What's for Dinner Menu Plan

I'm a bit behind on things this weekend, so I'm going to need to make this a short post. This was my weekend to take care of my mom, so I've been gone the last few days. Good news is that she only has two more treatments, so we will be done in early March. Bad news is that they are just really knocking her down hard and fast. No fun, but she is a trooper.

We are looking at our first potential snow day of the year tomorrow. They are calling for snow and freezeing rain - yuck! We'll find out in the morning. Here's this week's menu. Enjoy and have a great week! Be sure to follow me on Facebook to get fast updates from the blog. :)

Sunday -Slow Cooker Roast and Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Salad

Monday  - Chili, Sour Dough Bread, Strawberries

Tuesday - Valentine's Day Surf and Turf - Steak with Manhattan Sauce, Bacon-wrapped Scallops, Grilled Asparagus, Salad, Strawberries

Wednesday - Spaghetti Chili, Salad, Peaches

Thursday - Eat at book club (boys have other activities as well)
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Happy Birthday to me! Going out to eat and to see the Blue Man Group!

For more menu ideas, visit orgjunkie.com.

What's for Dinner Menu Plan

It's Super Bowl Sunday, and how am I spending my evening? Making the meals for the week. :) I know that may sound un-American to many of you sports fans, but I'm honestly happier hanging out in the kitchen. I'm just not a sports fan, and even the commercials don't hold that much interest for me. It is the first year in quite a while that we haven't had friends over to watch the Super Bowl, but then again, it isn't a typical year for our family. We have enjoyed having some down time together this weekend. We did make a fun dinner to "celebrate" Super Bowl Sunday - we made our own version of In-N-Out burgers, some great oven fries, and chocolate shakes.

This week the boy has a couple of extra academic activities - a big math test (AMC 12) and an academic team meet, and the hubby has some extra work obligations. It helps so much to cook ahead for the week when evenings are full of activities. It's also helpful to have meals that you know will make leftovers (i.e. Lasagna Spaghetti - or as my husband calls it - Spasagna). I will be spending the coming weekend with my mom. Only three treatments left! I know she is very much looking forward to the end of this stuff.

Here's this week's menu. Enjoy and have a great week! Be sure to follow me on Facebook to get fast updates from the blog. :)

Sunday - Super Bowl Sunday fun food - In-N-Out Burgers, Oven Baked Fries, Chocolate Shakes

Monday - Chicken Pockets, Green Beans, Salad, Peaches

Tuesday - Lasagna Spaghetti, Broccoli, Salad

Wednesday - Leftovers

Thursday - Grilled Salmon (I just marinate in Italian dressing and throw it on the grill), Grilled Asparagus, Salad, Applesauce

Friday - Mom's choice

Saturday - Honey Roasted Pork Tenderloin, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Salad

For more menu ideas, visit orgjunkie.com.

What's for Dinner Menu Plan

This weekend was my weekend to play "personal chef" for my mom. :) She's down to three treatments left! I do enjoy our time together, but it will be nice in the near future when our visits are simply for the purpose of a visit. :) I made a breakfast treat for us this weekend that is definitely worth sharing with you. Now, be sure to note that I said treat. This is not a healthy recipe at all. But is probably the best coffee cake I've ever had. It's amazing when it's warm from the oven, and you can still get the same effect on subsequent days by heating in the microwave for 30 seconds. The next time you are looking for a yummy breakfast cake, be sure to give this Buttery Cream Cheese Coffee Cake a try!

Here's this week's menu. Enjoy and have a great week! Be sure to follow me on Facebook to get fast updates from the blog. :)

Sunday - Oven Roasted Turkey Breast (no recipe - just throw it in the oven and cook it); Day Before Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Salad

Monday - Beef Fajitas (last of my freezer stash), Salad, Strawberries

Tuesday - Meatball Subs, Salad, Peaches

Wednesday - Bourbon Chicken, Rice, Salad, Oranges

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Homemade Pizza, Salad

Saturday - Date Night

For more menu ideas, visit orgjunkie.com.

