What To Eat This Week

What To Eat This Week is a new feature on my blog. To help me meal plan better, I'm posting what we are eating this week on Sundays.

First the winner of last week: Zesty Lime Shrimp and Avocado Salad. This was the crowd favorite. I will be making this one again.

The loser of the week: Mexican Chicken Lime Soup. The flavor was delicious but it was so hot. I tempered it with sour cream and corn chips but it was still pretty spicy.

Breakfast this week: More of the Banana Quinoa Bars for me. Tai decided he wanted bagels with lox so we picked up some bagels from Blazing Bagels.

Lunches: I got a good deal on chicken quarters so I'll make Spicy Honey Chicken, Herbed Chicken, and Brown Sugar Butter Roasted Chicken.

Dinners:

Monday: Tai requested Spicy Lemon Garlic Shrimp for dinner. I'll pick up a nice baguette and serve it with a salad.

Tuesday: Quick Sriracha Beef Lettuce Wraps. I love lettuce wraps for a weeknight meal.

Wednesday: Spaghetti with quinoa pasta for me and Tai. Dad will have it with spaghetti squash. Served with salad.

Thursday: Tai also requested Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps this week. These and the shrimp are 2 of his favorite dinners so they'll be on this list once or twice a month. For Dad, I make the bacon wraps with Sweet Heat Bacon and leave off the brown sugar. I'll serve it with a kale salad.

Friday: Hamburger Wild Rice Casserole with sautéed green beans.

Saturday: Savory Citrus Chicken with roasted broccoli.

Sunday: Taco Pie maybe with some guacamole.

Weekend Cooking: Beef Massaman Curry

I pinned this beef Massaman curry because we like Massaman curry and anytime I can use my crockpot  is a good day. I screwed up the recipe a little but it still came it out delicious.
Here's the original pin:

Source: 365daysofcrockpot.com via Linda on Pinterest

Here's mine:

I didn't have any tapioca when I started making it. I bought some tapioca and added it at the end so the tapioca didn't blend in well. But it didn't affect the taste at all. I would make this again.


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Pin It and Do It Challenge: Balsamic Roast Beef

I pulled out my crockpot for this one. In this busy holiday season, it's great to come home and have a meal waiting rather than having to worry about dinner for half the day.
Here's the original pin:

Source: addapinch.com via Linda on Pinterest

And here's mine:

I served it over mashed potatoes and made a gravy out of the sauce. I highly recommend doing that. The flavor of the meat was good but the gravy made it extra special. I would make this again. It was the perfect comfort food meal.

Pin It And Do It Challenge: Easy Thai Coconut Soup with Lemongrass

Tai had requested that I learn to make his favorite Tom Ka Gai soup. While browsing for a good recipe, I found this similar recipe using my crockpot. I decided to give it a whirl. While it wasn't Tom Ka Gai soup it was very close.
Here's the original pin:

Source: 365daysofcrockpot.com via Linda on Pinterest

Here's how mine turned out:

Mine is more red then hers because I doubled the Thai curry. It was spicy but delicious. Perfect for a rainy day.

Slow Cooker Tuesday: Beef With Asian Mushroom

I had to wait til tonight to post this because this was our dinner! When I came across this recipe, I immediately bookmarked it. Beef, mushrooms and asian flavors, yum!

Tips on the recipe:

I had a huge (6 lb) piece of beef brisket. It worked fine. I cut it into 2 pieces so it would fit in my slow cooker.

I used my 6 quart slow cooker.

I used 8oz of mushrooms and a jar (8oz) of hoisin sauce.

I cooked it for about 12 hours total and the meat was falling apart.

Slow Cooker Tuesday: Risotto

I love risotto. When I spied a recipe using my slow cooker, I knew I had to give it a try. I'm glad I did. I can see myself making this one again.

Tips on the recipe:

I used a 2 quart slow cooker.

I skipped the parm since I didn't have any.

It took about 2.5 hours to cook. 

The risotto came out so creamy and buttery. You could add meat, veggies, cheese but I liked it as is.

Slow Cooker Tuesday: Beef Chili With Pinto & Kidney Beans

This is the third time I've attempted chili recently and this is the first time I've felt the recipe worthy of sharing. I used to make chili all the time using a seasoning packet (like Lawry's) but Tai wanted me to try to make it without the seasoning packet and find seasonings that we preferred. And since I love using my slow cooker I really want to find a recipe that I could use in the slow cooker. I went with this recipe and it was a winner.

