Meal Planning Monday 2/28

Yikes! I am so behind on blogging.  Look out for some new recipes this week...I hope.

I'm finally getting back to my structured meal planning this week.  I need to get us back on a healthier track, too!  Here's what we're having:

Monday - egg, turkey sausage, green chile & cheese breakfast tacos
Tuesday - grilled chicken, wild rice, green beans
Wednesday - chicken pot pie
Thursday - manitoba soup, bread
Friday - out to eat
Saturday lunch - sandwiches, chips & fruit
Saturday dinner - sour cream chicken enchiladas, mexican rice
Sunday lunch - leftovers
Sunday dinner - TBD

lunches this week - sandwiches, leftovers, etc
snacks this week - apples, strawberries, yogurt, carrots

Meal Planning Monday

Monday : pancakes, sausage & eggs
Tuesday: cornbread taco casserole
Wednesday: going to the Mavs game!
Thursday: BBQ chicken, corn, salad
Friday: Austin
Saturday: Austin
Sunday: grilled cheese & soup

Meal Planning {Tuesday}

We had such a fun Valentine's day that I did not get around to blogging :)  We're having a very un-exciting week, but hopefully not cooking will give me some time to post some recently tried, wonderful recipes!

Monday: Valentine's dinner! Penne a la Betsy, Sister Schubert's rolls, Reese's chocolate cake
Tuesday: leftovers - PW enchiladas, Mama's Daughter's diner, + more!
Wednesday: grilled chicken, frozen veggies, fruit
Thursday: grilled cheese and soup
Friday: pizza sandwiches
Saturday: Date night!
Sunday: TBD

Hope you all had a great Valentines day! 

Yeast Rolls

Photo credit - recipe source

One of my new favorite recipes for rolls!  My sister recommended this recipe and I made them for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.  They went over well both times, so I know I'll use this recipe as a fall back for an easy and yummy dinner roll.

Ingredients:
2 T shortening
3 T white sugar
1 c hot water
1 package active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp salt
2 1/4 c all purpose flour

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease 8 muffin cups.
2. In a large bowl, mix the shortening, sugar, and hot water. Allow to cool until lukewarm, and mix in the yeast until dissolved. Mix in the egg, salt, and flour. Allow the dough to rise until doubled in size.
3. Divide the dough into the prepared muffin cups, and allow to rise again until doubled in size.
4. Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. 

These are definitely better the longer you let them rise.  I forgot about them at Thanksgiving, and let them rise way too long. But they tasted awesome! 

Meal Planning Monday 2/7

I've been terrible about following my meal plans the past two weeks...I'm ready to get back on track and excited about our meals for this week!

Monday: Super Bowl leftovers - pizza, sausage balls, etc. and salad
Tuesday: white chicken lasagna, salad
Wednesday: grilled cheese and tomato soup, apples
Thursday: Parmesan risotto, frozen veggies (I keep forgetting to buy arborio rice!)
Friday: chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles
Saturday: out to eat
Sunday: Celebrating my sister-in-law's birthday! PW's enchiladas, rice & beans, black & white cookies

January Update on Healthy Habits

I created a page at the top of the blog that will walk through Cooking Light's 12 Healthy Habits in 2011.  Head to that page to get more details, and read about February's challenge!

When it comes to the January Healthy Habit of adding more veggies, I'd give myself a B-.  I started off strong, but then got busy at work and didn't keep up as well as I should have.  I did make asparagus for the 2nd and 3rd time, and bought a lot of zucchini and oven-roasted fresh green beans.  In the picture below, I added shredded zucchini to our pasta sauce and it was good!

don't you love the TV tray? :)

Update on 2011 Goals

At the beginning of 2011, I created a goals tab at the top of the blog.  Here's my first monthly update!

I feel like February snuck up on me!  I'm sad to report I did not get any of the goals accomplished in January.  I had grand plans for #9 - the Pioneer Woman's chicken enchiladas, but had to re-schedule our get together with Bart's family, where I was going to make them.  I'll definitely meet that goal in February, as well as hopefully #10 - make a Valentines treat.  I'm considering these red velvet whoopie pies, but if those prove too labor intensive, my back up is toasted coconut chocolate chunk cookies. So hopefully come March 1st, I can cross off 2 goals and be back on track!

Did your January hold any kitchen successes (or mishaps) ? If so, let me know!

Kroger deals!

We semi-ate through our pantry and freezer in January, so I'm excited to get back into the full swing of couponing now that its February.  Kroger has a great mega-event going on, so I took advantage of that on Thursday night.  Good thing, since 6" of snow has kept me in the house tonight!  Here's what I got:

Pictured:

• Garden of Eatin tortilla chips $1.79*
• Krusteaz Buttermilk pancake mix $1.49* - $1 coupon = 49 cents
• Original Chex Mix* $1.49
• Turtle Chex Mix* $1.49 - $1/2 coupon = 49 cents
• Gardettos $1.49* - 50c e-coupon = 99 cents
• I Can't Believe its not Butter sticks $1.79* - 75c coupon = $1.04
• 4 pack Dannon Light-n-fit $1.88 - $1 coupon = 88 cents
• 4 packs Mott's apple cider @ 25c = $1
• 2 Bic Soleil razor packages @ 6.44 = 12.88 - B1G1 free coupon = $6.44
• 1 gallon milk $1.99
• Ghiradelli brownie mix $1.99*
• 1 box hot chocolate packets $1.25
• Dove deoderant $2 - $2 e-coupon - $2 newspaper coupon = free + $2 overage!
• 2 Honest Teas @ 75c* = $1.50 - $1/2 hangtag = 50 cents

Not pictured: 
granny smith apples, gala apples $3.05 total
Kraft 2% singles $0.99* - $1 coupon = free!
1 dozen eggs $1.69
2 bags Kroger shredded cheese @ 1.50 = $3

I paid $26.69 and saved $34.51...anytime its over 50% I get really excited, and this is 56% ! The starred items were part of the "buy 10, save $5" promotion.  They would have each been 50 cents more had I not bought 10 of them.

This is a pretty 'snacky' trip, so I'll be on the look out for some good produce and meat deals this upcoming week.  I'm also planning a trip to Aldi to stock up on some baking essentials and frozen items - they always have the best prices when you need to buy something and can't wait for a sale!

Super Bowl ideas

I just posted a great recipe for sausage balls, but if you're in need of some other party food, here are some ideas:

If you need a sweet, try these black & white cookies (as a bonus, they're from Cooking Light!) or the easy and quick pudding cake.  For things that go with chips, try homemade salsa or queso, everyone's favorite.  I'm planning to try out this white queso and I'm really excited about it!  If you are doing something more substantial for your family and friends, try DIY burrito bowls or homemade pizza. 

Hope you have a fun watching the game Sunday!

Sausage Balls

 In need of a hearty, delicious snack to bring to a Super Bowl party?  This is the perfect one!  With only 5 ingredients, its easy to make and always a huge hit.  Here's a close up to see the size - I always make them too big (and obviously not very round!) - the recipe is pretty flexible.

There are a number of recipes for sausage balls, but I always refer back to the one from the Bisquick website

3 cups Original Bisquick® mix
1 pound bulk pork sausage
4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (16 ounces)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crushed
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley or 1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes
Barbecue sauce or chili sauce, if desired

Heat oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease bottom and sides of jelly roll pan, 15 1/2x10 1/2x2x1 inch.
Stir together all ingredients, using hands or spoon. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls. Place in pan.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until brown. Immediately remove from pan. Serve warm with sauce for dipping.