Ground Turkey Burgers

Divide Turkey into desired portions and form into 'hamburger' patties
Season liberally with pepper and garlic power (the lightly add salt)
BBQ and top with your cheese of choice
Toast whole wheat buns on bbq and serve with toppings of choice

(May I recommend guacamole?)

Two Days of Costco Rotisserie Chicken

Day One:

Chicken Sandwiches-
Toss half of the chicken with the sauce of your choice.
Toast whole wheat buns in the broiler
Top buns with chicken, cheese, tomato, onion, or toppings of your choice
Return to broiler to melt cheese

Chicken Salad-
Use the other half of the chicken (toss with sauce if desired)
Dice the same ingredients that you used to top the sandwiches
Dice romaine lettuce
Toss all ingredients with salad dressing of your choice

*Reserve chicken to serve with veggies and fruit for the non-salad eaters

If you purchased your buns at Costco - plan on bbqing hamburgers later in the week but remember to refridgerate the buns!

Sunday Roast

I must preface this by saying that I despise cooking with creamed soups.  It is a weird personal phobia-like thing.  That being said - I tried this slow cooker recipe, with the dreaded Cream of Mushroom (in my opinion, the worst of them all) and to my relief,  it turned out great!  I will lift my moratorium on Campbells for this one dish.

5 pound pot roast

2 cans of (gulp) Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 can beef broth

1 package Onion Soup Mix

flour/salt/pepper/garlic powder

Rinse Roast and rub with flour till lightly coated.  Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder. Brown the roast in a sprayed skillet till all sides are lightly seared.  Mix soup, broth, and soup mix in a slow cooker.  Place seared roast in slow cooker and cover with sauce.  Cook on low 7-9 hours.  Remove roast and slice thin.  

*This will yield a TON of gravy, so if you like stroganoff, reserve the extra sauce for the stroganoff base for another dinner! 

St. Patricks Day Breakfast

With any 'just add water' pancake mix, add a plentiful amount of green food coloring and cook according to package directions.  Top with whipped cream in a can - so it looks pretty, and shake on some sprinkles!  As an exciting side - offer some chocolate covered gold coins!  

I realize that candy is not appropriate breakfast food - but when you see your kids excited faces at the prospect of this meal, you might let it slide!

I have to admit - I did not make this for our St. Patrick's Day breakfast.  I usually do special things for holidays but this St. Paddy's day, my kids got up, went down stairs, and poured their own bowls of cereal without waking me!  (It's Spring Break.)  So - I wasn't going to do anything until my daughter commented on my lack of parental performance in making the day special - so we had green pancakes, green milk, and gold coins for a delightful and celebratory dinner! 

Tortellini Primavera in Pesto Sauce

1 package of frozen tortellini filled with cheese

1 1/2 cups of fresh broccoli florets

1 cup prepared Pesto Sauce (costco has a fantastic one)

1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Cook Tortellini in salted, boiling water for 5-6 mins.  Toss broccoli in the pot, with the toretllini for the last 2 mins of cooking time.  Drain.  Place in serving bowl.  Microwave pesto sauce for 30-45 seconds, till warm/hot and pour over tortellini and brocolli.  Sprinkle with shredded parmesan and serve.

Gourmet Tip:  dice a red pepper and add to bowl when ready to serve.  Nice color and texutre! 

Mediterranean Flank Steak

1 Flank Steak (what ever size you can find)

Marinade:

1/2 onion - diced small

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

2 Tbs oregano

3 tsp chopped garlic

dash salt

dash pepper

Mix all ingredients

Prick Flank Steak multiple times with a fork - this will allow the marinade to saturate the meat. Put Steak in a large Ziploc bag, pour marinade over top, seal bag, and let sit over night.  

Remove steak from fridge.  Heat grill or broiler rack.  Remove meat from marinade and place on grill over direct heat or on an oven rack under the broiler.  Discard marinade.  Grill or Broil for 4-5 mins each side for medium rare.  Let stand 5 mins.  Slice.  Eat.  Yum.     

Lemon Chicken

3-4 chicken breasts
4 T flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2/3 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup lemon juice

Cut each chicken breast into 4 pieces. Combine flour, salt, and pepper in a Ziplock bag and shake. Add chicken pieces and shake to coat. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook for 8-9 mins or until done. Remove chicken to a platter and add broth and lemon juice to the skilled. Cook for 2 mins, scraping brown bits from the bottom. Pour over chicken. 

Kids love it!

Gourmet Tip: sprinkle with 2 T chopped parsley and the zest of 1 lemon.

Kids love it!