table for 5, Mon-fri homecooked meals
Cooking is not something that comes natural to me. I can’t just whip something up. I have to follow the instructions and prep accordingly. That means create the list, buy what’s needed, set up and prep everything by measurement and then and only then can I begin cooking. I also make a gigantic mess. I do enjoy that cooking, like designing, allows me to create something that didn’t exist. I also enjoy beginning the process in a very clean state, creating massive chaos and then cleaning it all back into a clean blank slate. Thats just my process and what motivates me to do it a few nights per week.
I am also a stovetop and oven cook only. I don’t know why but the barbecue scares me. I have a friend who barbecues and I think she is the coolest. Someday I will tackle that and be cool like her.
This week I cooked up 5 dishes, one is prepped for tonight, and some were hits and some were flops. I’m sharing all the recipes here along with some iPhone pics, that I probably shared in stories, as well.
If you’re not familiar with my social accounts and over sharing, I have 3 kids and a health-conscience husband, Mike. Our children's ages are 13, 10 and 7. They are medium picky. I’ve met some kids who only eat 3 things and some that eat oysters with us! I will share that my little brother, Michael, grew up eating 3 things but as an adult is the most adventurous eater I know, as well as, an incredible chef. There is hope for anyone who worries about their picky eater.
I rate each meal with a “thumbs up” rating system. One thumb represents each family member, if they liked and ate the meal. We don’t often get 5-thumbs- up but when we do it gets logged under, “make monthly”. (There isn’t an actual log; it just gets stuffed into my cookbooks since I print out all the recipes. I don’t know how the millennials cook from their phone - if that’s you, I admire that quality!)
MONDAY - Lasagna Classic Lasagna recipe from Once Upon a Chef
I tend to cook many of Jenn Siegal’s recipes. She takes many existing recipes and tweaks them or creates her own faves, as well. In this recipe I substituted the sausage for ground chicken, used 1/4 cup of cream instead if 1/2 cup, skipped the cream cheese altogether and as always I swap any sugar with honey or maple syrup.
DAMA rating - 4 THUMBS UP
My 13 year old doesn’t like lasagna and while he tried it, he hated it, the rest of us LOVED IT. This also gave me left overs for 2 nights for my other 2 children that loved it.
DAMA Kitchen, Once upon a chef Classic Lasagna
TUESDAY- Chicken Divine. This comes from my cookbook, Bride and Groom First Forever, but found the exact recipe listed here:Chicken Divine
Before Mike and I had children we ate this dish monthly. I figured I'd try to impress my children since it feels like a fancy Mac and cheese / comfort food.
DAMA Rating - 2 Thumbs up.
My 13 year old and myself were the only ones who ate it. Mike felt it wasn’t healthy enough (he’s not wrong) and my other 2 kids picked at it and made icky faces after trying it. This is where the leftover lasagna was clutch.
Overall, I wouldn’t make this again for another year, maybe longer.
DAMA Kitchen , Chicken Divine
Wednesday - Chicken Noodle Soup, Recipe is from Ina. To me, Ina is life. She taught me how to cook and I’ve been smitten with her since 2007 Chicken Noodle Soup
This is the easiest dish of the week since I used box chicken stock and a store bought rotisserie chicken. I also substituted egg noodles and used broken up Bucatini Pasta, which is my favorite of the spaghettis.
DAMA Rating - 4 Thumbs up.
My 13 year old doesn’t eat soup and wouldn’t even try it.
DAMA Kitchen, Chicken Noodle Soup, Food Network
Thursday - Slow Cooker Chipotle-Honey Chicken Tacos Slow Cook YUM Chicken Tacos
I found this recipe in NYTimes Cooking section and I was part excited and part skeptical. I find the crock pot recipes either all taste the same or turns into some sort of mush with hints of flavor that once was. Anyway, I am also a big fan of easy so figured why not.
I didn’t add the chipotle peppers but did add 6 tablespoons of the adobo sauce, from the pepper can, since I doubled up the entire recipe.
DAMA Rating - 4 Thumbs
My 10 yo didn’t love the flavor and found it too spicy.
Slow Cooker Chipotle-Honey Chicken Tacos, from NYT Cooking
Friday - Thai-Style Minced Chicken Lettuce Cups Lettuce Wraps
DAMA Rating - 5 Thumbs!
This is a favorite for us all and I make this monthly. It comes together so fast, since I try to keep the ingredients on hand. Nothing left to say but I really think you should try this dish
This is NOT the dish shown, but this is similar and I will swap this photo since I’m making the Thai wraps tonight.
Let me know what recipes you loved this week or what recipe you’d like me to test for us.
Don’t forget to drink lots of water, this is a love note to myself.
-Jenn