What's on the Menu?

I know I haven't been on top of this. Mainly because i have been have things I've already posted on here before. I have tried a few new recipies, but nothing I've been really impressed with. In other words I would not make again.

I am excited this week because I've got a new cook book by Devin Alexander called "I can't believe it's not Fattening! over 150 ridiculously easy recipes for the super busy"

Monday- penne pasta with veggie and rotisserie chicken
Tuesday- Bacon cheese burger and apple salad
Wednesday- green eggs, bacon and muffins
Thursday- eat out (I'm going to try the grilled cheese burger at Carl's Jr.)
Friday- Taco salad
Saturday- chicken pesto pizza
Sunday- Mandarin chicken on rice with a side of zucchini and mushrooms.

Bacon cheeseburger (by Devin Alexander)
4 ounces 96% lean ground beef
1 1/2 T 50% reduced-fat real bacon pieces
1 tsp. dried minced onion
Salt to taste
1 whole wheat bun
1/2 ounce light Swiss cheese slivers
1 small leaf green lettuce
391/4-inch-thick) slices plum tomato1 T Ketchup or BBQ sauce

Preheat grill to high.
In a small bowl mix the beef bacon, and onion until well combined. Shape the beef into a patty about 1/2 inch diameter then the bun. lightly sprinkle both sides with salt. Grill burger on both sides until desired done-ness is reached.Just before the burger is done place buns inside down on rack. put cheese on burger to melt. 15 to 30 sec. Put it all together and serve immediately.

Taco salad
brown ground hamburger 1/2 to 1lb. and season with taco seasoning. (optional)
1 bag of pre-made salad greens (your choice)
1 can of black beans (Drained and rinsed)
1 can of kidney beans (Drained and rinsed)
1 can of Garbanzo beans also known and chick peas(Drained and rinsed)
1 cup for grated cheese
1 avocado diced (optional)
2-3 Roma tomatoes diced (optional)
tortilla chips
mix all but the tortillas chips in a large bowl. when served top with desired amount of crumbled tortillas chips and favorite salad dressing.

Chicken Pesto Pizza
pizza crust
Pesto
rotisserie chicken
mozzarella cheese
Parmesan Cheese
sun dried tomatoes

top in order listed. bake according to crust instructions.

Mandarin chicken on rice.
Grill chicken breast diced into bite size pieces. When done add Panda Express Mandarin sauce and simmer until warm. top onto rice and serve with a side of veggies. They also have Orange sauce out there, but not at the store I went too. That is what I really wanted to try.

What's on the menu?

Monday- chicken enchilada casserole
Tuesday- Waffles
Wednesday- Mystery dinner
Thursday- Hamburgers & tater tots
Friday- Balsamic Chicken, Chicken flavored rice, & asparagus
Saturday- Shepard's pie
Sunday- Dijon chicken fingers, carrot salad and french fries

for recipes check out cooleycoop.blogspot.com

Mystery Dinner
On Wednesday we are having a date night with my sister and her husband. We are having a challenge. we each pick 5 food items for the other team. one meat one fruit, one veggie and two random items. we then have a time limit to prepare a main dish, side dish, and dessert using those items. We are to try to use them in each dish if possible. We get a point for each time we use a mystery item in each dish. plus points for presentation and taste. I will let you know what items we have chosen and what they have chosen and what we come up with afterward. I think it will be fun.

Crazy Week

The past two weeks have been busy so I haven't been keeping up on much blogging so this might be a long one. I went to St. George on Friday and Saturday as a get-a-way for my sixth anniversary and because I needed and got to take my Brother's Engagements. It was nice to get away from the kids and I'm glad that they were pretty good for my sister.





I'm going to be taking there wedding Photos as well. Talk about some major pressure, but I am excited at the same time.

this weeks getting healthy tip is tip #2

Educate Yourself
Start reading health books and learn what is in food, how it effects you body. How many calories, fat, etc. is in the food you eat. How have others lost weight? New healthy recipes are good and learning healthy substitutions to make recipes healthier.

