School started a few weeks ago and I'm still trying to get back into the swing of planning a full week's meals at once.
With both kids in school now, I have a couple of mornings a week to do things like grocery shop and clean and such, but our hours after school are a little hectic. And we've had some days where I don't have time to cook AND eat, so I have to prep something in advance.
Last weekend, I picked up a copy of Sandra Lee's slowcooker cookbook and a couple of my meals this week will be based on recipes from this book. I'm not crazy about all the condensed soup she uses, and it's easy for me to chop an onion at home, so I won't be buying frozen pre-chopped onion. I've also had decent success at skipping the seasoning mixes she likes to use as shortcuts and coming up with my own mix. Plus, mine are much less salty! I also flipped through a cookbook I got with my last Pampered Chef order, Dinner In 29 Minutes, and will be adapting some of those recipes too.
So here is what I have planned for the week.
**Brown Butter Tortellini with Spinach and Ham--Tortellini cooks in no time, and ham steak is already cooked and just needs to be cut up and heated. I made this recipe once before and it was tasty. Plus I can use a couple of green peppers that my mom gave me before they shrivel up totally.
**Orange Cinnamon Pork Chops--This is a 5 ingredient recipe from Sandra Lee. Both kids will usually eat pork chops, especially if they have a sweet glaze on them. I'll make some kind of quick grain, couscous probably, to go with it. And green beans.
**Wells St. Crunchy Chicken--My husband ordered some items from a school fundraiser last year and this seasoning mix has been languishing in my pantry since then. I opened that cabinet a few days ago, which started an avalanche of the stuff stacked precariously inside. So tonight I went through it and pulled out things to use up, threw out some stuff (instant coffee that expired a year ago...ewwwww....) and then put what was left back neatly. The recipe that came with this mix calls for crushed potato chips, but I'll use something a little healthier.
**Garlic Alfredo Pasta with Shrimp--I bought half and half a while back and then promptly forgot what I bought it for. It's getting to expire, so I'm going to use it in this sauce mix from Tastefully Simple. The box says to use heavy cream, but to sub milk or half and half for a lighter recipe. I'll cook some shrimp on the side for the seafood lovers in the family.
**Gremolata Steak with Mascarpone Potatoes--I also have some potatoes that need to be used up before they get funky. There are few things grosser than a funky potato! And I really love steak. Some kind of veg to go with it too.
What are you eating this week and how is back to school going?
With both kids in school now, I have a couple of mornings a week to do things like grocery shop and clean and such, but our hours after school are a little hectic. And we've had some days where I don't have time to cook AND eat, so I have to prep something in advance.
Last weekend, I picked up a copy of Sandra Lee's slowcooker cookbook and a couple of my meals this week will be based on recipes from this book. I'm not crazy about all the condensed soup she uses, and it's easy for me to chop an onion at home, so I won't be buying frozen pre-chopped onion. I've also had decent success at skipping the seasoning mixes she likes to use as shortcuts and coming up with my own mix. Plus, mine are much less salty! I also flipped through a cookbook I got with my last Pampered Chef order, Dinner In 29 Minutes, and will be adapting some of those recipes too.
So here is what I have planned for the week.
**Brown Butter Tortellini with Spinach and Ham--Tortellini cooks in no time, and ham steak is already cooked and just needs to be cut up and heated. I made this recipe once before and it was tasty. Plus I can use a couple of green peppers that my mom gave me before they shrivel up totally.
**Orange Cinnamon Pork Chops--This is a 5 ingredient recipe from Sandra Lee. Both kids will usually eat pork chops, especially if they have a sweet glaze on them. I'll make some kind of quick grain, couscous probably, to go with it. And green beans.
**Wells St. Crunchy Chicken--My husband ordered some items from a school fundraiser last year and this seasoning mix has been languishing in my pantry since then. I opened that cabinet a few days ago, which started an avalanche of the stuff stacked precariously inside. So tonight I went through it and pulled out things to use up, threw out some stuff (instant coffee that expired a year ago...ewwwww....) and then put what was left back neatly. The recipe that came with this mix calls for crushed potato chips, but I'll use something a little healthier.
**Garlic Alfredo Pasta with Shrimp--I bought half and half a while back and then promptly forgot what I bought it for. It's getting to expire, so I'm going to use it in this sauce mix from Tastefully Simple. The box says to use heavy cream, but to sub milk or half and half for a lighter recipe. I'll cook some shrimp on the side for the seafood lovers in the family.
**Gremolata Steak with Mascarpone Potatoes--I also have some potatoes that need to be used up before they get funky. There are few things grosser than a funky potato! And I really love steak. Some kind of veg to go with it too.
What are you eating this week and how is back to school going?
Posts
1 comment:
What do you think of Sandra Lee's book? I bought her slow cooker book a few years ago and I made just one recipe. It was such a disaster (and loaded with expensive processed food) that I decided to donate the book. I know The Food Network has to have all kinds of cooking for different skill levels, but I just can't do all of that processed stuff! I'm not hating on those who do, though.
Post a Comment