FamMenu for 1.14-1.20

Here's What's New....Straight Off The Chef's Knife!

Last weeks menu worked pretty well, a few nights didnt go as planned, but that is to be expected, as life happens! One night, we were invited out to dinner with my parents. Another night the salmon I had pulled form the freezer was, well....less than spectacular smelling....needless to say it went in the trash (GAG!). So I made the chicken from what was supposed to be Sunday's Stir Fry-into BBQ"d chicken for Dinner Saturday, and then made some of that chicken into Chicken Nachos for lunch Sunday-gotta' be creative! We opted for turkey burgers Sunday night :-)

We shall see how this week goes!

MONDAY: Chicken Breasts grilled and topped with crumbled bacon, avocado, tomato & basil, smashed redskins with roasted garlic, sauteed broccoli

TUESDAY: Chipotle Beef and Bean Chili with corn muffins, fruit salad

WEDNESDAY: Spaghetti with italian chicken sausage, green olives & marina, homemade parmesan peppercorn bread

THURSDAY:  Corn & Potato Chowder, salad, roasted red pepper bruschetta

FRIDAY: Pizza! Movie night!

SATURDAY:Penne pasta with mushrooms,artichokes & pesto sauce

SUNDAY: Pulled BBQ Pork on buns, braised red cabbage, baked beans & some crazy dessert for my TEN year old Tonce:0)

Have a super de duper week!

Finally, a FamManu again!

I'm not going to call this a New Year's Resolution, I'm going to call this a decluttering and organizational cleaning frenzied year! With five kids and a busy family, too many things get lost, forgotten, sidetracked and just downright discombobulated, ENOUGH!!!
So heres the first of weekly FamMenus to be seen this year!

MONDAY: My mom & dad just gave me two cool cookbooks, one on Irish cooking, the other on French. Sunday I made a split pea soup and some Irish Soda bread (both out of the Irish cookbook!) Leftovers with some honeybutter tonight!

TUESDAY: Ethiopian Beef Wat - a super delish beef stew made in the slow cooker with a huge bevy of fragrant spices, including cinnamon, cloves, allspice, curry, cumin, pepper, etc..- traditionally served with "Injera"- a sour, vinegary flatbread- but I am guessing the kiddos wouldnt be big fans, so we will have it over rice and have a nice crispy salad on the side.

WEDNESDAY: Baked Macaroni & Cheese- using up some odds & ends cheeses that have been crowding out our deli drawer- all mixed up is always better! Steamed broccoli & carrots.

THURSDAY: Homemade Chicken Pot Pie - made with leftover shredded chicken and gravy that I had frozen awhile back. mixing in some veggies and topping it with pastry dough- yumm-0!

FRIDAY: Movie night! A movie and Pizza for the Toldos!

SATURDAY: Herbed salmon with maple dijon drizzle, quinoa pilaf, veggies of some sort...

SUNDAY: Stir Fry! Chicken marinated in soy sauce, ginger & garlic served up with some crunchy carrots, peppers & sugar snap peas over rice. Orange wedges for dessert.

Hope you enjoy your week!

FamMenu...

Here's What's New....Straight Off The Chef's Knife!

Ok, so life has been a tad more hectic than usual as of late, so my FamMenu pstings have been far from regular. We will call it sporadic, at BEST!:)
Life is certainly simpler when no one is whining for dinner, and its already been planned! I post FamMenus online, but my goal this week, is to post it on our FamCalendar! I'll take a pic when I accomplish this small goal, I promise!
 So this week has been kind of boring in the creative department, plan to amp that up next week!

MONDAY- we had turkey, kale & brown rice soup, with lots of veggies in it, whole wheat rolls.

TUESDAY-pan seared cod with herbed butter, steamed green beans, roasted Italian style redskin potatoes, bread & butter.

