Menu for January 18-24th

So I hope your families are enjoying some new cuisine or some old favorites that you haven't made in a while!

M: Breakfast for Dinner
For us this means, eggs, bacon and toast or biscuits.

T: Monterrey Black Bean Chicken and Rice
Ready in 20 MINUTES! Boy do I love that! 4 Servings

1 bag of boil in a bag rice; 2 cup size
PAM
3 Skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into large pieces
2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes (DON'T drain!)
1 16 oz can pinto beans (DON'T drain!)
1 15 oz can black beans (DON'T drain!)
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp of Mexican-style dry seasoning blend

Prepare rice.

Preheat over to 350. Spray lg. casserold dish with PAM. Arrange chicken pieces and add remaining ingredients. Cover and place in oven. Cook 15-20 min.

Serve with rice. You can garnish with lime, green onion or cilantro (corriander for all you German stationed friends-in the produce section of local market or commissary)

THIS IS NEW TO ME! NEVER TRIED IT! Tell me what your family thinks!

W: Tangy BBQ Sandwiches with Sweet Potato Fries

For those of you who know, I am doing this without the carbs so I will forgo the bread. Still very yummy though!

Recipe: CROCKPOT Recipe! Yippee!

Cook 7-8 hours
3 cups chopped celery
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup ketchup
1 cup bbq sauce
1 cup water
2 Tbsp. vinegar
2 Tbsp. worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1 boneless chuck roast 3-4 lbs, trimmed
14-18 hamburger buns

In slow cooker, combine first 12 ingredients, mix well. Add roast. Cover and cook on high 7-8 hours (if you are using a 220V crockpot , don't cook on high. Cook on low.). Remove roast, cool. Shred meat and return to sauce. Heat through.

My recipe for sweet potato fries is just cut up the sweet potatoes into long strips. Spray with PAM and sprinkle with cinnmon. Cook about 15-20 or until tender!

H: Chicken Nachos
I cook my meat in my crock pot with some chicken broth during the day. When you get home , shred the chicken and then add all that you like. We use fat free refried beans, tomatoes, cheese, and chicken on blue corn chips. I bake these on 350 for about 6-8 minutes or the cheese is melted! Add tomatoes, sour cream and guac when you take them out of the oven.

F: Chicken Pesto Pasta (Wheat Noodles)
2/3 cup basil pesto (green stuff by the spaghetti sauce for the newbies)
9 oz pkg of fettucine
1 Tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups pulled cooked chicken meat (cook extra when you cook the chicken for nachoes or buy a rotissiere chicken)
2 cups sliced red bell peppers
1/2 cup pitted olives, halved
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan plus LOTS more for the table

Put pesto in lg bowl.

Cook pasta according to packagae. Drain pasta but reserve 1/3 cup of pasta water. Whisk the pasta water into the pesto.

While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet over med-high heat. Add garlic until fragrant and soft. Add the chicken, peppers and olives. Cook and stir about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Add the pasta and cheese to the pesto. Toss to combine. Add the chicken mixture and combine. Serve immediately with extra cheese on top!

S: Pizza (make your own)
You can make your own crust or you can buy the already made pizza crust. We add our red sauce, pepperoni, ham, pineapple, peppers, mushrooms, feta cheese, artichoke hearts, banana pepper rings, and of course, mozzerella cheese on top! Bake 8-10 minutes. So much better than take out!

S: This is a leftover day for us since we ate out one day last week for Ben's job! Have fun and relax with your family!

Questions, tips, comments! Post them now! Have a great week and enjoy cooking for your family!