March Recipe Update...

Okay, I'm running a little behind this month...things have been a bit crazy lately.  Consequently, I'm just finally getting to the update from the past month's cooking, and it'll be a remix month in April, so no new recipes this month (hopefully next month!).  Anyway, here's the deal for last month's recipes:

- Baked Chicken Chimichangas - were AWESOME.  Pretty easy to make, delicious to eat, and filling.  I had it with cream cheese corn, but I think you probably wouldn't need the side dish for it to feel like a meal.  Definitely a keeper!

- Philly Cheesesteak Rolls - were delicious.  However, they lost a quite a lot of their texture on the reheating.  I'll probably be making them again, but I might save them for a time when they'll be eaten right away instead of reheating.  Either way...yum :)

- Biscuit Cheeseburger Casserole - This was shockingly cheeseburger-y.  lol :)  Sounds silly, but sometimes you get  a hankering for a cheeseburger and just nothing else will do...I'm pretty sure this casserole would.  Reheated well, and the biscuits on top stayed fluffy.  Definitely a winner, and I'll be making it in the future. 

- Grands Taco Melts - These were very tasty, and I'll definitely be making them again.  They kept texture really well upon the reheating, and were very satisfying...lots of flavor packed into a nice little pocket.  I'll probably switch up the side dish next time I make them...something about the potato cups just didn't work with it.

- Italian Crescent Casserole - This one just didn't ring my bell.  It wasn't bad...it just wasn't great either.  There were some texture issues...I think crescents just don't hold up to reheating as well as biscuits, and it all ended up sort of soggy and bland.  I'll cross this one off the list for the future.

All in all, a very successful month.  Like I said, no new recipes/menu plan this month...just remixing old stuff.  More crafty stuff to come, and we'll start with new recipes again in May (hopefully...if my life slows down for five minutes between now and then!)  Good night all!

March Menu Plan...

I've been doing so much crafty posting lately, it actually seems weird to be posting recipe stuff again!  So, I got together my March menu plan tonight, cuz I'm planning on cooking Saturday when I'm off.  Fingers crossed my ambition level keeps up the way it's been going lately and I don't inadvertently sleep till noon and skip cooking altogether ;)  The recipes that didn't already have calorie information with them were figured on CalorieKing.com, and I went ahead and linked the ones I've made on here before.  Anyway, here's the plan:

Baked Chicken Chimichangas (352 calories) + Cream Cheese Corn (120 calories) = 8 servings at 472 calories each

Philly Cheesesteak Rolls (252 calories) + Potatoes ala Boulangere (117 calories) = 8 servings at 369 calories each

Biscuit Cheeseburger Casserole (420 calories) = 5 servings at 420 calories each

Grands Taco Melts (370 calories) + Hashbrown Parmesan Cups (101 calories) = 8 servings at 471 calories each

Italian Crescent Casserole (390 calories) + Garlic Bread (153 calories) = 6 servings at 543 calories each

And that's all for tonight...better be getting to bed if I expect to not be exhausted at work all day tomorrow!  Have a good one!

February Recipe Update...

Well, it's time for a brief departure from our crafting agenda for an update on the last month's recipes!  Here's the lowdown:

Confetti Mac & Cheese - This was pretty good.  There was a bit of a texture issue with the reheating...it got a little thicker than I would've preferred.  I think next time I'll keep this recipe for a time when I've got a couple people over and we can eat it right away. 

Cheese & Nut Stuffed Shells - Oh vegetarian dishes...you get me everytime.  This tasted really good.  There was literally nothing wrong with it...except...I miss the meat.  Sorry...I'm just a carnivore.  Such is life.  Next time I'll add some spicy sausage or something to that effect.

Spicy Tuscan Soup - This might not be quite spot-on for Olive Garden, but it's pretty darn close.  Especially if I would've used the spicy sausage they called for (they were out when I went grocery shopping).  Definitely a keeper, and reheated really well!

No Peek Beef Tips - Uhhhhh...Yum!  This is definitely a winner, and it'll make it into the regular rotation for sure.  Super fast, super easy, super delicious and reheats well!

Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins - So I'm completely obsessed with these muffins.  I'll be making a double batch this month.  They are DE-LI-CIOUS.  I'd like to have one right now!

Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins - These were pretty darn good too.  I would probably spend an extra few seconds pulsing the oatmeal in the food processor next time, but otherwise, really good.  Plus, they're really filling...excellent breakfast option.

