Menu Plan Monday, February 25, 2008

Good day! I can't believe it is the last week of February. Happy Leap Year! Click on the graphic above to find more great menus at orgjunkie.com.

Here is the plan for this week:

Sunday~ Crockpot Steak with Gravy, Peppers, Mushroom and Onion over Rice

Monday~BBQ Chicken Spaghetti with salad and fresh baked bread

Tuesday~ Pork Chop and Scalloped Potato Casserole, Steamed Green Beans

Wednesday~Family Literacy Night~take out

Thursday~Mrs. Dash Sizzling Cheeseburgers, Homemade French Fries, Baked Beans

Friday~ Fish Filets, Pierogies with Butter and Onion, Corn

Saturday~Homemade Italian Wedding Soup

Have a fantastic week!

Enjoy!

Lisa

Zucchini Lasagna

I made a version of Zucchini Lasagna that is part of the Dash Diet. It was okay. In this recipe, I did miss the salt that would have been added to the salt and the cheese mixture. I really liked the zucchini. DH and the kids didn't really enjoy it.

Here's my version:



Zucchini Lasagna
1 lb. cooked lasagna noodles, cooked in unsalted water
1 lb ground beef, seared in 1 Tbsp. olive oil until browned and caramelized
3/4 cup part skim mozzarella cheese, grated
1 1/2 cups cottage cheese, fat free (use low sodium cottage cheese to reduce sodium further)
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 1/2 cups raw zucchini, sliced
2 1/2 cups low-sodium tomato sauce
2 tsp. basil, dried
2 tsp. oregano, dried
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 tsp black pepper



1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9 x 13 pan with vegetable oil spray.

2. In a small bowl, combine 1/8 cup mozzarella and 1 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese. Set aside.

3. In a medium bowl, combine remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese will all of the cottage cheese. I seasoned the mixture with some Italian Seasoning blend and pepper.

4. Combine tomato sauce and remaining ingredients. Add browned ground beef to tomato sauce. Spread a thin layer of the sauce in the bottom of the baking dish. Add a third of the noodles in a single layer. Spread half of the cottage cheese mixture on top. Add a layer of zucchini.

5. Repeat layering. Add a thing coating of sauce. Top with noodles, sauce and reserved cheese mixture. Cover with aluminum foil.

6. Bake 50-60 minutes. Cool for 10-15 minutes. Cut into portions. Serve and enjoy!


Peace and blessings,

Lisa

Menu Plan Monday, February 18, 2008

Thanks for stopping by! Last week I didn't get to make all of my new, low-sodium finds, but did try a few. The Vegetarian Spaghetti Sauce was very good. We really enjoyed it. The meatballs were a bit bland, but would be great if cooked longer in the spaghetti sauce. I was successful in making a low sodium version of cabbage and noodles because we didn't even miss the salt. Today, I made the Zucchini Lasagna. It was okay. I'll post the recipe for it after I finish the menu.

This week will be busy with our final hockey practices for the month, our final regular season game, dr. appointments and a training for me Tuesday evening. Here's the plan:

Sunday: Zucchini Lasagna (low sodium), Tossed Salad, and Multi-grain bread

Monday: Bisquick Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans

Tuesday: dh and the kids will have hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, and fruit

Wednesday: Grilled Steak, Baked Potatoes, and Grilled Zucchini

Thursday: Mrs. Dash's Cajun Grilled Chicken, Pasta Salad and Corn

Friday: Fish Fry at our church

Saturday: Pizza and Wings

Have a wonderful week!

Peace and blessings,

Lisa

Menu Plan Monday, February 11, 2008

Good afternoon! It's a very cold day here, currently 9 degrees. I'm planning some comfort food for the cold days ahead. I have also learned that I'm lucky that I haven't already had a stroke due to high blood pressure, and need to cut my sodium intake, as well as increase my potassium intake. This week's menu reflects some changes in our diet.

Monday~Vegetarian Spaghetti Sauce over Penne Pasta, Meatballs, and Salad with Olive Oil and Vinegar

Tuesday~ Mrs. Dash's Burgers, Oven Fries, and Applesauce

Wednesday~Girl's Night ( I don't know what we're having yet!)

Thursday~Happy Valentine's Day! Chicken in Cream Sauce over Linguine, Salad with Olive Oil and Vinegar, Heart Shaped Brownies topped with Caramel Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream

Friday~Fish Fillets, Cabbage and Noodles, Steamed Carrots

Saturday~ Homemade Pizza and Tangy Chicken Wings

Have a super week! Be sure to let those you love know it!!

Blessings,

Lisa

Menu Plan Monday, February 4, 2008

Happy Monday! Thank you to Laura at orgjunkie for hosting! Click the banner above to see more menu plans. I actually followed last week's menu pretty closely. We tried the Down Home Macaroni and Cheese for the first time and it was a hit. We really enjoyed it. On Poker night, the guys love the Party Pepperoncinis and the Bacon Wrapped Brown Sugar Smokies.

Lent begins on Wednesday, so it will be a challenge to come up with meatless meals each Friday until Easter. I will lean on the usuals: pizza with veggie toppings, spaghetti with meatless sauce, fish, potato soup, grilled cheese and tomato soup, but I look forward to finding and trying some new recipes.

Here's our plan for this week:

Super Bowl Sunday~ Beefy Nachos and Pepperoni Pizza

Monday~Chicken Nacho Bake, Rice Pilaf, Green Beans

Tuesday~Country Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Country Gravy and Corn

Wednesday~ Zesty Potato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Thursday~Bisquick Oven Chicken, Olive Oil and Garlic Angel Hair Pasta, Tossed Salad

Friday~Breaded Fish Sandwiches, Pierogies and Applesauce

Saturday~Date Night with DH~Not sure if we're eating out or dining in just yet

Have a super week and be sure to leave me a comment!

Smiles and Blessings,

Lisa

Chocolate-Banana Snack Cake

It's a Snow Day here in PA. Maddie and I made this Chocolate-Banana Snack Cake this afternoon. She was quite excited to make a cake. She said it at least 20 times. I am not exaggerating! Two year olds can be quite obsessive. As for the cake, I loved the fact that you mixed it up right in the pan. That means fewer dirty dishes.

Here's the recipe:

Chocolate-Banana Snack Cake

2 very ripe medium bananas

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup baking cocoa

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup water

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place bananas in ungreased 8-inch square pan; mash with fork. Stir in remaining ingredients except chocolate chips. Sprinkle chocolate chips over batter.

Bake 35-37 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cook completely, about 45 minutes.

Enjoy!