This Week's Dinner Menu (Really Late)

This is a busy week of celebrating for us. I am hoping that we get to the gnocchi on Saturday, because it looks so good!

Sunday - Father's Day Celebration
Monday - Potluck with friends
Tuesday - Taco Salad
Wednesday - Potstickers & Chow Mein Noodles
Thursday - Eat Out for my birthday
Friday - leftovers
Saturday - Ricotta Gnocchi with Pancetta and Basil Cream Sauce, Savory Monkey Bread, Aunt Terri's salad

Ball Fresh Taste of Summer Party

At the beginning of June, I hosted a Ball Fresh Taste of Summer Party. I was selected to demo products and teach others how to preserve their summer harvest.

We had a "working lunch" with some close friends to celebrate the wonderful taste of summer. I prepared my version of Pepper Jelly before the party and we made a batch of Homemade Salsa together.{Confetti Pepper Jelly}

4 1/2 C finely chopped green bell pepper (I use 2 red, 1 orange, and 1 yellow pepper)
1/2 C finely chopped jalapeno pepper
1 1/4 C cider vinegar
1 pkg Ball-brand No Sugar Needed Fruit Pectin
2 C sugar
1 C honey
12 - 4 oz. jelly jars (with new seals)

Prepare water bath canner and jars for canning.
Combine bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, and vinegar in a large saucepan. Gradually stir in pectin. Bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Add sugar and honey. Return to a boil. Boil hard for 3 full minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and skim foam if necessary. Ladle hot jelly into jars leaving 1/4" headspace. Wipe rim and center lid on jar. Screw band on. Process filled jars in a water bath canner for 10 minutes. Remove from canner and allow to cool.

While the salsa was cooking and, then, processing we dined on Pepper Jelly & Cream Cheese appetizers, Chips & Salsa, Lemon Cucumber Water, and Chipotle Chicken Taco Salad. Each guest went home with a reuseable gift bag full of coupons for Ball products, a box of pectin to make their own jam or jelly, recipes, ideas for how to use their Pepper Jelly, a jar of Pepper Jelly, a jar of Salsa, and some with other prizes too.

To watch my Pepper Jelly Canning Demo, shown at the party go here.

This Week's Dinner Menu

Sunday - BBQ Chicken, salad, Fruit salad, and Individual Cookie Sundaes
Monday - Taco Salad
Tuesday - "Dinner on the Go"
Wednesday - Chicken Taco Soup
Thursday - "All Things with Your Fingers" Think chicken fingers, salad skewers, and fruit.
Friday - Game Party Night taking a veggie tray
Saturday - Homemade Pizza and Movie night, Butter Lettuce Salad

This is going to be my special treat for the week. And, after that, I will be running another 5k. When you eat like this, you have to find some way to get the weight off!

Summer Sandwich Option

This looked so good, I have to remember to try it. I have heard about using nuts in place of bread crumbs for those aiming for lower carb diets, but never tried it. And, I love grilled cheese, so this is a definite must try.

"Curb the Carb" Grilled Cheese

This Week's Dinner Menu

Sunday - BBQ Chicken, salad, rice pilaf, fruit salad, breadsticks, cheese plater
Monday - Taco Night, fruit salad
Tuesday - Chicken Pasta Salad, rolls, broccoli
Wednesday - Pea and Pancetta Risotto (recipe coming!), green salad, fruit
Thursday - Homemade Pizza & Movie Night
Friday - Local Carnival
Saturday - Some variation of Chicken Enchiladas (maybe these), salad, fruit

For a sweet treat this week, we are trying these! And, for a switch to our Sunday morning breakfast, coffee cake.

Memorial Day Weekend 2010

We just returned from a fabulous, relaxing weekend with my family. And, as always, we celebrated with food. Many of the foods we ate are traditional for our Memorial Day weekend together, but we tried some fun new things too!

Friday: Breakfast - Bagels & Lox
Dinner - Caitlin's Asian Crunch Salad
Homemade Pizza - Cheese, Pepperoni, Hawaiian, BBQ Chicken, Veggie
Saturday: Breakfast - Bacon, Eggs, and Homemade Poptarts
Lunch - Proscuitto and Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, salad
Dinner - Enchiladas, salad, and Coconut Rice with Mango and Strawberries
Sunday: Lunch - soup and sandwiches
Dinner - our Memorial Day BBQ with Tomato and Corn Salad, Cape Cod Salad, and bruschetta
Dessert - Chocolate Gelatto with Toasted Almonds, White Chocolate and Mocha Cookie Bars
Monday: Breakfast - Almond Pancakes