Saturday, August 29, 2009

September 2009 Menu

I have finally gotten back to posting the recipes that go along with my monthly menu. It wasn't even that hard or time consuming. We will be trying a new veggie Boboli recipe inspired by my friend Megan. I have tried to incorporate a lot more veggies in this month's menu. Maybe there were loads of veggies in the past months but this month there was a real effort to load up on them so hopefully you can see that. There are lots of new recipes that I am excited to try. Thanks to my sister-in-law I got a subscription to Cooking Light of which my friend Barb is a big fan. That magazine may be part of my inspiration to load up on veggies. The recipes look great and healthy. I used to have the mistaken belief that Cooking Light was for people who dieted and ate bland and uninspired meals. It is clearly not true. I have already recommended it to people looking for recipe ideas to feed their family healthy. I too am a big fan. Thanks sil!

September 2009 Recipes

1st: Italian Sausage Pasta

I just throw onions, peppers, garlic and whatever I have together with some Italian sausage and cans of tomato sauce and diced tomatoes (or fresh tomatoes from my garden if I am so lucky). Throw in some basil and whatever herbs I feel like and spread over pasta.



2nd: Roasted Corn, Pepper & Tomato Chowder w/ Grilled tomato/brie/arugula/spinach sandwiches
I didn't get around to the Chowder but I did try the brie sandwich. Why on earth did that sound good to begin with? Yuck. And this is coming from a familly that loves brie!



3rd: Veggie Pizza & Poor Man's Caviar

It really is so easy to make your own pizza crust if you have a food processor. I wouldn't have the time or patience to deal with it if it wasn't for the food processor. I have been gradually increasing the whole wheat flour in this recipe and it seems that I can get away with 1/2 white and 1/2 whole wheat. My husband LOVES the summer veggie medley. I cut way back on the oil, it just isn't necessary.



4th: Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta

Always a favorite:



















5th: Sirloin Steak w/ roasted fingerling potatoes & asparagus

My kids will NOT eat potatoes other than french fries. For some reason they think that fingerlings are near enough to french fries that they will eat them (dipped in ketchup of course).


8th: Thai Curry in the Crock

9th: Veggie Pasta
Basically I do the same thing as with the Italian Sausage version (see the 1st of the month) except I try to step up the variety of veggies and omit the meat.

11th: Manhattan fish chowder w/ corn bread

13th: Spicy Sweet & Sour Pork w/ broccoli over rice
I can seem to make a stir fry of any kind without loads of veggies. I am going to add broccoli and maybe some carrots and whatever else my fridge has or my budget permits.

15th: Slow-cooked tex-mex chicken & beans w/ wraps & salad fixings
We wrap the chicken and beans in flour tortillas with salad fixings (leaves, tomatoes, salsa) and sour cream (light of course).

16th: Pasta w/ sun-dried Tomato Pesto & Salad
This is the yummies and freshest and most simple thing ever. A definite keeper! I am too cheap to buy fresh pasta and it was wonderful on the box dried type.


17th: Hummus & Veggie Boboli Pizza
I am not sure if I can bring myself to buy pre-made pizza dough but I'll give it a try. Hopefully I will find a coupon. Anyone???
This was not a hit. I even warned the kids that it wasn't actual pizza but it was "salad pizza." It was "ok" with me but hubbie didn't even like it. I won't waste $$ on this again.


19th: Eggplant Parm x3 to freeze.
I swore last year when I made 4 or 5 of these meals to freeze that I would never do it again. It's such a pain. But it's so delicious that I can't help but make it and suffer for an afternoon.
Recipe courtesy Ann Shenk
Eggplant
Parmesan
Olive Oil
One eggplant
3 eggs
Bread Crumbs
Red Sauce
Mozzarella Cheese
Parmesan Cheese
Oregano
Salt
Slice eggplant into thin slices. Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Dip eggplant slices in whipped egg and then dip in breadcrumbs. Place the eggplant in skillet and cook for about ten minutes on both sides. Slices should be brown on both sides and soft in the middle.Cover the bottom of baking dish with sauce, and layer eggplant mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and oregano. Bake at 350 degrees for forty minutes. Enjoy!
Notes: 3 Large Eggplants made 4+ meals, maybe could have made 5, I threw some out and several got burnt and were tossed.

I baked my eggplant this time after dredging the slices in egg and breadcrumb/parmesan mix and it was great. Why on earth have I been wasting my time and calories on frying this? Never again. I took this healthier baked version to a pot luck and everyone raved about it.


20th: 3 Bean Chili x 5 for Freezer Friends
This has been a favorite recipe for years. I hope my FF like it.

21st: BBQ Chicken Zucchini Pizza
I just realized that I have that Boboli pizza scheduled 4 days before this one. They are totally different so maybe it'll work. I may try to space them out more though.

23rd: Phili Cheese Steak Sandwiches w/ fries and salad

I looked up another recipe and combined the two. I threw in some garlic and 1/4 cup of beef broth. I only cooked the sirlion tri-tip for about and hour or so b/c the butcher was kind enough to slice it up for me. I didn't want it over cooked. It was delicious. My hubbie had TWO and a HALF sandwiches on those large sub rolls. Geesh.


24th: Veggie Pasta
See the 9th

25th: Gingered Scallops over rice with Salad & Sesame Sugar Snap Peas

27th: Sirloin Steak w/ roasted potatoes & Veggie
Yes, this is a repeat recipe from the 5th. Usually you will only see pizza and pasta repeated throughout the month but I was looking for a red meat dish and this is just so simple and good and we've only had it once, so why not?

28th: Chinese Lemon Chicken over brown rice w/ salad
I have a hard time getting brown rice to cook so it isn't still crunchy. I like to bake it like Alton Brown says to here. I will probably put it together in my oven, program the oven to turn on and bake, so it's ready when I come home along with the crock meal. If I baked it right before dinner then it would take away the convenience of my crock cooked meal, ya know?

29th: Coconut & Basil Steamed Mussels w/ Asian Noodles & Asian snap pea salad w/ sesame orange dressing
Doesn't that salad look fantastic? I can't wait to try it.