Savory Stuffed Chicken Rolls

This recipe provides the epitome of "simple". Only three ingredients, minimal prep time, and a result that smells and tastes so amazing, company will think you slaved over it for hours.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 per person)

Sliced bacon (1 strip per chicken breast)

1 tub of chive and onion cream cheese

Preheat the oven to 375 °F. Lay out each chicken breast and pat one side dry with a paper towel. Take approximately 1 Tbsp (just a regular spoonful) and spread it over the chicken breast. Roll up the chicken breast and wrap a piece of bacon around to secure shut. Feel free to use a wooden toothpick to hold the chicken shut if needed. Place in a baking dish and repeat until all chicken is prepared (use an appropriately sized baking dish for as much chicken as you are preparing). Bake in the oven for approximately 45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

I love this recipe so much because it is so easy. While the chicken is baking you can prepare some vegetables or mashed potatoes to serve along side.

Enjoy!

Thanksgiving French Bread Stuffing

Okay, so today is Thanksgiving, so you really can't make this for today's meal, but hey, who's to say you won't have another Thanksgiving meal this weekend, later this year, or next year? And besides, stuffing is a year-round side dish right?

Either way, this tasty dish is prepared rather simply, and there is much more feeling of accomplishment when this pops out of the oven, than when Stovetop pops out of the microwave :)

2 loaves store-bought French bread, cut into 1 inch cubes

5-6 slices of bacon, diced

1 white onion, diced

5 celery stalks, diced

3-4 cups chicken broth

2 eggs

2 Tbsp. Poultry seasoning

Salt and Pepper to taste

The day before, place the cut French bread onto baking sheets to dry out overnight. Be sure to lay out in a single layer. On the day of baking, preheat the oven to 350 °F. In a skillet, fry the bacon until slightly crispy. Remove from the skillet with a slotted spoon, leaving behind the drippings. Saute the onion and celery in the drippings until soft, then set aside with the bacon. In a small bowl, beat the eggs and add the chicken broth. In a very large bowl, place the dry, crusty bread cubes and with your hands partially crush the cubes. Note: You do not want to fully crush the bread or you will get stuffing mush. The partial crushing provides enough crumbs to act as binding in the stuffing when it is moist and baked. Add the liquid to the bread cubes and massage with your hands until bread is moist, but no liquid settles to the bottom of the bowl. Add the poultry seasoning, salt and pepper and massage into bread cubes. Taste for satisfactory seasoning level, then place in a greased, 13" x 9" pan and bake in the oven, uncovered for 35-50 minutes to desired doneness (some folks like a soft top, some like it crusty).

Hope you can enjoy this delicious stuffing with your family over the holiday season!

Meals Per Month Set #2

Alright folks, here's the next set of meals that can help feed you and your family for a whole month! As per usual, remember, some nights are filled in with going out to eat (maybe 4 times a month), leftovers, and of course, the quick and easy meal (i.e., frozen pizza, hot dogs with mac & cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, etc.) Enjoy, and just as last time, the grocery items that you might already have in your pantry are highlighted in green!

Recipes

1. Crockpot Chicken Chili

1 red onion, chopped

1 16-oz can black beans

1 16-oz can kidney beans

1 8-oz can tomato sauce

10 oz package frozen corn kernels

2 14.5-oz cans diced tomatoes with chilies (check the spice level- I used mild)

1 packet taco seasoning

Salt and Pepper to taste

4-5 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1. Combine beans, onion, chili peppers, corn, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning.

2. Place chicken on top and cover with a thin layer of the sauce and beans.

3. Cook on high for 5 hours.

4. About an hour before serving, remove chicken and shred in a separate bowl.

5. Place shredded chicken into the slow cooker and stir in to combine with beans etc.

6. Cover and place slow cooker on “low” setting for an hour to allow chicken to soak in the chili flavor

2. Lentil-Tomato Soup

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Lentil-Tomato-Soup

3. Pasta Carbonara

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/bacon-and-egg-coal-miners-pasta-rigatoni-alla-carbonara-recipe/index.html

Any pasta will do here, it doesn't have to be rigatoni

I usually use regular bacon, not pancetta

Lastly, the parsley is nice, but not necessary

4. Mexican Chicken Casserole

1/4 cup Canola oil

1 large onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 jalapeno peppers, seeded, deveined, and minced

10 oz cooked, shredded chicken breasts

1 (15 oz) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 (16 oz) jar chunky salsa of your choice

2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese

2 cups tortilla chips

1/3 cup sour cream (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 400 ºF and coat an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray (or oil)

2. Heat 1 Tbsp of the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic and jalapenos and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften, about 3 to 4 minutes

3. Stir in the chicken and beans and cook until hot, 2 to 3 minutes

4. Add the salsa and cook 2 minutes longer. Transfer the mixture to the baking dish and sprinkle the top with the cheese.

