Cranberry Bakewell Tart

I love bakewells, and the minute I saw this recipe for Nigella's cranberry bakewell, I knew it had to be our christmas dessert this year.



For the pastry
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup ground almonds
1/3 cup confectioners sugar
1 stick plus 1 tbsp cold butter
1 egg, beaten
1-3 tbsp iced water
pinch salt

Put the flour, almonds and confectioners sugar into a food processor and pulse together. Add the diced butter and process again until the mixture looks like oatmeal.

Beat together the egg, salt and ice water and tip down the funnel of the food processor as it is running, to bind the pastry. Form the pastry into a flat disc, wrap in plastic wrap and leave to rest in the fridge.

For the filling
1 stick plus 1 tbsp butter
1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar
3 eggs
zest and juice of 1 clementine
1 1/4 cups ground almonds
1 cup cranberry jam
8 oz royal icing
almonds
Preheat the oven to 400
Melt the butter and leave it to cool slightly. Beat together the sugar, eggs and zest, then add in the melted butter, stir in the ground almonds.
Roll out the disc of pastry to fit in a 10 inch deep fluted tart pan with a removable base, and prick the base with a fork. Spread the jam onto the pastry and pour over the almond mixture.
Bake for 45 minutes, leave to cool completely on a wire rack. once cooled make the royal icing using the juice from the clementine, work over the top of the tart and decorate with sliced almonds.

Pumpkin Spice Truffles

I made these to send to my father in law and also to take to a friends house on boxing day. I am not the biggest fan of truffles, but these are really very good. I found the recipe over at Annie's Eats.



1 cup white chocolate chips
½ cup pumpkin puree
¾ cup finely ground gingersnaps
¾ cup graham cracker crumbs
2 tbsp. icing sugar
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
Pinch of orange zest
4 oz. cream cheese, softened

For dipping:
about 16 oz. chopped white chocolate, melted
2 tablespoons of crisco
For garnish:
Additional gingersnap crumbs

Directions:
To make the truffle filling, melt the white chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over simmering water just until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly. Add the pumpkin, gingersnap and graham cracker crumbs, icing sugar, cinnamon, orange zest and cream cheese. Mix well until completely blended and smooth. Transfer the mixture to the refrigerator or freezer until it has thickened up enough to scoop and roll into balls (about 1 hour).

Scoop the filling mixture and roll into balls, about 1 inch in diameter. Transfer to a parchment- or foil-lined baking sheet. Transfer the baking sheet to the freezer and let chill until firm, about 2 hours.

When you are ready to dip the truffles, melt the white chocolate and crisco in a heatproof bowl set over simmering water. Once completely melted and smooth, carefully dip one of the balls into the chocolate. We prefer the look of twice dipped truffles, so after the first dip we let them cool in the fridge and then re-dip in the white chocolate. After the second dip, sprinkle with additional gingersnap crumbs. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill until the coating is set.

Perfect Roast Potatoes

Yet another Nigella recipe! I have made roast potatoes so many times, but I have never added semolina to them before. We all agreed that these were the best roast potatoes I have ever made.


5 pounds potatoes
2 tablespoons semolina
1 cup goose fat

Preheat the oven to 450

Peel the potatoes, and cut each into thirds.

Place the potatoes into salted cold water in a saucepan, and bring them to a boil. Boil the potatoes for 4 minutes. Drain then tip the potatoes back into the empty saucepan.

Sprinkle the semolina over the top of the potatoes. Hold a lid firmly on top of the pan and shake the potatoes around to coat them well and so that their edges fuzz a little.

Place the goose fat into a large roasting tin and heat in the oven until very hot. Then carefully place the semolina-coated potatoes into the hot fat and roast the potatoes in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour or until they are darkly golden and crisp, turning them over halfway through cooking.

Bread Sauce

I love bread sauce, and christmas dinner really wouldn't be complete without it. This is another Nigella Lawson recipe (most of our christmas dinner came from recipes from her christmas cook book) if you have never made your own bread sauce then this would be the one to try, it's so good and I will definitely be making this again.


