What's cooking this week?

Hooray, back to reality...

I just read the weekly meal "run-down" to Stephen, and he called it a very "flair filled week".  The truth is, I'm really just trying to get rid of a bunch of meat we have stock-piled in our freezer.  Due to a lack of a shelf in there, things tend to get buried.  I just took inventory of what is in there...it was shocking.  It is amazing how we have accumulated so much ground meat.  We have a TON of ground beef, which is mysterious considering I usually stick to turkey and chicken!  So let the cleaning out of the freezer begin.  I can not risk another avalanche every time I go in there for something!

Tonight - A roasted veggie sausage sandwich creation using one of Frankie's recipes as inspiration...with his expert advice this should be A-Mazing -  I'll probably make a pasta salad using some quinoa pasta too
Monday - Paleo Chipotle Meatballs with Guacamole over quinoa
Tuesday - Grilled Pineapple and Chicken Sandwiches with sweet potato fries
Wednesday - Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Asian Edamame Fried Rice
Thursday - Grilled Mango Jalapeno Cheese Burgers with Baked Onion Rings
Friday - I will be too busy shopping in Orlando to cook!  :)

This week is going to be VERY busy, I'm glad my meals are set....and they all seem pretty quick!  For me, figuring out what to make is the hardest part so this is always a huge help!  I even have my workouts planned!  CLICK HERE!
Here is todays... going to run through it 3 times and time it!
I'll post the time here --> 15:09 when I am done.  If you don't hear from me, then be concerned!  (It wasn't TOO bad)

I have no idea what times I am working until over these next few days, so this will be a quick way to make sure I get a workout in!  My goal is to do this, and maybe get some running in as well.  This week is going to be a crazy one, I can feel it!  We are little over a week out from the first day of school...can you believe it?!?  It has been an incredible summer, had a ton of fun, and made a bunch of memories with friends and family.  I'd say my first summer as a "Mrs." was a great one!  Now, school is almost in session....and I have 328 7th graders that need schedules!  Luckily, there is a little carrot dangling at the end of my work week.....another girls weekend!  Okay, maybe the summer isn't over just yet!  :)
  

Foodie Blogroll

Yippeeeee!!!  Not too long ago, I applied to be a part of the Foodie Blogroll.  This is an online community for people who have a food blog.  It is one of the many website I often go to in order to search for some new recipe inspiration!  I wasn't sure I would meet the criteria based on the fact that I have had this blog for so long, and it has only been a food blog for a short time.  Well.....as of last night, I have officially been accepted!  It is an awesome website FULL of some really amazing blogs, I'm super excited to be a part of it!

Right now I am on a meal planning hiatus due to the fact that I had family over the past week.  We mostly went out to eat, but over the weekend I cooked for 13 people...that is a personal record for me!  Pasta, garlic bread, and salad...the easiest thing I could think of for such a large group!  We were a little smooshed in our apartment, but we made it work and everyone seemed to have enjoyed it!!!  This is a blurry picture of one satisfied looking bunch of people....I promise!

I was originally planning on making the zucchini risotto for my parents on Monday night, but I forgot to take the chicken out of the freezer, and it was a little late when we got home.  We ended up having....left over pasta (shocking)!  Apparently 3 lbs. of penne is WAY too much for 13 people...lesson learned!  I'm looking forward to getting back into "meal planning mode", and also getting back to a normal routine now that summer vacation is over (sad face), family visits are over for now (more sad faces), and I have to burn off all these excess calories I have consumed over the past week!!!  Tonight I made egg salad for dinner in order to use up all of the eggs from the giant breakfast that I never had a chance to make while everyone was in town!

Top 6

It is really getting down to the wire on MasterChef!  As it gets closer to the end of the season, it is getting more and more intense!  We are enjoying every second of watching Frankie, he is doing such an amazing job!  I told him that I would consider flying up if he makes it to the final 3.  It would be nice to go to one of those viewing parties, and support him in person!  I was so upset that I couldn't make it to one, he didn't have a party last time I was on Long Island...I missed it only by one day!   Here is a pic of my parents, when they went to that party WITHOUT me!  My dad said that the apple pie he made was "off the hook"!

If you aren't watching, you are seriously missing out!  It is such an exciting show, next Monday he takes on the TOP 6!  He also gets to be team captain (again)!  This is still so crazy to me, GO FRANKIE!!!!!  (9:00 on FOX)
Click HERE to see Frank's recipe on Paula Deen's website!

Proud Sister Moment

This is non-food related, but I have to take a minute to share a few things I dug up on the internet regarding my brother.  I was first stalking his YouTube account, then randomly decided to google him. I obviously have too much time on my hands, and miss my bro VeRy MUCH!!!  I found this awesome video that was posted a year ago...yet for some reason I have never seen it!

Then I found his bio on the School Of Rock website...so proud of my little brother, and the fact that he is going back to school this fall to start working towards his Masters!!!!!  Also, so proud of him for pursuing his dream and doing what he loves...I  LOVE HIM!
"At the age of 12, Peter was determined to learn how to play guitar in hope of starting a band with his friends. This was just the beginning of his musical journey. From there, he threw himself into anything that would offer him the opportunity to play music. As a teenager, he played in many rock bands and studied audio engineering. Being heavily influenced by guitarist Steve Howe from the 1970’s progressive rock group YES, Peter became inspired to pursue jazz and classical guitar on top of his rock background. While attending Suffolk County Community College, Peter played guitar in Indie-Rock bands Mystic Flavor and The Woolgathering. After receiving his Associates Degree in music he continued his education at Purchase College where he studied classical guitar under the leadership of world-renowned guitarist, Frederick Hand. Today, Peter is still performing his music as a singer-songwriter around New York as well as playing gigs with musical pit bands, jazz artists, and other local songwriters. As a teacher, Peter encourages his students to have fun, play with other aspiring musicians, and to participate in anything that will further their musical abilities.  Peter is currently enrolled as a graduate student at Purchase College where he plans to continue pursuing a master’s degree in classical guitar beginning in the Fall of 2012."

Bruschetta

Here is another classic example of something I make very often, but put a different twist on it EVERY time!  Sometimes I throw in kalamata olives, other times I put in some cubes of fresh mozzarella...it really depends on what I have on hand.
Last weeks version looked like this:

This time I used:

• 3 chopped ripe tomatoes 
• 1/2 chopped onion 
• 3 cloves of garlic minced 
• 1/2 cup of fresh mozzarella chopped into cubes 
• a handful of torn fresh basil 
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil 
• Balsamic vinegar (it's worth splurging on the good stuff) 
• Salt, Pepper, italian seasoning 

*Just mix the first 5 ingredients in a bowl, drizzle with EVOO, add a splash of balsamic vinegar, and then season to taste!  How could you go wrong with a little of this, and a little of that?!?  Publix sells this delicious Italian multi-grain bread that I cut it into thin slices, and toast a bit.  Throw some bruschetta on top, and enjoy!  

I seriously could make a meal of it.  Moment of truth....I sometimes do!  I've been known to fill up on soups, salads, and appetizers instead of the actual meal!  :)

Speaking of the actual meal...the Penne alla Vodka I made from Skinnytaste was delicious!  I highly recommend it!

Have you ever tried whole grain pasta?!?  I admit there is nothing like the real thing, but as a weeknight alternative I LOVE it!  It is good, give it a chance!