Upside Down Cats

I'm back on schedule posting the meals I've planned in advance for the week ahead. Although I also pre-plan and often utilize many of the same ingredients in meals for my daycare children, these meals posted here are the ones I prepare strictly for Scott and me. Here's some of what I'll be cooking for us this week:



Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches on Toasted Club Rolls, Garlic French Fries & Mixed Greens Salad

Pasticcio* & Wilted Spinach Salad

Cheese & Rice Casserole & Oven-Roasted Asparagus

Shrimp Fajitas & Tortilla Chips w/ Salsa & Refried Beans

Waffles, Chicken-Apple Sausage Links & Fresh Fruit

Chicken Burgers w/ Bleu Cheese & Bacon, Beer-Battered Onion Rings & Raw Vegetable Platter w/ Ranch Dip

Bacon & Cheddar Omlettes & Bagels w/ Garlic-Herb Cream Cheese



*Pasticcio - Thanks, Kelly, for recently reminding me of a dish I haven't made in years! Greek food rocks!

Before proceeding to the meat of the matter, I want to take this opportunity to exclaim in abject horror...

OMG, did I just type 6 for the month???

Inconceivable!

It can't possibly be JUNE already!!!

...OK, now I've taken a deep breath and regained my time-passage composure, so let us move forward to the subject at hand: Answering the (hopefully not) burning question...What's Cookin'?

My friend Kelly at kellementology recently complimented me on my organizational skills because I plan my meals for the week in advance. It gave me such a warm feeling to be lauded for my ability to not only make a plan and stick to it, but to prove it by posting it here for all the world (or at least my handful of readers) to see.

I felt so energized by Kelly's praise, in fact, that I proceeded to abandon the whole process the next two weeks...! Yup, it's true...I haven't posted an installment since Sunday, May 11!

Gee, Kelly, I didn't mean to make a liar out of you! I guess the pressure of your admiration was simply too much for me - and I caved! In my defense, I've had some computer and health issues in the past couple weeks. Nothing serious in either arena, just not conducive to blogging.

I have overcome these obstacles (for the most part) so I am here to make Kelly proud once again. Here's what I'll be cooking this week:



Grilled Greek Chicken Salad w/ Mixed Greens, Asparagus, Artichoke Hearts, Feta Cheese & Walnuts & Multi-Grain Bread w/ Honey Butter

Toasted Multi-Cheese Sandwiches on Whole Wheat Bread, French Fries & Ramen Noodle Coleslaw

Orange Roughy Marinated in Soy Sauce, Honey & Citrus Zest, Rolled in Sesame Seeds, Fried Rice w/ Almonds & Steamed Broccoli drizzled w/ Sesame Oil

Honey-Chipotle BBQ Chicken Wings, Macaroni & Cheese & Garlic Sauted Spinach

Linguine w/ Shrimp, Scallops, Calamari & Clams in a Garlic & White Wine Sauce & Mixed Greens Salad

Chicken-Fried Steak w/ Creamy Country Gravy, Mashed Potatoes & Collard, Turnip & Mustard Greens Sauted w/ Bacon & Garlic



That's better...now I feel like I'm living up to my obsessive-compulsive organized reputation!

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful moms! I'm not a mother, so today is just a plain old Sunday in my kitchen... As usual, I've planned my week's menus in advance to make things run more smoothly during the week. Here's some of what I'll be cooking this week:



Breaded, Sauted Ocean Perch, Oven-Roasted Red Potato Wedges & Ramen Noodle Coleslaw

Risotto & Mixed Greens Salad

Thai Peanut Chicken w/ Rice Noodles & Thai Vegetables

Italian Macaroni & Cheese & Garlic & Lemon Broccoli

Chili & Cornbread

Roast Chicken, Cornbread Stuffing & Oven-Roasted Vegetable Medley

Bacon, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Wrap, Hash Brown Potatoes & Fresh Fruit



Here's hoping all you moms out there get treated to a special meal on your special day!

I can hardly believe it's May already! Before long I'll be wanting to fire up the grill out back! Our weather's not quite there yet, so here's the list of meals I've planned in advance to cook in my kitchen this upcoming week:



Wagon Wheel Pasta w/ Shrimp & Broccoli in a White Wine, Sun-Dried Tomato & Parmesan Sauce & Garlic Herb Breadsticks

Southwestern Chicken Burgers Topped w/ Cheddar-Monterey Jack Cheese & Chipotle Sauce, Onion Rings & Mixed Greens Salad

Chicken-Fried Steak w/ Creamy Gravy, Mashed Potatoes & Spinach Sauted w/ Shallots in Olive Oil

Hot Dogs, German Potato Salad & Chili-Lime Corn on the Cob

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches on Oat Bread, Tater Tots, Raw Vegetable Platter w/ Garlic Herb Dip

Pesto-Marinated Chicken Breasts Served over Vegetable Rice Pilaf

Puffy Egg Roller Coaster,* Chicken Maple Sausage Links & Blackberries w/ Whipped Cream

Beef Enchiladas & Mixed Greens Salad



Wishing you a wonderful and well-fed week! Bon Apetit!

