November Menu

Meal planning is something that I really enjoy as long as I do it in advance...like, way in advance.  I like to plan 2 months at a time.  At a minimum I have to do one month...if I don't then life gets stressful and expensive! By planning that far in advance I can stock up on things as they go on sale and it's easier to make, and stick to, grocery lists.  I shop once per week...usually on Sunday.  We do not do a left overs night unless we have tons of them...most leftovers are taken for lunches throughout the week.

The Bussan family menu for November...

I've tried to put links to recipes where I could.  Our focus these days is eating out less and keeping the variety from day to day.

So here we go!

1  -  Biscuits and Gravy

(http://allrecipes.com/recipe/super-sausage-gravy/  I shake in a little Cayenne Pepper to give it a little zing!)

2  -  Crepes

  (Dinner & Movie night...my pick!  We are watching Beauty and the Beast so I went with "French" food!)

(http://allrecipes.com/recipe/basic-crepes/  I will fill them with bananas and Nutella..top them with whipped cream)

3  -  (Meeting my parents for dinner)

4  -  Marinated Flank Steak

(recipe similar to this... http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1927,142166-236200,00.html )

5  -  Corn Dog Muffins

(http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Corn-Dog-Muffins)

6  -  Quesedillas

(http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/speedy-salsa-chicken-quesadillas-105222.aspx  we sub Salsa Verde for the regular salsa...YUM!)

7  -  Baked Potato Soup (Slow Cooker)

(http://pearls-handcuffs-happyhour.blogspot.com/2011/03/outback-aint-got-nothin-on-me.html  Seriously...if you try ONE new recipe this month do this one...insanely good!)

8  -  ?? (Seattle trip - mom watching Aidyn)

9  -  ?? (Seattle trip - mom watching Aidyn)

10 -  ??(Seattle trip - mom watching Aidyn)

11 -  Fish Fillets & Rice

12 -  Taco Salad

13 -  Kielbasa Bow Tie*

(http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Kielbasa-Bow-Tie-Skillet)

14 -  Chicken Cordon Bleu*

(http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Easy-Chicken-Cordon-Bleu)

15 -  Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup

16 -  (Aidyn's Dinner & Movie night)

17 -  Ham & Cheese Pretzel Bites*

(http://www.pipandebby.com/pip-ebby/2012/2/27/ham-cheese-pretzel-bites.html)

18 -  Salisbury Steak (Slow Cooker)

(http://www.wrinkledmommy.com/2011/08/salisbury-steak-in-the-crockpot/#comment-1786  This looks HORRIBLE.  But the taste...OMG...I don't even LIKE Salisbury steak and I love this...)

19 -  "daddy" eggs

20 - Spaghetti & Meatballs

21 -  Chicken Crescent Casserole

(http://www.tastebook.com/recipes/1881796-Chicken-Crescent-Roll-Casserole)

22 -  Thanksgiving dinner...Turkey & all the fixins!

23 -  Pizza

24 -  Sausage Pancake Bites*

25 -  Lasagna Soup*

(http://www.afarmgirlsdabbles.com/2011/03/24/lasagna-soup/)

26 -  Cupcake Pizzas*

(http://reallyfrompinterest.blogspot.com/2012/04/cupcake-mold-pizzas.html)

27 -  Blender French Toast*

(http://cookingalamode.blogspot.com/2010/03/blender-french-toast-with-coconut-syrup.html)

28 -  Caesar Pasta Bake

(http://momandwife.com/2011/10/creamy-caesar-chicken-pasta-bake/)

29 -  Beef Pot Roast (Slow Cooker)

30 -  (Dave's Dinner & Movie night)

*indicates new recipe...  Most found on Pinterest. (Follow my boards!  http://pinterest.com/jennifer_bussan/) Some found in various magazines!

Happy eating!!!  I have December completed and hope to get it up in the weeks to come.

Monthly Menu Planning - What you need...

