Build-Your-Own-Panini Night

Tonight, for dinner it was build-your-own-panini night. I put out:

Bread (Ideally, ciabatta bread)
deli ham
deli roasted turkey
lettuce tomatoes
cheese
roasted red pepper spread

But, you could add any sandwich toppings that you like. We also tried the Carrot and Apple Slaw recipe found here with a few alterations, of course.

Carrot and Apple Slaw
Not knowing how well it would be received, I cut the recipe way down like to 1/4 its original size. I didn't have apple jelly or golden raisins, so I put in regular Coleslaw dressing and raisins. Then, I just sprinkled individual servings with the chopped cashews. Well, I enjoyed it and, since I'm the only one who tried it, it was a success. I will be enjoying the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

This Week's Dinner Menu

We are getting back to a normal schedule, and I am excited to get back to cooking. So, here it is, this week's menu plan.

Sunday - Pork Chops Stuffed with Sundried Tomatoes and Spinach, Artichoke and Tomato Panzanella, and who knows (I'll tell you after we eat - Caitlin's cooking)
Monday - Build-Your-Own Panini Night, Carrot and Apple Slaw
Tuesday - Work dinner for the husband, so we're eating leftovers
Wednesday - Dad's Birthday Enchiladas, salad, strawberry pie
Thursday - Sweet Pork Salad with Cilantro Dressing, fruit salad
Friday - Turkey Enchiladas, fruit salad
Saturday - Thai Chicken and Noodles (I know, I know - but, I promised my cousin that I would try out this recipe.)

***I had to shift things around a little, because I forgot about some key events taking place this week. (5/21/08).***

This Week's New Recipe's Review

Ham, Cheese and Asparagus Mac with Tomato and Cucumber Salad
original recipe here
Macaroni: I cut the recipe in half for my family. And, other than peeling the asaparagus (a tip I learned from Food Network to get the asaparagus to cook evenly), I followed the recipe exactly. Oh yeah, I also went a little "shy" on the hot sauce. We really liked the flavor, and the combo of the ham and asaparagus was great. My two year-old ate it (with a toothpick) without complaints!
Salad: This was a little bit of a twist on vinegar-cucumbers, which I don't ever make. But, we like it non the less, and it would be great for a summer picnic. But, if you don't like the taste of vinegar, I would not reccommend it.

Joe's Molten Marshmallow-Chocolate Cakes
original recipe here
Followed the recipe exactly; but forgot to set the timer while baking, so I had to guesstimate. This is a supper easy, impressive dessert that I would reccommend for company. I am going to try reheating our leftovers tonight to see if the marshmallow goes molten again.

Ginger-Peanut Chicken-Salad Wraps
original recipe here
Cut the recipe in half. The peanut sauce had great flavor, with just a little kick. The cilantro was the perfect thing to cool the chicken mixture a little. We really liked this one, and will definitely repeat it. My husband even said that it would make a good leftover lunch, and since the chicken mixture could easily be served cold - I think he is right!

Two Day Dinner Menu

As promised, I am returning with what the plan is now that my husband is home. Well, as exciting as it was, we had Papa Murphy's Taco Grande pizza for dinner last night. Here is the plan for the other two nights:

Friday - Ham, Cheese and Asparagus Mac, Cucumber and Tomato Salad, Joe's Molten Marshmallow-Chocolate Cakes with vanilla ice cream
Saturday - Ginger-Peanut Chicken Salad Wraps, Fruit Salad

Addicted? Yes!

So, my new favorite snack, meal, any occasion food . . . HUMMUS! Yes, I could eat it 24/7, much to my husband's chagrin. My mom introduced me to Trader Joe's Creamy Meditteraenian Hummus. It could almost convince someone who doesn't like hummus that it is a decent thing to eat.

There are numerous health benefits to hummus as well. It is very low in fat, and high in protein. You can serve it with raw veggie sticks, pita bread, or (my favorite) rice crisps. (Really andything that can scoop it up!) Hummus is a good alternative to mayonnaise on a sandwich. And, one funny thing I read, apparently the chickpeas used to make hummus are an "early ancestor" of Prozac. So eat up, and be happy!

Basic Hummus Recipe
5 medium garlic cloves
15 ounces canned garbanzo beans, drained
1/4 cup sesame paste (tahini)
1/8 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 tablespoon + 1/4 tsp soy sauce
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
pinch ground coriander
pinch teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1/4 cup cold water, if needed

Fit a food processor with the steel blade. Process the garlic cloves until finely minced, stopping the processor occasionally to scrape down the sides of the work bowl. Add the beans and pulse the machine a few times to chop them coarsely. Then, with the machine running, puree them while you slowly pour the sesame paste through the feed tube. Still with the motor running, pour the olive oil, lemon juice, and soy sauce through the feed tube, stopping the processor occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Stop the processor, open the lid, and add the salt, cumin, coriander, and cayenne. Process until thoroughly blended. If the puree seems too thick for dipping or spreading, pulse in the 1/8 to 1/4 cup cold water. Transfer the puree to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate to chill well before serving.

Coming later: Ideas for kicking up the flavor of your hummus. Once you've "tweaked" and perfected the basic recipe!

Another Meal at Mom's

Tonight, we ate at Mom's again, followed by an incredible evening at Cirque de Soleil's Corteo. We had: Split Pea (or Sausage) Soup, Rosemary Polenta, and Salad (spinach, craisins, mandarin oranges, feta, and toasted pecans).

Split Pea (or Sausage) Soup

from Sister Susan Tanner

3 qts water

1 lb split peas

1 lb sausage

1 C chopped celery

1 C chopped potatoes

1 C sliced carrots

1 C chopped onion

salt and pepper to taste

pinch of sage

pinch of rosemary

Cook peas until soft. Brown, drain and rinse ground sausage. Add cooked sausage and vegetables about the last 30 minutes of cooking. You can add more water if it gets too thick.

Two Meals at Mom's

For Mother's Day, we had: tri-tip steak, rosemary roasted potatoes, broccolini, 12-grain bread, salad, and Lemonade Layer Cake with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Monday night, we had: our own CPK Thai Crunch Salad with Beef and Butternut Squash Stew.