Dinner Ideas for the Month of April 2008

In no particular order, here are the dinners I plan to cook this month. I have almost enough meat to get through this entire list, except for one pound of ground beef.

I've categorized these dinners as: Quick & Easy (including slow cooker) for those busy nights--spring track and the high-school play will make dinnertime a challenge; Meatless; Regular (for when I have more time to cook); and New Recipes.

Quick & Easy:
Spaghetti (once a week)
Chicken chili (already made & in freezer)
Chicken paprika
Pot roast
Pork roast
Beef stew (already made & in freezer--just add potatoes)
Meatball sandwiches
Hawaiian Chicken
Taco skillet

Meatless:
Spanish Garlic Shrimp
Salmon cakes
Pierogi
Shrimp Marinara

Regular:
Beef paysanne
Breakfast strata
Chicken piccata
Chicken & dumplings
Roast turkey
Tandoori Chicken
Teriyaki pork
Orange spicy chicken

New:
Kickin' Chicken Sandwich
Mexican Shepherd's Pie
Homemade Boboli pizza
*Empanadas
Cashew Lime Chicken
Melt-in-your-mouth Braised & Barbecued Chicken

Manu Plan for Easter Week 2008

SUNDAY: Boiled ham, cabbage, asparagus, red bliss potatoes, deviled eggs

MONDAY: Ham (steamed), roasted garlic mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables

TUESDAY: Visit my parents

WEDNESDAY: Chicken stir-fry, rice

THURSDAY: Spaghetti and meatballs

FRIDAY: Baked flounder

SATURDAY: Roast pork with caramelized onions

Menu Plan for Holy Week 2008

SUNDAY: London broil, mac & cheese, vegetable platter

MONDAY: Corned beef and cabbage, boiled red bliss potatoes, Granma's rolls

TUESDAY: Quick Chicken Divan, rice

WEDNESDAY: Spaghetti and meatballs

THURSDAY: Pulled pork sandwiches, alfredo noodles, vegetable platter

FRIDAY: Soup and bread dinner at church

SATURDAY: Lemon-Mushroom-Herb Chicken, rice, green beans

Cheese Ingredient?

I don't generally purchase foods that are too "processed" but I make an exception when it comes to shredded cheese. I've been able to get it cheaply, and I figure the extra expense is more than made up on the band-aids I'm not using when I shred my knuckles.

Yesterday my More-Health-Conscious-Than-Me Neighbor asked if I knew anything about an ingredient they're putting in shredded cheeses: natamycin. According to the package of cheese in my refrigerator, it's a mold inhibitor.

I didn't mind when they tossed a little cornstarch in the bag of cheese to prevent the shreds from clumping, but I'm not feeling too good about this.

Guess it's time to re-stock that kitchen band-aid box.

Menu Plan Week of March 9-15

SUNDAY: Chicken quesadillas, mac & cheese, salad and vegetable platter

MONDAY: Barbara's Pork Scalloppine, boiled potatoes, broccoli

TUESDAY: Chicken stir-fry, rice

WEDNESDAY: Spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread

THURSDAY: Beef paysanne, noodles, green beans

FRIDAY: Flounder, Brazilian rice, and a vegetable-to-be-named-later

SATURDAY: TheDad's family will be coming here to celebrate Little Brother's birthday. (Calendar snafus meant that all the grandparents couldn't be here on the same date.) We'll be serving meatballs and sauce for sandwiches, Italian sausage and peppers, and there'll be hot dogs for the picky eaters among our guests. The birthday cake will be the twin to the one you see above (I photographed it before writing Little Brother's real name on the cake).

Menu Plan Week of March 2-8

All plans are tentative because Little Brother, AKA the Birthday Boy, is sick. So everything listed here could be tossed out in favor of other choices.

SUNDAY: Tandoori Chicken, Brazilian rice, green beans

MONDAY: Southern-style pork ribs with barbecue sauce, au gratin potatoes, lima beans

TUESDAY: Chicken-noodle soup with alphabet noodles, homemade bread, salad

WEDNESDAY: Pot roast, noodles, gravy, mixed vegetables

THURSDAY: Little Brother's birthday. He gets to pick! I'm betting he'll choose Chinese Buffet.

FRIDAY: Shrimp marinara

SATURDAY: If Little Brother is feeling well, my family will be coming to help him celebrate his big day. On the menu: Meatball sandwiches, Chicken Chili Blanco, vegetable platter and of course, birthday cake.