Keeping It Simple

I use to hate hot dogs.  They were just something that was so gross, I mean really, what's in them exactly?  Somehow over the years though I've found some that I like.  They are actually pretty good.  They are 100% beef and do not contain nitrites or nitrates and they don't have the funny intestine wrap around them.

I am pretty sure that's the main reason I like them.  They aren't going to squirt all over you and burn you with hot fat.

This summer that has been our solution to the quick, simple dinner.  Every few weeks I buy a pack of hot dogs and my husband grills them up until they have four little grill marks on all sides.  We then serve them in those new flat hot dog buns (best invention btw, who wanted all that extra bun anyway??).

Tonight we paired that really simple entree up with some homemade coleslaw.  We've been getting napa cabbage from our CSA for the last couple weeks and I am struggling to use it up before it wilts!  I feel awful throwing it out so we've tried several things (wraps, salads, and stir frys), but none require enough to help us pound through it.  It has a really strong flavor so I'll be honest, it's not really my favorite vegetable.

Tonight I shredded it and mixed up some dressing (basalmic vinegar, white wine vinegar, brown sugar, mustard, garlic and some poppyseeds) and tossed it with the shredded cabbage.  I was shocked by how spicy it was!!  Husband loved it however so I guess that's a win; it's not often I make spicy food.

We finished the meal off with some chocolate pudding and whip cream.

It was probably not the healthiest meal ever, but it was quick and easy.

Simple Summer Breakfast

I made the most delicious smoothie for my husband and I this morning!  It certainly isn't anything earth shattering, but we really enjoyed it.

1 medium banana
1 c. strawberries (mine were fresh/frozen, but you could use either)
1/2 c. strawberry greek yogurt
1/2 c. vanilla yogurt
1/2 c. milk (add more if it is too thick)

Blend in a blender until smooth.

We have this with mini bagels (who can eat a whole huge one anyway??) and cream cheese for breakfast.

Grilled Steak

While I am on the theme of simple summer food, it is a real treat for us to have a steak.  Especially a good steak.  I tend to buy cheap cuts and slice them into bit for stir fry or soups.  If it's a bigger piece like a roast, I usually use the slow cooker.  However, it was my husband's lucky day last Sunday.  The store had a rib eye steak on sale and marked down so I grabbed one for us.

I always make him a special steak for his birthday.  I coat it in garlic, rosemary and pepper before cooking it.  It is cooked in the oven at a high temp and topped with mushrooms and a wine sauce.  I don't even really like steak and it's amazing.

That's probably the only other time we cook whole steaks.  Tonight though, we are going to grill it.  I am going to try the same pressed garlic, rosemary and pepper coating and make sure the grill is well oiled before we stick it out there.  I don't have mushrooms, but I think it will still be very good.

On the side, I am planning on serving roasted kale and a foil packet of baby red potatoes, garlic, and onions (each roasted on the grill). 

It's really nice out today so I think it will be a pleasant evening to sit outside and eat.  Afterward, I think my might surprise him and go to a restaurant near our house for dessert.  They have the most amazing chocolate lava cake and it sounds just wonderful!

Summer Dinners

We have had a heat wave around here lately so I've been struggling to find cold meals that don't feel like we are running a sandwich shop and don't constantly contain salad.

Last night my solution was cold pasta salad with pesto.  My husband told me he'd prefer it warm.  Gee, thanks.  I tried it both ways and either one really is fine, I guess it just depends what you're looking for.

Here's what I did:

1. Boil the pasta of your choice, I chose whote wheat penne.  Drain and rinse when cooked.
2. Make pesto sauce (or buy it).  I just guestimate when I make pesto, it's never been an issue.  This time around I used 4 garlic scapes, 5 big bunches of basil and somewhere around a 1/2c. olive oil.  After it's blended in the food processor, I add a generous amount of parmesan cheese.
3. Mix pesto with pasta until the pasta is well coated.  Refridgerate pasta mixture until cool.  If you don't need all the pesto (I didn't even need half what I made) then just freeze the remainder in small portions for later.
4. Sautee a salmon filet (or two if you're big meat eaters) - I served it warm, but had it cold later, again, either is good.  I placed a half a salmon filet on top of each of our bowls of pasta and added a generous portion of chopped tomatoes.
5. I served this with a big slice of cantelope and we had chocolate pudding cream pie for dessert.

