Jaime Cooks: Endevours in Eating & Entertaining

Meal Plan – January 14th – 20th

jaimeleben — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:33:29 +0000

Saturday – Dinner: Romaine Wedge Salads, Filet Mignon, Twice Baked Potatoes, Roasted Asparagus, and Roasted Garlic Mushrooms – This was a great meal. Really, really great meal. I was reminded that all our meat should be purchased from Haus of Prime in Delafield. One of those “If buying meat from a gas station is wrong, I don’t want to be right” situations. If you go, ask them to season for you with their house blend. You won’t be disappointed.
Sunday – Dinner: Lentil and Black Bean Soup with Andouille Sausage – This was good. I bumped up the spices a little for our tastes, but, otherwise, didn’t really change anything.
Monday – Dinner: Cheesy Pearl Couscous with Roasted Broccoli – Think of the best mac and cheese you’ve ever had, and then add bacon. Yeah, now you’ve got it. Great recipe to have when you’re looking for a quick meal to please parents and kids alike. Especially kids who like broccoli better than pasta … my kid is such a weirdo.
Tuesday – Dinner: Birthday Dinner at Kurt’s Steakhouse – After Saturday, I was steaked out, so we had the house bruschetta and I enjoyed the coconut shrimp for my entrée. I love this restaurant, probably ‘because you can’t go wrong with reasonably prices steaks, awesome house vinaigrette, and deep fried rolls. Yes, I said deep. fried. rolls.
Wednesday – Dinner: Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas – I liked this, but I don’t think I’d do the sweet potatoes next time, and I would add more mushrooms and beans to give a meat substitute. Also, replace the salsa with some enchilada sauce to bump up the smokiness and overall enchilada flavor. Jim didn’t care for this, but I think with some changes, he won’t glare at me next time I put some vegetarian Mexican food in front of him.
Thursday – Dinner: Italian Salad with Fresh Basil Vinaigrette – I served this salad with some fresh ciabatta and sliced salamis on the side. It was a very nice, and filling, main meal salad. Top with whatever you have on hand that fits into the category of “anti-pasta”, and you’ll be sure to enjoy it as well.
Friday – Dinner: Sushi Take-Out from Asiana – Clear Mushroom Soup, Pepper Tuna (Thin-sliced seared tuna w. wasabi mayo), & Western Roll (Spicy crab w. crunch inside and avocado, shrimp tempura outside w. mayonnaise sauce on top). I discovered that Carter enjoys Tuna during this dinner. Again, he’s a weirdo, but I didn’t mind fighting with him over the yumminess.

Meal Plan – January 7th – January 13th

jaimeleben — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:26:37 +0000

Saturday – Dinner: Elinor’s Baptism
Sunday – Dinner: Sushi Take-Out from Asiana – Pepper Tuna (Thin-sliced seared tuna w. wasabi mayo), Pan Fried Dumpling, Western Roll (Spicy crab w. crunch inside and avocado, shrimp tempura outside w. mayonnaise sauce on top), Vegetable Tempura with Clear Mushroom Soup, Carrot & Ginger Salad and White Rice. I am so getting the pepper tuna again. Loved it, and the leftovers were great for lunch the next day.
Monday – Dinner: Jaime Out for Girls’ Night to Café Hollander – Met up with Amber & Jennifer for cocktails and dinner. We had started with the Roasted Mushroom Rusks (Herb cream cheese, portobello, shitake, and oyster mushrooms, shaved Pecorino cheese, and rosemary oil on toasted country French bread), and then I split the Benelux Salad (Mixed greens, tomatoes, candied walnuts and bleu cheese, tossed in balsamic vinaigrette) and Grilled Portobello Sandwich (Grilled marinated portobello cap topped with melted white cheddar cheese, mixed greens, roasted red peppers, sliced red onion and feta cheese on ciabatta with chipotle mayo). My only complaint with any of this is that the salad could have been dressed more liberally, but that was corrected with an extra side of dressing.
Tuesday – Dinner: FINALLY BACK IN MY KITCHEN!!! Pan–Seared Chicken Breasts, Whole Wheat Herbed Couscous, and Steamed Broccoli – We wanted simple comfort, and that’s exactly what we got.
Wednesday – Dinner: Pasta with spicy Italian Sausage, Spinach, Red Peppers, & Pesto – This was a nice quick meal to throw together a lot of what I had on hand into a healthy Wednesday dinner.
Thursday – Dinner: Birthday Fiesta por Me!: Grapefruit Margaritas, Corn & Black Bean Salsa, Restaurant Style Salsa, Guacamole (store bought), Chicken, Pepper, & Portabella Tacos – It’s no secret that I adore Mexican food, so it was only fitting that I make it for my birthday. I’m sure you’re wondering why I didn’t just make my own guacamole, but at this time of year with avocados around $1.50 a piece, it’s cheaper for me to just buy the stuff from the produce section rather than purchase. It’s pretty good, and I can doctor it up if I ever feel it needs it, … it usually doesn’t.
Friday – Dinner: Anti-Pasti, Caesar Salads, and Salmon Oscar – This was a fantastic meal if I do say so myself. The salmon felt really fancy, but really wasn’t that difficult. Would be great for celebrating with a group, or just the two of you.

