30 Minute Minestrone with Turkey

Finally, I remembered to take a picture of our meal before we ate it all!   I have been loving the 30 minute meals we have recently tried from the Oct/Nov issue of Simple & Delicious magazine!

When I got home from work this evening it was tempting to just make a box of Mrs Grass soup as I didn’t have much time to cook.  This is fast and very good.   I think Grandpa had 3 bowls of soup!

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Summer Squash from our garden.

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30 Minute Minestrone with Turkey
Author: Simple & Delicious Oct/Nov 2013
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6
Easy enough to make even during the work week! Only 30 minutes from start to table. Great way to use our Garden harvest as well. We have to double this recipe as we feed any where from 5 to 8 people each night.
Ingredients
  • 1 Tbsp. Olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 medium carrot, sliced
  • 1 celery rib, sliced
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 4 cups chicken broth or homemade turkey stock
  • 1 can (14 1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 2/3 cup each frozen peas, corn and cut green beans
  • 1/2 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. dried basil
  • 1/4 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup cubed cooked turkey
  • 1 small zucchini, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/4-in. slices
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, optional
Instructions
  1. In a Dutch oven, heat oil.
  2. Add carrots, onion and celery; cook and stir until tender.
  3. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer.
  4. Add broth, vegetables, macaroni and seasonings. Bring to a boil.
  5. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes or until macaroni is al dente.
  6. Stir in turkey and zucchini, cook until zucchini is crisp-tender.
  7. Discard bay leaf.
  8. If desired sprinkle servings with cheese.

 

Happy Cooking!

jen

Menu Plan Monday: September 16th

Menu

September 16th – 22nd, 2013

16th – Monday – Bruschetta-Topped Chicken – Vegetable and Parmesan Angel Hair Pasta (Simple & Delicious: Oct/Nov 2013 –pg 19) http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/bruschetta-with-tomato-and-basil-recipe/index.html

17th – Tuesday (Class ??) – Classic Lasagna/ Garlic Bread (Emeals – 473)

18th – Wednesday – – Minestrone with Turkey – Garlic Bread (Simple & Delicious: Oct/Nov 2013 – pg18)

19th – Thursday (Sorting) – Biscuits with Sausage and Gravy – Scrambled Eggs

20th – Friday – Philly Cheese Steak Stromboli – Chips –Carrots with Ranch (Emeals 497)

21st – Saturday – Asian Sesame Chicken Salad/ Chicken Pot Stickers (Simple & Delicious: Oct/Nov 2013 – pg20)

22nd – Sunday (4:45 GAME) – Montreal Chicken/ Rainbow Layered Salad (Emeals 497) *Crockpot)

DESSERT: Chewy Chocolate Cherry Bars (Simple & Delicious: Oct/Nov 2013 –pg54)

For more Menu Planning inspiration stop by and visit Laura at Organizing Junkie and participate in Menu Plan Monday. More menu planning fun can be found at The Organised Housewife.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!!!

Happy Cooking!!

Menu Plan Monday: September 9th

Menu

September 9th – 15th, 2013

Monday – Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs, Pasta Salad and Fruit – (Emeals – 494)

Tuesday – Hearty Wild Rice Soup and Biscuits (Simple & Delicious: Oct/Nov 2013 –Pg 15)

Wednesday – (working late) Savory Cheeseburger Patties Over Rice, Sautéed Mushrooms and Peaches (Emeals 498)

Thursday (Sorting) – B&B Casserole – Toast – Strawberries (Emeals 497)

Friday – Crab Melts and Chips – (Simple & Delicious: Oct/Nov 2013 – pg 22)

Saturday – Rosemary Chicken with Rice and Green Beans with Yellow-Pepper Butter (Simple & Delicious: Oct/Nov 2013 –pg 25 & pg 44)

Sunday –(2:15 Game)  Bacon Swiss Pork Chops – Vegetable and Salad (Simple & Delicious: Oct/Nov 2013 – pg 18)

DESSERT: Cherry Bars (Simple & Delicious: Oct/Nov 2013 – pg 53)

Basil Butter- (Simple & Delicious: August/Sept 2013 – pg 54) – Make and Freeze to use on grilled meat, pasta, vegetables  and bread.