Tips on the recipe:
-I used a 6 quart slow cooker.
-I browned both the ground beef and stew meat.
-My stewed tomatoes came with onions and peppers so I didn't add any more.

We both enjoyed it and it made plenty which froze nicely. This is not a really spicy chili. If you want to add heat, increase the red pepper flakes.

Slow Cooker Tuesday: Brown Sugar and Balsamic Glazed Pork Loin

I actually pinned this recipe a while ago. I kept meaning to make it but sadly waited. I urge you not to wait. It's ridiculously easy and so yummy.

I took pictures of it sliced but these were much better.

My changes to the recipe: 

I added 4 cloves of garlic to the rub. I like a lot of garlic. But I didn't feel it was too garlic-y.

I was incredibly lazy when it came to making the glaze. I wanted the meat to be all brown and yummy so I covered the meat in the glaze and tossed it in the oven at 400º for 20 minutes. As you can see it got all yummy and caramelized. 

I used a 6 quart crock pot but you could use a 4 quart if your loin was smaller. I used shoulder since that's what I had.

Slow Cooker Tuesday-Easy Roast Beef

This is hands down my favorite slow cooker recipe. In fact I've blogged about it before. But I love it so much I have to share it again.
This roast beef is the easiest meal ever. You need 5 ingredients and at least 8 hours before the deliciousness begins.

Tips on the recipe:

I don't mix the dressings and gravy together before hand. I dumped each packet in and poured the water on top. Still came out yummy.

I used a 6 quart crockpot.

I served it over our favorite fauxtatoes, but I've served over mashed potatoes in the past. This is one of those meals you'll use over and over again. It's great for potlucks, quick dinners, and it's great comfort food.

Slow Cooker Tuesday-Coq Au Vin

Coq Au Vin is one of those "fancy" dishes I would order at a restaurant but never think of making at home. What is it about French food that sounds difficult? But when I spied this recipe on the Whole Foods website, I realized that Coq Au Vin might not be so difficult.
What is Coq Au Vin? It's chicken cooked in wine. Sounds so much easier when you hear that, right?

Tips on the recipe:

I used bone in thighs and removed the bone before serving.

I followed the commenters advice and tripled the liquid. Great idea.

I used a 4 quart crockpot and cooked it for 6 hours.

This recipe takes time. It's a great weekend meal. I served it with sweet potatoes but you could serve it with rice or pasta. 

Slow Cooker Tuesday-Turkey Breast

Did you get a good deal on turkey breast before or after Thanksgiving? Want a quick and easy way to make that turkey without using your oven? I followed Stephanie O'Dea's recipe and got a yummy and moist turkey.

Ignore the huge hole in the side. I wanted a taste before I took pictures.

Tips on the recipe:

I didn't have any wine so I used chicken broth.

I used Old Bay seasoning rather than just salt and pepper. Emeril's Essence seasoning would be good too. 

I had a 6.5 pound turkey in a 6 quart crockpot. It barely fit. 

I cooked it for about 6.5 hours.

If you like crispy skin, this probably isn't the recipe for you. The meat is tender and delicious but the skin is just blah. I removed it after I took the picture.

Slow Cooker Tuesday-White Bean Soup With Andouille Sausage and Collard Greens

While I was doing some cleaning, I came across an old copy of Real Simple. I saved it because there were several slow cooker recipes I wanted to try. I decided there was no time like the present and made this soup a few days later.

I'm keeping it real with my dirty stove!

Tips on the recipe:

I used 3 cans of cannellini beans (white kidney beans) instead of the dried. 

I only used 1/2 an onion. 

I used my 6 quart crockpot

It was quite yummy. Spicy though. I would add another can of beans and more collard greens next time.

Slow Cooker Tuesday-Mushroom Beef

It's getting a little chillier here so I was looking for a recipe that was hearty and comforting. I love recipes that call for gravy. I just know I'm going to enjoy it. Plus this one had mushrooms and beef. Yes, Mushroom Beef recipe was a winner. 

Tips on the recipe: 
I used a 4 quart crock pot. 
I cooked it for 11 hours and the meat was  very tender.

As you can see I substituted the fauxtatoes for the smashed potatoes in the recipe. I loved it over the fauxtatoes but I can see this over mashed potatoes too. I'm sure I'll be making this one again really soon.

Slow Cooker Tuesday-Hot Beef Sandwiches

Can I tell you a secret? I've made these Hot Beef Sandwiches couple of times before but neglected to share with you all. It wasn't that I didn't want to share, but we ate them before I could snap a pic. I think these sandwiches are my new favorite thing to make in the crockpot. So yummy. And this recipe makes so much we usually have them two days in a row. Ready for the picture?