I love menu planning.  There...I said it.  I genuinely love to plan out dinners for a month, or even two months, at a time.  It saves me a ton of time and a ton of money.  Time?  Instead of making multiple trips to the grocery store every week I just make one.  Instead of standing in front of the refrigerator and pantry trying to decide what to cook for dinner I can get right down to business.  Money?  With fewer trips to the grocery store I have less opportunity to make impulse purchases.  By only buying what is on my shopping list I am buying only the ingredients that I need and I'm not wasting food.  Also...by planning ahead I can space out the "bigger" casseroles and make sure that there are plenty of "fresh" left-overs to take for lunch throughout the week.

So how do I keep it organized?

First, you need a big binder.  Make it pretty...it's about to become your friend!

 Next, pocket dividers.  The number is up to you.  I like having one for every month and a few extra.  You MUST get the pocket divider...you will be using the front pocket for your menu and the back pocket for your grocery lists.

 Next, calendar blanks.  I like to use blanks and just write in the numbers.  It's faster...I can print out a bunch and keep them in a spare pocket divider at the back of the binder.

























Next, a good grocery checklist.  I realize that many people may think that this is over-board but I honestly consider it the secret to my success.  I can shop for a full week of groceries in under 30 minutes WITH my kid in tow simply by using this checklist.  It takes the guess work out of shopping and makes my trips super fast.  My list is set up for the grocery store that I use most, Hy-Vee in Madison, WI.  When I started shopping there I went into the store with a notebook and wrote things down in the order that I would find them...produce, deli, meat, dairy, frozen (the perimeter) first.  Then I went through the rest of the store aisle by aisle and jotted down the regular things that I would buy.  Pop in a few extra blanks and *bam* you have a fast checklist to make shopping a cinch.  It takes some time to set up but it is worth every second.

















How about the real thing?  Download it!

http://www.box.com/s/z1urcyx053zyktlmnvx8



Almost there!  You need blank dinner pages.  You will use these to jot down the quick dinners that you don't need to follow a recipe for.  Even though you don't need a recipe these will act as place-holders and they are a handy reference for what you will need when you are filling out your grocery list.  Mine look like this...feel free to download and make adjustments as needed.

http://www.box.com/s/vgud0n6tdy506pbln9c9



Finally, you need a LOT of page protectors.  You will have a separate page for every day that you will be cooking.  I keep enough in my binder for several months.

















So...once you have all of that you are ready to plan.  Go get it!!!
How to put it together will follow in post 2...Monthly Menu Planning - How to put it together...

March Menu

The menu for March!

My challenge this month?  Fast food! My mini-me is starting 2 classes and I am back to having an evening rehearsal on Monday so finding time to really cook on 3 nights of the week will be a challenge.

1  --  Tuna Noodles
2  --  (Eat out)
3  --  (Show Choir party)
4  --  Rigatoni w/ Creamy Mushroom Sauce and Chicken*
         http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/everyday-italian/rigatoni-with-creamy-mushroom-sauce-recipe/index.html
5  --  Turkey Joes
         Mix a lb. of Ground Turkey with a can of Manwich and a can of Chicken Gumbo soup...season to taste.
6  --  Chicken Caesar Wraps
         http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/chicken-caesar-wraps-114117.aspx
7  --  Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup
8  --  French Toast
9  --  (Eat out)
10 -  (Family weekend in Iowa)
11 -  Popcorn & Milkshakes
12 -  Mexican Dorito Casserole*
        http://www.jamhands.net/2008/12/mexican-chicken-casserole.html
13 -  Drip Roast Beef Sandwiches*
        http://www.campbellkitchen.com/RecipeDetail.aspx?recipeId=60570
14 -  "Daddy Eggs"
         Dave's night to cook...scrambled eggs with milk, sausage and cheese.
15 -  Spaghetti & Meatballs
16 -  (Eat out)
17 -  Chicken Tacos
         http://www.thisiswhatweknow.com/2011/05/09/chicken-tacos-its-whats-for-dinner/
18 -  Bacon Cheeseburgers*
         http://www.kevinandamanda.com/recipes/dinner/real-juicy-bacon-cheeseburgers.html
19 -  Slow Cooker Upside-down Chicken Pot Pie*
         http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/slow-cooker-upside-down-chicken-pot-pie/5ca0af11-a59d-4dca-b933-a2ab50e0e6c6
20 -  Fish Sticks & Rice
21 -  Marinated Flank Steak
         http://allrecipes.com/recipe/marinated-flank-steak/
22 -  Pancakes
23 -  (Eat Out)
24 -  Ultimeat Pasta*
         http://thecheesepusher.tumblr.com/post/2615469893/ultimeat-pasta
25 -  Crock Pot Chicken*
         http://www.budgetsavvydiva.com/2012/02/crock-pot-chicken/
26 -  Mac n Cheese Lasagna
         http://realmomkitchen.com/8086/mac-and-cheese-lasagna/
27 -  Taco Salad
28 -  Grilled Chicken & Pineapple Quesedillas
         http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/05/grilled-chicken-pineapple-quesadillas/
29 -  PB&J
30 -  (Eat out)
31 -  Angel Chicken
         http://www.midwestliving.com/recipe/chicken/slow-cooker-angel-chicken/