1 loaf unsliced white bread
2 pints full-fat milk
1 onion, peeled and quartered
4 cloves
2 bay leaves
1 tsp white peppercorns
¼ tsp ground mace
2 tsp salt
1oz butter
2 tbsp cream
1 fresh nutmeg, for grating

Slice and remove the crust from the bread and leave the pieces out on a wire rack to dry out.

Pour the milk into a saucepan. Press a clove into each quarter of the onion.

Add the onion quarters, bay leaves, peppercorns and the mace along with the salt and bring to the mixture almost to its boiling point.

Remove the pan from the heat. Cover the pan with a lid and let the ingredients infuse for at least half an hour.

After the mixture has infused, strain the milk and place the pan back on a very low heat.

Tear the bread into strips and addd to the saucepan and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring every now and then, by which time the sauce should have become thick and warm.

Just before serving the bread sauce, add the butter, cream and grate over some nutmeg.

Spiced Turkey

I have never brined a turkey before, but I found this recipe in Nigella Lawson's christmas cook book, and really wanted to try it. The only trouble we had was that the seal on the brining bag wouldn't stay closed, so we ended up using christmas ribbon to tie the bag, at least it was festive!



10 pints water
4 1/4-ounces salt
3 tablespoons black peppercorns
1 cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon caraway seeds
4 cloves
2 tablespoons allspice berries
4 star anise
2 tablespoons white mustard seeds
7 ounces caster sugar
2 onions, quartered
1 (3-inch) piece ginger, cut into 6 slices
4 tablespoons maple syrup
4 tablespoons clear honey
Handful fresh parsley
1 orange, quartered
1 12 lb turkey

For the basting glaze:
2 3/4 ounces butter
3 tablespoons maple syrup

Place the water into a brining bag and add all the turkey ingredients, stirring to dissolve the salt, sugar, syrup and honey. (Squeeze the juice of the orange quarters into the brine before you add in the pieces.)

Put the turkey into the bag, add more water if the turkey is not completely submerged. Keep refrigerated overnight or for up 1 or 2 days before you cook it. Take it out of the water and wipe it dry 40 or 50 minutes before it has to go into the oven.

For the basting glaze place the butter and syrup into a saucepan and cook over a low heat, while stirring, until the ingredients have melted and combined.

Brush the turkey with the glaze before roasting, and baste periodically throughout the roasting time.

Preheat the oven to 425 cook the turkey for 30 minutes at this relatively high temperature, then turn the oven down to 350 and continue cooking, For a 12 pound turkey, allow 3 to 3 1/2 hours. when the juices run clear, the turkey is cooked.

Cranberry Jam

For christmas day dessert I am making Nigella Lawson's cranberry bakewell tart, and the first step of that is to make the cranberry jam. I've never made any kind of jam before, but this recipe is very simple and only took about 15 minutes to make.


4 cups cranberries
1 3/4 cups sugar

Put a film of water in a large pan, add sugar and cranberries and cook over medium heat until the sugar has all dissolved. Turn up the heat and rapidly boil for 7 minutes. Pour the jam into a sterilised jar and seal immediately.

Saltine Toffee Cookies

I thought these would make a great addition to our holiday treats this year, and they are so quick and easy to make, and the end result tastes like a dime bar!
The original recipe calls for sprinkling chopped pecans over the top, but I did half with chopped macadamia nuts and half with crumbled heath bar.


1 1/2 sleeves saltine crackers
1 cup butter
1 - cup light brown sugar
1 - 12 oz package chocolate chips
1 - cup chopped nuts or heath bar

1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2.Line cookie sheet with saltine crackers in single layer.
3.In a saucepan combine the sugar and the butter. Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. Immediately pour over saltines and spread t cover crackers completely.
4.Bake at 400 degrees for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the top. Let sit for 5 minutes. Spread melted chocolate and top with chopped nuts. Cool completely and break into pieces

Menu Plan Monday

I haven't given this weeks menu a second thought until I started to post this, and as we didn't grocery shop at the weekend and have no plans to until Wednesday, I am making this up as I go. I have no idea if we will even stick to this, but for now, this is it.

