Meal Plan Monday #14

Sunday: Balsamic chicken with thyme I didn't do the flour on my chicken or use any olive oil, I just grilled the chicken, made the sauce and then put the chicken back in for a bit...it was good.

Monday: Chicken Taco Pizzas (I'm going to use rotisserie chicken seasoned with taco seasoning and rhodes bread for the dough)

Tuesday: Corned beef sandwiches and sweet potato fries (my own recipes)

Wednesday: Honey lime roast chicken

Thursday: dinner at the neighbors

Friday: lettuce wraps (and some sort of stir fry)

Saturday: out with some family

Meal Plan Monday #13 (must try recipe)

Sunday: cran-orange pork tenderloin (taste of home: december) (recipe below)

Monday: it's our annual Light Up the Night...so dinner will be on the go.

Tuesday: Kielbasa and apple kabobs (taste of home: dec) with homemade mac and cheese

Wednesday: roasted cod and scallions with spiced potatoes (real simple: december)

Thursday: Dinner out to celebrate a friend's birthday

Friday: Mr T's work christmas dinner party

Cran-Orange Pork Tenderloin

Prep/total time: 30 min

Yield: 4 servings

1/4 tsp. garlic salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/8 tsp. ground mustard

1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 pork tenderloin (1 lb)

Sauce:

1/2 C dried cranberries

1/4 cup plus 1 T orange juice, divided

1/8 tsp. ground ginger

dash of ground cloves

1 can (11oz) mandarine oranges

1 T. cornstarch

In a small bowl, combine the first four ingredients; rub over pork. Place in baking dish (or on a rack in a roasting pan). Bake, uncovered at 425* for 25-28 minutes or until meat thermometer reads 160*.

Meanwhile, in a small sauce pan, combine the cranberries, 1/4 C orange juice, ginger and cloves. Drain oranges, reserving juice; set oranges aside. Add reserved juice to cranberry mixture. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5 minutes.

Combine cornstarch and remaining orange juice until smooth; stir into sauce pan. Bring to boil; cook and stir for 1 minute (will get really thick). Fold in oranges and serve over pork. (You can slice the pork and pour it over or do it over the whole thing uncut).

This was DE-LISH. Seriously...it was so good. The pork was perfectly juicy and tender and the flavors were awesome. It looked like Christmas on a plate (maybe it will be). I made some very simple sweet potatoes (cut into thick slices with some butter and cinnamon) and a spring salad with dried blueberries and blue cheese chunks. It was such a delicious meal...you really must try this recipe.

Tuesday and Wednesdays meals I have never tried before, so if I like them I'll post those recipes too!

Meal Plan Monday #12

This is what we woke up to today...

YUCK!

Oh well...I guess it's that time of year:(

Here's what we are eating this week:

Monday: Smoky Pork Calzones (I'm using ground turkey)

Tuesday: Neighborhood Halloween party

Wednesday: Chicken and Biscuits (Hope Studios)

Thursday: Chick fil a nuggets (I got the recipe out of FN mag...but can't find it...sorry)

Friday: Garlic Ginger Chicken

Saturday: Homemade Pizza

Meal Plan Monday #11

Here's what we are eating this week:

Monday: Spaghetti (really it's just angel hair pasta with brushetta)

Tuesday: Lemon-herb roast chicken with pan gravy (I'm totally cheating on this one...see below for real recipe, go here)

Wednesday: Penne pasta with eggplant and mozzarella (Real Simple magazine)

Thursday: Squash Soup (Food Network magazine)

Friday: Girl's night out with my cousin and Aunt :)

Saturday: night out with the fam.

Lemon-Herb Roast Chicken...I'm going to buy a rotisserre chicken at Costco. Then I am going to make the soup mixture and thin it out with some chicken broth...into a gravy and serve it over the top. That's all the time I have on Tuesday:) Besides...Costco chickens are delicious and I think will be just great with that gravy poured over the top...no need for me to cook it myself....but we shall see. I know I will lose the flavor the lemon herb flavor on the chicken, but I'm willing to sacrifice that.

Not so much a meal plan.

Last week's meals were a HUGE success...I love when new recipes taste good enough that even Lil D will eat them. The Sourdough strata got BIG raves from all the family...I was surprised by that one, but pleased. However, next time I am going to half the recipe...makes a ton for my little family.

