Pasta Salad Dinner - light and yummy!

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

1 - 12 oz. package of rainbow pasta

1 – 12 oz package of bow tie pasta

1 – lb seedless red grapes, halved

1 can mandarin oranges, drained

1 large can pineapple tidbits, drained

1 package craisens

1 can whole cashews

1 bottle Kraft coleslaw dressing

1 cup mayonnaise

 

DIRECTIONS:

 

·      Cook pasta according to package, drain and run under cold water

·      Add all fruits to cooled pasta

·      Mix coleslaw dressing and mayo together in a separate bowl

·      Add dressing and cashews.  Serve

·      (You may add diced chicken or ham to make a main dish)

Cheese Spinach Bake

Ingredients:

3 medium eggs, beaten.
20 oz of frozen chopped spinach.
4 oz of cheddar cheese, grated.
1 cup of cottage cheese.
¼ cup of butter, softened.
2 teaspoons of flour.
Salt and pepper.

Preparation Instructions:

Cook the spinach as directed on its packaging, then drain.

Mix the spinach, cottage cheese, cheddar, butter, eggs, flour, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix throughly.

Spoon into a greased baking dish and Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 50-60 minutes.

Onion Soup w/ Sausage

Ingredients: 

1/2 pound pork sausage links, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

1 pound sliced fresh mushrooms

1 cup sliced onion

2 cans beef broth

4 slices Italian bread

1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, (shredded)

Directions:

In a large saucepan, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain.  Add mushrooms and onion; cook for 4-6 minutes or until tender.  Stir in the broth.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 4-6 minutes or until heated through.

Ladle soup into four 2-cup ovenproof bowls.  Top each with a slice of bread; sprinkle with cheese.  Broil until cheese is melted.

7-day meal plan

Having my sis-in-law and her two boys move in has thrown me for a loop!  It's like having triplets and a 6-year old!  But it is fun, a little expensive, and I have been forced to get back into the swing of planning out the week before shopping.  Here is the meal plan for the next 7 days.

Saturday:  Onion Soup with Sausage

Side:  French Bread

Sunday:  New York Steak (grilled)

Side:  Baked potatoes and creamy spinach salad

Monday:  Fish Sandwiches

Side:  Tater Tots  (This meal is JUST for the kids!!)

Tuesday:  Mongolian Beef (Hamburger Helper... I like to add 1/2 cup cashews per box)

Side:  Egg rolls

Wednesday:  Pasta Salad with chicken strips  

Side:  Rolls

Thursday:  Apple Pork Chops

Side:  Spinach bake

Friday:  Sauerkrat and Brats

Side:  Biscuits and fresh spinach salad

**As you may have noticed, spinach is on the menu a LOT!!!  I cut and filled 5 gallon bags of fresh spinach from my garden yesterday.  So, if you live nearby... come over!

Suddenly Salad Meal

There was a sale on "Suddenly Salad" last week 10 for $10.... so tonight, I cooked up two boxes of "Basil Pesto" flavor, cooked several chicken strips, cubed them,  and cut up some fresh tomatoes, green peppers and green onion to put on top.  It was simple, easy, and pretty darn cheap!

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Eating off Smith's sale items

BLT Jalapeno Wraps:

Ingredients:

Jalapeno Tortillas

Lettuce

Tomato

Cheese, (pepperjack)

Bacon slices

This week's Smith's sale items are what I'm going to try to stick to for our meals.  Some of the ingredients bought were bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, tortillas, ham, pineapple, green peppers, Asian helper, Betty Crocker cake mixes and potatoes, Pillsbury spinach & cheese bites (Lin's sale item for $1 last week), $1 sour cream.

So, with each of the above items, which were on sale, I have the following meals planned for the week:

1.  Tonight was the wraps... I wasn't going to blog them, but Mardi asked while her mouth was full, "Mom, aren't you going to take a picture of dinner?".  So, I thought it must be good!  And easy!

2.  Asian helper meal... these were on sale 10 for $10!

3.  Dutch oven potatoes... using up the rest of the pound of bacon from tonight along with green peppers and potatoes which are always inexpensive.

4.  Sweet & Sour Pork... I plan to cube the ham I got on sale along with the discounted pineapple, green peppers, and carrots.  Serve over white rice.

5.  Standby of taco salad using up the fresh lettuce and tomatoes!!!