Yummy Chicken Pita Sandwiches

The Menu Tonight:
Greek Chicken Sandwiches
Sumac Salad

Estimated time:
30 minutes

Meal Plan (food will be ready by 6pm!)
5:30 -- Chop all the salad ingredients and place in a bowl. Set aside some lettuce, tomatoes, and onions while you’re at it for the pita sandwiches.
5:50 -- Heat the chicken over the stove as directed and then dress when fully cooked.
6:00 -- Dress the salad and then have everyone fill their own sandwiches in an assembly-line style. Enjoy!

Recipes:

Greek Chicken Pita Sandwiches SERVES 4
This recipe is one of our favorites. It’s delicious AND healthy, and not so hard to prepare.

About 1 lb shredded, pre-cooked chicken (I use the canned stuff)
1/3 cup Caesar Salad Dressing
¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
¼ cup pitted Greek olives, sliced in half
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
4 whole wheat pita breads (about 6 inches across), halved
2 cups of chopped lettuce
1 tomato, sliced
1 small onion, sliced

1. In a large skillet, coated with cooking spray, cook and stir chicken over medium heat until no longer pink. Remove from heat. When cool, add dressing, cheese, olives, and garlic powder.
2. Fill pita halves with chicken mixture. Then top with lettuce, tomato, and onion.

Price Estimate: $ 9.00 It’s pricey the first time around if you buy all the ingredients at the same time, HOWEVER... After making this recipe, you will have a good deal of leftover feta cheese, salad dressing, pita, and just about everything else. So, it’ll be 9.00 the first time around, but it’ll give you free ingredients for whatever else you would like to use them for.

Sumac Salad SERVES 4:
This salad is tangy and addicting. You’ll probably have to get Sumac at an International food store, but it’s worth the trip.

½ head of lettuce
Carrots
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Onions
Sumac
Salt
Olive Oil
Lime Juice

1. Chop the first five ingredients into bite-sized pieces and combine.
2. JUST BEFORE you’re ready to serve, sprinkle with the sumac and salt to taste. Then pour over the oil and lime juice. Mix well and taste. According to your preferences, you may wish it saltier or more sour. Add according to taste.

Thoughts:
This is also really good with some toasted pita bread cut into small pieces. I suppose regular croutons might work as well.
Remember to add the liquid ingredients just before serving, or the salad will get soggy.

Price Estimate: $ 1.70

TOTAL PRICE ESTIMATE FOR THE NIGHT SERVING 4:

$ 10.70 (That’s 2.67 a person!)

--Kelsey Shade


And I find chopsticks frankly distressing. Am I alone in thinking it odd that a people ingenious enough to invent paper, gunpowder, kites and any number of other useful objects, and who have a noble history extending back 3,000 years haven't yet worked out that a pair of knitting needles is no way to capture food? ~Bill Bryson

Salmon Pasta

The Menu Tonight:
Salmon Pasta
Grandmommie’s Broccoli Casserole

Estimated time:
45 minutes

Meal Plan (food will be ready by 6pm!)
5:15 -- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Begin the Broccoli recipe.
5:30 -- Stick Broccoli casserole in the oven.
5:35 -- Heat water over the stove for the pasta.
5:40 -- Begin slicing salmon.
5:45 -- Add the pasta to the boiling water and begin the sauce over the stove.
6:00 -- Remove Broccoli casserole from oven and cover with Onion Topping. Then return to brown for a few more minutes. Meanwhile, drain pasta and toss with sauce. After adding the cheese, the casserole should be about ready! Enjoy!

Recipes:

Salmon Pasta SERVES 6
Joshua’s a big seafood fan. Though I was bit hesitant to try it at first, this dish is amazing! Make enough for everyone to have seconds.

3 oz. smoked salmon
¼ cup butter
2/3 cup whipping cream
12 oz. of Angel Hair pasta
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Slice salmon into bite-sized strips.
2. Melt butter in a medium frying pan. Then toss the salmon in the butter until cooked through. Season with the pepper and then stir in cream. Keep warm until the pasta is done cooking.
3. Cook pasta in plenty of boiling salt water until ready (see package directions). Then drain.
4. Toss the pasta in the sauce and stir in the cheese. Serve while hot!

Thoughts:
Yummy… My mouth is watering as I write this.

Price Estimate: $ 6.62 (Salmon was bought at Kroger‘s, and the whipping cream at Wal-Mart)

Grandmommie’s Broccoli Casserole SERVES 6:
Here’s a tasty way to eat broccoli.

