We’ve enjoyed some amazing weather here this weekend! It’s unusual for us to have three full days of sun in a row like this, what a blessing. However the down fall is my new lazy attitude of not wanting to cook. So I’m going to go pretty easy on my self this week and have chosen some simple “I want to be outside and not in the kitchen” meals :)
Oh but before I get into my menu I have to share with you my previous week menu highlights because there were two recipes worth mentioning. First up is the Crunchy Poppyseed Chicken Salad. I really enjoyed this one, it was easy to prepare and I think it would make a great potluck salad. I go to a lot of potlucks especially in the summer so it’s nice to have something different to take instead of the typical salads.
The whole family also really loved Barb’s Chicken ‘n’ Spinach Pasta Bake. Delicious! Just a side note for all you other cooks out there that need specific instructions like I do (please say I’m not alone), the canned tomatoes do not need to be drained first. I got to that step and was totally stumped, it really doesn’t take much :) Thankfully Barb is only an email away!
Alrighty then, menu time:
Monday: Beef Fajitas
Tuesday: Joy’s Yogurt Glazed Chicken served with perogies and veggies
Wednesday: Ham ‘n’ Cheese Pasta (recipe below)
Thursday: Leftover buffet
Friday: Grilled Summer Pizza (I love the pesto version)
Saturday: Grilled Sirloin Caesar Salad (one of my husband’s favorite meals)
Sunday: If you can find it, you can eat it day!
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Ham ‘n’ Cheese Pasta
3 cups uncooked bow tie pasta
3/4 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tbsp butter
1 tsp minced garlic
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp pepper
1/8 to 1/4 tsp dried thyme
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 pound sliced deli ham, chopped
Cook pasta according to package directions, adding asparagus during the last 3 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter; add garlic. Stir in the flour, onion powder, pepper and thyme until blended; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat. Add cheeses; stir until melted. Stir in ham; heat through. Drain pasta and asparagus; toss with cheese mixture. Yield: 4 servings.
Source: Simple & Delicious June 2008
Update: This recipe really was simple and delicious!
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WHAT’S ON YOUR MENU?
Menu Plan Monday guidelines and banners can be here.
Don’t forget to come back Tuesday for the Basket Carnival!!!!
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Thanks for the ham & cheese pasta recipe. We’re really into asparagus around our house, so that one will most likely make it into our rotation. Have a great week!
Homemaker Barbi
How good is pesto and how many thing can you add it to? I had minestrone soup the other day at a friends house and we added some pesto to the soup and it was beautiful!
*raises hand*
I need good instructions!! I must read and re-read a recipe 5 times while cooking, making sure that I’m doing everything right.
Have a great week!
Enjoy your fajitas! Yum.
Those recipes look great! Have a great week!
Your menu sounds wonderful–and I love pesto–YUMMY:)
Have a great week, and thanks for doing this every week!
Julieann
I am an instruction gal too, but sometimes I do tend to fly by the seat of my pants! I love your ‘If you can find it, you can eat it day!’ Great idea, might have to ‘borrow’ that one sometime. Menu looks great, isn’t grill season fun. We like to grill our pizzas too!
Cheers, Kiy
Mmm, I do love grilled pizza. Sounds like a good week ahead.
I just updated my blog’s design after over a year and a half with the same look- isn’t it a great feeling? It’s like spring cleaning your “web” house. lol.
-Sea
Posting some recipes later :)
LOL at Sunday’s offering!
I have a couple of family favorites on my menu this week. I really enjoy using recipes many of you have posted before rather than just listing the name of a dish, so I tried to give the recipe (or link to the recipe) on each of my dinner main dishes. I hope you enjoy. I sure enjoy looking at many of yours:) ~Tiffany
I’ve never thought of cooking a pizza on a grill!!! :D
Great menu! Have a fantastic week!
it all sounds delicious especially your husband’s favorite..thanks for hosting..
Laura,
I am always so inspired with your recipe ideas and always feel like changing my menu!!
This is a really great idea. Thanks for setting it up!
Your recipes look delicious! I’m going to have to try the ham and cheese pasta. I think my DD8 will love it!
just linked- first time. we are a gluten and casein (milk) free house.
I like your caption for Sunday. If it isn’t nailed down, it’s fair game to eat! Thanks for letting me join meal plan Mondays!
Oh.My.Goodness. I just found your blog, I am also an organizing freak of nature. Your post about baskets had me thinking, “Finally someone understands me”, lol. The Etsy stuff had me wanting to get out the checkcard. ;)
I love pesto too! I make pretty good pesto now that I bought that handheld blender by Proctor Silex. It’s not a real mixer, it’s that one that just whirls around with a single attachment that you hold, and it’s amazing. Before whenever I tried to make it in a blender it would stick to the sides and never get mixed together. But now it’s awesome.
And it makes great hummus, too!
Visit To Love, Honor and Vacuum today!
The grilled summer pizza looks delicious. Have a great week and a lovely holiday!
Allie
http://www.learningtobefrugal.wordpress.com
I can’t wait to try grilled pizza. Thanks for hosting.
Perogies! Yum!
Ooooo.. yummy menu! And yes, in recipes that I’m following, I’m definitely an instruction gal. As a rule, however, I use recipes as “guidelines.” :-)
Can’t wait to try the grilled pizza, it looks wonderful!
I love peirogies.
Check out my menu:
http://blog.kimberlykaye.com/2008/05/26/menu-plan-monday-may-26-2008/
Thanks for meal planning with the rest of us. This is my 4th week with you and my life has felt so much more . . . Organized!
When I was younger my mom would make a variation of the Ham & Cheese Pasta!! I may have to cook this one day! I had forgotten all about it. :)
Your menu sounds great..I’m planning foods for the grill and stove top to save on energy and heating up my kitchen…crock pot meals too. I’m having fajitas next week one day and thought of you…lol…have a great week gal.
I can’t wait to try the steak salad. I’m sure that will be one of my husband’s favorites too!
Looks yummy!
I love the “if you can find it, you can eat it” day. :)
So that’s where our weather went, up to you! It’s been freezing cold and raining in Southern California for the past few days, very unseasonable and odd for this time of year. Now I know where our weather went! Hope you’ve been enjoying it :)
I have to try the yogurt glazed chicken!
As always, thank you for keeping us on track!! You are very appreciated!!
Depending on the recipe, or especially if I’m actually following a recipe, I like to have the directions spelled out for me, at least for the first go round. After that, I like to use the recipe for, well what my husband likes to say: “An idea for a shopping list, but just an idea.” ;)
Hi! Thank you so much for the delicious sounding recipes. I can’t wait to try them.
Blessings~
Laura
Great menu and recipes. Thanks for sharing.
Hope it’s ok that I post my menu on tuesday :)
I’m a day late, but my menu plan is finally up for this week
here you are! i’m glad to be back and join you, even though i am a day late! =)