Weekly Line Up - 7/30-8/3

We are off on another camping adventure this weekend! Can't wait for some good family fun - with no TV for my children to veg in front of! :) Then next week is already August... Is it just me or has this summer FLOWN by?? I can't believe that we are running out of time to get all of our fun stuff in! :) Got a lot planned for next week but here is the tentative menu...

Friday - Camping - *Sweet Lemonade Salad
Saturday - Camping - *BLT Pasta Salad
Sunday - Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Spaghettios
Monday - *Creamy Swiss Steak with Roasted Broccoli
Tuesday - *Honey Marinated Chicken
Wednesday - *Nacho Cheese Beef Bake
Thursday - *Cooker Chops

* New Recipes

Berry Chicken Salad

This was a wonderful tasting, light meal that was perfect on a hot summer day! The kids and I had just been out strawberry picking, so this recipe caught my eye right away! It was super yummy and the kids even enjoyed it!! The store that I shop at didn't have raspberries when I went shopping, so I substituted with blueberries and trade out the goat cheese for mozzarella. Either way - super yummy!!



Berry Chicken Salad
(recipe found in Taste of Home Healthy Cooking)

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 package (6 ounces) fresh baby spinach
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 cup halved fresh strawberries
2/3 cup crumbled goat cheese
3 tablespoons chopped pecans, toasted
1/4 cup fat free raspberry vinaigrette

Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Grill chicken, covered, over medium heat for 4-7 minutes on each side or until juices run clear. In a large bowl, combine the spinach, raspberries, strawberries, cheese and pecans. Divide among four serving plates. Slice chicken and arrange over spinach mixture; drizzle with vinaigrette.

Banana Roll Ups

This was a quick and easy snack that my kids loved! We go through bananas like crazy at our house, so this is a fun new way to serve them! I even had to jump on this snack bandwagon - yum!!



Banana Roll Ups
(recipe found at www.bettycrocker.com)

2 soft flour tortillas
3 tablespoons peanut butter
2 tablespoons hot fudge ice cream topping
2 bananas
2 teaspoons toasted wheat germ

Spread tortillas with peanut butter. Sprinkle with wheat germ and ice cream topping. Place banana in center of each tortilla. Roll up and cut in half to serve.

Orange Julius - adult style!

So, I stole this tasty little treat from one of my sons friends moms... (I know there needs to be an apostrophe somewhere in that mess, but I'm not sure quite where it should go! :) I saw the ingredients and thought "that is a drink that I have to try!!" From the second I tasted it, I knew that I was in trouble - it tastes just like an orange julius!! Very cool and refreshing on a hot summer day... the bottle was half gone after an afternoon of relaxing with my family!!

Orange Julius - adult style!
(recipe stolen from Tina Ewert!)

Orange Cream Vodka
Orange Juice
Cream

Mix according to your taste buds. Pour over ice and ENJOY!!

Southwest Casserole

Call them a hotdish, call them a casserole - whatever they are, they are delish! If you are from Minnesota, you know ALL about the hotdish and how yummy, hearty and filling they are! The hubs made fun of me constantly when we first got together and was always asking why we had to have hotdishes for the majority of our meals... Guess his Arizona stomach didn't know what to do with a good Minnesota hotdish! :) He has gotten used to it over the years though and appreciated this tasty hotdish that I cooked up!!



Southwest Casserole
(recipe found at www.amandascookin.com)

1 pound ground beef
1 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced orange bell pepper
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon magic dust seasoning or montreal steak seasoning
16 ounces tomato sauce
1 10 ounce can diced tomatoes and green chiles
1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 cups frozen corn
2 ounces shredded mexican 4 cheese blend
1 1/2 cups dried macaroni style pasta
1 cup shredded mexican 4 cheese blend
sliced green onions for garnish

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 2 quart casserole dish with cooking spray. In a large skillet brown ground beef with onions, bell pepper and red pepper flakes. Season with magic dust or steak seasoning.

Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, oregano and chili powder. Simmer for 15-20 minutes. Add frozen corn and simmer for a few more minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the 2 ounces of cheese until melted. Gently stir in cooked pasta. Pour all into prepared casserole dish and top with shredded cheese. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until browned and bubbly. Garnish with green onions if desired.

Weekly Line Up - 7/23-7/29

What a crazy week! I got recipes piling up all over the place... My computer is down for the count and that means that I can only get on the internet when the hubs is home and willing to share his computer! :) With his crazy summer schedule that isn't very often... The boys have bible school this week and with the hubs being gone as much as he is right now this week is pretty low key on the meals. No point in doing a lot of work when it is me and a 2 year old eating! :) Hope you have a fabulous week and wish me luck on getting my computer back up and running!

Friday - *Chicken BLT Taco Salad
Saturday - *Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
Sunday - *Loaded Flank Steak with *Asparagus Supreme
Monday - corn on the cob with garlic bread
Tuesday - Eggs and Toast
Wednesday - Tacos
Thursday - Chow Mein

Ham and Pickle Wraps

These are another one of those family favorites that end up at a lot of our get togethers... They are easy to throw together and are gone before you know it. I made them up in advance for my husband's surprise party that I just threw and they tasted great!!



Ham and Pickle Wraps

1 package ham lunch meat
1 (8 ounces) cream cheese
1 large jar pickles

Spread cream cheese on one slice of ham. Add pickle and roll. Cut into slices. Repeat until you have as many as you want!