Krissy's Menu for Dec. 14 - Dec. 18

So here's the the first menu I'm posting - the one I'm making this week.  If I remember to take pictures (I always seem to forget), I will post them the night I make the dish.  I am following this up with a grocery list sorted somewhat by how you would find them in a grocery store.  Some of these dishes may fool you into thinking they're hard but I assure you, none of of them took more than 30 minutes to make (and some actually take less time to prepare).  As you can see, I don't make everything from scratch.  I'm busy and if I find a great side dish that just requires boiling water then I'll use it...a lot.  Mixing a great entree with tested boxed or frozen sides can save a lot of time and most won't even know the difference.  Anyway, I hope you try one of the dishes and better yet LIKE one of the dishes.  They are all very simple and quick for weeknight cooking.


Dec. 14 - Steak Salad and Pasta with Pink Sauce, Garlic Bread
Dec. 15 - Pork Tenderloin with Mushrooms and Tomatoes, Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus
Dec. 16 - Garlic Roasted Chicken, Long Grain and Wild Rice, Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Dec. 17 - Tacos, Spanish Rice, Refried Beans
Dec. 18 - Eggplant Parmesan with Spaghetti and Meatballs, Ceasar Salad, Garlic Rolls
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Steak Salad and Pasta with Pink Sauce, Garlic Bread (I forgot to take a picture of this but it was very good!)
leftover steak from Sunday night dinner*
mixed greens
roasted red peppers, sliced (from a jar or you can roast them your self)
onions, chopped
corn
raisins
walnuts
tomato, chopped
blue cheese dressing
penne pasta
marinara sauce (I prefer Rao's, if I'm using it from a jar)
whipping cream
grated parmesan
garlic bread, frozen


Preheat oven to bake garlic bread then follow package directions.  Reheat leftover steak, if desired, on 50% power in microwave.  (I usually do this in 20 second intervals so it doesn't cook the steak, but heats it just through.)  Mix greens, red pepper slices, onions, corn, raisins, walnuts, tomatoes.  Slice steak in thin strips and add to top of salad.  Next prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, heat sauce over medium heat.  Whisk in whipping cream until desired creaminess. Add to pasta and toss.  Serve salad with blue cheese dressing and pasta with grated parmesan.


* You can always buy a steak, marinate it, grill at some point in the day and then refrigerate until needed.

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Pork Tenderloin with Mushrooms and Tomatoes, Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus 

boneless pork tenderloin (approx. 2 1/2 lbs.)
1 1/2 t. ground cumin
1 1/2 t. ground coriander
1 t. dried organo
1 lb. button mushrooms
1 pint grape tomatoes
6-7 garlic cloves
coarse salt & pepper


Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  In a large (9x13) pan, combine tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, and oil.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Spread mixture to sides of pan leaving room for pork.  On a separate dish, sprinkle pork with cumin, coriander, oregano and 1 t. salt.  Rub seasonings into meat, spreading evenly.  Place pork in center of pan.  Roast for 40-45 minutes or until done (160 degrees).  Slice and serve with tomatoes and mushrooms and pan juices.  (Save extra pork for Cuban sandwiches!)


Note:  This is always a big hit with my kids.

Roasted Asparagus

1 bunch of asparagus (medium-thickness), trimmed and washed
1/2 T. olive oil
coarse salt and pepper


Place asparagus in baking dish.  Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Bake at 425, 15 minutes for crispier stalks, 20 minutes (or more) for softer stalks.

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Garlic Roasted Chicken, Long Grain and Wild Rice, Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
2 whole fryer chickens*
6 T. butter, softened 
Lawry's garlic salt


Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Rinse chickens and pat dry.  Place in roasting pan and spread 3 T. butter on one chicken and 3 T. butter on the other.  Sprinkle both birds with garlic salt (all over).  Roast for 40-50 (depending on size of bird) or until juices run clear and meat is no longer pink.  Carve and serve.


* Set one chicken aside and when cool enough to handle pick all meat from bones and save for next week's Chicken Divain recipe.  This will save a lot of time on that night!

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Long Grain and Wild Rice
1 box Uncle Ben's Long grain and Wild Rice Fast Cook Recipe


Follow directions on box.  Quick, easy and delicious side dish.