Monday: Roast lamb, yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, green beans and mint sauce (mum's cooking dinner)

Tuesday: BLT's and soup

Wednesday: Bangers and mash with onion gravy (mum will cook again)

Thursday: No idea, probably eat out

Friday: Our plans for Christmas eve have not yet been finalised

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Toad In The Hole

I have not had a good old english toad in the hole for a very long time. My mum made this for us, and I have already told her that she has to make it again before she leaves.


4oz plain flour
4 large eggs
½ pint milk
2 tbsp fresh thyme
6 english pork sausages
2 tbsp vegetable oil
Salt and peppr

1. To make the batter, sift the flour into a large bowl. Add the salt and pepper

2. Make a well in the centre of the flour and add the eggs. Using a wooden spoon, gradually beat the eggs into the flour then slowly beat in the milk

3. Stir in the thyme. Cover and leave to stand for up to 4 hours

4.Preheat the oven 400F

5.Heat a large skillet and cook the sausages until golden-brown all over

6.Place the vegetable oil into an ovenproof dish and heat in the oven for five minutes or until the dripping is very hot

7.Add the sausages to the hot dish and pour in the batter. Immediately return the dish to the oven and cook for 35-40 minutes until well-risen and golden-brown.

See other recipes at The Grocery Cart Challenge, Gooseberry Patch, Eat At Home

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans

Tuesday: Tacos

Wednesday: Beef stew with suet dumplings

Thursday: Tilapia with parsley sauce, mashed potatoes and minted peas (didn't make it last week)

Friday: Probably eating out

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Feta Stuffed Bell Peppers

This is one of my mum's favourite meatless meals, and she made them for the hubby and I for the first time the other day. They are very quick and easy to make, but they are so delicious, and we will definitely be making these again.


4 red bell peppers
Grape tomatoes
Fresh thyme
Feta cheese
Olive oil
Salt and pepper

Split peppers in half and clean out seeds, rub with olive oil and season with salt, pepper and some fresh tyhme. Fill the peppers with grape tomatoes and roast at 350 for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, sprinkle with feta cheese and return to oven for 5-10 more minutes.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Stuffed bell peppers and salad

Tuesday: Toad in the hole, mashed potatoes, peas and gravy

Wednesday: Crockpot red chicken curry with butternut squash and jasmine rice

Thursday: Tilapia with parsley sauce, mashed potatoes and minted peas

Friday: King ranch chicken

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Armenian beef kebabs, fatoosh salad and roasted cauliflower

Tuesday: Turkey pot pie

Wednesday: Mango chutney short ribs, mashed potatoes and broccoli

Thursday: Spag bol and garlic bread

Friday: Roast lamb with roasted potatoes, mashed swede, yorkshire pudding and mint sauce

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Steak Pizzaiola

Recipe from Mommy's Kitchen



2 boneless steaks
1 onion, sliced
1 green bell pepper, sliced
8oz fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 can diced tomatoes
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
2 tbsp olive oil

Heat olive oil in large skillet, add the onion, mushrooms and bell pepper and cook for 5 minutes. Season the steaks with salt, pepper, garlic and onion powders. Move the veggies to one side of the pan, add steaks and brown on both sides. Add the canned tomatoes and italian seasoning and simmer for 10 minutes. Cover steaks with cheese and cook for 2 minutes, or until cheese has melted.

Grocery Deals

It's been a long time since I have posted any grocery deals, and I did this shop last tuesday, but with moving and everything we didn't have internet last week so I wasn't able to post it then. This was a fun shop not only because my total was only $0.13 but because my mum is here from England, and so she got to see how much I can save with coupons.

