Meal Plan Friday #7

Friday segment spotlighting the meals for the week ahead. Why Friday? Because I grocery shop Bi-weekly, on Fridays.

Welcome back to my Meal Plan Friday!!!

Hi everyone.  It is Friday and you know what that means, another Meal Plan for you all.  I have a bit of a mismatch this week, a few Portuguese meals, some new recipes and some old favorites.

The Cuban sandwiches are new, so I'll be sure to share that recipe when I make them.  Every other recipe is on Full Bellies, Happy Kids and I'll have those linked up for you.  Saturday we are having some Panda Express take out.  We basically only eat out every two weeks, and it's usually quick easy things, once in a while we will go to our favorite buffet restaurant or try some other restaurant, but y'all food is not cheap and to go out with the family is close to $100.

Now, let's talk desserts.  I will be completely honest and tell you that I have NOT made any desserts at all the past week.  So the 2 desserts from last week will be what I'll make this weekend and the next week ahead.




 Dad's Favorite Chicken with Mashed Potatoes

 
 Panda Express for dinner

 
 Cuban Sandwiches with Chips

 
Gnocchi Bolognese with Salad
 

 
 Portuguese Pork Chops and Potatoes

 
Chicken Curry with Rice
 

 
 Sausages in a tomato sauce with homemade fries

 
Mexican Cinnamon Cookies



Peach Cream Pie

Meal Plan Friday #6

Friday segment spotlighting the meals for the week ahead. Why Friday? Because I grocery shop Bi-weekly, on Fridays.

Welcome back to my Meal Plan Friday!!!

Hi everyone.  Hope you're having a wonderful Friday, I am so happy that it's the start of the weekend again.  There's nothing like being able to get up without the sound of the alarm.

Friday means another meal plan for you all.  I don't even know if anyone is still following this blog, and that's ok because I did take a bit of a hiatus for quite a long time, but if you're still around, I hope you're enjoying the weekly meal plans as well as the new recipes I've been adding.  I am trying very hard to get back on track with his blog and to share many more wonderful meals with you. 

There is only one new recipe on the plan this week, and that is for the Nacho Tater Tots, so as soon as I make it I will of course share it.  The rest of the meals are true and tried family favorites, most have recipes up already and I'll be sure to share those with you.

For desserts, I ended up not yet making the Mexican Cinnamon Cookies, I will make those this weekend, along with a Peaches and Cream Pie.  I have quite a few cans of peaches that I need to use up.  Will probably do a Peach Cobbler as well.

 

Rosemary and GarlicMeatloaf, mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus

Grilled Pork Tenderloin, BLT Pasta Salad, Corn on the cob

Nacho Tater Tots

Beef Stroganoff, Rice and Salad

Panda Express Chow Mein

Sausage Potato Skillet

Sheet Pan Pepperoni Pizza

Mexican Cinnamon Cookies



Peach Cream Pie

Garlic Bread Pasta Torte

Garlic Bread Pasta Torte is the perfect combination of meat and pasta with homemade garlic bread.  Add a salad on the side and you have yourself a delicious week night dinner.

Garlic Bread Pasta Torte

This is another fantastic recipe from Taste of Home.  I have been on a Taste of Home binge and am loving all the recipes that I've been trying out for our dinners and treats as well.

You're really only needing a springform pan, your favorite pasta and meat dish and some sliced bread.  Yes, you can follow the original recipe as is, but feel free to experiment with different pasta fillings, I think next time I may try a Fettucine Alfredo or even a meatballs and spaghetti.

 More Pasta dishes you may enjoy

Creamy Taco Pasta Bake
Baked Chicken Penne
Pasta Bolognese
Chicken Parmesan Baked Spaghetti
Honey Mustard Chicken Pasta
One Pot Mexican Pasta

Garlic Bread Pasta Torte

Adapted from:  Taste of Home

Yield:  12 servings

Calories per serving:  409

1 package (16 ounces) pasta (I used macaroni)
1and 1/2 pounds ground beef (you can use sausage)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
Fresh basil

3 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Shredded mozzarella cheese
4 tablespoons butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
Sliced white bread, crusts removed



Preheat oven to 400°. In a 6-qt. stockpot, cook pasta according to package directions for al dente; drain and return to pot.

In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium-high heat 7-9 minutes or until meat is booked through.  Drain.  Stir in sauce, basil to your taste and Italian seasoning. Add to pasta; stir in cheese.  (I never measure cheese, I just eyeball it according to our taste)

In a microwave, melt butter; stir in garlic. Lightly brush one side of bread with garlic butter. Line bottom and sides of a greased 10-in. springform pan with bread slices, trimming to fit and facing buttered sides against pan. Fill with pasta mixture; press firmly to pack down. Sprinkle with more cheese.

Bake, uncovered, 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and cheese is melted. Loosen sides from pan with a knife; remove rim.

Meal Plan Friday #5

Friday segment spotlighting the meals for the week ahead. Why Friday? Because I grocery shop Bi-weekly, on Fridays.

Welcome back to my Meal Plan Friday!!!

Hi everyone.  Hope you're having a wonderful Friday and I hope you have a fantastic weekend.  I'm back again with the meal plan for this upcoming week, and this time I'm trying out a ton of recipes which I'm very excited about.

I managed to make the Lemon Zucchini cookies, a few days ago, and they are soooooo good.  You can find the recipe on the food blog, along with a ton of other recipes I posted for you all, just this past week.

For desserts, I will be making another Frozen Key Lime Pie to take to my brother's house on Sunday and then some Mexican Cinnamon Cookies for us, sometime next week.

Chicken Tater Bake

Chicken Tater Bake is super easy to make, it combines your favorite chicken pot pie filling but is topped with tater tots instead of the more traditional pastry or biscuits.

Chicken Tater Bake

If you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, this is it.  It is a variation on the usual pot pie where the topping is made with frozen tater tots, thereby turning this already filling comfort dish into a meal your family will no doubt love. 

It can be baked and enjoyed right away, or frozen for another night.

The filling is basically whatever you want to have, you can use the veggies you already have on hand or your family favorites, I tend to use what is in season and can easily add or omit a specific vegetable that I know someone in the family will not like.

To Reheat the Casserole

Remove from your freezer, at least 30 minutes before baking.  It does not need to thaw completely.  Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour and a half, until heated through.

More Casseroles you may enjoy

Texas Hash
The Firehouse Special
Hashbrown Casserole
Pizza Puff Potato Casserole
Easy Chicken Casserole
La Bamba Mexican Casserole

Chicken Tater Bake

Yield:  6 Servings

1 pound chicken tenderloins, cut into 1 inch cubes
Small onion, finely diced
2 teaspoons chopped garlic
Drizzle of olive oil
Mixed Summer Veggies (I used zucchini, squash, red peppers and carrots)
2 tablespoons flour
Milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Chopped parsley and cilantro to taste
Shredded cheese ( I used parmesan and mozzarella)
Frozen tater tots (16 oz)


In a large saucepan, drizzle some olive oil, add the chicken and cook until no longer pink.  Add the garlic and onion, stir and simmer for a few minutes until onion is translucent. 

Add in the summer veggies, and cook until they are tender.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and mix well, then slowly start pouring in the milk and stirring to remove all lumps.  Add as much milk as you want, I usually do about a cup and a half, depending on how much gravy I want.  Cook over low heat until the sauce thickens.

Finish off with some cilantro and parsley and then transfer to a 13 x 9 baking pan.  Top with some shredded cheese, then evenly spread the tater tots on top. 

Bake in a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes or until potatoes are cooked and casserole is bubbling.