What This Blog Is About

This is a blog made by a real wife who cooks real meals for a real husband who works long shifts at a real job. In other words, most of these dinners are not super-low-calorie, nor are they always uber-healthy. They're meant to fill a hard-working, hungry guy's belly, and keep him full for 12-hour shifts, so he needs more than "rabbit food" to sustain him. That said, I do try to avoid foods that are terribly bad, and I try to make sure he gets a reasonably-balanced meal without breaking the bank. These dinners generally serve 3-4 people each ... or dinner and a leftover-lunch for one hungry husband.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Other Websites With Weekly Dinners & Shopping Lists

http://www.buzzfeed.com/christinebyrne/5-cheap-and-delicious-dinners-dinners-to-make-this-week

I have tried the above link.  Below are photos of the meals.

Soba Noodles With Sweet Onions & Fried Eggs

JalapeƱo Chicken Thighs with Black Beans and Honey-Lime Glazed Carrots

Bacon & Wilted Cabbage on Roasted Potato Wedges (Hubby's favorite so far)

Braised Pork with Fennel and Apple (had to use fennel seeds; couldn't find fresh fennel)


http://www.buzzfeed.com/christinebyrne/cheap-and-easy-dinners-to-cook-this-week

The above link is similar to the first one, and is by the same person, but I haven't tried it yet.

http://www.makedinnereasy.com/dinnermenus.html

The above link is really good, and has a ,PDF file with the grocery lists and recipes that you can download and print.  I haven't tried any of the recipes yet, but they sound good.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Dessert - "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Cake


Credit:  https://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipe-details.aspx?id=184&name=HERSHEY%27S-PERFECTLY-CHOCOLATE-Chocolate-Cake

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs (Comment:  I would use 3-4 eggs, as my cake didn't rise as well as I expected)
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. (Comment:  Mine took about 10 minutes longer to bake in a 9x13" pan.  Even so, the center looked like it wasn't done, but a toothpick came out clean.) Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING. 10 to 12 servings.

VARIATIONS:

ONE-PAN CAKE: Grease and flour 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Heat oven to 350° F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely. Frost.
THREE LAYER CAKE: Grease and flour three 8-inch round baking pans. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost.
BUNDT CAKE: Grease and flour 12-cup fluted tube pan. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 50 to 55 minutes. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely. Frost.
CUPCAKES: Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups. Heat oven to 350°F. Fill cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 22 to 25 minutes. Cool completely. Frost. About 30 cupcakes.

"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.
Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.

Comments:  My cake turned out more like a brownie than a cake.  The cake was okay-tasting, but I didn't think it was exceptional.  I've had better cakes made from box-mixes, to be honest.  The frosting, however, is outstanding!  I think next time I'll use a different recipe for the cake itself, but the frosting recipe is a "keeper". Trust me:  just a bit will take care of ANY chocolate craving you might have!  :-)  If you're into cake decorating, this icing is too soft to hold its shape (at least as-made by the recipe), but it's great for just simply icing a cake.



Weekly Menu #1

Crispy Oven-Baked Chicken Wings (Or Legs)
World's Easiest Dinner (Chicken)
Easy Beef & Broccoli
Tater Tot Casserole
Tuna Melt Sandwiches

SHOPPING LIST

MEAT:
8 chicken wings or legs
2 chicken breasts
1 lb beef stir fry strips
1.25 +/1 lbs ground beef
bacon (or you can use a package of bacon bits to save time)
2 cans tuna (in water)

DAIRY:
butter
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
16oz sour cream
milk (1/3 cup)
eggs (4)
cheese (4 slices)

SUPPLIES:
aluminum foil

STAPLES:
plain flour
baking powder
olive oil
sesame oil
non-stick spray
black pepper
cayenne pepper
garlic salt
garlic powder (can use fresh)

PANTRY:
instant white rice (3 cups total)
cream of celery soup
cream of chicken soup
french onion soup mix
peanut butter
honey or molasses
pickles
can of vegetables (corn, peas, or green beans)

SAUCES:
white vinegar
worchestershire sauce
tobasco sauce
hot sauce
soy sauce
Kraft Catalina dressing

