Baked Asparagus Fries and Menu Plan

I'm always looking for new ways to cook vegetables.  Last week when my Fine Cooking magazine arrived, I was very excited to see a recipe for asparagus fries.  I was not so excited to see that they were fried in oil.  I played with the recipe a little and made them healthier.  These were a huge hit with our family!

Baked Asparagus Fries
1 pound asparagus, cut with tips to 2 1/2-3 inch "fries"
2 egg whites, slightly beaten
2 cups bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cover asparagus with egg whites, then cover with bread crumbs.  Lay on baking sheet.  Cook for 20-25 minutes until bread crumbs are golden brown and asparagus is tender, but still crispy.

Serve with your favorite spicy chipotle aioli.

Menu Plan:
Sunday: Whole Wheat Pasta with Homemade Pesto
Monday: Orzo with Sausage, Peppers and Tomatoes
Tuesday: BBQ Chicken and pineapple quesadillas
Wednesday:  Pepperocini and Beef Sandwiches
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: We are off on a family trip

Breakfast:
Homemade English Muffins
Homemade granola

I'll be linking to Menu Plan Monday, Mouthwathering Monday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday,  Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits, What's on the Menu Wednesday, Full Plate Thursday, and What's for Dinner?

Honey Almond Granola and Menu Plan

Granola is one of my favorite breakfasts!  It fills me up, helps be start my day, and tastes great.  About 4 months ago, I tarted looking at recipes and decided to try my hand at making my own.  The great thing about homemade granola is once you get the ratios down, you can add flavor in any way that you like!  Let me know what way you like it when you try it.

Honey Almond Granola
8 cups uncooked rolled oats
2 cups sliced almonds
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
2 cups dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Put oats and almonds in a large bowl.  In a small bowl, mix together oil, honey, cinnamon, almond extract, and vanilla extract.  Drizzle honey mixture over oat and nut mixture.  Spread oats over a cookie sheet in one layer.  Cook at 350 degrees for one hour, turning with a spatula every 15 minutes.  Allow to cool.  Store in an airtight container.  I find its delicious for about 2 weeks.

Breakfast:

Honey Almond Granola

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

Egg Sandwiches

Cereal

Dinner:

Monday:  Grilled Chicken Caesar Wraps

Tuesday:  Tri-Tip Pasta Salad

Wednesday: Crock Pot Pulled Pork

Thursday: Grilled Chicken and Summer Squash Salad

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Dinner Out

I'll be linking to Menu Plan Monday, Mouthwathering Monday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday,  Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits, What's on the Menu Wednesday, Full Plate Thursday, and What's for Dinner?

Cheesy Spaghetti and Menu Plan

With a day and a half left of school, I am getting ready to get back to my favorite ways to entertain myself; namely cooking, sewing, scrapbooking and shopping!  I thought this week, I'd share a favorite recipe from my childhood.  My mom used to make this when we were kids.  Make this when other people are around to share, because if you make it by yourself, there will be no leftovers, not that I'm speaking from experience or anything!  This is one of my favorite comfort foods.  It has almost all my favorite foods in it; cheese, garlic and pasta.  How can you go wrong with those?    I've changed the recipe a little over the years, but this is ultimate comfort food!

1 lb box spaghetti (I used fresh spaghetti)

1 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese

2 tbsp butter

3 cloves garlic

2 tbsp fresh parsley

1 tsp chili powder

2 tbsp milk

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain pasta and return to cooking pot.  Add cheese and other ingredients and mix until cheese is melted and distributed throughout the pasta.  

Yep, I think its the easiest recipe I've ever posted here!  I had a craving for it last weekend, and when I posted it on Facebook, I had 3 friends ask me for the recipe, so there you go!  Its definitely a cold day, comfort food type recipe.  (In my beautiful, sunny California right now, it feels like January!) Enjoy!

Sunday: Spinach and Roasted Red Pepper Lasagna
Monday: Spicy Peanut Noodles and chicken strips
Tuesday: Macaroni and Cheese
Wednesday: leftovers
Thursday: Turkey Burgers with turkey bacon and avocado
Friday: homemade pizza

I'll be linking to Menu Plan Monday, Mouthwathering Monday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday,  Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits, What's on the Menu Wednesday, Full Plate Thursday, and What's for Dinner?