menu.

gearing up for a new week already! where do the weekends go?

here's what we're eating this week:

sunday-veggie lo mein
monday-minestrone, rolls, salad
tuesday-veggie pitas, veggies & dip, chips
wednesday-taco soup, rolls, salad
thursday-pizza, salad
friday-out
saturday-tortellini soup, rolls, salad

can you tell we're eating lots of soup? it's that time of year when I just want comfort food. and what could be more comforting than soup and rolls? I'm a carb girl. it's what'll kill me.:)

bread machine.

I registered for a bread machine when we were engaged, and got one at a shower. I thought it looked so cool, and when we were first married, we even made a couple loaves. but for some reason, a few months ago--right before we moved to arkansas--I decided I wanted to start using it again. since then I've made pizza dough, cinnamon roll dough, breadstick dough, roll dough (can you tell I use it for dough? I like to bake stuff myself). it's all been AMAZING. so, if you have one and don't use it, dig it out! if you don't have one, maybe you should get one...christmas is upon us!:)

here are a couple of my best recipes:

pizza crust

1 cup plus 2 Tbsp warm water
1 tsp olive oil ($.03)
1 cup whole wheat flour ($.20)
2 cups white flour ($.28)
1 packet or 1 Tbsp yeast ($.25)
1 tsp sugar ($.02)

pop all that stuff in your bread maker, select the dough cycle, and voila! when it's done, you roll it out and bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes (I like to pre-bake the dough for a few minutes and then top it and bake the rest of the way).

thanks, $5 dinners!:)

rolls

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm milk (70 to 80 degrees F.)
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 4 cups bread flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

Directions

1. 1

   In bread machine pan, put all ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer.

2. 2

   Select dough setting.

3. 3

   When cycle is completed, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface.

4. 4

   Divide dough into 24 portions.

5. 5

   Shape dough into balls.

6. 6

   Place in a greased 13 inch by 9 inch baking pan.

7. 7

   Cover and let rise in a warm place for 15 minutes.

8. 8

   Bake at 375 degrees for 13-16 minutes or until golden brown.

thanks, recipezaar!:)

we had the rolls just a couple nights ago with yummy potato soup--heaven, I'm telling you.:)

back again.

so, I know I'm often back on the wagon, but I MEAN it this time! we've moved and been busy, but I am committed to change!
anyway, I want to talk about breakfast. breakfast is supposedly the most important meal of the day, but I often neglect it. really, it's the time you should stock up--you have all day to burn off those calories! but it's hectic in the morning, right? here are a few things to try to make sure you're getting in a good breakfast.

*freeze some muffins
make your favorite muffins (banana bread, zucchini bread, bran muffins, whatever!) and freeze them. they heat up in like, 1 minute in the microwave, and you've got a good start. I ate tons of these when I was pregnant and needed to be at school by 7:30. I will be making 3 different kinds of muffins tomorrow to freeze.
*freeze breakfast sandwiches and burritos
make your own egg mcmuffins w/ english muffins, eggs, cheese, and ham! flash freeze 'em (on a cookie sheet) and then ziploc bag them. they are SO yummy! do the same thing w/ breakfast burritos (I posted the recipe here). they heat up great too!
*eggo waffles
not the healthiest maybe, but slap on some pb and you can eat 'em on the go!
*yogurt and granola
*smoothies
these seem a little more intense, but if you buy frozen mixed berries, you just put it in w/ a little yogurt and some ice...maybe some juice, and you're good to go!

eat breakfast. it's good for you.:)