Meal Planning Kit, Week 3, Day 5

Tonight Little Man asked for Pasta for dinner - I had just the answer:

Tortellini with Red Pepper Romano Sauce

quick side note on this: 

Hubby + grocery store = well, you know!

So, unless you are a man and believe "bigger is always better"

you only need an 8 oz. package of tortellini, not a 20 oz. package

I have never made a cream sauce before, so I was fascinated by how easy this is!

Melting a tablespoon of butter

Stir in a tablespoon of flower

Makes a beautiful, bubbly concoction!

Add 1/4 dry white wine.
 I had some Pinot Grigio open, so it was the easy choice

Add 1/4 cup of cream

Wow, this smells just like my favorite cheese fondue

One jar Roasted Red Pepper Romano Specialty Topping 

Little Man's favorite - salami.  He is on a very restricted diet, but this is his big treat!

Mix it all up!

And this is your creamy, yummy reward! 

Served in my much loved Biltmore Inspirations Lotus Leaf Bowl

A special bonus for Little Man, Biltmore Inspirations Roasted Garlic Basil

Seasoning Mix with EVOO, for dipping his bread!

No Hubby quote tonight, since he wasn't hear for dinner,

but we will have a leftover testing with him tomorrow.  

 Little Man says "When is the Week 4 Meal Kit arriving?"

Stay tuned, Week 4 should arrive any day!

www.biltmoreinspirations.com/Angela

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Meal Planning Kit, Week 3, Day 4 - AKA, The New Neighbors!

Yes, we do live in one of those amazing neighborhoods, where people are welcomed with food & friendship!   This morning we arose to the great sound of new next door neighbors.   While I was making our yummy brunch of Strawberry Stuffed French Toast, I thought what a better welcome then a loaf of warm bread for snacking, while moving in.  

Cranberry Citrus Quick Bread Mix it is!

No, really . . . that is all you need!

Warm & Wonderful!

Even gifts of food, should be presented beautifully - In one of the boxes from the Biltmore Inspirations Celebrate Gift Bag Set.  

While delivering this box to the new neighbors, one of the other neighbors invited them to dinner tonight.  They included all of the families in the cul de sac, so we could all get to know them and welcome them.  So, those plans we laid earlier in the week . . . changing again!  

Summer Salsa Quiche is going to the party!  We decide to go ahead and make our next meal and bring it to share with our friends. 

I have never used frozen pie crust before, so I had an opportunity to learn about something new.   It never occurred to me that you would bake it for 10 minutes before filling it. 

The recipe called for the same summer salsa that we made earlier in the week.  Since we had leftovers; I cheated, drained that and used it for the base of the quiche.   Then layered Asiago cheese. 

Simple egg mixture

Poured over the top of salsa & cheese

And, you have a lovely quiche to take to the party!

BONUS:

Since I used the extra salsa from the Summer Salsa Rice, I had extra Biltmore Inspirations Summer Salsa Seasoning mix to make one of my favorites, to take to the party:

 Chunky Black Bean Summer Salsa!

I try to keep these items on hand, for just these kinds of impromptu occasions.

If what was left in my beautiful Blue Ridge Pie Plate, at the end of the evening, is any indication; it was a hit!

Hubby needs his daily quote . . . I better go nudge him before he falls asleep! 

About the Summer Salsa Quiche he says "I thought it was very good" - He is boring when he is tired ;-)

I really liked the flavors and it was a great quiche consistency - I am looking forward to a piece for breakfast in the morning!

www.biltmoreinspirations.com/Angela

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Meal Planning Kit, Week 3, Day 3

Friday nights dinner, becomes Saturday bunch!

Strawberry Stuffed French Toast, made with Biltmore Inspirations Hearty Wheat Bread Quick Mix and Strawberry Cream Dip Mix

Time to bake the Hearty Wheat Bread - Bread mix, club soda and melted butter on top

It looks beautiful!  Don't we all love fresh baked bread?

Next up is the strawberry filling.

So creamy!

Stuff it up

SIDETRACK!

I would never dip the filling in the bread crumbs and eat them right off the spatula

YUM!