Shelf: $118.99
Spent: $0.13
Saved: $118.86
Pct : 99%

15 x del monte canned tomatoes
6 x campbell's cream of chicken soup
2 x campbell's cream of mushroom soup
2 x campbell's chunky soup
4 x carnation evaporated milk
3 x hormel chili masters
2 x dole mandarin oranges
3 x honest tea
4 x propel water
2 x martha white muffin mix
temptations cat treats
air wick apple cinnamon candle
2 x dawn dish soap
advil
cap'n crunch cereal
bestlife buttery spread
Lays salt and vinegar chips
van de kamps beer battered fish
edwards chocolate silk pie
edwards key lime pie
barilla pasta
4 x ronzoni smart taste spaghetti
2 x ronzoni smart taste rotini

See other grocery deals at The Grocery Cart Challenge

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Steak pizzaiola

Tuesday: Zuppa toscana soup

Wednesday: Apple and sage pork chops, roasted asparagus and red potatoes

Thursday: It's my mum's first Thanksgiving so we're going traditional. Turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, corn bread stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

Friday: Thanksgiving leftovers

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

A Taste Of Home

My mum is here visiting from England, and every time she visits I always have a long list of things I want her to bring over, the top of the list is always maltesers! this time she also brought a lot of house stuff, which I was thrilled with. Seeing how much she crammed into her suitcase I'm shocked there was any room left for her clothes!



Here's the list of goodies:

2 x ribena bottles
3 x douwe egberts coffee
2 x yorkshire gold tea
Cadbury's drinking chocolate
2 x atora vegetable suet
2 x coleman's mint sauce
2 x coleman's tarter sauce
Coleman's mustard
Branston pickle
2 x maltesers
2 x white maltesers
Solpadeine, germolene and car sickness tablets
Nigella Lawson salt pig
2 x Nigella Lawson egg cups
Nigella Lawson measuring cups
Nigella Lawson mezzaluna and chopping board
3 British cookbooks - Nigella Lawson Kitchen, Clarissa Dickson Wright Potty and Gordon Ramsey's Great british pub food
Marks and Spencer's advent calender

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Breakfast for dinner - bacon, eggs, fried tomatoes and mushrooms with toast

Tuesday: Crockpot chicken stroganoff with egg noodles (didn't make it last week)

Wednesday: Spag bol with salad

Thursday: Picking up my mum at the airport, will probably order chinese food for dinner

Friday: Taking my mum and the girls to Joe's Crab shack

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Chicken Cacciatore

The hubby has been asking me to make this for a while, I'm not sure why I thought I wouldn't enjoy this because it turned out to be a very quick, yet delicious dinner. We will definitely be making this again.


1 lb chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 onion
8 oz mushrooms
1 green bell pepper, cut into strips
1 can diced tomatoes
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic
1 tsp marjoram
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp rosemary
1/2 tsp thyme
3 tbsp olive oil

Mix flour, salt and pepper and coat chicken with the flour mixture

Heat 2 tbsp oil in large skillet, add chicken and cook until lightly browned. Remove chicken, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and add mushrooms, onion and bell pepper, cook for 5 minutes.

Stir in the remaining ingredients, bring to a boil and add chicken back to skillet. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

King Ranch Chicken

I have never made king ranch chicken beofore, and the hubby was definitely skeptical of a recipe that called for cream of mushroom soup, but I have to say that we both loved this and will be making it again soon.


1 onion
2 lbs chicken thighs, boiled and chopped
12 oz package corn tortillas
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can Rotel
1/2 can milk

Mix together soups, tomatoes and milk. In 9x13 greased baking dish tear 1/2 corn tortillas and put in the bottom, then a layer of chicken, chopped onion, cheddar cheese and 1/2 soup mixture. Repeat layers. Bake covered at 350 for 45 minutes, uncover and bake for another 30 minutes.

Spiced Rice with Tomatoes and Bell Peppers

This recipe is from one of my favourite cookbooks, Vefa's Kitchen. I only slightly changed the recipe by adding green pepper as well as red, and that's because the hubby really wanted both peppers. We served this side dish with pork chops and we both really liked it.