For more Menu Planning inspiration stop by and visit Laura at Organizing Junkie and participate in Menu Plan Monday. More menu planning fun can be found at The Organised Housewife.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!!!

Happy Cooking!!

Menu Plan Monday: September 2, 2013

Menu

September 2nd – September 8th, 2013

Monday (Steve Cooking) – Sausage Pizza

Tuesday – 1st Day of School – Mac n Cheese, Hot Dogs and Chocolate Delight Dessert (Simple and Delicious –June/July 2013 – page 9)

Wednesday –Chicken Wings and Fries

Thursday – Baked Tilapia with Tomatoes and Olives, Strawberries and Green Beans (Emeals – 494)

Friday –French Bread Pizza

Saturday – Rotisserie Chicken – Stuffing – Corn

Sunday – Baked Tilapia with Tomatoes and Olives, Strawberries and Green Beans (Emeals – 494)

 

For more Menu Planning inspiration stop by and visit Laura at Organizing Junkie and participate in Menu Plan Monday. More menu planning fun can be found at The Organised Housewife.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!!!

Happy Cooking!!

Celebrating Everyday Life: The South Dakota Edition

Tommy and I headed to South Dakota to spend the week with my parents in Aberdeen, SD.   Here are some highlights from our week.  We did a lot of Geocaching….during the day and night.  Word of advice if it looks like the cache is hid in the alley….not a good cache to look for in the middle of the night!  Near a duck pond is a bit dangerous….but the ducks were not suspicious of us at all.  I think our night time adventures were Tommy’s favorite and mine!  If you have never gone Geocaching, you need to check out this very entertaining activity.  We used the Geocaching.com phone app for all our searching!

We were very happy to be able to spend time with my great nephews, Samuel and Gracen.   They also enjoy treasure hunting, as we call it!

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The car rides while geocaching were entertaining to say the least!

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Our first cache near the cemetery…..and yep, they are going the WRONG way!

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Searching and searching……

While geocaching we had the opportunity to check out a lot of parks around Aberdeen.   Geocaching is a great activity to do with energetic little boys.  Many caches are hid near parks, so we had plenty of time to play at each!  We were outside all day running and being loud.  Great Memories…..

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We checked out the Brown County Fair – Tommy even went to his very first Rodeo! 009

Our first time at Cherry Berry…….YUMMY!!!!  I decided that I really like Cherry Berry….and I have to locate the one closest to us in MN.

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Random Pictures By Gracen and Samuel

Usually I have Random Pictures from Tommy….this week my great nephews are the photographers!

Most of these pictures are by Gracen (1st grade), he kept telling me he was the photographer.   This is just a small sample of his pictures! 061
My mom is going to love this one!

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Yep, we were geocaching near the trailer park on Roosevelt.  Didn’t find this one. But we played at the park!

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I thought I was going to get arrested for this picture.  I have to teach Gracen about zoom!   He really, really, really wanted a picture of the dancing flower in this apartment window.  Just like any good, little stalker he took about 5 pictures of these poor people’s window to get the perfect shot of the dancing flower.  I can just see the headlines….weird lady in van with MN plates letting children take random pictures out the van!

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A quick shot as we drive by Gracen’s school!

Our Adventures at Storybook Land:

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You can’t go to Aberdeen, SD, without spending a day at Storybook Land!!  I thought this would surely tire the boys out….but I think it ended up tiring Grandma and I out more!

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Off to see the Wizard….the wonderful Wizard of Oz

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Visiting the Farm Animals…….we forgot to ride the tractor!  There will always be next year…..

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Lots of photo opportunities with the various Nursery Rhyme Characters!

