Weekly Meal Plan #45

SUNDAY
 Hubby went fishing... so Grouper

MONDAY
Chili (ground beef on sale)

TUESDAY
 *new* Chicken Portobello Lasagna

WEDNESDAY
 *new* Hearty Italian Soup with Parmesan-Pepper Cornbread Biscotti

THURSDAY
Pan Roasted Chicken with Lemon Garlic Green Beans

FRIDAY
Pizza Night (pizza dough BOGO)

SATURDAY
COLLEGE GAME DAY!... so no idea :)

Last weeks recap

Chicken Boursin Bundles

Meatloaf

Salmon with Honey Mustard Glaze

Sauteed Mushrooms & Cheese Ravioli with Italian Sausage

 

{Pinned there, Done that} Cheesy Mushroom Bread

Another pin  has been moved to the Completed Pin's Board on Pinterest... what what!

Actually, truth be told, I found this pin for Cheesy Mushroom Pull Apart bread from Bean Town Baker a few months back... and have made it like 4 times so far. It was AMAZING! I am only NOW posting about it :)

First, I made it for an evening playdate at my house when hubby was off playing army and I had some moms and kids over. HUGE hit! Then I shared it with my mom who made it for her neighborhoods monthly cocktail party (PS how cool is that?! When I retire I want to live somewhere that all the neighbors get together and throw monthly cocktails parties). Even my dad, ye of few words regarding food, commented on how good it was. So then I decided to make it for my brother and future sister-in-laws "Day at the Lake" bridal shower... again, HUGE hit! Then I brought it to one of our Junior League Salad Suppers (which is a party we have for some girls in the community that are interested in joining the Junior League) and they liked it so much I brought it to another Salad Supper.

It goes without saying that I am a fan of this recipe... and so is everyone who I have shared it with!

Here you go... in case the original post goes missing:

Compliments of Bean Town Baker
Cheesey Mushroom Pull Apart Bread

Ingredients (serves 4-6)

For the Mushrooms

• 12 oz sliced mushrooms
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme

For the Bread

• 1 unsliced loaf sourdough bread
• 12 ounces Provolone cheese, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup finely diced green onion
• 2 teaspoons poppy seeds

Instructions

For the Mushrooms

Heat a medium skillet on medium. Add the butter. Once the butter is melted, add the mushrooms. Cook 4-5 minutes until they start to sweat. Add the thyme and continue to cook another 2-3 minutes.

Set mushrooms aside and allow to cool.

For the Bread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cut the bread lengthwise and widthwise without cutting through the bottom crust. This can be a little tricky going the second way but the bread is very forgiving.

Place loaf on a foil-lined baking sheet.

Insert cheese slices between cuts. Pour the mushrooms between the cuts. Use your fingers to push the mushrooms down into the loaf.

Combine butter, onion, and poppy seeds. Drizzle over bread. Wrap in foil; place on a baking sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Unwrap the bread and bake 10 more minutes, or until cheese is melted.

{Pinned there, Done That} Homemade Fruit Snacks

The other day I was putzing around on pinterest (go figure!) and I came across this recipe for homemade jello fruit snacks from Six Sisters' Stuff, so I pinned it.
 

Then a couple days later while hubby was watching baseball and I was patiently waiting for the game to be over so we could watching something I decided to give this a shot; plus I had all the ingredients.

Not gonna lie, the girls loved them; but they love fruit snacks and gummy bears and anything of that texture so I wasn't overly concerned. Also, it was fun to make.

However, the thing that crossed my mind was the cost. I mean, to be honest the price of gelatine and jello has gone up lately. Gelatine is like $1.50 per box (that contains 4 packets of jello), and one box of jello is $1.39 or something (not to mention the cost of your time, if you want to factor that in). Maybe my molds were too big, but it didn't seem quite cost effective. I think I got like 20, maybe. You can get prepackaged fruit snacks at the grocery 2 boxes for $4 and get like 10 packs of 8(ish) fruit snacks. Next time I will try not filling my molds so full and that may make a difference.

