Menu Plan for the Week of October 17

This week's menu plan is all about comfort food.  It has gotten cool here in Michigan so I seem to want food to warm my insides.

Many of the recipes are repeats of our favorites so we know they are good ones.  Hope you enjoy them as much as we do.


Monday:  Stove Top Taco Pasta
Tuesday:  Rotisserie-style Crockpot chicken with potatoes and carrots
Wednesday:  Dinner salad topped with leftover chicken
Thursday:   Smoked Salmon in a Basil Cream Sauce over Pasta (recipe to be created by Mr. Gooch)
Friday:  Beef Cooked in Red Wine
Saturday:  Leftovers
Extra Recipe: Baked Potato Soup in the crockpot (for lunches)

Menu Plan for the Week of August 22

We were quite good about sticking to our menu plan last week though we did switch some of the days around because someone (that would be me) forgot to put the stuff in the crockpot before leaving for work on Wednesday.  Oops.  

We also skipped the pizza on Friday - deciding instead to head to Chili's for strong air-conditioning (we don't have central air), skillet queso and margaritas and on Saturday night, instead of FITF, Mr. Gooch made a tasty salmon to go on top of a large dinner salad on Saturday.  Look for the that post coming shortly.

Our menu this week is about eating the items we already have in our fridge and freezer.  We got a new fridge last week and when we were cleaning it out (and moving things around), we realized that we didn't have a good handle on what we actually had spread between our kitchen fridge, the basement fridge and the garage freezer.  So other than some fresh veggies, everything on our menu was already in our freezer, fridge or pantry. 

This week's plan is a mix of old favorites and some new recipes, it will be good to get back into the swing of blogging about our new recipes.

Sunday:  Seasoned Steak Perfection with salad, corn on the cob and mashed potatoes
Monday:  Rosemary Ranch Chicken Kabobs with brown rice and corn on the cob
Tuesday:  Seasoned Steak Perfection with salad and steamed veggies.
Wednesday:  Garlic-Lime Pork Chops with Chipotle basmati rice and salad. 
Thursday:  Dinner Salad topped with either leftover beef, chicken or pork. 
Friday:  Late dinner with friends
Saturday:  Celebrating Mr. Gooch's grandmother's birthday

Don't forget to visit www.orgjunkie.com to see what others are planning for their menus this week.

Menu Plan for the Week of August 15

Oh my, are Mr. Gooch and I bushed after a busy weekend.  Between a wedding, buying and unloading more boxes of flooring than I want to think about (55), emptying our fridges to prepare for the delivery of the new one, helping the delivery men make the switcheroo (basement fridge out the door, old kitchen fridge to the basement, new fridge into the kitchen), plus all the regular weekend stuff like laundry and cleaning - we are bushed.


So this week's menu is an easy one so we can have time to start pulling up carpet, removing tack strips and pulling off baseboard to prepare for the laying of the flooring in those 55 boxes. 

Hope your week is less hectic than ours. 

Sunday:  Leftover Panera Bread sandwiches
Monday:  Stove Top Taco Pasta
Tuesday:  Chicken Teriyaki with brown rice and steamed veggies (using a fab marinade from Trader Joe's)
Wednesday:  Smokey Beef Brisket
Thursday:  Orange Chicken with Pot Sitckers with white rice
Friday:  Pizza
Saturday:  FITF (Forage in the Fridge)

Don't forget to check out other menu plans at www.orgjunkie.com.

We Are Back - with a Menu Plan!

Sorry for the radio silence over the last few months. There have been some big doings here at Casa Gooch and we have fallen so far off the menu planning, cooking new recipes and blogging wagons that I am not sure what the wagon even looks like anymore.

The Mister and I had gotten new jobs but our schedules totally did not connect which meant no meals together (boo hiss). So we each found another (better) job with (better) more regular schedules so we have been slowly working our way to a regular dining schedule since we actually are together in the evenings.

The summer heat has meant mainly grilling basics like chicken and brats which aren't really blogworthy. That and just being out and about for summer related activities means not much cooking at home.

We also had a freezer and a pantry that were in total organizational disarray so we really had no idea what we even had available so we did end up making plenty of calls to the local pizza place (I am positive they recognize our number by now) since that was easier than trying to dig through the chaos.

But now that things are settling in, back to being organized and cooling off a bit, we are back.

This week, to get back in the swing we are making some of our favorite dishes. But in the coming weeks, we will have new or improved recipes.

Sunday: Pizza (from our local place)
Monday: Teriyaki chicken on the grill (using Trader Joe's fabulous marinade), steamed veggies and brown rice
Tuesday: Sate chicken stir-fry with tri-colored peppers and brown rice
Wednesday: BBQ Salmon with steamed veggies and brown rice
Thursday: Crockpot Chicken with potatoes and carrots
Friday: Picnic at a local concert venue (Still working on the menu).
Saturday: Seasoned Steak Perfection, with roasted potatoes and corn on the cob

One big change in our menu planning is our usual "Forage in the Frige" or FITF is gone for the most part. Now that Mr. Gooch and I have access to microwaves at work, leftovers have become lunch. Now I just need to get more containers for our lunches.