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Arlene's Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
1 bag frozen broccoli florets
1 bag frozen cauliflower

1 can cream of mushroom

garlic salt

2 T. butter

4 slices, thinly sliced swiss cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Lightly grease an 8x8 baking dish.  Cook 3/4 of a bag of broccoli until just tender.  Cook 1/2 of a bag of cauliflower until just tender.  Mix both and place in baking dish.  Spread cream of mushroom on broccoli-cauliflower mix and sprinkle with garlic salt.  Cut 2T. butter and then cut in half and place on top of mushroom soup.  Lay swiss cheese slices on casserole to cover.  Bake 30 - 40 minutes or until cheese is melted and center is hot.

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Tacos, Spanish Rice, Refried Beans

1 lb. ground beef

1 package taco seasoning

soft or hard taco shells

shredded lettuce

chopped tomatoes

chopped onions

shredded cheese

sour cream

salsa 

avocados

jalapenos

This is pretty self-explanatory and easy and my family loves it.  Follow the directions on the taco seasoning packet and add any condiments.  

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Spanish Rice

1 box of Spanish Rice

Prepare as directed.

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Refried Beans

1 can refried beans

Heat beans over stove on medium heat.  Add water a little at a time to thin out beans.  Serve with shredded cheese on top.

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Eggplant Parmesan with Spaghetti and Meatballs, Ceasar Salad, Garlic Rolls

1 jar marinara sauce

1 large eggplant (approx. 1 1/2 lbs.)

2 eggs

1/2 c. flour

1/2 c. italian seasoned bread crumbs

salt & pepper

oregano

16 oz. shredded mozzarella

1/2 c. grated parmesan, plus more for salad

thin spaghetti

meatballs (I like Trader Joe's frozen meatballs when I don't make my own)

Romaine lettuce

croutons

garlic rolls, frozen

Preheat oven to 350.  Peel lines in eggplant leaving  1/4 inch thick lines of skin.  Slice into 1/2 inch thick slices. Sprinkle with salt and let drain in colander 30-60 minutes. Beat eggs and add oregano to mixture.  Pour flour in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.  Pour bread crumbs in another bowl. Dredge each slice in flour, then eggs the bread crumbs.  Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Fry eggplant on both sides until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.  Heat marinara in small sauce pan. Spray a 13 X 9 glass baking dish with cooking spray. Spread sauce on the bottom of pan to cover, layer half of eggplant and sprinkle with half of mozzarella cheese, cover with 2 c. marinara 1/2 of grated cheese. Repeat layers. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until bubbly and hot. Bake garlic rolls.  Toss romaine with croutons and sprinkle with grated parmesan.  Add Ceasar dressing and toss once more.

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Shopping List

Produce

mixed greens

red peppers, if roasting yourself

onion

tomato

1 lb. button mushrooms

1 pint grape tomatoes

6-7 garlic cloves

1 bunch of asparagus (medium-thickness)

shredded lettuce

Avocado

jalapeno

salsa

1 large eggplant (approx. 1 1/2 lbs.)

6 yukon gold potatoes

Romaine lettuce

croutons

Blue Cheese dressing

Ceasar dressing

Canned food

1 can corn

1 can cream of mushroom

Baking

Lawry's garlic salt

italian seasoned bread crumbs

walnuts

Meat

steak, if needed

boneless pork tenderloin (approx. 2 1/2 lbs.)

2 whole fryer chickens

1 lb. ground beef

Grains/Snacks

1 box Uncle Ben's Long grain and Wild Rice Fast Cook Recipe

raisins

Refrigerated

thinly sliced swiss cheese

16 oz. shredded mozzarella

shredded cheddar or monterey jack cheese

grated parmesan

sour cream

eggs

whipping cream

Pasta/International

1 package taco seasoning

soft or hard taco shells

1 box Spanish rice

1 can refried beans

2 jars marinara sauce (I prefer Rao's, if I'm not making my own)

thin spaghetti

penne pasta

1 jar roasted red peppers

Frozen

meatballs (I like Trader Joe's frozen meatballs when I don't make my own)

garlic rolls, frozen

garlic bread, frozen

1 bag frozen broccoli florets

1 bag frozen cauliflower

Should have in pantry

ground cumin

ground coriander

dried organo

coarse salt & pepper

olive oil

2 sticks butter

milk

flour

oregano