What's Cookin This Week

I definitely do a lot better when I write my meal plans down!

I find it hard to stick with a Sun-Sat plan,

but if I have a list of meal ideas to choose from,

grocery shop for, and offer my hardworking husband,

Life Is Much Easier!!

Where do I get my food ideas?

I pull from every place I can think of!

• Have the Food Network or Cooking Channel on TV a lot; you'll be amazed at how many ideas you can get just listening to those pros! I then google their recipe {easily found} and re-create. 
• Subscribe to at least one food magazine {currently, I get Food Network but you could get Cooking Light, Kraft, Taste of Home, Glamour--OK, so that's more fashion not food, but believe it or not, the recipes in the back are pretty tasty!}
• Cook books: I have a lot....from Giada, Rachel Ray, Julia Childs, Williams Sonoma & even Teresa Guidice from RHONJ
• Ask friends what they're having for dinner & share ideas! It's easy to forget about simple recipes that we don't always make, but bringing up food in conversations with friends always helps! I can't tell you how many times my friends and I text each other, "What's for dinner?!"
• Beg for family recipes! I am not above this. My husband's Italian family are all amazing cooks. I am so lucky that they share their delicious recipes with me!  I think it's silly to keep secret recipes anyway; if it's a great dish, why not share the joy?!
• Monthly Gatherings like GIRLS' NIGHT!! Once a month my 3 friends and I get together. We each take turn hosting, and whomever is hosting provides the main meal.  The rest of us rotate with appetizer, salad, & dessert. Great way to try out new recipes & get ideas!! {Some posts here}
• Facebook pages: whether they are blogs or company pages, you just may get an idea brewing from something you see while scrolling your news feed! "Like" your favorite products and come up with new ways to incorporate them in the kitchen.
• Instagram--I think we mostly post pics of our food on there and how great is it when someone share's what it is that they made?
• Pinterest--I must admit I haven't had wonderful luck with it. It looks great, but the meals usually come out, 'just ok' compared to when I pull from other resources. I have a feeling it's because there aren't 'reviews' and I love reading how people change things up! Great site:{http://allrecipes.com/}

So, for this week, here's what I'm hoping to cook up:

Tonight {Sunday night} Manicotti--recipe is on the back of Barilla box. For realz.

[click on links below for recipes]

Boef Bourguignon--Julia Childs

Sausage Stuffed Zucchini Boats 

Tomato, Mozzarella, Pesto Panini 

served w/ homemade tomato soup

Company Shrimp & Mushroom Pasta {Saw this on Paula Deen this am!}

Chicken cransters [what my husband calls them; simply panko chicken fingers!] 

Tomato, zucchini, white bean & basil soup {thanks Tricia!}

Taco Pie

Phew.
I'm sure there will be some PB& homemade peach jam thrown in there too...
as well as fresh veggies, fruits, and lots of salads.
What will you be cooking this week?