Welcome to Dinner By the Week

If you are anything like me, unless I plan out my menus ahead of time, when dinner time comes around I find myself scrounging in the refrigerator for something that isn't frozen. Worst case scenario...we go out to eat.

To counter this, each week, I peruse my cookbooks, decide on a menu, and shop accordingly. I find that 75% of the ingredients I need for my menu are staples I keep on hand. The rest I buy at the grocery store each week. I find this cuts down on waste, impulse shopping, and I never have to make that emergecy trip to the store because I am short one vital ingredient.

I am sharing with you the menus I create each week, along with the list of ingredients needed to prepare each recipe. I hope you enjoy and I look forward to your comments.

Peggy



Friday, July 29, 2011

Oven-Fried Parmesan Chicken/ Twiced-baked potato/Salad

Oven-fried Parmesan Chicken
1/2 Cup egg beaters
1/4 fat-free milk
3/4 grated Parmesan cheese (use fresh, NOT the canned version)
3/4 Cup dry bread crumbs (italian work best, although plain can be used in a pinch)
2 teas. dried oregano
1 teas. paprika
1/4 teas. ground black pepper
1/4 Cup flour
4-6 chicken thighs, breasts or legs (use what appeals to you, although cooking time might vary) with skin     removed
1/4 Cup butter or margarine, melted
Snipped fresh oregano or parsley (optional)

1) Preheat oven to 375 F. Coat a large, shallow baking pan with cooking spray; set aside. In a small bowl combine egg beaters and milk. In a shallow dish or pan, combine parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, oregano, paprika, and pepper. Add flour to another shallow dish.

2) Dip chicken in flour, shaking off excess, then dip into egg/milk misture, and coat with crumb mixture.  Arrange chicken in prepared baking pan, making sure chicken is not touching. Drizzle chicken with melted butter.

3) Bake for 45-55 minutes or until chicken is tender, no longer pink (170 F for breast halves; 180 F for thighs and legs).  Do not turn chicken during baking.  Garnish with fresh oregano or parsley.


Twice-baked potatoes are a wonderful side dish to accompany the chicken.  To save time, I bought mine from Sam's Club (in the frozen food section).  Served with a salad, this makes a delicious, filling meal.

Serves: 4-6
Cook time: 45-55 minutes

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Teriyaki Beef with Noodles/ Eggrolls

Teriyaki Beef with Noodles
1 pound boneless sirloin cut in strips
1 can (14 oz.) beef broth
1/4 C. teriyaki stir-fry sauce
1/2 teas. garlic
Dash of crushed red pepper flakes
1 package frozen stir-fry vegetables (thawed)
3 oz. chinese noodles cooked (Whole wheat angel hair pasta works well)
1 teas. corn starch mixed with 3 Tbl. water

1) Spray 12-inch skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Cook beef in skillet 2-3 minutes (DO NOT OVERCROWD or meat will steam instead of brown) sirring occasionally. Remove beef from skillet; keep warm.

2) Add broth; stir-fry sauce, garlic, and red pepper flakes to skillet. Heat to boiling. Stir in thawed vegetables and noodles. Reduce heat to medium.  Stir in corn starch mixture.

3) Stir in beef. Stir gently until sauce is thickened (2-3 minutes).

Serve with: frozen eggrolls heated per manufacturer's directions.

Serves 4
Cook time: 10-15 minutes