That's all for the update.  March recipe plan coming shortly!

February Menu Plan...

Alright people...it's time for cooking again!  Theoretically, I'm grocery shopping after work tomorrow (ummm...tonight at this point, I guess), and then cooking on Saturday when I'm off.  We'll see if all that really happens, but as of right now, that's what I'm aiming for.  The menu plan is as follows, and I linked the ones I've already made.  Calories (for the ones that didn't have them on the original) are calculated on CalorieKing.com.  Here we go:

Spicy Tuscan Soup - 6 servings - 522 calories each
Cheese & Walnut Stuffed Shells - 6 servings - 549 calories each
No Peek Beef Tips with Fettucini - 8 servings - 459 calories
Confetti Mac & Cheese - 6 servings - 408 calories
Sausage Rolls (6 servings - 334 cal.) with Cauliflower Pancakes (8 servings - 123 cal.) = 457 calories

BONUS - Making new breakfast items this month :)

Oatmeal Banana Muffins - 6 servings (2 muffins each serving) - 314 calories
Devils Food Pumpkin Muffins - 6 servings (2 muffins each serving) - 354 calories

And that's all for now...recipes coming after the weekend, hopefully :)

Spicy Sausage Pasta...

Well, I found this recipe on one of my recent (and incredibly brief) visits to Pinterest.  The picture looked beautiful, and I gotta say, I'm a sucker for beautiful food.  I can't help but think my blog would probably be more popular if I bothered to learn anything about food photography, but hey...I'm busy...maybe someday when I retire...when I'm 105 or so.  So yeah, don't hold your breath for that :)  Anyway, the original recipe can be found at kevin {&} amanda.  I adjusted to get a little more out of it, because as a general rule, I like to get 6-8 servings out of a meal for the month, and the original only made 4.  Plus the original called for a pound of sausage in 4 servings...I like smoked sausage, but yeow...that's a lot.  So, there were a few adjustments.  The recipe as I made it is as follows:

Spicy Sausage Pasta
8 servings - 412 calories

Ingredients
1 T. olive oil
1 package smoked sausage
1 med. onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 c. chicken broth
1- 10oz. can Rotel (Tomatoes and Green Chiles - Mild)
1/2 c. heavy cream
1 lb. pasta (I used Penne)
1 c. shredded Colby Jack cheese
1/3 c. diced green onions

Directions
Saute sausage and onions on medium high for 4-6 minutes until onions begin to soften.  Add garlic and saute an additional 30 seconds or so till it gets fragrant.  Add broth, tomatoes, cream, and pasta and bring to a boil.  Turn down to low/med. low and simmer for an additional 15 minutes until pasta is cooked through.  Add cheese and green onions and stir as cheese melts.  And that's it...voila!

I'm serving mine with a crescent roll for a total of 512 calories.  Also, I forgot to take a picture of the portioned out servings before I ate one for lunch (whoops!), so no pic for that...sorry!  You get the idea :)

January Menu Plan...

Alrighty...the January Meal Plan!  Woot!  As I said in my last post, we're running a little short on new recipes due to time constraints, but I did manage to get one in there.  I went ahead and linked the ones that I've already made so in case you're feeling like you couldn't live without making one of them, you don't have to sift through a bunch of stuff to find it (I know, I'm pretty thoughtful sometimes).  By the way, have you noticed I'm in a much sassier mood since I've moved to Iowa?  People who know me keep pointing it out...I'm gonna go ahead and say that equates to me being in a BETTER mood, so get used to it!  :)  lol.  Here goes:

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Baked Chicken Panzanella (6 servings - 290 calories) with Garlic Bread (153 calories) = 443 calories

Chicken Pillows (8 servings - 335 calories) with Potatoes ala Boulangere (117 calories) = 452 calories

Lazy Sunday Casserole (6 servings - 195 calories) with Biscuit (170 calories) = 365 calories

Sweet Potato-Topped Shepherd's Pie (8 servings - 250 calories) with Crescent Roll (100 calories) = 350 calories

Spicy Sausage Pasta (8 servings - 412 calories) with Crescent Roll (100 calories) = 512 calories

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And that's all for now!  Recipe and photos to come for the Spicy Sausage Pasta!

November Menu Plan...

