Weekly Menu 11/19+

Saturday		slow cooker cheesy chicken & potatoes
Sunday		italian sausage with peppers & onions spinach garlic mushroom bread
Monday		tacos
Tuesday		italian chili oatmeal chipper skillet
Wednesday		chicken parmesan citrus salad w/ bacon
Thursday		thanksgiving
Friday		leftovers or sandwiches mashed potato casserole

Saturday

Slow-Cooker Cheesy Chicken & Potatoes (Kraft Food & Family)

§  1 large bell pepper, chopped

§  2 carrots sliced diagonally (for fun)

§  1 lb thinly sliced red potatoes

§  1 tsp paprika

§  8 chicken thighs (skin removed)

§  1 can cream of chicken or mushroom soup

§  4 oz Velveeta, cut into ½” cubes

§  1 T worcestershire sauce

§  ¼ c chopped fresh parsley

Place peppers in a slow cooker sprayed with cooking spray; top with potaotes.  Sprintkle paprika over chicken.  Plae 4 thighs in slower cooker; cover with soup and remaining thighs.  Place lid on crockpot.  Cook on low 6-8 hours or High 3-4 hours.  Use slitted spoon to transfer chicken and veggies to platter.  Turn crock pot to High.  Add velveeta and Worcestershire sauce to liquid; stir.  Cover and cook 5 minutes.  Stir until cheese is completely melted and sauce is well blended. Spoon over chicken and top with parsley. 

Sunday

Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions

§  Italian Sausage

§  Olive Oil

§  red bell pepper slices

§  sliced onion rings

Cut sausage in 3” pieces on the diagonal (makes it look fancier).  Add oil and sausage to skillet and begin to brown sausage.  Add onions and peppers as you turn the sausage and let it all get carmelized and yummy.  If your family really likes it go crazy and add some spaghetti sauce too.

Frozen Spinach

Garlic Mushroom Bread

§  ¼ c mayonnaise (the real stuff)

§  1 can mushrooms pieces and stems, drained and chopped

§  ¼ c parmesan

§  ½ c mozzarella cheese

§  ½ tsp garlic powder

§  1 tsp dried parsley

§  bread (it can be as plain as leftover hot dog buns or as fancy as an artisan loaf)

Combine all ingredients, except bread in a small bowl.  Spread over bread and then bake in oven 10-25 minutes.  If you are brave you can also broil the bread to get all the cheeses to melt and brown slightly. 

Monday

Tacos

Tuesday

Italian Chili

·         1c cooked ground beef

·         ½ c cooked bulk Itialian sausage

·         28 oz diced tomatoes

·         8 oz tomato sauce

·         1 c chopped onion

·         1 c chopped red bell pepper

·         1 c water

·         ½ c chopped celery

·         ¼ c beef broth

·         1T chili powder

·         1T basil

·         1T oregano

·         1t sugar

·         1t minced garlic (1 clove)

·         ½ t salt

·         16 oz kidney beans (optional)

·         1c sliced fresh mushrooms

·         1c diced zucchini

·         3T parsley

Combine all ingredients, except beans, mushrooms, zucchini and parsley, into slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for six or more hours until veggies are tender. Add remaining ingredients. Serve with mozzarella cheese.

Oatmeal Chipper Skillet

·         ½ c butter (1 stick)

·         ½ c brown sugar

·         ¼ c sugar

·         1 egg

·         1 tsp vanilla

·         ¾ c flour

·         ½ t baking soda

·         ¼ t salt

·         1 ½ c uncooked oats

·         ½ - 1 c chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350.  In large bowl beat butter and sugars with electric mixer till creamy.  Add egg and vanilla.  Add combined flour baking soda and salt.  Stir in oats and chocolate chips.  Press dough into bottom of nonstick oven proof skillet.  Bake 20 minutes or until top is lightly browned.  Do not over bake as cookie will continue to bake out of the oven.  Cool at least 10 minutes, serve with ice cream. 

Wednesday

1.       Spinach washed in warm water gets rid of the sand that likes to stick to the leaves, more so than cool or cold water. 

Chicken Parmesan

·         Boneless chicken

·         1 egg

·         ¾ c Italian seasoned bread crumbs

·         1T butter, melted

·         1 jar spaghetti sauce

·         1 c mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400.  Dip chicken in egg, then bread crumbs, coating well.  Melt butter in 9x13 pan.  Place coated chicken in pan.  Bake uncovered 20 minutes.  Pour spaghetti sauce over chicken, then top with cheese.  Bake additional 10 minutes until chicken is cooked. 

Spinach Salad

·         Washed spinach

·         Sliced mushrooms

·         Sliced boiled egg

·         Bacon bits

·         Thinly sliced peeled navel orange

·         Balsamic vinaigrette

Garlic Bread

Thanksgiving

Eat what your family likes, enjoy their company, have some great laughs

If you have the chance to 'win' the turkey carcass, be sure to cover it with water in a large pot, add onion, celery, carrots, salt & pepper and a dash of red wine vinegar (to extract the calcium).  Let it simmer for hours.  Freeze the broth in 1 quart containers for the gumbo and soups coming up in the next weeks, or in 2 c containers for smaller versions or needs.  

Friday

1.       This is a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes from Thanksgiving, or whip up some more. 

Leftovers or Sandwiches

Mashed Potato Casserole

§  3-4 c mashed potatoes

§  2T butter

§  ½ c sour cream

§  1 c grated cheddar

§  6 slices bacon, crumbled

Combine potatoes, butter and sour cream and spoon half into a 1 ½ qt casserole.  Layer on cheese, remaining potatoes and top with bacon.  Bake 30-35 minutes or until heated through.