Happy Birthday to me!

Thanks to my Mom and Burke I had a DELICIOUS birthday. ;) It involved these cupcakes. If you ever come visit me in Chicago, I'm probably going to FORCE you to visit Molly's cupcake shop. And I'll probably MAKE you sample the Ron Bennington (bottom left cupcake). It made my birthday quite delightful. This may actually be my last birthday involving Molly's. :( So let's turn our focus to what we're eating this week:

*Monday: Leftover Giordano's Pizza...darn. ;)

*Tuesday: We never made this Ziti last week, and the kids have requested it. So we'll try it tonight. We'll also have fresh peaches and salad

*Wednesday: Corn/Black Bean Salad--I can't believe I haven't made this yet this summer! I mix black beans, corn, diced purple or green onion, chopped tomatoes, chopped avocado and chopped cilantro with a little olive oil, lime juice and salt. It is heavenly. We'll have Chicken Quesadillas with ours.

*Thursday: Salmon & Roasted Red potatoes (bought some fresh red potatoes at the farmer's market this week...can't wait to use them!)

*Friday: CAMPING! We're hoping and praying for good weather so we can enjoy our roasted hot dogs (and grilled peppers/onions for me & Burke) and smores.

*Saturday: Leftovers

*Sunday: Chicken Fajitas with Lime Rice and these beans...and some of THIS for dessert (I'll serve it with fresh strawberries & blueberries)

Back at it...

I know it's been over a month since I last posted. I'm going to blame it on having a baby. Cause we've definitely been eating well. So I guess it's time I get sharing my ideas again. Here is this weeks menu-

*Monday: Spinach Lasagna Rolls with salad and garlic parmesan crusty bread (from Trader Joes)

*Tuesday: Crock pot Teriyaki Chicken with vegetables (boneless/skinless chicken tenders, frozen oriental vegetables and teriyaki sauce in a slow cooker for 3 hours at high heat or 4-6 hours on low heat) and Jasmine Rice

*Wednesday: Leftovers

*Thursday: Loaded Baked Potatoes

*Friday: Homemade Pizzas

*Saturday: Leftovers

*Sunday: SUPER BOWL PARTY! I'll be sharing my super easy/tasty guacamole. I use 6 ingredients, and I never measure: avocados, diced tomatoes, chopped purple onion, chopped cilantro, fresh lime juice and salt. Mix all ingredients together just enough to incorporate (but I like to keep it fairly chunky).

Other yummies I've made in the last month that you should definitely try are:

*Cauliflower Gratin
*These cookies (may be my favorite cookie--ever. I used Trader Joe's English toffee, and crushed it myself. I don't think these would be near as yummy with store bought toffee bits, but I'd be willing to give it a try!)
*Split Pea Soup
*Buttermilk Biscuits (soooooo buttery good)
*more granola (I've been making this almost weekly. Put it on yogurt, eat it with a bowl full of milk, or just grab a handful as a snack)
*Chicken Fajitas
*my favorite salmon

...and much more! Happy 2011!

the gals are coming, the gals are coming!!!!!!

This is a pretty fun week for me---2 of my sisters in law are coming to Chicago for girl's week! So the eating we do may not actually follow this menu exactly, but I will say there will be PLENTY of good eats!!! For now, this is what I have scheduled:

*Monday: General Tso's Chicken and Brown Rice

*Tuesday: Soy Glazed Salmon with Garlic Mashed Potatoes (I know I just made these a couple weeks ago, but Ryder LOVED them, and they are super easy!!!)

*Wednesday: Leftovers

*Thursday: "Cobb" theme--delicious (and beautiful) Turkey Cobb Salad, and corn on the cobb with bread (I like to buy a yummy baguette, and dip it in a mixture of a good olive oil and some parmesan cheese--You can also add some salt & pepper or balsamic vinegar)

*Friday: Giordano's! A MUST when visiting Chicago

*Saturday: Oatmeal Pancakes (see recipe below) with Buttermilk Syrup for breakfast, and dinner downtown

*Sunday: Chicken Fajitas, Cilantro/lime rice (see recipes below) and Guacamole (I didn't end up making any last weekend, so today is the day!!!)


OATMEAL PANCAKES

-1 c. rolled Oats
-1 3/4 c. buttermilk
-2/3 c. chopped pecans
-1 c. pure maple syrup
-1 c. all purpose flour
-3 TBLSP firmly packed light brown sugar
-2 tsp. baking soda
-pinch of salt
-1 egg, lightly beaten
-4 TBLSP unsalted butter, melted
-1/2 c. low-fat plain or vanilla yogurt

In a large bowl, combine oats and buttermilk and let stand for about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, tast the pecans over medium heat, stirring often, until fragrant and lightly browned, about 5 mins. (*DO THIS ONLY IF YOU ARE MAKING THE PECAN MAPLE SYRUP* OR YOU CAN MAKE THE BUTTERMILK SYRUP...they are both completely SCRUMPTIOUS :) Remove from heat. Pour maple syrup into saucepan (mixture will bubble), stir well, cover to keep warm and set aside.
In a small bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Add to soaked oats then stir in eggs and 2 TBLSP melted butter. Mix well.
In frying pan over med./high heat, heat remaining 2 TBLSP butter. Ladle butter into pan (forming pancakes). Cook until golden brown.
Top each pancake with syrup and a spoonful of yogurt (or I like to add some chopped strawberries... :)


CHICKEN FAJITAS

Marinade:
-1/4 c. oil
-1/2 c. vinegar
-4 cloves garlic, minced
-1 jalepeno pepper, finely chopped
-2 TBLSP snipped cilantro
-2 tsp. salt
-1 tsp. ground cumin

-2 whole chicken breasts, skinned, boned and cut into strips
-1 red pepper, 1green pepper, 1 yellow pepper (all cut into strips)
-1 purple onion (cut into strips)
-flour tortillas

Mix marinade; separate into two bowls. Add chicken to 1/2 of the marinade in one bowl, and peppers and onions in the other. Marinate 30 minutes at room temperature, or 2-24 hours in refrigerator.
Cook peppers until tender-crisp in fry pan. Remove and then cook chicken until done. Add peppers and heat through. Serve with warm tortillas, salsa and guacamole.


CILANTRO-LIME RICE

-2 TBLSP butter
-1 1/4 c. rice
-2 1/4 c. chicken broth
-3/4 tsp. salt
-pepper
-juice and zest of 1 large or 2 small limes
-2 TBLSP chopped cilantro
-1/4 tsp. cumin

In cooking pot, melt butter with rice, add liquid and other ingredients, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and cook for 20 minutes.