In light of my husband's recent development of food sensitivities (tomatoes, bell peppers, spinach), he has come up with a theory: our bodies are designed to digest food that our ancestors ate, and are less likely to be able to digest foods that weren't available before globalization carried food around the world. His ancestors hail mostly from the United Kingdom and therefore he has challenged me to cook foods that would be classified as "British" to see if his body feels better eating those foods rather than things like spinach and bell peppers.
Here's what I've come up with:
First off, a ham roast (just the pre-cooked kind, not one that you have to cook all day) with garlic mashed potatoes and steamed baby carrots. Good old fashioned comfort food.
Next is Chicken Club Wraps. This is basically a chicken club sandwich in wrap form (cooked diced chicken breast, bacon, lettuce, cheddar cheese wrapped in a whole whet tortilla) . I've taken out the tomato part and added chopped green onion (I add green pepper for me too because I love it) and Caesar dressing.
We're going to have hamburgers with corn on the cob one night as we try to hold on to the last days of summer.
The ultimate comfort food this week is potato chowder, hearty and savoury. You peel and cube the potatoes and cook them in a little veg oil in a deep pot with the onions and carrots. Then you boil that mix in chicken (or veggie) stock with some earthy herbs (oregano, thyme, sage, etc). when the potatoes are super tender, take out about a cup of potatoes and a cup of broth. Puree that until it's smooth and add it back to the soup. This thickens it and gives it a velvety texture. Then add milk, corn, bacon bits and green onions. Top with cheese.
Next, we're going to try a prosciutto and parmesan filled pasta (found this fresh pasta at the grocery store - excited to try it out) with a creamy chicken sauce plus cooked zucchini with garlic.
Then we're going to have beef stroganoff on whole wheat egg noodles plus steamed broccoli. Stroganoff is one of my husband's favourites and I never had it as a kid, so I've had to watch his mom make it and pick up some of her tricks. The trick is instead of using all sour cream, use half sour cream and half onion dip (that way, you don't have to chop up an onion) - if you use a cream cheese based one rather than a sour cream based one, it gives great flavour. I also add paprika for some depth and half a beef bouillon cube.
Lastly, chicken enchiladas. This is one of my favourites and is the only thing on the menu that has peppers. It was my very first "featured recipe" and it just gets better every time. Adding a poblano pepper gives it nice smokiness and serving it with salsa verde (a green sauce made with tomatillos, serrano or jalapeno peppers and cilantro) is key. Latin import stores often carry authentic versions.
I hope this has inspired you.
Bon Apetit!
Showing posts with label What's For Dinner?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label What's For Dinner?. Show all posts
Saturday, 8 September 2012
Sunday, 12 August 2012
What's For Dinner?
I know it's been quite a while since I've done a "What's for Dinner" feature and, to be honest, I've had very little inspiration and my menus have been very boring repeats of the same things I cook all the time.
This week, things have changed. I was sick if cooking the same stuff over and over so I have at least 3 creative meals this week. My husband has some favourites so I've mixed those with the creative ones.
The first is an experiment and I made them tonight and they are so good! Savoury Ham and Cheese Waffles with Bell Pepper Sauce. Mixed sharp cheddar and diced ham into my mom's waffle recipe. The served them with a sauce made of green, red and poblano peppers cooked with red onion and a wee bit of veggie stock. They are good enough to be this week's featured recipe.
Next up, chicken club wraps. Cook chicken and sprinkle with some Johnny's Garlic Seasoning. Warm a whole wheat flour tortilla and put a on few thin slices of cheese, some chicken, bacon bits, green onion, green pepper, chopped tomatoes, lettuce and Caesar dressing and wrap up. Simple and quick and delicious
Next, Peanut Noodles with Chicken, Carrots and Red Pepper. This is one I came up with when I first got married and it's a favourite. Cook up some whole wheat spaghetti. Meanwhile, cook diced chicken breast with red onion, julienne carrots and julienne red peppers (julienne is just a fancy French word for really thinly sliced). Stir in some store bought spicy peanut sauce (I like President's Choice Memories of Szechaun), some warm spices (like ginger, cinnamon, cayenne), some green onion, and a few drops of sesame oil. Add cooked spaghetti and stir to completely coat. A nice change from tomato based spaghetti.
Next up, Smoky Pork Mini Meatloaves with poblano peppers and new potatoes. This is also an experiment and I'm not quite sure how it's going to work. I am envisioning roasting the poblano pepper with some white onion, then pureeing and adding it to the ground pork with some oats, cumin, chipotle chili and maybe some bbq sauce and/or Frank's Red Hot sauce. I have learned from my mother-in-law that if you make mini meatloaves and just cook them on a cookie sheet, they get crispy all the way around (no more soggy meatloaf!). Serve with boiled new potatoes. Fingers crossed it works out.
The third experiment is going to be mini beef meatballs with a sesame/soy quinoa salad. Quinoa, bean sprouts, green onion, lettuce with a sesame/soy ginger dressing. Then toss in some mini beef meatballs (home made, of course). Should be good.
Last up, Creamy Chicken Carbonara Penne. Chicken, bacon, red peppers and onions in a delicious creamy sauce serve over whole wheat pasta (penne or rotini work best). This is one of my husband's all time favourites (pretty much any creamy pasta sauce will please him, but this is one of his faves). I've made this with leftover pork tenderloin before and it was divine.
One last thing - a tip for today: if you cook with any kind of hot pepper (poblano, jalapeno, banana, etc) make sure you WASH YOUR HANDS before you touch your face. My face was a bit burn-y because I scratched an itch before washing my hands. Very Important Step!!
I hope this helps you with some ideas for dinner.
Bin Appetit!
This week, things have changed. I was sick if cooking the same stuff over and over so I have at least 3 creative meals this week. My husband has some favourites so I've mixed those with the creative ones.
The first is an experiment and I made them tonight and they are so good! Savoury Ham and Cheese Waffles with Bell Pepper Sauce. Mixed sharp cheddar and diced ham into my mom's waffle recipe. The served them with a sauce made of green, red and poblano peppers cooked with red onion and a wee bit of veggie stock. They are good enough to be this week's featured recipe.
Next up, chicken club wraps. Cook chicken and sprinkle with some Johnny's Garlic Seasoning. Warm a whole wheat flour tortilla and put a on few thin slices of cheese, some chicken, bacon bits, green onion, green pepper, chopped tomatoes, lettuce and Caesar dressing and wrap up. Simple and quick and delicious
Next, Peanut Noodles with Chicken, Carrots and Red Pepper. This is one I came up with when I first got married and it's a favourite. Cook up some whole wheat spaghetti. Meanwhile, cook diced chicken breast with red onion, julienne carrots and julienne red peppers (julienne is just a fancy French word for really thinly sliced). Stir in some store bought spicy peanut sauce (I like President's Choice Memories of Szechaun), some warm spices (like ginger, cinnamon, cayenne), some green onion, and a few drops of sesame oil. Add cooked spaghetti and stir to completely coat. A nice change from tomato based spaghetti.