5. Bake until bubble and the cheese melts, about 15 minutes.

6. Remove the casserole from the oven and top with the tortilla chips, then drizzle with the sour cream

5. Sid's Onion Burgers

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Sids-Onion-Burger

6. Focaccia Club Sandwich

1 loaf focaccia loaf (or other flatbread)

1/4 lb deli turkey, ham (or other meat of your choice)

2 slices provolone cheese (or cheese of your choice)

2 cups shredded lettuce

3 slices tomato

Condiments of your choice (mayonnaise, mustard, ranch dressing, pickles, etc.)

Freshly ground black pepper

1. Split bread loaf in half and top one half with meat and cheese. Bake in 350 ºF oven for 5 to 10 minutes, until cheese is melted.

2. Remove bread, meat and cheese from oven, top with lettuce and tomato.

3. Top with condiments, followed by black pepper.

4. Place top piece of bread to finish sandwich and enjoy!

7. Skillet Shepherd's Pie

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Skillet-Shepherd-s-Pie-For-2

So let us know how these work out for you! Leave a comment! We've tried the Lentil-Tomato Soup and made Focaccia Club Sandwiches (for National Sandwich Day!) and both have been delicious. I can also say that I've made the Pasta Carbonara multiple times and it is awesome!

Happy Cooking!

Grocery List

1 red onion

1 16-oz can black beans

2 16-oz can kidney beans

1 8-oz can tomato sauce

10 oz package frozen corn kernels

2 14.5-oz cans diced tomatoes with chilies

2 packet taco seasoning

salt

pepper

6-7 boneless skinless chicken breasts

canola oil

4 large onions

1 bulb garlic

2 jalapeno peppers

1 16 oz jar chunky salsa of your choice

2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese

tortilla chips

sour cream

1 loaf focaccia loaf (or other flatbread)

1/4 lb deli turkey, ham (or other meat of your choice)

8 oz sliced provolone cheese (or cheese of your choice)

1 bag shredded lettuce

1 tomato

mayonnaise

mustard

ranch dressing

ketchup

pickles

3 lbs ground beef

4 oz shredded colby-jack cheese

4-5 potatoes

milk

butter

hamburger buns

1 lb rigatoni (or pasta of your choice)

12 oz pkg bacon

olive oil

crushed red pepper flakes

1 14.5 oz can chicken broth

eggs

Parmesan cheese (not the kind from the can!)

parsley

1lb carrots

small pkg dried lentils

1 6oz can tomato paste

brown sugar

white vinegar

garlic salt

dried thyme

dried dillweed

dried tarragon

French Bread Pizza

Okay, I know what you're thinking. "Travis, this is going to be lame. Everyone has their way of doing pizza, and there are about a bajillion more ways so why are you giving us YET ANOTHER pizza recipe?"

Well, here's why: This pizza recipe is EASY, it is FAST, and it is CHEAP. Need I say more. It's worth a try, right? Either way, this is a staple almost every (or every other) month in our household - it uses pre-baked french bread almost every grocery store that exists carries (even our small local grocer in a town of 2500 people). Here it is folks, try it as you like:

French Bread Pizza

One loaf of French Bread, cut into four sections

Butter or Margarine

Italian Seasoning

1 can of Basil, Garlic and Oregano Tomato Sauce (or pizza sauce of your choice)

2-3 cups shredded colby-jack or mozzarella cheese

Toppings of your choice (we enjoy pepperoni or canadian bacon!)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread butter or margarine on all four pieces of french bread and shake italitan seasoning over the butter. Toast in the oven for 5 minutes on baking sheet. Take out of oven and spread tomato sauce evenly over the top of each piece of bread. Spread shredded cheese and toppings over the top of each piece of bread and then bake for 8-10 more minutes in the oven. Enjoy!

Has this recipe worked for you, or what do you think could make it better? Leave a comment!

Meals Per Month Set #1

Alright, here is the inaugural meal set for Meals Per Month! Hope you are as excited as I am! Just to kind of let you know some things ab
out these posts: My wife and I usually plan 6-9 dinners per month, and that is what I will be sharing in these sets (along with grocery lists). Along with those meals, we usually shop for a couple of super-quick meals each month (such as hot dogs and mac & cheese, or frozen pizza) because hey, let's be real - some nights we don't want to cook, and we don't want to go out (and we don't want to starve!). We of course eat breakfast and lunch as well, but we usually keep that pretty simple, and I'll share details on those meals in other posts. The other thing you have to know to make these sets work is that you must not mind eating leftovers :)

Lastly, before the lists, I've included absolutely every grocery item you will need to make these meals. Many of the items you may already have in your pantry/spice cabinet/refrigerator and if that is the case, then no need to purchase more! I've highlighted those items in the grocery list so you can check your cupboards to see if you already have them in-house!

Enjoy!

