MMC 30-Minute Menus for February 14, 2010

We have snow in Atlanta - lots of snow! I spent Friday showing my 18-month granddaughter the snow instead of posting this week's menus. While I am sorry for the delay, we had great fun (and priorities are priorities after all!). I hope you enjoyed your snow day, too.

The menus this week are quick and easy to prepare plus they will warm-up everyone at your table and keep your wallet happy as well. I love to serve the Meatball Stew (Tuesday) in the biscuit bowls because everyone just smiles when they see them. The Weeknight Seafood Bouillabaisse (Thursday) is simply great when served with a warmed baguette to soak up the last bits of soup in your bowl.

Sunday is Valentine's Day. I will be serving a romantic steak dinner to set the mood. The appetizer course will be my MMC 'Easy Elegance' Party-in-a-Bag': Brie Wedge with Mango Chutney; Smoked Salmon with Cucumber Dill Dip; Grapes, Endive, Snow Peas, Asparagus Spears; Blue Cheese Sesame Seed Crackers, Simple Water Crackers; and Citrus Stuffed Gourmet Olives for some jazz. This way I will have the time (and energy) to enjoy the evening too!

Do you have a party in your plans? If so, check out the latest feature on my website - 'Party in a Bag'! The Bags are designed to help you pull your party together in 30 minutes - flat! I love to entertain but don't often have the time required to pull off a big, fancy 'do', so, over the years, I have learned a few short-cuts; I will share them with you.

If you are planning a dinner party or family gathering, take a look at the Holiday and Special '30-Minute Complete Menu Plans' on my website. You will find menu ideas to help with your celebration or 'do'.

The Family Meals '30-Minute Complete Menu Plans' are developed to help with both weeknight and special dinner prep. I create Complete Menu Plans using the 30-minute menus from this blog:

• The Complete Menu Plans give you recipes and step-by-step instructions for preparing the complete meal (not just the entree as most meal plans do) in 30 minutes - flat! I even include a grocery list to save unnecessary trips to the grocery store.
• These are eComplete Menu Plans so you can purchase the menu plan now and use it for dinner tonight!
• You won't have to spend your precious time thinking of menu ideas and then looking up the recipes - I will send it all directly to you!
• You can purchase a Complete Menu Plan for the introductory price of .25 each.
• You can purchase a Complete Menu Plan for the introductory price of .25 each. If you have found my 30-minute menus helpful, then you must check out the 30-Minute Complete Menu Plans!

You will find that I use several cooking methods, mix and match, to get dinner on the table quickly! (The ingredients in parenthesis show some of my quick-prep steps.) You can always substitute your favorite made-from-scratch recipes when you have more time.

I hope you have a great week!

Sunday: Valentine's Day
Fillet Mignon with Bleu Cheese Topper (Panko bread crumbs)
Baked Potatoes (microwaved then baked to finish)
Caesar Salad (bagged salad mix)
Pots of Chocolate

Monday:
Eggplant Parmesan (vegetarian: jarred pasta sauce, purchased bread crumbs, shredded cheeses)
Pasta of Choice (boxed pasta)
Steamed Broccoli
Orange Crescents (canned crescent rolls, jarred orange marmalade)

Tuesday:
Meatball Stew (frozen meatballs)
Bread Bowls (refrigerated biscuits)
Fruit Salad with Yogurt Dressing (purchased yogurt, canned Mandarin oranges, pear slices, and pineapple)
Buckeye Chocolate Chippers (prepared cookie dough, canned chocolate frosting)

Wednesday:
Mexi-Mac Chicken with Double Cheese (cooked or canned chicken, buy extra for Friday; boxed mac&cheese mix, shredded cheese)
Fresh Green Beans
Cookie S'mores (purchased jumbo cookies buy extra cookies for Thursday; bagged chocolate morsels, mini-marshmallows)

Thursday:
Weeknight Seafood Bouillabaisse (cleaned and deveined shrimp, jarred picante sauce, and canned crab, clams, mixed vegetables, and tomatoes)
Rolls or Baguette of Choice
Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches (purchased jumbo cookies and ice cream)

Friday:
Hot Chicken Salad (cooked or canned chicken, jarred chutney, canned pineapple, bagged salad greens)
Sliced Apples with Grapes
Chocolate Nut Toffee (boxed graham cracker crumbs, chocolate morsels)

Saturday:
Slow Cooked Pulled Pork (crock pot; bottled BBQ sauce and mushroom gravy)
Buns and Condiments (purchased buns, jarred condiments)
Black-Eyed Pea Salad (canned peas, corn, and chilies)
Banana Pudding (instant pudding mix, purchased vanilla wafers)


Get inspired for your weekly menus at OrgJunkie!

I sincerely hope you have fun with your meal planning and preparation,
Elizabeth Randall and Family