Week 72

Running a bit late today, so this will be quick.  At the moment, Ari is wanting me to nest some little Christmas boxes that we have, so this will be REALLY quick.

Menu:

Goat Cheese Asparagus Pasta + Brussels Sprouts

Salmon + Broccoli

Beef Stew + Bread

Asian Meatballs + Carrot, Ginger Salad

Burrito Night!

Pizza

Josh's Lunch

Shepherd's Pie

Breakfast -

Apple Ginger Smoothies

Week 71

Getting over the old walking pneumonia.  Not fun.  But very thankful for antibiotics.  So this week is  a mix of easy and more involved.  Josh was jonesing for some shephard's pie.  So that is on the list!  Because I must deliver.

Menu:

Goat Cheese and Asparagus pasta + Brussels

Pizza Salad

Tilapia and Broccoli

Shepherd's Pie

Black Bean Ragout (Smitten Kitchen cookbook, p. 137)

Sweet Potato Blintzes (SK, p. 131)

TJ's Indian Food - easy peasy

Oh, and trying the fig, sea salt, and olive oil challah (SK, p.45)

Week 70

Thanksgiving is at our heels; it just sort of sprang up on us in the night.  I spent the first half of the week in Memphis, and on the flight home it dawned on me.  Thanksgiving.  Sweet Moses.  So I called Kaila, hostess of the year, on the way home from the airport, that is how devoted I am.  From the conversation I learned there will be quite a few peeps at feast of thanking.  Sooo that means more food.  And more organization (which is not really something I like to think about), but luckily, some organized ladies are coming and assignments have been made!  So here is what I am bringing:

Turkey

Sweet Potato Souflee

Brussels Sprouts - from Alton Brown, I made these last year for Christmas and they were pretty fantastic.

Cranberry Sauce - using Nigella Lawson's from _Feast_  - pretty simple, sugar, cranberries, and orange juice.  I love watching the cranberries split open. p. 35

Gravy (from TJs)

Blueberry Lemon Pie (from the _Flour_ cookbook, I used it last year, and liked it) - p. 217

Homemade Nutella Tart (also from the _Flour_ cookbook) p. 225

I haven't found a stuffing that I really love, so I will probably pick up some bags of Pepperidge Farm stuffing - what we grew up using.  But then again, some people might volunteer for that, so maybe not.  We shall see.  I am so excited for the feast, I plan on making the crusts and the cranberry sauce today.

I am going shopping a bit earlier than usual, so here are eight meals to get us through until the the next incredible shopping day.

Salad Pizza
Tilapia and Broccoli
Lentil and Sweet Potato Soup + Bread (p. 121 Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc)
Poached Chicken with Peanut Sauce + Veg - kale or spinach
Sushi Night + Miso
Ginger Fried Rice + Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Lemon Asparagus Pasta + Roasted Butternut Squash
Chicken Pot Pie + Salad (and also hopefully go into some sort of amnesia when it comes to how much butter is in this thing).

Week 69

We just got back from a rollicking trip to Georgia in which we saw a record six muffler men!  Mostly chiefs, which I like, actually.  However, on this trip, I jacked my back somehow - who knew that sitting could mess up one's back?  Perhaps it was sitting and the combination of a cough that was getting a bit out of hand.  But anyway, got back, had to get my back fixed and really three days later, I am finally getting around to cooking.  Finally.  Going to the store, being an adult, all of that.  So here is what I have got going on this week:

Mushroom and Barley Pie + Greens

Salmon + Broccoli (Henry is really digging the broccoli steamed with soy sauce lately)

TJs Indian beauty

Goat Cheese and Asparagus Pasta + Acorn Squash

Quinoa and Kale + Roasted Sweet Potato

Cauliflower Soup + Bread

Barley Salad for J's lunch

Week 68

Fall is official, friends.  So.  I am geeking out about the idea of roasting vegetables, making soup, baking bread, and letting the oven do its thing.  Also, since Henry has started school, I have become more interested in cooking quick meals.  No more crazy, pot-producing, mess-inducing, at least not for now...

