Week of October 15-19

Short menu this week, due to our crazy schedule, but I thought I would share what's on our menu this week.

MENU

Night 1 - Crock-Pot sweet and sour chicken
Night 2 - Spicy tomato, arugula, turkey bacon grilled cheese serve with a light Light Tomato Basil Soup

RECIPES

Night 1 - Click here for the Crock Pot sweet and sour chicken.

This recipe looks easy and great.  I love Chinese food, but I hate the calories that go with it.  This recipe does call for some perpetration, but it as the creator of this menu stated, most are staple items in your pantry and fridge.

Night 2- Spicy tomato, arugula, turkey bacon grilled cheese serve with a light Light Tomato Basil Soup - click here for the soup recipe.  

For the grilled cheese, it is pretty basic.  Between two slices of good whole wheat bread, stack pepper jack cheese, tomato slices, cooked turkey bacon and little bit of arugula. Grill on a panini maker or on the stove top...pictures will be posted soon :)

GROCERY LIST:

• 1 lbs. of chicken breast
• 1 package of turkey bacon
• 1 cup of plain greek yogurt
• 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 pkg. of monetary jack with jalapenos cheese. 
• 1 package of fresh arugula
• 1 lemon
• 2 small onions
• 1 small green pepper
• 4 medium fresh tomatoes
• 4 cloves of fresh garlic
• 1, 28-oz cans of diced tomatoes
• 1 small cane of tomato paste 
• small can of pineapple chunks
• brown sugar (only need 1/2 cup)
• white sugar (only need 1/2 cup)
• white vinegar
• olive oil
• vegetable or reduced sodium chicken broth (only need 2 cups)
• soy sauce (reduced sodium)
• cornstarch
• Rice of your choice (to be served with the crock pot chicken)
• 1/2 cup of fresh basil
• seasoning/spices: garlic powder, ground ginger, Italian seasoning blend (sage, oregano, parsley),  crushed red pepper flakes, sale & pepper.

Ready for Fall!

I, like every Floridan, am ready for fall.  And just because it is still humid and in the 90's during the day, doesn't mean you can not cook with the new season of produce, spice and flavor.  I am starting the week off with some easy dishes and hopefully by Thursday  the week calms down work wise and I have some time to experiment with this new pumpkin recipe I found while searching the web a.k.a Pinterest!

MENU

Night 1: Ground Turkey sloppy sliders served with a mixed salad.
Night 2: Left over turkey sloppy mixed with whole-grain spaghetti and a side of green beans.
Night 3: Pear Black Forest Bacon Frittata with fruit and whole grain toast.
Night 4: Pork and Pumpkin Noddle Bowls

RECIPES

Turkey Sloppy Sliders, click here.  This recipe has all of my favorite ingredients and LOVE LOVE LOVE that she likes to add flavor with spices and fresh vegetables and not with processed canned ingredients.  This recipe make about 8 sliders and 4 regular sandwiches   To make sure I have enough for the next night I am adding the ingredients by half.

For the salad, I am going to use some of the green beans I need for tomorrow, cucumber, crasins, sunflower seeds and a little bit of the feta needed for the last meal of the week.  Topping it with a blue cheese vinaigrette (my new addiction).

Left over creation - EASY. Boil half a package of whole wheat pasta.  In another pan, heat up the left over sloppy mix on a stove top over medium heat.  When the pasta is done, mix with the sloppy.  Top with some shredded low-fat cheddar cheese. DONE!

For the green beans  I simply steam, but you could easily bake in the oven with some olive oil, lemon, garlic and salt.  Gives them a fresh, crunchy taste. 

Frittata, click here for the recipe.  This dish isn't that bad for you, calorie wise, however, the sodium is pretty high.  To make this one with a healthy twist, I use turkey bacon, 2% milk and reduced-fat feta cheese.  Also, I am not adding potatoes, but if you want to add, go for it and just add to your grocery list. . 

Whole wheat mountain bread and pre-made fruit salad is on sale, so this was an easy side for my family. 

Pork and Pumpkin Noddle Bowls, here for the recipe.  This is a new one and very excited to try. Really have no tips as it appears to be pretty healthy and full of flavor.  I will keep you updated. 

ok, no bowls, didn't add sage and included red onion in the sauce... AMASSING!!

GROCERY LIST:

1 small package of Public pork loin - on sale for $4.99/lbs.
1.75 lbs of ground turkey (only if you are making approx. double of the sloppy recipe) - on sale for  $3.49/lbs.
1 loaf of whole wheat mountain bread - on sale for $2.59
1 package of small slider buns or pkg. of wheat wheat buns.

1 small red onion
1 small sweet onion
1 garlic bulb
1 cucumber (for the side salad)

2 pears - in season and on sale for $.99/lbs.
1 lbs. of green beans - on sale for $1.69/lbs.
1 pkg. of Fresh Attitude salad mix- on sale 2 for $4
Turkey bacon - Jenny O turkey bacon on sale for $1.99
1 box of whole wheat linguine

1/2 cup of canned pumpkin
2- 15 oz. can of tomato sauce
1 small can of black beans
1 pkg. of Crasins (for the side salad)
1/2 gallon of low fat milk
1/2 carton of eggs

1 pkg. (at least 4 cups) of Low fat cheddar cheese or Gouda (for the sloppy)
Feta or blue cheese crumbles (for the pork and pumpkin noodle bowls)
Salad dressing of your choice

Soy sauce
Cider vinegar
Small container of corn starch

6 fresh sage leaves
Spices: salt, pepper, paprika, ground cumin, celery salt, garlic powder, chili powder