Next up, Smoky Pork Mini Meatloaves with poblano peppers and new potatoes. This is also an experiment and I'm not quite sure how it's going to work. I am envisioning roasting the poblano pepper with some white onion, then pureeing and adding it to the ground pork with some oats, cumin, chipotle chili and maybe some bbq sauce and/or Frank's Red Hot sauce. I have learned from my mother-in-law that if you make mini meatloaves and just cook them on a cookie sheet, they get crispy all the way around (no more soggy meatloaf!). Serve with boiled new potatoes. Fingers crossed it works out.
The third experiment is going to be mini beef meatballs with a sesame/soy quinoa salad. Quinoa, bean sprouts, green onion, lettuce with a sesame/soy ginger dressing. Then toss in some mini beef meatballs (home made, of course). Should be good.
Last up, Creamy Chicken Carbonara Penne. Chicken, bacon, red peppers and onions in a delicious creamy sauce serve over whole wheat pasta (penne or rotini work best). This is one of my husband's all time favourites (pretty much any creamy pasta sauce will please him, but this is one of his faves). I've made this with leftover pork tenderloin before and it was divine.
One last thing - a tip for today: if you cook with any kind of hot pepper (poblano, jalapeno, banana, etc) make sure you WASH YOUR HANDS before you touch your face. My face was a bit burn-y because I scratched an itch before washing my hands. Very Important Step!!
I hope this helps you with some ideas for dinner.
Bin Appetit!
Saturday, 5 May 2012
What's For Dinner?
It is so easy to get into a food rut. You run out of ideas of new things to make and you end up making the same things over and over. I have been in a food rut lately and it makes it hard to want to cook. But, there is hope on the horizon! I've had some inspiration and delicious things are coming this week on the menu. Hope they help to inspire you too.
First up, roast beef with fan potatoes and steamed broccoli. I bought a hormone/antibiotic free sirloin roast, coated it with a mix of salt, pepper and Johnny's Garlic Seasoning the roasted it low-and-slow until it was tender and juicy and still a bit pink on the inside. Let me tell you, some of the best roast beef I've ever had. The fan potatoes recipe can be found as this week's Featured Recipe: they are crispy and buttery and melt in your mouth all at the same time. A must try for potato lovers.
Secondly, Spicy Roasted Sweet Potato Soup. Now, let me be the first to say that I am not the hugest sweet potato person. They are okay as fries, but the sweetness of them really throws me off. I know they are good for me so I'm trying to find ways to eat them. I came up with this recipe about 5 years ago when I was working at a cafe that had its soups delivered by a local soup company. I had a bowl of the sweet potato soup for lunch and it had a nice spicy kick to it that was highly enjoyable. I decided to see if I could come up with something similar. Mine is a puree of roasted sweet potatoes, red peppers and carrots seasoned with a blend of ginger and cinnamon (and a few other secret spices). Then it's mixed with chicken broth and cayenne pepper. Lastly, after it's pureed, add sauteed chicken, green peppers and onions. Top it with a little Parmesan cheese. Divine! This is also good as a pasta sauce or as lasagne filling. This is kind of my "signature" recipe, so you may have to wait until my cookbook comes out for the recipe.
Next up, chicken strips and Caesar salad. Ok, so this is a "stand-by" recipe, but seriously, so delicious!
Fourth, Shepherd's Pie with garlic mashed potatoes. This is one of my favourite foods. I adapted my version from a Best of Bridge cookbook from my mom. I guess this one is not "technically" shepherd's pie (according to traditionalists) as it is made with ground beef instead of traditional lamb and has cheese on top. But, I don't really like lamb and cheese makes everything better. Also, the secret to great garlic mashed potatoes is to smash about 6-8 cloves of garlic and drop them in the pot (remove the skins first, of course) when you're boiling the potatoes. Then, when you mash the potatoes, you just mash the garlic right along with it. Monterrey jack is a nice cheese for the top, but cheddar is good too.
Next, chicken quesadillas. Chicken, green and red peppers, green onion and cheese grilled inside a tortilla until crispy...my mouth is watering just thinking about it. I'm going to season the chicken with some tex-mex seasoning to give it some depth and then serve with salsa or hot sauce. Plus, the recipe is a balanced meal, especially if you use whole wheat tortillas: it has grains, poultry, veggies, diary and good fat (as long as you cook them in olive oil). I haven't had these in ages - they're going to be so good!
Next up, perogies! I haven't had perogies in a long time (I think since Christmas when I helped two of my sisters-in-law make them from scratch. It's kind of weird, but my husband and both his brothers married women with Ukrainian heritage) so I'm pretty excited. These, of course are not going to be home-made but store bought ones can be pretty good. The trick is to boil them first, then fry them in butter until they're crispy and then top them with bacon and cooked onions.
Finally, rice noodles with chicken, red peppers, carrots and peanut sauce. I came up with this one the first year I was married but haven't dug it out of the "vault" in several years. It's wide rice noodles (Pad Thai style) with julienne red peppers and carrots (julienne is just a fancy French work for really thin strips), sliced green onion and diced chicken. You soak the noodles in hot water until they're al-dente (soft but still firm - the time will vary depending on what brand you buy. My favourite is Rose brand because they hold together really well and they only cost about $1.50 for a big package, but they have no cooking instructions on them. I soaked them for about 15 minutes or so). Then you saute the chicken and veggies in a large pan or wok (you're going to need a big, deep pan for this one). Then, add the noodles once they're cooked and stir in store bought spicy peanut sauce (I really like PC Memories of Szechwan spicy peanut satay sauce). Yum.
Bon Apetit!
First up, roast beef with fan potatoes and steamed broccoli. I bought a hormone/antibiotic free sirloin roast, coated it with a mix of salt, pepper and Johnny's Garlic Seasoning the roasted it low-and-slow until it was tender and juicy and still a bit pink on the inside. Let me tell you, some of the best roast beef I've ever had. The fan potatoes recipe can be found as this week's Featured Recipe: they are crispy and buttery and melt in your mouth all at the same time. A must try for potato lovers.
Secondly, Spicy Roasted Sweet Potato Soup. Now, let me be the first to say that I am not the hugest sweet potato person. They are okay as fries, but the sweetness of them really throws me off. I know they are good for me so I'm trying to find ways to eat them. I came up with this recipe about 5 years ago when I was working at a cafe that had its soups delivered by a local soup company. I had a bowl of the sweet potato soup for lunch and it had a nice spicy kick to it that was highly enjoyable. I decided to see if I could come up with something similar. Mine is a puree of roasted sweet potatoes, red peppers and carrots seasoned with a blend of ginger and cinnamon (and a few other secret spices). Then it's mixed with chicken broth and cayenne pepper. Lastly, after it's pureed, add sauteed chicken, green peppers and onions. Top it with a little Parmesan cheese. Divine! This is also good as a pasta sauce or as lasagne filling. This is kind of my "signature" recipe, so you may have to wait until my cookbook comes out for the recipe.
Next up, chicken strips and Caesar salad. Ok, so this is a "stand-by" recipe, but seriously, so delicious!
