Full disclosure – I’m actually traveling in the UK at the moment. So far, we had the most amazing food at a brand new Italian restaurant called Bella Cosa at Canary Wharf in London, had afternoon tea at York and Albany, Gordon Ramsay’s gastropub on the main floor of the hotel, and tonight we are headed out to a local pub called The Flag for authentic British pub food here in Watford, UK.
So, anyway, I’m just sharing with you some of my favourite quick and easy meal ideas for this week’s menu plan.
Monday – Homemade chicken fingers, oven fries (I don’t peel them. Just wash and cut into strips. Dip each strip into egg white and place on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Bake at 400 degrees until crispy and golden brown, about 15 minutes), carrot sticks, dipping sauces (a favourite one: simply mix together some mayo with your favourite BBQ sauce)
Tuesday – Slow Cooker Tortellini (note: we have not tried this recipe yet. I’ll let you know how it turns out.): Brown 1 lb. lean ground beef. Saute 1 small onion diced and 2 cloves of garlic minced in a little olive oil (unless there’s enough fat left from the beef). Add this to the slow cooker. Stir in a 28 oz. can of tomato sauce, 1/2 tsp. oregano, 1/2 tsp. basil, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for about 7 hours on low. Top with the contents of a 19 oz. bag of fresh or frozen cheese tortellini and then 1 1/2 cups grated cheese (we’re using a mixture of cheddar and mozzarella). Cover and cook on low for an additional 30-45 minutes. Tossed salad.
Wednesday – Roast chicken (using leftovers on Saturday) crispy smashed potatoes (Boil potatoes in water until cooked completely through. Let cool for 10-15 minutes. Smash the potatoes with a heavy coffee mug or saucepan. Coat with olive oil and spices – we really like the McCormicks Applewood Seasoning spice mix. Bake for 30min at 325 degrees F on the middle rack and then for about 15 minutes on the top rack to allow them to crisp up), green beans
Thursday – Reitter Pork Chops, spaetzle, sauerkraut (I like to cook it with a chunk of pork thrown in there for added flavor)
Friday – Waldorf Salad with fresh spinach and kale in a wrap, homemade potato crisps (slice potatoes thinly on a mandoline, toss with a bit of olive oil to coat, salt and pepper to taste and place on a baking sheet in a 350 degree F oven until golden brown and crispy).
Saturday – Chicken pot pie soup (use chicken reserved from Wednesday), tossed salad
Sunday – Aunt Jerri’s Pork chops and rice, corn, peas (there was a really good sale on pork chops in my home area this week)
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