Week 27 - Quick and Easy Summer Eats!

Printable Version of Meal Plan and Grocery List

We were at the cottage on the weekend and Monday was a holiday so no groceries until Tuesday this week.  On the drive back I jotted down some ideas to get us through until I could get to the grocery store and since I was shopping mid-week it turned into a small order.  I took the opportunity to refresh a few of our staples.

Recipe Quick Links

Tex Mex Rice Cakes, Weelicious
Southwestern Beans on Toast, Chatelaine
Tex-Mex Salad, Chatelaine
Raspberry Vinaigrette, What's that Smell?
One Pot Pasta, Marin Mama Cooks

Week in Review

Tuesday

Lunch - Tex Mex Rice Quinoa Cakes. I was limited by what we had on hand so I made up the Weelicious Rice Cakes using Quinoa instead of rice.  Not bad.  These "cakes" are becoming a go-to lunch.  The recipe is easily modifiable to suit your mood and/or what you have on hand.

Supper - Southwestern Beans on Toast with Tex Mex Salad.  This was a really quick week night meal that I enjoyed A LOT!  I didn't follow the recipe exactly - I just heated the beans in a frying pan with a little oil and the spices.  They were a tad on the dry side so I think next time I'll boil them as suggested.  But I actually just ended up mixing them in with the salad (which was totally yum!) and then had the cheese bread on the side.  Marin is not a big bread eater but ended up eating her cheesy bread first and noted how much she loved it.  Kid thumbs up!

Southwestern Beans on Toast with Tex Mex Salad

Wednesday

Lunch - Beet, Chickpea and Feta Salad.  I meant to make the salad that I'm linking here but I forgot to "Pin" it so when I went to get lunches ready I couldn't find it.  So I actually made a slightly different version which I also forgot to "Pin" and now I can't find that one!  GAH!  Anyhoo... the beet, chickpea and feta combo made for a tasty salad and there's lot of recipes out there with slightly different dressings so take a look and pick one that speaks to you or uses ingredients you have on hand.  I used canned beets and chickpeas making this a really easy meal to put together on a hot summer night!

Raspberry Vinaigrette

Supper - Deli Chicken and Spinach Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette.  Deli chicken makes for a super easy supper.  You can make your own in the slow-cooker or pick one up at the grocery store.  I do love the slow-cooker version but sometimes you just can't beat convenience!  The salad was spinach, fruit (blueberries and peaches) and walnuts with a homemade raspberry vinaigrette.  I'm really loving making my own dips and dressings... most of them take little effort but taste so much better than bottled.  And they're typically healthier too.  Plus from an economical point of view most of the dips/dressings I've been making use common ingredients and I no longer have a fridge full of expired bottles that have barely been touched.    Tastier, healthier, cheaper... Win, win, win!  Don't know why it took me so long to make this transition.

Thursday

Lunch - Pesto Chicken Pita Pizza.  I left this on the menu but we actually had enough leftover chickpea salad that I just chopped up the rest of the chicken to have on the side.

Supper - One Pot Pasta.  I first noticed this on Marin Mama's Cooks blog and have seen it around Pinterest a lot too.  I was intrigued and had to try it.  The verdict... pretty darn good!  It couldn't be any easier to make yet I felt like I was eating at an Italian restaurant.  Do make sure you read through Jackie's post though because I think I would have been concerned about the extra water and likely would have overcooked it had I not been properly warned.  We had it with cheesy garlic bread (slice of French bread spread with butter, a sprinkle of garlic powder, shredded mozza and broiled until the cheese bubbles and bread browns on the edges).  The only downside was that it was a really warm night and we ate it warm so weren't exactly beating the heat with this one.  So although I'd highly recommend trying it and it is a perfect no-fuss summer meal, save it for a night that's not too hot or let it cool... I nibbled Marin's leftovers and found it even more flavorful when it was cooled down.  Also a note about making this for kids... Marin liked it but I went easy on the red pepper flakes.  I'd say either go easy on them or add them at the end after you've scooped out the kids servings.