This week we are only going to be home 2 nights for dinner...that's crazy. So to avoid grocery shopping, we are eating what we have.

Sunday: BLTs with fruit salad and leftover potato salad

Monday: Pork tenderloin sandwiches and bruschetta (leftover pork from last week's dinner)

Tuesday: Boys are on their own (I see Costco pizza in their future)

Wednesday: What ever leftovers I can dig up.

The rest of the week we are out of town. Mr. T and I are dropping off Lil D at the in-laws and heading to Vegas (it seems to be becoming a new yearly tradition).

Ok...so last night I made up a big bunch of bruschetta. I LOVE having so many romas every year...LOVE them...good job garden!

Garden fresh bruschetta:

8-10 roma tomatoes, seeded and diced

1 bunch of basil (more or less depending on how you like it), chopped

1 T. EVOO

salt and pepper to taste (I use A LOT of salt)

Mix it all together and serve on little crostinis.

(I buy mine already prepared, why spend the time when these are SO good).

And then for dinner....Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches. This meal got the boot last week since we decided to head up the canyon and roast hot dogs instead (Thanks Baileys).

I had a full tenderloin leftover from last week's meal. It had a balsamic glaze on it...so I decided to reheat it in more balsamic vinegar. I added about 2 T of olive oil and 2 T of balsamic vinegar to my pan and then added the slices of pork to reheat.

It only took a couple minutes on each side. The meat really soaks up the vinegar, which makes the sandwich even better. I put the pork on some crusty rolls, added a few slices of swiss cheese and then rolled them up in foil.

I put them in the oven at 400* for about 15 minutes...

and they were all warm and toasty and the cheese was melty and delicious.

Slice in half and serve.

You can also add sliced tomatoes and spinach leaves to the sandwich before or after you bake it...so yummy!

Meal Plan Monday #10

I feel like I finally have gotten back in to full swing cooking mode...seriously...Finally! My sister got me a subscription to the Food Network Magazine last Christmas, I got myself one to Real Simple and my mother in law got me one to Taste of Home...and I FINALLY am taking full advantage of all the new recipes. We have even found a few new favorites that have been officially added to the "book".

I have torn out a few super fall and super yummy looking recipes, but the weather here hasn't chilled out enough to want "comforty, fall food" yet, so we are still grilling it up this week.

Here's what we are eating...

Sunday: Dirty P's garlic-ginger chicken thighs (Guy Fieri Food Network Magazine)

Monday: Balsamic glazed pork with lentils (Real Simple mag)

Tuesday: Pizza night (courtesy of papa murphys)

Wednesday: Pork Tenderloin sandwiches (leftover from Monday)

Thursday: Sourdough strata with tomatoes and greens AND spiced maple sausage (food network)

Friday: Birthday dinner for a friend

Saturday: Hamburgers

Dessert: Caramel Apple Cake (Food Network Mag)

We had the garlic-ginger chicken last night...YUM!...seriously, so good! Mr. T even proclaimed it best chicken I have made. It was tender. It was juicy. It had the BEST flavors. A MUST try for all...we will be making it again soon. I served it with grilled sweet potatoes...these have become my new favorite (recipe below).

I also made the Caramel Apple Cake. It was good. I need to tweek it a bit, as the cake had great flavor but was a bit dry...all the yummy caramel helped though. A great fall dessert.

Grilled Sweet Potatoes. You can find Bobby Flay's version here the lime and cilantro are so good. Unfortunately, I didn't have either yesterday, so I made do like this...

Grilled Sweet Potatoes:

I cut my sweet potatoes in half, lengthwise, and boiled for about 20 minutes. Then I sliced them into wedges and coated them with a little (or a lot) of olive oil and a generous amount of salt. I grilled them for about 4 minutes a side (on med) and then sprinkled them with chopped fresh basil. I LOVE them!

I'm linking to Meal Plan Monday.