Fourth, Shepherd's Pie with garlic mashed potatoes. This is one of my favourite foods. I adapted my version from a Best of Bridge cookbook from my mom. I guess this one is not "technically" shepherd's pie (according to traditionalists) as it is made with ground beef instead of traditional lamb and has cheese on top. But, I don't really like lamb and cheese makes everything better. Also, the secret to great garlic mashed potatoes is to smash about 6-8 cloves of garlic and drop them in the pot (remove the skins first, of course) when you're boiling the potatoes. Then, when you mash the potatoes, you just mash the garlic right along with it. Monterrey jack is a nice cheese for the top, but cheddar is good too.
Next, chicken quesadillas. Chicken, green and red peppers, green onion and cheese grilled inside a tortilla until crispy...my mouth is watering just thinking about it. I'm going to season the chicken with some tex-mex seasoning to give it some depth and then serve with salsa or hot sauce. Plus, the recipe is a balanced meal, especially if you use whole wheat tortillas: it has grains, poultry, veggies, diary and good fat (as long as you cook them in olive oil). I haven't had these in ages - they're going to be so good!
Next up, perogies! I haven't had perogies in a long time (I think since Christmas when I helped two of my sisters-in-law make them from scratch. It's kind of weird, but my husband and both his brothers married women with Ukrainian heritage) so I'm pretty excited. These, of course are not going to be home-made but store bought ones can be pretty good. The trick is to boil them first, then fry them in butter until they're crispy and then top them with bacon and cooked onions.
Finally, rice noodles with chicken, red peppers, carrots and peanut sauce. I came up with this one the first year I was married but haven't dug it out of the "vault" in several years. It's wide rice noodles (Pad Thai style) with julienne red peppers and carrots (julienne is just a fancy French work for really thin strips), sliced green onion and diced chicken. You soak the noodles in hot water until they're al-dente (soft but still firm - the time will vary depending on what brand you buy. My favourite is Rose brand because they hold together really well and they only cost about $1.50 for a big package, but they have no cooking instructions on them. I soaked them for about 15 minutes or so). Then you saute the chicken and veggies in a large pan or wok (you're going to need a big, deep pan for this one). Then, add the noodles once they're cooked and stir in store bought spicy peanut sauce (I really like PC Memories of Szechwan spicy peanut satay sauce). Yum.
Bon Apetit!
Friday, 6 April 2012
What's For Dinner?
I went and did a big grocery shop yesterday at Superstore and it was CRAZY BUSY as it was the day before Good Friday. I cannot imagine what it would have been like today. But I did have some great inspiration and I'm excited to share it with all of you.
I am not cooking an Easter dinner as there's just 2 of us, but I'm hoping to get some ham at my in-laws...
Yesterday we had pork tacos which were delicious. You really must try it as a change from ground beef as the sweetness of the pork really compliments the spices of the taco seasoning. Be careful when draining the grease from the pan though and don't flail like I do or you may end up with a second degree grease burn on your stomach (ouch!).
Next up we have steak pie. When I make steak or chicken pie, I don't use pastry. I make it in a 9x9 (or 9x13) pan and then top it with baking powder biscuit dough. I guess it's kind of like dumplings, but the dough is spread out across the filling like a crust. Baking powder biscuits are so easy to make and if you use vegetable oil instead of shortening, it comes together in a snap (using vegetable oil gives it a bit of a different texture and they're not as fluffy but just as delicious).
Next I'm making chicken Caesar wraps. Cooked cubed chicken breast seasoned with Johnny's Garlic Seasoning, lettuce, shallot, Monterrey Jack cheese, green pepper and Caesar dressing wrapped up in a whole wheat flour tortilla.
Also on the menu is pork tenderloin served with potatoes and garlic/lemon broccoli. I'm drooling already.
I'm also making Orzotto (like risotto but made with orzo pasta). You cook the orzo in a large pan with chicken broth until the liquid is all absorbed (about 15 minutes), then you stir in some ricotta cheese, cooked chicken breast, caramelized shallot, bacon, orange and green peppers and some parsley. It is also good if you stir in some spinach sauteed with garlic and some tomatoes (leave out the peppers if you do this).
Now for a summertime dinner: Beef kabobs (with green pepper, red pepper, zucchini and red onion) on the good old George Foreman grill (the bbq is not in useable condition at the moment) and brown rice. Going to do a soya sauce, lime, sesame oil and chili flake marinade.
And last but certainly not least, chicken enchiladas. These are one of my all time favourites. Check out my first ever Featured Recipe for the recipe.
I hope this has given you some ideas for dinner.
Bon Apetit!
I am not cooking an Easter dinner as there's just 2 of us, but I'm hoping to get some ham at my in-laws...
Yesterday we had pork tacos which were delicious. You really must try it as a change from ground beef as the sweetness of the pork really compliments the spices of the taco seasoning. Be careful when draining the grease from the pan though and don't flail like I do or you may end up with a second degree grease burn on your stomach (ouch!).
Next up we have steak pie. When I make steak or chicken pie, I don't use pastry. I make it in a 9x9 (or 9x13) pan and then top it with baking powder biscuit dough. I guess it's kind of like dumplings, but the dough is spread out across the filling like a crust. Baking powder biscuits are so easy to make and if you use vegetable oil instead of shortening, it comes together in a snap (using vegetable oil gives it a bit of a different texture and they're not as fluffy but just as delicious).
Next I'm making chicken Caesar wraps. Cooked cubed chicken breast seasoned with Johnny's Garlic Seasoning, lettuce, shallot, Monterrey Jack cheese, green pepper and Caesar dressing wrapped up in a whole wheat flour tortilla.
Also on the menu is pork tenderloin served with potatoes and garlic/lemon broccoli. I'm drooling already.
I'm also making Orzotto (like risotto but made with orzo pasta). You cook the orzo in a large pan with chicken broth until the liquid is all absorbed (about 15 minutes), then you stir in some ricotta cheese, cooked chicken breast, caramelized shallot, bacon, orange and green peppers and some parsley. It is also good if you stir in some spinach sauteed with garlic and some tomatoes (leave out the peppers if you do this).
Now for a summertime dinner: Beef kabobs (with green pepper, red pepper, zucchini and red onion) on the good old George Foreman grill (the bbq is not in useable condition at the moment) and brown rice. Going to do a soya sauce, lime, sesame oil and chili flake marinade.
And last but certainly not least, chicken enchiladas. These are one of my all time favourites. Check out my first ever Featured Recipe for the recipe.
I hope this has given you some ideas for dinner.
Bon Apetit!
Saturday, 24 March 2012
What's For Dinner?
Dinner is my favourite meal of the day. I can be so much more creative than with lunch or breakfast and the possibilities are endless. So what's on the menu this week?
Making chili tonight. It's not really a "chili" kind of day outside today (all sunny and spring-like) but chili is good all the time. Chock full of peppers (a great use for a poblano) and onions and meat (no beans here). Yum!
For some reason, my mouth really, really wants Kraft Dinner and meatballs, so I'm making that probably tomorrow. I found some really yummy Italian meatballs at Superstore and I know they'll go great with good old KD. Sometimes, you've just got to have KD and meatballs.
