Home!

We survived.  Not only did we survive our first camping trip of the year, but we had a great time.  Nothing better than chilling with my fam, oh and hitting up Costco.... :)

This week I am featuring a recipe from Budget Bytes.  A blog with amazingly yummy sounding dishes and cost effective to boot!  Go over and check out her blog, I promise it's worth the trip :)

Hope you all had a great Easter!  Happy Eating!

xoxoxoxo
Mealplanningmama

Monday - Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches

Tuesday - Guacamole salad   served in tortilla bowls found here
(Guacamole salad recipe courtesy of Budget Bytes)
3 medium ripe avocados
3 large roma tomatoes
1/4 red onion
1 clove garlic
1 small lime
1/4 bunch cilantro
1 whole (or less)jalapeno
1/4 tsp salt
about 10 cranks fresh ground black pepper
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 can black beans

Dice the tomatoes, jalapeno, onion, garlic and cilantro and place them in a bowl. Dice the jalapeno, onion, garlic and cilantro very finely while leaving the tomato in larger chunks (approximately 1/2 inch square). Dice the avocado about the same size as the tomatoes. Save the avocado for last to minimize the time that it is exposed to oxygen and reducing the likely hood of it turning brown. Once the dressing is mixed in, the acid from the tomatoes and lime will keep the avocado from turning brown during storage.
In a small bowl combine the olive oil, juice and zest from the lime, salt and pepper. Pour the mixture over the diced vegetables and stir to combine!

 Wednesday -Choo's chicken marinade, basmati rice and roasted veggies
3/4 c. olive oil
1/2 c. soy sauce
2 T. Worcestershire 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 (our favorite is chicken) marinade for 20-30 minutes or as long as 24 hours. 

Thursday -steak caesar wraps

1 head romaine lettuce
4 whole wheat tortilla shells
1 large or 2 small steaks, sliced THINLY
1 cup croutons
parm cheese

Grill steak until desired doneness, Slice thinly.  Take tortilla shell, spread caesar dressing on shell, add lettuce, steak croutons and sprinkle with parm!  Wrap and ENJOY!


Friday - Steak & crab legs (for Mr M) , roasted asparagus and baby red potatoes


Saturday - Wasabi and Panko-Crusted Pork chops
Ingredients
2/3  cup  panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

1  large egg white, lightly beaten
4  (4-ounce) boneless center-cut loin pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick)
1  teaspoon  peanut oil
Cooking spray
1/8  teaspoon  salt
1  tablespoon  bottled ground fresh ginger (such as Spice World)
1/3  cup  fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2  tablespoons  sake or dry sherry
2  tablespoons  low-sodium soy sauce
2  teaspoons  sugar
1  teaspoon  wasabi paste
1/3  cup  thinly sliced green onions

Directions: 
Place panko in a shallow dish. Place egg white in another shallow dish. Dip pork in egg white; dredge in panko.
Heat peanut oil in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat; add pork. Cook for 4 minutes on each side or until done. Remove pork from pan; sprinkle with salt.
Reduce heat to medium. Add ginger to pan; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Combine broth and the next 4 ingredients (through wasabi) in a small bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add broth mixture to pan, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Stir in green onions. Spoon sauce over pork.

Sunday - Nacho casserole!

Looking forward to Monday

As suspected the end of the week played out differently than planned.  I was a meal planning genius until Thursday hit.  It all fell apart from there.  Let me tell you why......I made Mojitos on St. Paddy's day, you know because they are green, and apparently St. Paddy was Cuban. Silly, silly me.  So Thursday became an eat out night, too sluggish to cook if you know what I mean.  Friday Mr P. showed up with steaks and garlic bread, and Saturday the boys errr I mean Men didn't want to eat so we fended for ourselves!  

Tomorrow I am excited for sushi out with Mr P and the fam, after Lu's dance class.  Happy eating my friends!

xoxoxoxoxo

Mealplanningmama

Monday – OUT

Tuesday – Italian Marinated Chicken &  roasted Parmesan asparagus

4 chicken breasts
1 pkg Good Seasons Italian dressing or if you don't have it available season with the following:

1 tbls. garlic salt
1 tbls. onion powder
1 tbls. sugar
2 tbls. oregano
1 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. basil
1 tbls. parsley
1/4 tsp. celery salt
2 tbls. salt

Mix with
1/2 c. olive oil
1/4 c. balsamic vinegar

Combine all ingredients in a ziploc bag. Marinate overnight. Bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 min.

Roasted Parmesan Asparagus

Ingredients:
1 bunch pounds fresh asparagus
1 tablespoons good olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
2 lemons cut in wedges, for serving (I just squirted some lemon juice on them before roasting)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
If the stalks of the asparagus are thick, peel the bottom 1/2 of each. Lay them in a single layer on a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender.
Sprinkle with the Parmesan and return to the oven for another minute.
Serve with lemon wedges.

Wednesday – Drunken Porkchops found here with green beans and rice

Thursday - Leftover Pasta Bake ( frozen from a few weeks ago)

Friday - Steaks on the BBQ and grilled veggies

Saturday - Tomato / Chicken / Mozzarella Salad

2 breasts Cold Grilled chicken
approx. 1 cup Fresh Mozzarella cubed, or 1 container Mozza balls
1 carton grape Tomatoes
1 package Fresh Basil
Garlic Salt – to taste
Pepper – to taste
Balsamic Vinegar enough to coat the salad

Directions
Cut tomatoes, chicken, mozzarella into small bite size pieces
Grill the chicken the night before…OR grill and cool in fridge
Grape work well…If using regular tomatoes, remove the seeds so its not to juicy.
Combine with fresh basil - you can leave the basil in leaves or chop, depending on your taste.
Add garlic salt & pepper to taste
Add enough balsamic vinegar to coat, and have some at the bottom

It is best if you make it a few hours ahead.
You have to taste it and add whatever it needs more of before you serve it. I served it with slices of baguette, but it could stand on its own or go with pita or anything else you have around. Add pasta if you want it to be heartier… but the pasta will suck up a lot of balsamic… so you will need to add more.