Alas, it's time for a remix month...I just can't even think about dealing with anything new right now.  I have too much to do, and I was too underwhelmed with half of my dishes from last month.  We're going with old favorites.  Here's the plan, and we'll get back to posting new recipes next month:

November Menu Plan

Tuna Noodle Casserole (6 servings, 321 calories each) + Crescent Roll (100 calories each) = 421 calories per serving

Pasta Alfredo (6 servings, 405 calories each) + Crescent Roll (100 calories each) = 505 calories per serving

Taco Cups (12 servings, 203 calories each) + Cream Cheese Corn (12 servings, 120 calories each) = 323 calories per serving

Sausage Rolls (6 servings, 334 calories each) + Cheesy Cauliflower Pancakes (8 servings, 123 calories each) = 457 calories per serving

Meatloaf (8 servings, 250 calories each) + Mashed Potatoes (8 servings, 237 calories each) = 483 calories per serving

So, no more meal plans till next month, but I'm making bourbon balls and a feta dip for a work party, so I might post those recipes sometime prior to that. Have a good one everybody!

September Recipe (Pt. 2) Update...

This was a real winner of a month as recipes go...I've sincerely enjoyed all of them so far :)  Here's the synopsis of each for ya:

Pork Sausage Apple Loaf
Ummm...yum!  This is delicious.  I'm glad I used the spicy sausage...gave it a little kick.  It was hearty and tasty and ooooooh, so much like fall.  I'll definitely be making it again...and keeping the concept in mind for other combinations :)

Turkey Pumpkin Casserole
This was good.  The pumpkin didn't really come across as much as I was expecting it to.  I'm not sure I'd make it again...it didn't wow me.  But it was definitely tasty and I'll happily eat the rest of what I have of it. 

Sweet Potato-Topped Shepherd's Pie
Again, I think, why the heck didn't I think of this?  It was freaking delicious.  I think the blend of the sweet potatoes and yellow potatoes was good...it wasn't quite as sweet as it would have been with just the sweet potatoes, and it was creamy, but not too liquid-y thanks to the yellow potatoes.  It was a nice balance.  Love it, and I'll be making it again for sure!

Taco Beef Bake w/Cheddar Biscuit Topping
My favorite of the Mexican casseroles so far, I think.  This may or may not be because of the tasty biscuit topping...I do love pretty much all bread.  It had a nice amount of spiciness...not too hot...and the corn added a nice little bite of sweet too.

Baked Chicken Panzanella
This was really good.  It smells even better.  Yum.  As I said when I posted the recipe, I forgot to drain the tomatoes, so the croutons lost most crunch that I would've liked.  Still...if I reheated with the lid off, it still got a little crunch to it.  And to be honest, even if it had no crunch at all, it'd still be tasty.  Not too heavy, but still filling. 

Aaaaand, that's all for the recipe update this month :)  Back for cooking after vacation!

October Menu Plan...

Okay, this month is going by in the blink of an eye.  One week from today I'm heading out for a spectacular Vermont vacation for 12 days.  Then I'll only be back for a week and a half before I go out of state for another 4 days.  Because of all this craziness and my work schedule thrown in, I'm planning way out in advance.  I've got to have my grocery list all ready to go BEFORE I got on vacation so I can have groceries delivered the day I get back and cook later that week.  Crazy!  Anyway, I know I haven't done the recipe update from the last group of recipes yet, but I'll be getting to that shortly, I promise :)  I cheated again and took recipes from sources that already had calories figured...primarily Cooking Light and Betty Crocker.  I can't help it...I'm too busy this month...maybe November :)  As usual, new recipes are marked with an asterisk.  Here's what October is going to look like:

Asparagus and Ham Casserole* (250 calories) + Twice Baked Potatoes (250 calories) = 500 calories per serving

Polenta Lasagna* (335 calories) + Garlic Bread (253 calories) = 488 calories per serving

Provencal Beef Stew* (271 calories) + Biscuit (170 calories) = 441 calories per serving

Chunky Potato-Crab Chowder* (265 calories) + Crescent Roll (100 calories) = 365 calories per serving

Impossibly Easy Cheesy Meatball Pie* (370 calories) + Potatoes ala Boulangere (117 calories) = 487 calories per serving

Next up...recipe update!

