Monday, August 22, 2011

It's All About The Quick And Easy!

Two more weeks of summer vacation left! Can you believe it? Where did the time go?

Oh summer, I had such grand plans for you and you failed me again! I was going to do lots of day trips with the kids, get the house cleaned and organized, the list goes on....

Nothing! I got nothing done!

Now it is almost time for back to school. So much to do and so little time!

This school year is going to be rough. We are going to have big adjustments to get used to. Time is going to be a valued commodity around here.

I so need to be organized!

One way that I need to get more organized is with meal planning. This "flying by the seat of my pants" menu planning has got to stop. I have found it so much easier when I know what I am going to fix for the week.

It needs to be quick and easy during the week too.

I plan on using Yvonne @ Stone Gable's On the Menu Monday to help out with that!

Monday

Slow Roasted Beef
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Green Beans

Slow Roasted Beef

  • 1 roast 4-5 lbs
  • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • Coarse salt
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • Directions
  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Remove roast from refrigerator. Whisk oil, flour, 4 teaspoons salt, sugar, and pepper in a small bowl
  • Place roast in a roasting pan. Lightly score fat. Rub roast with flour mixture. Roast for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees, and continue to roast, basting frequently with pan juices, for 1 hour more. Roast, basting meat occasionally, until thickest part registers 135 to 140 degrees on an instant-read thermometer (avoiding the bone) for medium-rare, about 45 minutes more. (Total cooking time should be about 2 hours.) Transfer to a cutting board, reserving pan drippings for Yorkshire pudding; tent with foil, and let rest for at least 20 minutes (or up to 1 hour) before carving.

I adapted this recipe from Martha Stewart. It was for a standing rib roast. I found that using a regular roast it is just as good!

Tuesday

BBQ Chicken
Corn on the Cob
Homemade Baked Beans

I'll have an upcoming post about the BBQ sauce. I started making mine a few years ago and now the tribe refuses to eat anything but! Lynn @ Happier Than A Pig In Mud posted this recipe on baked beans and I have been waiting to try it out! I can't wait!

Wednesday

Gumbo
Apple Dumplings




You might remember the gumbo from a few months ago. Lynne did a challenge with Paula Deen and I used this recipe. My sister made these apple dumplings from Paula also. Both have quickly become a favorite of the tribe!

Thursday

Shepherd's Pie

1 premade deep dish pie shell
1 lb ground beef
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1/2 soup can of milk
8 servings of mashed potatoes
1 cup Cheddar Cheese

Brown meat in a skillet. Add soup and milk. Stir. Add to pie shell. Add cheese to potatoes and cover entire top of meat with potato mixture. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 25 minutes or until light brown. Cool and serve.

Friday

Pigs In a Blanket
Baked Beans

Pigs In A Blanket
1 pkg hot dogs (Jewish Nationals are best!)
2 cans biscuits
4 slices cheese

Take 2 biscuits and smush together. Roll out to cover your hot dog. Place hot dog in center of rolled out biscuit. Slit the hot dog lengthwise. Using half a slice of cheese, cut in half again. Position both pieces of cheese in slit on dog. Fold ends of biscuits over hot dog and roll up sides. If you get any holes in biscuits, pinch together. Place on cookie sheet and bake in 350 degree
oven for about 25-30 minutes or until golden. Let cool and serve.

That is about as far as I have gotten with the menu for this week. This weekend is going to be a whirlwind of shopping and get togethers.

Wish me luck!

Posted @ Stone Gables On The Menu Monday!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway! You will get an extra entry for posting your pic on the linky tool! The winner will be announced on Wednesday.

9 comments:

Barbara F. said...

I'd gladly stop by any night for one of these dinners, Maggie! I like the roast recipe and have to try it. xo,

Hildie said...

You read my mind. I totally need to get on board with the meal planning. Cereal for dinner doesn't work every day, after all.

deb said...

I hear ya on flying by the seat our our pants! I used to plan ahead, but now....oh well.
Going to check out Yvonnes site. Thanks for sharing!
Have a great week Maggie!
♥♥
*hugs*deb

Lynn said...

Pigs in a blanket!?! It sounds like a yummy week Maggie, I'd love the roast beef dinner! Don't stress too much and enjoy your last two weeks with the kids:@)

the old white house said...

So I just caught tonight chicken on fire... no worries though, I got it out of there quickly and now it is finishing up in the oven. I tell you this to let you know that you may NEVER tell my family what a good cook you are. They will be expecting much more around here if you do!
I do like the idea of a weekly menu, I might be able to get myself a little better organized if I tried that!
Now on to enter the giveaway before it's too late, cuz ole blogger is my friend again and I can comment on dinners and such!!! t. xoxoxooxo

Beth said...

Your meals sound really good, Maggie. Hope things slow down for you so you can catch your breath and get some of the things done that you wanted to. Should be easier once the kids are in school. Good luck!
Beth

~from my front porch in the mountains~ said...

Even though there are only 2 of us, I still plan each menu for each night! Time saver :) I got tired of trying to make a dinner out of mustard, carrots and Hersheys Cocoa! LOL! When you don't plan, you never know what you WON'T find!!
Happy new school year!
xo, misha

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean about summertime slipping away... I drive school bus here in the Seattle area... tomorrow I bid my route and bus for the coming school year which for me begins on Sept. 1... oh, summer where did you go??

Jane said...

The roast sounds wonderfully simple. I do think, though, that I'll wait until the temperature dips into the 70s before I heat the oven. We're grilling or stir-frying a lot, these days.
Jane