Chicken Salad

One of my favorite summer meals is chicken salad.  I enjoy it with pasta and as a sandwich spread.  I am going to share my recipe for sandwich spread chicken salad today.

I prefer to use grilled chicken breasts (2 normally), I think they have a better flavor that way.

I also use:
carrots (2)
broccoli (several small clusters)
radishes (3)
fresh parsley
black pepper

I put all of this in the food processor and blend until crumbly.  I then store this in a tupperware until I want to use it.  I only add mayonaise to what I am going to use in a particular meal so it has a longer shelf life.

I then serve it up on the best bread I have available or I a big spoonful on top of salad greens, sometimes with walnuts sprinkled on top.

Delicious Dessert

Applesauce Bars

1 1/4 c. quick cooking oats
1 1/4 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp vanilla
3/4 c. softened butter

Mix all this together, cutting butter in last.  Mixture will be crumbly.  Set 1 c. aside for topping.  Spread remainded on the bottom of a 9x13 pan and press into place.  Top with about 1 c. applesauce (I just put enough to cover the crust pretty well).

Add 1/2 c. coconut to the 1 cup of topping you reserved and sprinkle over the applesauce.

Bake at 350 for about 20-25 minutes.

Cool and slice!  These don't last long as they get mushy after a few days, but that's never been a problem for us. :)  Enjoy!

Big News!

We are expecting!  I've been keeping pretty quiet in real life, but since no one I know follows me here, I figured I can start airing out some of my meal planning ideas here so I don't lose them.

People have expressed mixed reviews of my plan to prepare about 60 meals in advance of baby, but I usually cook about 30 meals to use over the course of two months.  Somehow they never last as long once we start pulling them out for work lunches and such.  I have made a list of meals I hope to make and over the course of the next few weeks I plan to break it down into a workable plan.

By a plan I mean, identifying which dishes contain similar ingredients or needs. Wild rice casserole for example - I plan to make it with chicken, beef and turkey so it will probably end up on the same cooking day so I can make one huge pot of wild rice.  Another example would be soups, many require the requisite onion, celery, carrot in butter mix to start.

I usually store these meals in gladware style containers, but I am planning on using tin foil pans, foil wraps, and freezer bags this time around for space and simplicity sake.

After determining exactly what I am cooking, I am going to create a month long menu plan so dh knows what's available and there are plenty of simple things ready to go when I am hungry, but short on time or energy.

I am posting my list below in case you want to use it as a guideline.  I don't have all the recipes electronically available, but I will try to post them over the next few months.

After Baby Meal Plan

Bread

·         Pumpkin

·         Banana

·         Zucchini

·         Garlic pinwheels

·         waffles

Muffins

·         Blueberry

·         Poppyseed

·         Pumpkin

·         Zucchini

·         Chocolate pumpkin

·         Chocolate zucchini

Soup

·         Butternut squash bisque

·         Venison chili

·         Chicken soup (to add noodles, rice or make dumplings)

·         Vegetable beef

·         Potato sausage

Chicken

·         Caprese stuffed chicken

·         Stuffing stuffed chicken

·         Flautas

·         Enchiladas

·         Pot pies

·         Chicken basil meatloaf

·         Wild rice casserole

Turkey

·         Rosemary loaf

·         Burgers

·         Wild rice casserole

·         Sheppard’s pie

Beef

·         Lasagna casserole

·         Meatballs

·         “up-north” burgers

·         Taco meat

·         Meatloaf

·         Wild rice casserole

·         Sloppy joes

·         Sheppard’s pie

Pork

·         Shredded (for bbq sandwiches or tacos)

·         Sausage

·         Stuffing stuffed chops

Dessert

·         Red velvet cake

·         Red velvet cupcakes

·         Chocolate chip cookies

·         Peanut butter cookies

·         Apple pie

·         Apple crisp

·         Rhubarb crisp

Other

·         Spinach balls

·         Granola

·         cocoa