September Menu Plan - Part 2

Well, after making meals with less servings recently and starting earlier and earlier each month, I'm finally a whole month off...hence, two September plans.  This one should legit last till October though, so that's good :)  It might even last a little longer than that since I'm going to be gone for about a week and a half at the end of September to go to Vermont for vacation (woot!).  Anyway, so I totally cheated this time because I was much too lazy to figure out calories for everything, but I wanted to make new stuff...soooooo...I got all the recipes of the Betty Crocker site so the calories were all calculated for me.  I'm doing all new meals this month, so fingers crossed I don't regret that decision.  lol :)  Here's the plan:

Pork Sausage Apple Loaf* (8 servings - 390 calories) + Parmesan Hashbrown Cups (101 calories) = 491 calories

Turkey Pumpkin Casserole* (8 servings - 350 calories) + Cream Cheese Corn (120 calories) = 470 calories

Sweet Potato Topped Shepherds Pie* (8 servings – 250 calories) + Biscuit (170 calories) = 420 calories

Taco Beef Bake w/Cheddar Biscuit Topping* (6 servings – 460 calories) + NO SIDE = 460 calories

Baked Chicken Panzanella* (6 servings – 290 calories) + Garlic Bread (153 calories) = 443 calories

 

Cooking in a week or so, hopefully.  Later!

September Recipe Update

Hey, I'm actually posting a recipe update BEFORE I'm cooking again...I'm doing good this month!  I figured since I only had one recipe to write an update for, I didn't have much of an excuse for continuing to procrastinate.  So here we go:

Stovetop Cheesy Chicken and Rice
All I have to say about this is "eh..."  It was okay, I guess...nothing special though, sort of bland, and majorly lacking in the texture department.  I don't anticipate having any need/reason to be making it again, so that's that!  Easiest update ever :) 

Now I'm off to work on writing Part 2 of the September Menu Plan.  My making smaller amounts earlier in the month has finally caught up with me, so I'm a whole month off now.  Soooo...back to work!

September Menu Plan...

Well with how busy I am this month, it's going to be mostly a remix month (sorry!).  It just goes faster to make stuff you already know how to make than it does to make new things where you're looking back at the directions every few minutes (yeah, my short-term memory isn't always fantastic).  I've still got one newbie planned for you though (marked with an asterisk as usual).  Everything I already made is linked to when I originally posted it  :)  As always, calories are calculated on CalorieKing.com. 

Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken & Rice* (375 calories) + Crescent Rolls (100 calories) – 6 servings @ 475 each

3 Envelope Roast Beef (261 calories) + Risotto w/Peas &Parmesan (165 calories) – 6 servings @ 426 each

Chicken & Broccoli Pie (306 calories) + Crescent Rolls (100 calories) – 4 servings @ 406 each

Lasagna (435 calories) – 8 servings @ 435 each

Sausage Rolls (334 calories) + Cheesy Cauliflower Pancakes (123 calories) – 6 servings @ 457 each

That's all for now...new recipe later :)

August Recipe Update...

Alrighty, running behind again this month and doing my recipe update on the same day as posting my new menu plan AND cooking...woot!  Things have been crazy lately...I almost skipped the cooking thing this month entirely, because there just wasn't a really convenient time to do it, and I've got so many things to do.  But then, I remembered, if I do that I'll just eat like crap all month getting takeout and whatnot, and drop way too much money in the process, so cooking wins out again! 

Anyway, all that said, here's how last month's stuff turned out:

Crash Hot Sweet Potatoes -
Despite the fact that these didn't crisp up like the were supposed to, and that I had trouble smashing them like they were supposed to be, they did turn out rather tasty.  The flavor was good with a good level of seasoning.  The texture wound up being really soft and smooth, and like maybe they could almost become mashed potatoes if you added a little extra effort, so I might just consider doing that next time instead.  Either way, worth making again.

Beef Enchilada Pie -
Delicious!  I'll definitely be making this again.  It had all the flavor of the Santa Fe Enchilada Bake I made a couple of months ago, without the texture issue of the corn tortillas.  It had a good amount of heat with the green chiles and reheated well.  Will be making this again too :)

Bacon and Caramelized Onion Mac & Cheese -
Yum!  All in all, this was a really good month for new recipes.  This one was good as well.  The sweetness of the onions really added a nice extra layer of flavor.  Hearty and reheated well.  This will make it into another rotation at some point, for sure.

Crockpot Cube Steak -
As I said in the original post, I misread the instructions for the sauce a bit, so I would definitely make it a point to use a gravy mix next time to thicken it up.  The taste was good, although I'd probably scale back the time on the crockpot by a bit...it seemed a tiny bit overcooked.  I'll give it another go in the future and tweak it a little bit for a better turnout.