Recipes
1. Chicken & Dumplings
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Chicken---Dumplings

(I substitute out regular milk for the cream and buttermilk the recipe calls for, and use all dried herbs and spices)

2. Lasagna

http://reynoldspkg.com/reynoldskitchens/en/recipes/recipe_search.asp?Step=ShowRecipe&RecipeID=1562

(Eat the breadsticks with this meal!)

3. Quiche Calzones

You will need:

1 tube of refrigerated crescent rolls

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup frozen o'brien potatoes

1/2 cup diced ham

1/2 cup shredded colby-jack cheese

salt, pepper, and hot sauce to taste

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Roll out each crescent roll flat into a triangle.

Heat some oil in a non-stick skillet and cook the o'brien potatoes until cooked through. Add the ham and eggs, cooking and stirring to scramble eggs and make certain all items are heated through. Add salt, pepper and hot sauce as you like at this point. Take a couple of spoonfuls of this mixture and place on top of one crescent roll and sprinkle on some cheese. Top with another crescent roll and pinch shut the seams with a fork to make the calzone. Repeat with remaining mixture and crescent roll pieces. Bake at 375 degrees on an ungreased baking sheet for 11-13 minutes or until crescent rolls are brown.

(Eat with bananas or fruit of your choice!)


4. Chicken Creole

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Chicken-Creole-3

(Eat with cornbread you can prepare from Jiffy Mix!)


5. Beer and Brats Nachos

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Beer-and-Brats-Nachos

6. Tin Foil Dinners

You will need:

1 lb smoked sausage

3-4 potatoes

1 green bell pepper

1 large onion

2-3 carrots

Dice all vegetables and sausage into pieces about the size of a sugar cube. Mix desired amounts of each vegetable together onto an individual piece of aluminum foil approximately 12" x 16" and season with salt and pepper. Roll up aluminum foil and fold and seal. Repeat with remaining meat and vegetables. Bake in a 400 degrees oven for 15-25 minutes or until vegetables are cooked through (time will vary based on how much food is in each packet and to what size the pieces are cut).

7. Homemade Pierogies

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Homemade-Pierogies

Good Luck, and feel free to ask questions, or leave suggestions on what else you would like to see from this blog. Like I've said in the introduction... this is just what works well for me and my wife, and I thought it'd be fun to share with you all!

Happy Cooking!

Grocery List

Chicken-flavored soup base

Dried bay leaves

Dried thyme

2 bulbs of garlic

Crushed red pepper flakes

2 lbs carrots

1 bunch celery

Olive oil

Butter

All-purpose flour

Frozen peas

1 rotisserie chicken

Milk

Baking powder

Salt

Cayenne pepper

1 dozen eggs

Ground beef

32 oz pasta sauce (I use Hunt's - it's cheap and tastes great!)

Dried italian seasoning

8 oz lasagna noodles

15 oz ricotta cheese

Parmesan cheese (do yourself a favor and don't get the crappy dried stuff in a can)

8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

16 oz frozen potatoes o'brien

4 oz cubed cooked ham

24 oz colby-jack cheese (get a block and grate it yourself - it's worth the extra effort)

1 tube crescent rolls

1 package breadsticks

1 bunch bananas (or fruit of your choice)

5 lb bag potatoes

3 white onions

5 oz cream cheese

Black pepper

3 green bell peppers

Canola oil

1/2 lb mushrooms

2-14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes

Dried oregano

Lemon juice

Dried basil

2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 box minute rice (white or brown)

1 box Jiffy cornbread mix

1 lb smoked sausage

14 oz package fully-cooked bratwursts

1 package frozen pepper/onion stir-fry mix

Hot sauce (I like Chalula)

1 can beef broth

1 bag tortilla chips

Aluminum foil

Introduction

Hi, and welcome to "Meals Per Month." The last six years I've been married to the most wonderful woman in the world! Part of what I love to do is plan out our meals for the month, and do a grocery shopping trip just once a month. Since we are just starting out on our own for the first time, I thought it would be a frugal idea to try this strategy. Well, 72 months later and the idea has stuck - well, sort of. I've found it unreasonable to only go to the grocery story once a month - but I have found that I can do most of the shopping only once a month! We still go maybe once every week to 10 days to get fresh items like fruit, milk and eggs. In any case, this has become something I really enjoy, and a bit of a challenge. Whether it be planning all of our meals from only one cooking magazine, planning meals from only items on sale at our local grocery store, etc. I have found joy in the planning, shopping for, and cooking our monthly meals (side note: my wife loves cooking as well and is also great at it!) This blog is to share with you the monthly set of meals and grocery lists that I put together, and the recipes that go along with them. I don't want to assume what any person does or doesn't have in their pantry, so I'll list the entire grocery list, and if there is something you already have in your pantry (such as salt, oil, flour, etc.) you can just scratch that off. In addition, I will probably be adding occasionally, recipes that are favorites of mine or come with some sort of story behind them, and try to include some of the beautiful pictures my wife takes of the finished products. Welcome, and hope you enjoy the ride and benefit from some of the grocery lists and recipes I include here! Hope to hear from you!