Family Meal Planning

  Planning out your meals ahead can save you time, money and less stress!

The best way to do this would be, to sit down and discuss with your family what types of meals they would like for the upcoming weeks.

  Also look into purchasing a dry erase calendar board, or simply buy a specific calendar for meal planning OR just draw/print it out your self, make a list.

Whatever works best for you and your family!

  This also saves the stress of "what am I going to make for dinner tonight?!" or having to ask your family each and every day! 

Post your calendar or list on a bulletin board or on the fridge, display it where every family member can see, and know what dinner is for that day.

Here is an Example of what I would do..

Always Try to have a left over day or a simple day once a week!

You can usually count on having left overs when you cook chili, a soup or a large pot of beans.

That is, if you're not feeding an army.. =)

Hopefully this was helpful to you =) I know it has helped us over the years!

Also, If you have any requests on recipes you would like me to blog, send me an email laraskitchen701@gmail.com.

Thank you, 

Lara

Crustless Spinach Quiche

We decided on breakfast for dinner tonight, aka "brinner" =)
This dish would be a wonderful addition to a brunch as well.

So here is my twist on a simple spinach quiche!

YOU WILL NEED:

5 Large Eggs

1/4 yellow onion

1 cup cooked & drained chopped spinach

1 cup Monterey & Cheddar cheese (& some additional for topping)

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1 TBSP butter

Bread crumbs

Seasonings:

Salt & Pepper

sour cream (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees

& butter a 9 in pie pan or quiche dish

cook and drain spinach, set aside.

Now you want to put your 1/4 yellow onion in the food processor and pulse until finely chopped.

Saute your onions with 1 TBSP butter and a little salt.

Now put 5 whole Eggs into food processor..

Add to that, onions, salt and pepper.

Pulse 6 or 7 times to blend well.

Now add your cooked & drained spinach, 1 cup of shredded cheese and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese

Pulse again until mixed very well.

Pour into your buttered Pie pan or quiche dish

Cook in a preheated oven of 325 degrees for 20 minutes.

Then you want to take out of the oven and spread a light, even amount of bread crumbs on the top

of the quiche.

Then a thin layer of shredded cheese on top of that.

Return to oven for 15 more minutes, then put under the broiler for 2 minutes to crisp the breadcrumbs and cheese.

Let it cool for a few minutes before cutting into pie size pieces.

We topped ours with a little sour cream but that's totally up to you! =)

With a few adjustments to this recipe you could make mini quiches in muffin tins!

Hope you enjoy!

Cream Cheese Turkey Burgers

You have probably noticed a trend in my posts, I LOVE cream cheese. I try to incorporate it in most 'fitting' dishes =)
Anyway, So tonight was no different, and I decided to experiment as I often do.

YOU WILL NEED:

2 lbs of ground turkey

1 package hamburger buns

4 oz cream cheese

Italian Dressing

Ranch Dressing

Dales

Worcestershire sauce

minced garlic

Seasonings:

pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Lawrys, Tony chacheres

DIRECTIONS:

You want to start putting in your seasonings (to your preference) & about 1 TSP of minced garlic,

a splash of dales, Italian dressing & worcestershire sauce (not too much, you don't want the meat to get too mushy)

and add in 2 ounces of cream cheese, little pieces at a time.

Mix together well.

Now Form into Patties and Pepper them.

(I use a piece of wax or parchment paper to separate the patties so they don't stick together and so you don't dirty more dishes!)

Cover with saran wrap and put in the refrigerator while you get the grill started. (or you could make them in the broiler, or in a skillet- up to you) We grilled them, well my husband did =)

When you cook them you want to make sure they are cooked all the way through! And that the liquids run clear when you press down on the burgers with a spatula.

While those are cooking.. you can get started on the cream cheese "spread", if you will.

Take the remainder of your cream cheese (2 ounces) and a generous squirt of ranch dressing, you want to mix them together in a double boiler until soft and creamy.

You can put this in the refrigerator for a few minutes for it to cool.

Now you can toast your hamburger buns under the broiler

Putting your burger together..

I put the cream cheese spread on the top bun because it was taking place of the usual "sliced cheese"

I put my other condiments on the bottom bun.

Then placed on Turkey Burger

and Voila!

Hope you all enjoy! My family and I really enjoyed it! =)

Taco Farfalle Skillet

This is actually something I threw together just last night, experimenting with some of my favorite ingredients! =)

It was absolutely delicious!

Hope you enjoy! =)

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

1 lb ground turkey (or beef, we prefer ground turkey)

1 packet of taco seasoning

1 can rotel tomatoes mild with diced chiles 

1 box Farfalle (bow tie noodles)

4 oz cream cheese (1/2 block)

1 package shredded  sharp cheddar

Taco Bell mild restaurant sauce 

Sour cream

Seasonings:

Salt, pepper, onion powder 

DIRECTIONS:

In a LARGE, deep skillet brown your meat, drain and then add taco seasoning with a little water and simmer 

Boil your Farfalle al dente 

Now you can add your rotel tomatoes to your browned, seasoned meat

Now let that simmer for a little while so it can thicken.

I then add about 3 tbsp sour cream at this point 

Now drain your noodles and pour into skillet and toss until well coated with sauce

I add in a few shakes of this for a little flavor and spice 

Now cube and add 4 oz of cream cheese 

Put on lid to let simmer and allow cream cheese to melt

Now for the last step, you want to add the shredded sharp cheddar cheese and cover top of noodles 

Return lid again and allow steam to melt cheese

Now you're ready to serve! I added a dollop of sour cream on top of mine, but you could garnish and add whatever you like! 