(* new recipe for our family)

Anything without a recipe link is something that I toss together and usually pretty self-explanatory!

I am working on a post (or two!) that will go over how I plan out my menus.  Stay tuned...I hope to have them up within the next couple of days.

A New Look!

Hello bloggie world!

My blog has a new look and hopfully a new life!  As the new year approaches I have started thinking about those New Year's Resolutions and along with the old standards (hello, thighs?) I am going to add blogging to my list.

I will still post about what we are eating but I am also going to post about other things that I am passionate about...parenting, organizing, home decorating/ design, crafty fun...

The new title came from a little project tha tI have brewing in my basement...more details to come soon!!!

Banana Split Pancakes

Paula Deen.  Just thinking her name means 2 things...

1.  Stock up on butter
2.  stay away from the scale

I have a love/ hate relationship with her.  I love that her food tastes good and her recipes are pretty easy to understand.  I hate that her food is horrible for you and the recipes, while easy to understand, are not always easy to execute.

I was in the mood for BFD (Breakfast For Dinner) this week so I scheduled in a recipe that I had ripped from a magazine in January of 2010.  It's from the "Jack's Corner" page of the magazine...it's usually a recipe that is very kid friendly.

The Recipe: Banana Split Pancakes

Ingredients

Pancakes:
2 C all-purpose flour
2 T sugar
1 T baking powder
1/4 t salt
1 C whole milk
2 lg. eggs, separated
1/4 C butter, melted
1 C banana, mashed
1/2 C miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
whipped cream
maraschino cherries

Hot Pineapple Syrup:
1 (20 oz) can pineapple chunks
1 T cornstarch
2 T butter
1/4 C packed brown sugar
1/2 C pancake syrup
1 t vanilla extract

Preparation

1.  In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
2.  In a medium bowl, combine milk, egg yolks, and melted butter.
3.  Add milk mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until combined.
4.  Stir in mashed banana.
5.  In a medium bowl, beat egg whites at high speed with a mixer until stiff peaks form.  Gently fold egg whites into batter.
6.  Add chocolate chips, stirring gently to combine.
7.  Spoon about 1/4 C batter for each pancake onto hot griddle or in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.  Cook pancakes for 1 minute.  turn pancakes, and cook for 1 minute.
8.  Repeat procedure with remaining batter.  Serve immediately with Hot Pineapple Syrup.  Garnish with whipped cream and cherries, if desired.

Hot Pineapple Syrup:
1.  In a small bowl, combine 3 T of pineapple juice and cornstarch, stirring to combine; set aside.
2.  In a medium skillet, melt butter over medium heat; add drained pineapple, remaining juice and brown sugar. 
3.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer for 2 minutes.
4.  Add cornstarch mixture, stirring constantly, and simmer for 1 minute, or until thickened.
5.  Remove from heat; stir in pancake syrup and vanilla.  Serve immediately.

The Verdict

These are yummy.  They are a pain in the but to make...this recipe creates a lot of dishes and it seems like everything needs to be done at once.  I am comfortable in my kitchen but I don't have 4 hands so it was a bit of a challenge.

