Menu Plan Monday: Thai, Roman, Asian, Moroccan, & Scottish!

Happy Birthday to the BEST Mother-in-Law EVER!

Happy birthday, Phyllis!  You are a wonderful mother and grandmother, and I can say in all honesty, I am so pleased to have you as my mother-in-law!  You are a blessing to us all, and I thank you for being faithful and supportive in all the roles you play!

Menu Plan Monday & a Few Reviews

FYI: I have a super-awesome give-away (multiple winners, too!) coming this Thursday!!

Last week’s crock pot rotisserie-style chicken was delicious!  We also loved the stuffed shells and enjoyed having them as left-overs, too. { See below for links and pictures.}

As for this week, we are going around the world n 7 days, or so it seems!

• Monday: Thai Beef  {Turkey} Tacos, Asian slaw, rice
• Tuesday: Roman Chicken, spaghetti, crusty bread, Caesar salad
• Wednesday: Peanut-Mirin Chicken, sugar snap peas and tomatoes, fried rice
• Thursday: Left-Overs
• Friday: Moroccan Chicken, basmati rice, green salad
• Saturday: Carrot-Coriander Soup, crusty bread {coriander=cilantro}
• Sunday: Left-Overs

Peanut-Mirin Chicken

We love the Mirn in this, as well as the nutty sauce.

• 2 t grated lime rind
• 2T fresh lime juice
• 1 T peanut butter
• 2t sugar
• 2 t fish sauce (it’s worth it and once cooked doe snot taste fishy!)
• 1/2 t curry powder
• 1/4 t salt
• 1/4 t ground coriander
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 # chicken, turkey, or pork strips (thinly sliced into strips that can be skewered)
• bamboo sticks or meat skewers

Sauce:

• 1  1 /2 T sugar
• 1 T chopped fresh cilantro {in UK coriander}
• 2 T rice vinegar
• 2 T fresh lime juice
• 2 T mirin {sweet rice wine}
• 1 t fish sauce
• 1 serrano chile, seeded and finely chopped {I often cheat and use jarred jalapeño slices}
• 1 T dry-roasted peanuts, chopped

Prepare grill to medium- high heat.  {I use a George Foreman or a grill pan.}

To prepare meat, combine first 9 ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring until smooth.  Add meat to bowl.  Toss well to coat.  Let stand at room temp for 15 min.

To prepare sauce, combine 1 1/2 T sugar and next 6 ingredients (thru chile), stirring with a whisk.  Stir in peanuts.

Thread meat lengthwise onto skewers.  Grill skewered meat 3 minutes on each side or until done.  Serve with sauce.

Moroccan Chicken

This is a delicious, easy, and fast meal that has become a Malone staple!

• 2 t olive oil
• 1# skinless, boneless chicken thighs {I actually use white meat just b/c we prefer it}, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1/2 c fresh cilantro {aka coriander in UK}
• 1/2 c quartered Calimyrna figs {you can  sub any kind of fig}
• 1/2 c chopped green olives
• 1T minced garlic
• 3 T sweet Marsala or Madeira
• 2 T honey
• 2 T balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 t ground coriander
• 1/2 t cumin
• 1/4 t ground cardamom { I omit}

Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over med-hi heat.  Add chicken, and cook 5 minutes or until browned, stirring frequently.  Stir in the chopped cilantro and remaining ingredients.  Reduce heat  to medium, and cook for 8 minutes.  Garnish with cilantro sprigs if desired.

Most of the ingredients

In the skillet (I added sliced yellow onions, too)

I sevred it with Uncle Ben's Vegetable Pilau rice

Last Week’s Reviews

Stuffed Shells

They’re really delcious if you can make your own sauce or add some Italian sausage.  We had to use jarred sauce and we survived, though!

{Note: this recipe makes 2 smaller dishes so you can give one away or freeze one for later!  We halved it because I wanted  a smaller amount.}

• 1# jumbo shell pasta (40 shells)
• cooking spray
• 1 12-ounce carton 1% low-fat cottage cheese
• 1 15-ounce container ricotta cheese
• 1 c (4 ounces) shredded Asiago cheese
• 3/4 c (3 ounces) parmesan cheese
• 2T chopped fresh chives
• 2T chopped fresh parsley (I omit)
• 1/4 t black pepper
• 1/4 t salt
• 1 10-ounce pkg (thawed) chopped spinach
• 6 c smoky marinara (see below, or use your favorite jarred sauce if you’re pressed for time)
• 1 c (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided

Cook pasta according to directions on package.  Drain and set aside.

Preheat oven to 375 F/190-ish C.  Coat 2 (13×9 in) baking dishes with cooking spray.  Set aside.

Place cottage cheese and ricotta cheese in a food processor, blender, or use a hand blender to process until smooth.  Combine cottage cheese mixture, Asiago, and next 6 ingredients (thru spinach).  Spoon or pipe 1T cheese mixture into each shell.  Arrange half of stuffed shells, seam side up, in one prepared dish.  Pour 3 c smoky marinara (see below) over stuffed shells.  Sprinkle with 1/2 c mozzarella.  Repeat process with remaining shells and the other baking dish.

Cook and drain about 30-40 smaller shells (all I could find in UK).

Blend/process the ricotta and cottage cheeses until smooth. Then, add spinach, Parmesan, Asiago, and spices. I also added some fresh basil.

Fill your shells with a spoon. (You might leave a few unfilled shells if you have a little one who won't eat something green. Ahem.)

Meanwhile, have your 4 yo cut off the tips of green beans so they'll be ready.

Make your own sauce or pour a jarred sauce over the shells. Then, sprinkle with mozarella cheese.

Bake for 30 minutes at 350 F.

I served it with hot crusty bread and Bekah’s green beans.  Delicious!

Crock Pot Rotisserie Chicken

I got this recipe from Christy who gives some great advice about skinning the chicken.  She suggests giving yourself 5 minutes with the kitchen shears and getting whatever skin off you can.  After 5 minutes is up, you’re done!  With that plan, I felt more confident about taking off the skin, and I am so glad I did!  It was amazingly tender and delicious and healthy!

I cut off as much skin as I could in 5minites- it was actually really easy.

I made a quick list of the spices I wold need so I wouldnt have to haul my laptop in the kitchen.

I stuffed the chicken with onions and garlic after rubbing it inside and out with the dry mix.

Place it breast-side down with NO liquid in slow cooker. The result after cooking all day on low!

We got tons of meat!

Great with wholegrain rice, carrots, and a green salad. (That's a piece of onion on the top, btw.)

For more great menus, check out Org Junkie.

Related posts:

1. Menu Plan Monday: Asian, Moroccan, & Crockpottin’
2. Menu Plan Monday: Asian & healthy
3. Menu Plan Monday: Asian
4. Menu Plan Monday: Asian & Healthy (& a great soup!)
5. Menu Plan Monday: Asian Twists on Family Favorites