Food Talk Anyone??

So, I've officially run out of great menu planning ideas. GASP!!! Not a good time for this kitchen crisis as we're about ready to crank up a new year here and I NEED A PLAN!!!

 
(photo courtesy freedigitalphoto.net)

Yes, I do have all my plans from this past year, and lots of miscellanious recipes, but, UM, I need some inspiration, sigh...Can anyone say TAKEOUT :)

If you have a favorite recipe or simple menu to share, could you link it here for me please. We'll call it the RECIPE ROUND-UP!! I'll be scanning the net and my favorite cookbooks for new ideas, so I'll share too on Monday! I hope you'll join me and I hope you're enjoying these last lovely days of summer!

Happy recipe finding!!

Comments

[Kathleen]

We try searching this website, and Martha Stewart, for other yummies...They say we tend to use 10 basic recipes in our monthly planning. (Old reliables) http://www.cookinglight.com

Blessings

[Carmen]

I'm in the midst of doing the same thing here...trying to choose 10 solid meals for Fall rotation.

So far, I've come up with
1. chicken tortilla soup with tortillas and avocados on top
2. chicken tacos (you can take a few chicken breasts and some salsa and throw them in the crock pot all day and shred the chicken into tacos.) I like to add a few garlic cloves, chopped
3. grilled cheese and tomato soup night. We use nice sourdough and get the organic tomato soup in the box. We add chives, cream, cheddar to the soup as a garnish. This is for those busy nights.
4. We usually have breakfast for dinner once a week. eggs, waffles, bacon, fruit... etc The kids love it
5. Lasagna- teaching Luke how to make the lasagna from the Barefoot Contessa
6. Chicken pot pie from The Pioneer Woman
(you can see that we have a lot of comfort food here.)
7. big salad night- add chicken, hard boiled eggs, chives, bacon, and load up the protein
8. fish tacos?
9.homemade pizza-margherita pizza
10. easy baked salmon or tilapia, steamed broccoi
11. in place of grilled cheese night, tuna melts with capers and dill
12. roast chicken with potatoes and salad

I'm still looking for a couple of new meals here.
)

[meredith]

Thank you Carmie, what a great list!! My kids would vote for the grilled cheese and tomato soup night!!! I am looking forward to using my crock pot again, got away from it over the summer, but its time for some slow-cooking again :) I cant wait to hear how the BFC Lasagne turns out, Ill but Luke is a natural in the kitchen. Chicken pot pie is a fave here too, and yes, bring on the comfort food, lol!!!

 

So glad you stopped in with your wonderful list!!

xo Meredith

[Leslie in VA]

A few family favorites that may work for your family. . . we use the crock pot plenty: chimichungas and bbq beef sandwiches are loved by all. I also make a big pot of black beans (about 3 lbs at a time) and use them in lots of recipes. Not necessarily freezer cooking but most of the time consuming steps done at once.

For example: make the beans and serve with ground beef taco seasoning and brown rice with toppings: cheese, sour cream, salsa etc for one meal. (this is the least favorite meal of the bunch).

next meal: cook chuck roast in crock pot with sauteed onions, chili peppers, salsa. Shred the meat when finished, add beans seasonings,roll mix into tortillas and sprinkle with cheese inside and bake . Again, add shredded romaine, and whatever toppings your family likes. These do freeze wonderfully and make a great walk in the door from soccer and eat in a few minutes dinner.

I just made the stuffed peppers (on my pinterest) and they were out of this world!

Two more family faves are Barefoot Contessa's chicken Parmesan. . . so easy, even my 11 yr old can make it. And my son who strongly dislikes chicken, loves the Everyday Food Sesame Chicken. I love that we eat nearly the entire bag of fresh broccoli from Costco with this meal. Here are the links. . .

http://www.marthastewart.com/313256/lighter-sesame-chicken

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/parmesan-chicken-recipe/index.html

I hope that this blesses your family! I really love to cook but I find that during the school year, I really have to simplify in order to homeschool and clean the house as well! Starting dinner in the am or having parts of it already completed is a big help (im sure you know this already).

Have a great day!

[meredith]

Wow, Leslie, thank you SO much for your contribution here!! I love your big batch of beans idea! Do you find that the kids like them and eat them or do they get tired of beans?? I like your freezer chuck roast casserole recipe, that sounds perfect for weekday busy-ness too. Im so glad to have the links to something new too, thanks! Inas Chicken Parm is one of our all-time favorites too! Cant wait to see your stuffed peppers, Im still trying to get used to using and going to my Pinterest, so havent been over there in a week or so.

 

Hope youre enjoying the last beauties of summer and God Bless you and your family!!

Meredith

[Leslie in VA]

Glad that you like the suggestions. I forgot to link the beef sandwiches recipe. Here it is. . .
http://www.americanprofile.com/recipes/slow-cooker-barbecue-beef-sandwiches/#

If we are having a big crowd, I crank up two crock pots. Also, I have added tougher venison cuts to the chuck roast and it turns out perfect.

No complaints about the bean frequency. I dont serve them the same way each time. Somehow my family doesn't mind food that has cheese sprinkled on top! I often add it to meat (e.g. in tacos) so that we are not eating so much meat and it is a great way to spend less. We have a large family (9) and they are big eaters. I did think of another recipe that used the black beans that you might like, it is from Pioneer woman and it is called Pastor Ryans mexican lasagna. I do make a few of those and have them ready in the freezer.

Glad that you like B. Contessa. Her recipes are wonderful. A little flair with minimal fuss.

I havent had time to reply to your YA post but that is one of my favorite genres. I have a daughter the same age as your Violet and try to pre read as well. So much junk out there! LOVED Calpurnia Tate as well. One of the few books we bought this past year. How about the Help? Fascinating story, exceptionally written and delightful (there is one creepy guy but dealt with perfectly). What did you think of Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie? Maybe this is a goodreads discussion and not your com box under the food category? Mea culpa. Im probably breaking all sorts of blog etiquette rules!!

Sorry to ramble on! books and cooking, some of my favorite topics!

Blessings

[meredith]

Leslie, too funny and you can comment on ANY of my posts anytime. As you can see the combox is more boxlike these days than com-y so I welcome any and all dialogue when the fancy strikes :)))

 

Thanks for the other link, bbq beef sammys are a big hit here too! I think Im going to try the sesame chicken sometime this week, its finally HOT here, so a nice light meal with minimal kitchen duty ;-)

 

I havent read Sweetness...Pie yet, dont know why, just havent. And the Help, meh. I know itll be good, just have so many others in my stack(s) right now...ah yes, reading and cooking, cooking and reading, high on my favorites list!!

 

Cheers,

Meredith