My favorite part of my trip each year is getting to spend time with my favorite three guys!!  I can’t wait until Mallory is old enough to join the fun! She wasn’t too sure what to think of that goofy Auntie!

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Tommy with Gracen and Samuel

The bonus this year was I was able to spend a little time with one of my brothers, Danny.  I really wish I could have spent more time with him.  He is an excellent geocaching partner…..though we need to get some taller friends to go with.  I come from a very short family, not good when trying to reach a cache in a tree!!

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My niece Susan, her daughter Mallory and my brother, Danny!

Hope your week is filled with wonderful everyday and vacation moments with family and friends!  Make a point to capture your memories!

Blessings,

Menu Plan Monday: August 26th, 2013

August 26th – September 1st, 2013

Monday –  Over the Rainbow Mac and Cheese / Bologna and Green Beans

Tuesday (Soccer) – Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole with Ham

Wed (Sunrise Open House) – Cobb Salad – Emeals 464

Thursday (Soccer) – French Dip Sandwiches (Simple & Delicious  June/July 2013 – pg 9) – Fries

Friday – Steve Cooking – Pot Pies
Camping – Ribs and Mac & Cheese

Saturday – (Steve Cooking) Beef Stroganoff- Peas
Beef Stroganoff

  • 1 lb ground beef

  • 8 oz sour cream

  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup

  • (1 t salt, 1 t onion powder)

  • (¼ c water, 1 t beef bouillon cube)

  • 1 pkg egg noodles

  • 1 pkg frozen peas

In large skillet, brown the ground beef; drain.  Add sour cream, soup, salt, onion powder and water to skillet. Heat to a low boil; add bouillon.  Stir to dissolve; reduce heat to simmer.

Boil noodles while preparing meat mixture. Serve stroganoff over cooked noodles. Serve with steamed peas

Camping – Lunch: Cup of Soup/ Grilled Cheese Sandwiches    
Supper: Hamburgers – Potato Salad

Sunday – (Steve Cooking) Soup 
Camping – Lunch: Sandwiches / Chips/ Apples 
Supper: Brats – Pasta Salad

Camping Snacks: Cookies, Warm Cheese Dip – Tortilla Chips, Popcorn

For more Menu Planning inspiration stop by and visit Laura at Organizing Junkie and participate in Menu Plan Monday. More menu planning fun can be found at The Organised Housewife.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!!!

Happy Cooking!!

This post is linked to Menu Plan Monday at I’m an Organizing Junkie.

Menu Plan Monday on Saturday???

August 19th – August 25th

Is Back To School time crazy or what???   My son hasn’t even gone back to school and my house is falling apart.  So instead of a menu plan, this is more of a “here’s what we have eaten so far this week”.   Some nights we have been lucky to eat.   Do you ever have a week like that??

I returned on Sunday, August 18th from a week at my parent’s house in South Dakota!  I came home unpacked one of three bags and went to bed.   Returned to work the next morning right away.  I had not made it to the grocery store and no menu made for the week.  I had brought home a bunch of sausage from South Dakota so we managed on Monday.  Tuesday night after work, I headed to Aldi with my menu in hand.  Tuesday was the only evening I had available.  Wednesday was Back To School Orientation and Thursday I was suppose to be at book group.  Instead I was home SICK!  What a week!

BTW- School starts after Labor Day here and I have yet to buy School Supplies.  Anyone that knows me will be in shock over that, considering I already have some Christmas presents bought!

BTW – soccer started again so life is CRAZY!

OUR MENU

Monday – Sausage, Red Cabbage, Pesto Orzo

Tuesday – Pizza

Wednesday – Bacon Spinach Caesar Wraps (Emeals 494)

Thursday – (book Group) Chicken Salad Sandwiches and Fruit

Friday – Baked Quesadillas and Salad (Emeals -485)

Saturday – Spaghetti Pie / Salad

Sunday – Spiral Ham in Crockpot–  Pesto Rice and Broccoli

For more Menu Planning inspiration stop by and visit Laura at Organizing Junkie and participate in Menu Plan Monday. More menu planning fun can be found at The Organised Housewife.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!!!

