Dinner, Dinner, Dinner!!!More Easy on the Pocket meals for our FamMenu 3/28-4/3

Going to see how long it takes to clean out the pantry, fridge n' freezer, and not spend any dough! Welcome to my economically friendly menu of the week! Here's whats a' cookin'...

MoNdAy: Vegetarian Mexican Gumbo over brown rice with avocado & cheddar, snickerdoodles

TuEsDaY: as Nana Rose would say "must-goes" or "leftova's" :0) Shepherds pie and other stuff from the weekend...

WeDnEsDaY: Stuffed Shells, Homemade Asiago bread, Salad with feta, roasted peppers and olives

ThUrSdAy: Tender Herbed Porkloin, homemade scalloped potaters, baked apples, honeyed carrots, a KidFave!

FrIdAy: Homemade Taco pizza for "Moobie Night"!

SaTuRdAy: Hoppin' John- a dish that one of the ol' Sous Chefs at KCC used to make, Wil. A southern dish made with ham hocks, black eyed peas (not the band, silly!) and veggies, served with rice and some yummy homemade buttermilk biscuits

SuNdAy: Gonna' have to go with good ol' spaghetti, homemade bread, salad or some other type-o-green veggie, two Italian meals this week will make the hubby HAPPY!


Isn't that an easy peasy lemon squeezeeeee meal plan?! :0)
 Have a super-de-duper week!

Italian Class a success!

Thanks to everyone who came to my Italian Evening class last night! Everyone loved the Grilled Apple Sausage Pizzettes, Fancy Antipasto Salad, Easy Asiago Bread with Roasted Garlic Oil, Gnudi with Sage Butter and Gourmet Mushrooms and Delish Cannoli!
I sold all of the honey! I'll let everyone know when I have more, Okedoke?
Hope you all enjoy the sunshine this weekend, it may be cold outside, but hey, the sun SMILES on my face!

I have 12 jars of local honey...

From My friends at Samantha Ritter Honey. Delish, the BEST and CHEAP! The price has slowly risen now it is $7 for a pint (16 oz) But price that against the stuff at the store (the best, local, organic you can find) and you'll find that it is still a steal of a deal. So...if you want some, let me know, I will arrange with each individual how to get their honey!

 I started using honey as a cough-cure for my daughter, Constance, when she was about 4. She is (as I found out after some trial and error), allergic to morphine....the cough syrup that you get over- the -counter, is made with dextromethorphan - a derivative of morphine...anyway, we started using honey (ONLY FOR CHILDREN OVER AGE ONE< MIND YOU!) and it works great. It sure does taste a lot better too! In the years since, my Doctor's office has only suggested honey for a cough, no meds...funny how nature works best, huh?! :0)

  Here is a great bit of info on the benefits of honey, as well as cinnamon...put them together and you have quite the natural powerhouse of health benefits!

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/animal-product/health-benefits-of-honey-and-cinnamon.html

For the adults out there, my friend Roseanne gave me an AWESOME recipe for when you are sick with a cold:

HOT TODDY
1/3 C honey
1/3 C fresh lemon juice
1/3 C whiskey

Heat up in a small saucepan until hot. Sip n' savor!

Enjoy the Michigan DEEP FREEZE I-YI-I!!!

Pocket Friendly Menu: 3/21-3/27 :0)

5K done... I didn't have the best time, for sure, but hey, I was there and I got Jiggy with it! Next!? A 
10K, rockin' Hal Higdon's workout schedule! Woopwoop! Anywho........

A pretty easy-breezy schedule for this busy fam this week. Other than dentist appointments, my class Friday and the usual busy-ness of a family of seven, the biggest wrench in my week is cash (a lack there of it, that is!!!)....so budget meals and freezer, here we come! Here's the FamMenu:

Monday: Herb-rubbed Salmon with maple Dijon glaze (was supposed to have this yesterday but ended up at a freeee Griffins game, "reading Goals" for the kiddies!) some stir fried Broccoli (Constance BEGGED for broccoli at the grocery store Saturday...gotta' love her:) and brown rice, fruit salad, too!

Tuesday: Tuesday Turkey Tacos!

Wednesday: good ol' chili n' corn muffins

Thursday:steakhouse salad, baked penne with meatballs, homemade Asiago bread

Friday: pizza for the kiddos with Maddie, I'll be cheffin' it up at DreamMaker!

Saturday: Supposed to go out for an Anniversary party, but have rescheduled that for a later date... Maybe the hubster will get paid this week and we can take advantage of the pre-planned babysitters(thx mom and dad!:)) we may hit BlueWater Grille....

Sunday: Shepherd's pie, green beaners, homemade sourdough rolls with honey butter, yum... And roasted carrots

The CHEF-FAM menu 3/14-3/20

A tad of a less hectic week...a flip-flop dinner for Saturday/Sunday... a Surprise anniversary dinner with the fam yesterday , leaves us with a pre-planned Monday dinner! (does that make ANY SENSE AT ALL?!)