Egg mix

Off to the fridge for a couple hours to soak up all the goodness.  

Bake it for 30 minutes and you have this beautiful deliciousness!

Before I add Hubby's quote, I should preface it with the fact that he LOVES breakfast foods of all types.  This might potentially interfere with his ability to articulate.  

Are you ready for it . . .

 "MMMmmmmm . . . Me likey!"

www.biltmoreinspirations.com/Angela

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I've gone to the dogs!

Remember that old quote about "The best laid plans"?   Instead of leaving work early & cooking another fabulous meal for my family tonight, I worked late & take out it is! 

I thought you all might still be interested in our exciting evening.   Tonight we are talking to 35 Boy Scouts about service dogs.   We are doing a presentation about Canine Assistants, the great people who gave our beautiful golden retriever Amber to Little Man.    Canine Assistants trains companion dogs, seizure response dogs and service dogs, like Amber, for people with disabilities.

What fun sharing about the last 20 years of Canine Assistants!

www.canineassistants.org

Here is a picture of Amber & Mae, who is also helping us out with the presentation tonight.

Mae, Amber & Princess Jasmine snuck into this picture too! 

Wish us luck, well behaved dogs and lots of fun!   We'll see you back here tomorrow for another great meal from the Week 3 Meal Plan - we might even break more rules and make one for breakfast tomorrow . . .

www.biltmoreinspirations.com/Angela
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Meal Planning Kit, Week 3, Day 2

As promised, Little Man made the choice tonight.  And, he went for Wednesday's meal and side dish.

Chicken Quesadillas and Summer Salsa Rice

Rotisserie chicken, tortillas, sour cream, monterey jack cheese, mozzarella cheese and Biltmore Inspirations Smoky Mountain Mustard Spread for the chicken quesadillas.   Rice, diced tomatoes, salt and Biltmore Inspirations Summer Salsa Seasoning Mix for the summer salsa rice. 

Here we go:

The rice was so easy, I forgot to take a picture!  I should get the hang of this blog routine down soon . . .

The finished product:

Hubby's quote:  "I am so full . . . it was great, like yesterday!"   He did eat a little too much!

BONUS:

Little Man saw the drink recipes and decided he wanted to make the Raspberry Ginger Temple for us all. 



He loved making it and drinking it!

What will tomorrow bring . . .

www.biltmoreinspirations.com/Angela  www.facebook.com/InspirationsWithAngela

Meal Planning Kit, Week 3, Day 1

My husband is home for dinner all this week, so I thought it a perfect time to try one of our weekly meal plans.

We are starting with the Meal Planning Kit for Week #3

Recipes included:
Summer Salsa Quiche; Tortellini with Red Pepper Romano Sauce; Chicken Quesadillas; Parmesan Tuscan Chicken; Zucchini Pasta; Strawberry Stuffed French Toast; Summer Salsa Rice; Raspberry Vodka Cocktail; Raspberry Ginger Temple, Raspberry Fool dessert!

Last night we went to Super Target and purchased the required groceries. Much to my surprise the bill was amazingly low. We spent less than $100 (always a success at Super Target) for everything on the shopping list plus breakfast & lunch foods for the week and a couple household items.

Tonight we tried our first Biltmore Inspirations Meal.  I must admit, sometimes we don't follow the rules!  We started with Thursday's meal of Tuscan Chicken & Zuchinni Pasta.   Hubby's choice - tomorrow we will let Little Man choose . . .

The Tuscan Parmesan Chicken was very easy with Biltmore Inspirations Tuscan Parmesan Seasoning, chicken breasts, mayo & bread crumbs. 

It's as simple as mix the mayo & Tuscan Parmesan Seasoning and spread on the chicken breasts,  sprinkle with bread crumbs and bake.

 Sundried Tomato Zucchini Pasta

Zucchini, EVOO, pasta and Biltmore Inspirations Sun Dried Tomato Dip Mix

And, the finished product

So, what everyone really wants to know . . . how was it?  Hubby says "Easy & Excellent"!!!

Find this menu kit and more at www.biltmoreinspirations.com/angela and don't forget to follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InspirationsWithAngela