Back in the kitchen again....

I have been back in the kitchen for the last two weeks, trying new recipes as well as trying to NOT  spend money.  Eating fabulous meals for 8 days in Washington, D.C. inspired me to try a few new dishes - and so far, so good!

I have also been back  comparison shopping for groceries.  This week, with Sawyer and his handy dandy iphone calculator, I was able to get a week's worth of meals for --- ready???  $108!  (I have to confess, I had a handful of shrimp, some hot Italian sausage and chicken breasts in the freezer)  But I still needed quite a bit of food, especially produce.   Albertson's had steaks "buy one, get TWO free."  They also had a coupon for $10 off if you spent $100.  No brainer -- I went to Albertson's for the first time in forever.

The kids have been great lately about helping with meal planning and preparation!   Here is the menu we came up with:
Wednesday (4th of July turned out to be a drizzly day - wonderful for us since we don't see these EVER)  - I had a crock pot of beef stew cooking all day, then topped it with homemade dumplings.
Thursday - out to Babbo's for Sawyer's fifteenth (!) birthday
Friday - I had girls' night out to Postino, my hubby was working late, so the kids went to Chino Bandito's for jade red and whatever (Do NOT be too jealous, Tara!)
Saturday - I grilled pannini's for lunch - crispy multigrain bread brushed with basil infused olive oil, with layers of Parmesan cheese, turkey and thinly sliced granny smith apples.  Yum!
For dinner, I was inspired by a wonderful meal at Old Ebbitt's grill.  I created a similar creamy, cheesy grits topped with shrimp and spicy sausage. (recipe below)  Ebbitt's had a tomato-based sauce, but I kept to a creamy roux since I didn't have any fresh tomatoes.
Sunday - lunch will be leftover grits & sausage or protein shakes and fresh fruit.   Dinner will be garlic marinated steak and roasted potatoes with fresh berries in cream. (Moriah is cooking!  We will only use half of the steaks I got this week and will save the other half for next week)
Monday -  I will parboil some chicken breasts and make chimichangas with homemade guacamole.  I admit to planning this meal around the avocados on sale and the freezer with a LOT of chicken.
Tuesday - The house will be invaded by gaggle of teenagers who are all going to see Spiderman - so I am assuming we'll to pizzas and hit the pool or video games, etc.
Wednesday - Sawyer is cooking spaghetti and meatballs (homemade meatballs that I froze a few weeks ago) and a salad.
Thursday - Moriah's turn again - to make golden chicken with grilled peaches and green beans.
Friday - mini steamed pork buns with chicken lettuce wraps.
Saturday  - Chicken breasts stuffed with bacon, cheese and asparagus.


Creamy Grits with Shrimp and Sausage.  I adapted it from Food Network based on what I had on hand.  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/smothered-andouille-sausage-and-shrimp-over-creamy-stone-ground-grits-recipe/index.html

(It would have been prettier with red bell peppers and/or a chopped tomato, but it tasted GREAT!)

Grits:  (I had quick cooking grits)  Cook grits according to package direction, using chicken stock and a splash of half and half instead of water.  When the grits are almost set, stir in a handful of shredded sharp cheddar cheese.

Shrimp & Sausage: create a roux of equal amounts of melted butter and flour (I used about 3 TBS) - cook until it is the golden brown.  Add 1 cup of each chopped onion, celery and bell pepper.  Sprinkle with cayenne pepper or Tabasco and cook until the veggies are tender crisp.  Add the sausage.  (I had hot Italian sausage on hand instead of andouille). Cook and crumble.  Add the shrimp and cook until almost pink.  Add about 1 c of chicken stock, a splash of half and half and a chopped tomato.    Heat through (shrimp will finish cooking as you heat and thicken the sauce).  The roux will create a creamy, yummy gravy.  Serve over a portion of the grits and enjoy!

Now, here's the test to see how many of you read to the end of the blog.  I am looking to recreate two other delightful delicacies I ate in D.C.  Does anyone have a lobster bisque recipe?  (I will top it with puff pastry.)  Or how about a crab and corn chowder recipe?  (I have a good corn chowder one, but am always looking for something new.)

New stores in N. Phx - your thoughts?

