Shrimp Fetticune Alfredo

Shrimp Etouffee (Emeril's Recipe)

Fried Shrimp

New Orleans is known for it's po-boy sandwiches. Since I'm no longer there, I do the best I can. No French Bread here, so I used toast. It was pretty good.

Nacho Cheese Dip

Eggs & Rice -- GOTTA LOVE IT!

Eggs & Rice was one of my favorite childhood meals. It's great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! Thanks to my mom, Egg and Rice ranked up there with her French Toast. YUMMY. My family teases me because of the over 40 year old ritual/preparation I go through before.


First my bacon has to be fried just right. Not squishy (fatty) and not so hard that the taste is lost. And PLUEEZEEEE – only PORK BACON!! Then comes the frying of the egg – not hard or browned, but scrambled just right. I toss my rice into the pan and mix together.

So here’s where the family thinks I’m weird---I must piece my bacon into very small size nits and spread over the egg and rice. That’s the only way I’ll eat it. It may seem silly, but that’s one ritual that will not be changing anytime soon.

Smarter Planning & Smarter Shopping

PLAN YOUR MEALS!!

Here is an example of my menu I prepare. My husband get paid on the 1st and 15th of the month, so I prepare for that period of time.

I don't prepare a breakfast and lunch menu because my kids fix their own meals at that time. I make sure I stock up on a variety of breakfast and lunch foods. Usually I get those items from Sam's or Walmart. Things like Fish Sticks, Nuggets, Egos, Cereal, Pancake, Eggs, Bacon, etc.

When preparing my menu, I take into consideration our weekly meetings and other engagements. If we are going to be away, that's a "Eating Out" day. I try to cook enough food to last two days so that I won't wear myself out in the kitchen.

Once I plan my menu, I write my grocery list based on what I need to prepare the foods. Another money saving tip----- when preparing your menu, look in your pantry and freezer to see what you have left that you can cook. That will be less that you have to buy.

Here is my current menu, with the numerical value representing the date:

1 - Eating Out

2 - Baked Turkey, Yams, Green Beans, Broccoli Rice

3 - Leftovers

4 - BBQ Ribs, Jambalaya, Baked Beans, Cake

5 - Leftovers

6 - Chicken Patties, white Gravy, mashed potatoes, carrots
7 - Pizza, Green Salad
8 - Red Beans, Rice, Baked Chicken, Corn bread
9 - Leftovers
10 - Catfish, French Fries, Green
11 - Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Green Salad
12 - Leftovers
13 - Pork Chops & Gravy, Rice, Corn

14 - Leftovers

15 - Eating Out

Special Menu for SPECIAL Days

WOW! Today I found this menu the girls and I prepared. I believe it was for last year's Father's Day. I thought I share it with you, for it is a great idea for a romantic dinner or even a surprise dinner.



My girls were involved with the planning and preparation of the food, as well as the printing of the menu. it was a wonderful time of bonding with my girls. Big Daddy was pretty happy about it too. Try it for your loved one, or special friends. Let them have the menu as a keepsake.
BTW, we printed our menu on heavy card stock paper.

Chicken Francaise

 

Snow Day? Cooking Day!

Day 2 snowed in! So what do I do? COOK!!!! My family had the audacity to complain because I have been cooking non-stop ever since being snowed in. GO FIGURE! What a great meal we had today. Here's the menu:

Red Beans
(Camellia Brand---it's a New Orleans thing)
Rice
Baked Chicken
Peach Cobbler

Lemon Thin Cookies

Breakfast Casserole



Snow today at 10 am.

Dinner Menu - Jan 26, 2011

So today I decided once again to prepare a new dish. Well, something went terribly wrong! The meal came out fantastic, however, preparation took 4 hours. I really don't know why it took so long to complete this meal.

Here's the menu, linked to the recipe:

Bacon Steak Rolls
Twice Baked Potatoes
French Style Green Beans
Rolls

Bacon Steak Rolls

Preparation

Camille's Fried Catfish

Fried Catfish & Bacon Pasta Salad

Bacon Pasta Salad

Camille's Shrimp Fried Rice

Shrimp Fried Rice &
P. F. Chang Sweet & Sour Chicken

Camille frying the egg

Adding ingredients and
soysauce to rice

Finished product....Mmmm Mmmm Good!

It's Sunday! What's for Dinner?



Having lunch at Benihana's.
Nov 2010

Catherine is sick today. She’s been very sick all weekend. Because of my constantly monitoring of Cat’s condition, I’ve gotten little sleep over the past two days. I’m still feeling the remnants of a lingering flu bug that’s been with me for a week. It’s a mere 27° F outside. It’s predicted to snow today. It just may ice overnight.
So what’s a tired, stressed mom to prepare on a wonderful day like today? Oh, you didn’t think I was describing a wonderful day? Well, this is the day that the Lord has made. I am rejoicing and happy in it! No matter what I may be going through, God is still good. And no matter what’s happening in my life, my family still has to eat!

We’re keeping it simple today:

• Sweet & Sour Chicken (opening up two bags of P.F. Changs found in the freezer section in Wal-Mart)
• Shrimp Fried Rice Express – using precooked shrimp, Camille’s cooked white rice, adding a few seasonings
• Green Salad – premade in a bag
• Cream Cheese Cookie Cake - the recipe is already on this blog

There is a possibility that I may try a new recipe today. Been wanting a BLT pasta salad….soooo we’ll see.

Crawfish Pasta Casserole

 

 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

What a way to bring in the New Year! January 1, 2011 I was SICK. I've been suffering with a really bad cold since Friday. The family was thankful I had completed preparing our New Years meal.

I am not one who is overly traditional nor superstitious. Me and my family are not fans of black-eyed peas, nor do we eat cabbage. As a matter of fact, let me make this clear----Chitterlings aren't welcomed in our home either! 

So what does a non-traditional family eat on the first day of the year:

White Beans & Sausage & Rice
Gumbo
Almond Pound Cake

By the way, Catherine baked the cake. She volunteered. What a shock, considering she is not the domestic type. The cake was delicious! I'll post pics and recipes when I'm feeling better.