Let's Cook Meal Plan: February 23 - February 28

You know I was all kinds of excited when I saw that Cooking Light magazine had named the latest issue the Family Dinner Issue.  First Lady, Michelle Obama, and her Let's Move program were featured in the magazine.  Cooking Light has partnered with Let's Move! and created Let's Cook!  They claim that the recipes are more practical for busy families, low in cost and take less than 30 minutes.  Right up my alley.  Challenge Accepted, Cooking Light!

What we are having for dinner this week:

Sunday: Cook's Test Recipe - Seared Flank Steak with Mustard and Chive Butter, Roasted New Potatoes and Asparagus

You will definitely want to be on the look out for this steak recipe.  It blew away our expectations.

Quick Side Dish Recipes:

Roasted New Potatoes Recipe - I put the potatoes in a 9x9 dish.  Covered them with a package of onion soup mix and some EVOO.  Microwaved them for 10 minutes and finished them in the oven at 450 degrees for another 15 - 20 minutes.  Until a knife could go in easily.

Roasted Asparagus - Sprinkle with salt and EVOO and put next to potatoes in the oven until done to your liking.

Monday: School Fundraiser at Panera Bread
As a reference for the Let's Cook meals, priced this meal on the Panera website to be around $25 for the four of us.  The girls had soup in a bread bowl and hubby and I had You pick 2 meals.

Tuesday: Let's Cook! Chicken, Broccoli and Brown Rice Casserole

Picture from My Recipes

I priced this around $12.
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Wednesday: Let's Cook! Two Bean Vegetarian Chili

I price this around $5.  What?! $1.25 a person.  Put away the ramen.
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Thursday: Let's Cook! Parmesan Chicken Breast Tenders

I cheated on this one.  I had everything on hand expect the parmesan cheese.  Total cost for me = $2.50
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Friday: Let's Cook! One-Pot Pasta with Spinach & Tomatoes

I actually came in a few dollars under the magazine on this one.
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Saturday: Dinner at American Girl to celebrate my youngest birthday.


Cooking Light is not compensating me for this post.  Check back in to see what we thought.

Meal Plan: February 15 - February 21

This week is the first week of Lent.  And what happens before Lent?  Mardi Gras!!  This week will be all things New Orleans! I am going to make some of our favorite New Orleans foods and end the week with seeing my favorite New Orleanian, Harry Connick Jr.!!!

Sunday - Left Overs

Monday - Jambalaya

Recipe from My Recipes

Tuesday - Pancakes for Shrove Tuesday
Don't forget to get your Kinklings or Fasnachts! What ever you may call them.

Wednesday - Shrimp Po' Boys

Adapted from my slider recipe...

Ingredients

1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp
Louisiana Fish Fry Products Fish Fry
Louisiana Fish Fry Products Remoulade Dressing or Mayonnaise
Romaine Lettuce - ripped to small pieces
Roma Tomatoes - sliced
Red Onion - sliced
Hoagie Rolls or Baguette
Peanut or Vegetable Oil

Instructions

1. Follow instructions for frying the shrimp on the back of the Fish Fry bag. a. Cover the shrimp with fish fry.
b. Fry in oil
2. Place Remoulade Sauce on bottom of sandwich roll
3. Place two fried shrimp on top the sauce
4. Top shrimp with lettuce, tomato and onion
5. Cover with top layer of sandwich roll
Thursday - Chicken Parmesan Casserole

Recipe from Emily Bites

Friday - One last night of dress rehearsals = Something; sometime

Saturday - Harry Connick Jr. Concert!!

What are you giving up for Lent?

Meal Plan: February 8th - February 14th

Happy Valentine's Day!  We are all set for the school parties.  The valentines are signed and snacks have been delivered to the school.  We are even set for a little party at the house.

This is what we are having for dinner this week:

Sunday: Chicken Scaloppine With Pesto with Asparagus Orzo
I gave in to being over tired last week and took a night off from cooking.  This was a winner last night.

Chicken Recipe from Weight Watchers  
4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup marsala wine
2 tablespoons pesto
4 slices part-skim mozzarella cheese

Monday: Potato Pasta Kielbasa Skillet 
Recipe from Taste of Home
So I used the potatoes that were bought for this recipe to make Chocolate covered Potato Chips.  Whoops!  I raided the pantry and used ditalini pasta as a stand in.  Still delicious.

Tuesday: Taco Tuesday

Wednesday: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Thursday: Black Bean Enchiladas - Second baking dish; Frozen
Recipe from Wegmans

Friday: Dress Rehearsal Part 2: Subway

Saturday: Papa Murphy's Heart Pizza, Cupcakes and Chocolate covered strawberries

Meal Plan: February 1 - February 7

It's Super Bowl Sunday!  As Patriots fans we are very excited for tonight's game!  I am also celebrating the fact that January is over!  Whew! I thought it was supposed to be March that came in like a lion.  January made me want to run and hide back in 2014.  Even though it is a Hallmark holiday, I am going to take comfort in the fact that Valentine's Day is this month and focus on doing all things will love... and joy and understanding.

Here's what we are having this week:

Sunday: Walking Tacos, Clean Eating Chicken Wings and Mozzarella Sticks
Walking Taco Recipe from Dine and Dash
Wings Recipe from The Gracious Pantry

Monday: Chef Salads - Using up the Virginia ham from the church State Dinner.

Tuesday: Stir Fry

Wednesday: Pulled Pork BBQ and Cole Slaw

Quick Cole Slaw1lb Bag of Cole Slaw mix1 cup Marzetti Original Slaw Dressing1/8 tsp celery seed1 tsp sesame oil (optional but delicious)

Thursday: Chicken Scaloppine With Pesto with Asparagus Orzo
Chicken Recipe from Weight Watchers  
4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup marsala wine
2 tablespoons pesto
4 slices part-skim mozzarella cheese


Friday: Pizza at Dance Dress Rehearsal

Saturday: Black Bean Burritos
Recipe from Wegmans
So good it's hard not to eat the whole pan.