A Week of Menu Ideas

Hey everyone!

How was your weekend?

It has been amazingly HOT here lately!! We walked to breakfast yesterday morning (at like 7am) and it was already burning up outside!! Sheesh. I heard on the news (again this week!!) that we are supposed to get a break this week, and I will be so happy when that happens!

The heat is sapping my creativity (lol). I'm getting a lot of cooking ideas from Pinterest lately - it seems so much easier - and more fun! - than going through cookbooks and recipe notes! (: I'm not always making the same exact thing, but I am getting a lot of good ideas there. Some times, I change things up based on what's in my cupboards or some "shortcut" cooking method that would make my cooking time faster.

Monday
Sweet Potato Burritos
Seared Broccoli

{Noodles from simplyreem.com}

Tuesday
Ginger Soba Noodles
Miso Soup

Wednesday
Red Beans (1)
Brown Rice
Sauteed Garlic Spinach

Thursday
Garden Burgers
Greek Salads

Friday (2)
Make Your Own Pizza
Frozen French Fries
Vegetarian Orange "Chicken"
Carrot Sticks

Saturday
Dinner Out

Sunday
Pasta and Homemade Marinara (3)
with Garlic Bread
Green Salads

Notes:

(1) Red Beans Recipe (adapted from Leanne Ely's recipe) New Orleans-Style Beans: In a skillet, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium high heat and saute 1/4 cup each: onion, green bell pepper and celery. Add 1 clove crushed garlic, 1/8 teaspoon thyme. Mix this 1 can of kidney beans beans and serve on top of rice with hot sauce and a little melted butter (or Earth Balance) with greens on the side.

(2) As you can tell, Friday is going to be a clean out my freezer night! I need some space in that thing so I am going to clean out what's there (we will have some things for dinner) and start making some room.

(3) I love this recipe and I really am planning on giving it to you guys one of these days. Basically, I use canned tomato sauce, add it some spices that I like and some shredded carrots (to make it sweet), a spoonful of tomato paste and then let it simmer for about 1/2 an hour (covered) on low. This is my MIL's recipe and I don't actually have it written down, I just know what to put in and how I can adapt it based on what I have. (:

What are you having?
More later! (:

A Week of Menu Ideas - Enchiladas, Tofu, and Soup

We went to the Laguna Beach Sawdust Art Festival this weekend. If you haven't been and you are interested in arts and crafts of all kinds, this is definitely a place you would want to visit. It doesn't matter if you are into sewing, making your own jewelery, crafts, sculpture, ceramics, woodworking, glass working, painting, or upcycling - you can find inspiration (and stuff to buy!!) there. It's really amazing to see so much stuff like this in one place. It's like an upscale craft fair (on steroids).

I didn't buy anything this year - I usually buy one or two things - but, I did make - or "throw" - a ceramic bowl. It was so awesome and so cool. I've never gotten to do anything like that before.

But, now we are back to the week, and here's what I have planned for the week:

Monday
Black Bean and Sweet Potato Enchiladas
Sauteed Greens

Tuesday
Baked Ginger Orange Tofu
Couscous
Carrots and Sweet Peas with Tarragon


{Photo by Annabelle Breakey for Sunset Magazine}

Wednesday
Cold Zucchini and Basil Soup
Green Salads with Cucumbers
and Homemade Vinaigrette

Thursday
Garden Burgers
Cobb Salads or Fruit Salads

Friday
Baked Potatoes
with Chili (or Broccoli) and Cheese

Saturday
Dinner Out

Sunday
Ravioli / Pasta Dinner
Green Salad
Garlic Bread

My plan for this week is to cook everything (except the garden burgers and ravioli) on one day. This will help so that I don't have to heat up my kitchen every.single.day (it's too hot here and if I wait, then I know I just won't cook everyday because I don't want to get the kitchen going). With this plan, I can cook the potatoes, tofu, and enchiladas at the same time (I may have to add on five or ten minutes to the total cooking time, but if I get everything in right around the same time, I can cook three dinners at one time). Whew!! I will just put stuff in containers in the fridge and when I get home from work each night, I can either put stuff into the toaster oven while I make the sides or put dinner into the microwave if I need to. Also, with the enchiladas, we won't be able to finish all that I will make so I will be able to take some for lunch one day and freeze the rest for another week when I don't have a plan or don't feel like cooking. (:

Oh - if you haven't already, please check out my giveaway for a chance to win a complete digital scrapbooking system from My Memories!
What did you do this weekend?