Other things on the menu: Pad Terr. A delicious combo of chicken and veggies (carrots, onions, peppers, beansprouts, bok choi) stirfried together with teryaki/soy sauce and wide Thai rice noodles. Not really a "classic" Pad Thai, but great flavours.
Craving spaghetti too. Classic spaghetti with meat sauce. I bought some ground sirloin instead of just lean ground beef (and the price was comparable) and I just know it's going to be good. They key to a really good tomato meat sauce is adding a teensy bit of white sugar. The sugar cuts some of the acidity/bitterness of the tomatoes and balances everything out quite nicely. The other trick is to use whole wheat pasta. It makes firmer pasta and the flavour is nice and earthy - you can eat less to feel full.
Parmesan chicken strips are on the menu too (check out the featured recipes section for the recipe). They're juicy, tender and crispy with just the right amount of saltiness. Serve with a big Caesar salad.
And lastly, pita pizzas (see today's featured recipe). The thin pitas give a nice crispy crust. My favourite combination is pepperoni, green pepper and red onion, but you can use any pizza toppings you like. I also spoiled myself and bought Kraft pre-shredded Pizza Cheese (mozzarella, provolone and cheddar) because it is just that good.
I hope this inspires you and gets those creative juices flowing!
Bon Apetit!
Making chili tonight. It's not really a "chili" kind of day outside today (all sunny and spring-like) but chili is good all the time. Chock full of peppers (a great use for a poblano) and onions and meat (no beans here). Yum!
For some reason, my mouth really, really wants Kraft Dinner and meatballs, so I'm making that probably tomorrow. I found some really yummy Italian meatballs at Superstore and I know they'll go great with good old KD. Sometimes, you've just got to have KD and meatballs.
Other things on the menu: Pad Terr. A delicious combo of chicken and veggies (carrots, onions, peppers, beansprouts, bok choi) stirfried together with teryaki/soy sauce and wide Thai rice noodles. Not really a "classic" Pad Thai, but great flavours.
Craving spaghetti too. Classic spaghetti with meat sauce. I bought some ground sirloin instead of just lean ground beef (and the price was comparable) and I just know it's going to be good. They key to a really good tomato meat sauce is adding a teensy bit of white sugar. The sugar cuts some of the acidity/bitterness of the tomatoes and balances everything out quite nicely. The other trick is to use whole wheat pasta. It makes firmer pasta and the flavour is nice and earthy - you can eat less to feel full.
Parmesan chicken strips are on the menu too (check out the featured recipes section for the recipe). They're juicy, tender and crispy with just the right amount of saltiness. Serve with a big Caesar salad.
And lastly, pita pizzas (see today's featured recipe). The thin pitas give a nice crispy crust. My favourite combination is pepperoni, green pepper and red onion, but you can use any pizza toppings you like. I also spoiled myself and bought Kraft pre-shredded Pizza Cheese (mozzarella, provolone and cheddar) because it is just that good.
I hope this inspires you and gets those creative juices flowing!
Bon Apetit!
Sunday, 26 February 2012
What's For Dinner?
So, I apologize that it's been over a month since my last post. February got really busy really fast. I thought of updating this many times when I was making my weekly/bi-weekly meal plan, but never got the chance to do it. Anyway, here are this week's selections.
Today was roast chicken with mashed Yukon Gold potatoes and Caesar salad. I really wanted to roast the chicken myself, but it was about $3 less to buy one of those ready cooked rotisserie chickens. Way less work too. This one was good and the meat was juicy and tender.
Tomorrow is going to be Glory Bowls - a warm bowl of tofu, brown rice, raw spinach, shredded carrots and beets and toasted almonds with a spectacular dressing (see my What's for Dinner post from Sept 11, 2011 for the link to the recipe from Whitewater Cooks) - with a few modifications: ground poultry instead of tofu, quinoa instead of brown rice and no shredded beets. The dressing is really what makes this dish and I am salivating just thinking about it.
Tuesday is gonna be fish 'n chips cuz we've had a hankering lately. The "chips" part has got to be those potatoe wedges with the skin on. Yum!
Wednesday is going to be a creation and I'm hoping it's going to work: garlic, ginger, chili beef with Asian slaw. I was thinking about garlic sauce beef that I had at a Chinese restaurant once so I want to recreate that but with a bit of heat from chili flakes. It's going to have a bouillon base I think and I may cook some noodles with it - undecided. We'll see if it turns out.
Thursday is dinner at my in-laws
Friday is baked lemon chicken souvlaki with Greek salad. I have a new recipe to try for the souvlaki because I haven't quite mastered it yet - I can't get the balance of flavours I want
Saturday is going to be lasagne because my husband requests it every week and it has been a while since I made it.
That's it for now.
Bon Apetit!
Today was roast chicken with mashed Yukon Gold potatoes and Caesar salad. I really wanted to roast the chicken myself, but it was about $3 less to buy one of those ready cooked rotisserie chickens. Way less work too. This one was good and the meat was juicy and tender.
Tomorrow is going to be Glory Bowls - a warm bowl of tofu, brown rice, raw spinach, shredded carrots and beets and toasted almonds with a spectacular dressing (see my What's for Dinner post from Sept 11, 2011 for the link to the recipe from Whitewater Cooks) - with a few modifications: ground poultry instead of tofu, quinoa instead of brown rice and no shredded beets. The dressing is really what makes this dish and I am salivating just thinking about it.
Tuesday is gonna be fish 'n chips cuz we've had a hankering lately. The "chips" part has got to be those potatoe wedges with the skin on. Yum!
Wednesday is going to be a creation and I'm hoping it's going to work: garlic, ginger, chili beef with Asian slaw. I was thinking about garlic sauce beef that I had at a Chinese restaurant once so I want to recreate that but with a bit of heat from chili flakes. It's going to have a bouillon base I think and I may cook some noodles with it - undecided. We'll see if it turns out.
Thursday is dinner at my in-laws
Friday is baked lemon chicken souvlaki with Greek salad. I have a new recipe to try for the souvlaki because I haven't quite mastered it yet - I can't get the balance of flavours I want
Saturday is going to be lasagne because my husband requests it every week and it has been a while since I made it.
That's it for now.
Bon Apetit!
Saturday, 21 January 2012
What's For Dinner?
I have to apologize that it's been about 3 weeks since my last post. Life has been crazy - but what else is new? Also, I haven't been hugely inspired, so that doesn't help. But, I have a whole new slew of ideas and hopefully they will inspire some of you.
Here's what's for dinner:
Chili. I love chili! It can't have beans though and, thankfully, mine doesn't. Just ground beef, red and green pepper, a poblano pepper (if I can find one), can of tomatoes, tomato sauce, cumin, chili powder, oregano, tex-mex seasoning and a pinch of chipotle chili powder. On a cool, snowy winter day, not much beats a good chili.
Pork roast with broccoli slaw. I'm not a huge coleslaw fan, usually because there's way too much dressing and it's way too mayonaise-y. I'm also not the biggest broccoli fan, but I'm trying to eat more of it because I know it's really good for me. Luckily, I've discovered that they have packaged broccoli slaw at the grocery store. It's broccoli stems, carrots and a wee bit of cabbage, all shredded up like coleslaw. I then make a lemon/garlic/dill dressing. Delish! (See today's featured recipe).
