REVIEW for week 5 menu

Menu for Week 5:

*Weekly menus plan for one meal out and one night of leftovers.

·        Cheesy Jalapeno Chicken Rice Casserole

o   http://www.culinary.net/recipes/RecipeDetail.aspx?ID=3386&CourseName=One+Dish+Meals&CourseID=21

REVIEW:  I made this on the weekend and ended up being the only one for the night to eat it (I forget why my husband didn't, but he had something else to eat).  I commented to my husband that I didn't like it since it was a little more eggy than most casseroles.  However, when we ate it as leftovers for lunch and one night, it was better.  It is more like a quiche (set egg dish) rather than a creamy casserole.

DID WE LIKE IT?  It was okay.  WILL I MAKE IT AGAIN?  Probably not

CHANGES:  I made it more santa fe flavors with a bell pepper since my cilantro had gone bad before I made the dish.

·        Loaded Potato Buffalo Chicken Bake

o   http://cooklisacook.blogspot.ca/2012/03/loaded-potato-buffalo-chicken-casserole.html

REVIEW:  We really like this dish!  I actually made it for a friend who had just had a baby and doubled it so that we could have it for diner too!  It is a different dish that is worth the few extra sets of checking on the potatoes rather than just being a dump and cook dish.  Following the directions really gives it great flavor and makes the potatoes crispy.

DID WE LIKE IT?  YES!!  WOULD I MAKE IT AGAIN??  YES!!!

·        Crockpot BBQ Ribs and Cream Cheese Corn Skillet Side Dish

o   http://teamhess.blogspot.com/2011/07/recipe-barbecue-ribs-in-crock-pot.html

o   http://www.budgetsavvydiva.com/2012/03/delicious-cream-cheese-corn/

REVIEW:  These ribs were easy but I didn't think they were fabulous.  I think I would find a different rib recipe to try next time.  We didn't make the corn dish.

DID WE LIKE IT?  Yes, these were good ribs.  WOULD I MAKE IT AGAIN?  Probably not.  I will probably find a different recipe to try.

·        CHEAP AND EASY:  Baked Manicotti with Garlic Bread

o   http://allrecipes.com/recipe/manicotti/detail.aspx

REVIEW:  I love this recipe!  I actually did stuffed shells since that's what I had in the pantry.  I made these one night once my daughter had gone to bed.  I followed the same recipe, making a full box of noodles.  I filled the noodles, placed them facing up on an oiled baking sheet, and placed them in the freezer for a couple of hours.  I then placed the individual frozen shells in freezer bags.  We had 3 meals off of these, with leftovers each time!  So good!  AND EASY!!

DID WE LIKE IT?  YES!!  It makes a great freezer meal for any night you want home cooking but dont' want to hassle with it.

WILL I MAKE IT AGAIN?  YES!!!  So great!

·        Drunken Pork Chops and Crockpot Baked Potatoes

o   http://siggyspice.blogspot.com/2010/03/drunken-pork-chops-absolutely.html

o   http://realmomkitchen.com/7995/crock-pot-baked-potatoes/

REVIEW:  I made these pork chops for a group of my friends one night.  They were very tough and dry, something I feel like aways happens.  The sauce had a great taste, but the cook time was just too long.

DID WE LIKE IT?  Yes, they were okay.  I think I would have to change the cook time to try to get them from getting tough.

WOULD I MAKE IT AGAIN?  Maybe.

·        DESSERT: Banana Toffee Pie

o   http://inspire-keri.blogspot.com/2011/06/recipe-tuesday-banoffee-danger-pie.html

REVIEW:  After making the peanut butter pie, this pie was a let down.  I used a jar of caramel rather than the homemade caramel.  I think that following the recipe caramel might have made it a little better.

DID WE LIKE IT?  It was okay.  WOULD I MAKE IT AGAIN?  Probably not.

**I know that this week's menu sounds like a flop.  I would have to disagree since I made a variety of meals.  Don't take my word for some of these recipes.  Try them out yourself and see what you think.  Leave comments on the week's menu/review of your thoughts if you made a recipe.  THANKS!

Menu for Week 5

Menu for Week 5:

*Weekly menus plan for one meal out and one night of leftovers.

·        Cheesy Jalapeno Chicken Rice Casserole

o   http://www.culinary.net/recipes/RecipeDetail.aspx?ID=3386&CourseName=One+Dish+Meals&CourseID=21

·        Loaded Potato Buffalo Chicken Bake

o   http://cooklisacook.blogspot.ca/2012/03/loaded-potato-buffalo-chicken-casserole.html

·        Crockpot BBQ Ribs and Cream Cheese Corn Skillet Side Dish

o   http://teamhess.blogspot.com/2011/07/recipe-barbecue-ribs-in-crock-pot.html

o   http://www.budgetsavvydiva.com/2012/03/delicious-cream-cheese-corn/

·        CHEAP AND EASY:  Baked Manicotti with Garlic Bread

o   http://allrecipes.com/recipe/manicotti/detail.aspx

·        Drunken Pork Chops and Crockpot Baked Potatoes

o   http://siggyspice.blogspot.com/2010/03/drunken-pork-chops-absolutely.html

o   http://realmomkitchen.com/7995/crock-pot-baked-potatoes/

·        DESSERT: Banana Toffee Pie

o   http://inspire-keri.blogspot.com/2011/06/recipe-tuesday-banoffee-danger-pie.html

Shopping List:

*Print this off and check off the items that you already have in your pantry.  Then either take this list or create a simpler one to the grocery to shop for the week of dinners.

Basic Pantry/Kitchen Items:

·         Olive oil

·         Garlic Powder

·         Paprika

·         Worcestershire

·         Butter

·         Grated parmesan cheese

·              Brown Sugar

·         Eggs (4)

·               Salt

·               Pepper

·              Hot Sauce (Frank’s)

·              BBQ Sauce

·              Red Pepper Flakes

·              Dried Parsley

·              Ketchup

·              Vanilla

·              1 bottle of beer (dark-ish if possible—not Guinness dark)

Baking/Seasonings:

·         Cooking Sherry

·         Graham Cracker Pie Crust (or graham crackers to make your own)

·         Piece of Chocolate (to shave on top of banana pie)  or Heath (to crumble)

·         12 oz can of Carnation Evaporated Milk

·         1 can of Sweet Condensed Milk

Dairy/Refrigerator Items:

·     Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese (Cheddar and Mont Jack blend)—or make your own

·     Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

·         Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

·         Cream Cheese

Pasta/Rice/Bean Items:

·         Rice

·         Manicotti Noodles

Can/Dry Good Items:

·         1 jar of spaghetti sauce

Meat:  (plan on purchasing at least one serving of meat for each member of your family unless noted for multiple meals)

·         Chicken Breasts  (used in 2 meals)

·         3 lbs Ribs (pork or beef)

·         Bacon

·         Pork chops

Produce Items:

·         Cilantro

·         Jalapenos

·         Potatoes (8-10 med size)—I like red, new, or gold

·         Potatoes (1 per person)—for baking, like russet or Idaho

·         Green onion

·         Bananas

·         Corn (or frozen)

Bread:

·    garlic bread (either freshly baked, frozen, or other)

Review of Menu 4

REVIEW for the Menu for Week 4:

*There were some really YUMMY meals to think about making!

·         Pad Thai

o   http://allrecipes.com/recipe/a-pad-thai-worth-making/detail.aspx

o   REVIEW:  This was my first attempt at making this much loved dish.  We have had our fair share of Pad Thai from a range of restaurants.  I figured buying the specific ingredients for the dish would pay off since I would most likely try the dish again.  Overall, I think I will get better at the timing of cooking the dish.  As with many “stir fry” dishes, the hot wok makes for some quick cooking.  I didn’t have everything quite set up to just throw in as I went (and I had to keep referring to the recipe) which ate up time and ended in up my chicken and shrimp to be over cooked. 

o   Did we like it?  YES!  Will I make it again?  YES!  I think that I will get better at timing the dish and it will go more smoothly next time.

·         Crockpot Italian Chicken with Garlic Parmesan Pull-Apart Bread

o   http://www.crockadoodledo.blogspot.com/2012/04/italian-chicken.html

o   http://amandathevirtuouswife.blogspot.com/2012/03/garlic-parmesan-pull-apart-bread.html 

o   REVIEW:  The crockpot chicken recipe was delicious and different than most of the typical creamy dishes that I end up making in the crockpot.  I added celery and mushrooms to the recipe because I am a sucker for veggies.  I didn’t have Italian dressing on hand, so I made my own powder mix which I then mixed with oil and vinegar and added it to the crockpot.  The Italian dressing recipe made more powder than needed, so I have it saved in a little container in the spice cupboard for future use.  The bread was different enough, and very simple that I would probably make it again as well.

o   Did we like it?  Yes.  Will I make it again?  Yes.

o   CHANGES:  I made my own dressing to add to the crockpot chicken. ITALIAN DRESSING RECIPE: 

·         1 tbs garlic salt

·         1 tbs onion powder

·         1 tbs white sugar

·         2 tbs dried oregano

·         1 tbs black pepper

·         1 tbs dried basil

·         1 tbs dried parsley (which I didn’t add bc I didn’t have it)

·         ¼ tbs celery salt

·         2 tbs salt

Use 1-2 tbs of the mixture and add to ¼ c white vinegar, 2/3 c oil (veg or canola), and 2 tbs water.  *Store the rest of the seasonings in a dry, sealed container.

·         Chicken Fajitas

o   REVIEW:  A staple in our house since it is so easy and we often have the ingredients on hand.

·         CHEAP AND EASY:  Tuna Melts and Kraft Mac and Cheese

o   REVIEW:  Really!?!?!  Yes, we always enjoy our cheap and easy meal!  J

·         Macaroni and Beef and Cheese 

o   http://ruhlman.com/2010/05/macaroni-and-beef-with-cheese-%E2%80%94-childhood-love/

o   REVIEW:  I actually made this dish after work (which was a concern because I was pushing time to get it done for dinner).  I got the meat browned and tossed it all together pretty quickly and then was able to sit down and play with my daughter for a bit before dinner time while it cooked in the oven.  Overall, we enjoyed this for two nights in a row.  I changed the spices; I just couldn’t decide what flavor I wanted, so I made it up!  It was great.  My husband said that the meat tasted like meat pie. 

o   Did we like it? YES!  Will I make it again?  YES!

o   CHANGES:

·         SPICES:  I added 1 tbs salt, 2 tbs chili powder, 2 tbs dried basil, 1 tbs cumin, and 1 tbs curry powder was added to the browning meat.
  

·         Dessert: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Crust Pie

o   http://www.restlesschipotle.com/2012/03/peanut-butter-pie-with-pretzel-crust/

o   REVIEW:  OH MY GOSH!!  This pie is killer!!  I made it and took it to a friend’s house for dinner.  Everyone loved it!  It is so worth making and really wasn’t difficult.  SO WORTH IT!!!