Meal Plan Monday

This will be my last meal plan monday, until further notice. My sister comes in a week and the deconstruction, painting and mess making begins...I'm hopeful we will be able to still eat at home most nights of the week...but I know better then to try and plan and then feel like a failure 'cause I don't do it...wah wah...whatever...I can't wait for this major renovation to get going...:)

Sunday: Honey Balsamic glazed salmon with rice pilaf and asparagus

Monday: Halibut in artichoke and tomato broth (Giada)

Tuesday: dinner with the neighbors

Wednesday: Cheesy gnocchi florentine (boiled hotdogs)

Thursday: Chicken and cheese burritos (boiled hotdogs)

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Eat out

Sunday dinner recipes:

Honey Balsamic Salmon...I have tried lots of different recipes for the honey balsamic glaze...they are all very similar and taste about the same, so this is what I do.

1/3 C balsamic

1 T honey

1 tsp. chopped garlic

4 tsp. dijon mustard

salt and pepper.

I pour over most of the glaze (on both sides) and let marinate for a bit. Then I grilled it (both sides) until done. I pour over the rest of the glaze before serving. (Lil D even eats it:)

I also grilled some asparagus. drizzled with EVOO, salt and pepper and garlic. I have one of those vegetable/fish grill things...works great at keeping my asparagus from falling through the cracks:)

Dessert:

Chocolate Raspberry pie

You MUST make this...seriously the most delicious recipe ever. I use a graham cracker crust...I used a pie crust the first time, and we like it much better this way...so YUM!

I'm linkin' to Orgjunkie's Meal Plan Monday

Meal Plan Monday

Friday night we had our cousin dinner...it was a lot of fun! I ended up going with a Mexican style meal...enchiladas with chips and salsa and guacamole and black bean salsa. I love meals that are easy to make...make a good quantity...and you can make lots of stuff ahead of time.

Lil D was a huge help (and I am using no sarcasm here...he was the best little sous chef ever).

and the cutest little taste tester...

(this kid LOVES to dip...and heat...he laughs at heat)

Here are a few recipes from Friday night:

Honey Lime Enchiladas

(this recipe is from my neighbor with the same name:)

1.5 lbs. chicken or pork, cooked and shredded

Sauce:
1/3 c. honey
1/4 c. lime juice
1 T. chili powder
1/2 t. garlic powder

Mix together sauce ingredients then add to shredded pork or chicken.
Let the sauce soak into the meat for about 30 minutes.

2 (10 oz.) cans green enchilada sauce
Equal parts mixed together of mozzarella cheese, shredded and cheddar cheese,
shredded

flour tortillas

Lightly spray 9x13 pan. Pour half of the enchilada sauce into pan to coat the entire
bottom. Fill tortillas with shredded meat and desired amount of cheese. Roll
and place in dish. Pour remaining sauce over enchiladas and sprinkle with
more cheese. Bake uncovered at 350 for 30 minutes. Then turn on the broiler
and place enchiladas close to the top of the oven. Let it broil until the
cheese is slightly brown and crispy.

****The honey lime part is delicious...I don't really enjoy store bought green sauce, but used it here to save time. Everyone seemed to like it...but the next time I make these I will make my roasted tomatillo sauce (not really mine...Tyler Florence's....if you have not made this salsa you must....so freakin' yummy:)...I think it will be perfection with the honey lime.

Black Bean Salsa

(my roommate used to make this all the time and I would chow on it...)

2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can diced tomatoes with jalapenos (with chilies if you want it really mild)

1 can corn, drained

1 green pepper, diced

Italian dressing (to taste...I use about 1/3 to 1/2 the bottle)

I also made homemade salsa and guacamole, but the salsa is a neighbor's secret recipe and I don't feel like it's mine to hand out...but it's GOOD...sorry! And the guacamole is just smashed avocados with lime juice, a few splashes of Tabasco, a palm full of chili powder, 1/4 red onion diced and then scoops of the salsa...I've also used scoops of store bought fresh pico and that works too.

Alright...so what's on the menu this week?

Monday: Dinner at the neighbors (which means eating out)

Tuesday: Leftovers (cause the fridge needs to be emptied)

Wednesday: American Idol kick-off party (menu to be announced)

Thursday: Chicken Alfredo pizza (to use my leftover Alfredo sauce from dinner Sunday)

Friday: Date night (for our anniversary on Sunday)

Saturday: Ward dinner and Youth fundraiser (which means boring spaghetti:(

****Man...that's a sucky meal plan...hope you enjoyed the above recipes 'cause this week ain't giving much:) I'll come up with something fun for the AI party to share next week!

I'm linkin' to meal plan monday.