Enjoy! 💙

 

Cream Cheese Spinach Chicken

This has become a family favorite =)

I'm going to try to start doing my pictures step by step. Sometimes I forget or I'm not sure I'm going to blog that particular meal so I will forget to take step by step photos, but I'm getting better about it I think =) 

Also these pictures were taken with my iPhone so please excuse the quality. 

I'm going to start taking pics with my good camera!

Anyway...

YOU WILL NEED:

5 thinly sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 package frozen chopped spinach

1 8 oz block cream cheese

4 tbsp flour

3 tbsp butter

1 tsp minced garlic 

3 chicken bouillon  cubes

1 cup milk

Parmesan cheese

Italian dressing (for marinating chicken)

Seasonings:

Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder

DIRECTIONS:

First you want to prepare your chicken.. This particular time I grilled it. But you could cook it in the skillet too.

Boil your chicken bouillon cubes in a separate small pot.

Cook spinach and drain

Then add in 1 tbsp flour and 8 oz block of cream cheese & half cup milk 

Now you can make your cream sauce..

You melt 3 tbsp butter with 1 tsp minced garlic.

Slowly add in 3 tbsp flour, now you can slowly add in your chicken broth and 1/2 cup milk and let simmer until its thick and creamy 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Now time to layer..

Put a small amount of the cream cheese spinach mixture in the bottom of a 13 x 9 pan.

Then you want to put your chicken breasts on top of that

Then layer on the rest of the spinach mixture on top of the chicken

Now you will need to pour on your cream sauce 

Now top with Parmesan (fresh is better, but this is all I had at the time)

Now you cook in the oven  325 degrees for about 25-30 minutes (until spinach mixture is bubbly and Parmesan is melted.

Voila!

I also think this dish would be fantastic served over Farfalle noodles ;)

Updated: September 5, 2013

I cooked this same dish exactly the way I always cook it except I cooked farfalle noodles to go with it.

I boiled and drained the noodles and then tossed them with butter, garlic and Parmesan cheese, then placed the chicken breast on top.

It was delicious and more filling! =)

BBQ Night

My Husband and I Love to cook out on the grill. I do all the marinating and prep work and of course making the side items, he sticks to the grilling =)

Coca~Cola BBQ Ribs, Baked Beans & Potato Salad

Normally with every BBQ the usual side items I make are baked beans, potato salad & bbq bread. Occasionally we will have mac-N-cheese as well.

 Coca~Cola BBQ Ribs

YOU WILL NEED:

1 Slab Smithfield Spare Ribs

1  2 liter coca cola

4 bay leaves

1 tbsp minced garlic

BBQ sauce (homemade or bottle, we prefer sweet baby rays)

worcestershire sauce

Spices:

pepper, paprika, Lawry's, Tony Chacheres, onion powder, 

garlic powder, chili powder

DIRECTIONS:

First cut slab in half, rinse then pat dry.

rub down with seasonings and worcestershire sauce.

Then layer the slab in a large pot, preferably a stock pot.

scatter in the minced garlic and toss in the bay leaves.

Pour whole 2 liter of coca cola into pot over ribs.

Bring to a boil for about 30 minutes and reduce heat to low and let simmer for another 30-45 minutes.

Then pat ribs dry again and rub down again with just the seasonings.

Place on the grill for 15-20 minutes and baste on BBQ sauce while cooking.

Tent them with foil after removing from grill and let them rest for at least 20-30 minutes before cutting.

Southern Style Baked Beans

YOU WILL NEED:

1 Can of baked beans (I use Bush's original)

1 green bell pepper

1 onion

1 tbsp vegetable oil

2 tbsp brown sugar

mustard

BBQ sauce

(usually I will put slices of bacon a top my baked beans, but did not have any this time)

spices:

salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, lawry's, tony chacheres

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat Oven to 325 degrees

First Chop or put your onion and bell pepper through the food processor,

then saute them with the vegetable oil and salt until the onions are translucent.

Pour can of baked beans over into a small casserole dish, then dump in onions and bell pepper.

Add Brown sugar, squirt of mustard, squirt of BBQ sauce, and seasonings to taste.

Layer bacon on top and bake for about an hour (until bubbly and it has thickened)

Mama Shirley's Potato Salad

YOU WILL NEED:

5 lb bag RED potatoes

4 large eggs

1/2 jar DILL pickle relish

Mayonnaise

Mustard

Spices:

Salt, Pepper, Tony Chacheres, & paprika

DIRECTIONS:

Peel and cube your potatoes.

Boil in salted water along with your eggs.

cook until potatoes are done (soft, not mushy)

Drain Potatoes and set aside.

Run continuous cold water over your eggs until they are cool (this will help them peel easier)

When your potatoes have cooled (warm still, but NOT cold),

cut up eggs and add to it.

Add Salt, pepper and a little Tony Chacheres.

then add in dill relish.

Add in your mayonnaise a Tablespoon at a time ( I usually start out with 3 tbsp)

and a few squirts of mustard.

stir until all potatoes are coated well, at this point you can decide if you need to add more mayonnaise, mustard or seasonings( your preference).

smooth out and sprinkle paprika on top and voila! =)