Tuesday Lunch

For lunch today, I ate the leftover tortillas from last night with a wonderful rice recipe I got from my mom-in-law:

Cheesy Spanish Rice

2 C. hot cooked rice
1 C. Monterey Jack Cheese
1 C. sour cream
1 4 oz can chopped green chilis
salt to taste

Mix all together. Add sour cream if you like it creamier, and heat if the cheese isn't all melted.

Monday, What's for Dinner?

Tacos! With homemade tortillas:

2 C. white flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/4 C. shortening
3/4 C. warm water

Stir dry ingredients together, cut in shortening to resemble bread crumbs, then stir in water. Knead well, let rest 10 min. Roll into circles, using extra white flour (takes practice, the first ones look like amoebas) Makes 12 to 14 tortillas, about 10 inches across.

let's regress

Going back from Sunday to Saturday night. Why don't all the moms find somewhere to go and let the dads do dinner once in awhile. Saturday I went out with friends to a dinner and a meeting, then pie. The Professor bought the little girls taco bell. Maybe not completely healthy but cheese is their favorite food, so it was a hit.

Sunday Dinner

Lot's of people subscribe to the Sunday Dinner plan. Pot roasts and Roast Chickens abound on this menu. But let me throw this one out there...How about a nice breakfast for dinner? I mean Waffles or French Toast, eggs and bacon/sausage, juice or fruit. How many of us really go the whole nine yards when it comes to breakfast? There's usually just not enough time. Sunday's can be perfect for this. You have church in the morning? No problem, everyone comes home, changes clothes and while the kids set the table, you whip up waffles while the bacon/sausage is frying. Church in the afternoon? Have a brunch before and everyone can snack afterwards. To get you started, here's my favorite quick waffle recipe. I do have one for raised waffles, maybe that one next week...

Sahm waffles

2 C. Flour (can mix wheat and white or all one)
1 T. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3 eggs, separate yolks and whites (trust me)
2 C. milk
1/2 C. canola oil

Mix all dry ingredients, then stir in egg yolks and milk. Add oil and stir lightly til mixed in. Whip whites until stiff, then fold them into the batter. Then just use your waffle iron following the manufacturer's instructions. The batter can be made richer by using a higher fat milk and butter instead of oil.

It's Friday: What's for Dinner?

Do NOT make dinner on this day. Throw frozen pizza or boxed mac n cheese in the direction of the babysitter and RUN!!! Run like your life depends on it!

If you are absolutely unable to do this, do what Carrie does and have Pizza/Movie Night. Buy or make your favorite pizza (let's beg Carrie for her dough and sauce recipes) and get (we love Net Flix and On Demand) a couple of movies. One for the family, and one for when the kids go to bed! Buy good ice cream, or make your's and your honey's fave dessert and snuggle up! Happy Friday!!

Quick Soup Formula

So, in general, I am not a soup lover at all. But every single time I use this recipe (formula) I LOVE how it turns out. Makes for a really, really good dinner and it's easy and quick.
So here goes:

2 T vegetable oil or olive oil
1 med. onion, chopped
1 lb. protein (your choice of chicken, Italian sausage, kielbasa, ham, pork, fish, shrimp, scallops)
Starch (your choice of pound potatoes (cubes), 2 c black beans, white beans, chickpeas, hominy, 4 oz egg noodles or 13 c long-grain rice or orzo-uncooked)
1 c fresh or canned tomatoes
32 oz chicken broth, canned or in a ctn. (also bouillon cubes, 4 plus 32 oz water)
herb or spice, your choice
salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in a soup kettle. Add onions; saute to soften slightly, about 2 minutes. Add remaining veggies, protein, starch, tomatoes, broth, and herb or spice (if using pork tenderloin, shrimp or scallops, add in the last 5 minutes of cooking). Partially cover and simmer until veggies are tender and flavors are blended, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serves 4. Serve with salad and good bread.