Week of October 19th - October 24th

I love Facebook! Being a stay at home Mom, it gives me a chance to virtually "see" people I normally wouldn't see. Today, in honor of family dinners and Facebook, I asked my friends to tell me what their favorite weeknight dinners are. I then compiled a handful of answers to create our menu for the week. Thanks Facebook buddies!! You guys are the best!

Monday, October 19th - Quiche. I never got around to making it last week, so I decided to whip it up tonight. Proving that the best laid plans can go to waste, I baked the pastry shell, poured in the quiche, and popped it in the oven. Forty minutes later I pulled out a burnt to a crisp quiche. My boy child told me he even saw flames coming from the quiche! Thing is, I never turned down the temp from the 450 degrees (you cook the pie crust on) to 325 degrees (for cooking the quiche). Seeing my failure, I enacted "Plan B", which was heading to Golden Chick for their Monday half price chicken deal. Thank you Golden Chick for saving the day!!

Tuesday, October 20th - Spaghetti Carbonara


Wednesday, October 21st - Chicken Tortilla Soup - I'm kicking it old school and preparing this from scratch since I have a chicken carcass on hand. If you don't have a carcass hanging around, because quite frankly not everyone does, use THIS recipe. It's fantastic!

Thursday, October 22nd - Sanchez Chipotle Pork and Rice

• This can be cooked in the microwave! you need a covered microwave dish, 1-2 pork tenderloins, 1 red,1 yellow bell pepper, 1 yellow onion all sliced, southwest chipotle seasoning and cooking oil. In the bottom of the dish put some oil, spread 1/2 of the peppers and onions then put pork in (don't cut it) add the rest of the veggies and spinkle the ... Read Moreseasoning on top ( we like alot of seasoning so its kinda spicy). Cook it in the microwave for about 20-25 minutes until the pork it thoroughly cooked, slice the pork when it is done. Make steamed rice, and then combine everything in a large bowl and serve. This is one of my kiddos favorite meals! It is so yummy! Enjoy!
  

Friday, October 23rd - Taco Bueno

Saturday, October 24th - Tomato Basil Mozzarella Sandwiches - I don't believe there is any secret on how to prepare these, but just in case it sounds too "Gourmet" for any of you - here's my plan: Sourdough bread, thick sliced fresh tomato, fresh basil, buffalo mozzarella, and mayo - toast the bread & make a sandwich! Easy, eh?

What a fabulous week!! Happy Cooking!

The Glamorous Chef

Week of October 12th - October 17th

Oh! Never mind excuses! Here is the menu for the week:

Monday, October 12th - Chicken Fettuchini Alfredo & Green Beans **Sounds impressive doesn't it? Think again! Two bags of Lipton Sides Fettuchini Alfredo, three chicken breasts and it's done. Add a can a green beans. Simple, simple, simple! Dinner from the pantry doesn't get any better!**

Tuesday, October 13th - Pecan Crusted Trout, Asparagus, & Mashed Potatoes **I'm not the gourmet genius this makes me sound like, but I do know how to buy pre-seasoned fish. It's a little bit more expensive, but quite less than dining out!**

Wednesday, October 14th - Bar-b-Que Sandwiches with Tator Tots **Who loves a good butt? I do! This is so easy ... take one Pork Butt, one quartered onion, and a bottle of barbecue sauce - put them in a crock pot and cook all day long. When done, remove from crock pot and shred pork with a fork. Add a little sauce from cooking, a little new sauce and serve on a bun. Yummy!**

Thursday, October 15th - Quiche Lorraine with Baked Pears **I love the B52's. This dinner is my ode to Quiche Le Poodle! Quiche Lorraine is very easy - eggs, crumbled bacon, cheese, and milk. Buy a pre-made crust and you are looking at a 10 minute prep time. Awesome for parents on the go! Don't have time to bake your own pears? Drive through Boston Market and get a large side of baked apples ... I won't tell!**

Friday, October 16th - Roast Chicken, Cauliflower, and Roasted Potatoes **I call this "White Dinner" because it's all white - kinda cool if you ask me - in a lack of color sort of way, not in a racist, supremist, KKK sort of way!**

Saturday, October 17th - Shorty's Diner **there should be plenty leftovers for sure! If not - dinner out, Baby!**

Happy Cooking!

