Menu Inspiration
This week’s menu inspiration has a few old favorites I pretty much know by heart, a recent addition that has been getting some heavy rotation lately, a slow cooker recipe and a stand by everyone should know how to make perfectly every time.
Turkey Zucchini Burgers – From the cookbook Jerusalem by Ottolenghi, London restaurateur, I could eat these almost every day. I make a big batch to be sure I have leftovers for lunch the next day. I serve them up like regular burgers for the kiddos and over baby salad greens for me. Be sure to make the yogurt sauce to accompany them perfectly.
Butternut Squash and Apple Soup – I have made this barefoot contessa recipe so many times, I may have it memorized. It makes a large stock pot worth for freezing leftovers to save for another day and it the type of recipe you should totally have in your pocket. Serve it up with a salad with endive, apples and blue cheese for me and grilled cheese for the kids.
Chicken Tacos – I like to try as many slow cooker recipes as I can. Especially the recipes where it doesn’t really matter how much or what type of ingredients you add. If it is in my pantry then it’ll likely work in this recipe. This one called for a jar of salsa and a can of black beans and some taco seasoning. Here’s a great recipe to make your own taco seasoning instead of buying the packaged version at the market. Add any toppings your family likes, serve it up in tortillas, tacos shells or over romaine.
Shrimp Scampi – Another old favorite by the Barefoot Contessa, a classic recipe that has become second nature. I sometimes combine this recipe with her broccoli and bow ties recipe which basically means I add broccoli to the pasta water towards the end of the pasta cooking time, then drain them and add to the shrimp scampi and toss.
Steak and Baked Potatoes – You will see this one a lot in my menus because my 11 year old begs for it every week. It makes him happy and when the time comes for you to be a mom of an 11 year old boy, you pretty much do whatever they ask (within reason) because you never know when they’ll stop asking. So, steak and potatoes it is! Most often I olive oil and s+p the steak, let it sit at room temp for 30 min. then either sear on the stove and finish in the oven or I grill it. Hanger steak is his favorite, rib-eye works to or flank steak is easy to come by as well. Everyone should know how to make the perfect baked potato, this recipe is exactly how I’ve always done mine and couldn’t turn out tastier.
More Menu Inspiration through the seasons from The Simple Proof.
