2012 Week 37

Fall is here!  And that means soccer, Sunday football, and soups!  I'm trying a few new recipes I found on Pinterest starting with a yummy, spicy soup for tonight!

Sunday - Tortilla Soup with avocado
Monday - Leftovers
Tuesday - Taco Night, these roasted veg tacos sound amazing
Wednesday - Roasted red pepper and pesto pasta
Thursday - Homemade mini corn dogs (I'm going to try it with veggie dogs. If it works, I'll post our recipe!)
Friday - Grilled salmon and veggies
Saturday - Homemade pizza!

Have a great week!

Make Ahead Veg Meals

I have a dear friend with a foot injury who cannot walk or drive for another couple of weeks.  Her mom was here initially to help out, but had to leave yesterday, so a few of us are organizing dinners for the family.  I'm making a big batch of this delicious Tortilla Soup today (photo from the blog) and will bring half of it over to their house for tonight.  I'm also busy pinning more make ahead meals that travel well.

I think the key to bringing dinner to someone is making it as simple as possible for the recipient.  I try to always use disposable or recyclable containers so that no one has to make any effort to return anything.  I also try to bring something that can easily be eaten that night, or put in the freezer for another night.  On that note, I try to aim for meals that will please everyone.  No strong flavors that kids might not enjoy.  After all, you're trying to make life easier for someone and it's not easier if they still have to short order cook for their kids.  Lastly,  I try to provide a full balanced meal.  Either soup with all the fixings or a pasta dish with a salad and fresh bread.  If there are kids (or dessert lovers) I also put in a handful of freshly baked cookies or maybe muffins for the next morning.

Here is a list of my favorite meals to bring to a friend:
Portobello Lasagna Roll Ups
Corn and Potato Chowder
Any kind of baked pasta (this baked Ziti is my favorite)
A cold pasta salad (this one is really yummy!)

What are your favorites?

2012 Week 36

Go Buffs!  Oh wait, we lost our first game...it's going to be a long season of college football, isn't it?

Sunday - Scott's smokin' ribs.  He's promised me a veggie delight...I'm guessing that means black bean burgers.
Monday - Another Labor Day BBQ after enjoying an extra weekend day.
Tuesday - We have a boatload of eggplant from our own garden and the CSA.  So, I'm cruising Pinterest now for eggplant recipes.  Right now these Eggplant Arancini are looking pretty good.  I think the kids would even eat them.  Served with a green salad.
Wednesday - First night back to coaching for me so we need a make ahead dinner.  Since we're supposed to get arugula in the CSA, I'm thinking this pasta with arugula and white beans will be perfect!
Thursday - Left overs
Friday - Homemade pizza on the grill.
Saturday - Another CU game for Scott, so I'm thinking of a ladies and kids night fiesta! Quesadillas on the grill, guacamole and chips and lots of margs!

2012 Week 35

Winter Park was B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!

And it was the perfect place to spend a weekend sans kids with just the hubby.

We missed those cute faces, but it was nice to sleep in and take our time eating!

Sunday - Dinner out, procrastinating getting back in the swing of things!

Monday - Green curry with CSA veggies and brown rice.

Tuesday - Lazy chili rellenos with tortillas and homemade refried black beans.

Wednesday - Grilled salmon and CSA veggies

Thursday - Pizza on the grill.

Friday - Old friend in town, dinner with our families.

Saturday - CU game!  Dinner out.

2012 Week 34

Happy Birthday to me this week!  I celebrated my day by running my first 1/2 Marathon.  

Whew, it was hard.  But amazing, I kind of can't believe I finished it!

Finisher!  Yay!

Can you even see tiny me in that photo?

Birthday cake candles! 

Anyway, it might be a birthday week, but there are meals to plan!

Sunday - left overs.  I made that delish Barefoot Contessa pasta last night for my carb loading.  Hmm, what's my excuse for eating tons of it today??  Recovery?

Monday - My official birthday!  Scott's in charge of dinner.

Tuesday - I have meetings all evening, but I want to be sure Scott doesn't have to think twice about dinner.  I'll make a yummy cold pasta salad and Scott can grill brats and hot dogs.

Wednesday - Grilled Salmon with CSA veggies on the side

Thursday - Not sure yet...

Friday - My birthday present is a surprise trip to Winter Park for just Scott and me.  My mom's taking the kids!

Saturday - Winter Park!

2012 Week 33

What?? Is this not how you wear your headband? :)

We have nothing especially fun going on this week, depending on who you ask.  L starts another year of preschool on Friday (so strange to start on a Friday), so it's our last week of "summer".  Both a joyous and sad event!

It's prime CSA veggie time right now and this week we are getting melon, onions, beets, cauliflower, zucchini, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, peaches and plums.  We also have a boatload of peppers to use up (i over purchased a bit for fajitia night!).

Sunday - grilled salmon and steak, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob and green beans

Monday - stir fry with loads of peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, onions and either tofu or veggie chicken strips

Tuesday - tomato mozzarella tart with a caesar salad

Wednesday - sweet potato avocado burgers

Thursday - dinner out, I want to try a new food truck turned restaurant near us.

Friday - pizza on the grill with homemade dough

Saturday - Pasta overload.  My first 1/2 marathon is the next day, so dinner will be yummy!

Have a great week!

Vacation (aka Weeks 30, 31, and 32!)

We spent the past two weeks with my husband's family in North Idaho.  Lot's of lake time, LOTS of eating, and plenty of good family time.

 Self family portrait at Lake Coeur d'Alene 

 Gigantic Butterfinger Sundae at The Resort, a family tradition

 Beautiful Priest Lake

 Cousins having fun!

 H swimming in the lake

Playing on all the fun water toys at the cabin.

And...now we are back and I have to figure out what we are going to eat this week!

Tuesday - Pesto pasta with grilled black bean burgers and garden tomatoes

Wednesday - Ladies night for me, grilled pizza for the kids and Scott

Thursday - Grilled salmon and corn on the cob, green bean and arugula salad

Friday - Caprise salad with a basil vinaigrette, grilled chicken for Scott and kids

Saturday - Fish tacos with guac

Have a great week!