joe's chicken apple sausages wrapped in crescent rolls

with a favorite fruit and veggie

Are you sensing a theme to our summer meals?  This one is perfect for a late night dinner emergency when everyone is hungry and ready for bed, or for an mobile evening dinner main dish.  Wrap the sausages in the crescent rolls and cook according to the crescent roll package instructions.  

It takes creativity, fortitude and a quick prayer now and then to put dinner together during these special summer months.  More and more, I appreciate it when my children pray "give us this day our daily bread" during our Lord's Prayer, because I know I need the grace to make it happen!

Blessings on your kitchen.

Grocery Bag

May it a busy month, but don't give up on meal planning just yet!  It saves so much time--time we could be spending playing and riding bikes outdoors.  We still have cooler, rainy weather around here, so I am keeping it warm and comfortable this week.

Day One

Roasted zucchini and tomato pasta by Everyday Food Magazine

with raspberries and romaine salad

Day Two

Penne with smoked ham, peas and mint from Fine Cooking

with mixed green salad and pears

Day Three

Curried lentil and chickpea stew by All You Magazine

with homemade rolls and orange-broccoli slaw

Day Four

Veggie fried rice from Cooking Light Magazine

with potstickers and cabbage slaw salad

Day Five

Soy-maple glazed tofu with broccoli from Everyday Food Magazine

with jasmine rice 

Blessings on your kitchen!

Grocery Bag

This week, we are in for a mix of rain and snow, with a first birthday toward the end of the week.  Three cheers for a warm, cozy and celebratory meal plan!  Can't believe we're about to have another one year old in the family ..... :)  

Day One

Fusilli with bacon, onions and mushrooms from Martha Stewart Living

with salad and pears

Day Two

Broccoli and baked potato soup from Cooking Light Magazine

with apple slices and cheese tortillas

Day Three

Rice and lentils with ham from Fine Cooking

with steamed peas and pineapple

Day Four ~ Happy Birthday J-Bear!

Pesto tortellini with homemade rolls,

strawberries, apple sauce and bell pepper slices

Day Five

Spaghetti with vegetables and peanut-sauce from Everyday Food Magazine

with orange slices

Blessings on your kitchen this week!

Grocery Bag

Could it be?  Has spring really sprung?  We have two more weeks of Lent and we're spending more time outside.   These are my plans to put dinner on the table this week.

Day One

Pasta with peppers, squash and tomatoes from Everyday Food Magazine

with spinach salad and pears

Photo and recipe from MarthaStewart.com

Day Two

Beef and broccoli lo mien from Cooking Light Magazine

with clementine oranges

Photo and recipe from MyRecipes.com

Day Three

Broccoli chowder with corn and bacon from Everyday Food Magazine

with cantaloupe homemade rolls

Photo and recipe from MarthaStewart.com

Day Four

Spaghetti carbonara from Sunset Magazine

with peas and crescent rolls

Photo and recipe from MyRecipes.com

Day Five

Tofu and broccoli stir fry from Everyday Food Magazine

with basmati rice and pineapple

Photo and recipe from MarthaStewart.com

Blessings on your kitchen this week!

Grocery Bag

Ahhh....so many snow days, so much time.  We are ready to start a new week today, after last week's adventures of icy roads and snow days off of school.  I need to start with a new meal plan too, as we successfully worked through the pantry staples during our hibernation last week!  Here are my ideas to get us through dinner.

Day One 

Wild rice mushroom soup from Kate in the Kitchen

with homemade rolls

Photo and recipe from Kate in the Kitchen

Day Two

Peanut noodle salad from 101 Cookbooks

with potstickers and orange slices

Photo and recipe from 101 Cookbooks

Day Three

Chicken and chickpea stew from Bon Appetit

with couscous and steamed broccoli

Photo and recipe from Bon Appetit

Day Four

Sweet potato tortilla pie by Didi Emmons

with mixed green and pear salad

Day Five

Acorn squash and garlic pasta by Didi Emmons

with homemade bread and steamed peas

Recipe from Vegetarian Planet. Photo by Five Finicky Eaters

Blessings on your kitchen this week!

Grocery Bag

How's the produce aisle treating you?  I'm relying on the frozen section for many of our fruit and vegetable servings these days, with great results.  Steamed veggies can taste great with a little butter, parmesan or lemon and salt.  We've discovered that frozen fruit smoothies are a great way to start the day, and J-Bear's love of homemade applesauces is catching on to the rest of us when the fruit section is lacking.  Thankfully, winter won't last forever!  Here is our meal plan for the week.

Day One

Roasted tomato soup from Finding Joy in My Kitchen

with homemade bread

We substituted 3 large tomatoes for the canned tomatoes called for in the recipe, and we threw in a few bell peppers.  This soup tastes great!

Day Two

Crescent roll apple sausage rolls 

with mushroom risotto and sautéed mushrooms

Nothing gourmet here, but simple deliciousness for a quick dinner.

We roll Trader Joe's chicken apple sausages in crescent rolls and bake according to the 

crescent roll instructions.  I cut the sausages in half for the kid's portions.  I can't make enough of these for our kids.  

Day Three

Homemade fish sticks from Everyday Food Magazine

with steamed green beans and cheddar biscuits

Keep ketchup on hand for these delicious homemade "fish nuggets."

Buddy Bear can't get enough.

