Thursday, April 22, 2010

Hot Dogs

This week I made my grocery list and had to come up with one more day for food. I didn't know what I wanted to make and was just out of ideas....even after my Relish website help.
I finally decided that grilled hot dogs sounded good and wrote it in the menu.
I went to the store and bought regular bun length all beef hot dogs and then I bought some cheese hot dogs. I bought some nice buns, some Bush's Baked Beans, and I got some mixed fruit.
Now, here it is Thursday and tonight's dinner is hot dogs. My whole family is sooo excited about having grilled hot dogs for dinner, even I am excited! I guess that tells you that we don't do hot dogs for dinner very often/ever.
This is really not a typical meal in my house because I guess I don't feel like hot dogs are a good healthy meal and something I should be feeding my family for dinner.
I guess that's why we are all so excited about boring, American classic, hot dogs for dinner!
I guess it really is the small things in life that make us happy! :-)

Monday, April 12, 2010

So good I had to share

Tonight for dinner I made Chicken, Pepperoni and Swiss Cheese Roll Ups
They were super easy to make and the kids LOVED IT!
I always love when a new dish goes over really well with everyone in the family. Since dinner was won over by so many age groups, I thought I would share it here with you! Let me know if you try it, and what you think! Bon' Appetit'!

6 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/3 tsp Italian Seasoning
1 1/2 C prepared marinara sauce
12 Large Pepperoni
4 1/2 Tablespoons Butter, Melted
1/3C Parmesan Cheese, grated
1/3C Breadcrumbs



Preheat oven to 400 degrees
1) Place each chicken breast between a sheet of plastic wrap and, using a meat mallet, pound thin. The flatter you can get the chicken, the better. Sprinkle the chicken with Italian seasoning.
2) In a baking dish, pour the marinara sauce evenly in the bottom of a 9x13 pan, so that it is covered.
3) Place equal amounts of pepperoni and Swiss cheese on each chicken breast
4) Using both of your hands together, roll each chicken breast up as tight as you can and place in the baking dish on top of the marinara sauce. Try to keep as much of the pepperoni and cheese inside of the chicken as possible.
5) In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs. Set aside.
6) Once all of the stuffed chicken breasts have been placed in the baking dish, top them with the butter mixture, spreading evenly over the top of each stuffed chicken roll-up. Bake for 4o minutes. Serve immediately.

COOKS NOTES:
Instead of using plain breadcrumbs and Italian seasoning on each chicken breast, I just used Italian breadcrumbs on the topping and that gave it enough flavor.
I also bought Turkey Pepperoni to cut down on the fat content, I did however, use about 5 pepperoni per chicken breast.
I also put the chicken into a zip lock bag and closed it shut before pounding thin. Simply put onto a plate and move onto the next chicken breast. I feel like it makes the pounding a lot easier and a lot cleaner.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

This is not a paid advertisement

So I have been checking out this new website called relishrelish.com You pay $7 a month to go online, pick out a menu and then print out a shopping list. It is SO easy and SO quick and saves me so much time trying to come up with a menu. So far we have liked everything I have made. There have been a couple that I probably won't make again but it wasn't an inedible dinner. Just check out what I am having for dinner this week.

40 clove Garlic Chicken
Chicken, Pepperoni, and Swiss Cheese Roll up with Salad
Flank Steak with Molasses Drizzle and Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar
Naked Chicken Burrito Bowls with chips and salsa
Sweet and Tangy Meatloaf with honey glazed Carrots
Margarita Chicken and black bean, rice salad
Sizzling Garlic and Citrus Shrimp with Rice and Spinach Salad with Pears

That's it, how yummy does all that look? Yummmm! I may change some of it and not have so many salads or just do plain salads with Ranch dressing that the kids like or I may cheat and buy some Rice - A - Roni but really it doesn't matter. This gives me the basics and I can add or subtract what I want. Really, if you are looking for a new and easy way to help you plan dinners, I really encourage you to check out this website! :-)

Happy Cooking!

Monday, April 5, 2010

I wish it wasn't over

Today is the last day of Spring Break! I am soooo bummed! I have loved having Jason home, the kids home and doing some fun things around town. We had some yummy food this past week and just enjoyed being a family. It was great!
Jason started his new job today in St. Louis and the kids go back to school tomorrow. I am trying not to complain and see the good in today but I am honestly just sad. I don't want the kid to have to go back to school and I def. don't like Jason being gone again! But, only 4.5 more weeks of school and then sweet summer is here! I can't wait! :-)
Here are a few Spring Break photo faves, it really was a GREAT time!