How is it already August? This summer has flown by. And it is still crazy hot here in the south. And I’m still planning menus that keep me cooking in the kitchen and heating it up too much. Not sure why I keep doing that. Maybe next week….
My garden is finally starting to produce something besides just okra and cucumbers. Those are figs in the front, by the way. I am trying to pick the tomatoes before the pesky rabbits get to them and the peppers.
From this past week’s menu, the Honey Lentils turned out quite good. Though next time I would use less honey as they were a little too sweet for our tastes. My son ate it up though. My husband added some chili garlic paste to his, which made it much better. I didn’t get a picture, but it probably wouldn’t look too appetizing if I had.
Shrimp and grits turned out very good, though my son has decided lately he doesn’t like shrimp – he mostly ate the cheese grits. My brother-in-law, Tom McEachern of Ray’s on the River, makes the most incredible version and can be found in the cookbook, Cooking in the South with Johnnie Gabriel. This is a great cookbook, by the way, especially if you love Southern cooking. I did tweak the recipe a bit though to cut down on the fat by using lower fat milk in the grits, reduced fat cheese and less butter with the shrimp.
I also made a Peach and Blueberry Crisp, using this Cooking Light recipe as my base. It was delicious!
I also made some homemade pesto for a pasta dish this past week. I don’t know why I don’t make my own pesto more often, it is so easy! And I have a ton of basil right now. I should have used more pesto in the pasta dish but I will next time, or maybe make my own pesto pizza.
Here is this week’s menu:
Monday: Chinese BBQ Pork and Vegetable Noodle Stir Fry (something we’ll make up as we go!)
Tuesday: Tomato Basil Risotto (old recipe I’ve adapted over time) with Steamed Broccoli
Wednesday: Flaky Fish Sticks from The Mom’s Guide to Meal Makeovers, Green Beans and Tomato Cucumber Salad
Thursday: Parmesan Sage Crusted Pork Chops (another old recipe I’ve adapted over time) with Roasted Okra and Mixed Vegetables
Friday: Banana Brownie Waffles, Vegetarian Sausage and Fruit Salad
Saturday: Evening Out
Sunday: Sweet Apple & Squash Lasagna with Spinach Salad
As you can see above I’m dusting off some old recipes that I haven’t made in a while. Have you rediscovered any old recipes lately?
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