Mama M's Cucina

We are only exchanging dinner on Monday and Tuesday this week and I don't have to cook either one! Bad news is I have no idea what we are having for dinner so I can't share much of a menu.

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday and a fantastic new year! 

Monday: ????
Tuesday:?????
Wednesday:  Christmas Eve dinner with friends, in between church and our family tradition of going with friends to see a live nativity play. It's potluck and I'll be making my crockpot macaroni and cheese.
Thursday: Christmas morning we'll have breakfast casserole - watch for recipe. Then we head to relative's house for lunch/dinner. Would that be linner?
Friday: We're going to my mom's house for homemade Lasagna. Yum!!
Saturday: Leftovers, I'm sure

Red Beans and Rice
Serves: 8
Slow Cooker Size: 4 quart

1 medium size onion, chopped
1/2 C. green bell peppers, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T. olive or canola oil
1/3 C. fresh cilantro, minced
3 16 oz cans red beans, rinsed and drained
3/4 C. water
1/2 t. salt
1 t. ground cumin
1/4 t. black pepper

1. In a large skillet, saute onion, green pepper and garlic in oil. Cook until tender.
2. Add cilantro. Stir in beans, water, salt, cumin and pepper.
3. Transfer to slow cooker
4. Cover. Cook on low for 5-6 hours.

Serve over hot cooked rice

I've haven't been updated my weekly menu like I should. If you've read my other blog you already know about my Grandma. If not she has been in the hospital, nursing home and now in a rehab center so I've been busy driving to the city she lives in and back taking care of the boys but I'm back and here's our weekly menu.

Monday: Chicken Parmesan & Dessert
Tuesday: Red Beans and Rice, Veggie
Wednesday: Breakfast Casserole and Fruit Salad
Thursday: Sweet and Sour Meatballs and Rice

I haven't made my menu for the weekend yet so I don't have Friday-Sunday ready to post.

I had a really great question posted on my weekly blog and thought I would share the answer with everyone.  On Thursday's in my weekly menu post you will most likely always see TBA (to be announced) the reason for this is we have one member of our group that "doesn't like to plan" - those are her words. So I usually never know in advance what we are having for dinner on Thursday and I haven't been really great about going back to edit the post.

Wow, I don't know where time went last week, I didn't even get our weekly menu posted. You didn't miss much we had frozen pizza and lots of leftovers.

This week's menu will include

Monday: Tater Tot Casserole
Tuesday: Meatloaf, Garlic Noodles, Green Beans
Wednesday: Meatball Sandwiches, chips, veggie, dessert
Thursday: Ham, Cheesy Potatoes, Rolls, Broccoli, Cauliflower and Carrots
Friday: Garlic Pepper Steak, Baked Potato, Salad
Saturday: Alfredo Pasta with Italian Sausage
Sunday: Roast, Potatoes, Carrots

Do you still have tons of leftover turkey in your fridge? Are you tired of turkey and mashed potatoes for dinner and lunch and snack and...

Try these recipes for a nice change of pace

Turkey Enchiladas

3-4 cups chopped turkey
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 C. sour cream
1/2 C. Green Chilli Enchilada Sauce
1 C. Shredded Cheese
1 Package flour or wheat tortillas

Combine soup, sour cream and enchilada sauce.  Reserve enough to cover enchiladas. Mix turkey with remaining miture. Spoon mixture on tortilla shells and roll up.  Place seam side down in a baking dish. Cover with remaining mixture and sprinkle with shredded cheese if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 25 minutes.

Turkey Salad Sandwich
1/2 - 1 C. chopped turkey
Mayo (as much as you like)
Chopped olives
Chopped onion
Garlic salt, pepper
Cranberries (if you like)


Mix everything together and place on your favorite bread


Turkey Patties (I got this one from allrecipes)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups half-and-half cream, divided
1 cup cooked, chopped turkey meat
1 teaspoon finely chopped onion
1 cup dry bread crumbs
2/3 cup crushed cornflakes cereal
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Blend in flour, salt, pepper and 1 cup of half-and-half. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring, until thick. Stir in turkey, onion and bread crumbs. Mix well, then shape mixture into 8 small patties and refrigerate to chill for 30 minutes.

Place cornflake crumbs in a shallow dish or bowl and place remaining 1 cup half-and-half in a second shallow dish or bowl. Heat oil in skillet. Dip patties in crumbs, then in cream, then in crumbs again; brown patties in the hot skillet, place in a serving dish and cover with soup.

6 cups cooked macaroni (cook al dente)
2 Tbs. butter
4 cups evaporated milk
6 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
2 eggs, beaten
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper

Combine all ingredients except macaroni. Place in a crock pot and cook on high 1 hour. Add macaroni and cook on low for 4 hours longer.