6 tbsp butter
1 onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups long grain rice
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp white pepper
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp ground coriander
2 1/4 lbs fresh tomatoes, chopped
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 cup vegetable stock
1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, finely chopped

Melt the butter in a large pan, add the onion, garlic until softened. Stir in the rice and cook for 2 minutes. Add the salt, sugar, spices tomatoes, tomato paste and stock. Mix well, cover, bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in the bell pepper and simmer for 5 minutes.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Pork chops and spiced rice with tomatoes and bell peppers

Tuesday: Crockpot chicken stroganoff with egg noodles

Wednesday: Pizza burgers

Thursday: King ranch chicken (didn't make it last week)

Friday: Chicken cacciatore

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Chicken Tenders and Cream Gravy

The hubby made dinner last night, and I have to say that he made some very good chicken tenders!


1 lb chicken tenders
1 cup all purpose flour
2 cups panko breadcrumbs
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp ground corriander
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 eggs

Put flour onto plate, season with salt, pepper, allspice, corriander and cayenne

Put breadcrumbs onto seperate plate

Whisk eggs in small bowl

Dredge the chicken in the seasoned flour, then eggs and finally breadcrumbs

Heat oil in a large skillet and fry chicken for 10 minutes, or until golden brown

Peppered Cream Gravy:

4 tbsp butter
4 tbsp all purpose flour
2 cups milk
2 cups heavy cream
1/8 tsp allspice
pinch of ceyenne
salt and pepper

Add 4 tbsp of butter and the same amount of flour to a pan

When the butter/flour mixture has melted together and cooked for a few minutes to cook out the raw flour taste start adding warm milk and cream a little at a time

When the milk has been added and the sauce is smooth, add in the spices

If the sauce is too thick add in more milk

Season with lots of black pepper

Chicken Tikka Masala

I have made chicken tikka masala many times before, using many different recipes, and while they are usually all very good, they have all been very time consuming and involved a lot of steps. Until I found this recipe, which seemed far too easy to be good, but I have to say that this was not only the easiest chicken tikka I have made, but I would also say it was the best. We will definitely be making this again!


1 1/2 lbs chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
2 tbsp butter
1 onion, chopped
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 can diced tomatoes
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp corn starch
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp paprika
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

Melt butter in large skillet, add chicken, onion and lemon juice and cook for 10 minutes.
Add all of the spices and cook for 1 minute. Add the canned tomatoes.
Stir the cream, corn starch and salt together until smooth, slowly add to the chicken.
Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Served with rice, naan bread and mango chutney.

See other recipes at The Grocery Cart Challenge

Pioneer Pie

I have been meaning to make this pie for a few weeks now, and finally made it last night. The hubby and I both liked it, I think he liked it more than I did though, mainly because I am not that much of a fan of bbq sauce. This is another recipe I got from Kayotic Kitchen


1 lb ground beef
4 bacon slices
1 onion
1 garlic clove
6 tbsp bbq sauce
1 tbsp worcester sauce
1 tbsp ketchup
2 cans heinz baked beans
4 large potatoes
2 carrots
1/4 cup milk
pepper & salt
breadcrumbs
grated cheese

Peel and chop the potatoes and carrots, boil them for 20 minutes, or until tender.

Fry the beef, bacon, onion and garlic until browned, drain fat.

Add the worcester sauce, bbq sauce, ketchup and beans to the meat mixture, and simmer for 15 minutes.

Once the potatoes are done, mash them with milk, salt and pepper.

Transfer the meat mixture to a baking dish, top with the mashed potatoes, sprinkle bread crums and cheese on top and bake at 350 for 30 minutes, or until cheese has melted.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Pioneer pie (didn't make it last week)

Tuesday: Chicken tikka masala, jasmine rice and mango chutney

Wednesday: Spanish hamburgers

Thursday: King ranch chicken

Friday: Party chicken, mashed potatoes and peas

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Cowboy Stew

Another recipe I found over at a year of slow cooking the hubby really loved this, especially with his favourite candy-krisp jalapenos on top.