One Pot Pasta

Friday

Lunch - Date Lunch!  It was so nice out Dave and I decided to save the leftovers for the weekend so we could meet up on patio.  Lobster Poutine at Cut Grill... yum!!!  And for the record I didn't have Poutine last friday after all so I'm not actually OD'ing the stuff.

Supper - Cheese Platter. I left this night open when I planned the week so that we could do whatever pleased us.  That's how I like to roll in the summer.  I'm planning to pop back into the grocery store for some Brie and we're going to clean up on some of the odds and ends and have a no-cook supper of cheese, fruit, nuts and bread.  I think I'll make us some fancy drinks too and have an al fresco night!  I love summer!!


That wraps up week 27... can't believe I'm past the half way mark of my 52 week goal!  Thanks for following and welcome to all the new followers over the past few weeks!

Sandra

Week 26 - Oh Canada!

Printable Version of Meal Plan and Grocery List

Canada Day is just around the corner so I wanted to pay tribute to this great country and one of my favorite holidays!!  I'm featuring meals using some of the best known Canadian ingredients...  blueberries, maple syrup, cheese, beef, lobster and mussels to name a few.  What are your favorite Canadian foods??  Admittedly, some of my ingredients were imports (gasp!), but hey... the 4th of July is just around the corner too.  Why not celebrate both, eh?!


Watermelon Maple Leaf - an easy treat for a July 1st BBQ!

Recipe Quick Links

Overnight Oats, Kath Eats

Wild Rice and Lentil Salad, Canadian Living
Whole Wheat Pancakes, All Recipes

Watermelon & Feta Salad, House of Fifty
Lobster Cobb Salad, Chuck Hughes

Week in Review

Monday

Breakfast - Overnight Oats - I'm highlighting this one because I tried a new flavor combo that was so delicious!  I used Coconut Yogurt instead of plain, and my add-ins were diced mango and a couple of tablespoons of shredded coconut.  I skipped the added sweetener because the coconut yogurt is definitely sweet enough!  mmm, mmm, mmm.... note, I've been using steel cut oats which I find turn out chewy instead of mushy.

Lunch - Wild Rice and Lentil Salad - I was pleasantly surprised by this recipe.  These aren't always flavors that appeal to me but I didn't overdo the dressing and found it to be a perfect lunch salad.  And did you know that Canada is well known for its wild rice? 



Photo by Jeff Coulson/TC Media via http://www.canadianliving.com


Supper - Mussels with Corn on the Cob.  I've been craving mussel's lately so I was really excited for supper this night.  But I decided to get adventurous and steam them with beer and it kinda ruined it for me.  When it comes to shellfish I'm a Plain Jane kind of girl.  Here's a good reference for preparing mussels.  The corn on the cob was delicious of course... nothing says summer like corn on the cob!

Tuesday

Breakfast - Whole Wheat Blueberry Pancakes.  Another breakfast shout out, because - a) I used blueberries and maple syrup in honor of Canada.  And b) I found an excellent pancake recipe.  I made them the night before for a quick and easy mid-week morning treat.  I had leftovers as a work snack on another day.

Lunch - Dave and I both had lunch plans so no packed lunches this day!

Supper - Chicken and Watermelon & Feta Salad.  It was HOT out so this was an awesome summer meal.  Dave liked it but didn't think it was very Canadian (he was waiting for juicy beef burgers with Canadian bacon).  It might not have been but the feta was from Quebec!  I love me some Canadian cheese!  Ultimately this was just a perfect summer salad.  I was planning to barbecue the chicken but didn't feel like standing in front of a hot grill.  I opted to slice it and cook it in a frying pan with a little coconut oil.  I thought this would be the quickest method and it actually went really well with the salad.



Watermelon and Feta Salad
"That sure is a nice looking salad!", said Marin

Wednesday

Lunch - Montreal Style Smoked Meat Sandwich.  I bought a package of smoked meat (in the deli section) and had it on dark rye bread with mustard and a slice of swiss cheese.  Delicious!  So good in fact that Dave actually emailed me at 11:30 to say how good it was and I replied "I know" because apparently neither of us could wait until noon to eat them.

