American Antipasto

When planning our meals for Christmas Day I decided to keep lunch simple.  We are usually so stuffed from breakfast that we can't even think about eating again but I wanted to offer something to keep our blood sugar up.  During my planning I saw an episode of Barefoot Contessa where Ina Garten made a Ploughman's Lunch from London. 

Picture from Food Network

The Ploughman's lunch reminded me of an Italian Antipasto spread.  An Antipasto platter that usually has cured meats such as salami, olives, artichoke hearts, mozzarella, roasted red peppers and breadsticks. I love it but my kids would not eat most of it so I shy away from making it.  So I came up with the idea of turning our normal spread into one simple platter. (See how my brain worked there)  It was perfect for the five of us.

American Antipasto
1/2 small stick of Summer Sausage, sliced and cut slices in half
1/2 block of Cheddar, cubed
Crackers - Use your favorite.  I used Stone Ground wheat crackers and Whole Grain Saltines
1/2 log of goat cheese
Hummus (Less Antipasto and more Mediterranean Mezze, I know but we all love it)
Almonds
Grapes
Grape Tomatoes
Baby Carrots
(I had pita chips too but forgot about them.)

I placed items on the platter that would pair well but you could do it however you wanted.

Pairing Ideas:
Summer Sausage and Cheddar
Cheddar and Crackers
Veggies and Hummus
Goat Cheese and Grapes
Grapes and Almonds

It totally hit the spot and took the edge off before dinner.  This would be great as a light lunch, part of a brunch or as an appetizer.

Mangia!

Meal Plan: December 29 - January 3

I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas.  This week is all about recuperating and enjoying the girls break from school and dance. AND celebrating the New Year!

Sunday - Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage

1 lb box of ziti noodles
16 oz of the Homemade Sauce we made for Christmas Eve
3 cups of shredded pizza cheese (mozzarella and provolone)
1 cup of shredded Parmesan

1/2 pound Italian Sausage

Quick Tip: Buy precooked sausage prepared by the grocery store.  Wegmans sells it in the prepared foods section with the pizza toppings.  It was half the cost and it was already cooked so meal prep was faster.

Monday - Leftovers from Saturday

Tuesday - Walking Tacos

Recipe from  Dine and Dish

Took me a few times to come up with using a bowl to help me add all the ingredients to the bags.

Wednesday - New Years Eve Party!

What is your favorite appetizer?

Thursday - Dinner with Friends; Watching Football  - Crusties (Pizza Rolls)

These were a favorite on my college campus.  The restaurant that sold them as since closed but the recipe is on Facebook.  

Friday - Lo Mein and Egg Rolls

Do pork egg rolls count as pork a sauerkraut?  What is your traditional New Years meal?  

Recipe from Wegmans

Saturday - BBQ Chicken Pizzas

Recipe from Cooking Light

Holiday Meal Plan: December 21 - December 27

Christmas is here!!  I feel like someone just told me there were 10 days until Christmas and now it is 3 days.  I'm totally almost ready.  Big shout out to Amazon Prime for helping make it all happen.  It's a life saver.

We are celebrating Christmas twice at our house.  Christmas Day with my mom and again on Saturday with my Dad and Stepmom.  This meal plan includes two totally doable and cost friendly holiday dinners.  

Happy Holidays!!

This is what we are having this week:

From MealBoard

Sunday - Chicken Nacho Dinner 
I used my Make-Ahead Chicken Recipe for these nachos. I cubed the chicken instead of shredding it.  I also added cumin. These were a great fit for football Sunday and an impromptu Family Game Night.  We played a cute game called Beat the Parents.  A great game for those that are addicted to Trivia Crack.
Recipe from Moms Who Think

Monday - Baked Ravioli
I made this last week and frozen one.  To reheat bake frozen at 350 for 1 hour or until bubbly.
Recipe from Tasty Kitchen

Tuesday - Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas w/ Chicken 
I baked extra chicken when I made the nachos to add this these enchiladas.  Since I'm doing a lot of cooking at the end of the week I decided to buy enchilada sauce instead of making the Ranchero Sauce recipe.  I went with Frontera Sauce because it is all natural and preservative free.
Recipe from Cooking Light

Wednesday - Homemade Sauce with Italian Sausage and Meatballs served over Rigatoni
This is another family vault recipe.  Basically it is sauce with the sausage and meatballs cooked in the sauce. ;)

Thursday - Pork Tenderloin, Hasselbeck Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, Tuscan Salad
Pork recipe from Southern Living
Potato recipe from Cooking Light
Brussels Sprouts recipe from a local restaurant - Ayse Meza
Tuscan Salad from Giada De Laurentiis - Green beans, Cannellini Beans, Black Olives

Pic from Cooking Light

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday - Turkey Breasts, Mashed Potatoes, Arkansas Green Beans, Mashed Butternut Squash
Roasted Honey-Brined Turkey Breasts Recipe from Wegmans
Make-ahead Mashed Potatoes Recipe from Betty Crocker
Arkansas Green Beans Recipe from AllRecipes.com
Maple Roasted Butternut Squash Mashed Recipe adapted from Skinny Taste

Meal Plan: December 14 - December 20

This meal plan was put together with the help of my husband.  The girls and I had a busy weekend of Christmas pageant rehearsal, a Bake-a-batch fundraiser, cookie baking, the actual pageant and our annual trip to see the Nutcracker.  What we didn't count on was the house getting sick.  So far we have stayed on track but it's just not in the cards tonight.