The Glamorous Chef

Week of Sept. 21st - Sept. 25th

Baseball games, after school practice, church youth group, etc., etc. ... It all adds up to a busy family & a Mom scratching her head wondering, "When am I supposed to feed these people?!"

Here are my simple attempts at dinner this week:

Monday, September 21st - Chili Rubbed Salmon with Zucchini & Corn **I love recipes that sound complicated, but in essence are very easy. This is one of those! The Zucchini and Salmon cook together, the corn is a snap. Seriously lots of bang for your buck!**

Tuesday, September 22nd - Tortilla & Black Bean Pie **My husband looked at the name and said, "Oh yeah, that sounds yummy!" in his most sarcastic tone. I told him it was just about the same thing as Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza of yesteryear - now he's sold!**

Wednesday, September 23rd - Spaghetti with Meatballs, Green Beans, and Garlic Bread ... because - when is this ever a bad menu item?!

Thursday, September 24th - Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwiches with SunChips and Coleslaw **hint** watch the video on the link above

Friday, September 25th - Shorty's Diner **we should have a few tasty leftovers - and who knows - maybe we'll go out for ice cream after the game!**

That should do it!

Happy Cooking!

The Glamorous Chef

I'm BAAAAAACKKKK!!

I've been M.I.A for a few weeks. Sorry about that - school started ... enough said, right?!

While working on the menu for this upcoming week, I remembered I'd taken a pic of this meal to make a point. Look at this yummy dinner: Pork Loin Chops, Fettuccini Alfredo, fresh Green Beans & Garlic Bread. Guess how much it cost per serving? $0.83. Yes, that is Eighty-three Cents, per serving! My whole family ate dinner for less than $5 AND we had one serving left over for a lunch. Amazing?! AMAZING. I wish I could be this frugal all the time, but it only happens every once in awhile.

I wanted to remind all of you cooking Divas out there to check for good sales, plan well, and most of all - enjoy what you do! I'm not cheap because we "have" to be cheap, but because I like to make our family finances go a little further. It pays off in so many ways!

Like always, happy cooking!

The Glamorous Chef

Week of August 17th - August 22nd

Just the facts ma'm!

Monday, August 17th - Beans & Rice - I made a big "mess" of beans the other day. For tonight's meal, I am adding sausage, cajun seasoning, water and rice. I'll cook it all together. Quick, easy, yummy!!

Tuesday, August 18th - Chili Lime Chicken Kabobs with Orzo & Asparagus

Wednesday, August 19th - Bar-b-que Chicken Salad

Thursday, August 20th - Baked Potatoes

Friday, August 21st - Salmon Rosemary Burgers with Baked Fries

Saturday, August 22nd - Out to Dinner

Happy Cooking!

The Glamorous Chef

Week of August 10th - August 15th

Is it really Thursday?! Really??? Somehow this week escaped me; however, I did create a menu ... the whole "getting to the computer and recording on blogspot" part alluded me. Better late than never - right?!

I was nodding my head to Italy this week. And really - I mean an American nod. I'm not fooling myself that this is REAL Italian! Guess what? As hard as I tried to stick to Italian all week, my Texican roots came roaring through and I had to make soft tacos. Forgive me! ;)

Without further ado, here she is:

Monday - Chicken Ravioli & Green Beans with Garlic Bread - There is a delicious ravioli at Sam's Club ... yum!

Tuesday - Pizza - there is this place, Pizza Padron, that offers medium pizzas for $2.99. I can't make them that cheap, so Pizza Padron it is!!

Wednesday - Chicken Soft Tacos - McCormick makes these wonderful dry packet marinades. We love the Chipotle marinade - on beef or chicken, it's fantastico!!

Thursday - Chicken with Basil Cream Sauce, Orzo, & Broccoli ***this received 5 stars from my family - make it and AMAZE yourself!!***

Friday - Out to Dinner

Saturday - Minestrone

Happy Cooking or Felice di cottura!

The Glamorous Chef

Oops!

Well, it happens every now and again - I just didn't get to the menu creating this week!

Tune in for next week's menu. It'll be good for sure!

Happy Cooking!

The Glamorous Chef