Buttery Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

This is a wonderfully decadent coffee cake. It melts in your mouth and makes you want more. It's definitely a recipe to make for special occasions, though, as it is loaded with butter and sugar (no wonder it tastes so good!). I made it for my mom and me for a breakfast treat today, and we could hardly keep ourselves from going back in the kitchen to eat the whole thing! The next time you need to make a special breakfast or brunch treat, or even for afternoon tea, give this recipe a try. You won't be sorry. :)

Ingredients:

Cake
1 cup butter (no substitutes)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup sour cream
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Filling
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Topping
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup butter (semi-soft)

Directions:
Set oven to 350 degrees (oven rack set to second-lowest position). Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Cream butter with sugar (about 3-4 minutes), add in eggs and sour cream; beat well (about another 3 minutes). In a bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture; beat well until combined (batter will be thick). Spread more than half of the batter in the prepared baking pan. In another bowl, cream together all filling ingredients, then carefully spread over the cake batter. Spoon the remaining cake batter over the top of the cheese mixture (it doesn't have to cover the cake batter completely - I just dot tablespoonfuls over the batter using a small cookie scoop). For the topping, mix all ingredients with a pastry blender until crumbly, and sprinkle over cake. Bake for about 50 minutes or until middle feels set and not jiggly.

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Recipe Source- Food dot com

What's for Dinner Menu Plan

This past week was a tough one for me. I had a TERRIBLE cold and ended up missing the whole week of school, and on top of that, my hubby was in California all week for work. It's never fun to be stuck home alone when you're sick. Luckily, my terrific teenager was here to help me out. The good news is that I think I'm finally on the mend. I was able to get up and around today, wore real clothes instead of PJs, and even ran some errands. I also did some cooking and made a fun breakfast treat for the boy. I even have bread dough rising on the counter ready to make into six lovely loaves of bread Sunday morning. :)

This coming week will keep our family hopping as usual. The hubby has lots of extra work obligations, and my mom's treatment is earlier in the week. But, that is why we meal plan! :) I do have one new chicken dish planned for this week (a super simple one), so look for the photo later. Be sure to check out last week's Parmesan Pork Tenderloin recipe. It was fabulous. Here's this week's menu. Enjoy and have a great week! Be sure to follow me on Facebook to get fast updates from the blog. :)

Sunday - Oven Fried Chicken, Oven Baked Fries, Green Beans, Salad

Monday - Sloppy Joes, Green Beans, Salad, Applesauce

Tuesday - Sweet Italian Chicken Breasts (new), Asparagus, Salad, Peaches

Wednesday - Chicken and Dumpling Casserole, Broccoli, Salad

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Brisket with Burgundy Sauce, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Salad

Saturday - Brisket Sandwiches, Salad, Strawberries


For more menu ideas, visit orgjunkie.com.  

Cheesecake Swirl Brownies

I'm not one of the cooks that believes everything should be made from scratch. Sometimes convenience foods can really help you out. One of my favorite quickie desserts involves using a boxed brownie mix. These yummy brownies are always a favorite when I serve them. I got the recipe off the side of a brownie box years ago, but I don't remember which brand. Any kind works, so use your favorite. I usually pick the low fat kind to try to reduce the calories a bit. :)

Ingredients

1 package brownie mix (and whatever ingredients your mix calls for to make the brownies)
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 egg
1/3 cup white sugar

Directions

Prepare the brownie mix as directed by manufacturer. Preheat oven to temperature indicated on box. Grease a 9x13 inch pan. Spread the brownie batter evenly into the prepared pan. Using an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese, egg and sugar until smooth. Dollop the cream cheese mixture on top of the brownie batter. Swirl together using a knife. Bake according to manufacturer's instructions. Brownies will be done when a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in the pan, then cut into bars and serve.

Mushroom, Onion, and Barley Soup

Very tasty soup that is also very healthy! Makes about 10 cups of soup.

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 onion sliced very thin
1 cup barley (I used quick cooking because that's what I had on hand)
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/2 t dried marjoram
16 ounces sliced mushrooms (I used 8 oz. of regular mushrooms and 8 oz. of baby portabellas)
8 cups of fat free reduced sodium beef stock
1 tablespoon sherry
1 teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 T cornstarch
1/4 cold water

Directions:
Heat the oil in a stock pot over medium heat. Add the onions, and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until they start to caramelize. Add the garlic, thyme, marjoram and mushrooms. Sauté for another 3 to 5 minutes.  Add in the sherry and vinegar, and stir to combine. Pour in the broth, add the barley, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and add the salt and pepper. Cover the pot and allow the soup to simmer for an hour.  Whisk together the cornstarch and water and add to the soup to slightly thicken the broth.