Meal Plan Monday

Let's try this again...'cause the sickness last week put a HUGE kink in the last week's dinners...let's just say we ate out A LOT...:)

Monday: Penne noodles with brushetta and french bread.

Tuesday: Homemade mini pizzas (BBQ chicken and pepperoni)

Wednesday: dinner with the neighbors

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Cousin dinner (still need to plan this)

Saturday: Ward Temple night (including dinner)

***wow...doesn't look like I'm cookin' much this week!

BUT...This Sunday is our Baptism Preview...I'm very excited because I am going to make super cute cupcakes for the dessert AND I am going to make a cupcake stand to put them on...so stay tuned!

I'm linkin' to Meal Plan Monday...

And don't forget to enter the Necklace GIVEAWAY!

Meal Plan Monday

It's Meal Plan Monday again over at orgjunkie.com and I'm trying not to be a slacker and to stay on top of my meal planning...so here we go again:) I typically like to do my grocery shopping on Saturdays, but I am feeling a bit under the weather (as is the rest of the fam) and Saturday I just did A LOT of laying around...I'm not sure if I am even going to make it to the store today, so we are eating out of the pantry and freezer again.

Meals for the week...no shopping needed:

Sunday (we had): spaghetti noodles with brown butter and mizithra cheese, chicken parm and a caesar salad.

Monday: homemade personal pizzas (using rhodes rolls)...pepperoni and bbq chicken. Spinach salad

Tuesday: fettucini with pesto and grilled chicken and corn

Wednesday: Dinner with the neighbors

Thursday: Lil D will be having "cheesy noodles" as Mr. T and I are going out (we are looking at kitchen cabinetry...and figured we should just make it "date night")

Friday: Breakfast for dinner (eggs, bacon, and smoothies)

Saturday: I'm sure we will eat out...and hopefully I can hit the store by then:)

Meal Plan Monday...freezer meals

I went to Costco last week...I bought a bag of frozen strawberries...when I got home, they didn't fit in my fridge...I literally jammed them in...so guess what we are eating this week...

Food from the freezer...in other words...LEFTOVERS...yeah...I'm sure Mr. T will be thrilled:)

Here are the meals (in particular order)

Rueben Sandwiches

Potato soup

Ground turkey tacos

Buffalo turkey chili

Ham & cheese omelets and turkey bacon

BBQ chicken (homemade) pizza

I'm just hoping that by the end of the week there will be a little room in there for some new food:)

Head over to Meal Plan Monday for some other yummy dinner ideas.

Meal Plan Monday...Thompson style

It's been awhile since I have posted our weekly meals...it's not that I haven't been cooking dinner...just been to preoccupied with other projects to share what the Thompson's are eating. Trying to get back on the bandwagon...

Sunday: Lasagna and spinach salad

Monday: homemade BBQ pizza

Tuesday: spaghetti with brown butter and mizithra cheese

Wednesday: dinner with the Neighbors

Thursday-Saturday: We are headed south to warmer weather which means dinner at the in-laws and dinner OUT....yahoo for near 60s!

I'm linking to Meal Plan Monday

AND...

A big Thank you to 2sisters2together for passing on a bloggy award to me...so very very nice! You should go see all the fun and yummy things they have going on!

Meal Plan Monday...

Go check out lots of great meal ideas!

Well...even though the no eating out month is over...I want to keep it going a little...we shall see, especially with Christmas so close and more to do then I have time for right now...Oh well...I can try.

What the plan is for food this week:

Sunday: cornbread stuffing stuffed bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin (Costco 2009 cookbook)

Monday: Mac & Cheese with apples and Kielbasa (from Boiled Hotdogs)--YUMMY!