Pita pizzas. A favourite of mine and my hubby's and way cheaper (and probably healthier) than takeout. Thin pita works best here.
Beef Stew. Always good in the winter (see the recipe in the featured recipe section from a while back).
Turkey sausage with spaghetti squash "pasta." This actually almost tastes like pasta. I have a similar version posted last month in the featured recipe.
I'm making my husband's favourite Asian inspired dish, Pad Terr. It's not actually really much like Pad Thai except that I used wide Pad Thai noodles. It's really just a mix of chicken, veggies, noodles and a teriyaki/soy/sweet chili sauce. Very yum. An excellent use for Bok Choi.
I'm trying something new this week, and I'm not sure how it's going to turn out: Pecan and sage crusted chicken. The flavours of sage, garlic and chicken meld so well together and I think the nuttiness of the pecans will compliment it well. Hope it turns out. I'm going to serve that with chicken broth infused quinoa.
Bon Apetit!
Here's what's for dinner:
Chili. I love chili! It can't have beans though and, thankfully, mine doesn't. Just ground beef, red and green pepper, a poblano pepper (if I can find one), can of tomatoes, tomato sauce, cumin, chili powder, oregano, tex-mex seasoning and a pinch of chipotle chili powder. On a cool, snowy winter day, not much beats a good chili.
Pork roast with broccoli slaw. I'm not a huge coleslaw fan, usually because there's way too much dressing and it's way too mayonaise-y. I'm also not the biggest broccoli fan, but I'm trying to eat more of it because I know it's really good for me. Luckily, I've discovered that they have packaged broccoli slaw at the grocery store. It's broccoli stems, carrots and a wee bit of cabbage, all shredded up like coleslaw. I then make a lemon/garlic/dill dressing. Delish! (See today's featured recipe).
Pita pizzas. A favourite of mine and my hubby's and way cheaper (and probably healthier) than takeout. Thin pita works best here.
Beef Stew. Always good in the winter (see the recipe in the featured recipe section from a while back).
Turkey sausage with spaghetti squash "pasta." This actually almost tastes like pasta. I have a similar version posted last month in the featured recipe.
I'm making my husband's favourite Asian inspired dish, Pad Terr. It's not actually really much like Pad Thai except that I used wide Pad Thai noodles. It's really just a mix of chicken, veggies, noodles and a teriyaki/soy/sweet chili sauce. Very yum. An excellent use for Bok Choi.
I'm trying something new this week, and I'm not sure how it's going to turn out: Pecan and sage crusted chicken. The flavours of sage, garlic and chicken meld so well together and I think the nuttiness of the pecans will compliment it well. Hope it turns out. I'm going to serve that with chicken broth infused quinoa.
Bon Apetit!
Thursday, 29 December 2011
What's for Dinner?
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season and I wish all the best in 2012.
Christmas totally de-railed my attempt at eating low carb, but it's back on the wagon now and hopefully all the delicious, tempting cookies and chocolates and treats from the season are all gone until next year.
Here's what I am going to attempt to make this week.
Tonight was spaghetti squash "pasta" with a tomato, shallot sauce with ham (I was going to make it the week before last, but didn't ever get around to it). Both the hubby and I were skeptical (I have never liked spaghetti squash) but it was really really good and my husband said he didn't even miss the pasta! See today's featured recipe for all the details.
Other meals are going to include Parmesan Chicken Strips (see today's other featured recipe) with caesar salad. I made these last week and they were quite amazing and I wished there was more (I even got the hubby to eat caesar salad!);
Chili is a must for winter in my house and I managed to find a poblano pepper at the grocery store and it is going to go so great in the chili. I'm not adding rice like I usually do though, to keep with the "low-carb" theme;
I'm making whole wheat bowtie pasta with kielbasa sausage and peppers (I can have pasta occasionally and I mainly making it for hubby as it is his favourite);
I'm going to do another crust-less quiche as it is easy and fast and full of protein. This one is going to have peppers, onions and bacon topped with Monterrey jack cheese (my fave combo for quiche);
And last but most certainly not least, mini meatloaves with lemon-dill broccoli slaw (a new found favourite).
Who says low-carb can't be delicious?
Bon Apetit!
Christmas totally de-railed my attempt at eating low carb, but it's back on the wagon now and hopefully all the delicious, tempting cookies and chocolates and treats from the season are all gone until next year.
Here's what I am going to attempt to make this week.
Tonight was spaghetti squash "pasta" with a tomato, shallot sauce with ham (I was going to make it the week before last, but didn't ever get around to it). Both the hubby and I were skeptical (I have never liked spaghetti squash) but it was really really good and my husband said he didn't even miss the pasta! See today's featured recipe for all the details.
Other meals are going to include Parmesan Chicken Strips (see today's other featured recipe) with caesar salad. I made these last week and they were quite amazing and I wished there was more (I even got the hubby to eat caesar salad!);
Chili is a must for winter in my house and I managed to find a poblano pepper at the grocery store and it is going to go so great in the chili. I'm not adding rice like I usually do though, to keep with the "low-carb" theme;
I'm making whole wheat bowtie pasta with kielbasa sausage and peppers (I can have pasta occasionally and I mainly making it for hubby as it is his favourite);
I'm going to do another crust-less quiche as it is easy and fast and full of protein. This one is going to have peppers, onions and bacon topped with Monterrey jack cheese (my fave combo for quiche);
And last but most certainly not least, mini meatloaves with lemon-dill broccoli slaw (a new found favourite).
Who says low-carb can't be delicious?
Bon Apetit!
Sunday, 11 December 2011
What's for Dinner?
This week will be a whole bunch of experiments. I'm trying to eat less carbs and it's getting the wheels in my brain turning figuring out what to eat that is delicious and low carb. Here are my attempts for the next little while.
Roasted tomato and pepper soup with chicken and parmesan. I was inspired by a recipe I saw for roasted vegetable gazpacho, but I'm not into the cold soup thing, so I'm going to keep it hot and add cooked chicken and parmesan cheese for texture. Sounds good in my head anyway.
Spaghetti squash (which is not my favourite food, but I'm sure I can come to love it) and serve it like spaghetti with a shallots and tomatoes with steak strips (shallots are kinda like a cross between garlic and a red onion, with a milder flavour than a red onion).
I'm also going to attempt to make coconut pork with bean noodles. I found a recipe for the coconut pork made with coconut milk and it looks good (with a few amendments of course - it calls for peas and neither my hubby nor I are big fans of peas in things and I'm going to add bok choi and green onions). A friend introduced me to bean noodles, which are similar to rice vermicelli but are made from bean and pea starch instead of rice and they turn clear when they're cooked, not opaque like rice noodles.
I will be making past one day this week because sometimes you just need pasta (and the hubby goes a bit batty if he doesn't get pasta regularly). I'm making chicken carbonara pasta with bacon on whole wheat rotini (the big spirals). If you're not already on board with whole wheat pasta, you really should give it a try. It is way more filling than regular pasta, it has a great cooked texture and the flavour is really nice.
It's winter and nothing goes better in the winter than a hearty beef stew with big chunks of meat, carrots, onions, potatoes, tomatoes....I'm salivating just thinking about it.
Lastly, parmesan chicken with caesar salad. I'm going to "bread"the chicken with grated parmesan and bake it like chicken strips. It will feel like "cheating" but it won't be!
I've also started my Christmas baking, which will be a test of my willpower. Tonight was Chocolate Toffee Bars (shortbread crust, sweetened condensed milk caramel, chocolate, topped with Skor toffee bits. Yum!
Hope you've enjoyed reading. You can wipe the drool of your screen now.
Bon Apetit!
Roasted tomato and pepper soup with chicken and parmesan. I was inspired by a recipe I saw for roasted vegetable gazpacho, but I'm not into the cold soup thing, so I'm going to keep it hot and add cooked chicken and parmesan cheese for texture. Sounds good in my head anyway.
Spaghetti squash (which is not my favourite food, but I'm sure I can come to love it) and serve it like spaghetti with a shallots and tomatoes with steak strips (shallots are kinda like a cross between garlic and a red onion, with a milder flavour than a red onion).
I'm also going to attempt to make coconut pork with bean noodles. I found a recipe for the coconut pork made with coconut milk and it looks good (with a few amendments of course - it calls for peas and neither my hubby nor I are big fans of peas in things and I'm going to add bok choi and green onions). A friend introduced me to bean noodles, which are similar to rice vermicelli but are made from bean and pea starch instead of rice and they turn clear when they're cooked, not opaque like rice noodles.
I will be making past one day this week because sometimes you just need pasta (and the hubby goes a bit batty if he doesn't get pasta regularly). I'm making chicken carbonara pasta with bacon on whole wheat rotini (the big spirals). If you're not already on board with whole wheat pasta, you really should give it a try. It is way more filling than regular pasta, it has a great cooked texture and the flavour is really nice.
It's winter and nothing goes better in the winter than a hearty beef stew with big chunks of meat, carrots, onions, potatoes, tomatoes....I'm salivating just thinking about it.
Lastly, parmesan chicken with caesar salad. I'm going to "bread"the chicken with grated parmesan and bake it like chicken strips. It will feel like "cheating" but it won't be!
I've also started my Christmas baking, which will be a test of my willpower. Tonight was Chocolate Toffee Bars (shortbread crust, sweetened condensed milk caramel, chocolate, topped with Skor toffee bits. Yum!
Hope you've enjoyed reading. You can wipe the drool of your screen now.
Bon Apetit!
Friday, 25 November 2011
What's for Dinner?
Wow, it's been almost a month since I've updated this and I'm sorry. But I'm back and bursting with new vigour! I hope you're inspired!
Tonight was Zucchini Lasagne Rolls (see today's featured recipe) and they were delicious. I am pretty proud of myself (both my husband and I were skeptical at first, but they totally worked out!). Tomorrow is going to be Chicken Enchiladas because it's my birthday and they're my favourite (check out one of my first featured recipes if you want the recipe - they're deadly!). The rest of the week will be chicken stew (it's winter and time for a good, hearty, potato-y stew); mini meatloaves with lemon/dill/garlic dressed broccoli slaw; whole wheat spaghetti with peanut sauce, chicken, peppers and spinach; quiche with Italian sausage; Shepherd's pie (although I think technically it's cottage pie because I use ground beef (instead of lamb) and put cheese on top). And, most of these things will make left overs, so we're going to eat well next week too!
Bon Apetit!
Tonight was Zucchini Lasagne Rolls (see today's featured recipe) and they were delicious. I am pretty proud of myself (both my husband and I were skeptical at first, but they totally worked out!). Tomorrow is going to be Chicken Enchiladas because it's my birthday and they're my favourite (check out one of my first featured recipes if you want the recipe - they're deadly!). The rest of the week will be chicken stew (it's winter and time for a good, hearty, potato-y stew); mini meatloaves with lemon/dill/garlic dressed broccoli slaw; whole wheat spaghetti with peanut sauce, chicken, peppers and spinach; quiche with Italian sausage; Shepherd's pie (although I think technically it's cottage pie because I use ground beef (instead of lamb) and put cheese on top). And, most of these things will make left overs, so we're going to eat well next week too!
Bon Apetit!
Friday, 28 October 2011
What's for Dinner?
I love grocery shopping day! I live in a smallish town, but I'm only about a half hour drive to "the city" so every 2 weeks or so, I make the trek into Superstore and do a gigantic shop and stock up on deliciousness. Plus, it saves money doing it that way than running into town to go to the grocery store every other night. I love seeing my fridge/freezer/pantry so full of edible possibilities!
On that note, here's the menu) all of which, except one, will be leftovers for next week. Not quite sure how it's all going to fit in my freezer though....
Tonight was Pad Terr. This is my version of Pad Thai and is named after my husband Terr because it is one of his favourite things (after lasagne, of course). Wide Pad Thai noodles, chicken, peppers, green onion, white onion, carrot, bok choi, garlic, bean sprouts and a soy/teriyaki/sweet chili sauce. The 2 keys here are cinnamon and sesame oil. Just a pinch of cinnamon goes very well with the teriyaki and ginger flavours and a few drops of sesame oil right at the end give it a very nice nutty flavour. Also, cook the onion, carrots and the white "stem" parts of the bok choi for at least 5 minutes before you add the chicken so that they are tender at the end. They are "hard" vegetables and need more time to cook; you don't want hard carrots with soft peppers. Add the leafy parts of the bok choi near the end, just before the bean sprouts and the noodles. I bought Rose brand noodles at Superstore (98 cents for about a pound of noodles!) though I had to guestimate how long to soak them for (35-ish minutes) as there were absolutely no instructions on them. The hubby declared that they were the best noodles in this dish yet (I've tried about 4 different varieties)!
Tomorrow is orzotto (orzo pasta cooked like risotto) with ricotta and spinach stuffed chicken thighs wrapped in prosciutto. They key here is to use the leftover ricotta/spinach mixture from the chicken in the orzotto to make it super creamy. Add a can of diced tomatoes (drain the liquid) and you're golden. The chicken is a bit finicky as the filling likes to leak out while you're trying to stuff it and it gets a little messy, but it's so worth it! Another of Terr's favourites.
One night will be potato chowder (I use milk and chicken broth instead of cream and puree some of the potatoes with some of the liquid at the end to give it a thicker, creamy consistency). Dress it up with bacon bits, cheddar cheese and green onion.
It's definitely fall and time to bring on more comfort foods...like chili! This is one of the few instances where I cook with rice. Throw about a cup of uncooked, instant brown rice with the tomatoes, and it will cook as it absorbs all the tomatoey flavour. I also add a poblano pepper for a bit of smokey heat (poblanos are about the same size as green peppers except they are a much darker green and are kind of oblong. They are more smokey than hot, but do have a bit of heat. Great in Mexican dishes).
The other favourite on the menu is pita pizzas. Easy and oh so delicious. Not quite take-out pizza, but probably better for us. Mmmmm, pizza.
All of the above, except for the pita pizzas, will be leftovers next week, along with the spaghetti with meat sauce and the crock pot roast beef with tomatoes, green peppers and brown rice creation that the hubby invented last week that are already in the freezer.
I hope this has inspired you. As much as I dislike summer coming to an end, I do love comfort food like chilis and soups - they're hearty and filling and warm you up.
Bon Apetit!
On that note, here's the menu) all of which, except one, will be leftovers for next week. Not quite sure how it's all going to fit in my freezer though....
Tonight was Pad Terr. This is my version of Pad Thai and is named after my husband Terr because it is one of his favourite things (after lasagne, of course). Wide Pad Thai noodles, chicken, peppers, green onion, white onion, carrot, bok choi, garlic, bean sprouts and a soy/teriyaki/sweet chili sauce. The 2 keys here are cinnamon and sesame oil. Just a pinch of cinnamon goes very well with the teriyaki and ginger flavours and a few drops of sesame oil right at the end give it a very nice nutty flavour. Also, cook the onion, carrots and the white "stem" parts of the bok choi for at least 5 minutes before you add the chicken so that they are tender at the end. They are "hard" vegetables and need more time to cook; you don't want hard carrots with soft peppers. Add the leafy parts of the bok choi near the end, just before the bean sprouts and the noodles. I bought Rose brand noodles at Superstore (98 cents for about a pound of noodles!) though I had to guestimate how long to soak them for (35-ish minutes) as there were absolutely no instructions on them. The hubby declared that they were the best noodles in this dish yet (I've tried about 4 different varieties)!
Tomorrow is orzotto (orzo pasta cooked like risotto) with ricotta and spinach stuffed chicken thighs wrapped in prosciutto. They key here is to use the leftover ricotta/spinach mixture from the chicken in the orzotto to make it super creamy. Add a can of diced tomatoes (drain the liquid) and you're golden. The chicken is a bit finicky as the filling likes to leak out while you're trying to stuff it and it gets a little messy, but it's so worth it! Another of Terr's favourites.
 |
| Chicken thighs with the stuffing, before rolling |
 |
| stuffed, rolled and wrapped. Ready to be baked |
 |
| orzo cooking in chicken broth, much like risotto |
 |
| Orzotto with ricotta, spinach, tomatoes and prosciutto |
 |
| Dinner! |
One night will be potato chowder (I use milk and chicken broth instead of cream and puree some of the potatoes with some of the liquid at the end to give it a thicker, creamy consistency). Dress it up with bacon bits, cheddar cheese and green onion.
It's definitely fall and time to bring on more comfort foods...like chili! This is one of the few instances where I cook with rice. Throw about a cup of uncooked, instant brown rice with the tomatoes, and it will cook as it absorbs all the tomatoey flavour. I also add a poblano pepper for a bit of smokey heat (poblanos are about the same size as green peppers except they are a much darker green and are kind of oblong. They are more smokey than hot, but do have a bit of heat. Great in Mexican dishes).
The other favourite on the menu is pita pizzas. Easy and oh so delicious. Not quite take-out pizza, but probably better for us. Mmmmm, pizza.
All of the above, except for the pita pizzas, will be leftovers next week, along with the spaghetti with meat sauce and the crock pot roast beef with tomatoes, green peppers and brown rice creation that the hubby invented last week that are already in the freezer.
I hope this has inspired you. As much as I dislike summer coming to an end, I do love comfort food like chilis and soups - they're hearty and filling and warm you up.
Bon Apetit!
Thursday, 13 October 2011
What's for Dinner?
I'm gonna keep this short and sweet because dinner is in the oven as we speak! Tonight is Mexican Lasagne (which is essentially baked fajita casserole, but it's way more fun to call it Mexican Lasagne [much like my love for Greek "tacos"]). I tired something new tonight and I grilled the tortillas (used instead of lasagne noodles) before I assembled the layers. hopefully this will end up less soggy than previous incarnations. Another key here is chipotle chili powder, if you can find it. Just a pinch gives it a great smoky flavour with a bit of a kick. I know Epicure sells it, if you know anyone who sells Epicure.
I want to comment on my pork tacos from last week - I am not sure I will ever make tacos with beef again. The combo of the tex-mex spices with the pork was really quite a flavour explosion. Quite Awesome.
The rest of this week was a little boring: The Quinoalaya I didn't end up making last week, plus whole wheat penne with meat sauce. I found this really incredible imported Italian pasta at the grocery store in town (no English on the package) and you get better quality and more in the package and it's cheaper than Catelli. Sounds like a no-brainer to me
We have a bunch of leftovers, which is good on a budget. I have taken to making large batches of stuff, and then freezing to have at a later date. I know I'm a little bit late on jumping on that train, but it totally works if you're trying to save on groceries. Who knew?
Oh, and I need to express my love for homemade chocolate chip cookies, especially when they stay soft and moist. Thank you recipe on the back of the Bakers milk chocolate chips bag.
Bon Apetit!
I want to comment on my pork tacos from last week - I am not sure I will ever make tacos with beef again. The combo of the tex-mex spices with the pork was really quite a flavour explosion. Quite Awesome.
The rest of this week was a little boring: The Quinoalaya I didn't end up making last week, plus whole wheat penne with meat sauce. I found this really incredible imported Italian pasta at the grocery store in town (no English on the package) and you get better quality and more in the package and it's cheaper than Catelli. Sounds like a no-brainer to me
We have a bunch of leftovers, which is good on a budget. I have taken to making large batches of stuff, and then freezing to have at a later date. I know I'm a little bit late on jumping on that train, but it totally works if you're trying to save on groceries. Who knew?
Oh, and I need to express my love for homemade chocolate chip cookies, especially when they stay soft and moist. Thank you recipe on the back of the Bakers milk chocolate chips bag.
Bon Apetit!
Saturday, 1 October 2011
What's for Dinner?
Have I mentioned how much I love food? I LOVE food! Dinner is my favourite meal of the day and I spend most afternoons dreaming about dinner for that night. And I love to cook. It relieves stress and I love coming up with new recipes and flavour combinations. Pretty much my favourite thing.
A couple of years ago, I started doing something I swore I'd never do: I plan my meals for the week ahead of time. I always thought it would be so boring if you knew ahead of time what you were going to eat all week, but really, it is awesome. It helps control my grocery budget and I know what I need to take out of the freezer to thaw the night before. I have these little magnetic white boards that I put on the fridge and I write the menu on them. One of the best decisions I've made. You can't believe how much less I spend on groceries and how fewer trips I make to the store.
So, with that, here's the menu. Yesterday was Chicken Enchiladas (yes, the very same ones that are an earlier featured recipe). I found really nice poblano peppers at the grocery store. They have this great smoky flavour and just a teeny little bit of heat (less than a banana pepper) that compliment the smoky cumin and chipotle chili powder. A little taste of Mexico.
Tonight is Pita Pizzas. It's the season opener tonight for my favourite NHL hockey team against my husband's favourite team and that calls for pizza. Using pitas creates a nice crispy thin crust and you can top them with anything you like. Our favourite combination is pepperoni, green pepper and shallot (or red onion) and Monterrey Jack cheese. Delish!
Tomorrow is spaghetti with meat sauce. Simple and classic. We use whole wheat pasta - not only does it have a great taste, but you eat less because it is more filling. The only time I use regular white pasta is when I make lasagne or the late nights when we make KD.
Monday is Quinoalaya (jambalaya made with quinoa instead of rice). Since introducing my husband to quinoa, he can't seem to get enough. It is not as filling as brown rice, but is so good.
Tuesday is pork tacos. This is my cheap out night. I bought a taco kit so all I needed was the ground pork. I usually make them with beef but thought I'd try something different this time and we try not to eat beef more than once or twice a week.
Wednesday is leftover spaghetti. I go walking or swimming every Wednesday andI just don't have much time to make something from scratch.
That's about it for now.
Bon Apetit!
A couple of years ago, I started doing something I swore I'd never do: I plan my meals for the week ahead of time. I always thought it would be so boring if you knew ahead of time what you were going to eat all week, but really, it is awesome. It helps control my grocery budget and I know what I need to take out of the freezer to thaw the night before. I have these little magnetic white boards that I put on the fridge and I write the menu on them. One of the best decisions I've made. You can't believe how much less I spend on groceries and how fewer trips I make to the store.
So, with that, here's the menu. Yesterday was Chicken Enchiladas (yes, the very same ones that are an earlier featured recipe). I found really nice poblano peppers at the grocery store. They have this great smoky flavour and just a teeny little bit of heat (less than a banana pepper) that compliment the smoky cumin and chipotle chili powder. A little taste of Mexico.
Tonight is Pita Pizzas. It's the season opener tonight for my favourite NHL hockey team against my husband's favourite team and that calls for pizza. Using pitas creates a nice crispy thin crust and you can top them with anything you like. Our favourite combination is pepperoni, green pepper and shallot (or red onion) and Monterrey Jack cheese. Delish!
Tomorrow is spaghetti with meat sauce. Simple and classic. We use whole wheat pasta - not only does it have a great taste, but you eat less because it is more filling. The only time I use regular white pasta is when I make lasagne or the late nights when we make KD.
Monday is Quinoalaya (jambalaya made with quinoa instead of rice). Since introducing my husband to quinoa, he can't seem to get enough. It is not as filling as brown rice, but is so good.
Tuesday is pork tacos. This is my cheap out night. I bought a taco kit so all I needed was the ground pork. I usually make them with beef but thought I'd try something different this time and we try not to eat beef more than once or twice a week.
Wednesday is leftover spaghetti. I go walking or swimming every Wednesday andI just don't have much time to make something from scratch.
That's about it for now.
Bon Apetit!
Monday, 19 September 2011
What's for Dinner?
Today is a sad day; I drank the last of the "housewarming" tequila we got when we moved into our house 11 months ago. But did I enjoy it and enjoy drinking it out of one of my heavy, blue topped glasses I bought in Mexico? You sure bet I did.
So, what's for dinner this week? Well, on Friday we had Parmesan crusted pork chops, "army" potatoes (cooked in the oven in tinfoil with olive oil and onions) and lemon garlic broccoli.
Saturday was a potluck at a friend's house and I made homemade kettle corn (super easy, it''s almost like caramel corn, but only takes 15 minutes to make!). Sunday was leftovers. Today, was chicken pot pie. I have been craving it since I saw a co-worker eating it at lunch last week and today I finally made it. And it was totally worth it. The trick to chicken pot pie is to forget the pastry and put biscuit dough on the top instead. I made a big 9x13 pan and is so delicious.
Tomorrow is lasagne for my hubby's birthday (it's his favourite and I make it for him every year). Wednesday may be leftovers as I have an early evening commitment. Thursday is what I like to call "Greek Tacos" which is basically homemade souvlaki wraps, but calling them Greek Tacos is just way more fun. Friday will be Chicken Empanadas (empanadas are kind of like Mexican samosas - meat, potatoes and spices wrapped in pastry and baked). It makes a huge amount of filling and it is delicious in wraps later.
If you couldn't tell, fall is upon us and I'm all about the comfort food. Hope you enjoy!
Bon Apetit!
So, what's for dinner this week? Well, on Friday we had Parmesan crusted pork chops, "army" potatoes (cooked in the oven in tinfoil with olive oil and onions) and lemon garlic broccoli.
 |
| First, you coat the pork chops in Parmesan, then dip in egg, then coat in Italian style bread crumbs |
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| They cook for about 20 minutes (should be brown and crispy and at least 160 degrees F) |
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| Dinner! |
 |
| Yum! |
If you couldn't tell, fall is upon us and I'm all about the comfort food. Hope you enjoy!
Bon Apetit!
Sunday, 11 September 2011
What's for Dinner?
So typically every Sunday I plan my menu for the week and do a big shop at Superstore (it's hard to beat their prices and the products are good too). This week is going to be a lot of leftovers again as mortgage comes out the day BEFORE payday, which is always handy. So, sadly, I've only planned 2 meals with 2 days of leftovers. And tonight was hotdogs. And some bbq chips. Sad, I know. But, I did buy those all-natural hot dogs (I think they're the Schneider's Country Naturals, or something) and they are darn good. I get a hankering for hotdogs every now and then and these don't have any mechanically separated meat, no weird fillers and no ingredients that I don't know what they are. and they're comparable in price to other weiners.
Now, on to the menu:
Tomorrow: Whole wheat penne with a chicken stock based white sauce with peppers and onions.
Tuesday: Quinoa salad with raw veggies and ground chicken. I'm not quite sure what to do for the sauce here, but I'm thinking something southwest-ish with maybe some salsa and smoky cumin. My mouth wants the dressing from the Glory Bowl (an amazing dressing from Whitewater Cooks. My mom made it when we went to visit my folks a few weeks back and it is super yummy. The recipe calls from brown rice and tofu, but we made it with quinoa and chicken instead) but that's just not in the cards this time. Here' a link to the recipe: http://www.canada.com/globaltv/bc/story.html?id=4a9cd9f8-f16b-40de-ab67-a95730b1adce)
Hopefully next week will be more exciting and I'll have at least 5 amazing dishes to talk about. Until then,
Bon Apetit!
Now, on to the menu:
Tomorrow: Whole wheat penne with a chicken stock based white sauce with peppers and onions.
Tuesday: Quinoa salad with raw veggies and ground chicken. I'm not quite sure what to do for the sauce here, but I'm thinking something southwest-ish with maybe some salsa and smoky cumin. My mouth wants the dressing from the Glory Bowl (an amazing dressing from Whitewater Cooks. My mom made it when we went to visit my folks a few weeks back and it is super yummy. The recipe calls from brown rice and tofu, but we made it with quinoa and chicken instead) but that's just not in the cards this time. Here' a link to the recipe: http://www.canada.com/globaltv/bc/story.html?id=4a9cd9f8-f16b-40de-ab67-a95730b1adce)
Hopefully next week will be more exciting and I'll have at least 5 amazing dishes to talk about. Until then,
Bon Apetit!
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