Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Menu Plan

I know I'm a little behind on my menu post, but we've been out of town and celebrating Kai and Edwin's birthday's! We're also starting to pack up, since we have to move out of our house in exactly 2 weeks! 

Monday- Edwin's 31st birthday! We (primarily Edwin and his mom!) made fried shrimp. TWELVE POUNDS of fried shrimp!
Wednesday- Homemade Pizza rolls 
Thursday- Lemon pepper marinaded chicken, sausage veggie grill (recipe below), and rice
Friday- Italian Chicken casserole 

Desserts- Left overs from Edwin's birthday! Butterfinger Torte, Homemade pound cake, and a cookie cake I made for Kai! 

Sausage Veggie Grill

1 pd. Sausage; cut into slices

1 medium zucchini; cut into slices

1 medium yellow squash; cut into slices

1 medium sweet red pepper; sliced

1 medium onion; chopped

¼ cup olive oil

1 tbl. Dried oregano

1 tbl. Parsley flakes

1 tsp. garlic salt

1 tsp. paprika

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In a small bowl, combine oil, oregano, parsley, garlic, salt, and paprika. Pour over sausage mixture; toss to coat. Divide between two pieces heavy duty foil. Fold foil around sausage and seal tigthly. Grill, covered, over medium for 25-30 minutes. Open foil carefully and allow steam to escape. 

This post is linked to Orgjunkie


Tuesday, July 7, 2009

4th of July cupcakes

For the 4th, the kiddos and I made some red, white, and blue cupcakes with my favorite whipped meringue icing. YUM! I got the inspiration from Recipe GirlTo simplify, I just used a box of white cake mix, and then made the icing homemade. You could use any colors in the cake mix. For more about our 4th of July, visit my other blog for pictures. 
 
After making your cake mix, divide cake batter into 3 bowls and add desired food coloring; red, white, and blue. Fill muffin tins 1/3 full and swirl colors together with a tooth pick
Bake according to box or recipe and allow to fully cool. 
Make icing, recipe below, and tint to desired color (eat some too)
Let kids decorate! 

Kai ready to eat his cupcakes
Keira decorating her cupcakes
YUM; love the blue
4th of July sprinkles 
I made a few mini cupcakes too (I didnt swirl the batter on these)
This is my favorite icing EVER. Enjoy!
Meringue Icing

5 large egg whites

1 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoons cream of tartar

Pinch fine salt

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 to 3 drops pure almond extract

Bring a few inches of water to a gentle simmer in a saucepan large enough to hold a standing mixer bowl above the water. Whisk the egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt together in the bowl until combined. Set the bowl over the simmering water and whisk constantly until sugar is completely dissolved and mixture is smooth and hot to the touch, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to the standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat at medium-high speed until meringue is cool and holds a soft peak, 4 to 5 minutes. With the speed on low, add the vanilla and almond extracts; increase speed to medium and continue whisking until mixture is glossy and holds a stiff peak, 1 to 2 minutes more. YUM

This post has been linked to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday