Menu Plan Monday - Week of June 17, 2013

Woo, posts three days in a row! lol Don't get used to it - we are going to Walt Disney World next week (YAY vacation! YAY Mickey! YAY not cooking!), and while I DO want to schedule some posts (not sure if I'll be bringing the laptop or not) I know that I probably won't! So, sorry if I go dark.

Anyway, this week is the last week of school for J., one more YAY! to add to the awesome pile. So I thought I'd make some of his favorite dishes! He sometimes complains because we rarely have anything more than once, so I thought this would be a nice treat! I also have no chicken left and don't want to buy any before payday, so this is also a use up what we have before vacation week.


Monday: leftover lasagne from Father's Day (from MIL, so good!)

Tuesday: Crock Pot Mac N Cheese
 
 Wednesday: leftovers

Thursday: Pepperoni Pizza Puffs (didn't make 2 weeks ago!)

Friday: Impossibly Easy Cheeseburger Pie

Saturday: either leftovers or chicken quesedillas

Sunday: leftovers

Dessert of the Week: the rest of the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars


More menus at OrgJunkie's Menu Plan Monday!

Father's Day Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Father's Day Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

J.'s family loves desserts. LOVES desserts. Unfortunately, they don't like anything too odd or out there, so I am learning to hide my fun dessert streak and just make plain ole boring desserts for them. Every year for Christmas Eve, J. makes some sort of complicated cake, and his family is more likely to make fun of it (even with a look or turned up nose) than to simply say "Thanks for making this"

So for Father's Day, I asked J. what his dad might like for dessert. His dad is diabetic, so he doesn't really eat dessert, but it IS Father's Day. J. suggested chocolate chip cookies. BORING! Thankfully I found this recipe in my bookmarks and was  able to pump up the regular ole chocolate chip cookie.

I baked them the full 20 minutes, but they are still a bit undercooked in the middle and flaky on top. So. So. GOOD!!!

Father's Day Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars - chewy in the middle, flaky on top

Happy Father's Day!


Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
from Brown Eyed Baker

Ingredients:

1½ cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup light brown sugar
¾ cup creamy peanut butter
½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan; set aside.
2. In a small bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the brown sugar, peanut butter, butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until creamy and light. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until combined. Reduce speed to low and add the dry ingredients, mixing only until the flour is just incorporated. Using a rubber spatula, mix in the chocolate chips and peanut butter chips.
4. Turn out the mixture into the prepared pan and press into an even layer. Bake for 16 to 20 minutes, or until the center is set. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars and store at room temperature in an airtight container.

The kiddo couldn't wait until I was done taknig pics to try to nab one!

 

Italian-Style Skillet Pork Chops

Italian-Style Skillet Pork Chops

As a treat and change from chicken, I bought pork chops this week. I wanted an easy, non-oven or slow cooker recipe that show cased the meat. This one was perfect! We served it over pasta, but you could also serve it  over rice.

Italian-Style Skillet Pork Chops
originally from All Recipes

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (could probably use less)
6 bone-in pork chops, 3/4-inch thick (I used boneless!)
1 (24 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce

pasta or rice - optional

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chops and cook until they're well browned on both sides. Remove the chops from the skillet and set aside. Pour off any fat.
2. Stir the Italian sauce in the skillet and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Return the chops to the skillet. Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until the chops are cooked through, stirring occasionally. Serve the chops and sauce over the pasta or rice.

Muddy Buddy Rice Krispie Bites

Muddy Buddy Rice Krispie Treats

What a few days it has been. We are having some water issues, so we can't do laundry, use the dishwasher or the water too much .We can take quick showers but that is about it! Today is day 4 of this, and day 3 of the guys working on the issue! So I haven't wanted to cook so much, between the water issue and the guys being here near dinnertime and not wanting to dirty too many dishes. Hopefully the issue will be resolved today!

I did manage to whip up these yummy treats, though. They are originally from Mallow and Co. I changed the recipe a little to make it more Weight Watchers friendly. I made 60 bites for 1 Point Plus each.

Muddy Buddy Rice Krispie Treats

4 Tbsp butter
3/4 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
6 cups (1 bag) mini marshmallows
1 tsp vanilla
6 cups Rice Krispies
3/4 cup powdered sugar


Pour half of the rice krispies in a large mixing bowl. Set aside. Stir together the butter, peanut butter, and chocolate chips in a large saucepan over medium heat until melted. Turn the heat down to low and add the marshmallows and vanilla extract.Stir, stir,stir until the marshmallows are all melted.

Once fully melted, take them off heat and pour over the rice krispies. Add the rest of the krispies. Stir quickly but gently to combine. Dump into a lightly greased 9x13 pan and let sit 5 minutes (on the counter). Lightly grease your hands then press down the krispie mix until even. Refrigerate for about 20 minutes.

Pour your powdered sugar in a bowl and pull out your cooled treats. Cut them up in into bite sized pieces (I cut them into squares, then cut the squares in half or in fourths), then roll them around in the powdered sugar. Tap them to shake off some of the excess sugar. You could also dump the powdered sugar in a bag and shake some pieces in that. Enjoy!!

Menu Plan Monday - Week of 6/3/13

No menu plan last week... the long weekend got me all off track. We did ok, but once again I was reminded how menu planning just makes everything go more smoothly. Also check back this week for the soft pretzels bun recipe - thy were amazing!! This week I turned to Pinterest for inspiration - we are going on 2 weeks of E. waking up between 5 and 5:30 a.m., and I am too tired to think!!


Monday: leftover mac and cheese


Tuesday: Slow Cooker Brown Sugar and Garlic Chicken
 
 Wednesday: leftovers

Thursday: Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

Friday: Parmesan Chicken Bake

Saturday: Hot Dogs with a Twist

Sunday: leftovers

Breakfast of the Week: Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal

Dessert of the Week: Either Caramel Cookies or Crackle Spice Drops


Snack of the Week: Clinton Kelly's Mozzarella Sticks


More menus at OrgJunkie's Menu Plan Monday!