week 4 menus

Going into our 4th week of recipes, remember to not let the "cooking days" put you in bondage. If you have leftovers, warm them up for your meal instead of making something new that day. These are just ideas. Run with them, change up some of the recipes and create something that your family enjoys.  Warm up fish sticks, canned soup or corn dogs on days that are particularly hectic when you haven't got leftovers. Or use a meal you put in the freezer for days like this! It's ok. These are just tips, not laws.

Recipes for the week of January 24-30

Day 1- BBQ meatballs -freezable

Mix 1½ lb ground beef,  2/3 C. milk, 1 C. oatmeal, 1 egg, 1 onion finely chopped, 1 tsp. garlic powder,  ¼ tsp. black pepper and 1 tsp. seasoned salt in large bowl, using hands until combined thoroughly. Form into uniform balls and place in 9x13 pan. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 uncovered, remove from oven and drain grease. Make sauce in a mixing bowl: 1 C. Ketsup,   ¾ C. brown sugar, 1 T. liquid smoke, ¼ tsp. garlic powder. Stir together and Pour sauce over the top of the meatballs and return to the oven. Bake an additional 45 minutes. Serve hot. Wonderful with some whipped potatoes!

Day 2- Italian Soup- freezable, before pasta is added, Can easily be adapted to crock pot or instapot

Ingredients:  1 lb Italian sausage,  1/2 C finely chopped green pepper, ½ C finely chopped onion, 2- 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes, 4- 8 oz cans tomato sauce, 6 C water, 6 chicken bullion cubes, ½ t garlic,  ¾ C small pasta shells, Shredded cheese

In a dutch oven brown sausage, peppers and onion. Drain. Add remaining ingredients, except pasta and cheese. Cover and simmer for 30 min. Add pasta. Simmer another 10-12 minutes or until pasta is tender. Serve hot, topped with cheese. Great with breadsticks!

Day 3- Curry Chicken- crock pot friendly!

1 cut up chicken parts (I use bone-in breasts), 1 T white vinegar, 5 cloves, 3 T garlic salt, 2 T. ketsup, 1 ½ T curry powder, 1 med. Onion chopped, Red pepper flakes, ¼ C. oil, 1 T. salt, 1 1/2 c water, Gold variety Potatoes and shredded cabbage

 Cook chicken in spices in crock pot on high about 6 hours. Remove bones and set aside meat. Cook potatoes and cabbage in broth/spices until potatoes on high 2 hours until potatoes are tender. Chop chicken. Add chicken back to broth when ready to serve.

Serve with flour tortillas or roti (Indian bread) and toppings, such as Green onion, Green peppers, Coconut, Peanuts, Raisins, Pineapple

Day 4- Christmas morning Hashbrown casserole-freezable

Ingredients: 1 bag frozen shredded hash browns, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 1 stick salted butter- melted, 8 oz sour cream,  8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1 lb cubed smoked sausage, 1 lb browned chopped bacon, 1 lb browned pork sausage.

Mix all ingredients well. Put in greased 9x13 pan. Cover with foil. Bake at 375* for 45 min-1 hour or until bubbly in the middle.

Day 5- Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Quick and easy, for a fast supper when you forgot to prepare in advance. Butter outside of bread slices, put a slice of cheese (any kind will work) in the middle. You can use lunchmeat if you have any. In a skillet or griddle on med high heat, toast both sides until golden brown. You can serve with canned soup, or serve with chips.

Day 6- Pan fried steak with garlic butter from Natasha's kitchen and Oven roasted ranch potatoes

• 2 lbs New York Strip Steaks (2 steaks) or Ribeye or Top Sirloin Steaks (1 lb each steak, 1 1/4” thick) or whatever you have
• 1/2 Tbsp vegetable oil or any high heat cooking oil like canola or extra light olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp black pepper freshly ground
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 cloves garlic peeled and quartered
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary

1. Thoroughly pat steak dry with paper towels. Just before cooking, generously season with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper

2. 
   

   Heat the cast iron pan until hot then add 1/2 Tbsp oil over medium-high heat, swirling to coat. Once the oil is very hot, add steaks to the skillet. Sear the steaks on the first side for 4 minutes until a brown crust has formed then flip and cook another 3-4 minutes. Using tongs, turn the steak on its sides to render the white fat and sear the edges (1-minute per edge).

3. Reduce heat to medium and immediately add 2 Tbsp butter, quartered garlic cloves and rosemary to the pan. Spoon the butter sauce over the steak, tilting the pan to get butter on your spoon. Continue spooning the sauce over the steak for a minute or until the steak is about 5-10 degrees from your desired doneness (the temperature will continue to rise another 5-10 degrees while steaks rest).

4. Transfer steak to a cutting board, loosely cover and rest 10 minutes before slicing into 1/2" strips to serve. Spoon extra butter sauce over sliced steak to serve.

This is good with roasted potatoes- scrub red skinned potatoes, cut into 1inch cube (approx. Spread 1/4 C oil on baking sheet with sides. Set oven at 450*. Place diced potatoes on baking sheet. stir around in the oil. Sprinkle kosher salt and pepper. Bake approx. 25 min, turning every 10 minutes or so until starting to brown. Be sure to scrape anything sticking- this is the good stuff!!! Remove from oven and sprinkle with Ranch dressing mix. (if desired)

Day 7- Saucy beef and cheese Enchiladas- freezable

Brown 2 lbs of hamburger with 1 onion, finely chopped, drain, add 2 cans (4 oz) of chopped green chilies, salt and pepper. Set aside. Pour 1- 24 oz can of red enchilada sauce in 9x13 (or larger) baking dish. Heat 1/2 C oil in skillet. place corn tortillas in hot oil to soften, not to crisp. (10-14 tortillas) Remove and drain on paper towel. Dip both sides of tortilla in red sauce, fill with beef down the center, add about 2T of shredded cheddar down the middle, roll and place seam side down in the same baking dish. repeat to fill pan. Pour another can of red enchilada sauce over the top, and use any remaining cheddar over the top. Cover and bake at 350* for 20 minutes or until bubbly.  Serve with sour cream, chopped green onion, guacamole, chopped tomatoes, olives...or not. 

Bread of the week: Red Lobster cheddar bay biscuits

Mix 2 cups Bisquick, 2/3 C milk, and 1/2 C shredded cheddar cheese. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 450 for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown. Melt 1/2 C butter and stir in 1/4 tsp garlic powder. Brush over the top of the hot biscuits.

Dessert of the week:  Frosted butter cookies Cream 2 C softened butter with 1 3/4 C sugar. Beat in 1 egg yolk, and gradually add 4 C flour. Roll into 1 inch balls and flatten with a flat-bottom glass dipped in flour. Bake at 375* for 8-10 min until lightly brown. Place on wire rack to cool. Frost with frosting of various colors.

BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN TO ME AS A YOUNG MOM:

Encourage your kids- Always let them hear you praising others, building up your husband, acknowledging your children's achievements, praising the times they show good character. Shaming them in front of others makes them want to give up. Always make reproofs private. Yes kids, I know I didn't always do this, and I'm sorry. They get enough "toughening up" in the real outside world. Make home a place of love and acceptance for them. Proverbs 14:1  Every wise woman builds her house; But the foolish plucks it down with her own hands.