This is one of my favorite cake recipes because it is so easy and versatile.
For all recipes you need
1 box of cake mix
1 can of goo (this can be any pie filling)
3 eggs

For all recipes you will do the same thing
Spray stoneware fluted pan with oil
Mix filling and eggs
Add cake mix
Drop cake mix into pan and microwave for 12-14 minutes

For this week's menu I'm making an apple cake with caramel topping
1 box of yellow cake mix (spice cake mix would also be good)
1 can of apple pie filling
3 eggs

My favorite cake recipe is this one though
1 box of spice cake mix
1 can of pumpkin pie filling
3 eggs

6 bone in pork chops
1 envelope Lipton Recipe Secrets Savory Herb with Garlic Soup Mix
2 Tbs vegetable oil
1/2 C hot water

Preheat oven to 425 F
Place the pork chops in a broiler pan (without the rack). Brush both sides of the chops with soup mixed with oil.
Bake chops for 25 minutes or until done
Remove chops. Add hot water to pan. Stir and scrap the yummy bits from the bottom of the pan. Serve over the chops.

This is a super easy side dish that my mom made while I was growing up. My kids now love it and ask for it all the time.

Extra Wide Egg Noodles
Butter
Garlic Powder or Fresh Garlic (minced)

Boil noodles.  Melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic powder or minced garlic.  Combine with noodles.

This is really a use how much you like type of recipe.
Super easy and really tasty!

Our dinner exchange group is going great. I am so glad that we started this - it's so nice to cook only 1 night during the week.  We've actually inspired another group in our neighborhood to start and it's working out just as well for them. 

My dad asked if we were saving money by doing this and I really think we are, with the exception of one meal I made that was really pricey (the Cafe Rio Pork Salad). We're also saving money by not going out to dinner during the week. You know those nights where you have so much going on that you just can't fit in making dinner. Now I don't have to even go somewhere to pick it up - it's brought to me. 

I have several recipes to go along with this week so I'll post one a day to keep this from being a huge post.
Enjoy!

Sunday: London Broil, Buttered Garlic Noodles,Veggie
Monday: Oriental Beef
Tuesday: Garlic Pork Chops, Crock Pot Macaroni & Cheese, Veggie, Apple Cake with Caramel Topping
Wednesday: Chicken Alfredo, Veggie
Thursday: TBA
Friday: Chicken and Brocolli Braid
Saturday: Korean BBQ Beef Short Ribs

Because my dinner this week (Cafe Rio Pork Sandwiches) is using leftovers from the salad I made a couple of weeks ago and I already posted the recipe.  I thought I would share this recipe for the yummy soup we had last night.

Ravioli Soup
6 Cups Chicken Broth
1 1/2 lbs Hamburger or Sweet Italian Sausage
3 Cans Italian Tomatoes
2 Cans Sliced Carrots
1 Package Frozen Cheese Ravioli
2-3 Tbs Italian Seasoning (I used 3 and thought it was a bit much)

Brown hamburger. In a big pot add chicken broth, tomatoes, carrots, seasoning and browned hamburger.  Cook over medium 15-20 minutes.  Add frozen ravioli and cook 15-20 minutes longer.

Servings: A LOT!  I would say at least 10 good size helpings.

We had our menu planning meeting with my dinner exchange group and planned out the rest of the year.  I've decided to start going shopping once a month (with the exception of milk and produce) so my weekly menu will include Saturday and Sunday now. Trying to get a little more organized and save some money.

Sunday: Crock Pot Italian Chicken
Monday: Baked Potato Bar with Chilli, Cheese and Brocolli
Tuesday: Cafe Rio Pork Sandwiches (see post below for recipe), Potato Salad & Corn on the Cob
Wednesday: Chicken Noodle Soup
Thursday: TBA
Friday: Sloppy Joes, Veggie & Chips
Saturday: Ministroni Soup

I have to admit I was a little aprehensive when this was added to our weekly menu but I have to say it was really good. So I thought I would share the receipe
 Chopped Romaine
4 small diced tomatoes
1 can black olives diced and drained
1 can pinto beans drained
1 package of shredded cheese
Ranch dressing
Bag of Doritos

Open bag and smash the Doritos.  Layer ingredents in a large bow.  Right before serving drizzle with Ranch dressing then add the Doritos, stir and ENJOY!

Here's the recipe for the Greek Chicken I'm making tomorrow night for our dinner exchange.  This is taken from the Fix it and Forget It Lightly Cookbook.

6 medium-sized potatoes, quartered
3 lbs. chicken pieces, skin removed
2 large onions, quartered
1 whole bulb garlic, minced
1/2 cup water
3 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp. olive oil

1. Place potatoes in bottom of slow cooker. Add chicken, onions, and garlic.
2. In small bowl mix water with oregano, salt and pepper
3. Pour over chicken and potatoes. Top with oil
4. Cover. Cook on high 5-6 hours or on low 9-10 hours.