Lazy Sunday Casserole -
 This was awesome.  I'm really glad I used the hot italian sausage, because it added some heat that went well with some of the vegetables that added sweetness to balance it all out.  Very hearty...probably wouldn't have needed a side with it afterall.  I'll be making this again as well :)

Stay tuned for the menu plan for next month shortly!

August Menu Plan...

I'm running so behind this month!  I figured out my recipe plan a couple weeks ago, but I haven't had a chance to get it typed up on here till today...the day on which I will ALSO be cooking.  I feel like I've been living in my car all month, for starters, running around like a chicken with my head cut off...it's a good thing my dogs like car trips, because seriously...it's been ridiculous.  Work has been insane, Millie's been sick, I've been feeling run down all month, and I feel like I haven't given my apartment a good clean-freak-level cleaning in MUCH too long (it's actually making me a little crazy...I'm probably doing that today too).  Anyway, with all that going on, I was half-tempted to have another remix month, but I decided after much deliberation (ummm...maybe like 10 whole minutes worth...that's a lot of time on a month like this!) that I'd rather try some new stuff again.  I hit up Pinterest and found some good-looking recipes, and off we go!  New items are marked with an asterisk, repeat items are linked to the original, and calories are calculated at CalorieKing.com.  Soooo, here's the plan:

Tuna Bouchons (284 calories) with Crash Hot Sweet Potatoes* (75 calories) for 8 servings at a total of 359 calories each.

Beef Enchilada Pie* (290 calories) with a Crescent Roll (100 calories) for 6 servings at a total of 390 calories each.

Bacon Caramelized Onion Mac & Cheese* (324 calories) with a Crescent Roll (100 calories) for 10 servings at a total of 424 calories each.

Crockpot Cube Steak* (263 calories) with Cream Cheese Corn (120 calories) for 6 servings at a total of 383 calories each.

Lazy Sunday Casserole* (195 calories) with a Biscuit (170 calories) for 6 servings at a total of 365 calories each.

All that said, I better get to work if I'm gonna cook all of that today too!  Recipe posts later :)

July Recipe Plan...

July is going to be a remix month.  With the social plans and commitments I have in the next month, time and money are at a bit of a low point, and I'm saving energy and creativity for my planned scrapbooking weekend, so I'll be pulling favorites from old menus and adding in just a couple of new side dishes to put on here.  Recipes I've already done on here are linked, new items have an asterisk, and as always, calories are estimated at CalorieKing.com.  Here goes:

- Chicken Pillows (335 calories) with Potatoes ala Boulangere (117 calories) for 8 servings at 452 calories each.

- Sausage Rolls (334 calories) with Cheesy Cauliflower Pancakes (123 calories) for 6 servings at 467 calories each.

- Taco Cups (203 calories) with Cream Cheese Corn* (120 calories) for 12 servings at 323 calories each.

- Meatloaf (250 calories) with Twice Baked Potatoes* (250 calories) for 8 servings at 500 calories each.

- Tuna Noodle Casserole (310 calories) with a Crescent Roll (100 calories) for 6 servings at 410 calories each.

- Baked Honey Oatmeal with Raspberries & Pistachios (223 calories each)

It worked out well substituting walnuts for the pistachios last month in the baked honey oatmeal, so I might try the leftover pecans I have around this month.  I don't think it probably matters, since I primarily see it as a texture bonus anyway.  lol :)  Also, the twice baked potato recipe is actually mine (I know, right?) from a bunch of experimenting a few years ago, and I haven't made them in forever, so I figured it was about time, even though the calories aren't exactly great.  I might figure out a way to slim them down a little before I actually cook...I'll post the updated calorie info when I actually post the recipe.  And that's all for today...cooking in a couple weeks!

June Recipe Update...

Well, the time has come to recap another month of recipes.  Here we go!

Penne Rosa with Chicken - I apparently had a moment of amnesia when I picked this recipe and actually decided to go with the whole wheat pasta they recommended.  I WANT to like whole wheat pasta...I keep trying it over and over again in all sorts of different dishes...I just don't like it though.  I don't think it picks up flavors as well, and it just seems bland no matter what I do.  That said, I may still try this again sometime, only with regular pasta.  Substituting the swiss chard for spinach worked out swimmingly though, and I will keep that in mind if my sister's in town again.

