week of Aug 3, 2013

Sun - Grill Burgers
Mon - Mushroom Risotto and Peas
Tue - Fish Tacos and Black Bean Salsa

Mac and Cheese

Wed - Three Cheese Mac and Cheese
Thur - Chicken Nanban (Kikkoman recipe)
Fri- Frozen Dinner (such as Bertolli pasta dinner)

Grill Burgers http://www.foodnetwork.com/grilling-central-burgers/package/index.html

Crunchy Fish Tacos
24 (about 16 oz) fish sticks or breaded fish fillets
12 yellow corn tortillas
1 small head romaine lettuce or cabbage, shredded
2 limes/lemons
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
Bake fish sticks according to package. Heat tortillas. Mix sour cream, cumin, zest of a lime, tsp lime juice, and cayenne
pepper (optional, if you want it spicy) until combined. Assemble taco with 2 fish sticks (or about a 2 oz fish fillet), top with sauce and lettuce.

Black Bean Salsa
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can black beans
1/4 cup each onion, red and green bell pepper (diced small)
salt and pepper to taste
In a sauce pot, heat corn, black beans, and bell peppers in water until peppers are tender. Drain and serve with chicken.

3 Cheese Mac n' Cheese

2 1/2 cups dry elbow macaroni

3 tbsp butter

3 tbsp flour

3 cups milk

1 cup EACH sharp cheddar, provolone, and gouda, shredded 

4 oz cream cheese

1/4 tsp fresh grated nutmeg

Salt and Pepper to taste

Fresh black pepper

Topping (optional): 3 tbsp butter,1 cup bread crumbs. if you desire a crispy topping. Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Boil the pasta to al dente, according to package. The water, like all pasta water, should be salted before hand until it tastes like salt water.

While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter on a med-high heat. Whisk in the flour, turn down the heat to low, and keep it moving for about 2-5 minutes, until it smells nutty. Make sure it's free of lumps. Turn the heat back up to high and stir in the milk, simmer, stirring constantly, until it starts to bubble. Turn down heat to medium. Stir in cream cheese, until incorporated  Stir in 1/3 of the cheese at a time, waiting for each patch to melt. Season with salt and pepper and nutmeg. Fold the macaroni into the mix. Taste, add more salt and pepper if needed. May serve now

OR  if desired, bake to get a crispy crust: pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. top with extra cheese and/or topping. Bake for 10-30 minutes, until hot and bubbly. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving. (baked option showed above).

 Chicken Nanban (Kikkoman recipe) http://www.kikkoman.com/cookbook/search/recipe.php?numb=00000419