FROZEN:
frozen broccoli florets (2 cups)
2 lbs tater tots

FRESH:
5 onions
ginger root (small piece)
6oz green onions

BAKED/MISC:
loaf of bread
potato chips
rolls, vegetables, beans, or other items as desired for side dishes




CRISPY OVEN-BAKED CHICKEN WINGS (OR LEGS)

Video Credit:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g1_fpp1kYE

Ingredients:

8 chicken wings (you can also use legs)
3/4 cup of plain flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
olive oil to coat

Sauce/marinade:

6-7 tbsp (80g) of butter
1 tablespoon of vinegar
1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt
1 teaspoon of worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon of tobasco sauce
1/4 cup of your favourite hot sauce (I used peri peri)

Coat chicken in flour & baking powder (shake in bag) and put in fridge for 30 minutes.  While chicken is in fridge, make marinade sauce as below.

Marinade Sauce:  Melt butter, add rest of ingredients, simmer until mixed.

Coat with chicken on top with olive oil.  Bake 20 minutes at 425 degrees.  Turn chicken over, coat other side with olive oil.  Bake 5-7 more minutes.  Baste with sauce, flip over, baste other side with sauce, bake 5-7 more minutes until golden brown.  Drizzle with leftover sauce, or use for dipping sauce.

Serve with side dishes of your choice.





WORLD'S EASIEST DINNER (CHICKEN)

Video Credit:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5kFoBByUVo

Ingredients: (serves 4)

2 boneless / skinless chicken breasts
1 cup white rice
1 can Celery soup
1 pkt French onion packet soup mix
1 cup of water
2 onions chopped roughly

Spray 9x9 baking dish with non-stick spray.  Put rice in bottom of pan, then add sliced-in-half chicken breasts.  In a large cup or bowl, mix the soup, soup mix, and water.  Pour over chicken.  Scatter onions on top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1-1/2 to 2 hours until done.

Serve with side dishes of your choice.




EASY BEEF & BROCCOLI 

Video Credit:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjfC7Wp34Fc

Ingredients:

2 cups instant white rice, uncooked
1 Tbsp. oil
1 lb. beef stir-fry strips
2 cups frozen broccoli florets
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup KRAFT CATALINA Dressing
1 Tbsp. grated ginger root

Hoisin Sauce Ingredients:

4 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 tablespoon honey or molasses
2 teaspoons white vinegar
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons sesame oil
20 drops hot sauce (adjust to taste)
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Put water in sauce pan for rice & heat.  Add oil to skillet, get hot, and add beef strips. Don't crowd pan.  Cook until brown.  Add broccoli.  Add Hoisin sauce, Catalina dressing, and stir.  Add ginger.  Cover and cook for 5 minutes.

Serve over rice.  Add side dishes of your choice.




TATER TOT CASSEROLE

Video Credit:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts9izruLRq4

Ingredients:

1.25 Lb Ground Beef (80/20)
6-7 slices of bacon or bacon bits
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese (I didn't use this much)
small chopped onion
6oz chopped green onion
16oz sour cream
can of cream of chicken soup (or mushroom or celery) (I used chicken & celery - 1 can of each)
garlic (powder or fresh)
2 Lb tater tots
1/3 cup milk (I left this out)

Grease pan(s).  Pre-bake tater tots for 15 minutes at 425 degrees.

Brown beef and onion, adding salt & pepper to taste.  Drain grease.

Into beef mixture, add garlic, dash of pepper if desired, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, green onions, 1/3 cup of milk.  Can add vegetables, such as peas, corn, or green beans if desired.

Pour half the beef mixture over half the tater tots, and spread it out evenly.  Sprinkle half the cheese on top, some of the bacon, and the green onions.  Add the rest of the tater tots, then the rest of the cheese, and sprinkle with the rest of the bacon.

Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

Serve with side dishes of your choice.


TUNA MELT SANDWICHES

Video Credit (Inspired By): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEJLHeAatq0

8-10 slices of bread, toasted
2 cans of tuna (drain water)
2 onions, sauted in butter
4 eggs, cooked sunnyside up
4 slices of cheese

Make 4-5 sandwiches using above ingredients.  Line a cookie sheet with foil, spray with non-stick spray.  Place sandwiches on foil.  Cover with another sheet of foil, sprayed with non-stick spray.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese melts and tuna is hot.  Serve with pickle and potato chips.