Santa Fe Enchilada Bake - This was really good and hearty.  I would consider making it with beef sometime as well.  My only sticking point is the corn tortillas...I might try it with flour tortillas next time...for some reason I have a bit of a texture issue with corn tortillas, and while it wasn't SUPER noticeable, it bothered me every once in a while.  I'll give it another try with some new variations though sometime.

Tortellini with Walnut & Mascarpone Sauce - This was the big winner for the month.  Ohmigosh was it ever delicious.  I will DEFINITELY be making it again.  I feel like it'd be a good go-to dish for when company is over too.  We'll see :)

Creamy Chicken Casserole - This was good.  The potatoes were DELICIOUS, and I will definitely be making them again, possibly on their own.  The chicken wraps were alright, but not super impressive.  Worth a shot to try again, but not at the top of my list.

Ham, Sauerkraut, and Apple Rolls - These were good too.  At least I did learn this month that I DO like sauerkraut, at least in this particular situation.  As with the creamy chicken casserole though, it was nothing to write home about necessarily.  And the potatoes weren't nearly as flavorful in this preparation.  I probably won't be making this again, but I AM glad I tried it.

Pain au Chocolat - Oh my lord...was this ever amazing.  It was totally worth four days of prep.  My sister and I kept a couple at the house, and I took the rest to work, and they were all gone when I came back on Monday, so they must've thought they were alright too.  I'll only be keeping these in mind for special occasions or when I'm feeling particularly domestic though, because 1) they simply must be terrible for you, and 2) it's a lot of work.  lol :) 

Next up, the July menu plan...  :)

June Menu Plan...

Well, cooking has been bumped up a week or so this month, due to scheduling issues, so I got to work on my menu plan early.  I went through and had it planned out once last night, and then I realized two things...1) every single recipe had potatoes in it, and 2) every single recipe had to be made in the oven.  Now, having learned my lesson (again) last month with the too-many-thing-to-go-in-the-oven problem, I knew I had to revise.  And I love potatoes...and I mean LOVE potatoes...but every meal for a month...maybe not.  So, I sat down again tonight and putzed around Pinterest and Food Gawker till I found a good mix.  The recipes are all new to me this month, cuz I finally ran out of recipes from my rotation prior to start the whole food blog thing.  I'm sort of getting to the point where I should be rotating things back in that I've already made (I do like a lot of them and would like to have them again), but I'm enjoying trying new things so much that I want to keep picking new stuff.  So...I suppose when I get tired of always doing new stuff, I'll start rotating back in my old favorites too.  We'll see.  As always, calories are estimated by counts given on CalorieKing.com (although a couple actually had the calories listed with them in the original recipe...hooray!).  Here's what happening this month:

*Penne Rosa with Chicken - 6 servings = 375 Calories

*Santa Fe Enchilada Bake - 8 servings = 370 Calories

*Tortellini with Walnut & Mascarpone Sauce - 4 servings = 470 Calories

*Ham, Sauerkraut & Apple Rolls on Cheesy Potatoes - 8 servings = 501 Calories

*Creamy Chicken Casserole - 8 servings - 330 calories + Crescent Roll = 430 Calories

I'm also going to be making the Baked Honey Oatmeal w/Raspberries & Pistachios (223 Calories) again...a double batch this time, cuz I liked them so much and ate them early in the month, and then missed them for the whole rest of the month.

And in other exciting news, my sister is coming to visit next weekend!  She hasn't been up since the beginning of the December, and we haven't had a true sisters' weekend since...ummmm...a really long time...over a year probably.  We're sort of celebrating our birthdays, since we didn't actually get to see each other on either of our birthdays this year.  Sooooo...a celebration calls for dessert, yes?  I've been pining over this recipe I found on Pinterest for Pain au Chocolat (essentially an insane chocolate croissant on crack).  It takes FOUR DAYS to make these things.  FOUR!  Insanity.  But I'm going to attempt it...it looks soooooo good.  So assuming I actually get this recipe made AND it doesn't turn out horrendously, I'll be posting that info too...but no calories...it's a celebration, remember?  Calorie-free!  :)  And that's all for now...cooking next Thursday, so recipes will be up sometime soon after that! 

May Recipes Update...

Almost forgot to do my update on new recipes from May's menu plan!  Here we go:

Chicken Pillows
YUM!  Love these things...those with the Potatoes ala Boulangere that I put with them were a perfect meal.  They reheated well, and actually the cracker topping stayed pretty crispy despite the microwaving.  Next time I'll stuff them a little fuller/more evenly...I was pretty tentative on how much would fit in the crescent for the first couple, so those were a little small.  But yeah...delicious.

