Let me begin by saying that when I made the meal plan for this week I was not inspired. I was also looking for quick meals on rainy days when I didn’t really feel like cooking. The beginning of the week was relatively uninspiring.
On Monday we had left over Paprika Chicken. My Paprika Chicken family dinner was an outstanding hit during week #15. It was good the second time around as well, but I learned a lesson. I heated up the chicken in a low oven and covered it with foil. Bad decision. The chicken did not retain it’s crispy crust…Duh! The next time I will pop it into an oven uncovered or slightly tented and it will retain much of its’ initial flavor and texture.
On Tuesday we enjoyed left over Pulled Pork. There was leftover Ramen salad as well…which we ate, but it is never as good as when first served because the noodles and nuts are no longer crispy. No one really enjoys a soggy salad.
Wednesday night was family night. I made my favorite pork chop recipe, Emeril’s Pork Chops, http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/pan-roasted-pork-chops-recipe.html, Sweet Potato Fries and a new Broccoli Salad from Carlsbad Cravings. The pork chops were moist, flavorful and delicious. I am not a fan of cutting sweet potatoes into fries. I have found that Alexia Frozen Sweet Potato Fries are outstanding and well worth the price. They bake into crispy deliciousness and if you haven’t tried them you must. I have a package in the freezer at all times. The original fries with sea salt and the spicy sweet potato fries with chipotle seasoning are our favorites. They are all natural and seasoned perfectly.
The strawberry broccoli salad was loaded with fruit, and nuts as well as the broccoli. It was quite good and went well with the meal that I planned. Unlike most of the broccoli salad recipes that I have, it is not particularly enjoyable the second day. If you make it, plan to enjoy it at one sitting. It is a more expensive salad, but it would be a good pot luck dish and perfect for summer.
On Thursday we enjoyed Beef Stroganoff with brown rice and the broccoli salad. I have had this stroganoff recipe for 46 years. It was given to me by my duplex neighbor when we were stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. Although Jennifer served her stroganoff with wide noodles, over the years we have found that we enjoy it more served over rice. It now has evolved into being served with brown rice. I will admit, that I have served it with zucchini noodles, but the ‘Ole Buckeye rejected that idea for this meal. It was rich and delicious as always. Roasted broccoli was the perfect side.
Friday brought a change in meal plan. the original plan for grilled flank steak was cancelled due to rain. The weather was dreary, but the kitchen was activated. I made a French Leek Pie from All Recipes and served it the a almond berry spinach salad (without the chicken). I must say that our meatless meal was a Hit! The pie was amazingly simple to make, rich in flavor and the salad bright and refreshing. This would be a great brunch meal as well.
Source: French Leek Pie
Source: Almond Berry Chicken Salad
Saturday proved to be hit and miss with the rain, not with the meal. The meal was terrific. We grilled Huli Huli Chicken, a Hawaiian inspired recipe. I marinated it early and it was ready to go, but the rain just wouldn’t stop. Finally the skies cleared slightly and we popped the chicken, marinated zucchini and fresh pineapple onto the hot grill. The result…a huge HIT. We loved this chicken and because it called for chicken thighs, this recipe is extremely economical. This recipe is a keeper. I used a lemon pepper olive oil on the zucchini and basted the pineapple with a mixture of melted butter and brown sugar. Now this is holiday weekend eating at its’ best!
Sunday was spent at a soccer tournament. We left home at 9:15 in the morning and returned after 3 in the afternoon. After standing a good portion of the day, the last thing I had interest in doing, was standing in the kitchen preparing a meal. By mutual decision we decided to finish the Pulled Pork. I was not interested in a repeat meal, so we opted for Tacos We feasted on pulled pork tacos. I heated the pork, and some corn taco shells and surrounded the offering with shredded lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and taco sauce. This ended up being incredibly good. It had not occurred to me to use the pork as a taco filling, but it was delicious. Another way to use the wonderful Carolina Pulled Pork.
Monday was a day of rest and relaxation. The rain continued so our plans for attending a Memorial Day parade were nixed. We simply read, relaxed, and hung out. Who knew when you are retired that you need a do nothing day? We grilled Cilantro Chicken in the rain. This is a recipe I have been making for several years and we often make it a meal in our time share. It is easy, requires few ingredients, and very tasty. It is also very good thinly sliced on a salad. I did panic a bit when I attempted to pull the recipes up from my pinterest board however. The link was no longer available. After some searching and depending on my memory for the original recipe, I found another site, food.com, featuring a similar recipe with the same deliciousness.
Source: Grilled Cilantro Chicken
I paired the chicken with grilled Three Cheese Potatoes (A Taste of Home), little potato pockets in foil, which I haven’t made for several years. It is a great campground recipe. I seldom serve white potatoes anymore, so this was a delicious treat. With a side of roasted grape tomatoes…perfect.
Source: Three Cheese Potatoes
In spit of the rain and unseasonably cool weather, we thoroughly enjoyed our holiday week and the excellent eating it included.