Clearly, I haven't really done research on how many fruit snacks you can buy versus how much this recipe makes yada yada... but this was just my initial opinion.

PS - I just opened a packet of Sunkist fruit snacks and it had 8 pieces in it.


In case the original post goes missing... here is the recipe, courtesy of Six Sisters' Stuff:

Homemade Jello Fruit Snacks Recipe:

Ingredients:
1 (3 oz) package gelatin, any flavor
2 (.25 oz) envelopes unflavored gelatin
1/3 c. water

Directions:
Sprinkle the gelatin over the water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat and stir until gelatin is completely dissolved.  Pour into molds and allow to set at least 20 minutes.

Weekly Meal Plan #44

Ok, I never got around to posting last weeks... my bad! So I'll just do a long recap :)

Sunday
Chicken Boursin Bundles

Monday
Salmon (sale) with Honey Mustard Glaze

Tuesday
Meatloaf with Broccoli

Wednesday
*new* Sauteed Mushrooms & Cheese Ravioli with Italian Sausage

Thursday

Friday
PIZZA NIGHT!

Saturday
*new* Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Cheese Grits and Spinach

Recap

Shrimp Pesto Pasta

Mediterranean flat bread (publix apron meal)

Shrimp & Sausage with pasta

Encrusted Tilapia

 

Pecan Encrusted Tilapia

Andoulli Sausage Red beans and rice

Hello 3rd Trimester!

Wow, I've hit 28 weeks and my 3rd trimester! Woo hoo!

I'm not gonna lie, this pregnancy is FLYING by.
Although I'm sure the fact that I am chasing around 2 other rugrats, school just started, I'm trying desperately to close on a house (that we have had an offer on since January...but that's another post entirely), I'm planning my daughters 2nd birthday party for this weekend, and the Holidays are approaching is helping this 3rd pregnancy fly by.

So I had to look it up on Babycenter.com, but by this week, baby girl #3 weighs the same as a chinese cabbage (2 1/4 lbs) and 14.8 inches from head to heels.

I had my oh-so-yummy (mmm sarcasm)glucose test at this weeks appointment and lets keep our fingers crossed for no gestational diabetes. I'm not overly concerned since I didn't have trouble with the past 2 pregnancies, BUT you never know!

Also, for the past 2 monthly appointments I gained more than I should have (um, like 5 lbs each month - but right before those appointments I was in New Orleans, Hello Beignet's, and my brothers wedding) and my doctor brought it up a few times that I need to be careful what I'm eating. Apparently, for this appointment I need "to get an award" for my weight gain. I'm better off than most now (I didn't gain any weight in the last 3 weeks).  Oh well. I will keep my eye on it!

Here's hoping for an uneventful next 12 weeks!
Phew, 12 weeks! Saying it that way sounds like it's super far off! However, my calendar for the rest of the year frightens me:
Jillie's 2nd birthday party
My 30th birthday & Clemson football trip weekend
Halloween
Eric's birthday
Thanksgiving
BABY #3 due
Christmas in Georgia
New Years
.... Oh and sometime, moving in to a new house!

{Pinned there, Done that} Funfetti Cake Dip

Every so often, us moms get together for evening playdates with the kiddos (without the hubbys) for dinner. Typically the host's husband is out of town and just wants some company, so the rest of us head on over there for a fun evening.

This week I decided to choose one of my dessert pins to bring over and let everyone be my guinnea pig on. The winner was...
Eat Yourself Skinny's Funfetti Cake Dip

This was a HUGE hit and super easy. To be honest, I actually mixed it all together in my car.

What?! 

Totally not weird, honest. Ok, maybe a little bit.

It was one of those days where I was ALL OVER THE PLACE. This recipe says to mix it and let it chill for 4 hours, so by the time I got the ingredients I had to do it right away, but I also had to go get my daughter from preschool then head to the car dealership to fix something that was supposedly fixed 2 days ago... anyway. So I brought my cooler bag and some ice packs and prepared it in the grocery store parking lot and let it set for the next few hours.

