Menu Plan 11/30/09

Monday - turkey/spinach stromboli

Tuesday - turkey & sweet potato something-or-other (those are the main ingredients, haven't figured out what I'm doing with them yet!) UPDATED: I decide to go with creamed turkey over biscuits and baked sweet potatoes.

Wednesday - pasta, steamed veggies

Thursday - FIFI (Find It, Fix It)

Friday - soup and sandwiches

Saturday - goulash

Butterscotch Brownies

I made these for a meeting this week, and they got rave reviews! I needed something quick, easy, and made with ingredients I had on hand, so I turned to my trusty Betty Crocker cookbook. These are so simple, it's almost embarrassing! No chocolate in these brownies, but they are G-O-O-D!!

For more Tempt My Tummy Tuesday kitchen tips and recipes, click over to Blessed with Grace. And don't forget to visit my main blog, Not a DIY Life.



Butterscotch Brownies
1/4 cup shortening (I used real butter, don't be afraid of butter, people!)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup chopped nuts (I used walnuts)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom and sides of an 8x8x2 square pan.

2. Melt shortening (ahem, butter) in 1.5 quart saucepan over low heat, remove from heat when melted. Stir in brown sugar, vanilla, and egg. Stir in remaining ingredients. Spread in pan.

3. Bake 25 minutes. Cool slightly in pan on wire rack. Cut into 2-inch squares while still warm.

Menu Plan 11/23/09

Easy week for planning, since most of the Thanksgiving Day planning was finished weeks ago!


Monday - pork bbq/sweet potato crock pot meal

Tuesday - pasta, steam veggies

Wednesday - pumpkin soup (something like this recipe, but I may make substitutions) (why do most Food Network recipes call for ingredients that I don't usually keep in my kitchen???)

Thursday - THANKSGIVING DAY

Fried Turkey
Stuffing
Gravy
Potatoes
Broccoli/Cauliflower Salad
Green Beans
Rolls
Pumpkin Pie
Strawberry Torte
(and a pumpkin hummus appetizer)

Friday - turkey noodle soup, sandwiches

Saturday - creamed turkey over biscuits

My Pizza Dough

I have been meaning to post my recipe for pizza dough for the longest time. We usually have a weekly pizza night; for the fall and football season, it is Sunday night.

I started with a standard dough recipe and have tweaked it for our tastes. And of course, I'm using my trusty bread machine!

A few notes: yes, it really does need the baking powder. It is much too chewy without it. Also, we found that the ratio of 3:1 bread flour to whole wheat flour is just right for us. I add the ground flax meal for added nutrition, but you can certainly leave that out if you want.

For more recipes and kitchen ideas, visit Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.


My Pizza Dough

1 1/3 cup warm water
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp olive oil
3 cups bread flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
2 Tbsp ground flax meal
1 1/2 tsp yeast

Directions:
Add all ingredients to your bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Choose the dough setting.

After the dough has finished rising in the machine, remove from pan and knead 4-6 turns on a lightly floured surface. Roll out with a rolling pin. Transfer to baking stone and finish preparing your pizza as desired*. Bake in a 450 degree preheated oven for 15 minutes.

*Here's how I finish our pizza. After transferring the dough to the baking stone, I rub a little bit of olive oil over the entire dough then spread my pizza sauce. Because I use regular spaghetti sauce, I doctor it up a bit by sprinkling Italian seasoning and either minced garlic or garlic powder over the sauce. Then top with cheese, other toppings, and a little more Italian seasoning.

Menu Plan 11/16/09

Monday - chicken tortillas, steamed veggies

Tuesday - pasta and steamed veggies tossed with olive oil and parmesan cheese (the toddler is going through a "no sauce" phase)

Wednesday - breakfast for dinner

Thursday - FIFI (find it, fix it)

Friday - sandwiches and soup

Saturday - ???

Menu Plan 11/09/09

I'm post dating this menu plan because I am trying to keep track of the meals we are eating, especially when I run out of ideas!


Monday - leftover ziti

Tuesday - chicken, mashed potatoes, corn

Wednesday - chicken stir fry with brown rice

Thursday - FIFI (find it, fix it a.k.a. leftovers)

Friday - grilled cheese and homemade chicken noodle soup

Saturday - chicken bbq

Cottage Dill Bread

My mom has been visiting the past few weeks. She brought with her some dill seed that she had dried from her own garden and said that she wanted to make dill bread while she was here. So I googled a recipe, tweaked it a little, and here's what we made.

You can either use the basic bread cycle or use the dough cycle, then remove the dough shape it into a loaf and bake in a 350 degree oven. It's great bread; the dill and the onion are not overbearing - it's just right!

For more recipes and kitchen tips, visit Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.


Cottage Dill Bread

• 2/3 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 2/3 cup cottage cheese
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
  
• 2 cups bread flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
  
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 tablespoon dry milk powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
  
• 1 tablespoon dill seed
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons ground flax meal
  
• 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast

Directions

1. Measure ingredients into the machine in the order suggested by the manufacturer. Select the Basic Bread cycle.

Menu Plan 11/02/09

Trying to get back on track with menu planning and posting new recipes. Here's our plan for the week.


Monday - Amish Chicken Noodle Casserole

Tuesday - pulled pork and sweet potatoes (bought a Boston butt on markdown last week, so it is already cooked. should be at least three meals for us!)

Wednesday - Mom's potato soup (recipe coming soon!)

Thursday - grilled cheese and carrot sticks (music practice night, need a quick dinner with easy clean up)

Friday - chicken stir fry

Saturday - not sure yet

Sunday - homemade pizza night!