Sunday, April 18, 2010

Break time over!

I took a long needed break from blogging and super meal planning...I have been flying by the seat of my pants for meals, and its been more costly than ever. So back to normal for us.

Sunday:
Oven Baked Country-Style Ribs
pasta salad
canned baked beans

3 lbs boneless country-style pork ribs
1 medium onion, chopped fine
3 large garlic cloves, minced
olive oil
3/4 cup ketchup
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
juice of one lemon
1 tablespoon stone ground mustard
1 teaspoon grated horseradish
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the ribs in a lined baking dish.
In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add the olive oil. Add the onions and saute until the onions are tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, stirring constantly for another minute. Add the remaining ingredients. Turn the heat to medium and let the sauce bubble for an additional 10 minutes. Pour the sauce over the ribs, evenly coating them. Cover the dish tightly with foil. Bake for one hour, then remove the foil and turn the meat over with tongs and cook, uncovered, about 30 minutes longer.

Monday:
Spinach and turkey sausage calzones
salad

2 loaves frozen bread dough or make homemade dough
1 lb. Ricotta
1 lb. shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
1 lb. frozen thawed chopped spinach, drained well or use fresh, blanched and drained
3 links Italian turkey sausage
Salt and pepper and garlic powder to taste

Let dough rise twice. Remove skin from sausage and brown, into tiny pieces, then cool. Mix cheese, eggs, spices, spinach, and sausage together. Divide dough into 6 pieces. Flour working area - flatten each piece (one at a time) into about 5 inch circles. Fill center of dough with about 1/2 cup of filling, then fold dough over into turnover shape.
Moisten edges with water then press together tightly to seal. Brush with watered egg on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes or until browned.

Tuesday:
Salmon burgers
oven baked onion rings
burger fixings: lettuce, tomato, pickles

1 (6 1/2 oz.) can Alaska pink salmon
2 tbsp. mayonnaise
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 c. dry bread crumbs
1/4 c. finely chopped onion
1 tsp. parsley flakes
1/8 tsp. garlic salt
Oil

In medium bowl, combine salmon, mayonnaise, egg and lemon juice, bread crumbs, onion, parsley and garlic salt. Mix well. Shape into burgers (mixture will be moist). Heat 1 or 2 tablespoons oil in large skillet. Place burgers in skillet. Cook over medium heat until browned. Turn. Brown other side. Serve on whole wheat buns.

Wednesday:
Turkey chili (or chicken may be used)
cornbread

1 lb. ground turkey breast
1 med. onion, chopped
1 (8 oz.) can tomato paste
1 c. water
3 tbsp. chili powder or to taste
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 cans red beans, rinsed
1 c. tomato catsup, low sodium
Vegetable cooking spray

Brown ground turkey and onion in a skillet coated with cooking spray. Mix remaining ingredients except beans together. In a 3 quart saucepan, combine turkey, onion and sauce. Simmer, covered 20 minutes. Add beans and continue cooking for 45 minutes.

Thursday:
Easy fish tacos
mac and cheese (boxed is fine)

2 lbs Tilapia
2 tsp butter
1 tsp olive oil
whole wheat tortillas
tartar sauce
shredded cabbage

Heat butter and olive oil in pan, cook fish for 3 minutes on each side. Serve in tortillas with tartar sauce and shredded cabbage.

Friday: (A repeat but heavily requested)
Chicken and mushrooms
with sauteed spinach
baked sweet potatoes

Chicken:
2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts diced
8 oz sliced mushrooms
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 clove minced garlic
1/2 cup feta cheese
salt and pepper
fresh chopped parsley
2 cups spinach

Heat butter and 1 tbsp olive oil in non stick pan and saute mushrooms for 4 minutes. Remove from pan, replace with remaining olive oil and diced(salt and peppered) chicken and cook over medium heat until chicken is cooked thru about 7-10 minutes. Add mushrooms and spinach and cook until the spinach is wilted and incorporated, about 2 minutes. Serve with baked sweet potatoes.