Starving!!!!!

It's true I am presently famished.  My lil peanut has had a tummy bug since Friday, and maybe it's just me but it sure kills my appetite.  She is on the mend, and after deciding on this weeks menu, I need to eat.  

This week I am featuring recipes from some wonderful food bloggers!! Mary at One Perfect Bite always has beautiful dishes featured, and leaves me some really encouraging comments,  I will be trying her Salt and Pepper pork chops on Wednesday.  I also like to check out Our Recipe Box weekly.  The Probert Family often makes the chicken marinade I am going to try on Thursday.  And last but not least my tuna pasta salad was inspired by Beth at Budget Bytes I have made a few modifications on her recipe but linked y'all to the original.  Hey you have to give credit where credit is due!

And while you're here, leave me a comment to share what your menu this week looks like!



Monday - Ground Beef Stir-fry 

I cook the ground beef in oyster sauce, chinese 5 spice, diced onion and fresh ginger. I then chop and add whatever veggies are laying in the crisper.   When the veggies are still firm I add a half of a bag of stir fry noodles and 1/3 cup of water to soften the noodles, add a lil more sauce and done! lol

Tuesday - Broccoli & cheese tortellini in a creamy tomato sauce

Ingredients

1 pkg  frozen or fresh cheese or meat tortellini, from 3-1/2 to 5 cups before cooking
4 cups broccoli florets, about 2 stalks
2 cups spaghetti sauce, preferably spicy red-pepper flavoured
1/2  light cream cheese
2 fresh large plum tomatoes or 1 regular tomato 

Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. When water is boiling, stir in pasta. Cook, uncovered, according to package directions until al dente, from 8 to 13 minutes. Two minutes before pasta is due to be drained, add broccoli. When pasta is cooked, drain along with broccoli in a large colander or sieve.
Meanwhile, heat sauce in a large saucepan set over medium heat. Cut cheese into cubes. Drop into sauce. Stir often until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth, about 5 minutes. Seed and coarsely chop tomatoes.
Toss hot cooked pasta mixture with sauce in a large heated bowl until coated. Stir in tomatoes. Serve in large warmed pasta bowls with a grinding of black pepper and a sprinkle of grated Romano or Parmesan cheese.
Wednesday - Salt and Pepper Pork Chops, 


Ingredients:
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/4 pounds boneless thin-cut pork loin chops
2 tablespoons vegetable oil


Directions:
Combine soy sauce, cornstarch, pepper, sugar and salt in bottom of 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan. Stir with a fork until all ingredients are combined and marinade is smooth. Add chops, turning to coat both sides. Cover dish with plastic wrap. Refrigerate, turning occasionally, for 1 to 24 hours.
Heat oil in a large frying pan set over medium high heat. Add pork, working in batches if necessary. Cook 1 to 2 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to serving plate or serve from pan. 


Thursday-   Choo's Marinated chicken , rice & green salad


Ingredients
3/4 c. olive oil
1/2 c. soy sauce
2 T. worshteshire sauce
1/2 t. salt
1 t. pepper
1/4 c. wine vinegar
1 t. parsley flakes
2 cloves garlic-mashed

Mix all ingredients together. Let your meat of choice marinade for 20-30 minutes or as long as 24 hours.

Friday - Tuna Pasta Salad 

Ingredients
12 oz. bow tie pasta
5 oz. can chunk light tuna in water
1 medium lemon, juiced
1/2 diced onion (yellow, purple or green)
1/2 tsp.salt
to taste fresh ground black pepper
3/4 cup light mayonnaise
1 tbsp dried dill
1 cup diced white cheddar
2 cups frozen sweet peas

Directions
Take two cups of peas out of the freezer and let thaw on the counter. Cook the bow tie pasta according to the package directions (boil 5-7 minutes). Drain in a colander and let cool.
As the pasta is draining and cooling, combine the rest of the ingredients (peas, tuna, mayonnaise, lemon juice, onions, salt and pepper). Adjust the lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste.
If your pasta is still hot when you are finished combining the rest of the ingredients, run cold water over it until it has cooled down. Make sure to drain the pasta well before combining it with the rest of the ingredients. Stir the pasta into the pea/mayo mixture until it is well coated. Refrigerate until you are ready to serve!


Saturday - Out


Sunday - Steak on the BBQ, caesar salad, sweet potato fries

Another Short week!

Hello all! The lemon butter chicken is a fave of mine and I am looking forward to trying something new with pork chops! As always I love to get suggestions for recipes and faves from all of you! So please comment, maybe share your weekly meal plan!

And as always, happy eating
xoxoxoxo
Mealplanningmama

Monday -Lemon Butter Chicken, rice and salad 

Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
1/3 cup Italian salad dressing
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
8 chicken tenderloins
lemon pepper to taste
garlic salt to taste
onion powder to taste

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place the butter in a 9x9 inch baking dish, and melt in the oven. Remove from heat, and mix in Italian salad dressing, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce.
Arrange the chicken tenderloins in the baking dish, coating with the melted butter mixture. Season both sides of chicken with lemon pepper, garlic salt, and onion powder. Sprinkle with lemon zest.
Bake 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until chicken juices run clear.

Tuesday -Steak Fajitas 

Ingredients
2 tbsp oil
juice from 1/2 large lime (about 2 tbsp)
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
2 steaks
1-2 tbsp oil
3 large bell peppers, red, yellow, and orange
1 large red onion
salt and pepper

Directions
In a large zip-top plastic bag combine oil, lime juice, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cumin, salt, and steaks. Seal bag and shake and squish to thoroughly coat steaks.
Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add peppers and onion to hot oil and saute until soft and caramelized. Salt to taste.
While veggies are caramelizing, heat grill, grill pan, or frying pan.
Remove steak from bag and grill or sear until cooked all the way through.
Slice chicken and serve with warm tortillas, peppers, sour cream, cheese.

Wednesday -Honey and Spice-Glazed Pork Chops, roasted potatoes and veggies

Ingredients 
¼ cup honey
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Cooking spray
4 (4-ounce) boneless center-cut loin pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick)
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation
Combine first 5 ingredients in a bowl. Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper; cook 2 minutes on each side or until browned. Reduce heat to medium-low; add honey mixture. Cook 10 minutes or until done, turning pork once.



Thursday - Seafood pasta found on Sparkling Ink 

Ingredients
12 ounces dried linguine
4 + 2 tablespoons butter
2 leeks
4 garlic cloves
1 cup frozen peas
1 lemon, juice and zest
a small handful parsley
14 ounces shrimp/crab meat
coarse salt & black pepper
grated parmesan for sprinkling

Directions
Start heating up a large pot of salted water. While the water is heating for the pasta, prepare the rest of the dish. In a large pan, heat 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add in well rinsed and chopped leeks. Saute for 10 minutes without browning until very soft. Mix in finely chopped garlic, thawed peas, lemon zest and chopped fresh parley. Cook for a minute.
When the water is boiling, cook the linguine just until tender following the package instructions. Drain the linguine lightly and return to the pot with some water still left. Scoop the leek mixture over the pasta following with the crab meat. Squeeze in lemon juice and add 2 tablespoons of butter. Toss until the butter has melted and all the linguine is evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle lightly with grated parmesan and parsley.

Friday -Away!
Saturday- Away!
Sunday - Steak on the BBQ!