Supper - BBQ Steak with Potatoes & Brussel Sprouts.  So beef and potatoes are classic Canadian foods and I really wanted to have fiddleheads to round out this meal but at the three stores I shopped at this week I didn't come across any.  I think it's just past the season.  We had brussel sprouts instead because last week when I took Marin grocery shopping she really, really wanted them because they were "so cute".  However, when she saw them on her plate she wasn't so thrilled.  Not one of Dave's favorites either.  Oh well, more brussel sprouts for me!  Steak and potatoes were both done on the BBQ.  The sprouts I boiled and dressed with a little butter and salt.

Thursday

Lunch - I had a work lunch so Dave got the last Smoked Meat Sandwich.  Have to admit, I was a little jealous.  I thought of taking a bite out of his sandwich just to be funny but I figured I wouldn't be able to stop at one bite and that would be counter productive.
 

Supper - Turkey, Bacon, Apple and Swiss Panini's on Rye Bread with Spinach Salad.  Confession - this was supposed to be 'back bacon' which is often referred to as 'Canadian bacon' but I ended up grabbing the regular stuff because I wanted it to use in tomorrow's Cobb Salad as well.  This would allow me to cook enough bacon for the two meals and trim my grocery list.  But you know how this story goes, right?  We ate the extra bacon.  Who knew Marin would love 'steakon' so much??  So maybe not overly Canadian but a great summer meal that doesn't require turning on the stove!  I made the panini's on the George Foreman Grill but you could use a frying pan in a pinch.  I spread button on the outside of the bread and a little inside.  The salad was spinach, apples, bacon and cheese with a dressing made of equal parts maple syrup and mayonaise.  Easy and really good!

Friday

Lunch - Lobster Cobb Salad.  A Canadian themed week, put together by a Nova Scotian, would not be complete without lobster!  Typically we like to chow down on this crustacean in the comfort of our own home where we can roll up our sleeves, suck the juice out of the shells and dig into every little crevice.  Not a pretty picture, but there is truly no dainty way to accomplish this task!  I bought this tasty little fella at the local grocery store.  If you're not from a place where lobster are readily available then I'd suggest substituting the lobster for shrimp or even chunks of tuna. 

Lucy the Lobster

Supper - Poutine!  We're actually going to be on the road heading to the beautiful Cape Breton Island for the weekend.  But around here most fast food chains sell Poutine so I'm sure I can find a plate of it somewhere along the way.

If you're interested in making the Maple Leaf Watermelon treats (no, I didn't hand carve them), it's this easy...  oh, and thanks for the cookie cutter Krista and Happy Anniversay to you and Chris!

Tip #1:  Make sure your Watermelon slices are thinner than the cookie cutter.
Tip #2:  Use the scraps in the Watermelon & Feta Salad!

And in some non-food related business I want to give a shout out to my friend, Wendy Owens Abbott, who has recently released her debut CD and is having a CD release party this weekend in Halifax.  I've been lucky enough to hear her sing on a number of occasions and can tell you that her voice is as beautiful as she is!  An amazing talent!  Check her out... http://wendyowensabbott.wix.com/wendyowensabbott#


Happy Canada Day!

Sandra

Week 18 – Spring has (finally) sprung!!

Printable Version of Meal Plan and Grocery List  

I really enjoyed the menu this week. I concentrated on using seasonal ingredients and the combination of that, the weather being beautiful and being rested from an awesome vacation, I was feeling energized and happy to be in the kitchen.  But in the end I actually spent very little time in the kitchen... this is a week of easy lunches and quick suppers.

Over the weekend I made a batch of Almond Milk, one thing I missed it while I was away! And Marin enjoyed eating Goldfish crackers so much on vacation that I decided to make a homemade batch on Sunday. These are two recipes that yes, require a little more work than buying – but both are not comparable to their store bought counterparts. They are much much better!!  