I ate so poorly yesterday that I can only blame the stress of pre-AIMS testing!  Honestly, I just want my students to show they have learned something this year.  All of my test-prep planning has drained me and I did not prepare a menu for the past two weeks.  The result - I ate junk for lunch because I didn't have adequate fresh food in the house.   Back to planning menus before I grocery shop.  Knowing I will be drained during this week of keeping my rambunctious munchkins quiet while testing, I have planned 2 slow-cooker meals.  (Can I still call them munchkins if most of them are now taller than I am?)

Last week I shopped at the new store in N. Phx, Winco.  It is a big box store like Food 4 Less was with no shelf displays, just cases cut open.  I have been very conscience about shopping local and trying to stick to Basha's (except for fresh produce from Sunflower because theirs seems to be good and much less expensive).   I was not impressed with the quality of produce at Winco, but the prices on items like cereal were killer.  This is most likely just for their grand opening month, I bet.    I'll have to check it out again when there isn't a 10 minute wait for a cart (ha -- I took one from the lady unloading her's into the car next to me in the lot) and a police officer monitoring the line to get in.  (REALLY! Apparently while I was shopping with said cart I pinched in the lot, a fight broke out in the line to get in....geeeze, people.  It is a GROCERY store for cryin' out loud -- there is one on every corner in this town -- next to or housing a Starbucks of course.)  

Did anyone else check out Winco?  Has anyone else browsed at Kitchen Switchin', my new favorite place to pop into?  Kitchen Switchin' is a re-purposed house on 7th St around Northern.  It is a consignment-type store for kitchen gadgets with new and gently used small appliances, dishes, etc.  I picked up a top of the line Foreman for Sawyer to make burgers after school -- for $12!  

If you have tried either Winco or Kitchen Switchin' let me know what you think.  Have you tried any other new places or restaurants?  I need someplace good to go to on Friday night. Russ and I tried Upper Crust last weekend and I wasn't impressed.

This week's meals starting with last night:

Friday -  udon noodle low mein with beef strips, bean sprouts, carrots, peas & onions (Winco does carry a great variety of ethnic foods - inexpensive GOOD udon noodles in the produce section)

Saturday: lunch – Panini with deli meats & veggies

                Dinner – (host Shannon after her interviews) gnocchi w/ butternut squash &  

                             kale, something decadent for dessert from AJ's (owned by Basha's so 

                             I'm still shopping local, just upscale for a few items)

Sunday: lunch – Trader Jo’s Orange chicken? Whatever is in the freezer because it is 

                        full!

             Dinner – pistachio chicken w/ grilled asparagus

Monday: spinach ricotta pinwheels (prep on Sunday afternoon and refrigerate) & mixed 

             green salad

Tuesday: slow cooker lentils, pork & sweet potato stew

Wednesday:  fish tacos w/shredded cabbage

Thursday: slow cooker chicken and green chiles unless one of the kids has a better idea

Friday: Celebrate end of AIMS week – GO OUT TO A Delightful Dinner!

Preparing breakfasts...

                                    (For Tara -- tonight's NatYG Thai noodles/peanut sauce)

I haven't blogged much lately for several reasons: it was mid-term and parent teacher conference week (ugh!), I have been busy cooking and trying to be healthy, and Pinterest has sucked my time!  I have found several great recipes off Pinterest that I have tweaked of course.

Last weekend I spent many hours on Sunday preparing breakfast foods that I knew my children would eat.  I know I run out the door at 6:15 and want something I can eat on the 35 minute drive to work.  Sawyer wants something that will heat and travel well as he rides his bike to school.  Moriah -- well, I would just like her to eat SOMETHING before 2 p.m.!

Sawyer and I manned the assembly line and made 18 breakfast burritos.  I cook a couple of potatoes, 2 dozen eggs, chorizo, bacon, refried beans, shred cheese and get out the green chiles  Then we mix and match to suit everyone's individual tastes.  We wrap each one in plastic wrap and label it according to it's ingredients.  Then voila!  I have 3 big bags of breakfast in the freezer!  Pop them in the microwave for a minute and head out the door. 

