 |
FEATURED Meal of the Week by Nita Holstine |
 |
| |
FEATURED Meal of the Week by Nita Holstine |
|
|
Regular Featured Meals of the Week menus are below; all recipes are in the proper recipe sections. _________________________________ Menu Fast & Easy Weeknight Meal Tyson Breaded Chicken Breast Patties Macaroni Salad (make ahead-directions below) Pinto Beans Berry Strudel (make ahead-directions below) _________________________________ Tyson Breaded Chicken Breast Patties I start the oven to bake the patties first and give them a little extra time to brown. The directions say you can microwave them and they are ready to eat when hot but I like the crispiness that you only get with the hot oven. 15 minutes, 20 tops and they are ready. At about 10 minutes, turn them over if the bottom side is brown. If not, let them cook another 5 minutes and then turn. When brown on second side, turn oven off & remove from oven. When the beans come to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until patties are ready to serve. (see below for beans) Have the serving platter ready and the place settings arranged neatly. With an informal meal, it only matters that a fork, knife and spoon are arranged, usually to the right of the plate. The macaroni salad is chilling in the frig until you are ready to put it on the table. When the meat patties are nicely browned, remove from cookie sheet onto the serving plate. Put beans in serving bowl with a serving spoon and get the macaroni out of the icebox. Ring the dinner bell and chow down. _________________________________ Macaroni Salad (Make Ahead) In large pot, bring several quarts of water to a boil. I use just a little salt and about 2 tablespoons Canola oil in the water to keep the pasta from sticking together. It isn't necessary but I like the taste of the oil on the elbows. Add about 2 cups dry elbow macaroni to the boiling water. When cooked the time required for the pasta, drain and pour into bowl you will be using to serve the dish. Cool until room temperature and start adding rest of ingredients.
Mix in all ingredients until well stirred. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Make it early enough that it is well chilled by time to eat. I like to make a big batch of this and enjoy the leftovers during the week when I am in a hurry again. Ranch Style Beans
This recipe will make two to four servings depending on appetites. Use two cans of beans and two slices of bacon if more is needed. Dice bacon and fry in small saucepan over low heat. Bacon does not need to be fried crisp, only to where the meat is thoroughly cooked and grease is mixed in with sauce. Add canned beans and heat on high only until boiling. Reduce heat and simmer until everything else is ready to go on the table. This brand is from Texas & may not be available nationwide. It is the absolutely best when I don't want to spend two days making my own taste almost as good. Even the g-sons want to remember the brand so they can make special requests for it. Awesome good. I make good beans from the dry version but never this good and never this fast. I tell the kids to look for the black label with white letters that say Ranch Style Beans. _________________________________ Flaky Crust Berry Strudel (make ahead) My fruit is kept frozen in "serving" size packages. Each pack is about 8 ounces or one cup. If I forget to set it in the frig the night before, I set it out and it will thaw in about two hours. In a pan of cold water, about one hour. In large bowl, mix
Stir together and set aside. In smaller bowl, beat 3 eggs only until well mixed. Add
Have 1 cup of water handy. Mix oil, vinegar and eggs. Add in about 1/4 cup of water and mix into dry mixture. As needed, add a little water at a time and stop when you have a soft ball that can easily be rolled and worked. Place in covered bowl and chill for about 1 hour if you have the time. I use this time to make my berry sauce. Take the fruit and the juice and place in a medium size sauce pan. Using the backside of a fork, mash the berries to release all the juice possible. If your fruit is not sweetened and is sour, add Splenda or sugar, about 4 Tablespoons. Measure 1/2 cup water and add 2 Tablespoons cornstarch. Mix well until completely dissolved and add to berries. Heat on low until boiling and thick. Remove from heat and cool completely before using. The strudel recipe makes two so divide the dough in two halves. Refrigerate half in tightly covered bowl. On a lightly floured board or counter, turn out the half you will be using. With fingers, flatten into a rectangle shape about 8 inches by 12 inches. About this time, preheat oven to 350°F. Spoon cooled fruit onto center third of rectangle. Fold edges to center and seal lightly but not completely. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet or use Reynolds new Release foil which needs no oil. Bake for about 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Place strudel on cooling rack to cool so it won't get soggy from staying on the pan until cooled. Note: The leftover dough was not as easy to work with and would do best if brought to room temperature. The outcome was most excellent despite being more difficult to roll out and lift. Make sure you dust counter before rolling out dough and use a large spatula or two to lift without breaking. If it does break, move sections together on baking sheet and press lightly back into place. I like using the new Reynold's Release foil. You never have to use butter or any oil; baked items will always slide right off. Their best heavy foil doesn't even compare to this stuff. I have two nice big cookie sheets but they have rusted and I cannot put anything on the surface. With Release, I can have the use of my old trays and the act like new. _________________________________ After being featured on this page, recipes will go into separate sections. Each Menu will go to the bottom of this page. _________________________________ Menu: Fast & Easy Weeknight Meal Tyson® Chicken Breast Tenders Whole New Potatoes Whole Green Beans _______________________________________ Menu: Fast & Easy Weeknight Meal Tyson® Roasted Chicken, Whole, Heat 'n Eat Kraft Deluxe Side Dish, Rotini & White Cheddar Cheese Sauce with Broccoli Pinto Beans Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies _______________________________ Click Here for: Fast & Easy Weeknight Meal Collection _______________________________ _______________________________ Menu: Crockpot Beans (made from dried pinto beans) Ham Hocks Gorditas (Flat bread)
_________________________________ Menu: Baked Ham Slow Cooked Carrots Baked Potatoes _________________________________ Menu: Whole Baked Turkey Cornbread Stuffing Giblet Gravy Green Bean Casserole Pumpkin Pie _________________________________ Menu: Holiday Breakfast Buffet Scrambled Eggs Ham Slices and Sausage Links Hash Brown Patties White & Wheat Bread Toast, Bagels & English Muffins Single Serving Breakfast Cereals Coffee, Milk, Juice Nuts & Dried Fruits Buffet Suggestions: You can start by gathering all your resources or if you can, go to the equipment rental and get the tables you need, the coffee urn and anything else you might be lacking. The rates are most reasonable for things you probably won't use very often. You won't have to remember or keep notes on who owns what. Assign duties, have a person assigned to helping serve each section. One person can seat and serve many children at one time. The purpose of the buffet is to not clutter the kitchen. Throw away all disposables and get them out of the house if possible. While paper and Styrofoam plates are a great invention and the better the quality, the more they cost, there are plate holders that are most efficient. I have a set that is made of wicker and are so simple, they are most durable and elegant. Seating does not have to be a problem. Nothing on the menu requires a knife to cut into bite-sized pieces. Keep everything simple and the adults will be able to eat as they mix and mingle with the other guests or sit in a chair and chat. Children can sit on the floor and use a coffee table to eat from if you cannot find tables to fit with chairs to fit the little tables. Never be rigid with your seating requirements as children will usually sit where they want. Outdoors would be nice but probably not practical. When you can and care to, decorate for the season and provide appropriate music to set the mood. The larger the gathering, the more help you can utilize. They will ask what they can bring or how they can help; have a list ready and assign duties. Have the phone numbers handy to check back and be sure preparations are meeting no problems. Those bringing dinner side dishes can also bring Breakfast Buffet treats. The kitchen will still be handy but you will keep all the other cooks out and busy feeding the hungry horde. _________________________________ Menu: Quick & Easy Spaghetti Garden Salad Easy Breadsticks Make Ahead Cupcakes _________________________________ Menu: Nita's Favorite Meatloaf Mashed Potatoes Gravy Blackeye Peas Banana Pudding (needs time to chill) _________________________________ Menu: Breakfast Tacquitos Cantaloupe, Bananas, Oranges Fruit Juice _________________________________ Menu: Shrimp Cocktail Baked Fish Fillets Baked Potato Breaded Popcorn Shrimp Breaded Onion Rings Whole Green Beans _________________________________ Menu: Grilled Ham & Cheese Sandwiches Creamy Tomato Soup Potato Chips _________________________________ Menu: Crockpot Stew Crackers Baked Custard _________________________________ Menu: Crockpot Pork Tenderloin in Parmesan Gravy Wide Egg Noodles Steamed Cauliflower Nutty Macaroons _________________________________ Menu: Egg Drop Soup Crispy Cheesy Baked Chicken Fast & Easy Potato Twirls Peachy Gelatin Pie _________________________________ Menu: Skillet Pasta with Sauce & Ground Meat Garden Salad Bread Sticks Lemon Cake with Baked Lemon Topping _________________________________ Menu: Homemade Ground Turkey Breakfast Sausage Fried, Over Easy, Country Fresh Eggs Fried Potatoes _________________________________ Menu: Cold Pasta Salad Tomato Wedges Crackers and/or Chips Strawberry Cream Delight _________________________________ Menu: Grilled Pork Chops Potato Salad Pinto Beans Peach Cobbler ________________________________ |
|
|
