For those of you enjoy cookbooks just as much as you enjoy novels, I have decided to dedicate a page to cooking and cookbooks as well. For the past few months I have been adding a lot of new things to my menu from a website called "The Pioneer Woman", let me tell you these recipes are UH-Mazing and oh so simple t make, and its not that "foo foo" stuff as my husband (i.e the self proclaimed "Grill King" ) can say but real everyday food for real everyday cooking women. Take a look at her website or get the book! A lot of the same recipes that are in the book are online but I got the book because I got tired of hauling my laptop in and out of the kitchen. But other either way you choose is fine, and I promie ladies..you wont be disappointed..the Grill King celebrated his birthday on Mar.11 and I made him "the best ever choclate sheet cake ever" from her book and wesbite..OMG....is all I can say try it for your self..
What's For Dinner???
Over the years , i have found out that the hardest thing about cooking is deciding what to cook. Especially on those days when I used to work. I felt like I worked all day and now I have to come home and hear people asking me "whats for dinner?
After years of frustration I decided to sit down and plan my meals for the week and that day changed my life forever. With a menu, I know longer stressed out when my family asked me whats for dinner, they knew too just look at the menu. It also helped with grocery shopping, i no longer wondered aimlessly up and down the aisle trying to think up something for dinner, and i didnt buy things I didnt need because I made a grocery list from my menu.
MENUS SAVE TIME AND MONEY!!!
Menus can also be flexible you can make them to suit your families lifestyle, for instance, on Wednsday we have church so we always have something quick and easy. You can also have themes and special dinners for special occasion i.e anniversaries or birthdays. You can also choose a day to try out new recipes and if you like them you can add them to your rotation.
How To Plan A Menu?
1. First you should right down all the things your family likes to eat. From this list you should be able to compile a weeks worth of meals...hopefully :). If not then pop open a few of those cookbooks you just had to have and find simple meals you think your family will enjoy. 2. After you have finished step one then you can start making your Ingredient List. I start by writing down the meal and listing the ingredients up under them here is an example:TUES: Chicken Strip Sandwich, French Fries, and Green Beans:chicken breastbutter milk (for soaking chicken breast)potatoesketchupgreen beans (frozen)flourseason salthamburger bunscheese (shredded cheddar)
3. Go through your pantry and fridge and start marking off all of the things that you already have. Then from there you can make your grocery list.
4. Look in your Sunday paper or local Commissary for your military gals for coupons that you can use and get them all ready for your shopping trip. (i dont have a fancy coupon organizer, i usually put them in a ziplock :).
5. Dont forget to Have Fun....you can get the whole family involved and have the kids each pick something they would like help to cook that week or try something new, like having breakfast for dinner, the possibilites are endless.
This gets to be really easy after awhile , because you'll begin to know whats in your pantry already and step 2 can be eliminated. My suggestion to you is to KEEP MENUS. I have about 8 weeks saved (2months worth) and I try not to repeat meals, so once i get to week 8 i can start again with week one and you can substitue new recipes in if you like.
Here is my menu for this week:
Mon- Fried Chicken, Mac n cheese, Green beans
Tue- Spaghetti, Salad, Garlic BreadWed- Beef tips and rice (beef tips in crockpot), mixed veggies
Thurs- Shake n Bake pork chops, broccli and cheese, smothered potatoes
Fri- Pizza (Homemade), salad
Sat- Leftover Buffet :)
Sun- Boston Market Meatloaf (see recipe) , Mashed potates, cabbage
VOILA!!!! There you have it. I type it up, make it all nice an colorful and then print and place in a page protector (that way i can use a dry erase marker to make any changes) and put on fridge.My kids eat breakfast at home and I have a menu for that too, if anyone wants that please leave a comment here or on facebook or you can send an email too rrrbookclub@yahoo.com . I also make menus for the summer to include lunch for the kids as well. I'll post those when it gets closer to summer break.
Do any of you use menus? If so please post some of your menus on here or facebook to share with everyone!!
Boston Market Meat Loaf(Rich, moist ,meat loaf made with savory seasonings and covered with zesty hickory barbecue sauce)
1/2 cup ketchup1 -
1/2 tbsp. hickory bbq sauce ( I just use Sweet Baby Rays..um um um)
1 tbsp. sugar
1 -1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
1/2 cup all purpose flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup Italian bread crumbs ( I use plain if thats what i have just add some italian seasons to it)
1 egg
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In a large ow, stir together the ketchup, barbecue sauce, and sugar, set aside 1/4 cup of the mixture
3. With your hands, mix in remaining ingredients.
4. Form the mixture into a loaf and place in a greased 9x5 inch loaf pan
5. Bake covered for 30 minutes
6.Uncover and drain the fat from the pan, then slice the meat loaf while still in pan.
7. Drizzle the reserved tomato mixture evenly over the meat loaf.
8. Bake, uncovered, for an additonal 30 minutes or until cooked through
serves 5 ( i alwasy double..my family looooves this)
This recipe comes from i cookbook i got from the bookfair called " America's Most Wanted Recipes". It has recipes from a whole lot of different restaraunts. 8