Recipe Quick Links:

Almond Milk, Oh She Glows
Cheddar Crackers, Weelicious
Fish Tacos with Mango Avocado Salsa, Canadian Living
Maple Dill Chicken, Chatelaine
Avocado Salad, Canadian Living
Whole Wheat Cheddar Garlic Drop Biscuits, 100 Days of Real Food
Asparagus Pasta, All Recipes
Maple Baked Beans, Chef Michael Smith
Saucy Shrimp and Feta Toss, Chatelaine    

Week in Review

Monday

Lunch – Turkey, Cran and Brie Quesadillas. We made a trip to Costco on the weekend and precooked, pre-sliced turkey breast was on sale. I also picked up a round of brie – hands down my favorite cheese. We nibbled on both on the weekend and then I came up with this quesadilla for lunch. Yummy! I added spinach as well because I had it. If you keep some wraps in your freezer you can basically whip up some quesadillas for a quick/easy lunch with whatever you happen to have on hand.  

Supper – Fish Tacos.  My last attempt at fish tacos kinda failed – they were just ok. This time was a big hit! These were so full of flavor. This recipe is going straight to my Favorites.  I made my own corn tortillas but if you go with store bought this meal could be on the table in 20 minutes. 

Tuesday  

Lunch – Greek Quinoa Salad with Tofu. I’ve made this numerous times since I’ve started blogging – sometimes with store bought dressing other times with homemade (found in Week 4 recipes). This week I used homemade and I have to say, another one of those things that’s worth the extra effort. This was really tasty and easy to throw together – quinoa, feta, cherry tomatoes, diced firm tofu, cucumber and dressing. I made enough for 2 days’ worth of lunches. Note, I added the cucumber for day two the morning of because I find it can get a little soft and I like it crunchy.  

Supper – Maple Dill Chicken and Avocado Salad. Nothing says spring like maple syrup! I use maple syrup all year round but I thought a spring week deserved for it to be highlighted. Dave was going to be late getting home this day so since I had extra time I decided to try these Whole Wheat Cheddar Garlic Drop Biscuits from 100 Days of Real Food. OMG! Go make them right now! The ingredient list is very similar to the Cheddar Crackers but a totally different texture obviously. The only problem with them is how quickly they disappear. Next time (oh yes, there will be a next time!) I’ll make a half batch for portion control! Since we ate late Marin had already eaten a fair amount but she still came to the table and ate most of her supper with lots of mmmm’s. So kid-friendly alert here too!  

Wednesday

Lunch -- Leftover Quinoa Salad. Even better the second day.  

Supper – Asparagus Pasta. This recipe is filed in my recipe binder. I find I refer to my binder less and less now that I’m constantly getting meal ideas on-line but it’s nice to go back to some old favorites. This is super easy, nothing too fancy but pretty good. I had some leftover maple dill chicken from Tuesday night which I just diced up cold and had on the side. I have to say – that chicken is excellent cold, would be great in a salad! Shrimp would go well with this pasta as well but it can stand alone as a meatless meal.

Thursday

Lunch – Leftover Pasta. This pasta is best eaten fresh but reheated pretty well for lunch.  

Supper – Maple Baked Beans. I LOVE baked beans! But this is actually the first time I have ever made them myself. I found it a bit mind boggling looking for a recipe, there was many to be found. I knew didn’t want one with ketchup or any other tomato-based product. I found one from Chef Michael Smith that looked close to what I was after. Unfortunately it turned out just ok because here was my big mistake…. I omitted the bacon!!  You’re probably reading that and thinking ‘well that’s just crazy!’.  Which of course it was.  My thought was that I wanted to just throw everything in the slow-cooker with no extra steps and that omitting the bacon would simply save some fat grams.  But of course the bacon was totally necessary, without it the ginger was too prominent.  So I added it after the fact.  I also added black-strap molasses – just a few tablespoons – more for color than anything else.  That was my mini mistake, that flavor trumped the maple.  Next time I make this recipe I will actually follow the recipe!  

Friday

Lunch -- Leftover beans. Leftovers for lunch again. Gotta love them! This was a super easy lunch week!  

Supper – Saucy Shrimp and Feta Toss.  This is another gem from my recipe binder, a Chatelaine find from years back.  This is one of Dave’s favorites and we used to make it so often I could throw it together with my eye’s closed.  You may have noticed we’ve had no shellfish on the menu until now.  Last summer/fall I started to notice I was getting hives and the only common denominator seemed to be shellfish.  But the hives were always days later so I thought it was time to do some control testing.  I’m sitting here with my fingers crossed that there will no hives… and no trips to emerg!