More later! (:

A Week Of Menu Ideas - Dad's Cooking, Salads, Pasta

Hey everyone!! How are you?

It has been so hot here the last couple of days...but, finally (!), the weather is supposed to break a bit during the week! whew! (:

Here's what I have planned for dinner this week:

Monday
Dad's Choice (I'm going to the gym early - - dad's in charge tonight!)

Tuesday
Simple Chef's Salads
(Garbanzo and Kidney Beans, Cukes, Tomatoes, Cheese, and Homemade Mustard Vinaigrette on Romaine Lettuce)

Wednesday
Baked Sweet Potatoes with Chili on Top
Sliced Oranges
("Bake" the potatoes in the microwave until almost done; finish them up in an oven or toaster oven; used canned chili or pre-made homemade)

Thursday
Garden Burgers
Left over Bonanza

Friday
BBQ Tempeh Tacos
Sweet Potato Chips
(We were going to have this last week, but ended up going out for dinner instead; so since I already have all the stuff, it's on the menu again this week)

Saturday
Dinner Out

Sunday
Pasta
Sauteed Greens
Garlic Bread

What fun things did you do this weekend?
More later! (:

A Week of Menus - Wraps, Tacos, and Stir Fry

We had an exciting day yesterday - we went to the baseball game and Miss No-No got to run the bases!! (It wasn't like she was chosen to run the bases, every kid at the game could do it, but it was so cool and so awesome!!)....and we got to go down with her! So, even though WE didn't get to run the bases, we did get to go down on the field. It was magnificent and awe-inspiring to be down there and see the field from that angle!

Here's what I have planned for dinners this week:

Monday
Nori Handhelds with Brown Rice (1)
Green Bean Noodles with Peanut Sauce

Tuesday
Grilled Vegetable Wraps with Lavash Bread (2)
Greek Salads

{Stir Fry with Noodles}

Wednesday
Tofu Stir Fry
Miso Soup

Thursday
Zucchini Ribbon Salads
Roasted Garbanzo Beans
Lavash Bread with Hummus Dip

Friday
BBQ Tempeh Tacos (3)
Brown Rice
Cheesy Broccoli

Saturday
Dinner Out

Sunday
Veggie Pasta
Salad
Garlic Bread

Notes:

1. Nori Rolls - Brown rice (made ahead of time), matchstick carrot and cucumbers, and sliced avocado. I will either roll these into a hand-held "wrap" using a nori sheet or will wrap them "roll-style" using a bamboo mat (from the Asian market) and then cut in 1" sections.

2. Grilled Veggie Wraps - Using large tortillas, spread about 1/3 to 1/2 of the tortilla with a thin layer of hummus and then top 1/4 - 1/3 of the tortilla with grilled vegetables. Roll up burrito style and serve.

3. Tempeh tacos - are so easy to make, and sooooo delicious. Tempeh is a bean cake that you can buy in a health food store. You could easily substitute ground round (I like Yves Brand) or Extra Firm Tofu (if you are subbing, skip the steaming step). Slice and steam tempeh for 15 minutes. Cube or crumble tempeh and add to a skillet with BBQ Sauce. Cook for another 5 - 10 minutes. Put into tortillas and top with whatever toppings you have on hand.

What did you do this weekend?

More later! (:

A Week of Menu Ideas

Are you gearing up for the 4th?? Do you have any great plans? 
I am definitely planning to R-E-L-A-X with my extra day off this week (ahhh, I love vacation - - no matter how short it is - lol!).

