November 4 - 10, 2018
A busy week demands minimal prep time and getting dinner on the table fast. Last week we seemed to have a lot going on (in a good way), so I tried to choose recipes that used the slow cooker or were just simply quick to make. There are a couple of new ones here, and I hauled out some old favourites, as well.
November 4 - 10, 2018:
Roast beef, super fast chicken and broccoli, a hearty beefy noodle soup, two slow cooker favorites and a simple pasta dish.
On the menu last week:
Sunday: Roast Beef Dinner (at Dad's request)
Monday: 12 Minute Chicken and Broccoli with brown rice
This was different and good, but maybe not our favorite. I think we would have preferred it with a mixture of veggies, like sliced carrots, snow peas, red pepper and maybe some bok choy. We found the flavour of the sauce a little overpowering and you could really taste the sesame oil. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but tonight we didn’t love it. I used 3 chicken breasts instead of just 2 and there was enough sauce. if you needed extra, you could make half again as much of the sauce. You might also consider serving it alongside another homemade Asian-inspired recipe such as Fried Rice, Lo Mein or Chow Mein.
For Dad, we picked out just the chicken and extra sauce and I cooked some broccoli just for him so it was really well-done. He came back for seconds of the chicken and sauce and gave me a thumbs up, so he was happy with it. It was definitely not my usual way of cooking chicken or broccoli. Vegetables are becoming more of a challenge for Dad as they are not generally cooked long enough for him, despite our best efforts.
Tuesday: Vegetable Beef Noodle Soup with fresh rolls
I had friends over tonight for supper, so I doubled this recipe. (To stretch the stewing beef, I like to cut it into 1-inch pieces.) This is such a delicious, comforting soup and totally worth the long cooking time since it results in melt-in-your-mouth beef. In my opinion, this may be the best beef noodle soup I’ve ever tasted! My son loves this "stew" as he calls it, and leftovers are perfect for school lunches.
Wednesday: Cranberry Pork Tenderloin with mashed potatoes, squash and carrots
This is one of those recipes I keep going back to because it’s so easy and uses things I always have on hand. The pork turns out tender and delicious every time.
Thursday: Chicken Cacciatore with spaghetti and/or zucchini noodles and salad
In spite of the many years I've been cooking, I have never made Chicken Cacciatore before. I'm not sure why that is... Somehow, I don't think I loved the idea of chicken swimming in tomato sauce with pasta, but gradually (especially after eating Chicken Parmiagiana a few times), the marriage of chicken and tomato sauce grew on me. We have definitely been missing out! The chicken was incredibly moist and the flavour was scrumptious. Dad really enjoyed the leftovers.
I enjoyed this served over zucchini noodles, but spaghetti (or any other noodle) would work.
Friday: leftovers / eat out / takeout
Saturday: Easy Pasta Alfredo with Caesar salad
Today we had an extended family gathering, one that happens every year before the rush of the holidays starts. It's always a great time to see everyone and catch up. Family is such a blessing, and we are so grateful to have such wonderful relatives! Mom and Dad weren't able to attend this year, and their absence was definitely noted.
Typically we have a potluck (which my son admitted he missed!), but this year we kept it simple and ordered in pasta from Vincenzo's in Waterloo. It was really good (who doesn't like pasta?!), and so I thought I'd share one of my favorite pasta recipes.
My son is a huge fan of Pasta Alfredo and we have been on a quest for some time to find the perfect recipe - one that stands up to reheating without separating and is thick enough to coat every noodle. He isn't completely sure about this recipe yet, but it will do in a pinch! It is certainly tasty, whether it meets his exacting standards entirely or not. If you have a good recipe for alfredo sauce, please share it with me!
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