The highlight of the recipe is DEFINITELY the Pineapple Syrup...seriously, it's so good that you just want to drink it.  I find it refreshing to have a syrup that is so flavorful that you don't need to put a speck of butter on the pancakes and this syrup definitely does that!

I used just under a cup of banana...any more and it would have over-powered the pancakes.

Word of caution...be VERY careful in the actual cooking of the pancakes.  Keep the griddle closer to 300 otherwise they will singe on the outside and the inside won't get cooked.  Also...the batter will be VERY thick...you only need about 1/4 C to make a 4"-6" pancake.  And as you put it on the griddle try to spread it around as thin as you can...Don't worry, it will fluff up.  If you put in on thick, the insides will not cook.

Lastly...these are fun.

Turkey Taco Salad

It's Mexican Monday at the Bussan house!  My favorite "Mexican" dish is just a simple taco salad...it's super-quick and tastes good!  It's about as basic as you get.

The Recipe:  Turkey Taco Salad

Ingredients

1 lb. Ground Turkey
Penzey's Taco Seasoning
Romaine Lettuce
Shredded Cheese - Four Cheese Mexican Blend
Taco Sauce
Salsa
Tostitos Scoops

Preparation
1.  Cook turkey in skillet with Taco Seasoning.  I tend to shake the seasoning over the raw meat and cook it right in.

2.  Chop and clean lettuce.  Place in the bottom of a deep casserole dish.
3.  Pour warm meat over lettuce.  Layer Shredded Cheese over meat.
4.  Spoon out of dish, serve over bed of Tostito Scoops. 
5.  Top with Salsa and/ or Taco sauce as desired.

Yum.

Yum.

Two things that make this recipe fabulous...
1.  Penzey's Taco Seasoning.
         http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeystacoseas.html
2.  The Salad Genius.

No...I am not kidding.  This thing lives up to the hype.  You place what you want chopped over the grid and smash down the lid...BOOM!  The lettuce drops right into the bowl.  It's...well...Genius!  (Sharp as heck...I've got the scars to prove it!)  I chopped 4 hearts of romaine tonight in about 4 minutes flat.  This thing rocks.  http://www.amazon.com/Genius-Chopper-6-piece-Preparation-System/dp/B003STLBZ8

Banana Bread

Banana Bread.  I'm honestly not a fan of it but the husband loves it.  I am so NOT a fan of it that I can't even tell you how it tastes...because I don't even want to eat it.  However...Dave has given it his seal of approval so I will share.  This recipe is incredibly easy...impossible to screw up!

The Recipe: Banana Bread

Ingredients
1 C Sugar
1/4 C Shortening
1 Egg
3 Ripe Bananas, mashed
2 C Flour
1/2 t Salt
1 t Baking soda
1 t Baking Powder
Dash of Nutmeg
Dash of Cinnamon
Vanilla Sugar

Preparation

1.  Preheat oven to 300.
2.  Combine ingredients in order listed, mixing thoroughly after each new ingredient added.
3.  Pour batter into greased loaf pan.  Sprinkle Vanilla Sugar generously over top.
4.  Bake for 1 hour.
5.  Remove from pan to let cool.

The Verdict

Smells good...the husband says it tastes good and tends to eat the entire loaf all by himself so it can't be too bad! 

This recipe makes a very dense bread...it is more of a dessert-y type bread.

A couple of notes...
1.  I use really ripe bananas because they give a better flavor.  Basically...they are best when you are just about to toss them.
2.  For a twist...I have made this as a Chocolate-Banana bread.  Substitute one container of Chocolate Pudding ( about 1/2 to 3/4 Cup...I usually just use a pre-made Snak-pack or swiss miss type) for one of the bananas.  Leave out the nutmeg and cinnamon.  It's yummy and has just a hint of chocolate to it!  You can add some chocolate chips if you want a bit more bite.
3.  I use Penzey's Vanilla Sugar on the top.  It gives it a nice sweet crust as it bakes.