Happy Cooking!!

Easy Skillet Lasagna Recipe

Did your mom make Hamburger Helper meals when you were a kid??  My mom did as they were a quick and easy way to feed our family.  I like to make quick meals during the week and skillet meals fit that bill, but I try make all our meals from fresh ingredients.

Easy Skillet Lasagna
I found the recipe for Easy Skillet Lasagna on Lynne’s Kitchen Adventures Blog and I just had to try it.   It was a hit with our family and will be added to our easy weekday meal list.   Lynne is a Menu Plan Monday Participant so make sure you check out what is on her menu each Monday!

Easy Skillet Lasagna Recipe
Recipe Type: Main Dish – Beef
Cuisine: Italian
Do you remember Lasagna Hamburger Helper?? This recipes reminds me of that, but only it is good! An easy meal to make during the week after work.
Ingredients
  • ◾1 pound ground beef
  • ◾1 onion, finely chopped
  • ◾1 clove garlic minced
  • ◾1- 14 1/2 ounce diced tomatoes, undrained
  • ◾1 1/2 cups water
  • ◾1 – 6 ounce can tomato paste
  • ◾1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
  • ◾2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • ◾1 teaspoon salt
  • ◾2 1/2 cups broken lasagna noodles or other similar shaped pasta (I various leftover Penne Pasta)
  • ◾3/4 cup ricotta cheese
  • ◾1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ◾1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
  1. ◾In a large skillet cook beef with onion until beef is cooked and onion is tender. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
  2. ◾Add tomatoes, water, tomato paste, parsley, oregano, and salt to skiller. Stir well.
  3. ◾Add in pasta and stir. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Cover and simmer 20 minutes, checking part way through. Add more water if needed.
  4. ◾Combine Parmesan cheese and ricotta cheese and drop by spoonfuls on top of pasta mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and cook covered 5 more minutes or until cheese has melted.
  5. Serve with Salad and Garlic Bread.

Happy Cooking!

jen

Best Broccoli Soup Recipe

Taste of Home does it again!   Another great recipe we tried out of Taste Of Home: Best Loved Recipes.  What a great cookbook!

Best Broccoli Soup Recipe is very easy to make.  This is a cream based soup and not cheesy so it pairs very nicely with grilled cheese sandwiches.

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Best Broccoli Soup
Recipe Type: Soup
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6-8
Great Soup recipe….I even used frozen Broccoli and it was very good!
Ingredients
  • •2 cups water
  • •4 cups chopped fresh broccoli (about 1-1/2 pounds)
  • •1 cup chopped celery
  • •1 cup chopped carrots
  • •1/2 cup chopped onion
  • •6 tablespoons butter, cubed
  • •6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • •3 cups chicken broth
  • •2 cups 2% milk
  • •1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
  • •1 teaspoon onion salt
  • •1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • •1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
  1. •In a Dutch oven, bring water to boil. Add the broccoli, celery and carrots; boil 2-3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain; set vegetables aside.
  2. •In the same pot, saute onion in butter until tender. Stir in flour to form a smooth paste. Gradually stir in broth and milk until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened.
  3. •Stir in reserved vegetables and remaining ingredients. Reduce heat; cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Happy Cooking!

jen

Menu Plan Monday: August 12th

August 12th – August 18th

Monday: Spaghetti and Meatballs – Garlic Bread

Tuesday: Hoagies (Meat & Cheese) and Chips

Wednesday: Brats and Fries

Thursday: Pot Pies

Friday: Frozen Pizza

Saturday: Biscuits and Gravy

Sunday: Chow Mein/Noodles and Rice

Can you tell by the menu that I am out of town??   Hubby will be feeding the family in my absence.

For more Menu Planning inspiration stop by and visit Laura at Organizing Junkie and participate in Menu Plan Monday. More menu planning fun can be found at The Organised Housewife.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!!!

Happy Cooking!!