1 pkg. Broccoli Florets
1 cup of Cheese
½ can evaporated milk
½ can mushroom soup (undiluted)
French Onion Topping

1. Cook broccoli about halfway through (3-4 minutes) and place in the casserole dish. Cover with cheese.
2. Combine the milk and mushroom soup well and pour over the broccoli and cheese. Place in the oven for 30 minutes, heated at 350 degrees.
3. Remove from oven and cover with the French Onion Topping. Then return to the oven and cook for another 2 minutes to allow the top to brown.

Thoughts:
Remember to drain the broccoli after cooking them. When I made this, I forgot to do so and the casserole came out a bit watery, instead of firm like it was supposed to be.

Price Estimate: $ 3.25

TOTAL PRICE ESTIMATE FOR THE NIGHT SERVING 6:

$ 9.87 (That’s 1.64 a person!)

--Kelsey Shade


After all the trouble you go to, you get about as much actual "food" out of eating an artichoke as you would from licking 30 or 40 postage stamps. ~Miss Piggy

Haystacks

CAUGHT MID-CHEW!




The Menu Tonight:
Haystacks

Estimated time:
15 minutes

Haystacks
This one’s easy! In fact, it’s the recipe I pull out when I’m not in the mood for cooking. Also, it includes most of your food groups, so there’s no need for another course. These haystacks are delicious and filling.

Tortilla Chips, Doritos, or Fritos
1 can Refried Beans and 1 can Pinto beans (mixed and heated over the stove)
Cheese
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Black Olives
Sour Cream
Salsa

1. Chop all the ingredients into small pieces and place into separate bowls.
2. Set the ingredients out buffet style and have everyone serve themselves! (I like to serve them in this order… Chips on the bottom, then hot beans over top, then the cheese (so that it melts), lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, sour cream, and salsa… But you can do it however you would like).

TOTAL PRICE ESTIMATE FOR THE NIGHT SERVING 5:

$ 3.97 (That’s $ .79 a person!)

--Kelsey Shade


Food is an important part of a balanced diet. ~Fran Lebowitz

Greek Pork Chops

The Menu Tonight:
Greek Pork Chops (Yes, Kelsey’s made meat!!)
Tomato & Cucumber Salad
Brown Rice

Estimated time:
5 minutes the night before
30 minutes for tonight

Meal Plan (food will be ready by 6pm!)
THE NIGHT BEFORE:
Seal the pork chops in a plastic bag with the listed ingredients and leave overnight.

5:30 -- Set the brown rice on the stove
5.35 -- Drain the Pork’s marinade and begin grilling
5:40 -- In between grilling the pork, chop the salad ingredients and place in serving bowl.
6:00 -- Dress the salad and serve the pork with rice. Enjoy!

Recipes:

Greek Pork Chops SERVES 4
This is one of the first meat recipes I tried to make on my own. My husband rated it an eleven out of ten. That made me feel quite special. J

2 T olive oil
4 tsp lemon juice
1 T Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp pepper
½ tsp ground mustard
4 boneless pork loin chops (¾ of an inch thick and about 4 oz. each)

1. The night before, combine all the ingredients in a plastic bag, mix, and then add the pork. Turn to coat. Then refrigerate overnight.
2. When you’re ready to eat, drain and discard the marinade and grill the pork over medium heat for 4-5 minutes on each side until cooked all the way through.

Thoughts:
Easy, right? If you like, you can make a separate bag of marinade and pour it over the cooked pork chops for extra juice and flavor.
I like to use my George Foreman grill so I can cook it inside. It’s also fairly easy to clean afterward.

Price Estimate: $ 3.02 (the pork chops were bought at Wal-Mart)

Tomato & Cucumber Salad:
This is very easy and refreshing.

2 Roma Tomatoes
½ Onion
½ Cucumber
Lemon Juice
Salt

1. Chop the tomatoes and cucumber into bite-sized squares and then slice the onion into rings.
2. Combine and sprinkle salt and lemon juice over the salad to taste.

Thoughts:
This salad is best when cold, so either have all the ingredients refrigerated beforehand or chill before serving.

Price Estimate: $ 1.69 (if bought at Aldi’s)

Brown Rice:
Brown rice is healthy for you and easy to make. I like to used the boxed stuff. Fit & Active carries a whole grain brand that’s easy to make over the stove, just follow the directions.

