Menu Monday. Or Tuesday.

I'm linking up this week with my friend Rachel's Menu Monday! Every week, I want to do this, and every week, I don't get around to it. With Labor Day being today, Tyler is home and Griffin is worn out from a morning at the zoo, so I have a bit more free time. We've had some delicious meals lately and I want to share them with you. These are a few meals that we've had over the last few weeks. Maybe one of these days I'll get my act together and actually post the past week's meals!

Salmon Salad

A few years ago, my girlfriends in my small group put together a cookbook. It's one of my very favorites. This recipe for salmon salad is in there, compliments of Katie, and I've just never made it. The other girls have talked about how amazing it is and I just have overlooked it time and time again. Well... I finally made it and we had it twice within about 10 days. It is SO good and good for you. You don't need any sides because of all the goodness that is packed in. I promise I will post the recipe soon. Now I'm sad that it isn't on the menu for this week!

20-40 Garlic Clove Chicken and Parmesan Quinoa

Crockpot 365 is one of my favorite cooking blogs, especially since I'm a busy mom now. This was an easy meal to throw together and it was pretty yummy. Griffin loved this chicken-- he ate two whole legs! I forgot to put the onions in the bottom, but we didn't miss them. I also bought a jar of the peeled garlic cloves in the produce section and used probably 28ish cloves. It wasn't overly garlic-y. The quinoa was good too! I used Trader Joe's quinoa and before throwing the quinoa into the pot, I sauteed some chopped onion and minced garlic with some olive oil. When the quinoa was done, I added a little fresh grated Parmesan cheese. It was good! The next day, I shredded the chicken and added it to the leftover quinoa for lunch. Delicious!

Grilled Dijon Chicken Thighs and Corn Saute

Speaking of my favorite cooking blogs, you must head over STAT to The Dough Will Rise Again. This is probably my current favorite food blog and I visit their site every week when I'm menu planning, no joke. Crist and Tina are excellent cooks and bakers, and they're funny to boot. You've GOT to add this one to your reader. Anyway, this Dijon chicken marinade is to die for and it's my new go-to. We love dark meat, so we popped a few thighs on the grill. That corn saute is so, so yummy! I just sauteed a chopped zucchini and 1/2 of a chopped onion in olive oil until softened. Then, I threw in two ears of corn (cut off the cob) with some salt and pepper. Once I pulled it off the heat, I threw in some quartered cherry tomatoes. Tyler LOVED this and we've had it a lot over the past few weeks. The mac and cheese was Griffin's supper leftovers-- Annie's Four Cheese Elbows. That is some good stuff right there.

Angie's Ribs and Molly's Twice Baked Potatoes (and Corn Saute, again!)

We LOVED these ribs-- another crockpot meal! Angie was talking about them on Twitter one day and I knew we had to have them. They were easy and fell off the bone. Here's her recipe that I used. Take 3 lbs of baby back ribs and cut them to fit in your crockpot. Rub the ribs with salt, pepper, and Dijon mustard. Mix 10 oz. of cherry jelly (I pureed cherry preserves since I had them in my fridge) with 1 cup of BBQ sauce. Top ribs with the mixture and cook on low for 5-6 hours (my crockpot cooks HOT so it only took me 4.5 hours).

We had Molly's twice baked potatoes on the side, which are so delicious and easy! I can't find the link to the recipe all of a sudden, but once I do, I will link back to it. And of course, we had the corn saute again. So yummy.

So, there you have it! I promise to post that salmon salad recipe this week. That is one you will DEFINITELY want to make soon. Thanks for the fun link up, Rach! I hope I'll be back sharing meals with you all next week. Let's see if I actually get my act together. 

Meal Plan Monday

Hey-- I actually got this posted on Monday this week! I am ahead of the game... for once. Something I have realized is that I haven't a blessed clue how working moms do life. I am in awe of them-- super women, really. I can barely take care of myself and my husband. If you are a working mom-- I commend you on about 5 different levels. You are my hero.

Now, onto the food. Yum.

Last week, my friend Hayley (check out her new blog endeavor-- you won't be sorry!) left a comment saying that she also meal plans, but doesn't plan on a specific meal for a specific night. I am going to put that into practice this week and just cook whatever strikes my fancy within the meals I have already planned. I am excited for the new recipes this week!