Here's what I have planned for the week:


{Zucchini Noodles with Teriyaki Sauce}

Monday
Lettuce Wraps (fast and easy)

Tuesday
Zucchini Noodles
and leftovers

Wednesday
Grilled Garden Burgers
Watermelon
Corn on the Cob
Potato Salad


{Simple Stir Fry with Noodles}

Thursday
Simple Stir Fry

Friday
Bean Burritos
Big Salads

Saturday
Dinner Out

Sunday
Pasta Sunday
Garlic Bread
Salads

Hope your holiday is great!!! If you have anything great planned for your holiday, I would love to hear about it - - leave me a comment let me know!!
More later!! (:

A Week of Menu Ideas - Tempeh, Tofu, and Salads

We were so busy last week!! Miss No-No had her summer recital (and rehersals) early last week, she had TWO days off of school, and her graduation was Friday - She graduated from pre-school!! :) It was fun to watch. We also got a surprise when we got there - Miss No-No SANG (!!!) by herself (!!!) as part of the ceremony. Holy man! I could.not.stop crying - she was so beautiful, so sweet, and just so cute up there...and when she didn't know the words, she just did a little "lalalala" thing. Oh!

Since I about to get all emotional on you guys (lol), I will get to the menus!

We are busy again this week - Miss N is taking swimming lessons everyday after school - which means every meal listed here is super fast and easy (or can be pre-prepped the night before). 

{Asian Noodle Salad from thepioneerwoman.com}

Monday
Pasta with Garlic and Broccoli

Tuesday
Easy Asian Noodle Salads
(with Tofu or Pan Seared Tempeh and Edamame)

Wednesday
Tofu, Brown Rice, and Black Bean Bowls
Sauteed Greens

{Tofu and Black Bean Bowls from fitnessmagazine.com}

Thursday
Tempeh Scalopini with Lemon Caper Sauce
Mashed Potatoes and Small Tomato and Avocado Salads

Friday
Mixed Up Leftovers
Salad

Saturday
Dinner Out

Sunday
Strega Nona Pasta Bowls
With Spinach Salads
What busy things do you have planned for your week?
More later!  (:

A Week of Menus - Mangoes, Mushrooms, and Miso Soup

I hope everyone had a great weekend!!!

My little one's school session ends next week (she's graduating!!!) - - I am thinking about taking her to downtown LA to see that new Disney movie Brave to celebrate.... It sounds like a fun outing!!!

But, while I try to decide on that..... here's what I have planned for dinner:

Monday
Beans and Greens (Sauteed Kale) (1)
Dinner Rolls

Tuesday
Tofu and Veggies
Over Polenta with Pan Roasted Tomatoes

{Jap Chae from wikipedia.com}

Wednesday
Jap Chae (2)
Miso Soup

Thursday
Garden Burgers
Brocc Slaw

Friday
Black Bean and Mango
Salad on Tostada Shells

Saturday
Dinner out

Sunday
Pasta with Homemade Sauce
Salad / Greens with Carrot Curls

Notes:

(1) To make the sauteed greens: trim and wash the greens (I am using kale so I will have to remove the center rib, cut the greens into bite sized pieces, and wash). Heat a little bit of olive oil in a skillet over medium, add 1 - 2 cloves of minced garlic; let cook for 30 seconds; add in greens. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 10 - 15 minutes, adding a tablespoon or two of water when needed (so greens don't overcook and stick to the pan). Remove the lid and cook off as much residual water as possible (or as much as you have time to cook off!). The greens should be tender and wilted down a lot. Press out any extra water against the side of the pan before serving. Add salt and pepper, if desired

(2) Sad to say - my jap chae and my miso soup are from a mix!! But, it's fast, easy, relatively healthy, delicious, and a complete meal on it's own.

What fun thinkgs do you have planned to start off your summer???
More later! (: