weekly menu Archives - Dine and Dish

Caramel Frappe for 2 (Tastes Like McDonalds)

Kristen — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:16:29 +0000

If you love McDonald’s Caramel Frappe beverages like I do, skip the drive through and give this caramel frappe recipe a try at home.

If you couldn’t tell by my chicken leg post, I have what I would call “addictive tendencies”. That is one reason why I have never tried drugs… I know I would probably like them and then be addicted and then we’d all see my happy little life spiral down the drain, out of control. If drugs are anything like baked chicken legs, I know I’d be in trouble….

The post Caramel Frappe for 2 (Tastes Like McDonalds) appeared first on Dine and Dish.

Ask a Blogger and Menu Plan Monday (Recipe: Special Spinach Salad)

Kristen — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 05:28:48 +0000

I’m starting a new weekly feature at Dine & Dish to go along with Adopt a Blogger. I always feel so bad when I can’t get everyone adopted out that wants to be. It is typically because they have signed up too late and matches for adopt-a-blogger had already been made. For those people, waiting for the next round to come a long can mean losing out on critical mentoring they want during the first few months of blogging. Every day, I get questions from new bloggers wanting advice about this or that in regards to blogging, so I decided to start a feature here to help answer some of those pressing questions. I am in no way a blogging expert… which is why I am turning to those of you who have also been blogging for awhile to help answer the questions here in the comments section of the post. Hopefully, between us, we can help to mentor the newer bloggers who are in between rounds of Adopt-a-Blogger!

Each week I will feature questions from bloggers. If you have a question you would like answered, please email it to me at kristen dineanddish net. I will post your question during one of the Ask a Blogger segments and will link back to your blog. Hopefully, we’ll get enough answers for you to help you out some!

The first question is one I get all the time…

“Posting every day on my blog is so hard to keep up with. Is it necessary to post every day? How many times is the right time to post during a week?”

My answer to this one is simple… you have to figure out a rhythm that works well for you. When I first started blogging 3 1/2 years ago, I wrote a new post every day. I soon found out that between cooking, photographing and writing a post each day, I was quickly getting burnt out. I eventually went to 3 times a week and felt like that fit what I was able to do much better and I enjoyed blogging a whole lot more. When I was posting so often blogging became more like a chore than something enjoyable. I think the key with blogging is to be consistent. If you post once a week, make it on the same day so that your readers know when they can expect to get new content from you (I know I need to practice what I preach, don’t I? 🙂 ). Do what works for you and your readers. Is there a right or wrong answer to this question? Experienced bloggers…what do you think? I look forward to hearing what you have to say!

Now, at 11:58pm, here is my Menu Plan Monday menu for the week:

Monday: Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin from Food Network
Tuesday: Panda Express Copycat Orange Chicken from Recipezaar
Wednesday: Baked Chicken Legs from Chaos in the Kitchen
Thursday: Special Spinach Salad (recipe below… this is my new favorite salad recipe!) with Baked Chicken from Wednesday
Friday: Crab Cakes from Paula Deen
Saturday: Mushroom Stuffed Chicken from Cooking Light
Sunday: Shrimp Fra Diavlo from Cooking Light

Special Spinach Salad (from my Sister-in-Law)

1/4 Cup Sugar
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 bunch of romaine, torn
1 pkg (6 oz) fresh baby spinach
1/2 lb. sliced mushrooms
3 cups shredded swiss cheese
1 med. red onion, sliced
1/2 lb. sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 can 15 oz mandarin oranges, drained

Poppy Seed Dressing:
1/3 cup white vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tbsp. dijon mustard
3/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup canola oil
2 tsp. poppy seeds

1. In a small heavy skillet, melt sugar low heat add almonds and stir to coat. Spread onto a greased sheet of foil; break apart if necessary.
2. In a large bowl combine romaine, spinach, mushrooms, cheese, red onion bacon and oranges.
3. For dressing, in a blender, combine the vinegar, sugar , onion, mustard and salt cover and process until blended. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream, stir in poppy seeds.
4. Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Sprinkle with sugared almonds.

The post Ask a Blogger and Menu Plan Monday (Recipe: Special Spinach Salad) appeared first on Dine and Dish.

Menu Plan Monday (Recipe: Taco Seasoning)

Kristen — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:54:32 +0000

As I’ve mentioned time and time again on my blog, I have not always been a cook. In fact, I used to detest cooking. My husband still refers to our early days together as “back when you couldn’t cook” (nice, isn’t he?).

As my ability to cook has evolved, I still have my old stand-by recipes that I turn to when I’m looking for something quick and easy for a weeknight meal. Stir-fry, some version of tacos and spaghetti are three things that you can normally find at least one of on my menu on any given week. The difference between now and “back when I couldn’t cook” is that instead of automatically reaching for a jar of spaghetti sauce, stir fry sauce or taco seasoning to make these various weekly menu staples, I have turned towards making my own. It may take additional time, but the extra little sense of pride I feel for knowing that I don’t have to rely on pre-packaged items and can whip up our family favorites with items I usually have in the pantry, makes me really happy!

Below my menu plan for the week, you’ll find my go-to Taco Seasoning Recipe. This recipe will usually season 3 pounds of ground beef or ground turkey. I often double the recipe and put the extra in a tightly sealed container and get it out when I need it. Once you realize how easy it is to make your own pantry staples, you won’t want to buy packets of spices or jars of sauces again!

Our Menu for the Week (For more information about Menu plan Monday and to participate yourself or get other great menu ideas, visit I’m An Organizing Junkie):

Monday: Beef Tostadas with Black Beans, adapted from Taste of Home Magazine
Tuesday: Glazed Pork Chops from Simple and Delicious Magazine
Wednesday: Crockpot Italian Roast Beef Sandwiches from Recipezaar
Thursday: Aleppo Pepper Chicken, Asparagus and Pasta from Dine & Dish
Friday: Black Pepper Shrimp from Paula Deen
Saturday: Lemon and Garlic Roast Chicken from Recipezaar
Sunday: Breakfast for Dinner…pancakes, eggs, sausage

Taco Seasoning Adapted from All Recipes

1 tablespoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon sea salt (Do not substitute table salt!)

1 teaspoon black pepper

In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Store in an airtight container. When you make your taco meat, use approximately 2 Tbs of seasoning per each pound of ground beef.

I always brown my beef, add a little flour and water to the pan and stir in the seasoning. Bring to a boil, stirring continuously. Taco meat is ready once most of the liquid is absorbed.

The post Menu Plan Monday (Recipe: Taco Seasoning) appeared first on Dine and Dish.