1 lb ground beef, browned
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 can tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can corn, drained
1 cup frozen peas
2 cans whole potatoes, drained
1 can rotel
1 can Ranch Style beans
1 cup water

Brown beef with the garlic, drain and add to the crock pot.

Open and add all of the canned items to the crock pot.

Add the cup of water and mix all together.

Cook on low for 8 hours.

Creamy Chicken Picasso

I think I am starting to feel bad for the hubby that he will soon have his mother in law visiting for an entire 2 months, so I have been looking for recipes for all his favourite foods. As soon as I saw this chicken recipe from Kayotic Kitchen with all it's onions and bell peppers I knew the hubby would love it.


4 chicken breasts
2 onions
3 bell peppers
2 garlic cloves
14oz can diced tomatoes
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup cream
2 tbsp oil
1 tbsp butter
pinch nutmeg
pepper
salt
Grated cheese

Season the chicken with salt and pepper, and lightly brown the chicken in a pan with the oil and butter. Once browned place chicken in a baking dish.
Slice the onions and add to the pan, cook until softened and then place on top of chicken.
Cut the peppers into rings and add to the pan for a few minutes, then add to the baking dish.
Add the garlic to then pan, and cook for a minute or so before adding the diced tomatoes and water. Add the Italian seasoning, and a pinch of nutmeg.
Pour in the cream, season with salt and pepper and let simmer for 5 minutes, then pour all over the chicken and vegetables.
Cover the baking dish with foil and bake at 400 for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove foil, top with grated cheese and bake uncovered for another 15 minutes.

We served ours ontop of jasmine rice, which was perfect for soaking up all that sauce.

American Chop Suey

I have never tried American chop suey/macaroni and beef/goulash before, but the hubby grew up eating it, and while this version didn't taste quite like his mom's, he still liked it. I got this recipe form a year of slow cooking


1 lb ground beef
5 bacon slices, chopped
1 large onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 can water
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 jar pasta sauce
1 (16-ounce) package pasta

Cook beef, onion and bacon together in skillet, once the beef has browned, drain and put into slow cooker. Add everything else to the meat mixture, except for the pasta and cook for 6 - 8 hours on low.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: American chop suey

Tuesday: Creamy chicken picasso, jasmine rice and green beans

Wednesday: Cowboy stew and parker house rolls

Thursday: We have the final inspection on the house and then a walk through with the builder, so we will grab dinner on the way home

Friday: Pioneer pie

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Menu Plan Monday

With only a few weeks before we move to the new house (closing is October 26th) I am trying to use up as much of the fridge and freezer contents as possible, I really don't want to have to move it all the way to League City!

Monday: Madras chicken curry and jasmine rice

Tuesday: BLT's with avocado and tomato soup

Wednesday: Going down to the new house, will grab dinner on the way home. Probably masala wok for paneer tika masala and garlic naan

Thursday: Bacon wrapped cream cheese and jalapeno stuffed chicken, baked potatoes and cauliflower-cheddar bake

Friday: Breakfast - bacon, sausage, eggs, fried tomatoes and mushrooms

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Spanish Hamburgers

This is one of the hubby's recipes, and something he makes when he is in charge of dinner! he usually makes these on hamburger buns, but wanted to try pita bread this time, and I actually much preferred them this way. He likes his with mayo and mustard and I like mine with sliced tomato.


1 lb ground beef
1 onion, finely chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2 can tomato paste
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tbsp mustard
1 tsp worcester sauce
1/4 tsp italian seasoning
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp coriander
1/4 tsp cayenne

Put beef, onion and bell pepper in pan, cook until beef has browned and vegetables are softened, drain well.

Add the tomato paste to the meat mixture along with the ketchup, mustard, worcester sauce and all the spices.

Turn the heat down to low and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently.