Day Four

Tofu pad thai 

with pineapple and snap peas

A simple and delicious pad thai.  We add tofu and snap peas.

Day Five

Onion & pepper quesadillas with salsa and sour cream

with steamed broccoli and oranges
Saute the onions and peppers, add a squirt of lime, and then 
then add them to a tortilla with your favorite cheese.  

Blessings on your kitchen this week!

Grocery Bag

I have noticed a few things lately.  First, I think my weeks are decidedly more frenzied when I haven't made a meal plan.  Second, when T does the grocery shopping (as he has done for me quite a bit the past few weeks), our fridge is filled to the brim with delicious looking food.  If only I could successfully combine my meal planning with T's shopping ability: meals would be amazing!  Here is my plan for the week.

Day One

Skillet rib eye steak from Martha Stewart

with cabbage cilantro salad, rolls and grapes

T can choose a lovely cut of meat.  It's my job not to over cook it :)

Photo and recipe from MarthaStewart.com

Day Two

Ham and broccoli shells from Finding Joy in My Kitchen

with spinach salad and apple sauce

SnoWhite always comes through with a nice pasta dish.

Photo and recipe from Finding Joy in My Kitchen

Day Three

Sweet and spicy chili from T's aunt Patti

with crackers and broccoli slaw salad

A family favorite that tastes even better the next day.

Sweet and Spicy Chili

One pound lean ground hamburger or ground turkey

One onion, chopped

One large can diced tomatoes

One large can Hormel chili with beans

1/4 cup chili powder

1/4 cup brown sugar

Brown the hamburger and onion in a large Dutch oven.  Add tomatoes, chili, chili powder and sugar. Heat over medium until simmering.  Serve with sprinkled cheese and sour cream.

Day Four

Spaghetti carbonara from Sunset Magazine

with steamed green beans and homemade bread

Photo and recipe from MyRecipes.com

Day Five

Curried lentils in tomato sauce from Everyday Food Magazine

with basmati rice and sautéed mushrooms

Photo and recipe from MarthaStewart.com

Blessings on your kitchen this week!

Grocery Bag

Day One

Shrimp in coconut curry from Everyday with Rachael Ray

with couscous and grapes

One of my favorite quick "curries."  Start to finish, 30 minutes.

Photo and recipe from Everyday with Rachael Ray

Day Two

Roasted butternut squash soup from Cooking Light Magazine

with homemade rolls and spinach salad

A new soup that will be perfect tomorrow when the temperature drops

Photo and recipe from MyRecipes.com

Day Three

Tortellini with lemon and brussels sprouts from Everyday Food

with spinach salad

We'll make the bacon variation :)

Photo and recipe from MarthaStewart.com

Day Four

Saag paneer from 101 Cookbooks

with basmati rice and broccoli slaw salad

A favorite prep-ahead dish for busy nights

Day Five

Ribeye steak from Martha Stewart

with Shubert rolls, creamed corn and mixed green salad

A dinner in honor of Dee and Grandma Cookie

Photo and recipe from MarthaStewart.com

Blessings on your kitchen this week!

Grocery Bag

Colder weather this week, snow in the forecast, swimming lessons and evening school conferences....sounds like November to me!  Here's our menu plan to make sure we enjoy family dinner together.

Day One

Warm lentil and potato salad from Southern Living Magazine

with steamed peas and pesto toast

Day Two

Bacon and broccoli pasta from BBC Good Food

with apple sauce

Photo and recipe from BBC Good Food

Day Three

Sausage and lentil soup from Everyday with Rachael Ray

with bread maker breadsticks and spinach salad

Photo and recipe from Everyday with Rachael Ray

Day Four

Parmesan tortellini 

with delicata squash

Photo and recipe from Summer Tomato

Day Five

Sweet potato tortilla pie from Vegetarian Planet

with corn salsa and spinach salad

Blessings on your kitchen this week!

Grocery Bag

This week, we're juggling guests for dinner one night, lab instruction (for me) another night, and many afternoons of fun fall activities!  Here is our plan to get it all done.  This week is full of favorite fall flavors and some of my favorite recipes.

Day One

Caramelized pork with apples and balsamic onions from Health Magazine

with crusty bread, spinach salad and chocolate soufflé with whipped cream

This is one of my favorite pork recipes, nice enough for company, but only an hour of prep from start to finish.  I always hope for leftovers because they are delicious!

Photo and recipe from MyRecipes.com

Day Two

Baked potato and broccoli soup from Southern Living Magazine

with homemade bread and broccoli slaw salad

One of our favorite soup recipes (I puree the soup so the kids eat the broccoli) along with 

a new salad recipe from my sister make for a yummy meal.

Photo and recipe from MyRecipes.com

Day Three

Ham and broccoli shells from Joy in My Kitchen

with pears and steamed corn

A longtime favorite recipe from one of my favorite cooking blogs.

Photo and recipe at Finding Joy in My Kitchen

Day Four

Parmesan chicken with mushrooms and brussels sprouts from Everyday Food Magazine

with sweet potato wedges

It is nice to be able to heat up the kitchen with roasting recipes as the temperature drops!

Photo and recipe from MarthaStewart.com

Day Five

Cauliflower and cheddar soup from Everyday Food Magazine

with pear & romaine salad and homemade bread

Another favorite fall soup, perfect for Friday night

Photo and recipe from MarthaStewart. com

Blessings on your kitchen this week!