Pasta Salad Revisited

For years I've been making a pasta salad for potlucks and barbeques that is basically the same.  It's what I'd call an "Italian version".  Cooked pasta, italian dressing, Salad Supreme spice blend, grape tomatoes, black olives, cucumbers and mushrooms.  Not bad.  Easy and it tastes decent.

But this weekend I mixed it up a bit.  Our grocery store went through a remodel last year and they added a new mediterranean antipasto bar.  I had never looked at it before but was having some girlfriends over on Saturday so I figured I'd see if there was anything yummy.  There was SO MUCH good stuff!

Here's my new mediterranean pasta salad...
cooked pasta (I used bowties)
kalamata olives, sliced
feta stuffed green olives, sliced
roasted red pepper, coursely chopped
artichoke hearts, coursely chopped
fresh basil
feta cheese
greek dressing

YUM! 

I brought some for my lunch today and added a bit of store-bought rotisserie chicken and that gives it a nice extra diminsion.

I think I have a new go-to pasta salad.

What's your go-to recipe for "bring-a-dish" parties?

E-Mealz - Week 2

This week my grocery bill was $90. That was all groceries for 6 of the 7 meals plus a few other things we needed like milk, eggs, orange juice, extra fruit, yogurt & a few cleaning supplies. I did use a few coupons ($7.60 worth). We've decided that we will only do 6 of the meals each week because there is always at least one night when we just don't need something - we either eat out, have leftovers, or make-do with what's around. This is usually either my Weight Watchers night or Mr. Brown's softball night - the nights when one of us has the kids alone. This week's menu includes:
Taco Salad
baked tortilla chips & salsa
strawberries & bananas for dessert
(9 points)

Chunky Beef Barley Soup
Cornbread Muffins
(6 points)

Stewed Chicken & Lima Beans (yep, I'm one of the weird folks who likes Lima Beans)
Steamed Veggies
Peaches & Cream for dessert
(6 points)

Apple Glazed Pork Chops
Baked Sweet Potato
(8 points)

Mexican Skillet Dinner (like a homemade hamburger helper)
Caramel Nut Bananas for dessert
(8 points)

Italian-Dijon Tilapia
Steamed Veggies
(8 points)

Last night we had the Mexican Skillet. I was a bit skeptical because I've never really liked Hamburger Helper meals and this seemed a bit too close to that. But it was surprisingly good. And easy. I made the entire dinner in about 20 minutes. Even Mr. Brown gave it a "pretty good" rating.

We've decided that there are ways to keep it low points for me (following the recipe) and then add a bit for him or the kids to make it more up their alley. For example, last night I added salsa (0 points) on top of mine & Mr. Brown's. Mr. Brown & the kids also got cheese on top and Mr. Brown ate his with a flour tortilla. Even Peter gobbled it up. He really seemed to love it (of course, he loves almost everything these days). Allison didn't really touch it but I think she wasn't hungry because she wouldn't eat her banana either - and if she won't eat fruit I know she really isn't hungry.

$10 dinner

For less than $10 we had a delicious and easy family Sunday dinner yesterday. I followed this recipe for Lemon Herb Whole Chicken. I served it with roasted potatoes and frozen peas & carrots (an Allison favorite).
Cost
chicken $5 (.99/lb)
potatoes $3 (10 lb bag on sale)
veggies $2
$10! And that made enough for dinner last night and delicious leftovers for today's lunch.

The Joy of Slow Cooking

Thanks to Sara for cluing me in to this blog about Crock-Pot cooking. I have been wanting to use my slow cooker more frequently but have very little idea what to cook. My goal is to use it at least once a week. It just seems like it will make life easier in the evenings. It's always a balancing act to get the whole family fed dinner. With Allison in bed by 7pm she's usually hungry by 5:30 at the latest. Well, most nights Mr. Brown doesn't get home until 5:30. So that means I either have to make her a separate meal or I have to try to prepare a meal for all of us while she wants to play and Peter wants to eat. Not fun.

If I can get at least one night of meals done with the slow cooker it would save so much headache. It can be ready for Allison and 5:30 and Mr. Brown & I can eat whenever he gets home.

Do you have a favorite Crock-Pot recipe?