WEDNESDAY- grilled organic chicken thighs  with sautéed mushrooms, BBQ sauce & melted Swiss cheese, brown rice, honey-cinnamon glazed carrots.

THURSDAY-homemade beef chili, cornbread, veggies & dip (homemade ranch- with my herbs that are STILL growing in this crazy weather! The Cilantro is going nuts!)

FRIDAY- pizza & a movie!

SATURDAY- working at the shop- then either out with hubs or easy food- turkey burgers with guacamole, oven baked fries, broccoli salad (he loves this stuff! Broccoli, bacon, sunflower seeds & raisins-classic!)

SUNDAY- PASTA! Sunday Spaghetti & Meatballs, italian bread with pesto sauce, salad of mozzarella, black olives, tomatoes, cannelini beans& red wine vinaigette. Ice cream!

Have a sunny stupendous week!

Winter Cooking Class Schedule

Here's What's New....Straight Off The Chef's Knife!


Deliciously Good For You
Everyone wants to healthier, but who wants to discard flavor? If you tend to shy away from creating healthy recipes because they turn out bland, boring &  tasteless, then this is your class! Learn how to use herbs, spices & delicious whole foods to create irresistible meals with beautiful colors & textures! The stars of the show: Baked Goat Cheese with pesto, marinara sauce & crispy whole grain crostini, Savory Potato, Leek & Dill Soup, Baby Kale, beet & butternut squash salad with pine nuts. Grilled Herbalicious Salmon with green tzatziki sauce over quinoa & beans. For dessert- frozen yogurt with warm spiced berry compote. YES! I told you this was your class! To top it off- perfectly paired wines for all the savory concoctions!
Friday January 25, 6:30-9pm
$45 per person
$10 wine tasting fee (optional)

On the go with a Fam Menu Plan
The one thing that I am constantly asked for is suggestions on how to throw together healthy & quick meals for the Fam (that's seven at our house!). It's a struggle, that's for sure, BUT with a little forethought & a stocked pantry/fridge/freezer, it IS possible! Otherwise it's take-out city USA! 5 quick meals are the stars for this evening. Artisan Grilled Cheeses with creamy tomato basil soup, grilled honey lime chicken fajitas with fresh guacamole, peppers & onions on corn tortillas', greek style frittata- eggs with spinach, sundried tomatoes & feta cheese- side of fruit & power muffin, pork cutlets with sautéed apples & raspberry balsamic smashed sweet taters, quick herb-grilled fish with couscous & veggies. Wine tasting available.
Friday February 22, 6:30-9pm
$45 per person
$10 wine tasting fee(optional)

Bistro Night!
Who doesn't love a great might out at a bistro? The intimate ambience. The great local fresh food, I feel as if we are in France already! This evening will be a classic- delicious food paired with delicious wine- a match made in heaven! The five star recipes: hand roasted marinated pepper bruschetta, French onion & mushroom soup, rouquefort & walnut salad over endive with mustard vinaigrette, bistro steak with sauce bernaise, and to tip the proverbial scales? Magnificent bread pudding with creme anglaise. This class is the Perfect time for wine pairing!
Friday March 15, 6:30-9pm
$45 per person
$10 wine tasting fee (optional)

All classes held at DreamMaker Kitchen and Bath Showroom

Fam Menu for this nutzo crazyish week!

I am looking at my calendar, and am simply dumfounded by how busy we get. Holy cow. So just realized conferences are this week, yay. also that the kids get out at noon Friday. (this is the day that I have a catering party for eight and need all the time I can get to multi-task, OY!) No Doctors or dentists appointments this week- that's saved for next week...WHEW>  But  it's another MEAP week, Oh boy oh boy....  here goes the plan, stan...

