Meal Plan Monday - January 7th

This is the second week of the Pantry Challenge.  Last week was all about using up leftovers from the holidays, this week I'm focusing on things getting close to their expiration date, like that 1/2 gallon of milk that expires on Tuesday, potatoes left from New Years, chopped ham and a Spinach Rice Bake that's been in the freezer awhile. 

Sunday - Ham and Potato Soup, Cupcakes
Monday -National Championship Game - Football Food!
Football Dip, Queso and Chips, Fruit and Cheese Tray, Pimento Cheese and Crackers
Tuesday - Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs, Spinach Parmesan Rice Bake, Salad
Wednesday - Leftovers
Thursday - Taquitos, Layered Salad
Friday - Subway - Nanny's Treat
Saturday - Black Eyed Pea Jambalaya, Salad, Sugar Cookie Bars

For more menu ideas, visit I'm An Organized Junkie. 

2012 Kitchen Goals Wrap Up

I got ahead of myself  and posted my 2013 Kitchen Goals before my 2012 Wrap Up, oh well....

For the past 3 years (2010, 2011, 2012) I have set 12 goals for the kitchen, one for each month of the year.  This is so much easier than setting a bunch of resolutions and trying to accomplish them all at once.   Here's a recap of my successes and failures for the 2012.

Goal 1 - Pantry Challenge - SUCCESS
Did it!  Third year in a row.

Goal 2 - Clean out utensil drawer - SUCCESS
Did it!  And it is still clean and functional

Goal 3 - Limit dining out/take out to 2 - 3 times per month - SUCCESS
We have done really well with this one, so much so it is almonst non-existant.  Now we treat eating out/take out/or delivery as a treat because we want to, not because we have to.

Goal 4 - More veggies in our menu plan- SUCCESS
Much, much better this year, especially with the addition of salads for dinner at least once a week.  I'm still working on the variety of veggies we eat, but our overall intake is much higher.  We have also added a greater variety of fruits to our meals

Goal 5 - Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day- FAIL
This was the 3rd year this has been on my goal list.  I never got around to it, especially with an emphasis on eating better and losing a few pounds, this just didn't seem like a good fit for our family.  I'm dropping this from my kitchen plans

Goal 6 - Better utilization of garden produce -- less waste - FAIL
Our house flooded at the end of May and the entire summer was spent trying to get it repaired and livable again.  The garden fell by the wayside, there just weren't enough hours in the day to deal with contrators and a garden.

Goal 7 - Dehydrate and freeze more - HALF SUCCESS
Since the garden never really got off the ground, there wasn't much to freeze, but I did use the dehydrator to make dried apples several times this fall.  They have become a favorite snack and a great addition to homemade granola.

Goal 8 - Update Family Favorites and Freezer Cookboooks - HALF SUCCESS
Freezer Cookbook is up to date and the Family Favorite Cookbook is almost finished.  I'm just waiting for some pocket sheet protectors to come in and I can add the tabs and cover pages.  It should be a very valuable resource once it is complete.

Goal 9 - Learn to make and freeze cream corn - SUCCESS
My very good friend and I, following my Granny's directions, prepared and froze and entire bushel of corn.  We had 13 quarts of corn between the two of us.  We have certainly decided to invest in a Pampered Chef Corn Cutter for next year!

Goal 10 - Create a list of family favorite salads - SUCCESS
We have added several main dish salads to our menu rotation this year, including Chicken Caesar Salad, Chef Salad, Layered Salad and Revised Southern Cobb Salad

Goal 11 - Eat at the table and not in front of the TV - FAIL
This is just not our style.  We get home late from work, practices, tutoring and we just want to relax and eat.  I don't think we will ever be a eat at the table all the time family

Goal 12 - Let my kids cook more - SUCCESS
We did this alot this year.  Bubba is fully functional at making himself breakfast in the morning and he is also very good about making sandwiches and cereal when he wants a snack - I know that is not really cooking, but he is much more independent in the kitchen and not so dependant on me.  Next step for him is more "real" cooking.  Boo Boo is my constant sous chef and kitchen helper.  She helps me make everything.  She is great at putting things in the crockpot when she gets home from school so it is not over cooked when we all sit down to eat around 8:00.  She will be doing more independent cooking next.

Risotto

We love risotto around here.  It's such a simple dish and it can be tailored to meet your family's tastes, the seasons and whatever might be lurking in your refrigerator.  Most people steer clear of making risotto because they think it it too hard, time consuming, or high in calories.  It truly is neither.  I can have risotto on the table in about 40 minutes, my kind of weeknight meal.  Serve it with leftover chicken, pork or beef to make leftovers not seem like the same meal again.  This version is a light risotto, with only 243 calories and 4.7 g of fat in a 1/2 cup serving.

