Monday, May 18

This Week's Menu

This week's meals will be pretty simple with most pulled from the freezer. I like having meals put away in the freezer for weeks when I don't really feel like cooking. Must be the Memorial Day weekend coming up that's making me want to take it easy.

Monday: pasta with veggies

Tuesday: leftovers

Wednesday: stuffed chicken (from freezer) with rice

Thursday: broccoli calzones (from freezer)

Friday: orange chicken (from freezer) with leftover rice

Weekend: Vacation!
I'm looking forward to this weekend and visiting some friends in Charleston, SC. It will be nice to get out of town (and the house) for a couple days, catch-up with friends and spend some quality time with Korey.

Tuesday, May 12

Keeping Celery Fresh & Crisp

We don't eat a lot of celery, but it's nice to keep in the house for soups and occasional snacking. However, we could never use an entire bunch before it would go limp - until I learned this trick.

Wash celery & shake off excess water. Then wrap tightly in a double layer of aluminum foil. Make sure it is sealed completely. Store in fridge for up to 6 weeks!

I think this celery has been in our fridge about a month and it is still crisp and fresh!

Another tip for already limp celery: Trim about an inch off the bottom of each stalk. Stand upright in a glass with about an inch of ice water. Refrigerate until crisp.


For more kitchen tips visit Tammy's Recipes.

Monday, May 11

This Week's Menu

Here's the plan for this week's meals.

Monday: leftovers

Tuesday: grilled chicken with zucchini & squash

Wednesday: smoked sausage & potatoes or rice

Thursday: something with leftover chicken from Tues. - quesadillas?

Friday: Spaghetti with meatballs (from the freezer)

Saturday: leftover smoked sausage with mac & cheese?

Wednesday, May 6

Baked Potato Soup

This is our favorite soup recipe.


Baked Potato Soup
Adapted from Better Homes & Gardens

Makes 6 servings


2 large baking potatoes, baked

6 T. thinly sliced green onion

C. butter

C. all-purpose flour

¼ t. each salt & pepper

4 C. milk

¾ C. cheddar cheese

4 slices bacon, crisp-cooked, drained & crumbled


Directions: Bake potatoes (see directions below) then scoop out pulp when cool enough to handle.

In a large saucepan cook 3 T. green onion in butter until tender. Stir in flour, salt & pepper. Cook for 1 minute.

Add milk all at once. Cook & stir until thickened & bubbly. Cook & stir 1 minute more.

Add the potato pulp & ½ C. shredded cheese. Stir until cheese melts.

Ladle into bowls. Garnish each serving with cheese, green onion & bacon.


Notes:
To bake potatoes: Scrub potatoes clean & pat dry. Bake in a 425° oven for 40 to 60 minutes or until tender. Or use leftover baked potatoes.

Potatoes can also be baked in the microwave. Most microwaves have a baked potato function.

Additionally you could make this recipe with leftover mashed potatoes. Use about 2 cups.

Delicious! This is one of our favorite soup recipes! Very filling and great the next day for lunch. I cook the bacon in the saucepan first, drain out most of the drippings, then continue with the recipe. It adds a little extra bacon flavor and I don’t have to dirty another pan!


For more recipes visit Tammy's Recipes

Tuesday, May 5

Tortilla Bowls

We celebrated Cinco de Mayo this evening with taco salads. As a kid, this was one of my favorite meals -- and still is as an adult. My mom always bought a kit from the grocery store to make the tortilla bowls, but it's easy to make these with just aluminum foil and large tortillas.


Preheat the oven to 425. Crumple large sheets of foil to make 3-inch balls; place on baking sheet. Place 1 large (burrito size) tortilla over each ball; spray with cooking spray.

Bake 6 to 8 min. or until tortillas are golden brown. (Tortillas will drape over balls as they bake.)

Fill with lettuce and your favorite taco fixings. Enjoy!

For more kitchen tips visit Tammy's Recipes

Monday, May 4

Menu Week of May 4

Monday: Red beans & rice (from the freezer)
Tuesday: Chicken taco salads
Wednesday: Pork chops on the grill with baked potatoes
Thursday: Leftovers or eat out
Friday: pizza, pasta or stir fry depending on what's in the fridge

No real recipes this week. I'm just going to wing it with these simple meals. What are you making for dinner this week?