Meal Plan – December 31st – January 6th

jaimeleben — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:54:32 +0000

Saturday – Happy New Year! Heavy Appetizer Dinner with the Renno’s:
- Pomegranate Prosecco Cocktails & Assorted Beers
- Maple & Herb Roasted Nuts
- Caprese & Antipasti Skewers
- Zucchini Puffs with Pesto & Bacon
- Roasted Garlic Mushrooms
- Shrimp Cocktail
- Chicks in a Blanket
- Baked Maryland Crab Dip with Ciabatta and Vegetables
- Beef Skewers with Horseradish Dip
- Cheesecake Bites from Target & Brownie/Bar Pieces from Local Grocery
Sunday – Dinner: NYE a Deux
Monday – Dinner:
Santé Fe Chicken Salad with Chips, Salsa, & Guacamole
Tuesday – Dinner: Pesto Pasta with Sausage & Brussels Sprouts – I liked the idea of this, but the execution didn’t really come together for us. I think I will try the concept in the future, but with simply sautéing a green vegetable like broccoli florets prior to adding in the pasta and pesto.
Wednesday – Dinner: Philly Joe’s, Roasted Broccoli, & Baked Parmesan Garlic Fries – Unfortunately, the Philly Joe’s weren’t as tasty as I would have liked them to be. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but something was just “off” about the whole thing. Also, I found the cheese sauce to be unnecessary, and would have preferred to simply melt a slice or two over the meat mixture. The fries were a different story. Jim loved them, but I think I’ll skip the panko next go ’round to save a few calories.
Thursday – Dinner: Out to The Chancery – I forgot just how much I like this restaurant. It’s a great menu of simple classics with a twist executed very well in a family friendly environment.
Friday – Dinner: Take Out from Park Avenue Pizza – Pizza, Wings, and “Deep Fried Goodness” (that’s what Jim and his friends call a great plate of breaded and fried veggies, cheese, etc.)

Other Cooking & Baking: Andes Candies Infused Vodka

2011 in review

jaimeleben — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:14:19 +0000

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 32,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 12 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Meal Plan – December 24th – January 30th

jaimeleben — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:22:44 +0000

Saturday – Breakfast: Streusel-Topped Blueberry Muffins / Dinner: Christmas Eve with the Szajnas. Bringing Bourbon Pecan, Rum Walnut, & Almond Amaretto Balls
Sunday – Christmas Day with the Wardens. Bringing a Cheese Plate with Cheddar, Blue Cheese & Walnut Spread, Manchego, Brie, Salumi, Pears, Grapes, Almonds, Crackers, & Baguette
Monday – Day After Christmas with the Muggenthaler’s / Dinner: Baked Chicken Parmesan with Pasta and Steamed Broccoli
Tuesday – Dinner: Cheese Plate and Salads with Buffalo Chicken Bites
Wednesday – Dinner: Chicken, Pepper, & Broccoli Stir-Fry with TJ’s General Tso’s Sauce & Brown Rice
Thursday – Dinner: Take Out from Taco Amigo
Friday – Dinner: Leftovers!

Meal Plan – December 17th – December 23rd

jaimeleben — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 15:17:52 +0000

Saturday – Dinner: Cheese Plate, Skinless Chicken Thighs with Shallots in Red Wine Vinegar (Poulet Au Vinaigre) , Mashed Potatoes, Frenched Green Beans – This was fantastic. I did add some chopped carrots in with the onion and garlic sauté for a little more bulk to the sauce. Will definitely be making this again. Quick enough for a weeknight, but special enough for company.
Sunday – Dinner: Caesar Salads, Spinach Stuffed Shells, and Garlic Bread
Monday – Dinner: Steakhouse Baked Potatoes
Tuesday – Dinner: Chicken Tender Salads with French Bread
Wednesday – Dinner: Chicken Ramen Soup
Thursday – Dinner: Chili’s
Friday – Dinner: Gift Opening & Dinner at Jim’s dad & step-mom’s house.

Meal Plan – December 10th – December 16th

jaimeleben — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:42:49 +0000

Saturday, Sunday, & Monday – No recipes to share here. I will share that I used this time to say goodbye to my grandfather, Victor Leben.