*Here's a photo I took the last time I made Roller Coaster for brunch. It is a concoction of eggs, flour, milk and butter. Drizzled with a touch of maple syrup, it is absolute heaven, my friends!

The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love. - William Wordsworth (1770-1850)



As a daycare provider I eagerly take on the responsibility of teaching children the basics of how to be nice people. Now that the youngest of our little daycare family is two years old, we are focusing more on behavior - and less on diapers (and I am not complaining about that!).

I am currently trying to teach my group of daycare children to choose to do the right thing...cooperation, altruism, the golden rule and all that rot...

Continue reading "Gina's Quotes Du Jour ... »

Last week flew by...it's hard for me to believe it's already time to post this week's meals I've planned in advance. Here's a sampling of what's on the menu at Chez Gina...

Beef-Barley-Lentil Soup & Grilled Cheese Sandwiches on Whole Wheat Bread

Meal-Sized Salad w/ Crabmeat, Cheese & Bacon & French Bread w/ Garlic-Herb Butter

Parmesan-Crusted Cod, Rice Pilaf w/ Almonds & Oven-Roasted Asparagus w/ Garlic & Olive Oil

Homemade Cheese Pizza, Mixed Greens Salad

Barbeque Spareribs, Macaroni & Cheese & Creamy Coleslaw

Seafood Benedict w/ English Muffins, Hash Brown Potatoes & Pineapple-Orange Salad

Pasta Two Ways: Fettucini w/ Chicken Alfredo Sauce & Campanelle w/ Tomato Basil Meat Sauce, Homemade Garlic Herb Breadsticks, Mixed Greens Salad & Strawberry Shortcake



Hey...that sounds like a pretty tasty week! No matter what the week brings, at least I have dinner to look forward to!

There have been some happy family happenings which have prevented me from making a menu the last couple weeks. Now that things are returning to normal, I am back to planning my menus in advance. Here's a sneak peek of what I'll be cooking this upcoming week...



Bacon, Egg & Cheese Bagel Sandwiches & Hash Brown Potatoes

Steak, Cheese & Rice Burritos & Mixed Greens Salad

Fried Eggs Served over Sausage & Cheese Grits & Multigrain Toast

Bow Tie Pasta w/ Chicken & Asparagus in Lemon Garlic Sauce w/ Toasted Walnuts

Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes & Brussels Sprouts Sauted in Olive Oil & Garlic

Hot Beef Sandwiches w/ Cheddar Horseradish Sauce, French Fries & Raw Vegetable Platter

Coquilles St. Jacques, French Bread & Mixed Greens Salad

Beef Barley Soup & Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato Sandwiches on Whole Wheat Bread

Chicken Parmesan, Pasta Tossed w/ Garlic & Olive Oil & Mixed Greens Salad



I feel absolutely large and in charge now that I've got my meals planned out again!

Today I'm revisiting an old friend...my Favorite Words series. The inspiration to write about today's word came from my Sweetie, Scott's recent post titled, Build Your Own Best Of - Steely Dan. His post is part of his series where he compiles a list of his personal choices for a Best Of collection of a musician's or a band's recordings.

I always have a running list of favorite words and this one has been on the list since its inception...

Continue reading "One Of My Favorite Words ... »

I neglected to post our menu last week...maybe that will give you an indication as to the kind of week it was. My schedule got knocked off track somehow, and it was tumbling dominoes from there on out. Anyway, I've done my meal planning today, so here is some of the magic I'll be cooking up this week...



Marinated & Pan-Seared Skirt Steak, Baked Potatoes & Escarole Sauted w/ Olive Oil & Garlic

Prosciutto & Provolone Sandwiches on Harvest Grain French Bread, Garlic & Herb Roasted Red Potato Wedges & Mixed Greens Salad

Roast Chicken, Dressing & Steamed Broccoli & Cauliflower Medley

Lasagna Rolls Stuffed w/ Ricotta Cheese, Prosciutto & Spinach & Mixed Greens Salad

Homemade Chicken Pot Pies w/ Mixed Vegetables

Pecan Pancakes, Maple Sausage Links & Strawberries w/ Whipped Cream



It seems I am back on track again, so maybe this will prove to be a better blogging (and everything else) week.

At least we can hope...

It's Sunday, so that means it's time to post the menus I've planned for the upcoming week. Here's some of what I'll be cooking this week.



Chicken Kiev w/ Steamed White Rice & Broccoli, Carrots & Snow Peas

Homemade Seafood Gumbo & Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato Sandwiches on Whole Wheat Bread

General Tso's Chicken & Vegetable Fried Rice

Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes & Oven Roasted Asparagus

Pulled Pork Sandwiches, French Fries & Broccoli Slaw

Chicken Fried Steak Skillet w/ Eggs & Country Gravy over Hash Brown Potatoes

Homemade Macaroni & Cheese & Garlic Sauted Spinach



I'm looking forward to the cooking a lot this week... I could use the diversion!