Some of my suggestions:

Biggest Loser calorie counter- there are a lot of free online options to track your calories, but I find it easier to track mine in the kitchen as I prepare my food. I don't have a computer in my kitchen.

Lickety Split Meals, by Zonya Focco- I have found this recipe book to be the most family friendly healthy recipe book I have found.

Biggest Loser Success Secrets- This gives a lot of great tips and suggestions to help you stick to any plan you choose to do.

Water With Lemon- This book is a different approach to teaching people about eating healthy. It is in a novel form. The story not that interesting to me, but the things you learn about creating habits is great.

You On A Diet- This book gets into the deep medical parts of how food works with your body and the effects it has. “Knowledge is Power” is what they are hoping to do with this book. I found it interesting. It has made me really think about what I'm putting into my mouth.

THIS WEEK ON THE MENU

Wednesday- cheesy poatoes, ham and green beans.
Thursday- eat out
Friday- Pansit
Saturday-Lasagna and salad
Sunday- Creamy chicken and potato soup and rolls.

check out cooleycoop.blogspot.com for recipes.

What's on the menu?

We loved to new chicken and rice recipe we tried last week. I have a few new recipes we are trying this week.

Monday- Sloppy Joe's and tater tots and spinach salad.
Tuesday- Penne pasta with veggies and green salad
Wednesday- Navajo tacos
Thursday- cabbage rolls and cooked zucchini squash.
Friday- Vacation
Saturday- Vacation
Sunday- Sweet and sour chicken on rice.

Penne Pasta with veggies
(this one I'm sort of making up so bare with me)

cook 1 1/2 cups of penne pasta (about 3 Cups cooked)
sliced red bell pepper
1 can drained diced tomatoes
asparagus cut into 1" pieces
Italian seasoning

saute veggies in some olive oil until tender. add drained pasta and Italian seasoning and toss until well mixed. serve.

Cabbage Rolls
(I'm excited to try these, I got the recipe from my friend Krystal's blog)

1 head cabbage
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 lb ground sausage, cooked and drained
1 cup cooked rice
8 oz can tomato sauce
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp worcetershire sauce

immerse cabbage in boiling water for 10 mins until limp, drain and separate leaves. combine egg, milk, salt, pepper, meat, and rice. place about 1/4 cup meat mixture in center of each leaf. fold in sides and roll ends over meat place in 9x13 pan. combine tomato sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice and worcestershire sauce pour over cabbage cook at 350 F for 20-25 mins
* you may also put this in the crock pot and cook on low for 7-9 hrs

Sloppy Joes are pretty self explanatory if you want to know how read the back of the sloppy joe sauce can. For all other recipes check out my Family's recipe blog. the link is on the side bar or click here.

The Menu for this week!

I got this idea from my friend Krystal's Blog. I thought it was a fun idea. I've even taken some of her meals and added them to my "new recipes I want to try" file. So here is whats for dinner this week...
Monday-supreme pizza and toss salad
Tuesday- homemade Mac & cheese w/hot-dogs and Broccoli.
Wednesday-restaurant style taco salad (like Bajio)
Thursday- eat out
Friday- stir-fry
Saturday- Simple baked chicken & rice (new recipe) and spinach salad.
Sunday- Eating with the Family I'm bringing buttermilk syrup.

For most of these recipes check out Cooley Coops kitchen a blog my family has put together.

(New recipe)
Simple Baked Chicken & Rice

1 can of cream of mushroom or chicken soup
1 can reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/3 C light sour cream or nonfat plain yogurt

stir together in a 9"x 13" baking dish

1 bag (16 oz) California blend frozen vegetables
1 can (10 oz) cooked white chicken, drained
1 1/2 Cups whole-grain instant brown rice, dry
1tsp dried onion flakes
10 dashes or grinds of fresh ground pepper.

Add to dish and stir, cover and put in preheated oven 375 degrees for 45 min. serve with fruit and salad or a fruity salad.