Menu:

Burrito night

Poached Chicken with peanut sauce and acorn squash

Salmon and kale salad

Trader Joes' Indian feast

Goat Cheese Asparagus pasta and broccoli (sesame marinated)

Chicken sausage, potato, and apples (p. 109 DALS)

And maybe a treat or two.  I am running eight miles this weekend, so I think I can handle it.

Week 67

Fall is making itself cozy.  Today was our first day actually needing to wear a jacket outside.  Also, my first honeycrisp apple purchase.  So here's to one of my favorite seasons, sweeping in and carrying us along.  The shops are filling up with Halloween doo-dads, much to the delight of my boys.  The other day, Ari had to protect me from ghosts the whole time we were at Lowe's.  And pumpkins are popping up, today at the grocery store, Ari told me that they were for Halloween.  Correct!  The best holiday.  So here is this week's menu:

BBQ Salmon and cauliflower - from DALS book, p. 215

Black Bean burritos - DALS, p. 53

Split Pea Soup and Bread

Peanut Butter Noodles (DALS p. 261) and kale salad

Poached cold ginger chicken and salad

Also:
May have to make these cookies.

Week 66

School has started, days are cooling off to a temperature where I actually want to be outside.  It has been a bit stressful, with the schooling (all new to us), and all the birthday celebrating, but I think I feel like I am catching up to it.  I am already a bit sad to say goodbye to summer, although we have a few sturdy weeks left.  I feel like summer isn't quite over until after Labor Day.  So here is to another week of summer food.  The garden is slowing down with the tomato supply (quite sadly), so I will need to use those up soon, and figure out what to do with the tons of green toms left.

Menu:

Cold Ginger Chicken with Kale Salad

Cold Soba Noodles with Asian Slaw

BLATs  and sweet pot fries

Burrito Night - Aye Aye Aye

Pesto Rotini and veg

Josh - Roasted veg for lunch

Gyoza and Edamame (backpocket dinner)

Oh, and some berry pudding!

Week 65

We just got back from a whirlwind tour of St. Louis and Springfield, IL (think Abe Lincoln extravaganza!).  As part of that, I am most definitely playing catch up.  Also, it's the infamous two-week birthday boys time at the house, Ari turned three on the seventh, poor guy doesn't really know it because I haven't made his birthday cake yet!  Argh, so I am attempting to not only get caught up on the basic household duties, but also birthday duties (because I feel terrible that Ari's birthday sort of slipped off the map).

So here is this week's plan (including two birthday dinners, two cakes, one pannacotta):

Thai Curry with Zuchini and Chicken - using the amazing zuchinis from the garden.

BLAT's with Sweet Potato Fries

Goat Cheese Asparagus Pasta with Kale Salad

Burrito Night

Coconut Red Lentils

Ari's Birthday Dinner:
Jamie Oliver's bacon, pea, and macaroni and cheese
Raspberries
Mud Cake

Henry's Birthday Dinner:
Shrimp Rolls
Blueberries
Asian Slaw
This Cake (white layer cake from Cook's Illustrated)
with This frosting (vanilla honey buttercream)
Family party dessert - Mango Pannacotta

Week 64

Summer.  Nineties heat.  Not feeling like watering the garden today, I will admit it.  I finished my bike ride a few days ago and now I am finally feeling like, you know, walking, lifting my head, etc.  Nonz and Can will be here this week, so it should be good times.

Menu:
Chicken sausage, watermelon, and three bean salad

Thai chicken skewers, coconut peanut sauce and Asian slaw

Salmon and the best broccoli ever

Asparagus Goat Cheese Pasta and Raw Kale Salad

BLTs and Zuchini Fries

Bean Burrtios!

Week 63

I am so sorry Mr. Dusty Blog.  This happens every spring, I get outside and garden and not pay one iota of attention to food or cooking.  I am a terrible blog parent. 

So, since it is beautiful (for the most part) outside, I am keeping this week fairly sweat-free.

Here goes:

TJ Indian Meal

Gyoza and Edamame

Pasta and Garlicky Broccoli Rabe

Pizza Salad

Beans'n'Bacon

Coconut Red Lentils and Rice

Week 62

The weather is too amazing to be in the kitchen right now.  Plus, I have a new bike that I need to break in, and a garden to dream about.  So this will be Easy Street this week.  Ahhh.  Hooray.

Here goes:

TJs frozen Indian, Naan, rice

Salad Pizza

BLATs + Carrot Salad

Salmon + Broccoli

MacNCheese (JO's) + Kale

Split Pea Soup+Bread

And that is that!

Week 61

It's 80 degrees outside, good golly Miss Molly.  I may have to phase out the soups soon, but the split pea was just so good.  Really.  So I included it here, but I think soup season may be inching to a close.  Which means more salads!!  I ordered my seeds today, I think Garden 2012 will be awesome.  I just hope I didn't plan too many plants.  I can't help myself.

So here goes:

Salmon and Sesame Oil Broccoli (via Melissa Clark - Best broccoli ever).

Salad Pizza

Corned Beef, Cabbage, and Potatoes - for my Irish blood

BLATs and Carrot Salad

Split Pea Soup + Bread

Week 60

Spring seems like it is on the horizon.  This winter hasn't been too shabby, but I am ready to get outside and garden.  Really ready.  And I am bored with all the food I have been making, so this week I am shaking things up.  Only two basics of the bunch, the rest are new to me.

Veggie Enchiladas (from Ms. Martha Stewart) with Cafe Rio Rice

Split Pea Soup + Bread

Fancy Dinner Sunday: Beef Daube + Greens + Lemon Cake

Pulled Pork Sandwiches + Broccoli

The Puglia Streetwalker Pasta + Salad

Pizza

Brrrrito night (get it? Brrr, it's winter, ha ha ha)

Week 59

Whew, I have to shoot this off.  In a hurry.

Salmon and Melissa Clark's garlicky, sesame oil, broccoli (so good!)

Salad Pizza

Linguine with Sardines and Haricots Verts

Sausage and Lentil Soup + Bread

Burrito night (I am kind of over burrito night, but the five-year-old isn't, blergh)

BLATs and Dilled Potato Salad (I know I had this on the menu last week, but the salad takes a pickling, which puts me in a pickle, because I can never remember to do it the night before.  Here is to putting on my thinking cap this week).

Cafe Rio Night!  It's like a Mexicanish Thanksgiving!

Week 58

I am just keeping it real, y'all.  So real that this menu is basically the same thing as last week.  But it is easier, ant that is just fine with me.

So here it is:

Salad Pizza

Salmon plus Potato Salad

Shrimp roll-ups and Brussels Sprouts

Bean Burritos

BLATs and sweet potato fries

Week 57

Winter is finally acting like a proper winter, which I oddly appreciate.  This means it is time for braising, baking, and warming up the house with the power of the old oven.  Unfortunately, for my diet, I have injured my hip while running.  Ugh.  This means two weeks of NO activity, which is getting me down.  Because of the lack of activity, I had the intention of making the week's meals light, however somehow bacon crept in.  Bacon always has a way of creeping in.  Ah well. 

Here it is:

Salmon and Roasted Balsamic Brussels sprouts

Salad Pizza

Turkey Burgers

Hot and Sour Cabbage Soup + Bread

Pasta e Fagioli

Burrito night!  Henry recently ate at a friend's house and came home to tell me how great it was - bean burritos!  So amazing!  He asked me if we could make them - heck yes!  We can make them!  I am going to try this crockpot recipe for the refried beans - not a big fan of the canned.

Week 56

First of 2012!  Hooray!  From now on, I promise the best, and only the best, meals.  Since this is the last year on the planet (however, I thought, 1999, was also going to be the last year on the planet...), it ought to be yummy.  Which stinks when I am on a caloric restriction.  Ugh.  Ah well.  So far I have lost over ten pounds, and may have gained a few over the holiday.  But the food was worth it, my friends!  It is true that we were going through an alarming amount of butter.

So here it is for the week:

Roast chicken and Waldorf salad - in the pressure cooker

Salad Pizza

Salmon and Brussel Sprouts

Red Lentil Soup + Bread

Pesto Pasta + Roasted Cauliflower