Ham Soup

This is a basic split pea soup recipe but my 5 year old hates peas so I called it ham soup and he was sold - he ate 3 bowls!

1+lb ham steak w/ bone, diced and bone reserved
2 pounds dried green split peas
6-8 quarts of water or broth
1 large onion, chopped
3 large carrots, diced
3 stalks of celery, diced
2 medium potatoes, diced
bay leaf
fresh ground pepper
olive oil

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large stock pot. Add diced ham and cook until hot through and getting a little brown. Add onions, stir and cook while chopping carrots and celery. Add all vegetables and stir. After veggies have cooked for a few minutes add broth/water and peas. Add bay leaf and pepper. If using water add a little salt too. Cook on med-high until bubbly, reduce to simmer, cover but vent the lid. Cook 30-45 minutes or until the peas fall apart, stirring occasionally. Season with salt & pepper.

Baked sweet chicken

A huge hit with the family. My kids each ate a whole good sized chicken thigh!

6 chicken thighs - skin on, bone in
1/2 cup ketchup (I like the flavor and texture of Trader Joe's organic ketchup)
1/4 cup lite soy sauce
big sprinkle of garlic powder
big sprinkle of ground ginger
3 tablespoons of brown sugar

mix together glaze ingredients - taste and adjust seasoning. Place chicken skin side up in a baking dish. Spoon glaze on top of chicken pieces. Bake at 375* for 1 hour cor until juices run clear. Baste chicken with juices after 45 minutes.

Menu Planning Monday (on Sunday)

Still staying strong with no take out or restaurant meals in February! On Tuesday I am having an IUI so I need to plan ahead for lunch/dinner so DH can take care of it while I rest. I may concede to getting take out for lunch on the way home since we will not be home until after noon.

Sunday - baked sweet chicken (chicken thighs w/ a glaze of soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, ginger and a touch of brown sugar), baked potatoes, garlicky green beans (chocolate pudding for me and pumpkin custard for DH for dessert)
Monday - biscuit burgers, oven fries, coleslaw
Tuesday (mommy taking it easy after IUI) - chili from freezer, broccoli, multigrain chips
Wednesday - waffles, sausage, eggs w/ spinach (soak black beans)
Thursday - black bean dinner - smashed spiced blacks beans, spinach and fried potatoes topped with a fried egg
Friday - pork chops, mixed veggies, buttered whole wheat and flax noodles
Saturday - maybe dinner at my parents'

Baking -
muffins (last week we made oatmeal blueberry - maybe something with flax and pumpkin this week)
whole wheat beer bread
I am putting it on my list again - yeast bread. I am going to get brave enough to make a loaf of bread
more granola bars


Visit www.orgjunkie.com for more Monday menus!

Menu Planning Monday

We are continuing our budget minded meal plans and eating. No eating out since January! With that in mind I need to feed my freezer (FTF) again. This week I will be making some soups, chili, pancakes and waffles so that I have quick and easy meals on hand for those days that take out sounds so tempting!

Monday - roast in the crockpot with carrots, celery & onions, fresh basked whole wheat biscuits (probably this recipe with soymilk for the milk)

Tuesday - beef & vegetable barley soup using leftovers from Monday, spinach salad, bread or biscuits

Wednesday - big pot of black bean and beef chili (FTF), cornbread, veggies & dip

Thursday - something special? Look for some tempting ingredients at Costco - even a nice steak and asparagus would be cheaper than going out!

Friday - breakfast for dinner - whole wheat/flax waffles (FTF), eggs scrambled with spinach, sausage, sliced fruit

Saturday - pumpkin pancakes (FTF)
vegetable bean soup
chicken thighs, baked potatoes, broccoli

Sunday - breakfast casserole
tilapia, spinach, orzo pilaf

Baking for this week -
Granola bars (modify last week's recipe)
crackers
whole wheat bread
muffins

Breakfasts -
baked goods
breakfast casserole
5-7 grain hot cereal

This week's menu revistied...

Thursday – crockpot Chicken cacciatore, whole wheat flax spaghetti
Friday - Turkey & Black bean chili, corn casserole, salad
Saturday lunch - vegetable soup & grilled cheese sandwiches
dinner - pot roast with roasted vegetables
Sunday - out for lunch with family, dinner - pork chops & ??

Treats & Snacks:
flax seed granola
muffins - kids' choice
possibly try to make crackers

Good for You Granola Bars

GRANOLA BARS
• 2 cups quick cooking oats
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup oat bran
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup chopped English walnuts
• 1/4 cup flax seeds
• 1/2 cup EVOO
• 1/3 cup blackstrap molasses
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350* F. Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with aluminum foil and spray with vegetable oil spray.
2. In a large bowl, stir together oats, flour, brown sugar, raisins, oat bran, salt, cinnamon, flax seeds and walnuts. In a smaller bowl, thoroughly blend oil, molasses, honey, egg, and vanilla; pour into the flour mixture, and mix combined. Press evenly into the prepared baking pan.
3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are crisp. Cool completely in pan before turning out onto a cutting board and cutting into bars.

Whole Wheat Beer Bread

I am still trying to wrangle up the bravery to attempt yeast bread - all that raising, kneading and attention really intimidates me. Today I tried this recipe for whole wheat beer bread from allrecipes. It was excellent. Super easy - in the oven in less than 10 minutes and baked perfectly in 50 minutes.

Whole Wheat Beer Bread
INGREDIENTS

* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
* 4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
* 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
* 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, salt and brown sugar. Pour in beer, stir until a stiff batter is formed. It may be necessary to mix dough with your hands. Scrape dough into prepared loaf pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.