Monday: whole turkey breasts stuffed with roasted peppers, spinach, feta, kalmata olives & fresh mint, cous cous, green beans with lemon & almonds
Tuesday: california style avocado & grapefruit salad, citrus glazed pork tenderloin, jasmine rice
Wednesday: Chicken Galliano, sautéed mushrooms, wild rice, balsamic roasted "spare-guts" :0)--asparagus! Asiago bread
Thursday: Shrimp Jambalaya...a week late from Mardi Gras, but better late than never! :0)
Friday: A break from the NORM! No pizza tonight, I have a race tomorrow, so Spaghetti and meatballs, it is! Salad, Asiago bread
Saturday: RACE DAY! Jiggidy Jig! Flat Iron Steaks, (and some delish red wine...for the antioxidants, of course:0)  Baked Potatoes, steakhouse salad-romaine, tomatoes, shredded cheddar,homemade croutons& ranch- yum.
Sunday: Herb-rubbed Maple Dijon glazed Salmon, Stir fried veggies, brown rice

Have a FANTASTIC week!!!

Date Changin' madness

Ok, ok...sorry another date change is in place. Hands On Breakfast on the Go class has moved to
MONDAY APRIL 25!!! Please note this on your calendars! Thanks!

Hands-On Classes

Hey everyone, the book has not even gone to print yet for my spring/summer slew of classes, but I had sent a TENTATIVE schedule of classes out...Please note that I have changed the date for the Simply Grilling class to June 24. Hands-On classes are as such:

                                          Hands-on classes
On the Go Breakfasts
A fun, informative and tasty class! Learn how make some FamFave breakfasts- Pineapple Mango Mint and "Banana bread" smoothies. Southwestern Breakfast Burritos, and two delish fruit and nut breads to kickstart your mornings! All of these recipes will be quick and easy, geared toward the whole family and power packed nutrition!

Monday, April 25th, 6pm

$35 per person, $20 grocery feeMediterannean Faves
We will be making some delish Greek favorites in this flavor packed class! Herbed hummus, Baba Ganoush (roasted eggplant dip), Tabouleh, and a Chef Robin original, feta, spinach, roasted pepper and kalmata olive stuffed turkey breasts. Take home all these goodies to your family!

$70 per person, $35 grocery fee, due night of class.
Mondays, May 9th &16th 6pm

Chef Robin's Fam Menu 3/7-3/13

Another crazy week for this family! I have a class Monday, going to Lansing all day Thursday with my Fred, then that night the girls and I won tickets to Disney Princesses on ice! No school Friday, then we have the school carnival that night...add in Girls on the Run all week and  ME training for the Irish Jig (5K) and then the Riverbank run(10K)...I-yi-I!!! SOOOO, here is the menu for the, again, CRAZY week (I really should be used to this by now! ;0)
Monday:Baked Ravioli, garlic bread and spinach salad with feta, strawberries & pecans, raspberry vinaigrette for the kiddies
Tuesday: Herb roasted pork loin, smashed yukon gold potatoes, green beans sauteed with garlic, honey-glazed acorn squash
Wednesday:Poato-dill crusted whitefish,roasted poatoes with garlic and dill, fresh steamed asparagus
Thursday:Chili and corn muffins with honey butter... for Daddy and the BOYS, taking the GIRLS for a special treat for Disney Princesses on Ice!
Friday: Whatever the school carnival brings...most likely pizza and more junk...blah!
Saturday: Feta-Spinach-Kalmata-Roasted Pepper stuffed Turkey Breasts, Cous Cous, cut fruit
Sunday:Fish Tacos with mango salsa and curried aioli, yum. Spinach salad of some sort!

Sneek Peek at Cooking Demonstrations April-June!

Flavorful -Fresh French Bistro

All the delish makings of a great French bistro are on the docket for this evening! As an app we’ll have double potato pancakes with smoked salmon and crème fraiche, a wonderful Fresh Grilled Tuna Nicoise salad, Classic Filet of Beef with Green Peppercorn sauce, and more! The grand finale? “Hearts of Fire” Chocolate soufflés with white chocolate and fresh raspberry sauce…OH MY! Affordable wines will be paired with these dishes for you to taste, if you please!

Friday, April 29, 6:30 PM

$40

Wine tasting available for this class, for an additional $10 per person

Fresh & Healthy For Spring!

The menu this evening will feature fresh, delicious and healthy fare with lots of spices from around the world to health up your spring & summer without boring you! Featuring Herb- rubbed Salmon with a maple- Dijon glaze, Spicy Asian Chicken Lettuce Cups, California -style Avocado& Grapefruit Salad with citrus glazed pork tenderloin, Cantonese-style steaks with miso vinaigrette, wine tasting, if you want- and more!

Friday, May 20, 6:30 PM

$40

Wine tasting available for this class, for an additional $10 per person

Simply Grilling

Always a fun event, an outdoor class featuring grilling essentials; dry rub seasonings, marinades, salads, and a chillin’ dessert! Some of the delish features this time around will be: Tandoori-style Chicken Skewers with creamy-cool tzatziki sauce, Nana Rose’s Irresistible Italian salad, Baja- style Fish Tacos, Jamaican-Me Hot Ginger Beered Chicken, Frozen Lemon Meringue Pie, and more! As always, a selection of fresh summer brews will be on site for your tasting pleasure, if you so please!

Friday, June 24, 6:30 PM

$40

Beer tasting available for this class, for an additional $7 per person

All classes to be held at DreamMaker.