This Week's Menu

First of all... I know I have a few people who have "missed me".... the blog has had to take a back seat to going back to work full time. I always forget just how 100% draining the first couple of weeks of school are. It probably doesn't help that Kyson starts school too (duh huh?) and football. And well... we go from lazy hazy days of summer to BAM Full speed ahead! Couple that with trying to squeeze every moment of "summer" out of our weekends... I haven't been doing any writing.

I have however taken pictures of some great recipes I've made. And I will blog them soon. No promises... this is just "week 2" of school. However, it is also the last week of "every day football pracitices" for Kyson.

Until then... I thought it would be fun to share my week's menu. Even though I'm busy, I am committed to making time for a family dinner. Oh, and I'm back to working really hard to eat "clean". For me that means very limited grains, dairy and no processed sugar.

Momday: Grilled Asian Short Ribs, Veggie Stir Fry, Brown Rice (for the boys) I will skip the rice.

Tuesday: Grilled Pesto Chicken, Mushroom/Spinach Rissoto (this is why I will skip the Rice on Monday, I LOVE this rissoto). Sauted zucchini, yellow squash and onions.

Wednesday: Grilled Burgers, Fresh sliced tomatoes, Corn on the Cob (the season is coming to an end!!! BOO!) and the boys will have Baked Beans.

Thursday: LEFTOVERS. If no leftovers (and with the way Kyson is eating these days... there might not be!!!) I will thaw out and make a pork tenderloin in the Covered Deep Dish Baker. (Pampered Chef!) I LOVE LOVE LOVE this product! W the pork we will have veggies from our CSA (we get that box on Wednesday... so not sure yet!) and mashed sweet potatoes.

Friday: Pizza on the Grill! One of my favorite fall foods!!!! I buy Mostly baked crusts from a local bakery (LaQuartier) and pull out any veggies left in the fridge from the week. Fresh Mozzarella. Panchetta. And do them on the grill. Great for an easy supper after a long week!

Saturday: I'm hoping we are going to the lake..... so "Boat food!"

Sunday: I'm hoping its as gorgeous of a day as today is, and I am going to fire up the smoker and make some smoked meats for the week ahead!!!

Share your menu plans for the week in the commnets!!! I'd love to read what eveyrone is making!!!!

Sweet Sweet Summertime

Summer is bliss at it's finest. Lazy days to do whatever, whenever, with whomever. This summer was very restufl. Which is just what the doctor ordered. No, really, I started summer with a broken rib (from puking), mono, a UTI, and a huge batch of bloodwork showing numerous vitamin defencies. I did what the doctor told me to.... NOTHING. I rested. A lot. So much so, in fact, that I sacrificed pool time. But....the good news is, I feel better than I have felt in a very long time. And, I did manage a few trips to the pool, and lake! I am mentally ready to roll for a fanatstic school year ahead. Kyson is looking forward to being the "big guy on campus" as a 5th grader, I'm teaching a new culinary class, and even Bentley is looking forward to the fact that somehow, over summer, his crate became non-existant.

Today was the last day for "our" pool to be open. And realistically, the last day of outdoor swimming in a chlorinated pool for us until next summer. It looked as though it was going to be grey and cloudy, but the sun came out, friends came to the pool, and a lot of fun was had.

To wrap up the "last day of summer" I made one of my favorite suppers. "Pesto Pizza". My basil is in over-drive this summer. I have frozen numerous bags for the long winter, and we have eaten a lot of basil infused foods. This one, however, is my favorite. I simply took leftover buns (from the burgers we had earlier this weekend), and spread some fresh pesto on them, sliced a few mushrooms, tomatoes, and some panchetta. Then put some fresh mozzarella on top. Broiled for a couple of minutes, and served with.... you guessed it.... red wine (for me) and lemonade (for Kyson.)

Enjoy the lingering days of warmth, the monarchs on their annual migration, sweet corn (blog post on this coming soon!), and the smell of fresh cut grass.... because all too soon, we will be eating Potato Soup and talking about homemade pasta (a snow day tradition at this house!)

Cheers!