Tuesday: Sausage and Egg strata (costco 2009 cookbook)

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: the boys are on their own, as I will be at a girl's dinner

Friday: Business Dinner

Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday's meal recipe:

3 slices of bacon cooked and crumbled

4 additional slices uncooked

2 T butter

1/2 c. onion

1/3 c. diced apple (I used a gala)

1/4 c. chopped celery

1 garlic clove chopped

1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning

1/4 tsp. each of salt and pepper

3/4 c cornbread stuffing

1/3 c. apple cider

1 pork tenderloin

Preheat oven to 375*. Cook bacon till crisp and remove from pan, crumble and set aside. Carefully dump out all but about 1 T of grease. Add butter and allow to melt. Add onion, apple, celery, garlic, poultry seasoning, salt & pepper. Saute till onion is soft. Add bacon back in along with cornbread stuffing and enough apple cider to moisten stuffing (I used all of the 1/3 c). Place 4 uncooked slices of bacon (I actually used 6) in a baking dish (width ways). Place tenderloin on top of bacon and slice tenderloin down middle (lengthwise) but not all the way through. Place stuffing mixture down middle of tenderloin then wrap bacon around the tenderloin. Don't try to close it all the way up...leave tenderloin open. Bake for 40-45 minutes and let set 10 minutes before cutting.

***This was really good...even Lil D ate a ton of the pork and stuffing.

Meal Plan Monday...Thanksgiving style!

I am proud to say that I am still "clean" of eating out...22 days and going strong (only 1 week left...but I'm not counting).  To be honest, my sister (who is currently visiting) flies out on 01 December...guess what we are doing before she heads to the airport...going out to eat:)  I kinda feel like I owe it to her...after having to eat my home cooked meals 3 times a day...we're just saving money:) (and I'm down 3 pounds!)

This week isn't going to get any easier...my brother and his family arrive on Wednesday...I'm pretty sure my brother, sister-in-law, and Mr. T will be hitting Cafe Rio at least one time (I'll just stay home and enjoy leftovers...again).

So on to what I WILL be eating this week: Mostly just digging through the fridge, as I didn't really plan much!

Sunday: creamy crock pot chicken, rice and jello salad (courtesy of my awesome cousin Hydi)

Monday: Chicken caesar salad

Tuesday: My sis is taking 2 friends out for dinner...I'll be eating dinner/snacks from home and shopping during their dinner date. Mr. T and Lil D will have to fend for themselves.

Wednesday: Whatever we can find....leftovers!

Thursday: This is going to be a shocker....Turkey dinner

Friday: Next day turkey soup

Saturday: lots of snacks and leftovers while enjoying the BYU/UofU game

Creamy Crock Pot chicken:

4-6 chicken breasts (boneless/skinless)

1 pkg. italian dressing mix

1 8oz pkg. cream cheese

1 can cream of chicken soup

Place chicken breasts in crock pot and sprinkle with italian dressing.  Mix cream cheese and chicken soup together and pour over top.  Cook on low for 5-6 hours.  Serve with rice....yummy!

Thanksgiving feast:

Breakfast:

sticky buns (also called pull aparts)

Breakfast struedel

Snacks:

Veggie tray and dip

Hot artichoke and spinach dip

chips and onion dip (family fav)

cheese and crackers

Dinner:

Turkey (stuffed with herbs, head of garlic, onion)

Bread stuffing

Mashed potatoes and gravy

Fresh green beans with red onions and garlic

cranberries

"yummy pink jello salad" (courtesy of my cousin Mackenzie)

rolls

Dessert:

Apple pie

Berry pie

(sorry...no pumpkin pie lovers here)

HAPPY FEASTING!

I'm linking up to Meal Plan Monday

Dinner at the Thompsons...Menu Plan Monday...Week 2 of Challenge

As we head into week 2 of the challenge...I'm feeling like it will be even easier...kinda like making a new habit...maybe after this week (don't they say it takes two weeks to make a habit) it will be a habit to always eat at home...think of all the money I will save to spend on more fun stuff then crap to put in my mouth:)

Soooo....here's what's for dinner this week:

if you want other ideas, head over to orgjunkie.com

Sunday- crock pot roast and veggies (my dad is even going to be in town to eat with us....how fun)

Monday- Honey Lime Enchiladas (using rotisserie chicken)

Tuesday- Reuben sandwiches and homemade potato chips

Wednesday- Dinner at the neighbors (somebody else gets to cook for me...whoohoo)

Thursday- BBQ beef sandwiches (using my left over roast)

Friday- Lasagna Burgers (Rachel Ray)

Saturday- Reuben egg roll wraps (Boiled Hot Dogs)

Pretty sure I will have plenty of leftovers for lunch all week!

Next week's meal plan idea....crock pot cooking.  My plan is to start painting my house next week...I'm thinking crock pot meals will be the way to go...have any crock pot meals you love...please share!