I wanted to try two new recipes to compare the cooking methods/flavors.  I  cooked up 2 cups (4 when cooked) of quinoa.  It is one of my newest favorites!  It is full of protein and very versatile.  I made two different breakfasts (again, on the go food) with them.  One I mixed with eggs, ham, cheese and frozen (thawed and drained) spinach, and a splash of rooster sauce.  I baked them in mini muffin cups.    The other batch I mixed with shredded cabbage, onion, eggs, and ginger.  These I saute'ed in a bit of olive oil.  Sawyer inhaled these!  Russell and I liked the flavor of these better, but liked the baked texture of the first batch.  Next time I'll bake the ginger/cabbage mixture.

Menus

• Fish tacos with shredded cabbage (this week I cheated since Sawyer was cooking and used Schwans breaded cod - fancy fish sticks)

• beef stew (I have a new crock pot recipe that the kids LOVE)

• chicken with vegetables in green curry sauce (I bought sauce at the Chinese Cultural Center - it was so spicy I diluted it further with coconut milk)

• pasta shells stuffed with ground turkey, rictotta and spinach

• butternut squash and kielbasa

• Thai noodles in spicy peanut sauce (I quadrupled the normal batch to feed the youth group tonight)

•  Two rice salad with chicken (Sawyer tried it at a friend's birthday party and loved it so he searched it out on cooks.com and is making it tomorrow!

• Grilled basil burgers - I grill the burgers, top with fresh Parmesan and lots of whole basil leaves in place of lettuce. 

Enjoy your week!  Eat a healthy breakfast to start your day.

Back to healthy

It has been a while since I have blogged; school has kept me too busy this year.  Hopefully, I will be back on a semi-regular basis.

I really wanted to plop my bottom in front of the T.V.  and watch football all day since 2 of my favorite teams are playing (49'ers and Broncos).  I also know this will be a very busy week at school (report cards, etc).  Friday night I came home crabby and tired but forced myself to plan the menu and grocery list.  This morning I was able to get up, go to two different stores to get sale items and be home in time to make a healthy lunch.

Then I indulged myself.  I had Sawyer pull the playroom T.V. almost into the kitchen so I could see it from the island.  YAH!  I watched football and prepped tons of food for the week!  I made a huge pot of chili (ground chicken and ground beef with black beans and fresh tomatoes),  cooked fresh cranberries into a tart sauce, browned beef for soup, cooked bacon, cut turkey cutlets, shredded a head of cabbage, chopped kale,  bell peppers, celery, onions, and broccoli, washed & stemmed 2 heads of spinach, washed and froze 4 pints of blue- and blackberries... 

I also made a killer new smoothie.  I found the recipe off iowagirleats.com  blog and her post on Pinterest.  It is so healthy!  1 frozen banana, Greek yogurt, almond milk (I never measure, remember?), a small glob of almond butter (or peanut butter) and 1/2 a bunch of fresh spinach.  I love spinach, but you can't taste it in this.  Next time I will take one of her reader's recommendations and add a bit of cinnamon as well.

I started back at Zumba last Monday and hope to be able to attend a bit more regularly (when we don't have a Pioneer board meeting).  I know Roseanna went easy on us since I hadn't been there since September, but I wasn't sore the next day.  While I haven't gained any weight back, I haven't continued to lose, either, so must refocus!  I have still been eating "fairly" healthy at lunch. Most days I have a cucumber, maybe a bit of hummus, some berries, and a bit of fresh Parmesan cheese.  I did introduce Moriah to the buttery goodness of really GOOD fresh Parmesan while we were in San Francisco last month.  We still haven't found anything to match what we purchased at the 24th St Cheese Company.  As she said, "It is like eating candy!"

This week's menu (more or less, since I've already moved things around):
Saturday lunch - spinach salad & sourdough bread
Saturday dinner - chili
Sunday lunch - baked potatoes topped with broccoli and Parmesan cheese
Sunday dinner - curried pink lentils with cabbage and pork
Monday lunch - turkey cutlets stuffed with apples and cranberry stuffing
Monday dinner - Costa Rican beef soup with yellow rice
Tuesday dinner - grilled chicken with yams and quinoa
Wednesday dinner - butternut squash, kale and gnocchi
Thursday dinner - ????
Friday dinner - wild rice with shitake mushrooms and grilled tilapia