Basic Risotto

1 t butter
1 t oil oil
1 medium onion, chopped
6 mushrooms, chopeed
1 1/2 c Arborio rice
1/2 c frozen corn kernels (or other frozen vegetable of your choice)
1/2 c white wine
7 - 8 cups reduced fat, low sodium chicken broth, heated
1/2 t dried thyme (or other spice of your choice)
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1/4 t rubbed sage

Melt butter and olive oil in a 2 qt saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add onions and mushrooms, saute for 2 - 3 minutes.  Add rice, saute 1 minute.  Stir in corn and wine; reduce heat to medium, and simmer stirring constantly until wine is reduced by half. 

Add 1/2 c hot broth, and cook, stirring constantly until liquid is absorbed.  Repeat procedure with remaining hot broth, 1/2 cup at a time, until rice is tender.  (Total cooking time is about 35 minutes.) 

Stir in thyme and next 3 ingredients, stirring until blended.  Serve immediately.  8 1/2 c servings.

Linking up to
Miz Helen's Country Cottage
Life As Mom

2013 Kitchen Goals

Year 4 of setting 12 kitchen goals -- one for every month.  I have done some really cool things over the past 3 years.  I learned to make my own hummus and freeze creamed corn just like my Granny.  I have decreased our comsumption of processed foods.  I have cleaned out drawers, pantrys and cabinets.  I added to and increased my garden output and preservation.  I utilized my extensive Southern Living Cookbook collection and created freezer and family favorite cookbooks.   Whew, I get tired of just thinking about it! 

Here are my goals for this year, some are new, some are carryovers from prevous years and some are continutations of goals that have worked in the past.

Goal 1 - Pantry Challenge (4th year)
Goal 2 - Eat Sunday dinner at the kitchen table.
Goal 3 - Add at least one healthy recipe/month to our Family Favorites Cookbook
Goal 4 - Clean out ALL kitchen cabinets -- downsize
Goal 5 - Better use of leftovers - less waste
Goal 6 - Cook ahead on Sunday for the rest of the week
Goal 7 - Use kitchen appliances - if I don't use it, get rid of it
Goal 8 - Kids cook more
Goal 9 - Redesign some of my kitchen cabinets for better space utilization
Goal 10 -  Learn to make 3 more items I would usually buy at the grocery store
Goal 11 - Plan better lunches to take to work

I only have 11 goals this year, but some are pretty intense, like goal 4 -- I have 34 kitchen cabinets and 9 drawers!  However, each goal is designed to make my time in the kitchen more efficient and better for my family.

Linking up to
Tatertots and Jello
Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

Meal Plan Monday - Jan 1st

I have cooked and cooked and cooked this holiday season.  In addition to my Christmas baking I hosted Christmas Eve dinner for 15, Christmas Day dinner for 8, a New Year's Eve Party for 35 and New Year's Day Dinner for 11.  Whew... I'm tired.  The rest of the week we are cleaning out the refrigerator and eating up all the leftovers.  Next week we will be eating from the pantry. 

Saturday - Chili, Hot Dogs, Pimento Cheese Sandwiches
Sunday - Beef and Chicken Enchiladas, Yellow Rice, Chips and Salsa
Monday - New Year's Party - lots and lots of appetizers
Tuesday - New Year's Day Dinner - Rosemary Pork Loin, Scalloped Potatoes, Collard Greens, Hoppin' John, Cornbread and Cake with Raspberry Filling
Wednesday - Leftover Chili, Hot Dogs, Nachos, Enchiladas
Thursday - Pork Loin, Scalloped Potatoes, Asparagus
Friday -  Finish off leftovers or Breakfast for Dinner
Saturday - Dinner with friends

Linking up to I'm An Organized Junkie

2013 Pantry Challenge

Since 2010 I have participated in the Pantry Challenge hosted by Jessica at Good Cheap Eats.  It is a fantastic way to eat what we have on hand, use up food before expiration dates hit, get creative in the kitchen and save money.  There are several ways to approach the challenge - Jessica discusses them here.  This is how we do it at our house.

1.  Plan from the pantry/freezer/refrigerator first.
2.  Shop only for fresh food items -- salad fixins, fruit and dairy products

That's it, so simple. 

I'll post weekly updates as well as any great recipes or  meals we discover as we eat through our pantry and freezer this month.

Top 10 Posts of 2012

To wrap up 2012, here are my top 10 posts from the year.  Enjoy!

Lemonade Cupcakes with  Raspberry Buttercream Frosting

Freezer Cooking from the Pantry
 

 

Caramel Puff Corn - AKA Crack Corn

French Dip Sandwiches

2012 Kitchen Goals
 

Chicken Corn and Potato Chowder

 

Cheddar Cheese Ring with Pepper Jelly

 

Apple Picking

 

 

Fleece Poncho

 

Sugar Cookie Bars