Tag Archives: menu plan Monday

I still can't believe she likes the ravioli

Menu Plan Monday logoMonday: Butternut squash ravioli
Poppy has been asking for “butter and cheese ravioli” every day since we first tried it. It’s on the pricey side, but she’s eating a vegetable. I’m willing to shell out a few extra quarters for that.

Tuesday: Mushroom chicken
Rockford’s grandmother has this one labeled “Favorite Chicken” on her recipe card. It’s one of my favorite comfort foods, and it’s very easy. You wrap bacon around chicken breast halves, then mix sour cream and cream of mushroom soup and pour it over the chicken. It bakes at a pretty low temperature for a good long time (300 for 2 hours? I don’t remember; I usually use a meat thermometer to make sure it’s done). I think it’s best over rice.

Wednesday: Pizza

Thursday: ?
We have friends coming into town on Thursday, and I’m not sure yet what we’re doing for dinner.

Friday: In-laws’ house

Getting Krafty with dinner

Menu Plan Monday logoI don’t often make “branded” recipes, but a few of the dishes in the last Food & Family magazine from Kraft looked pretty good. We’re giving their chili and a baked chicken recipe a try this week.

Monday: Slow Cooker Hearty Beef Chili

Tuesday: Bruschetta Chicken Bake

Wednesday: Fish stick po’ boys
We were originally going to have ravioli on Wednesday, but we had it yesterday instead.

Thursday: Meatloaf
My friend Heather rode to the rescue with baking soda last week when I was trying to make cupcakes. She also brought half a meatloaf, which I stuck in the freezer. On Thursday, we’ll be saying “Hooray for Heather!” once again.

Friday: White pizza
I’m not sure exactly how I’ll be making the sauce, but there will be artichoke hearts and chicken on top of the pizza.

I had fun with this week's menu

Menu Plan Monday logoBecause I make my menu plans on Saturday, I don’t generally post the weekend’s meals here. Rest assured, though, that we do eat on the weekends. (Boy, do we eat on the weekends.) Yesterday, for example, we tried a new recipe that I really liked. So much so that I thought I’d share it with you.

Sunday: Double Chicken Dumpling Stoup
Something about Rachael Ray’s manner bugs me, so I don’t watch her show(s). But I’ve yet to try one of her recipes that I don’t like. This one is no exception. You’ll find a slightly altered version of Ray’s recipe at the bottom of this post.

Monday: Polynesian pulled pork sandwiches
Mondays have become our busiest night, so I’m trying to use the slow cooker as much as possible. This is a new recipe for us. It’s from a Sandra Lee slow cooker book.. I don’t think I’ve tried any of her recipes before, so I’m hoping it’s decent.

Tuesday: Spaghetti

Wednesday: Sesame chicken strips with soba noodles
Several years ago, the person who drew my name in the Christmas gift exchange at work gave me a “Minute Meals” cookbook. I haven’t made many dishes from it, but it was still the most thought anyone had ever put into an at-work Christmas gift for me. This recipe comes from that book.

Thursday: Chimichangas
The filling is in the freezer. Hooray for the freezer!

Friday: Pepperoni pizza

Rachael Ray’s Double Chicken Dumpling Stoup
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
2 ribs celery from the heart, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups shredded carrot
1 fresh bay leaf
Salt and black pepper pepper
8 or 9 cups chicken broth
1 pound ground chicken
1 egg
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs (a couple of generous handfuls)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
One 1-pound package gnocchi
1 cup frozen peas
Crusty bread, for dunking

In a soup pot, heat olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, over medium-high heat. Add the celery, onions, carrots and bay leaf, season with salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the broth, cover the pot and bring to a boil.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, season the chicken with salt and pepper. Stir in the egg, bread crumbs, cheese and garlic. Roll the mixture into walnut-sized meatballs (you’ll have about 40) and add to the stoup. Simmer for about 10 minutes while you wash up. Add the gnocchi to the stoup and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the peas and parsley and cook for 2 minutes. Remove the stoup from the heat, discard the bay leaf and let cool for 5 minutes. Serve with the bread.