Menu 1/28 - 2/3/2012

Well, here we are and I am sick again! Low fever and coughing a lot. Wondering if the pneumonia is back? Heading for the walk-in clinic tomorrow since my doctor was all booked up until Tuesday morning :( In the meantime, we still have to eat:
Saturday-- Grilled cheese and soup
Sunday-- Chicken Ranch Tacos (still haven't made)
Monday-- Slowcooker Pork Roast
Tuesday-- Breakfast
Wednesday-- Salmon Patties
Thursday-- Haven't planned this day, we'll see
Friday-- Chicken Spaghetti (provided I am still alive and up to making it!)

Menu 1/20 - 1/26/2012

So my menus lately have a LOT of repeats since I am not doing the best job lately with fixing what I planned! Then there is all the "forgetting" ingredients I have been plagued by recently. I sure hope this week starts a new trend!! Please also forgive this being a couple days late in posting, I totally forgot about it until adding my menu to This Week For Dinner today.
Friday– We finally had the Kobayashi Maru with pork So good!!!
Saturday– We had Raley Gravy
Sunday–Hubby will be gone so kids and I will probably have leftovers or hot dogs
Monday– Chicken & Gnocchi Soup that has been planned FOREVER!
Tuesday– Salmon and Mac
Wednesday– Beef Taco Skillet
Thursday– Chicken Ranch Tacos But since that would mean two Mexican style dishes in a row I foresee a change in the line-up…..sigh

Menu 1/14 - 1/19/2012

Finally feeling better and it seems like I haven't planned a good menu since last year (hardee har har). I have been craving soup so I put a couple of my favorites on this week's menu. Here we go:
Saturday-- frozen pizza
Sunday-- Chicken & Gnocchi soup
Monday-- Butter Bean Soup
Tuesday-- Kobayashi Maru with pork
Wednesday-- Salmon and mac & cheese
Thursday-- Raley Gravy

Bella Cucina Mini Donut Maker

For Christmas, my grandparents gave us a Bella Cucina Mini Donut Maker!

I am really excited about it because I have wanted one for a while. And it's red so it matches my kitchen. After my post-holiday bout of pneumonia, I felt well enough to finally give it a test drive. I used the Basic Donut Recipe included in the instruction booklet.
The Ingredients:

1 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
4 Tbsp vegetable oil

Plug in the donut maker and wipe the face of both plates with an oiled paper towel. While it preheats, whip up the batter.

Stir the dry ingredients together in a medium sized bowl.

Whisk together the egg, milk, and vanilla. Add wet mix to dry mix.

Beat with an electric mixer for one minute (or vigorously by hand).

Add oil and beat for one more minute. Pour by scant tablespoons into the donut wells.

Close the lid and wait about 2 minutes then check the donuts for doneness. Mine took about 2 or 3 minutes per batch.

They were very tasty plain. They reminded me of pancakes. Slightly sweet on their own they could be dressed up a thousand ways! I dusted with powdered sugar since those tend to be a Chaosville favorite.

I did not keep track of how many batches it made, sorry! I want to say it was at least 4 batches, so 28 donuts but it may have been a little more like 5 batches (35 donuts). In any case they were gone by morning but enjoyed by all!

I can't wait to try out some of the various glazes in the recipe booklet and I want to try to find a way to make some chocolate cake donuts; they are my favorite!


*UPDATE*
I recently made this pumpkin donut recipe in the Bella Cucina and they were perfection!

Menu 1/9 - 1/12/2012

Happy New Year! Sorry to have not posted in so long, but travel after Christmas and then a bout of pneumonia have made meals the last thing on my mind. I had planned to take pictures of all the great food we ate on our trip but I never did. Then as soon as we got home I was very sick and still am. I have planned out a few meals though, nothing fancy but it should nourish us enough to make it through the week!
Monday--Roasted pork loin with rice and black-eyed peas
Tuesday--Chicken Chili
Wednesday--Tuna Alfredo
Thursday--Breakfast (hopefully hubby's waffles!)