Classic Steak BBQ

Classic Backyard Steak BBQ Menu:

Fruit Punch 

Brushetta 

BBQ Steak 

Broccoli Salad

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

Magic Bars 

Fruit Punch was a hit with the kiddies. Not too sweet, the lemon juice is a nice tangy touch. Adults were enjoying the wine and beer too much to sample the punch. :-)

Brushetta and Bread: I used a deli pre-made brushetta and bakery bread ~ I need to make short cuts somewhere. :) 

*Here's a wonderful tip for cooking bacon that will let you steer clear of the mess, hassle and pain of frying. Line a baking sheet with tin foil and lay bacon in a single layer on pan. Bake in preheated 400* oven until it looks about right. Check it to make sure the bacon is cooking evenly. It should take about 10-20 minutes depending on how crispy you want it. Take it out of oven and lay on paper towel to soak up the grease. The bacon can then be rolled in paper towel and put in a zip lock bag and frozen. Then all it takes is 15 seconds in the microwave and voila! you have fresh cooked bacon whenever you need it.  

Bacon ranch Pasta Salad: Delicious! Very Colourful and Flavourful. A definite new summer bbq/picnic staple in this house.

Broccoli Salad: easy peasy and turns out perfect every time and is always a hit. You can add a handful of raisins or craisins to the mix as well for a little sweetness. I did and it was a nice touch.

Steak: Montreal Steak Spice...'nuff said.

Magic Bars: I opted for the half chocolate - half butterscotch variation and added chopped pecans. These are perfect for a big gathering as they can be made ahead of time, even frozen, and they don't require too much work or time in the oven. And they are ALWAYS a hit. Make sure to have them cool in the fridge before cutting otherwise you end up with a mess. Of course the whole plate was almost gone by the end of the evening. 

Overall the BBQ Menu went over great; there were almost no leftovers. The boys were having too much fun to truly sit down and eat, but that is what summertime fun with friends in the backyard is all about. 

Go to Broccoli Salad Recipe!
Go to Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe!
Go to Fruit Punch Recipe!
Go to Magic Bars Recipe!

Stovetop Tuna

My cat happily drink the juice from the drained tuna and he was the only one satisfied tonight. My Preschooler flat out refused bite number 2 and my husband says he would rather NOT see it on the meal plan again. Personally, not my favorite "Tuna Noodle" meal, but it is FAST, Easy, and Edible.  Most of the ingredients can come straight from your pantry - so it's good when you're in a pinch.  The spices were my addition, the original recipe had none...? Either way this is the last time you'll see this meal.

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Oriental Chicken Salad

I have to admit I was skeptical the first time I made this recipe. I have never been one for noodles in my "lettuce salad". Don't get me wrong, I love me a good pasta salad, but something about the two types of salad mixed just turned me off. But WOW, this is SO easy and SO YUMMY!!! It will be a repeat in our house for sure! I did change one thing ~ I sprinkled the oranges on top with the noodles rather than mixing them in. I followed the recipe the first time I made this and I like the oranges on their own better.

Our Preschooler doesn't eat salad, spits it out immediately, so I whipped up a batch of buffalo style chicken nuggets out of the Grocer's freezer section (he likes them spicy) and cooked up a Knorr Sides Plus with Cheddar, Broccoli and Carrots. And Voila all food groups represented without the tears! Colour me happy!

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Chimichangas

Yup, yet another safe bet in our house. Mexican cuisine is just so "homey" to me. I think because of the warm flavours and the density of the chimichangas.Either way, this was a prefect meal for a stormy summer night! My only complaint was that I was not a fan of the "crunchy" ends, but everyone else enjoyed that part, so I guess I am out numbered. I might try covering the pan with tin foil next time and see how that fairs.

 ~ Individually wrapped the leftovers and froze for FAST lunches for "Junior" 

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Apricot Chicken

Another family fave in our house and a repeat to our table. I love using this in my meal plan as it is a no fail and a no brainer.

Decided to opt for the steamed sugar snap peas for Mom and Dad - creamed corn for "Junior"

mmm...mmm...good!

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Veggie Burgs & Carrot/Cabbage Stirfry Review

Overall the meal was a big hit - this is one that we have had before and will have again for sure! Fast, Easy and it has it all! :-)

Preschooler Meal: It was all out of a package (Fish Sticks, Corn, Sweet Potato Fries) except the tar tar sauce. He gobbled it all up no prob! :-) 

Go to Cabbage and Carrot Stirfry Recipe!

Go to Tartar Sauce Recipe!

Meal Plan - Week 31 ~ 2010

Monday - Veggie Burger served with Cabbage and Carrot Stirfry

           - Toddler Meal: Fish Sticks, Tartar Sauce and Sweet Potato Fries

Tuesday - Apricot Chicken served with Basmati Rice and Peas

Wednesday - Chimichangas served with Tossed Salad

Thursday - Oriental Chicken Salad

Friday - Stovetop Tuna served with Tossed Salad

Saturday - Brushetta, BBQ Steak, with Broccoli Salad, Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad, Fruit Punch and Magic Bars (Company coming!)

Sunday - Salmon Burgers, Quinoa, Corn (Or a good ole fashioned Hot Dog Roast (weather dependent)) Ended up with an impromptu BBQ for 8!
Dessert Pizza

It's so beautifully arranged on the plate -- you know someone's fingers have been all over it. ~ Julia Childs

New Kid on the Block

Here I am! A Mom who loves to cook, bake and plan meals, and the blogger amateur of the century getting ready to start up her own. I hope that you can bear with me while I get my thoughts organized and together and get things rolling on this brain child of mine. 

I LOVE to meal plan and I LOVE to organize my families food and make as many different, fun, fast, realistic family foods that everyone enjoys as I can. Some make the cut, some don't. Up until now I have been jotting down notes in my numerous recipe books, writing it on my meal plans, typing it in a spread sheet and in a worst case scenario - putting it on a random piece of paper and sticking it in my over filled binder of random food related notes. 

My hope for this blog is to post weekly meal plans along with the recipes and every time my family enjoys (or doesn't) one of the meals, I hope to post a photo and our review of the meal. Once things get rolling. I hope to also post up random food and organizing related ideas so this way all my knowledge will be in one handy spot, rather than in the junk drawer or my head. I plan on having links to some of my most cherished recipe and coupon websites as well as weekly inspirational quotes that jump out at me at the time to help us all just enjoy this crazy ride. 

So I guess what I am saying is that there may not be much to see right now, but please check back often to see just how big this is going to get! Feel free to drop me a comment at anytime with your thoughts or ideas... I think it is great if we can help each other get the food to the table with a smile in our heart! 

Cooking is like love.  It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.  ~Harriet van Horne