Beefy Mac ( Not Hamburger Helper ) & Stir Fry Broccoli

This is a family favorite. The pasta makes enough to feed my family of 6 for 2 nights. The only thing I have to fix is another veggie. The total cost for both nights including a veggie came to $13.93. That means it was $6.97 a night and $1.16 a plate. That's not bad if I don't say so myself.

Pasta Ingredients:

 

• 1.5 lbs of ground beef
• 1 box of beef broth ( 4 cups )
• 2 cups of water
• 16 oz of elbow macaroni
• 2 (12oz) cans evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup processed cheese sauce
• 16 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1. Preheat large saute pan on med. high heat. place ground beef in pan .Stir to break up into pieces.
2. Continue to cook until beef is brown and no longer pink.

3. Stir in broth, water, and macaroni; bring to a boil. Cook 10 -12 min. or until liquid is mostly absorbed and macaroni is tender ,stirring occasionally.

4.Stir milk into pasta: remove from heat. Add in both cheeses. Stir until smooth and melted.

Broccoli Ingredients:

 

• 1-2 lbs of broccoli
• 1/2 cup of stir fry sauce

1. Heat about 2 Tbs. of veg. oil in a large pan.

2. While oil is heating cut broccoli up into preferred sizes.

3.When oil is hot place broccoli in the pan and cook for about 5 min. stir constantly.

4. Add in the stir fry sauce and continue to cook until desired tenderness. You may have to add a little extra oil. Remember to continue to stir it.

Crock Pot Beef Stew

Tonight is going to be the Beef Stew ! I LOVE Beef Stew and so does my family. I am going to use Emeril's recipe. I can't wait to try it. I think I am also going to try my hand at homemade biscuits. I can't believe I have never tried it but I haven't.

Ingredients :

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon Essence, recipe follows
• 3/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 pound button mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups veal or beef stock, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 pound small (golf ball size) new potatoes, quartered
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 1 cup frozen pearl onions, thawed
• 1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions

Set a 12-inch saute pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the pan and season the beef with 1 teaspoon of the salt, 1 teaspoon Essence and 1/2 teaspoon of the black pepper. Sear the beef (in 2 batches) in the saute pan for about 2 or 3 minutes per side.

Add the butter, mushrooms, flour, veal stock, tomato paste, herbs, spices, and browned meat to a slow cooker. Cover the slow cooker and set the temperature to high. Cook for 1 hour. Add the potatoes and carrots and continue to cook the stew for another 7 hours. During the last hour of cooking, add the pearl onions and replace the lid. Once the stew is cooked, stir in the peas and parsley and serve immediately.

Menu Plan Monday

This is the first week that I am attempting to do this. I wish I could claim this as my idea but I simply cannot. I came upon it at fellow blogger's site. www. orgjunkie.com. I would definatly encourage you to take a look at her page. She offers a lot of helpful tips and recipes. So, with that said here is the beginning of me jumping on the Menu Plan Monday band wagon!

Monday : Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Asian Crunch Salad
Tuesday :Crock pot beef stew
Wednesday :Beefy Mac
Thursday : Leftovers
Friday : Meat loaf w/ mashed potatoes and corn
Saturday : Beef tacos , Mexican rice, and re-fried beans
Sunday : Chicken and dumplings

As I get better at blogging and doing the MPM I will expand it to include breakfast and lunch :)

Sesame Ginger Drumsticks W/ Crunchy Asain Pasta Salad

Drumsticks :

• 4.5 lbs of chicken drumsticks
• 1 bottle of Lawry's Sesame ginger 30 min. marinade

1. Get your grill started
2. While waiting on grill put your drumsticks in a dish and add the marinade.
3. Cover and place in fridge for 30 min. If you want more flavor marinade over night.
4. When grill is ready place chicken on grill and cook until done. Be sure to baste with additional marinade during the grilling process.
   

Pasta Salad :

• 2 boxes Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad classic pasta salad mic
• 1 packages Oriental Flavor ramen noodle soup mix
• 5 Tbs of sugar
• 6 Tbs veg. oil
• 4 Tbs white vinegar
• 4 Tbs water
• 2 Tbs soy sauce
• 6 cups of coleslaw mix ( I use the 3 color one)
• 2 cups snow pea pods, strings removed and cut diagonally into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 cup sliced almonds, toasted
• 2 (150z) cans mandarin orange segments , drained

1. Boil the pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Continue to let drain.
2. In in a large bowl , stir together seasoning mixes from pasta mix and ramen mix , sugar , oil, vinegar, water , and soy sauce. Add pasta , coleslaw mix, pea pods, almonds , and orange segments; toss to combine. Place in fridge until ready to serve.
3. Just before serving coarsely crush up ramen noodles and serve on top of salad like croutons.

This dinner came out to about $13.00 of one meal for my family of 6. The pasta salad makes a lot! It will feed my family for the next couple of days so I do not mind spending the money to get everything. It cost me $12 for the pasta alone and then $5 for the chicken and $2 for the marinade. So, I spent $19 for everything and I still have food for the next couple of days. That's not bad !