food.

i tried 2 new recipes this week.  this is a record for me as i don't think i've tried 2 new recipes in a month before.  i could really get used to this staying at home thing.  i've been trying to eat healthy but i've found that with a new baby this requires a bit more planning than it did before.  we're in bed a lot earlier and my evening hours are pretty much devoted to her since she's at her crankiest and refuses to be put down.  

since avery's been born charlie's been going to the gym in the mornings so that he can spend more time with us in the evenings.  although i don't think any of us love that he's up at 5:45 (i know this could be a lot worse) but it's been really nice to have him around after work.  i know this will be especially nice when i go back to work and won't see him until 5 pm which is when he was leaving for the gym.  he's also made a deal with me that if i plan all of our meals he'll be the one to cook them.  i have yet to take him up on this but i'm sure once i'm gone 9 hours a day it will be a different story.  

i'm going to try and use this blog to keep track of some of these meals.  one of the reasons i've never been terribly successful with meal planning and cooking in the past is that i don't have a ton that i like to make and we get sick of eating the same things over and over again.  i have found that pinterest has been helpful in finding new, easy recipes to make and hopefully i'll be able to find more we can add to our rotation.  i'm in need of some good vegetarian recipes if anyone has some.  most of mine involve pasta which i'm trying to eat less of.  

anyway.  here are the two recipies i tried this week.  i modified them enough that i want to write them down so i can remember them for next time.  

Hamburg Casserole.

we had a variation of this growing up but i didn't have the recipe.  

1 lb. beef (or bison)

mashed potatoes ~6-8 depending on size

1.5 packages of frozen green beans, thawed

1 can of tomato soup

1 onion

seasoning for the beef

cheese (optional)

1.  make mashed potatoes.

2.  brown meat and onion and add seasoning.  i used salt, pepper, worcestershire sause, and hot sauce but you could use anything. 

3.  add cooked meat and beans to a 9 x 13 pan.  mix.

4.  pour tomato soup on top of the meat/bean mixture.

5.  layer mashed potatoes on top and add shredded cheese.

6.  bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.

Swiss Chicken.

this was goooood.

2-3 chicken breasts. 

4 slices of cheese (i used havarti)

can of cream of chicken

1/2 cup of milk

6 oz. breadcrumbs

ranch seasoning mix

1/2 cup of butter

1.  cut chicken into cutlets and place on the bottom of a lightly greased 9 x 13 pan.

2.  lay cheese on top of chicken.

3.  mix cream of chicken and milk and pour over chicken.

4.  mix breadcrumbs and ranch seasoning and layer on top of chicken.

5.  melt butter and pour on top of breadcrumbs

6.  bake at 350 for 50 - 65 minutes.

this week's meal plan.  

monday. pizza.

tuesday. hamburger casserole.

wednesday. swiss chicken.

thursday. leftovers

friday. turkey bean chili (with bison).

saturday. leftovers

sunday. v-day dinner.

lunches. leftovers, sandwiches, & trail mix.

hopefully this will make it a little easier to keep track of stuff.  and since it's already thursday and i go back to work next week (insert sad face)! i should probably start to figure out what we're eating (and charlie's cooking) next week.

and here's an avery picture because she's just so cute.