Monday, April 7, 2008

Menu Plan Monday



We are in for a string of busy weeks between school, sports, and planning the Confirmation party. So I will try to keep my menu as easy as possible.

Monday: Cheese and lobster ravioli, spinach salad
Tuesday: Swiss steak in crock pot
Thursday: pork chops, scalloped potatoes, apple sauce
Friday: Pizza
Saturday: BBQ chicken on grill, German potato salad, carrots mushrooms & red peppers and ranch dip.

Leeann asked for my bruscetta recipe. Here it is.

Ingredients:

3 large tomatoes chopped
2 heaping tablespoons minced garlic
about 20 basil leaves chopped
ground pepper to taste
kosher salt to taste
olive oil
balsamic vinegar

Directions:


1. chopped tomatoes in bowl
2. add garlic and mix together
3. add enough olive oil to cover almost to the half way point of the tomatoes
4. add balsamic vinegar by going around the bowl a few times.
5. add basil
6. add salt and pepper and half of the sugar
7. mix together and taste. If too vinegary, add more sugar (I use splenda).

That's about it. I use a lot of garlic and basil. You can use fresh garlic but I am too lazy to chop it. I find the minced is just fine.

I buy bread at the bakery in my grocery store and have them slice it for me. Use a thin loaf like a baguette but french does not work well because it is too light and has too many holes. I like a denser bread.

To prepare the bread I drizzle olive oil on a cookie sheet. Then I made sure it is coating the sheet then put the bread down on it. Next drizzle more olive oil on top of the bread and sprinkle with garlic salt. Put in the oven for 5 minutes then take out and turn toast over for another minute or two. You do not want it too toasted. Just a nice golden color on one side. It should still have a little bit of chewiness to it when you bite into it. This makes the best bruscetta bread.

Or, you can toast one side of the bread, turn it over and place the tomato and a little bit of cheese on top and put it back into the oven for a hot appetizer.

This tomato mixture also tastes GREAT over pasta.






4 comments:

Anonymous said...

You look like you have a great menu. The chicken and beans with salsa looks very tasty and easy to prepare. How do you manage family, preparing meals, and schoolwork?

Allie at www.learningtobefrugal.wordpress.com

Leeann said...

Thanks Nic! I will be bookmarking that. Rob and I really like bruschetta! Your menu sounds great. Also, the ravioli sounds fantastic! Do you use a white sauce on that or just butter and Parmesan or what?

nicrogers said...

Thanks Allie. It is sometimes overwhelming balancing everything but somehow it all works out in the end. You just learn to budget your time better and a lot of stuff gets put off. Like cleaning the house!

nicrogers said...

hey Leeann, We just put butter and fresh grated parmesan on the lobster ravioli. The kids eat the cheese ravioli with red sauce. Actually, they eat the lobster with red sauce too. My secret recipe for my lobster ravioli is. Are you ready? You may want to take notes...I get in the car. I drive to Sams. I buy yummy frozen lobster ravioli. It is sooo good. Really. Totally worth the price. Which actually isn't too bad. Usually 12.00 for a two pack and I only cook one for a meal since we have spaghetti or cheese ravioli for the kids(I get all lobster cause I am special that way). This week it was on sale though for 10.00 a pack. Probably old or something. lol