MONDAY: Leftover yummalicious Penne pasta with meatballs & Sauce, Italian style green beans, and some iitalian bread

TUESDAY: POSOLE....huh?! I have a VIVID "smell memory" of this dish cooking all day at my besties house when I was a TWEEN. (yup, contrary to my children's popular belief, I WAS a tween at one point!) So I can NOT wait to make it! A slow cooked pork shoulder with mexican spices, garlic, green chiles & hominy. I'll serve it with a dollop of greek yogurt and fresh grilled tortillas, oooo and some chunks of avocado, too!

WEDNESDAY: I'll be at the store, so the kiddos can come up and have some dinner and homework time with momma, FUN-0!!!! (hmmmm.... not so sure about that, but hey...:)) grilled crazy good gourmet cheesies,  broccoli & Cheddar soup, fresh fruit

THURSDAY: LONG delivery day for Hummaliciousness, so probably leftover beef stew in the crockpot-oh wait, my crock pot cover SHATTERED in my hand this weekend....and then while washing the stoneware insert i found a fracture all along the bottom and up one side-sheesh. Guess it's stovetop time in a regular old pot!

FRIDAY: The kiddosa and Daddy get Pizza while I cater a super cool gourmet delish dinner!:0)

SATURDAY: I'll be at the Farm Market, then the store, so I am thinking something easy like LEFTOVERS!!!

SUNDAY: Haven't made quiche in a while, so I think I shall- along with crispy american fries and thick cut bacon. Maybe some homemade applesauce too!

 

A Fall FamMenu!

Here's What's New....Straight Off The Chef's Knife!
Ok, so sorry It has been two weeks without a FamMenu. I have been ridiculously busy with Kidstuff, Hummus Stuff, FOOD ARTS of Belmont (Yes, this IS a plug for my new storefront! :0) Stuff, etc. Hey, at least you know I'm BUSY!!!  So a crazy quick menu for you is on the docket! Its MEAP testing week people!!! (for those non-Michiganders, that's the Michigan Educational Assessment Program). Three of my five fall into the MEAP tests realm this week. So we've been told to give them plenty of rest and NUTRITIOUS FOOD- now that's what I'M talking about!!! Yay!!! will do :0) Monday is a stretch on healthy...but Leftovers are a must do sometimes!
Have a GREAT week! Snuggle up with your lovies! :0)

MONDAY: Leftover Healthed up Mac N'Cheese- Lowfat milk, greek 0% fat yogurt, 2% milk cheese, etc. Super yummy! White Chicken Chili from Saturday-Brrr, a good one for this chilly weather. Blueberry Buckle bars. Yup, Yum.

TUESDAY:  Roasted Butternut squash, Apple bean bake, Grilled pork chops with honey Dijon glaze, quinoa pilaf

WEDNESDAY: Grilled Skirt steak-marinated in cilantro pesto. roasted redskins with walnuts & blue cheese, Spinach salad with dried blueberries & Wild Blueberry balsamic vinaigrette

THURSDAY: My GRAND OPENING for the store- so I would think that the kids will be sampling all night! :0) at least it will be gooood local goodies! :0)

FRIDAY: Movie Night- going with pizza!

SATURDAY: It is supposed to be icky, wet and cold. How about something in the crockpot, like Beef Stew, some potato rolls, a crisp salad with mustard vinaigrette and the grand finale: apple crisp with cinnamon & vanilla bean ice cream & dulce de leche

 SUNDAY: Italian Dinner, baby: Meatballs and sauce with Penne pasta, green beans with tomatoes, basil & garlic, asiago bread

Stay Warm! :

This weeks insightful Musings & Menu

So, I was being very insightful (at least I think so...) this morning as hubs left at 4:30 am

for work- after a great long and lazy Sunday with the Fam...

We slept in, kids brought us breakfast in bed, we hung out at the library for an hour and

investigated some of the kids interests-Caroline was looking into how to keep things

organized and be minimalists(gotta' love that from a thirteen year old!:) Fred, on the

other hand, was looking into the mechanics of how to make a bike similar to the one the

boy rides in "The Lorax"- he's my engineer minded creative thinking inventor, alright!

