Menu Planning Monday

 So, I read this lady's blog who is trying to save money on groceries this year: Mom'scrazycooking.blogspot.com  
Her goal is to spend $150 per week on groceries.  I'm curious... How much does your family spend on groceries?
I have been feeling that we are spending way too much money on food here at our house so, my goal for the month of March is to spend $100 a week for groceries. This is for food only- no non food items included.   I have a freezer full of meat so, $100 per week should be do-able... I think???  I guess we will see!  Check back next Monday to see if I met my goal for the week!

Here is a look at what we will be eating this week:

Orange Chicken and Mashed Potatoes

Chinese Chicken Salad

Steak Burritos

Yukon Potato and Rosemary Soup/ Lion House Rolls

Pasta with Potato Sauce Alla Decaro/Side Salad/Breadsticks

I am also planing to make these yummy treats:

Smores Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
Brunch Cornbread with Lime Butter
Cinnamon Rolls

Lemon Glazed Biscuits

Recipe from studio5.ksl.com

Ingredients:

• 2 cans large biscuit dough
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 
zest from one lemon


• Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1 tablespoon butter or margarine, softened

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 
4-5 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Method:

Spray 9X13" pan with non-stick cooking spray. Cut each biscuit into fourths. Place in pan in a single layer but touching. Combine sugar and lemon peel. Sprinkle over all and bake at 350°F 25-30 minutes.
***Mine actually took a little longer than this -check to make sure the biscuits in the center are cooked and not doughy!

Combine glaze ingredients and frost biscuits while warm and serve.

Rate It!
Jen: 8
Kile: 8.5
Kiley: 8
Madee: 7.5
Destrie: good

Huevos Rancheros

 Ingredients:

• 12 (5-inch) flour tortillas
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup prepared chunky  salsa, divided
• 3/4 cup cooked black beans
• 12 eggs
• 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
• 1/2 cup sour cream

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Microwave the tortillas for 30 seconds to 1 minute- to make them easy to work with.
Cut off the outer edge of each tortilla and remove so that the tortillas fit snugly into the muffin tin cups. Brush both sides of the tortillas lightly with the melted butter and sprinkle with salt. Press the tortillas into the muffin tin, creating little tortilla cups.

In a small bowl, mix half the salsa with the black beans and season with salt and pepper. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of the black bean mixture into each tortilla cup. Crack an egg into each of the eight cups. Bake until barely set, about 8 minutes. Top with cheese, cover with aluminum foil, and then bake for 6 to 7 minutes more. To serve, spoon the sour cream and remaining salsa on top of the eggs.

*Recipe from Food Network-
10$ dinners with Melissa d'Arabian

Rate It!
Jen: 8
Kile: 7.5
*the kids did not like these...

Egg Rolls

Recipe and Photos from theplannertheprocrastinator.blogspot.com

Ingredients:
2 packs of fresh egg roll wrappers
fresh bean sprouts (rinsed)
6 napa cabbage leaves-cut into thin strips
2 cloves garlic minced
3 scallions-chopped
1 lb of ground beef
salt, pepper, and soy sauce to taste

Directions:
Cook the ground beef- making sure it is finely chopped.  When meat is cooked add the bean sprouts and cabbage.  Cook about 5 minutes.  Add scallions and garlic.  Add salt and pepper and soy sauce. Cook for a couple minutes.  Transfer mixture to a strainer and let juice drain.
Grab a small bowl of water and get your pack of egg roll wrappers. Turn them so the look like a diamond. Put a small amount of mixture inside. Probably 2 tablespoons of filling.
Put some water on the top two sides of your diamond.  Roll up the egg roll like this

At this point they can either be frozen or fried. If you decide to freeze them, leave them on your tray and let them get frozen before throwing them into a ziploc bag. Otherwise they will stick together.  Make sure to lay them out to defrost or as they are defrosting they will stick together.

To fry- add egg rolls to oil -seam side down and cook till golden brown- turning as needed.  Drain on paper towels and serve with soy sauce, sweet and sour dipping sauce, or spicy mustard.

Rate It!
Jen: 8.5
Kile 8.5
Kiley: 8.5
Madee: 8
Destrie; good

Menu Planning Monday

Here is a look at what we will be eating this week.  The family is taking a break from picking this week- although both of the girls did request Red and White Pasta. If you haven't tried this yet- you should!  It has become a staple here at our house...yummy, comforting, quick and easy.  Have a great week.

Red and White Pasta
Egg Rolls and Egg Drop Soup
Beef Fajitas
Huevos Rancheros
Pierogi Beef Skillet

I am also hoping to make:
Strawberry Bread
Glazed Lemon Biscuits

French Dip Sandwiches in the Crockpot

Recipe adapted slightly from Our Best Bites

Photo from Our Best Bites

1  3-4 pound beef roast

salt and pepper

2  1 oz packages Lipton Onion Soup mix

4  C hot water

2  beef bullion cubes

8  rolls   

Mozzarella Cheese Slices (optional)

softened butter

 Sprinkle your roast with salt and pepper and place it in the crock pot.  

 Sprinkle the Onion Soup mix over the top. 

 Let your bullion cubes dissolve in the hot water and then pour it over the roast.

 Put the lid on your crock and cook on high for 6-8 hours. Take the roast out and shred it up with a fork about 1 hour before you are ready to serve. Put the shredded beef back in the crock and let it cook in all the juices for the last hour.

 Spread just a bit of softened butter on your rolls. Toast them on a griddle. Then add the meat and some cheese. 

 Pour the hot juices left in the crock into small bowls for dipping.

Rate It!

Jen: 8

Kile: 9

Kiley: 7

Madee: 6.5

Destrie: good

Candy Bar Cake

 Photo from Your Homebased Mom


*Recipe adapted slightly from My Kitchen Cafe

Ingredients
1 C packed light brown sugar
1/2 C granulated sugar
2 C flour
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, softened
1 C buttermilk
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
5 full sized Milky Way bars, chopped-(I used 3)
(original recipe used 5 Heath bars)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9X13-inch pan and set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together the sugars, flour and butter. Crumble these ingredients together with a pastry blender, until the mixture is crumbly and coarse. Set aside 1/2 cup of the crumbs to a small bowl. In another bowl combine the remaining crumbs, the buttermilk, egg, vanilla, baking soda and salt. Mix well.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing it to the edges. Sprinkle the top of the cake with the reserved crumbs and chopped Milky Way bars. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the center is no longer gooey.

Rate It!
Jen: 8
Kile: 7.5
Kiley: 9
Madee: 8
Destrie: good

Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwiches

Recipe and Photo from Real Mom Kitchen

• 3 cups cooked chicken, diced
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 1 green onion, diced
• 4 hard boiled eggs, diced
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup Miracle Whip
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup cashews
• lettuce leaves
• 10-12 large croissants

1. Mix chicken, celery, onion, eggs, mayo, Miracle Whip, lemon juice, and salt together.
2. Slice open croissants and on one half of croissant place a piece of lettuce followed by the chicken mixture.
3. Then sprinkle with cashews and top with over half of croissant.  Repeat until all croissants are filled.

Rate It!
Jen: 7.5
Kile: 7.5
Kiley: 6.5
Madee: 6
Destrie: good

Spam and Cheddar Cheese Melts

You have all heard of Spam right?  Ham in a can...sounds delightful doesn't it?  In case you can't tell, I'm kidding. Ham in a can...kind of weird.   Anyway, I grew up eating the following recipe and it's really pretty good.  It's super easy to make and most of these ingredients are things that I always have on hand... minus the Spam, that was a special purchase!

Ingredients:
1 can Spam
2 hard boiled eggs-diced
2 Tbsp. dill pickles-diced
2 green onions-sliced
1/2 tsp. mustard
1 c. grated cheddar cheese
4 Tbsp. mayonaise
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Break up Spam with a fork, add all ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine.  Spoon mixture on to hard rolls.  Place in a hot oven until cheese is melted.
Rate It!
Jen: 7
Kile: 7
Kiley: 6
Madee: 7
Destrie: not good

Carmel Popcorn

*Recipe from my mom-DeeAnne Godfrey
Ingredients:
3 bags microwave popcorn
1 cup white Karo syrup
2 cups brown sugar
2 cubes butter
1 tsp. soda

Directions:
Pop 3 bags of microwave popcorn.
Put each bag of popped corn in a bowl and separate the popcorn and the old maids. Put all the popcorn in a big bowl and set aside.
In a pot add  karo syrup and  brown sugar---stir together over medium heat till mixed then, bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute,
Add  butter, stir until melted--add soda and stir well. .
Pour over  popcorn.

Rate It!
Jen: 9
Kile: 7.75
Kiley: 8
Madee:
Destrie: good

Menu Planning Monday

This week is "Sandwich" week here at Recipe Reviews With Jen.  Following is a look at the sandwiches we will be eating this week.

Jen: Spam and Cheddar Cheese Melt
Kile: French Dip
Kiley: California Cheese Club Grill
Madee: Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwich
Destrie: Peanut Butter Sandwiches

Barbeque Cheddar Bacon Meatballs

 Ingredients:
1 pound of ground beef
1 package of onion soup mix
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup of shredded carrots
dash of Cajun seasoning, salt and pepper

1/2 cup of bacon bits
1 c. cheddar cheese
2 tbsp reduced fat milk
2 tbsp flour

1/2 to 3/4 cup of barbecue sauce, any kind - whatever your favorite is

Directions:
Set your slow cooker to low heat while preparing the meatballs.  Mix the onion soup mix and beaten egg in a large bowl.  Place your ground beef, carrots, seasoning, salt and pepper in bowl.  Mix the ingredients well with a large spoon.   Set aside.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour and milk.  Stir until smooth.  Then add the shredded cheese and bacon bits.  Blend well.  Shape these into smaller round cheese balls.  Then you will place the other meat and carrot mixture around the cheese-bacon ball.    Continue doing this until all of your ingredients are used up.
Place meatballs in slow cooker.  Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
When the tops are nicely browned, you know they are almost ready.  
During the last half hour of slow cooking, add the barbecue sauce.  Just pour it over the tops of the meatballs and spread it out evenly. Serve on top of cooked egg noodles
*Recipe adapted from Learn, Laugh,Cook

Rate It!
Jen:  7
Kile:  6
Kiley:  7.5
Madee:  7.5
Destrie:  Good.

Menu Planning Monday

We are just getting back to normal after having a busy fun filled weekend.  With all the craziness, I failed to find out what the fam's picks were to eat this week.  Now, here it is Monday morning and I have no menu plan.  So, I guess we will just figure it out as we go this week.  I have several bread recipes that I want to try, so check back for those and I will also be posting the treats I mentioned last week.  Have a great day and if you have any great dinner ideas- send the idea my way.

*Bread Recipes I'm trying this week:

Breadsticks
Peasant Bread
Lion House Rolls

Ham Fried Rice

* Recipe and Photo from Jamie Cooks It Up

1 small onion

1/2 package mushrooms

3 carrots

2 green onions

1 T garlic

4 C cold rice

2 T olive oil, divided

2 T soy sauce

1 1/2 C chopped ham

1 t sugar

1/2 t sesame oil

2 eggs

salt and pepper to taste

1. Chop up your veggies and ham.

2. Heat up a large skillet and add 1 T olive oil, garlic, onions, carrots and mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until crisp tender, about 7 minutes. 

3. Add 1 T olive oil, cold rice, soy sauce, ham, sugar and sesame oil. Stir well to incorporate all of the ingredients together. Stir and cook until all of the rice is heated through and starts to brown just a bit.

4. Put eggs into a separate bowl and whisk them up, just like you would do if you were making scrambled eggs. Push rice mixture to the side of the pan. Then pour the egg into the side of the pan. Stir the eggs around until they are cooked, then stir them into the rice mixture. Taste a bit and add salt and pepper to your liking.

5. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the green onions. Serve and enjoy!

Rate It!

Jen:  8
Kile: 8
Kiley: 7.5
Madee: 7
Destrie: GOOD!  He had 4 servings of this!!!

Won Tons and Dipping Sauce

Recipe and Photo from Jamie Cooks It Up

Won tons

Filling:

1/4 head green cabbage

1 onion

1-2 large carrots

1/2 T ginger

3/4 t salt

1/2 t red pepper flakes

1/2 lb ground beef

1/4 t black pepper

1-2 cloves garlic

1 egg

Shells:

1 50 count pkg won ton wrappers (found in the produce section)

flour and water (1 part flour to 2 parts water)

Dipping Sauce:

1 C rice vinegar

1/2 C soy sauce

1 t red pepper flakes

1 t sesame oil

1/2 t toasted sesame seeds (optional)

1/2 C sugar

*Leftover sauce will keep for 2 months in the fridge and is good on rice.

1. Chop the veggies up super small. 

2. Mix the veggies, seasonings, and hamburger together. Add the egg and mix well.

3. Mix the flour and water together to make a paste.

4. Lay four won ton wrappers out at a time in a square. Dip your finger in the paste and then coat the inside edges of the wrappers with it.

5. Place about 1 T of mixture on won ton wrapper.

6. Fold the edges of each wrapper together, and press so the paste has a chance to seal. Repeat with all wrappers. of meat mixture into the center of each wrapper.

7. In a large skillet heat 1 T olive oil. Fry the won tons over medium heat (covered) for about 5-6 minutes. Remove the lid, turn the won tons over and cook for another 5-6 minutes (uncovered)
8. After all the won tons are cooked, pour the Dipping Sauce ingredients into the hot fry pan. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Let it heat through for about 2 minutes. Pour into a serving dish and you are ready to eat. 

Rate It!

Jen: 8

Kile: 7

Kiley: 7.5

Madee: 7.5

Destrie: ok

Breadsticks

Recipe and photo from Sisters Cafe

Ingredients:
1 ½ cup warm water
1 Tablespoon yeast
2 Tablespoons sugar
3 ½ cup flour
½ tsp salt
Butter for pan
*salt, garlic powder, parmesan cheese, parsley

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar and let it sit and bubble for a few minutes. Add the salt and flour. Knead for 3 minutes. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes.  Melt 3-4 Tbsp of butter and pour most of it onto a cookie sheet. Roll dough to cover cookie sheet. Cut to desired width, then twist and lay  on cookie sheet. Brush remainder of butter on breadsticks and sprinkle with garlic salt, parmesan cheese, and parsley (or whatever seasonings you like). Raise for 10-20 minutes. Preheat your oven to 375 and bake for 20 minutes, or until golden.

Rate It!
Jen: 8.5
Kile: 8
Kiley: 8
Madee: 7.5
Destrie: Good!