This Week's Menu

...For your inspiration.

Last week: We never went to the grocery store, and I had a nasty canker sore all week plus last-minute bunco on Thursday, so we just scrounged up some freezer food, heated up soup, etc.

We did make Monday's meal, though, and it was great: Mini Turkey Meatloaf (muffin pan, 375 for 20 minutes) + mashed potatoes.

This week:

Mon- Out to eat with family

Tues- Cheesy Sausage Pasta + mixed veg

Wed- Spaghetti + garlic bread + broccoli

Thurs- Honey Sesame chicken + carrots

Fri- Grilled Fish + brown rice pilaf

Weekly Menu

For your inspiration!

Speaking of, I've been lacking inspiration lately. I've been cooking the same old versions of the same old things, mostly because the same things have been on sale.

So I've turned to Pinterest and found a few blogs that post weekly menus, just to pull some new stuff into the repertoire. Even though I've never really followed recipes, I have actually printed a few out to try while I'm in my rut.

Last week:

• Monday- Freezer food. If I ever have those random leftovers that are still good but we're tired of eating, they go into the freezer for those times when an insta-meal is needed. Putting an exclamation point after it obviously makes it more exciting.
• Tuesday- Roast chicken (In the crock pot), mashed red potatoes and green beans
• Wednesday- used the chicken leftovers for Chicken Salad Sandwiches
• Thursday- We ate more chicken. The chili will be moved.
• Friday- Holiday weekend. That means we go to parties and someone else cooks ;o)

Several of these meals were on the menu a few weeks back, but never got made. They finally got their moment in the sun!

This week:

• Monday- Baked fish and Ratatouille-ish. Because we have a ton of squash and all of the other ingredients.
• Tuesday- having friends over for BBQ ribs & Shrimp, with corn on the cob and beans.
• Wednesday- a friend made this Cheesy Smoked Sausage and posted a picture on facebook, so now it's on my list. I'll convert it to GF, of course.
• Thursday- Honey Balsamic Chicken. This was straight from a pin. I might try to convert it to a crock pot recipe...
• Friday- I'm sure we'll have plenty of leftovers.

So there are the eats we'll be eating around here.

Vanilla Pudding "Firework" Cookies

It's the 4th of July. My entire internet is exploding with red, white, and blue.

And so are these cookies!

I was originally inspired by this pin for cookies made with vanilla pudding mix. Interesting concept!
So I tried it, converted it to be gluten free + a couple of other tweaks, and added a ton of red & blue sprinkles to the batter-- plus I sprinkled some on top. 

It makes a very soft, sticky batter. I initially tried to roll these out and bake them in star cutouts, but that was not happening; even after sitting in the freezer. These cookies are just meant to be cookie-shaped.

They taste like a vanilla sugar cookie- thanks to the extra vanilla and pudding mix. I also caught this recipe that uses just peanut butter, an egg, and vanilla pudding mix. Let's try ALL the pudding mix cookie recipes!

But we'll start with this one:

Vanilla Pudding Firework Cookies

1 1/2 cup GF flour mix
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 small pkg instant vanilla pudding (confirm that it's GF!)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs

Beat butter and sugar until fluffy; beat in eggs and vanilla. Mix flour, salt, baking powder, and vanilla pudding mix in a separate bowl. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet. Stir in sprinkles! 

Place on a cookie sheet in rounded balls; will spread a little. Sprinkle with more... sprinkles.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

 

Bring as many as you can to a party because otherwise you'll eat them all.