Constance was into mysteries and totally navigated the library by herself like a pro-matching

up an Andrew Clements book with one on a little audio player so she could

listen and read at the same time...(this one is DESTINED to be a pit boss or CEO for a

fortune 500 company!) Cristina's sole concern was animals-as always- my little

veterinarian to be! We had just left our friend Kelly's house- who works at an animal

rescue house in GR- she was feeding several red & black baby squirrels with a syringe so

of course Christina picked out a squirrel book!:) Anthony was zigzagging all over the

place looking for games to play, puzzles to put together, books to read, etc. he's

ALWAYS busy doing something- good- bad or messy!(this is, of course, the most likely

of the three...) what will this little guy grow up to be???

Then we had a happy jaunt through the woods- a one mile trek through the

Conservatory in Belmont- so fun! We pushed through that, walking sticks and all, &

chose to hit downtown Rockford for dinner & treats. The arguing over what candy to get

at Rudy Kazoody's and the "me first" attitude of eating the sampler platter at The Corner

Bar- led me to this: I would much preferred to have spent that over $70 smacks on

groceries, a picnic by th Dam- and more FREE fun time with the kiddos.

SOOOOo... My insightful thinking was this, and REALLY think about this. Where will you

be and what will you be doing in FIVE years? Time surely does fly. I can remember the

feeling of just finding out I was pregnant with each of my sweet babies.... And they are

13,11,9.5,7.5 & 3.5 now. I will treasure the moments with them at home, cooking

together, watching them play, grow and learn...and of course argue, because, let's be

realistic here, five kids lends to A LOT of that!!! But I'll treasure those moments, because

as many dear old cute little grandparent types have told me, since day one, "appreciate

the time when they are little, because time flies, and before you know it, they're gone!"

So, in 5 years, I will have an 18 year old in her senior year, making the final decisions

about her career choice, a 16 year old boy, who will be driving and will likely even have

to shave, and be a tenth grader (yikes my baby boy!). A 14 year old eighth grader with I

am certain, a very dominant head on her shoulders, a teeny Tina Tina Tween, being in

her first year of middle school. And alas, a sweet eight year old boy who, HOPEFULLY,

won't change much- for this sappy mom's sake! :)

The busyness of this family won't change much, in the near future(at least let's hope!)

So I hope to reflect healthy, sensible, not to difficult to prepare dinners on a budget for

my FamMenu... And I hope it helps some of you to think outside the culinary box! :)

MONDAY

: we had leftover white chicken chili, garden of Eatin' blue corn tortilla chips,

black seedless organic grapes .... And... Drumroll.... flu shots at 6:30, yay!!! (not)

TUESDAY

: potato broccoli cheese soup- made from leftover mashed potatoes & gravy

from last week, plus some fresh broccoli and a few slices of organic Colby jack melted

down. Utilization, I say!:) potato rolls, wedge salad with homemade thousand island

dressing, sliced up local honey crisp apples, middle school curriculum night, fun stuff.

WEDNESDAY

: honey BBQ pulled pork(this is like a 3-4 meal of a deal- i'll make burritos

out of it next week, and freeze more for the crock pot on a busy night, even some for

green chili!) on ciabatta rolls with cole slaw, poached pears? (I have like ten mini pears

to use up, if I have time!:)

THURSDAY

: Spaghetti with fresh tomatoes, basil roasted garlic & basil. Toasty Vienna

bread, cucumber, bean & tomato salad. Hummus Delivery crazyness day...

THANK GOODNESS IT'S FRIDAY

!: pizza with the kiddos:)

SATURDAY

: tasty tacos with fresh salsa & guacamole, fresh fruit from the farm market!

SUNDAY

: a picnic in Rockford, if the weather cooperates!

Have a superb-0 week. Enjoy the limited time you have with your families, I know, that

even amid the CHAOS, I will :) ciao for now!