Ham and Cheese Pockets and Menu Plan

I thought I'd share one of my latest creations.  I made these last weekend, and they were delicious!  Such a great lunch for cold, rainy days.  I froze them and enjoyed a couple for breakfast this morning.  Yum!
                                      
Ham and Cheese Pockets

• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup water, warm (100-110F)
• 1/2 buttermilk(100-110F)
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 2 cups flour (I used a mix of whole wheat and unbleached flour)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 tbsp butter, room temperature

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, or in a large bowl if you prefer to mix by hand, combine yeast, water, milk and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes, until foamy. Add in bread flour and salt and mix well with a dough hook. Cut the softened butter into three or flour pieces and drop them into the dough, letting the mixer blend them in.
Knead (with a mixer or by hand) for about 2 minutes. Cover the bowl and let rise for 45 minutes in a warm place.

Filling:

6-8 slices deli ham sliced into 1/4 inch pieces

2 green onions, sliced 

1/3 cup Greek yogurt (you can use cream cheese too)

1/4 cup grated cheese (I used a combination of mozzarella and sharp cheddar)

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick.  Using a cutter, cut into 3 inch diameter circles.  Drop 1tablespoon of the filling onto half the cut rounds, then fold over and seal the edges with your thumb.

Bake for 10-12 minutes until outside is browned and crisp.  

Breakfast:

english muffins (homemade) with peanut butter or nutella

cereal

granola

Lunches:

quesadillas

sandwiches

spinach salad

Dinners:

Sunday: balsamic marinated flank steak with tomato and chorizo salad, asparagus

Monday: BBQ turkey sandwiches with caesar salad

Tuesday: It's Little Man's 7th birthday.  He wants Mommy's Mac n Cheese

(gives me warm fuzzies that he could have anything he wants or go out, and he asks for this!)

Wednesday: Spicy Chicken and Rice Noodles

Thursday:  leftovers or take-out

Friday: Homemade pizza with Beer Battered Pizza Dough

I'm linking up with Menu Plan Monday, Mouthwathering Monday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday,  Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits, What's on the Menu Wednesday, Full Plate Thursday, What's for Dinner?  and This Week's Cooking.

Simple Pasta Primavera

This week, I made a simple pasta primavera for dinner.  This recipe comes from a cookbook I've had for years.  Its one of those well-loved ones I have in my cabinet.  I thought I'd share a yummy, easy recipe from it.

Pasta Primavera

1 lb fettuccine or linguine
3 medium carrots cut into 1/4 rounds
1 bunch asparagus, bottoms snapped off and cut into 1 inch slices
1 cup snap peas, stems and strings removed, if necessary

2 tbsp butter
2 tomatoes, medium dice
1 onion, sliced thin

Salt
Pepper
grated parmesan

Method:
Start water to a boil, add a tbsp of salt to water.  While water is coming to a boil, prepare vegetables.

According to package directions, cook pasta.  When there are 5 minutes left in cooking time, add asparagus, carrots, and snap peas to pasta and water.  While pasta is boiling, melt butter in large skillet.  Add tomatoes and onions, saute until onions are soft.   Reserve 3/4 cup of boiling water from pasta, then drain pasta.

Return the pasta and vegetables to the cooking pot and add reserved water, pepper, and 1/4 cup parmesan.  Toss.  Serve with extra parmesan and pepper, if desired.



 

This Week's Menu:
Breakfast:
homemade baked donuts
cereal
French Toast Waffles

Lunches:
caesar chicken wraps
quesadillas
ham and cheese pockets


Snacks:
homemade cheese crackers
cuties
celery and bell pepper sticks


Dinners:
Sunday:Won Ton Soup and Crab Rangoon
Monday: Baked Sausages with Herbed Beans from One Dish Cookbook
Tuesday: Corned Beef in the Crockpot ( I know St. Pat's Day in Thursday, but I wanted to make this for the family and my little guy is at dad's house Thursday)
Wednesday: Chicken Alfredo with broccoli
Thursday: Corned Beef Sandwiches with leftover corned beef and baked yukon gold fries
Friday: leftovers
Saturday: Beer Battered Pizza

I'm linking up with Menu Plan Monday, Mouthwathering Monday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday,  What's on the Menu Wednesday, Full Plate Thursday, and This Week's Cooking.

New cookbook!

I went shopping with a friend last night and we ended up in Williams-Sonoma.  I'm not sure which is more dangerous, Williams-Sonoma or Ann Taylor Loft!

 On Monday this week, I made this dish and loved it.  The prep was easy, and it took 2 dishes to make the whole meal!  When we were in Williams-Sonoma, I asked if they had the One Pot cookbook that the recipe came from so I could look through  it.  Lately, when I look through cookbooks, I am not impressed.  I can find most of the recipes I see there on the internet.  This one was different!  I ended up purchasing it because I want to learn new ways to introduce different vegetables and creative ways to cook for my family.  I a so excited to pick a meal from it for next weeks' food plan!