What's for dinner?

It’s just a little bit of this and a little bit of that today. I’m going to put together a meal for you starting with salad and ending with a simple dessert. I’m sure alot of you will not follow this menu to a “t”, and that’s ok, but it might give you a couple of ideas about what to fix for supper or dinner.

Let’s start with a salad.

ITALIAN SPINACH SALAD

1/3 c. each olive oil and balsamic vinegar

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 t. Italian seasoning

2-6 oz. pkgs. fresh baby spinach (stems removed)

1 c. grape tomatoes

4 green onions, using part of green, sliced about 1/4 inch thick

1/2 c. shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

1/2 c. Italian or plain croutons

In a small bowl, whisk together first 4 ingredients; set aside. In a large bowl, toss together next 3 ingredients. When ready to serve, fold in mozzarella cheese. Whisk dressing again and slowly add dressing to salad; stir in gently. Sprinkle Parmesan over salad.

Makes six servings.

+++++

HAMBURGER STEAKS WITH

MUSHROOM GRAVY

1 egg

1/2 c. dry bread crumbs

1 envelope dry onion soup mix, divided

1/8 t. pepper

1 lb. ground beef

3 T. flour

1-3/4 c. cold water

1 t. Worcestershire sauce

1-4 oz. can mushrooms, drained

Hot mashed potatoes

In a large bowl, combine egg, bread crumbs, 2 T. soup mix and pepper. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 4 patties.

In a large skillet, cook patties over medium heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until juices run clear. Set aside and keep warm. Combine next 3 ingredients, and rest of soup mix until blended; stir into skillet. Add mushrooms. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 3-4 minutes or until thickened. Lower heat; return patties to gravy, heating until heated through. Serve with mashed potatoes.

Makes four servings.

+++++

CARROTS WITH LEMON BUTTER

1 small bag baby carrots

Water

2 T. butter or margarine

1 t. grated lemon peel

1/8 t. each salt and pepper

Put carrots and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave on high 5-7 minutes or until just tender; drain and keep warm. In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine rest of ingredients, cook on high for 30-45 seconds or until butter is melted. Put carrots into a serving bowl and pour sauce over.

Makes four servings.

+++++

For dessert, make pudding from a package before you start preparing your main meal. It will be ready to eat when you’re ready for dessert. When serving the pudding, top with a spoonful of whipped topping.

Thought for the Day: Nothing adds to a person’s leisure time like doing things when they are supposed to be done.

It’s just a little bit of this and a little bit of that today. I’m going to put together a meal for you starting with salad and ending with a simple dessert. I’m sure alot of you will not follow this menu to a “t”, and that’s ok, but it might give you a couple of ideas about what to fix for supper or dinner.

Let’s start with a salad.

ITALIAN SPINACH SALAD

1/3 c. each olive oil and balsamic vinegar

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 t. Italian seasoning

2-6 oz. pkgs. fresh baby spinach (stems removed)

1 c. grape tomatoes

4 green onions, using part of green, sliced about 1/4 inch thick

1/2 c. shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

1/2 c. Italian or plain croutons

In a small bowl, whisk together first 4 ingredients; set aside. In a large bowl, toss together next 3 ingredients. When ready to serve, fold in mozzarella cheese. Whisk dressing again and slowly add dressing to salad; stir in gently. Sprinkle Parmesan over salad.

Makes six servings.

+++++

HAMBURGER STEAKS WITH

MUSHROOM GRAVY

1 egg

1/2 c. dry bread crumbs

1 envelope dry onion soup mix, divided

1/8 t. pepper

1 lb. ground beef

3 T. flour

1-3/4 c. cold water

1 t. Worcestershire sauce

1-4 oz. can mushrooms, drained

Hot mashed potatoes

In a large bowl, combine egg, bread crumbs, 2 T. soup mix and pepper. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 4 patties.

In a large skillet, cook patties over medium heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until juices run clear. Set aside and keep warm. Combine next 3 ingredients, and rest of soup mix until blended; stir into skillet. Add mushrooms. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 3-4 minutes or until thickened. Lower heat; return patties to gravy, heating until heated through. Serve with mashed potatoes.

Makes four servings.

+++++

CARROTS WITH LEMON BUTTER

1 small bag baby carrots

Water

2 T. butter or margarine

1 t. grated lemon peel

1/8 t. each salt and pepper

Put carrots and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave on high 5-7 minutes or until just tender; drain and keep warm. In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine rest of ingredients, cook on high for 30-45 seconds or until butter is melted. Put carrots into a serving bowl and pour sauce over.

Makes four servings.

+++++

For dessert, make pudding from a package before you start preparing your main meal. It will be ready to eat when you’re ready for dessert. When serving the pudding, top with a spoonful of whipped topping.

Thought for the Day: Nothing adds to a person’s leisure time like doing things when they are supposed to be done.