Kitchen Creative | Turkey and Spaghetti Squash Casserole

The plan was to make the spaghetti squash with maybe turkey meatballs. I was running behind and didn’t have time to cook the squash in the oven (nor did I really want to turn on the oven) so I tried a new method I found online. The gal microwaved the squash for 10-15 minutes. I thought great! That’s easy. Well, I may have left mine too long. When spaghetti squash is over cooked it’s mush and not very noodle like. So, I had to change gears and come up with something else.

Step 1, drain squash. I only used half a squash for this recipe. I then mixed it with salt, pepper and parmesan cheese. I spread it out on the bottom of the dish and then popped it in the oven for 10 minutes to “roast” it a bit. While that happened, I browned 1/2 pound of ground turkey and seasoned it up with salt, pepper, garlic and onion. Whatever Italian seasoning you like works.

I had some leftover roasted cauliflower in the fridge so I added that to the meat once it was cooked. Then finished it off with some roasted red pepper sauce. Let that simmer for a bit. I had a bit of Manchego in the fridge so I shaved that into the sauce right before pouring it all over the spaghetti squash. And because I love Panko bread crumbs, I mixed some with parmesan for a crunchy topping.

Into the oven at 350 for 10 minutes and voila. Dinner.

It was pretty tasty and the leftovers were even good. If you don’t have the cauliflower add another veggie or not. It’s pretty easy to change it up. Enjoy!

Recipe Review | Easy Roasted Lemon Chicken

For the longest time I only liked white meat. Leg and thigh meat completely grossed me out. Here lately, I’ve come across some great recipes that use dark meat and really love them. They are super easy to make too. This one from Smitten Kitchen is one of my favorites. I recently found this recipe and gave it a try. It was so moist and delicious. I love that you cook the potatoes and tomatoes at the same time too. No more extra dishes to clean. Score!

Recipe |  Roasted Lemon Chicken

The only changes I made were cutting back on the onions and not adding any red pepper flakes.

Menu | Week of 10.14.2013 and Trader Joe’s

I almost jumped back on another meal planning program. I was so uninspired this morning while making our menu and grocery list. Nothing sounded good and I was tired with the same old, same old. The rainy weather was also making me dread a grocery trip with little man in tow. Thankfully he did really well and it only rained while we were inside. Whew!

Monday | Herb Crusted Salmon Basa – I fully intended to get salmon for tonight’s recipe but when I got to the fish counter and asked for my usual (12 oz of salmon with the skin removed), the guy behind the counter seemed stumped. He wasn’t the usual “fish guy” so I changed my mind. I was worried my salmon would come back mutilated.

Tuesday | I know I’ve made this a lot but I really do love how easy it is to throw together and it always tastes good. Quick Sausage Bake

Wednesday | Fat Almond Pancake

Thursday | Slow Cooker Frittata I may actually make this earlier in the week so we can eat the leftovers for breakfasts

Friday | Cheese Tortellini in Pumpkin Gorgonzola Sauce with Roasted Sweet Potatoes – sounds totally rich but oh my word, I have to try it!

Saturday | Crockpot Chili and cornbread – we are visiting a local pumpkin patch and I thought a bowl of chili would be perfect for after our adventures. The weather looks like it’ll be a bit cooler too!

Sunday | Leftovers or a frozen meal

Did you hear? There is a Trader Joe’s in Austin now (with 2 more in the works)! It opened a few weeks back and William and I went to check it out. It was a quick trip because he was sleepy but we grabbed a few fun things and some flowers. I don’t think it’ll be a weekly trip for us, maybe once or twice a month. It’s a fun change and I love all their items made with pumpkin! Need to go back and get the pumpkin butter….definitely worth a trip!

Menu | Week of 09.30.2013 and Pumpkins!

Monday | I love making Mondays fish days. There is something about eating the fish the same day you buy it. If it sits in the fridge a day or two, I am so not interested in eating it still. I also like to keep Mondays easy after going to the grocery store and running errands – my usual Monday routine. Salmon with veggies.

Tuesday | Easy Roasted Lemon Chicken with tomatoes and potatoes – I’ll do a half recipe of this and use the thighs I have in the freezer.

