Menu Plan Monday 12/29/08

Wow! The end is in sight! Not the end of menu planning, ha ha, but the end of 2008. There is something special about turning the proverbial page and starting a new year. This happens to be an "odd" year - in that it ends with a 9. What that means for me is that it will take me 3 times as long to stop writing an 8 instead of what it is supposed to be - a 9. Weird, huh? All right - on to the menu!

Monday: Ham & Cheesy Potato Casserole & Salad
Tuesday: General Tso's Chicken, Rice, & Egg Drop Soup
Wednesday: Taco Pizza (I'm going to try to recreate Happy Joe's Taco Pizza), Salad
Thursday: Poppyseed Chicken Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans
Friday: Steaks (complements of my Dad's cows), Mushroom Rice Pilaf (I use fresh mushrooms and skip the green peppers in favor of celery), & Salad
Saturday: Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Sage Croutons, Biscuits, & Salad

Pancakes....Healthy?

Yesterday morning I decided to make pancakes for breakfast. It is not a common thing that we have something like pancakes on a weekday morning. We usually save such meals for the weekend but with the cold weather, I thought something warm besides oatmeal was in order. I went to my favorite recipe website, allrecipes.com, and typed in pancakes. I remembered making these one day when my wonderful husband was not here. They were really good so I decided to make them again with just a few modifications to fit what is in my cupboard.

Wheat Germ Whole Wheat Pancakes

• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 2 cups buttermilk (or substitute 2 cups milk with 2 Tbl. vinegar)
  
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour

Mix all the ingredients together and fry up the pancakes as usual, about a 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake. Serve as you would any other pancake. Here in our house we like butter, maple syrup, whipped cream and sprinkles. :)

My dh said they were great. But he likes to make his pancakes a little bit healthier. "But they are healthy!" I said in reply. He thought I had used all white flour. That is because they are very light and fluffy for using the heavier whole wheat flour, not to mention wheat germ. So give them a try! Maybe your family will not notice the extra fiber in their diet. :)

Menu Plan Monday 12/15/08

Menu plan, Menu plan, Menu all the way....Oh what fun it is to write a menu plan todaaaaayyyy EH! (sung to Jingle Bells if you care to know..)


Monday: Pork Chops with Bordelaise Sauce, Roasted Potatoes & Carrots
Tuesday: Broccoli Cheese Soup with Dinner Rolls
Wednesday: Homemade Chicken Pot Pie & Salad
Thursday: Broiled Salmon, Mushroom Rice Pilaf & Green Beans
Friday: White Bean Ragu with Penne Pasta & Salad

Now, I have a request of anyone who is reading this. I love Litehouse's Ranch dressing. It really is the only ranch that I'll buy now (I get it at Sam's Club). However, I've been trying to recreate it here in my home kitchen. I really haven't come close. Does anyone have a good ranch dressing recipe (similar to Litehouse's if possible?). Thanks!