Pizzzzzzzzzzzza! And, what to make when you're only cooking for YOU!

Hi everyone!  There were no cards tonight as the husband is out to dinner with some friends.  So what did I eat for dinner...Wendy's!  I love Wendy's, and I've cut back immensely in eating fast food, but I just didn't feel like cooking something just for me tonight.

What do you all do when there's no husbands, kids, friends, etc to cook for and it's just you?  Do you cook something?  Eat out?  Eat a salad?  Eat just cheese and crackers (I've been known to do that), or does this not happen to you?  At this point, I can't wait to make salmon for both of us tomorrow night -  I missed cooking tonight, and really won't cook again after tomorrow until Sunday b/c of the bday...what will I do??

Before I realized I wanted to find out what you all do when you're the only one around to eat, I planned on blogging about this awesome pizza I had over the weekend, so here it goes!

Has anyone ever been to a restaurant numerous times, really enjoyed each meal you had, but then one time you have this meal that is unbelievable and you can't wait to either 1.  try to make it just like them or 2.  go have it again?  That was me this weekend!  We frequent La Cantina a lot, probably even too much, since there are so many other restaurants around us.  The husband always gets the Prime Rib because he says it's the best he's ever had, and if he doesn't get it, he'll regret it.  I usually get either the chicken or shrimp cacciatore, and sometimes chicken parm or even steak.  This was the first time I tried their pizza, and I went with a grilled chicken and carmelized onion pizza.  I usually get this type pizza at Bertucci's and never thought anything would beat it - this did it!  The crust where the toppings were was so thin, yet the crusty part at the end was thick, but fluffy, and yummy!  The red sauce was full of taste, with a sweetness to it that I loved!  YUM!  I wish I had some of those leftovers right now!

I just had to rave about this pizza!  What are you favorite types of pizzas?  Any special hints about how to make it well at home? 

Have a great night everyone!  I'm off to find recipes for next week and to figure out more "food card" ideas for the husband:)

Today I've been inspired to make...

I <3 our white board that I put up each week's menu on, and when the husband saw last night that only Sunday was filled in, he panicked!  I had to reassure him I would be feeding him, just with the snow I hadn't made it to the store yet (Monday after work I'm thinking)...he understood, and we continued on with playing the Wii;)  These are some of the meals I have found today and been inspired to make this week = posts you can look forward to!

* Coconut shrimp and dipping sauce from my Betty Crocker cookbook*
*Cornbread and chili casserole from www.theweatherincascadia.blogspot.com*
*A macaroni and sausage bake, with white sauce, from www.fruitychicken.com*
*Chicken whatchamacallit from www.cookingforzo.com*
*A fave of the husband's to please him, Martha Stewart's Mini Turkey Meatloaves - a fave of mine too!*
*Good ole pizza, I am craving it!*

I'll be back tonight with our cranberry pork loin dish - pictures and all!  Time to scrapbook!!!  Oh, and before I forget, here are some NYE pics...I am not quite the photographer, but my good ole orange digi hasn't done me wrong:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Wicked Cheap Wednesday's" - Volume 1

- photo care of kraftfoods.com

Thank the husband for this title and idea;) This time of year, well really anytime of year, everyone really tries to cut corners, right? Maybe because of all the crazy gift shopping for people, or even the extra grocery store trips for parties, donating to food pantries, etc, is why we really try to cut down the weekly grocery bill this time of year. I introduce "Wicked (it's a Massachusett's thing) Cheap Wednesday's" where I will do my best to post affordable and non-nasty meals to make that will hopefully leave you with a full belly, and maybe even some leftovers for the next day's lunch or dinner!

My first pick - Kraft Magazine's (I'll get to this, too) Baked Pizza Mac. Sounds awesome, right? Well it is!

You will need:

• 8 oz of your fave spaghetti or pizza sauce
• 1 7.25 oz package of mac and cheese - prepared as directed on the package
• 1 lb ground beef, cooked
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
  
• 1/2 tsp dried basil leaves
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400. Combine prepared mac and cheese dinner, 2/3 of the meat, and about 3/4 of the spaghetti sauce, egg, and seasonings. Spoon this mixture evenly into a 9 inch pie plate (or I've even used a 9x13 inch pan). Top with the remaining meat and 1/4 spaghetti sauce; sprinkle with cheese...and yes, of course, add crushed red pepper if your guy/girl is like my guy:)

Bake for 15 minutes, then let stand/cool for 5.

For the 2 of us, this usually lasts one full dinner and either lunch or one of our dinner's the next night. I usually serve it with a garden salad and garlic bread if there's a brand on sale that week:)

This recipe costs, without trying to break down and figure out how much 1/2 cup a bag of shredded mozzarella cheese costs, 8 oz of spaghetti sauce, etc about $9.50 if you already have the egg, dried basil leaves, and garlic powder. If not, it's worth it to buy those items because you can use those ingredients in so many other things! Here's the breakdown I came up with:

• spaghetti sauce - store brand - $1.50 - and you'll have plenty left over for other meals
  
• mac and cheese - $.50 - store brand
• hamburg - around $5.00
• mozz cheese - $2.50/bag store brand

Throw in the salad and maybe some garlic bread, and add on about another $5. Hopefully you already have the salad items as part of your grocery list weekly anyhow....you do, right??

**You don't know how many times I've been planning my weekly meal/grocery list and felt stumped. What do I do, go to my Kraft Magazine. I began subscribing before it cost anything, but when I got the mailing stating it was going to cost money, of course I was alittle annoyed. When I saw that I could get two years, so eight magazines at least (as it comes out quarterly and then sometimes special issues, plus a free cookbook) for $17.98, I definitely felt it was worth it. The magazine comes with great recipes of all types - crockpot, dinners, desserts, sides, appetizers, you name it, plus coupons and even helpful lists like what to always have in your pantry. I'm sold! I suggest that you all subscribe to this, or at least peruse their website to see if you like the recipes and feel it be worth it for you to subscribe.

Dinner time here - today I ate an egg, toast, and some grapes without having to see them again, if you get what I mean:) Tonight I'm going to try to eat some dry turkey and potatoes, so wish me luck!! And OH - if I can keep my dinner down, I can't wait to watch Top Chef tonight! Go Jennifer!