Wednesday | This looks really delicious and I like having a vegetarian meal at least once a week. I hope the boys like it too! Pesto Gnocchi. I’ll make this easier and buy ready made gnocchi and pesto.

Thursday | Fat Almond Pancake and eggs

Friday | Turkey Meatballs with Polenta

Saturday | Sweet Berry Farms – Pick your own sunflowers and zinnias! Explore the maze, make a scarecrow, take a hay ride. Lunch will be eaten out, maybe at Bluebonnet Cafe so I’ll keep dinner easy. Maybe a frozen pizza or chicken salad.

Sunday | Crockpot Zucchini Lasagna – easy to throw together before or after church!

And because October 1 is tomorrow….a few fall photos from 2008. 

Menu | Week of 09.09.2013

It’s hard to make a menu and think about food and cooking when you’re fighting a bit of a cold. All you want to do is sit on the couch, buried in a blanket and read a book. Oh, a cup of tea would be nice too. That doesn’t happen anymore when your 18 month old had the cold on Thursday and got over it by Friday. The same day James and I woke up with sore throats. Let’s just say our weekend has been pretty low key. Thankfully, William has been a trooper. He’s taken to chilling on the couch with us like a pro…well, until this evening that is. I think he has finally had enough rest time. I hope tomorrow starts a better week, a healthy week for all of us.

Oh, is it too early for soups, chili and stew every night? 

Monday | Roasted Salmon with broccolini

Tuesday | Chicken and Dumplings

Wednesday | Sweet Potato, Black Bean and Green Chile Enchiladas

Thursday | Twice Baked Potatoes and Salad

Friday | Dinner with friends

Saturday | Sausage and Veggies

Sunday | Veggie Quesadillas

Baking | Make muffins instead of bread 

What’s For Dinner | Sausage Over Polenta

Last week during my failure as a menu maker and with dinner prep, I came up with one keeper. This was supposed to be polenta pizza but I changed it at the last minute because I didn’t want to turn on the oven.

For the polenta, follow package instructions then add a grated cheese of your choice. Amount will depend on how much polenta you make. You want it to be creamy. I used Parmesan but gruyere would be good too. You can also add a bit of milk if needed. Salt and pepper to taste.

The sausage part was super easy. First, I browned some Italian sausage then drained it and removed it from the pan, saving about a tablespoon of grease. To the grease add any veggies you have in the fridge that need to be used. I had half a bunch of kale, cherry tomatoes, a shallot and some roasted red pepper. Once that has cooked down a bit, add the sausage back and toss together. Serve on top of the polenta with some fresh mozzarella or another cheese of your choice. I also added a spoon of pesto that added some great flavor.

You could take this a step further and place it under the broiler for a couple seconds to melt the cheese a bit. 

Enjoy!

Menu | Week of 08.26.2013

Last week was rough and uninspired when it came to meal times, even with a menu. This does not make me excited to plan the week ahead. Maybe I should hire a chef. Yes, that’s what I’ll do….in my dreams.

Monday | Salmon with sauteed kale

Tuesday | Baked Chicken with broccoli rabe

Wednesday | Bacon Wrapped Apple Chicken (Crock Pot) with brown rice

Thursday | Pioneer Woman’s Sour Cream Noodle Bake with salad

Friday | Souper Chicken Noodle (Crock Pot)

Saturday | Leftovers

Sunday | Steak with mashed potatoes and salad

Baking | Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies

Breakfast for Dinner | 07.16.2013

We love breakfast around here and breakfast for dinner is always a good thing. Last Friday, we had lunch with our good friend, Sarah. She made us these delicious egg sandwiches and monkey bread. Well, this week I had to have a repeat. It actually worked out great that I had them on the menu because on Tuesday I needed something quick and easy. 

I also decided that we needed something sweet with our breakfast dinner so I made donuts. Snickerdoodle Crumble donuts. I put the topping in the bottom of the pan as well as on top of the batter. I also left off the white chocolate – yuck.

I highly recommend both of these recipes for breakfast, brunch, dinner or a midnight snack. Enjoy!