Sunday nights I always try to make a meal that is hearty and will get us in a good mood for the beginning of a new week! This past Sunday I made meatloaf and mashed potatoes. I found the meatloaf recipe online--it's Paula Deen's, so you know it is GOOD. I made it once and Britt requested that I make it again. Here is how you make it:
Old Fashioned Meatloaf
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion {I added more onion}
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper {I added more bell pepper}
1 egg, slightly beaten
8 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juice {I used a 10 oz. can of Rotel Diced Tomatoes with green chiles}
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
Topping:
1/3 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Mix all ingredients well.
Place in a baking dish and shape into a loaf.
Topping:
Mix ingredients for topping and spread on loaf.
Bake at 375 degrees F for 1 hour.
Homemade Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
4 red potatoes
4 tablespoons butter {I use a low fat substitute such as Country Crock Lite}
1/8-1/4 cup milk {I use 2%}
Garlic Powder {to your own liking}
Onion Powder {to your own liking}
Parsley {to your own liking}
Boil potatoes {with skin} for about 35-40 minutes {it will take less time if you cube the potatoes before boiling}. Once the potatoes are tender, drain the water. Leave potatoes in the same pot you boiled them in. Add butter, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, and parsley. Use an electric mixer to whip potatoes until they are smooth.
The finished product...Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans
Britt went back for seconds!
Monday night we had a bit lighter fair. We had a roasted pork tenderloin, lima beans, and yellow corn.
The vegetables were canned, but for a good pork tenderloin follow this recipe:
Baked Pork Tenderloin
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Sprinkle onion powder, garlic powder, and italian seasoning on the tenderloin. Add olive oil and rub seasoning. Roll the tenderloin in about 1/2 cup of panko bread crumbs. Bake at 400 degrees F for about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Tuesday night's menu was baked chicken, asparagus, and glazed carrots.
Britt really like the carrots so I will share the recipe I used. I usually use honey and brown sugar to make the glaze, but I was out of honey this time. I did what any good cook would do, and I improvised with what I did have in the pantry. I used butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup to make the glaze.
Glazed Carrots
Ingredients
9-12 oz. baby carrots
3-4 tbsp butter {I use low fat Country Crock}
3 tbsp brown sugar
approximately 1/4 cup maple syrup {I used reduced fat}
Boil carrots for about 10 minutes. Heat butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup in a skillet over medium heat. Drain carrots and add them to the syrup mixture. Stir to coat carrots with the glaze. Simmer on low-medium heat for about 20 minutes stirring occasionally.
Wednesday nights are Britt's Friday night. It is also Hump Day which means we have made it through half the week and need a good meal to get us through to Friday! On Wednesday nights we usually have a more "exciting" dinner than healthy meat and vegetables. Tonight we had fried potatoes! When I was little my momma always made the BEST fried potatoes for dinner. I tried to recreate them. They definitely weren't the same as hers, but they were tasty nonetheless!
Fried Potatoes
Ingredients
2 russet potatoes
1/2 yellow onion
Vegetable Oil
Dice the potatoes and onion.
Pour enough oil in the skillet to cover the bottom and come up a little on the sides. Heat the oil until it is hot. Add diced potatoes and onions to the oil. Season with a generous amount of salt and pepper.
Stir the potatoes often for about 20 minutes.
Once the potatoes are cooked, transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate so the can "drain" off.
A good Wednesday night meal--hamburger patties, green beans, and fried potatoes!
Britt wasn't feeling well on Thursday night so he wanted Arby's for dinner. I did not! We went and got him a roast beef and cheddar sandwich; then we came back and I made a new recipe I have been wanting to try. I found a recipe for Jalapeno Popper Chicken on Pinterest and it did not disappoint!
Jalapeno Popper Chicken
Ingredients
2 chicken breasts
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
2 tbsp canola cooking oil
2 tbsp taco seasoning
1 egg
2 oz. reduced fat cream cheese
1/4 cup shredded four cheese mexican blend cheese
1-2 jalapeno peppers, seeds and ribs removed, minced
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and place an ovenproof rack onto a rimmed baking dish. Spray with cooking spray. In a small skillet combine the panko with the canola oil over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until the panko is golden and crispy. Add taco seasoning and mix.
Pour into a shallow dish. In another shallow bowl or dish, lightly beat an egg.
In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, shredded cheese, and jalapenos.
Using a small utility knife, cut a pocket into the side of each chicken breast until it is almost butterflied. Season the chicken lightly with salt and pepper. Divide the cream cheese mixture evenly between each chicken breast and stuff into the "pocket". Use toothpicks to secure if necessary.
Dip the chicken pieces one at a time into the egg.
Then toss it in the panko mixture. Make sure to coat the chicken completely.
Place the chicken on the prepared baking rack and cook for about 25-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
I added a dollop of sour cream and salsa on the side of my chicken. It was a great compliment to "Mexican" themed ingredients. I had panned to make black beans or refried beans as a side, but since I was eating solo I just had the chicken. I'll be making this recipe again soon since Britt did not get to enjoy it!
Friday night was a take-out night. We were craving sushi so we went to Okinawa Sushi in Homewood. They have some of the best {tasting and priced} sushi around town. They give a 20% discount on dinner {even take out!}. We got 5 rolls and 2 miso soups for a grand total of $36.00!
Saturday night Britt STILL had a fever so we had and easy meal--chees fries, kinda. I found a recipe on Pinterest {go figure!} called Cheesy Potato Fries. They were so good!
Cheesy Potatoes Fries
Ingredients
* I cut the recipe in half since there were just two of us eating.
Fries:
4-6 baking potatoes
1/4 cup olive oil
sea salt, ground pepper, your favorite seasoning salt
Sour Cream/Ranch Sauce:
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup ranch dressing {I make my own Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch}
1/4 cup milk
Toppings:
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese {I used four cheese mexican blend because that's all I had}
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup real bacon bits
1/4 cup diced green onions
Cut the potatoes into steak fries.
Place on foiled baking sheet. Drizzle with oil and toss with tongs. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Bake at 400 dgrees F for 40 minutes or until tender.
In a separate bowl mix: sour cream, ranch dressing, and milk. Whisk together.
On a separate platter smooth about 3/4 of the sour cream sauce.
Place hot potatoes over sour cream sauce.
Sprinkle cheese and bacon bits on the potatoes.
Place under broiler for a few minutes to melt the cheese.
Top with the remaining sour cream sauce and green onions.
Enjoy this messy, but delicious dish. We did!
Stay tuned to see what's for dinner next week!
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