Here is what we are having/had for dinner:

Sunday - Baked Ravioli 
My friend came over for dinner with her daughters.  I wanted to make sure I made something they would enjoy so I consulted her Pinterest page.  Her girls had seconds so I say it was a hit. I also frozen an extra one for a quick dinner one night.
Recipe from: Tasty Kitchen

Monday - Illness really took over this night.  My hubby was down for the count and my carpool friend's daughter was sick.   Not wanting to start dinner at 7 we switched our Thursday plan of fast food to Monday.  The Subway app saved the day!  Dinner was ready when we walked in.

Tuesday - Skinny Sloppy Joes
It was made and then mom (me) threw in the towel and admitted I was sick.
Recipe info

Wednesday - It was supposed to be my favorite Cashew Chicken but no one feels like cooking tonight.

Thursday - Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
It's funny that I as I write this I'm watching Damaris make Homemade Tomato soup and Grilled Pimento Cheese Sandwiches.

What cheese do you use for grilled cheese sandwiches?

Friday - Looks like we don't have a plan.  Perhaps it will be the Cashew Chicken.

Dinner Meal Plan: December 7 - December 13

This past weekend was fun.  The girls had a blast at their Nutcracker parties.  I can't believe it is Tuesday already.  December is flying by!  We have more Nutcracker fun planned this weekend!  We see the show annually.

What's for dinner this week?

Exported from Mealboard.com

Sunday - BLTs 
Simple and quick Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwiches with oven cooked bacon.
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees f.
Lay cooling rack on a sheet pan.  Lay the bacon on the cooling rack and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the bacon it really crispy.  Dry on paper towels and serve.

Monday - Chicken Pesto Pasta

Ingredients:
2 Chicken Breasts
Bow of pasta choice - I used two to use two half full boxes we had in the house.
Store bought pesto - I used Wegmans pesto

Directions:
Cook the pasta according to the boxes instructions.
Sauté chicken in a pan while you cook the pasta.
Add the pasta to the pan with the chicken.
Stir in the pesto.

Tuesday - Taco Tuesday!

Wednesday - Tuna Melts

1. Brown muffins in toaster or broiler oven.
2. Make your Tuna Salad
3. Top each muffin with tuna with cheese. I use slices of cheddar or muenster.  
4. Broil 5 inches from heat until cheese melts and is a little bown.

Thursday - Beef and Broccoli and Snow Peas with Brown Rice

I'm not sure how I'm making this yet but I have a flank steak, snow peas and broccoli florets waiting for me to figure it out.

Friday - Sandwiches on the Go

I have a wedding at the church.  The girls have dance.  There is a Christmas parade and tree lighting in our downtown.  After the parade our church is having cookies and hot chocolate for the kids.  Here is a great crock pot hot chocolate recipe for occasions such as these.  

Saturday - We have a busy day with pageant rehearsal, a Bake-A-batch fundraiser, gingerbread house building and maybe some cookie baking soooo I'm thinking a good New York style pizza and laid back dinner will be in order. 

Tuna Fish Salad Fix

Tuna sandwiches and tuna melts are great for a quick weeknight dinner or lunch.  Here is an idea if you are looking for a mayonnaise substitute.  

Tarragon Tuna Fish Salad

Ingredients

• 1 can of Tuna, light in water
• 2 tbsp Tarragon Vinaigrette - bottled or recipe from 21 day fix book or here

Directions

1. Drain the tuna
2. Stir in the dressing
3. Eat and be Happy

21 Day Fixers: 1 red container; 1 orange container; 1 yellow container if you eat with crackers

Healthified Dunkin Donuts Cookie Lattes

Have you tried the new Sugar Cookie or Snickerdoodle Lattes from Dunkin Donuts?  They are very tasty and a nice change from the Peppermint Mocha's that usually come out for the holidays.  I still love my Peppermint Mocha but these cookie lattes are a welcomed addition to the latte rotation.

I loved them so much I set out to make an at home version without the use of the a flavor syrup.

Snickerdoodle Latte

Ingredients 

• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon (Or more to taste)
• 1 tsp Stevia
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract (Or more to taste)
• 1 cup Coffee
• 2 Tbl Low/Nonfat Milk

Directions

1. Place cinnamon, stevia and extract in coffee cup.
2. Add coffee.
3. Add milk.
4. Stir.

Sugar Cookie Latte

Ingredients 

• 1 tsp Brown Sugar (Or more to taste)*
• 1 tsp Stevia
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract (Or more to taste)
• 1 cup Coffee
• 2 Tbl Low/Nonfat Milk

* You can substitute 1 tsp honey and 1 tsp molasses for the brown sugar.

Directions

1. Place brown sugar, stevia and extract in coffee cup.
2. Add coffee.
3. Add milk.
4. Stir.