Turned out GREAT!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In case the recipe gets lost in cyberspace...

Funfetti Cake Dip
Src - East Yourself Skinny

1 (18.9 oz) box Funfetti cake mix

2 cups fat-free plain yogurt

1 cup lite Cool Whip

Fat-free animal crackers

In a large bowl, mix together cake mix, plain yogurt and Cool Whip until completely combined and you see no more lumps.  Cover with plastic wrap and allow to chill for about 4 hours.  Garnish with additional sprinkles if desired and serve with animal crackers, enjoy!   

 

 

Weekly Meal Plan #43

Woo, I am late... again... oh well :)

SUNDAY was...
Chinese takeout - we has just gotten back from our Disney trip (woo hoo) and were not in the mood for cooking

MONDAY was...
Mediterranean flat bread (publix apron meal) 

TUESDAY
Dad's Spicy Garlic Shrimp 

WEDNESDAY
Creamy Mushroom Risotto with Rosemary Grilled Pork Tenderloin

THURSDAY
Pecan crusted Tilapia

FRIDAY
Pretzel Crusted Chicken

SATURDAY
Football!! So... not a clue. Bar food maybe?

Last weeks recap:


Spaghetti with Grilled Italian Sausage

 

Chef Salad

Florentine Chicken Soup

 

{Pinned there, Done That} Pizza Night #16

Pizza Night #16 was thanks to Mrs Happy Homemaker . I had pinned this recipe for Eye Round of Roast (which was awesome by the way), see...

Anyway, we had LOTS left over... so scrolling to the bottom of her recipe, she says:
" *Got leftovers?? Turn them into a mouthwatering Philly Cheesesteak Pizza!"

So that's what we did!

It was fabulous!

However, I must say that she said "Using a food processor or blender, shred up the leftover roast into small bits" ... not gonna lie... it turned mine into crumbs! No joke! I tried both my food processor (which wouldn't work and kept jamming) and the blender. It still tasted great and was probably easier for the kiddos to eat anyway.

Here's the recipe in case the original is MIA:

Philly Cheesesteak Pizza
Mrs. Happy Homemaker - Phlly Cheesesteak Pizza
Ingredients:
 •leftover eye of round roast, or any other beef roast
 •cheese
 •sauteed onions & garlic - you can add bell peppers and mushrooms too if you want
 •jarred alfredo sauce
 •pre-baked pizza crust

Instructions:
Saute whatever veggies you want & set aside.
Using a food processor or blender, shred (or puree in my case!) up the leftover roast into small bits.
Spoon a little alfredo sauce onto an prepared pizza crust uncooked pizza dough.  Top with the roast, sauteed veggies, & cheese.  This go round, I used green peppers, onions and garlic for the veggies - and on one pizza I used pepperjack & on another I used parmesan, mozzarella & torn strips of provolone.
Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes. as long as the dough requires... ours was closer to 18/20 minutes

Weekly Meal Plan #42

Howdy!! First of all, YAY for College Football Season (especially Clemson, woo hoo!).

How is everyone doing? Happy Labor Day! I hope everyone is having a great Labor Day weekend; we spent some time in the pool and cleaning the cars this weekend (one of the girls favorite things to do; lets hope it stays like that until they are older and can wash the car themselves).

It's another half-week of menu planning for me... my brother, sister in law, niece, and mom are coming down and we are heading to Disney for a few days! Poor hubby can't join us.

SUNDAY was...
Spaghetti with Italian Sausage

MONDAY
Florentine Chicken Soup

TUESDAY
Shrimp with cherry tomatoes, and pesto over pasta

WEDNESDAY
Chef Salad

THURSDAY - SATURDAY
DISNEY!

Last weeks recap

Italian Mac n Cheese

Hamburger, veggies, mashed potatoes

Chicken Boursin Bundles