Broccoli, Cheese & Mushroom Flipsides
Okay, these were tasty...quite tasty actually, and they reheated well.  However, I probably wouldn't make them again for my meals.  The short version of why is this:  It just doesn't feel like a meal to me if there isn't meat.  Occasionally I can make it work if there's some sort of dense pasta involved, but usually, not so much.  So yeah...the bad news is, I'd never make it as a vegetarian.  The good news is, I have no desire to be a vegetarian.  lol :)

Sausage Rolls
Awesome.  Totally making these again...often.  I used hot breakfast sausage, and it gave it just a little bit of kick that was totally delicious.  They didn't keep much of the crispiness upon reheating...although next time I'm going to try hitting it a little more with the broiler to help remedy that situation.  Either way, the flavor was so good I didn't mind.

Cheesy Cauliflower Pancakes
Another keeper.  With the panko added in there, and the cheese, it totally reads as a potato pancake (did I mention I love potatoes?), but with less calories and even better texture.  They reheated well too...I was thinking I might need to sour cream or something like that to top them off upon reheating, cuz I was worried they might be dry, but it wasn't at all necessary...they stayed moist and delicious.  I was also worried about the cauliflower "smell" (you know what I'm talking about) being an issue upon reheating, but it really wasn't at all (which is good, cuz it would have been totally unappetizing otherwise).  So yeah...yum!

Baked Honey Oatmeal with Raspberries and Pistachios
This was the big winner of the month!  Finally found my oatmeal recipe to put into semi-permanent rotation.  In fact, I'm going to be making them again in June...a double batch this time  :)

So yeah, that's the recap.  That's all for now :)

May Menu Plan...

Well, I just finished pulling together my meal plan for May, and ordering my groceries from Peapod to be delivered on Monday.  Seriously...how great is grocery shopping in your pajamas on your couch at 2am??  I swear the novelty will never wear off.  Anyway, below is the plan for May...as always, items with an asterisk I've never made before, and calories counts are estimated based on info pulled from CalorieKing.com. :)

- Ham & Potatoes (330 calories) + Crescent Roll (100 calories) – 430 calories total - 4 servings

- Pasta Alfredo (405 calories) + Crescent Roll (100 calories) - 505 calories total - 6 servings

- Chicken Pillow (335 calories)* + Potatoes ala Boulangere (117 calories) – 452 calories total - 8 servings

- Broccoli, Cheese & Mushroom Flipsides (345 calories)* – Hashbrown Cups (101 calories) – 446 calories total – 10 servings

- Sausage Rolls (334 calories)* + Cheesy Cauliflower Pancakes (123 calories)* – 457 calories total – 6 servings

- Baked Honey Oatmeal with Raspberries and Pistachios – 223 calories total – 6 servings

Cooking should be occurring next Thursday or Friday, so recipes and pics coming then :)  Good night all!

April Recipe Update...

Well, I'm about halfway through my meals, and it's time for my update on new recipes :)  Here goes:

- Farmers Market Pasta

This was delicious, and I'll definitely be making it again.  I think I'll go ahead and not be lazy about using the food processor next time...I think it'll lend a little better to reheating to have a more consistent sauce throughout.  It was awesome anyway, but I think it'll be slightly better this way from frozen.  (If I'm making it fresh though for a dinner with friends or something though, I think I'll skip the food processor again...I really did like it that way...just in terms of the reheat I think it'll be a tiny bit more successful the other way). 

- 3 Envelope Roast Beef

Holy cow...this was a hit.  My mom's already made it now too.  Super ridiculously easy, and VERY delicious.  I'm totally trying it as sliders with the chipotle mayo next time :)

- Risotto with Peas & Parmesan

This was my biggest concern when I made it, but it actually did reheat well.  Yes, the texture is slightly different (a little less creamy), but it's pretty darn close, and it was really tasty.  I'm considering adding mushrooms next time too. 

- Chicken and Broccoli Pie

This one was a winner too.  I think I'll shred the chicken next time instead of cubing it, so I can make sure to have chicken in every bite, but it was delicious, and it reheated great.

- Apple Pie Oatmeal

I'm having sort of  a texture issue with this.  It tastes good, but it's so one texture that it's annoying me.  I think if I make it again, I'll add some craisins and/or chopped nuts to make it a little more interesting.


And that's all for today :)  May's menu plan soon-ish!