Menu Monday - Day Late, Dollar Short
I'm beginning to suspect that I should have just made it Menu Tuesday, but it doesn't flow off the tongue as well.
So - this week, we've added several activities to our family schedule, and I've got even less time to make elaborate presentations. The temptation is very strong to serve sandwiches every night.
But there's no fun in that! We've had a bite in the air lately, and I've started craving some of my favorite fall comfort foods. While I'm not ready to abandon watermelon and corn on the cob yet, I'm ready for some warm, hearty one-dish suppers. I just have to remember to eat a small serving, with healthy sides.
I'm going to raid my pantry this week, and make do with some of the groceries we've had hanging around. Once a month or so, I like to drag all those unloved packages and cans forward, and see what I can make of them. So - without further ado - my Day Late and Dollar Short Menu for this week:
Wednesday: Crockpot chili with watermelon and french bread
Basically, I'm going to be sweating a chopped onion and a few cloves of garlic in olive oil, and then dumping it into the crockpot with a large can of diced tomatoes, a few cans of whatever beans I have on hand, and adding some chopped bell pepper, celery, carrots, and some cumin and chili powder. I'll season it to taste before serving, and top it with sour cream or grated cheddar cheese.
Thursday: Creamed corn casserole, steamed green beans and sliced apples
This is one of my favorites: saute one chopped yellow onion in one stick of butter. Once the onions are soft and fragrant, pour butter and onion into a 9x11 pan and spread evenly. Mix one regular can of creamed corn with one box of Jiffy corn muffin mix (or make your own corn muffin dry mix) and add one can of corn kernels, drained. Add an egg and then spread this blended mixture over the butter and onions in the pan. Carefully spread a thin layer of sour cream over the corn muffin mixture, and then top with cheddar cheese and bake until the muffin mix is set and the cheese is nicely browned. You can double the amount of the middle mixture if you want it breadier. (So two cans creamed corn, two boxes of mix, two eggs, two cans kernels...)
Friday: Chicken and rice casserole with sauteed red bell peppers and eggplant
So, this is something my mom made, and my kids raved about. Recipe will have to be obtained from Grandma.
Saturday: Baked oatmeal with sausage and homemade applesauce
This recipe is Carmen's - and I swear to God that it is addictive. I'll have to ration myself so that I don't eat the whole pan in one sitting. Because it is THAT GOOD. I'll update this post once I lay hands on it.
Sunday: Baked tilapia with baked potatoes and tossed salad
Yeah, well. I'm winging this one. I'll have specific information after I cook it.
That's the plan - do you guys miss having me do the grocery lists? I can easily add those - I was never sure if anyone was using them.
I want to know - what are your default meals for those days when you are crazy busy? Do you even try to cook, or is it takeout all the way? I'm looking for quick and easy... and healthy.
Comments
omlettes with whatever frozen veggies I can find on the side is the staple emergency dinner in this side. Your menus are so much more exciting than anything that gets served up around here.
Posted by: sher | August 30, 2006 12:25 AM
I'm new here so I never saw it before but I would love a grocery list. Like Sher said, dinner looks way more exciting at your house.
Posted by: Laura | August 30, 2006 5:52 AM
Baked black bean enchiladas, all the way. Saute an onion and whatever likely veggies you've got (mushrooms, corn, red pepper, spinach, options are open but those are the ones usually found lurking in our fridge). Throw in a rinsed can of black beans and whatever spices you want. Roll up the mixture into flour or corn tortillas (I prefer corn, myself) and put into a baking pan. Top with some salsa and shredded cheese, bake at 350 until cheese is brown and bubbly. A side salad and some avocado round it out.
You got your protein, your veggies, and some grains all in there. We make this all the time, because it's so flexible and tasty.
Posted by: CK | August 30, 2006 8:41 AM
I wish I were able to throw a few things together and have it turn out well like you do, Jenny! Everything you've planned sounds so good. And I can't wait to see what that baked oatmeal dish is.
BTW, I saw that Starbucks is advertising its PSL and boy do I want one! I wish they had a skinnier alternative.
Posted by: surcie | August 31, 2006 11:42 AM
I wish I were able to throw a few things together and have it turn out well like you do, Jenny! Everything you've planned sounds so good. And I can't wait to see what that baked oatmeal dish is.
BTW, I saw that Starbucks is advertising its PSL and boy do I want one! I wish they had a skinnier alternative.
Posted by: surcie | August 31, 2006 11:45 AM