Meal 1: PW's Meatballs and Sweet Potato Fries (recipe to follow)

Meal 2: Broccoli Beef with Brown Rice

Meal 3: PW's Linguine with Clam Sauce (recipe in her cookbook) and Green Salad

Meal 4: Katie Lee's Red Snapper Veracruzana with Green Salad

Meal 5: Leftovers or go out to eat

The meatballs just came out of the oven and my sweet potato fries are just finishing up. Everything smells amazing! The meatballs were a little labor intensive, but not terrible. My sweet potato fries are very easy and delicious. I got the recipe from my aunt and we love eating them with meat dishes.

Sweet Potato Fries

4 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into wedges
2 T. olive oil
3 T. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine potato wedges with the olive oil, brown sugar, and nutmeg in a plastic Ziploc bag. Shake to coat. Spread on a cookie sheet.

Bake for 20 minutes. Turn and bake for about 20 more minutes. Keep an eye on them so that they don't burn. Sprinkle with salt and pepper when they come out.

Mmmm. Can't wait to eat these! They are soooo yum. Oh, and before I say goodbye for the evening, let me just say that the gumbo from last week was AMAZING. If you like gumbo, I would strongly recommend trying the recipe that I listed last week. If you haven't ever tried gumbo, this is the time.

And this final bit has nothing to do with food, but it does have to do with one of my other loves: reading. Oh, boy, do I love to read and spend time in libraries, but if you've read this blog for any length of time, that comes as no surprise.

I thought it might be fun to use the blog to chronicle my eclectic reading tastes in 2010. Currently, the first book I am slated to finish in 2010 is The Real Real by the authors of one of my favorite novels, The Nanny Diaries. I am just about half-way through, but I have to say that I'm not loving it as I thought I would. Next up is Witch & Wizard by James Patterson. Sometimes, his stuff can get a little weird, so I am prepared to put down the book if I need to. I'd love book recommendations, too!

Alright, I've got a hungry man who wants some food. Later, ya'll.

Meal Plan Monday (on Tuesday... ha!)

Well, I'm no Mandy, but I do have my meal plan for the week. I'm going to try to do this weekly... emphasis on the word try. I find that I save a lot more money and time if I plan what I'm making each week and shop for it on Sunday, save a few of the fresh items. Tyler and I have also started this new game where we decide at the end of the meal if it is "recipe card worthy" or not. At the end of 2010, I want to make a book of our favorite recipes so far. I'm excited for this! I am also taking recipe suggestions and if you know of a good place online to "make" a cookbook, I would appreciate the information! I will try to let you know each week how things worked out and whether I am going to put the recipe in my book.

Sunday-- Crockpot Tilapia in Foil Packets (adapted for the oven), Wild Rice, and Salad with Homemade Dressing & Croutons-- We didn't love this, but we did like it. Before putting it on a card, I am going to try it in the slow cooker. There was a lot of lemon juice.

Monday-- Pioneer Woman's Pot Roast with Mashed Potatoes and Salad-- Amazing. Simply amazing. Definitely going on a card.

Tuesday-- Taco Soup (recipe below) and Refried Beans-- Already on a card!

Wednesday-- Chili with Homemade Cornbread (recipe to come-- SOOO good!)-- Both the soup and cornbread are already card worthy!

Thursday-- Crockpot Gumbo with Brown Rice and Salad

Friday-- To be determined aka probably eat out with friends


I have Taco Soup in my crockpot at home today. This stuff is so delicious and I especially love it on a cold winter day. I got the recipe from my sweet friend, Caitlin, and thought you all might like it too!

Taco Soup

1 can black beans, with juice
1 can pinto beans, with juice
1 can corn, with juice
1 can Ro-Tel
1 packet taco seasoning
1 packet dry ranch dressing
2 1/2 cups water
1 lb ground beef, browned with chopped onion and garlic

Throw it all in your crockpot and cook on low for 4-5 hours. Serve with blue corn chips, Fritos, shredded cheese, sour cream, etc.

That's it! It is sooooo good; I promise you'll love it! And if you don't know what Ro-Tel is, then I pity you. Go find some at your grocery store today. That is a command, not a suggestion.

Most of the other recipes are found in PW's cookbook and the Crockpot 365 cookbook. I got both for Christmas and have already marked my "to try" recipes in both. I would recommend both of these books if you like to cook! You can also follow their blogs here and here.

Bon Appetit! Sometimes, I remind myself so much of Julia Child... or not.