Tips on the recipe: 

If you don't like to cook with beer, use another can of beef or veggie broth. 

I had the food in the crockpot about 11 hours and the meat was perfect. 

I used a 6 quart crockpot.

I served the sandwiches with roasted brussell sprouts. I love these little cups I got from Pampered Chef to keep the au jus in.
I have to thank Lynn for this recipe though. She mentioned The Pillsbury Slow Cooker cookbook where I originally found the recipe. I picked the book up from the library and was leafing through it on my way to the grocery store to pick up something for dinner when I spied this Hot Beef Sandwich recipe. This cookbook is a winner!
Also I refrigerated the leftovers and the next day was able to remove a lot of the fat from the meat and gravy. I served it the second day over our favorite fauxtatoes!

Slow Cooker Tuesday-Beef Stroganoff

One of Tai's favorite meals is beef stroganoff. I rarely make it because it is loaded in dairy which doesn't make Tai's tummy happy. Happy mouth but an unhappy tummy equals a sad man. When I spotted this recipe, I knew I had to make it. But I could not find cream of onion soup at the two stores I went to. Cream of onion seems like a 70's throwback. I had to improvise. But I'll get to that in a moment. First an ugly picture of the final product:

The meat kind of fell apart and resembled creamed beef! But it was so good and creamy.

Beef Stroganoff (adapted from the Betty Crocker website)

2 lbs stew meat
1/2 onion, diced
2 cans cream of mushroom
1 can of broth (I used mushroom but you could use beef or veggie)
1 6 oz can of mushrooms
1/4 tsp pepper
1 8 oz package of cream cheese
1 8 oz container of sour cream
Rice or egg noodles

Combine meat, onion, soups, mushrooms, and pepper in a 4 quart slow cooker. I used a 6 quart and it was fine. Set on low for 8-10 hours. Boil the noodles or cook the rice separately before serving. While the noodles or rice cook, add the cream cheese and stir to combine. Then add the sour cream and stir to combine. Serve over rice or noodles.

Slow Cooker Tuesday-Steak in Mushroom Sauce with Fauxtatoes

So I've decided to post my slow cooker recipes on Tuesdays, hence the name Slow Cooker Tuesday. I'm a genius.
I had a flank steak I needed to cook so I poked around the interwebs to find this recipe: Flank Steak in Mushroom Sauce. It was a winner cause I had all the ingredients at home and I didn't have to sear the meat before tossing it the crockpot. But I discovered that I had NY Steaks that needed to be used first and the flank steak could wait for another meal. So I substituted NY steaks for the flank. I had the steak in the slow cooker for about 12 hours and it was perfect. I don't think you'd lose much if you only had 8-10 hours though.
And what the heck are fauxtatoes? Well, Tai and I are playing around with a low carb diet (no white bread, pasta or potatoes). While reading a low carb cookbook, I came across the fauxtato recipe, basically mashed cauliflower with butter made to resemble mashed potatoes. See?

Ok this whole meal was a winner. The meal was melt in your mouth yummy. The fauxtatoes were a real hit. I can't wait to make them again.

Chicken in a Crockpot times two!

I was going to post 3 chicken crockpot recipes but we ate the third one without taking an pictures. Oh well!
In an effort to have healthy meals and less stress when I come home from the gym, I've hauled out the crockpot. I made two real winners last week that I wanted to share.
First chicken cacciatore. I started with this recipe, but got lazy. Real lazy. I didn't feel like opening cans of tomato sauce at 6am so I used 2 jars of spaghetti sauce. Nine hours later, I got this:

So here's my tweaked recipe:

4 boneless chicken breasts
1/2 onion, diced
6 oz can of sliced mushrooms
1 bell pepper, diced
2 jars of spaghetti sauce

Put onion at the bottom of the pot. Add chicken, mushrooms and bell pepper. Pour spaghetti sauce over the top. Cook on low for 7-9 hours. Serve over pasta.

The whole house smelled so good. I'll definitely make this one again.

The next recipe comes courtesy of Pinterest. Chicken and dumplings in the crockpot. I wouldn't make this on a weekday since it doesn't take more than 5 hours to cook for the chicken plus another hour for the dumplings. The food smelled so good. After work, I don't think I could wait to make the dumplings!
I followed this recipe pretty closely. And got this:

So good. The chicken was so tender and sauce was delicious. This recipe is a keeper!
Made anything good in your crockpot lately?