Dinner for two

This weeks menu was quite a success - it felt like we fell into a routine and things went so smoothly and we ate so well!

Sunday we went grocery shopping with my list in hand and this time I got EVERYTHING I needed. Which is quite a shock seeing as I usually forget at least 1 item and have to make a mad dash to the supermarket.

Sunday evening I had to go into work at 9pm and work until 9am Monday morning. Althought the night went relativly smoothly we encountered a small glitch around 7am that required me to do a little driving and delayed me getting home on time. Monday the plan was to have Mr. Fij grill the ribs before he left for work so I could throw them into the crock pot when I got home from work. Due to my work delema I didnt make it home until after 10am meaning he'd already left for work. I jumped in bed and the Mr. came home on lunch to grill for me  . . aweeee! I woke up a little after noon and dumped them in the crock pot with the beer. Let them cook for 2 hours added in the BBQ sauce and took another short nap. The house smelled amazing! The ribs turned out fantastic - litterally fell off the bone no joke! We weren't sold on the BBQ sauce I used but there's a great BBQ place around here called 4 Rivers and I think next time I'll pick up their sauce to see if it gives mt ribs more kick.

Tuesday was grill night! On Monday I cut up some chicken into cubes along with a green pepper, red pepper, and zucchini. I put all these into a zip lock bag with some cherry tomatoes and a bottle of Italian dressing. Let that marinate over night. When I finally got home (how is it that I leave for work before the MR and get home from work AFTER him? I'll never understand it!) I put these on skewers and had the MR grill them up for me while I made some rice and threw together a salad. Officially the most effortless dinner ever and so good there were NO left overs!

 

After dinnerni began the cake making for my Wednesday morning meeting at work. Threw togther the cake mix, baked and let it cool. Mixed up the pudding, milk and cream cheese topped the cake with that and then the pineapples and added the whip cream and viola a lovely dessert.

Its was a hit at work and at home! I admit I was a bit skeptical but in the end I am sold. Its easy and tastes amazing I'll defiantly make it again!

No More cooking for me this week!Thursday- Tonight we're both working late so i may pick up some fast food . . .shhhhh don't tell! Friday is my BFF's birthday (aka my maid of honor - I'm sure there's a better picture of us from the wedding but this was the best I have saved to my PC)

so I get to dress up whoo hooo and enjoy a great night with great friends - Greek food and dancing at Opa.
Saturday we have a little house hunting planned as well as Beach time and dinner with friends!Sunday we will take part in some 4th of July festivities with friends fingers crossed there will be a BBQ involved so that I can make a great dessert recipe with a little patriotic theme! To be honest among all the fun things that we have in store what Im looking forward to the most is Monday . . . when my nephew will be fly in from NY to spend the month with us and my parents . . we've got ALOT of fun things planned!

Stay tuned for more of our adventures!

Easy Summer Cake

1 jiffy Yellow Cake mix
2 C milk
1 large pkg of Vanilla pudding
1 20oz can crushed pineapple (drained)
1 8oz pkg of Cream cheese
1 large Cool Whip

Prepare cake as per directions on box in a 9x13 pan
mix milk, pudding and cream cheese spread over top of cake
top with crushed pineapple
frost with Cool Whip

Refrigerate until serving,

Crock Pot Ribs

1/2 C Paprika
1/4 C & 2 Tbs Sugar
1/4 C Onion Powder
1 1/2 Tsp Salt
1 1/2 Tsp Pepper
2 1/2 Slab Ribs
20 oz Beer
1 Qrt (aka 32 oz) BBQ Sauce
1/2 C Honey

Combine Paprika, sugar, onion powder, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Generously season ribs with dry rub.

Cook ribs on grill 3 mins each side (lightly oil grate)

Portion ribs 3 or 4 bones. Place in Crock Pot pour beer over and cook on high 2 hours.

Blend BBQ sauce and honey - add to ribs and cook 1 11/2 hours.

Serve with extra sauce on the side.

Menu Monday

My attempt is to plan my meals each week but the last few have been so busy that I have not been successful. This week how ever Mr Fij and I have a normal week so i'll be back on track this week at least. I even have the weekend off and its a holiday weekend to boot! Here's whats planned.

Monday - Crock Pot Ribs w/ mashed potatoes (See recipe here - thanks to my little sister Nicole for the recipe!)

Tuesday - Chicken & Veggie Skewers on the grill w/ Salad (I just marinate Chicken cubes, green and yellow peppers, cherry tomatoes and zucchini - pop them on some skewers and throw on the grill - its a colorful summer meal that takes no time at all and gets you out of the kitchen)

I'll also be making Easy Summer Cake  for my Wednesday morning managers meeting at work - recepie thanks goes out to the Mr.'s Grandma.

Wednesday - Pasta & Garlic Bread ( My pasta sauce mood varies - some times I feel like scratch and some times grab the jar. This week will be browned sausage with jar sauce over pasta . .  .due to time i'll be cheating this week)

Thursday- Mr and I both work late so left overs

Friday - BFF B'day celebration @ Opa  (a fantastically fun Greek restaurant)

Saturday - Beach Day

Sunday - Red Hot and Boom 4th of July Celebrations.

A fun but busy weekend ahead! Check back for pictures and reviews of the Ribs and cake recipe.

Whats on your menu this week?

Pork Chop & Apple Bake

1 Can Apple Pie filling
4-6 Pork Chops Browned
Pork Flavored stove top stuffing

Brown Pork Chops and make stuffing per the box directions

Grease a 9X13 pan.  put apple pie filling in bottom of dish, put pork chops layer next. Spread stuffing over top.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 for half hour
Uncover and bake for 10 more minutes.

This dish was DElish! The hubby is not the biggest pork eater and I don't usually make it well. This recipe was so simple and tasted so good! I will defiantly be making this again and again!

Ohio Tradition

Mrs. "what size do I make these?"
Mr. "I don't know"
Mrs. "haven't you had these before?"
Mr. "I don't remember, they are an Ohio tradition?"

This from the man from Ohio? I thought he'd be a little more help but I was on my own. Were mine 3/4" im not too sure.

Here is another quickie made from stuff in my post vacation pantry.

                                 

 


But I admit I did have to break into Ari's peanut butter jar (yes Ari had his own food) To make it up to him I let him go to town on the Jars.

They were quick to make then popped them into fridge for a half hour while we watched the season finale of How I met your Mother.

Then went to work on the coating. I bought the chocolate from Michaels that I use for my chocolate molds and for chocolate covered Oreos. Due to my previous experience with this chocolate I didn't put them in the fridge because they would have turned a little white. I just let them harden at room temp then put them in Tupperware.

This is bad news for my current calorie counting but I'll have a few and then take them to work and they will be gone in no time at all!

Buckeye Balls

1 1/2 Cup Creamy Peanut butter
1/2 Cup Butter or Margarine softened
1 Tsp Vanilla extract
1/2 Tsp salt
3-4 Cups Powdered Sugar

coating
1 lb Chocolate flavor candy coating
2 Tbsp Crisco

Combine peanut butter, butter, salt and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat at low speed with electric mixer until blended. Add 2 cups of sugar and beat until blended. Continue adding sugar a half cup at a time until mixture can be shaped like a all and will hold onto a tooth pick, Shape into 3/4" balls place on tray and chill.

Combine candy coating and shortening in microwave safe bowl and heat at 50% for 30 seconds, stir and repeat until mixture is smooth. Insert tooth pick into chilled candy bowl and then dip into melted coating. Place on wax paper. Remove tooth pick and smooth over holes. Refrigerate until coating is firm them remove from paper and store at room temp in covered container.