3 Things I will always remember about my grandpa:
- The smell of pipe tobacco. He quit years ago, but the smell will always bring me back to him,
- His response to me telling him I was pregnant, “Well, that’s what you get for fooling around” followed by a wink and a smile.
- His ability to do what he believed what was right for his family even when it was tough. My dad inherited that trait, and while I hated it as a child, as an adult and parent, I now understand and appreciate it more than ever.
Love You Grandpa!
Tuesday – Dinner: Chicken Fried Chicken Cutlets, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Green Beans, & Biscuits – After being away, we were all in need of a “real dinner”. This definitely fit the bill.
Wednesday – Dinner: Spinach Stuffed Shells, Broccoli with Garlic & Red Pepper, and Fresh Bread – This was a great recipe that made enough for 8 servings of shells. I believe they freeze well, so it’s a great way to have some make-ahead meals on hand for busy weeks.
Thursday – Dinner: Steamed Edemame, Miso Brined Pork Chops, Spicy-and-Garlicky Brussels Sprouts, and Rice – Yeah, I’m officially giving up on pork chops. I can cook so many things successfully, but this cut I just cannot get the hang of, so I will, officially, throw in the towel. The Brussels Sprouts were a big hit though, and I’ve been given the green light to keep those on the Brussels rotation.
Friday – Dinner: Out to eat at Wells Street Tavern – We started with the pretzels, which were good, but nothing special. After that, Jim had the Tavern Club, I had the Meat Loaf, and Carter had the Chicken Tenders kids’ meal. Jim seemed to like his, Carter only ate his fries, and my meat loaf was super salty, while the corn and potatoes were cold. I’m not in any hurry to go back any time soon.

Meal Plan – December 3rd – December 9th

jaimeleben — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:28:48 +0000

Saturday –Dinner: Date Night at Le Reve
Sunday – Dinner: Random snacks and Hot Cocoa
Monday – Dinner: Madeira Chicken with Mushrooms, Wild Rice Stuffing, and Steamed Carrots – LOVED the chicken and will definitely make again. The rice will be made again, but I will most likely cut the recipe in half, and substitute about half of the wild rice with long grain or brown rice for a more pleasing texture. All wild rice was just too crunchy for us.
Tuesday – Dinner: Veggie & Beef Stir-fry with Trader Joe’s Teriyaki Sauce and Brown Rice
Wednesday – Dinner: Ground Chicken Tacos, Refried Beans, Rice, and Restaurant Salsa
Thursday – Dinner: Pigs in a Blanket, Kraft Mac & Cheese, Steamed Broccoli, & Pillsbury Simply Chocolate Chip Cookies – Yeah, you read that correctly. I took some help, well, a lot of help, with tonight’s dinner and the boys loved it. Truth be told, I didn’t mind it either.
Friday – Dinner: Take-Out Fish Fry from Park Avenue Pizza

Meal Plan – November 26th – December 2nd

jaimeleben — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:08:11 +0000

Saturday – Brunch: Mexican Sausage, Chili, & Cheese Quiche / Dinner: Maxie’s Southern Comfort

Sunday – Linner: Chicken, Spinach, & Asiago Burgers with Roasted Broccoli, and Oven-Fries

Monday – Dinner: Corn Chowder with Jalapeño & Honey Yeast Rolls
Tuesday – Dinner: Roasted Vegetable Pasta with Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage
Wednesday – Dinner: Panfried Chicken Breasts, Roasted Garlic Smashed Potatoes, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Pecans, & Cranberries, and Corn
Thursday – Dinner: Take-Out from Park Avenue Pizza
Friday – Dinner: Maxie’s Southern Comfort Leftovers

Meal Plan – November 19th – 25th

jaimeleben — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 16:35:29 +0000

Saturday – Dinner: Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli

Sunday – Lunch: Football Food: Cheese, Sausage, Crackers, Veggies & Dip, Pretzels with Cream Cheese, BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, and Calico Beans

Monday – Dinner: Carbonara with Peas – A little saltier than we liked, and I ended up tossing the leftovers. I can’t decide if it was the recipe, or if the salted pasta water was too salty when used in the sauce. Love the idea of this dish, just need to find a recipe we enjoy.

Tuesday – Dinner: Chicken Noodle Soup – Best Chicken Noodle soup ever!

Wednesday – Dinner: Greek Chicken Salads with Pita, Tzatziki, and Hummus – Great use of leftovers, in my humble opinion. I also figured salads would be a good pre-Thanksgiving dinner.

Thursday – Breakfast: Basic Pancakes with Oven-Roasted Bacon & Sausage / Cocktail: Champagne Dreams / Appetizers: Stuffed Mushrooms Artichoke & Crab Puffs, Blue Cheese & Walnut Spread / Dessert: Marzipan & Pear Cupcakes with Caramel Buttercream – Everything was a success! A great mix of the usual flavors with a new twist, exactly what I was going for.

Friday – Dinner: Bistro-Style Short Ribs, with Roasted Garlic Smashed Potatoes, & Candy Apple Pie – You know when you try an entire menu of new dishes and they all work the way you want? This was one of those meals. The short ribs took about an hour or so longer than the recipe noted, but it wasn’t a big deal, as it was just the 3 of us, but I would have been a bit nervous had we been entertaining. The candy apple pie was well received as well. So good, Jim forgot to tell me it was good until about a ½ hour after his plate was cleaned. I’ll take that as a compliment.