Makes 8 servings
Slow cooker size: 6 quart

We got together today and planned our menu through December.  We came up with some yummy sounding dinners and are taking a week off from our dinner exchange for the week after Christmas.

Here's our weekly menu. From now on I'll post the recipes for my meals but if anyone sees a dinner they wold like a recipe for leave me a comment and I'll get it from the other girls in the group. 

Monday: Teriyaki Chicken and Rice
Tuesday: Greek Chicken and Potatoes (I'll post the recipe tomorrow)
Wednesday: Chilli and Bread (It's supposed to snow this day, which makes me very sad)
Thursday: French Dip Sandwiches and Dessert

Hope we can provide some inspiration for your menus

Build your salad in the following order.
1. Large Flour Tortillas - Sprinkle some cheddar cheese on top and cook until the cheese is melted.
2. Spanish Rice - See recipe below or use a mix or your own
3. Black Beans - See recipe below
4. Pork
5. Romaine Lettuce - Cut into large squares
6. Pico de Gallo - See recipe below
7. Guacamole
8. Lime Wedges
9. Grated Cotija cheese (The market was closed today so I'm going with cheddar)
10. Cilantro sprigs
11. Crispy Tortilla Strips - Cut up some corn tortillas and quickly fry.
12. Creamy Tomatillo Dressing - See recipe below

Cilantro Lime Rice
3 c water
3 c rice
3 chicken bouillon cubes
1 tsp salt
¼ cup lime juice
1/2 small onion
2 cloves garlic
1/2 bunch cilantro, remove large stems
1 small can green chiles

Place water, rice, bouillon, and salt in pot. Bring to boil. Place lime juice, onion, garlic, cilantro and green chilies in a blender and puree. Stir into rice. Simmer, covered, for about 25 minutes.


Black Beans
1 can black beans, rinsed
2 Tbl finely mined onion
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tsp ground cumin
1 cup tomato juice
3 Tbl chopped Fresh Cilantro
1 tsp salt
Fry onion, garlic and cumin in a small amount of olive oil. Add beans, tomato juice, cilantro and salt and heat through.

Cafe Rio Pork Barbacoa
Pork Roast: Put it in a crock pot with a little water and cook until very tender (about 8 hours on low).

Shred pork and add:
1 can enchilada sauce
2 cloves minced garlic
1 small can diced green chilies
1 can Coke (not diet coke)
1 cup brown sugar
salt to taste

Cook for one more hour.


Pico de Gallo
4 ripe Tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped white onion
1 jalapeno, minced (remove the seeds and veins if you don’t like a lot of heat)
1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
lime juice, to taste
salt, to taste
Mix everything together.


Creamy Tomatillo Dressing
1 package Ranch Buttermilk Dressing mix
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 cup Mayonnaise (You can use 1/2 Mayo and 1/2 sour cream)
3 fresh tomatillos
1 cup fresh cilantro
2 cloves garlic
¼ tsp cayenne pepper

Put everything in a blender and puree.
Refrigerate for a couple of hour. If you need to add more buttermilk to thin it out or sour cream to make it thicker.

Last week's Dorito salad was fantastic.  As soon as I get the recipe for it I will post it here. 

Here's this week's menu
Monday:  Chicken Parmesan, pasta, salad and garlic bread
Tuesday: Cafe Rio Pork Salads (see next post for recipe)
Wednesday: Hamburger gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans and desert.
Thursday: TBA (I'll post as soon as I get it)

Looks like a great week with yummy food!

If you've read my other blog you may have read that I am in a dinner exchange group with 3 friends.  I cook dinner on Tuesday and get dinner delivered to us on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. We're going into our 6th week of doing it and we all absolutely love it.  It can get a little stressful on the night I cook but it is so nice to have dinner brought in the other nights.

Here is this weeks menu

Monday: Pork Chops, AuGratin Potatoes, Veggie
Tuesday: Hobo Dinners and dessert (We do dessert once a week)
Wednesday: Colorful Kielbasa and Dorito Salad
Thursday: Poppy Seed Chicken

I wanted to share one of our favorite crockpot recipes.  I made this for dinner last night and my kids love it and it's super easy. Although probably not so waist friendly.

Crockpot Italian Chicken

3-4 Chicken Breasts (I use frozen)
2 Cans of Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Envelope of Italian Seasoning (The powder kind in an envelope)
1 Block of Cream Cheese
Green Onions

Put all ingredients in the crockpot on low and cook for 8 hours.  Some people don't put the cream cheese in until the last hour of crockpot cooking.  I put it in from the start and never had a problem.

Serve over or mix in with hot pasta.

Yummy!

I'm so excited to start my new blog.  I was inspired by all of the other recipe/meal planning blogs I've seen. I hope you'll enjoy what I share on here!