Price Estimate: $ 0.53 (Aldi’s sells a 10-serving box for 1.32 total)

TOTAL PRICE ESTIMATE FOR THE NIGHT SERVING 4:

$ 5.24 (That’s $ 1.31 a person!)

--Kelsey Shade


Red meat is not bad for you. Now blue-green meat, that’s bad for you! ~Tommy Smothers

Guests Tonight? Patatas Bravas

The Menu Tonight:
Patatas Bravas
Broccoli
Garlic Bread

Estimated time:
45 minutes

Meal Plan (food will be ready by 6pm!)
5:15 -- Chop Potatoes into bite-sized squares
5:30 -- Begin Frying Potatoes
5:40 -- Heat up oven to 425 degrees for the garlic bread
5:50 -- Put garlic bread in the oven, Begin preparing Broccoli
5:55 -- Mix up Potato Dressing
6:00 -- Mix Fried Potatoes in the Potato Dressing, slice the Garlic Bread and place in a basket (don’t forget to turn off the oven!), and season the Broccoli. Then set the table and serve while hot!

Patatas Bravas (Brave Potatoes) SERVES 8
A Spanish recipe. Not the healthiest for you, but oh, so delicious. Definitely a comfort food and also good to impress the guests!

8 medium potatoes
8 cloves of garlic
8 tablespoons of mayonnaise
A dash of salt

1. Chop potatoes into bite-sized pieces
2. Fry in a deep-fryer and lay out on a paper towel to soak up excess oil.
3. In your soon-to-be serving bowl, mix the mayonnaise, salt, and crushed garlic.
4. Then add the potatoes and toss.

Thoughts:
This is best served when hot.
Believe it or not, I was never a mayonnaise fan at all, until my family found this recipe. Make extra, because everyone will be wanting seconds.

Price Estimate: $ 2.69 (if bought at Aldi’s)

Broccoli:
Gotta have those veggies…

I like to use the frozen pre-chopped kind. It’s fast, cheap, and as close as you can get to the fresh stuff. You can either microwave or cook it over the stove, usually 6-10 minutes (following the directions on the package). When you’re done, sprinkle a bit of chicken bouillon powder over it. It’s simple, but very tasty.

Thoughts:
Remember not to use too much water when cooking vegetables, as vegetables release vitamins when they’re soaked for long periods. A tablespoon or two of water is usually adequate.

Price Estimate: $ 1.19 (if bought at Aldi’s)

Garlic Bread:
Okay… I admit. I cheat and use the pre-made stuff. But why go out of your way to make your own when it’s so cheap to buy someone else’s labor and heat it up? It’s such a convenient way to add a side dish to your menu.

Price Estimate: $ 1.00 (if bought at Dollar Tree or Aldi’s)

TOTAL PRICE ESTIMATE FOR THE NIGHT SERVING 8:

$ 4.88 (That’s .61 cents a person, folks!)

--Kelsey Shade


Anybody who believes that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach flunked geography. ~Robert Byrne

The Starting of the Ex-Vegetarian

Growing up in the fourth generation of an entirely vegetarian family, I found myself the recipient of many delicious, yet distinctly different menus than the average person. They were entirely meatless, but you never seemed to feel lacking of it. Since I’ve married a very enthusiastic carnivore (not three months ago, since the writing of this post), I have converted and allowed myself to experience the new pleasures that this American staple does provide for the first time. I also began cooking meat for the first time, sometimes with disastrous results, though I have improved immensely.

Though I am now an official meat eater and great fan of steak, hamburgers, and hot dogs, I still believe my vegetarian upbringing has given me a distinct advantage that I will carry with me through my cooking years. For example,

1) Vegetarian food is cheaper
2) Vegetarian food tends to (though, not always) be healthier
3) Vegetarian food doesn’t go bad as quickly as meat-containing foods so leftovers stay good for longer
4) Vegetarian food doesn’t carry a lot of the disease risks and cautions associated with raw or incorrectly prepared meats

Here, in this blog, I hope to keep a collection of all new recipes (meat and meatless) that I try with their results, both pleasant or appalling. This is for the purpose of my own record-keeping and for sharing with friends. I also hope to include my tips on what I changed in the recipe or what I think went wrong, as well as an estimate of how much each dinner cost me, how much time it took me to prepare, or perhaps even a shopping list (I’m Type A, okay?) depending on how much time I have. Feel free to give feedback or even email me recipes. I would love to hear from you!

--Kelsey Shade

Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie. ~Jim Davis