This week's menu

Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Marinated pork, Cole slaw, Wheat bread
Sunday: Spinach Bacon Pasta toss, grapes
(I wilted the spinach a bit in the dressing before cooking the chicken. Verdict: Pretty good, really full of Italian dressing flavor.)


Monday: Green chili enchiladas
(no, we don't have these once per week. I was lazy last week and didn't make them as planned.)

Tuesday: I thought about Beef and Lemongrass soup, but didn't get either beef or lemongrass at the store, so I'll find something else.
Wednesday: Citrus Pork, roasted asparagus with red peppers (based on this)
Thursday: Chicken-bacon quesadillas, apples


Want to know why menu planning makes me happy? Well, this week it's because we get to eat veggies! Planning has given me time to think of new ways to cook a variety of veggies. I find out what produce is on sale for the week and then find a quick easy way to cook it.

Check out more menus through OrgJunkie's Menu Plan Monday.

The One Where it was 65 Degrees.

We have the door open.

Camden's favorite place to be.

The One Where I was Ignorant... for just a minute

Have you visited Google today?

The banner is cool but I had no idea what it was for. I also, at first, did not realize you could click on the banner and auto search for info. Turns out it's Jackson Pollock's birithday. Never heard of him? Me either. That's where Wikipedia came in.

Guess I really just like the banner!

The One Where we eat Hot Dogs

Friday: I snacked all afternoon then went to a Tastfully Simple show.

Saturday: Crispy Baked Chicken, pasta salad (Ryan went to play chess with a friend the day we were going to eat this last week. :)

Sunday: PB&J, apples

Monday: Chicken Stroganoff

Tuesday: Taco Salad

Wednesday: Spinach Hot Dog Casserole

Thursday: Green Chili Enchiladas



I guess it's a creamy pasta kind of week. Not really the healthiest, but sounds good.

So... Spinach Hot Dog Casserole, sounds different, eh? I searched allrecipes.com for something that had egg noodles, spinach and bacon but no tomatoes. This was the only recipe match. Which reminded me that we have a package of hot dogs in the freezer. I read the recipe and comments and decided it sounds fun to try. I'll be sure to let you know our verdict.

Check out more menus here.

The One Where I use Recipes to Cook.

Random thought: How long do you think I could have post titles similar to Friends episodes. You know, "The One Where..." Guess we'll see.

Back to the recipe thing. I do use recipes to cook. I need something to tell me what to do. There are very few dishes I have invented or changed significantly enough to claim as my own. Sometimes I adjust - like leaving out the mushrooms or using hamburger instead of italian sausage. Not significant.
I would like to share more recipes with my menu plans but I'm concerned about copyrights - as the recipes are always published somewhere. I include links when available, but for others, readers are just left in the dark.

But finally... welcome to the light. I have a recipe I feel comfortable sharing. And I'm really excited! (I've been anticipating this since Monday.) It is one of my favorites, great as leftovers and so easy to make. Even people who don't know how to make toast can make this! My family used to call these North High Volleyball Sloppy Joes. The recipe came on a blue (or maybe it was green) 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper containing instructions for my Volleyball tournament concessions. All the freshmen and sophomores had to make the same Sloppy Joe meat. This is it.

Sloppy Joes
1 - 1.5 pounds ground beef
1/2 onion, diced
1/4 green pepper, diced
salt & pepper to taste
1 cup ketchup
1 tbsp yellow mustard (or more if you like it as much as I do)
1 tsp chili powder

Brown meat with onions, green pepper, salt and pepper. Drain, rinse with hot water desired. Return to pan and stir in remaining ingredients. Heat through. Serve on toasted buns.
Or have it Ryan's way - scoop the meat with Wavy Lays.

This also warms great in a crock-pot ~ perfect for potlucks, football parties or Christmas Eve at camp.
Enjoy!

Menu Plan Monday

This week meals were rather easy to plan. With two social events and a night at work, here's what I planned.

Friday: Spanish Tortilla (I LOVE this!)
Saturday: Progressive dinner with friends - our contribution was Cheesecake Bars
Sunday: Pan-seared Lemon Tilapia, Crash Hot Potatoes
Monday: Sloppy Joes, fries
Tuesday: Meal with training at work
Wednesday: Crispy Baked Chicken
Thursday: Pizza with bible study

A side of Camden most house guests do not see.


Sorry, not that actual, physical side...

... but the calm, lazy...
..it's 9:00pm...

...I can't be bothered by a camera in my face side.


Fortunately for us, that side isn't limited only to late in the evening.