Rotisserie chicken, burgers, Greek grain bowl with seared Halloumi and oven-fried zucchini, strata, alfredo vegetable pasta bake and sheet pan Hawaiian chicken
I hesitate to say this, but it is really starting to feel like fall around here. There are a lot of Monarch butterflies in the yard, although they aren't clustering like they sometimes do. They've been busy enjoying the Milkweed which is quite prolific this year. Every time I walk, I see them fluttering and almost dancing ahead of me on the path. They are so beautiful.
Fall always makes me think of cozy sweaters, delicious soups, and belly-warming casseroles. I'm trying not to rush the season, so I'll be easing into fall cooking gradually over the next few weeks.
On the menu August 23 - 29, 2020:
Sunday Rotisserie Chicken with Easy Pasta Salad and Best Ever Broccoli Salad
Tonight we tried cooking a rotisserie chicken on our Broil King Pellet Grill, and it was really amazing! It was so moist and flavourful - just as good as the ones you buy at the grocery store. You could always buy one of those if you don't feel like making your own (or don't have a smoker.) Just add a couple of quick, homemade salads, and dinner is served. (Sorry, no photos!) Trick's Creek Farm sells beautiful pasture-raised, local chickens - check them out!
Monday Hamburgers with green salad
We've been having these a lot lately - they are just so good on the grill. Trick's Creek Farm has great burger patties, and they're grass-fed and organic. My favourite! I kept things simple tonight - just burgers and a green salad. If you're trying to eat fewer carbs, a portobello mushroom "bun" is just the thing.
My son is not a big fan of zucchini or lemon, but this meal that we first tried through the Good Food subscription service is definitely one of his favourites. Zucchini has been plentiful around here lately, and we love Halloumi cheese. I used a President's Choice bulgur and quinoa mix, found in the rice section since I couldn't get bulgur on its own. I used about 1 1/2 cups of panko bread crumbs and 2 eggs for 4 small zucchini, as well as a lemon pepper spice mix I had on hand. This is a delicious vegetarian meal option that I think your whole family will love.
Wednesday Strata and green salad
Although the linked recipe is for breakfast strata, I served this for dinner. My goal was to use up a loaf of bread that I recently bought that we didn't love on its own. Sadly, there is still about half a loaf to go, but it's a start!
Strata is a super way to use up any kind of leftover bread, meat or veggies that you have on hand. Almost anything goes in this dish - ground beef, leftover chicken, ham, bacon, or sausage. The combinations of meats, veggies, and cheeses that you can try are nearly endless. Tonight I used broccoli, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, ham, bacon, cheddar, and mozzarella. Tomatoes, spinach, bacon, and goat cheese would be amazing, or ham, mushrooms, broccoli, and Swiss cheese. I've already got a list of things I want to try soon.
Thursday Vegetable Alfredo Pasta Bake with Caesar salad
Pasta is one of those family favourite ingredients that are super versatile and always welcomed at mealtime. Personally, I try to limit how much pasta I eat, but with a couple of teenagers around, that can be a challenge. Pasta is also a great way to sneak in some veggies and use up leftover meats as well. Tonight's dish featured an Alfredo-style sauce with broccoli, zucchini, carrots, spinach, and mushrooms (shhh). I also added about 2 cups of leftover rotisserie chicken, but feel free to leave that out for a perfect meatless meal. Everyone really enjoyed this.
Friday Leftovers / Eat Out / Takeout
Saturday Sheet Pan Hawaiian Chicken with Basmati rice and ginger sesame slaw
You've got to love one-pan meals - easy prep and easy cleanup! This meal really delivered on great sweet and sour flavour which went so well with the chicken and white rice. I served a purchased ginger sesame slaw on the side. There was a little fresh pineapple leftover - just enough to round out our weekly Sunday fruit salad at breakfast.
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