In The Kitchen With Linda

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

January 18, 2016 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

Life is still crazy here. Probably will for for a while yet. I’m still serving easy meals. My family doesn’t care, as they are still getting some of their favorites.

Like this beef roast made in the slow cooker with potatoes, carrots, and onions. It just takes maybe 5 minutes to throw everything in the slow cooker in the morning.

Another meal we had last week was venison steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, and broccoli. My daughter made the mashed potatoes. It didn’t take me long to cook the venison steaks that I had marinated over night, in the fridge, in Italian salad dressing. They were really good!

The best part about mashed potatoes is the pool of melted butter! Butter is good for you! It’s a healthy fat. Of course, I didn’t use a whole stick!

It was nice to be able to cook a couple of meals from scratch this week. Hopefully, I will be able to get back to all homemade meals soon!

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

Now…. to answer the question that I get asked about a hundred times a day……….What’s For Dinner?

Saturday – quick & easy- Dinner out

Sunday – soup & sandwich day – frozen pizza, carrots, celery

Monday – chicken or turkey – Jag

Tuesday – pizza/pasta – Chicken Alfredo, green beans

Wednesday – Taco Night- Pizza Pasta Skillet Dinner

Thursday – pork or beef – Breakfast for supper

Friday – venison – Venison roast with potatoes, onions with mushroom sauce, broccoli

For more ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

January 11, 2016 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

Due to everyone in my family being sick for about a month, and my mother being in the hospital, we postponed family Christmas. Well, yesterday was the day! We had a great time with all 6 of our kids and our son in law. We ate, talked, watched old videos, and exchanged the gifts we had drawn names for. I didn’t take any pictures of the food! I was too busy living in the moment.

With being sick, and spending time at the hospital with my mother, we have been eating quick and easy meals. I do prefer to cook our meals from scratch. Sometimes, though, life gets in the way. I don’t think we should feel guilty or less than because we have to serve easy meals during certain seasons of our lives.

It’s ok to cook the spaghetti and top it with jarred sauce & frozen meatballs. Cooked of course, lol. Frozen fish, frozen chicken, and frozen potatoes make quick and easy meals as well. If you choose carefully, and serve lots of vegetables, you can keep the nutrition level up to an acceptable level. A big one for me was letting go of the homemade soup while we were sick and eating canned soup from the store. For the record, most of the Progresso soup flavors taste as good as homemade.

So I am planning, and serving, easy meals. I am also enlisting the help of my teenagers to prepare meals. One person can’t do everything. That is always a hard lesson for me to learn, though!

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

Now…. to answer the question that I get asked about a hundred times a day……….What’s For Dinner?

Saturday – quick & easy- Chicken Strips, tater tots, corn, peas

Sunday – soup & sandwich day – Family Christmas! – Shrimp cocktail, popcorn chicken, french fries, seasoned potato wedges, sugar snap peas

Monday – chicken or turkey – Lemon Pepper Oven Baked Chicken (I cooked a batch of this last month & have it in my freezer, just thaw and eat!), Alfredo noodles (made from a package mix), green beans

Tuesday – pizza/pasta – pizza, carrot & celery sticks, sugar snap peas

Wednesday – Taco Night- Venison Guisado (tacos) with all the fixings

Thursday – pork or beef – Beef roast with potatoes, onions carrots

Friday – venison – Venison steaks, mashed potatoes, corn

For more ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

December 21, 2015 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

My middle daughter had her 20th birthday last Thursday. I made her our favorite chocolate cake.

Chocolate Cake slice

If you want the best chocolate cake ever, get a can of Hershey’s Cocoa and follow the recipe on the back of the can. Honest. You will not believe how awesome this cake is. Flavorful and always so moist. Make sure you use the frosting recipe on the can, too!

Chocolate Cake

That was Thursday night. Then things went down hill after that. I spent 12 hours in the ER with my mother on Friday. Then traveling back and forth to the hospital, which is about 2 hours from our house, to see her on Saturday and Sunday. In fact, I’m traveling there again now as I type this.

The kids have managed to carry on with meals while I am away. Thanks to my menu and having a few emergency convenience foods in the pantry, they are still eating good. Remember, my kids are older and all able to work in the kitchen without burning my house down.

Today, for example, I pulled some already cooked Lemon Pepper Chicken out of the freezer for my daughter to warm in the oven. She is going to throw some potatoes in to bake, put the chicken in later, and open a can of corn. An easy, nutritious meal for them. I don’t usually use canned vegetables, except for beets. I prefer frozen vegetables, but with canned they just have to heat it. You know teenagers. If it’s not quick and easy there is no chance of them eating the vegetables.

In my quest to get healthy, I started using Plexus products. I have to say I have put them to the test the last few stressful days. There is no way I would have had the strength or energy to stay at the hospital so long. But thanks to Plexus I have been able to be there for my mother and be abke to take care if my family when I am home. It truly is amazing stuff!