Serve on hamburger buns or pita bread with mustard, mayo and sliced tomatoes.

See other recipes at The Grocery Cart Challenge

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Spanish hamburgers, corn on the cob and roasted asparagus

Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner - french toast, sausage, eggs, fried mushrooms and tomatoes

Wednesday: Orange chicken and jasmine rice

Thursday: Roast chicken, tomato topped baked mac and cheese and roasted asparagus

Friday: Going down to the new house, will probably eat at cafe adobe on the way home

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Chili Con Carne

Randal and I have different ways of eating our chili, he has it in a bowl topped with cheese and eats it with crackers, I like it how I grew up eating it, on a bed of rice with jacobs cream crackers. Either way, this recipe makes pretty tasty chili!


1 pound lean ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon candy krisp jalapenos (optional, I added them because the hubby loves them)
2 cans red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 cinnamon stick
Dash of ground cloves
Shake of worcester sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1.In a medium sized pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Saute onion,garlic and green pepper until soft. Add ground beef and cook until meat is browned.
2.Pour in tomatoes, tomato sauce and all of the seasonings.
3. Transfer to crock pot and cook for 6-8 hours, adding the beans for the last 2 hours.
4.Remove cinnamon stick before serving

See other recipes at The Grocery Cart Challenge

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Cheese potato and smoked sausage casserole

Tuesday: Chili con carne with rice

Wednesday: BLT's with avocado and soup

Thursday: Breakfast for dinner - eggs, bacon, hash browns and fried tomatoes

Friday: Taco pasta and salad

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: I have to make a meatloaf for the hubby to take to his works Tuesday pot luck lunch, so I'm making an extra one for dinner, so meatloaf, mashed potatoes and peas

Tuesday: Sweet and sour chicken and jasmine rice

Wednesday: I have my citizenship ceremony, so we are going to dinner at Perry's to clelebrate my new American citizenship!

Thursday: Spag bol, salad and parker house rolls

Friday: Eating out

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

S'mores Chocolate Chip Cookies

The hubby has a pot luck lunch at work every tuesday, so I made these for him to take last week.

See the recipe over at Picky Palate

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Chicken carbonara and salad

Tuesday: Cowboy casserole and french beans

Wednesday: Orange chicken and jasmine rice

Thursday: Hamburgers, shells and cheese and fruit salad

Friday: Eating out

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Menu Plan Monday

It's been about a month since I last menu planned or posted anything on this blog, but I now finally have a working camera for the first time since we moved, and even though most of my kitchen equipment is still in storage I am over the frustration of that and can't wait to start posting recipes again.

Before I get to the menu plan, I have to share the latest picture of our new house. In just a month it has gone from an empty lot to this:



Anyway, on to this weeks menu plan...

Monday: Cranberry glazed pork roast, mashed potatoes and fresh green beans

Tuesday: Texas bbq ribs, herby potato salad and corn on the cob

Wednesday: Tacos

Thursday: Shepherds pie and salad

Friday: Eating out

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Menu Plan Monday

DH has colleagues from Nigeria here in Houston for training this week, so this weeks menu is very up in the air, as he will be out with them sometimes and I won't be cooking meals just for me.

Monday: Spag bol, salad

Tuesday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and corn

Wednesday: Tacos, guacamole and chips

Thursday: Spicy roast chicken legs, green beans and salad

Friday: Eating out

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Menu Plan Monday

I know I haven't been posting much at all, but I do have a couple of recipes waiting to be posted, but I can't get the pictures uploaded becaue my cameras battery has finally died. So adding to the list of things I haven't been able to find since we moved is my battery charger. I finally gave in this weekend and went and bought a new one, but it didn't work.

Anyway, this week's menu plan...

Monday: Tacos

Tuesday: Italian sausage pasta bake, salad

Wednesday: I have an immigration biometrics appointment for my citizenship application this afternoon, so we will probably eat out afterwards

Thursday: Swedish meatballs, egg noodles and peas

Friday: Eating out

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie