Category Archives: menu plan Monday

Livin' la vida wheatless

Menu Plan Monday logoMy nephew has some kind of wheat intolerance or allergy, so he’s been on a wheat-free diet for most of his life. I’d never given all that much thought to it — beyond “poor kid can’t have doughnuts” — until his dad decided to try it out, too. He’s been wheat-free for a month or two (or three, maybe), and he’s lost something like 20 pounds. So I thought I’d try it. And then we got home, and I tried it for a day, and we had dinner with friends and they made pasta and that was the end of that.

We visited the Poppins household again this weekend, and it renewed my desire to try the wheat-free diet. I’m not going to be hard-core about checking sauces, etc., but I am going to try to avoid the Very Obviously Wheaty things. Here’s my first wheat-free menu.

Kung Pao Scallops
After a long, long drought, I finally got to go to PF Changs again over the weekend. The kids were so hungry and tired when we got there; I was pretty sure it was going to be a disaster. Once they got a little food in them, though, they were fine. Poppy at a crab wonton and a plate of sweet and sour chicken. I had the Kung Pao scallops. And while they were great, they reminded me that I’ve made Kung Pao before. So I thought I’d try it again.

Veggie migas
When I was pregnant, I thought it would be a good idea to throw some cheese and salsa onto a plate of scrambled eggs. It was a good instinct, and I’ve since added tortilla chips and veggie sausages to the mix. I’ve come to learn that there’s a real way to make migas. I’ve never tried to follow a recipe, but it’s easier to call my version “veggie migas” than “scrambled eggs with Tex-Mexy flava.”

Indian Butter Chicken

Pizza
I found a wheat-free crust mix to try. I might still make some dough for Rockford and the kids, because I don’t think the mix will make a very large pizza.

Drip drop drip, little March showers

Menu Plan Monday logoIt was rainy all weekend, and it’s still drizzly this morning. That may or may not have to do with the fact that I can’t think of anything to share, really, other than the week’s menu.

Monday: Meatloaf
We’ll be dining with friends tonight, which means we’re starting the week with a meal I don’t have to cook.

Tuesday: Bourbon Chicken
Bourbon chicken doesn’t actually contain any bourbon, so I’m a little flummoxed about its name. But it looks tasty, so we’ll give it a shot. It also looks a little bit like the Peanut Butter Chicken, which might mean that Poppy will try it.

Wednesday: Scalloped Potatoes

Thursday: Breakfast for dinner

Friday: Pizza

Putting the PB in dinner.

Menu Plan Monday logo

Monday: Peanut butter chicken with coconut rice
As part of my ongoing effort to get Poppy to eat what we’re eating, we’ll be having peanut butter for dinner. I hope it’s delicious.

Tuesday: Fish sticks & macaroni and cheese
Of course, then it’s back to eating off the kids’ menu.

Wednesday: Veggie noodle bowls
I’m not sure how this one’s going to come out yet, so I don’t really know what to call it. I’m planning to use ramen noodles and stir-fry veggies with a Pad Thai-ish sauce. We’ll see.

Thursday: Breakfast for dinner!
I’m still not sure why the kids get such a kick out of having pancakes for dinner.

Friday: Pizza
I haven’t been making my own pizza dough lately, because I’ve been too busy I’ve been lazy. I’m going to try to do it again this week.

Update!
Friends, you need to try the peanut butter chicken. Poppy did, and she said, “Ooo, this is scrumptious!” Really. And she’s right. It’s yummy. I modified the original recipe quite a bit. Here’s my version:

Scrumptious Peanut Butter Chicken
Enough olive oil to coat the bottom of your skillet
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – cut into 1 inch cubes
1 medium onion, diced
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1/4 cup chunky peanut butter
1 tablespoon fish sauce
2 teaspoons red curry paste (or to taste)
salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces, and cook until chicken starts to turn white. Add the onion and season with salt and pepper. Cook until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Pour the tomatoes into the skillet and simmer for about 10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.

Combine peanut butter, fish sauce, curry paste and chicken broth in a small bowl. Add peanut butter mixture to chicken and cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens. (It doesn’t take long.)

We had this with coconut rice, which is really easy to make. Just sub in a can of coconut milk for part of the water and cook as usual.