In the Kitchen with Linda

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

Now…. to answer the question that I get asked about a hundred times a day……….What’s For Dinner?

Saturday – quick & easy- Macaroni with jarred spaghetti sauce

Sunday – soup & sandwich day – Leftovers

Monday – chicken or turkey – Lemon Pepper Baked Chicken, baked potatoes, corn

Tuesday – pizza/pasta – pizza, carrot sticks

Wednesday – Taco Night- Venison Guisado (tacos) with all the fixings

Thursday – pork or beef – Beef roast with potatoes, onions carrots

Friday – venison – Christmas dinner – turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, stuffing, pies

For more ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

December 14, 2015 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

The new recipe I tried last week, Venison Guisado, turned out to be a big hit. Guisado means meat & spices, and is a Mexican dish. This recipe I tried from the new venison cookbook I bought, uses taco seasonings, and is served on tortillas. So basically, a taco. lol The family loved it! They said they liked this recipe better than the usual taco meat I make. That works for me. So I will be using this recipe from now on.

The big kitchen news this week is the chickens we got in the spring started laying eggs!

Yes, those are green eggs. That is the color eggs the variety if chickens we have lay. They look like a regular egg inside, though.

In honor of Hanukkah last week, my 19 (20 this week!) daughter made Potato Latkes. So good! And a favorite with the family. Served with sour cream and homemade applesauce, they are amazing! I made some beef patties topped with carmelized onions to go with. Hopefully, she doesn’t wait a year to make more!

In my quest to get healthy, I have started using Plexus products. I tested the pink drink out for a week, and had good results. So I have become a regular user, and added two more products to help me. You’ll be hearing more about the Plexus products I’m using in another post.

I don’t have to cook tonight! We are going to a dinner at a local ministry. Yeah for no cooking! It’s nice to get a break once in a while!

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

Now…. to answer the question that I get asked about a hundred times a day……….What’s For Dinner?

Saturday – quick & easy- Beef patties topped with carmelized onions, Potato Latkes topped with sour cream & homemade applesauce

Sunday – soup & sandwich day – soup & grilled cheddar cheese sandwiches

Monday – chicken or turkey -Dinner out at a local ministry

Tuesday – pizza/pasta – pizza, carrot sticks

Wednesday – Taco Night- Venison Guisado (tacos) with all the fixings

Thursday – pork or beef – Pork chops and applesauce, rice, green beans

Friday – venison – Venison roast with potatoes, carrots & onions in the slow cooker

For more ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

December 7, 2015 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

Turns out, I didn’t take any food pictures last week! In my defense, it was a really busy week. Multiple doctor visits, kid activities, driving kids to and from work, church activities, and my husbands birthday!

The family did get together for his birthday, and I did make him a cake. I just didn’t take any pictures! In a way, that’s a good thing. It means I was living in the moment. It would be nice to have some pictures to share, though!

I did manage to stick to the menu and cook every night last week. Well, except I did change the menu for my husbands birthday and bought take out. We usually take him out to eat, but the schedule was so full, there was no time for that! So I bought burgers, fries, and onion rings from a local restaurant (not fast food!) we ate quickly right after he got home, then we went out. To a local Walk Thru the Nativity. It was awesome! After that, we came home and had cake and ice cream with all 6 kids, our son in law, and my mother.

Now onto this weeks menu!

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

Now…. to answer the question that I get asked about a hundred times a day……….What’s For Dinner?

Saturday – quick & easy- Turkey & gravy, rice, corn, green beans – My son cooked!

Sunday – soup & sandwich day – soup & grilled cheddar cheese sandwiches

Monday – chicken or turkey -Oven roasted chicken, baked potatoes, corn

Tuesday – pizza/pasta – pizza, carrot sticks

Wednesday – Taco Night- Venison Guisado – that would be meat cooked with spices served on a tortilla. Basically, a taco. lol That’s what the recipe in the cookbook is called, so I’m calling it that, too, so I remember what recipe I want to try! lol

Thursday – pork or beef – Beef roast in the slow cooker with onions, mashed potatoes, peas

Friday – venison – Venison steaks, oven roasted potatoes,

For more ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

November 30, 2015 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

We had a good Thanksgiving. And quite the feast! Here is my long counter filled with Thanksgiving dinner. I didn’t get a picture of the buffet before everyone went through. That’s why some of the dishes are empty.

Thanksgiving Buffet

That’s not counting the dinner rolls, cornbread, 4 different kinds of pie, and the drinks. They didn’t fit on the counter! You can see everything that was on the menu in my Getting Ready for Thanksgiving post.

We ate dinner at 6. In an effort to keep everyone out of the kitchen, I served some snacks at 3. Carrots, celery, green peppers, ranch dip. 4 different kinds of cheese with 2 different kinds of crackers. And some nuts. It worked to keep the traffic down in the kitchen so those cooking had more room to work.

Thanksgiving Snacks

This is my dinner plate. Yes, I used paper products for Thanksgiving dinner. It was the first time ever. And I loved it! I did use real utensils, though. The cup contains grape juice that I made this summer from our own grapes that we harvested from our own grapevines. It was so good!

Thanksgiving Plate

As I mentioned, we had 4 different kinds of pies. I made the pumpkin, with the help of my daughter that made the crust. She was making the cherry pie, so it was easy for her to make one more crust. My oldest, married daughter made the apple pie. And my 15 year old son made the chocolate pie! He did a great job, too!

Thanksgiving Pie

My daughter, that made the cherry pie, decided to have a piece of each kind. Along with the homemade whipped cream that she made. She even whips it by hand, no mixer for her! She didn’t eat it all for dessert, she had to save some of it for latter in the evening. I do think she figured out how to make sure the kind of pie she wanted didn’t run out. lol

Thanksgiving Pie Plate

Our Thanksgiving was filled with family and great food.

Now onto this weeks menu!

In the Kitchen with Linda

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

Now…. to answer the question that I get asked about a hundred times a day……….What’s For Dinner?

Saturday – quick & easy- Thanksgiving leftovers

Sunday – soup & sandwich day – soup & grilled cheddar cheese sandwiches

Monday – chicken – Turkey Alfredo, green beans

Tuesday – pizza/pasta – pizza, carrot sticks

Wednesday – Taco Night- Venison Tacos, made in the slow cooker, with all the fixin’s

Thursday – pork or beef – BBQ Pork chops in slow cooker, rice, green beans

Friday – venison – Venison roast, potatoes, carrots, and onions in the slow cooker

For more ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

November 25, 2015 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

I’m swamped in Thanksgiving preparations right now. I wanted to take a minute (or 20 lol) and share what I am doing.

I do know that we are having at least 12 people. I do not know how many extras will show up. That’s ok, everyone is welcome. I just need to make sure I have enough food!

Here’s my Thanksgiving Menu:

turkey (L)
ham (g)
mashed potatoes (d)
stuffing (L)
mac & cheese (g)
creamed onions (L)
green beans (a)
corn (a)
cranberry sauce (a)
homemade gravy (L)
homemade dinner rolls (h)
cornbread (k)

chocolate pie (z)
apple pie (m)
pumpkin pie (h crust) (L filling)
cherry pie (h)
homemade whipped cream (h)

Grape Juice (home canned using our own grapes)
Apple Cider
Sprite
Water

As you can tell by the letters after each dish, I am not doing this alone. I am doing the dishes marked with L. I put my husband in charge of the mashed potatoes. My mother, who everyone calls Granny is bringing the ham and macaroni & cheese. My married daughter is bringing the apple pie.

My daughter Abby is doing the vegetables and cranberry sauce. My daughter Hannah is making the homemade dinner rolls, cherry pie, the crust for the pumpkin and the homemade whipped cream. My oldest son is making cornbread. My 15 year old son, Zach, is making the chocolate pie.

My mother in law always made chocolate pie and the kids loved it. So we are making it the way she did. Store bought crust and boxed pudding mix. So it will be easy for Zach to make with just a little guidance from me. Hannah and I like to make it with a homemade crust and homemade pudding. Zach’s not ready for that, though!

We are eating at 6, so I have some snacks planned for earlier in the afternoon.

carrots
celery
green pepper slices
ranch dip (store bought)

4 different cheeses and 2 kinds of crackers – I picked up a tray of already sliced cheese in the deli to make it easier.

I am assigning Abby to get all of this ready, and plated.

I will be serving dinner buffet style. I will make sure to have all the food ready early, and put it in slow cookers to stay warm.

By far, the most important part of our Thanksgiving meal this year is…..

20151125_141507

And you know what? I don’t feel the least bit guilty for using disposable products this year. For one, I don’t have enough real plates for a large crowd. And since I don’t know for sure the final guest count, disposable will work best. It’s a toss up whether we will be using disposable utensils or real forks. I’m actually leaning towards real. My husband can only take so much change. A plastic fork might just put him over the edge. lol

You’ll notice that we will have a complete meal, even if the guests aren’t able to make it with their contributions. I planned it this way on purpose. I learned my lesson after hosting numerous holiday meals where guests either don’t bring what they said or drop canned foods off in the kitchen right before it’s time to eat. In the case of one memorable Easter meal, someone delivered a bag of potatoes to me in the kitchen right before it was time to eat, instead of prepared mashed potatoes. I learned the hard way to make sure I had a complete meal to serve regardless of what anyone else brought, or didn’t bring. It’s more work for me, but it is also so much less stressful for me!

The menu is planned, food prep will begin tonight. All that is left is to clean the house. The worst part about hosting! lol

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