Menu Plan for the week of February 21

Sorry about my absence over the last couple of weeks.  We have been pretty busy in Casa Gooch.  Mr. Gooch has been taking studying and taking mid terms, I have been working on odds and ends around the house and we have been eating with my folks or on the fly a ton. 

However, Mr. Gooch is on Spring Break this week and it is his long week at home so I am back on the wagon this week. 

Sunday:  Breakfast for Dinner aka Pancakes
Monday:  Soy-Marinated Chicken (a new recipe for us)
Tuesday:  Beef Meatballs in Marinara over Pasta
Wednesday:  Smokey Crockpot Brisket
Thursday:  Leftovers
Friday:  Stovetop Taco Pasta
Saturday: Leftovers

Bonus Recipe:  Chicken Stew (a recipe I have been muddling over in my head for a couple of weeks so I am goig to try to see if it works)

Balsamic Roasted Potatoes - A Tasty Twist on the Usual Potato Roast

I have said before, I love potatoes.  I think it is in my DNA (being part Irish and all).  So when I saw this recipe for Balsamic Roasted Potatoes, I just knew I had to try it.  You see, along with my love of the tuber, I am developing a deep abiding love for balsamic vinegar. 

Just one more reason why this food blogging is a great thing, it exposes you to flavors and spices you may not have experienced before.  Balsamic vinegar falls into this category.  I don't think I had ever had it before two years ago.  But then again, two years ago, I only had four recipes in my cooking repitoire (and one of those was for Tollhouse cookies). 

Back to the potatoes, I liked them...alot.  Mr. Gooch...not as much.  I do think that next time I make them, I will add some rosemary to the mix.  I just didn't think the thyme had enough punch to hold up against the balsamic. 

Balsamic Roasted Potatoes
(Source:  Proceed with Caution)
Ingredients
1.5 lbs Yukon gold potatoes, cut into small pieces
3/4 C chicken broth
1/4 C balsamic vinegar
2 tsp dried thyme
Salt and fresh grond pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In an 8-inch square baking dish, combine potatoes, broth, vinegar, garlic, thyme; season with salt and pepper.
Bake until potatoes are tender and liquid is reduced to a glaze, about 1 1/4 hours, tossing twice.

Menu Plan for the Week of January 31

Last week we did quite well in our menu plan.

We made the Beef Meatballs in Homemade Marinara over Rigatoni and Mr. Gooch made us a tasty Cucumber & Pepper Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette.   We also enjoyed a tasty Steak on the Grill, even though it was about 10 degrees outside.  It just gave us an excuse to build a fire to combat the opening and closing of the slider door (and to have s'more for dessert).

We did not get to the Baked Potato Soup in the Crockpot or the Stovetop Taco Pasta so those will go back on the menu for this week.

Check in with us next Sunday to see how we did in following this week's plan.

Sunday:  Out to dinner with my parents after a show
Monday:  Crispy Baked Rosemary-Garlic Chicken  with Balsamic Roasted Potatoes (new recipes for us)
Tuesday:  Stovetop Taco Pasta
Wednesday:  Chicken Chile Verde (new recipe for us)
Thursday:  Forage in the Fridge
Friday:  Forage in the Fridge
Saturday:  Salmon with Lemon Ginger Sauce (new recipe for us)

Bonus Recipe:  Baked Potato Soup in the Crockpot

Make sure to visit http://www.orgjunkie.com/ to see what others are planning for their week's menu.

Check Out My New Toy!

I had a number of United Frequent Flyer Miles about to expired with no plans on taking any trips in the near future so I was able to turn some in to get this baby.

Isn't she beautiful?

Look at all she can do.

And it is all the better because she was "free" since I wasn't going to be able to use the miles for anything else.

I can't wait to take her out for a test drive.  Maybe cheesy skillet potatoes, sweet potatoe fries or apple cole slaw.  You can bet that I am already looking for ways to really get a feeling for what this baby can do.  Stay tuned.

Mr. Gooch Cooks - Cucumber & Pepper Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

The night that I made Beef Meatballs in Marinara over Rigatoni, Mr. Gooch made this tasty salad.  I had been out running some errands at Home Depot (I swear that I am in that place weekly), Hobby Lobby, the grocery, and the bank.  So coming home to flowers and dinner already started was so sweet.

The best part of the deal?  This recipe is quick, easy and tasty. So if you need to whip up a quick salad that is an alternative to the usual lettuce based version, this is for you.

Cucumber & Pepper Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
(Source:  Depths of Mr. Gooch's Brain)
Ingredients
1 red pepper, cut into bite sized pieces
1 yellow pepper, cut into bite sized pieces
1 orange pepper, cut into bite sized pieces
1 cucumber, quartered and cut into bite sized pieces
1 Tbs Olive Oil
1 Tbs Balsamic Vinegar
1 tsp Italian Herb Blend

Directions
Place peppers and cucumbers in a large ceramic bowl.
Combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar and herbs in a small bowl. 
Mix thoroughly.
Pour over peppers and cucumbers.
Stir to coat.

For best flavor, place in fridge and allow flavors to meld for an hour or more.

Beef Meatballs in Marinara Over Rigatoni

I have to tell you, I am not a fan of ground meat.  I just don't dig the texture.  I definitely don't do hamburgers.  Too much ground meat all pressed together, I think.   But I do crave a good meatball.  Strange, I know.  But as Mr. Gooch has learned over the years, my food likes, dislikes and issues rarely make any sense.  I could do a whole post on why I don't like shellfish, tomatoes, beans cut into log shapes, mushrooms and a number of other foods.  That is for another time.

This post is about these tasty meatballs.  I have been following Le Petit Pierogi for some time now but haven't yet made any of her recipes.  If this one is any indication, I will definitely be trying more.  I actually have the recipe for Oven Roasted Chickpeas starred in my Google Reader and it should be coming up on deck soon.

These went together quickly and easily.  I used a dutch oven to brown the meatballs and to cook the meatballs in the marinara sauce since I wanted to try to keep the number of dirty dishes to a minimum.  Mr. Gooch loved them and said I would have to make them again. 

Even better, we had plenty left over to package up with some of the sauce and rigatoni to pop in the freezer for last minute meals. 

Beef Meatballs
(Modified Slightly From: Le Petit Pierogi)

Ingredients
1 lb ground beef (we used 18 oz)
1/3 red onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 egg
2 tbsp ranch dressing
2 tbsp red wine
3/4 cup Italian style breadcrumbs (more or less depending on how the meatballs hold together)
salt and pepper
1 tbsp Italian dried herbs
1 qt marinara sauce (I used my homemade marinara)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl combine all ingredients except for the marinara sauce.
Mix by hand until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
Roll into 1-2 inch diameter balls.
In a large dutch over, over medium-high heat, brown the meatballs on all sides.
Work in batches if necessary.
Once all meatballs are browned, place all back in to the dutch oven and cover with marinara sauce.
Stir gently to cover the meatballs with sauce.
Cover and bake for 1 hour.
Serve over pasta.

Menu Plan for the Week of January 24

Last week was a bit of a bust in the menu planning department.

I made the 3-packet roast but didn't get any pictures since we had my mom and dad over for dinner.  I ended up going out to eat more than I planned and even made myself a Lean Cuisine one night instead of cooking. Mr. Gooch was again working out of town most of the week, thus the eating out and Lean Cuisine. 

So I am hoping that this week will be better.

Sunday:  Chicken Panini with Peppers and Creamy Cheese Sauce (a Mr. Gooch Cooks original recipe...post coming on this shortly)
Monday:  Meatballs in homemade marinara sauce over Rigatoni
Tuesday:  Out to the movies so a dinner of popcorn and movie treats
Wednesday:  Steaks on the grill
Thursday:  Forage in the Fridge
Friday:  Lean Cuisine
Saturday:  Stovetop Taco Pasta

Bonus Recipe:  Baked Potato Soup in the Crockpot

Having a Cuppa - January is National Tea Month

Source:  www.countryliving.com

I love tea.  I love green teas, fruit teas, black teas, white teas.  I especially like a cuppa in the evening on a cold winter night. If we have a fire in the fireplace, all the better.

Since January is National Hot Tea Month, I thought that I would share my favorite tea shop with you.  Todd & Holland Tea Merchants located in Forest Park, Illinois.  This is a gem located just west of Chicago on Forest Park's main street.  With dozens of different types of teas ranging from green to black to oolong to jasmine to herbal and more, their shop is a delight to visit.  I loved stopping in just to spend time smelling all the different types of tea. 

In addition to teas, you can find teapots, tea cups and other tea related accessories.

Before we moved away six months ago, I stopped in to stock up on some of my favorite teas and tisanes.   These included Serendipity, Moroccan Mint, Several Rooibos varieties, Vanilla Flavored Black Tea along with several others.   

I am actually sitting here drinking some Serendipity as I write this post and Mr. Gooch is drinking a cuppa of the Morrocan Mint while he is trying to conquer the world in one of his computer games.  Such a nice way to end the evening. 

Take a few minutes to check out the shop's web site and maybe sign up to get one of thier catalogs so you too can enjoy one of the amazing varieties Todd & Holland carries.