Weekly Menu for the week of June 21

Hey everyone! Welcome to my weekly menu!

Happy Father’s Day to all of the amazing dads out there! I hope you enjoy the day!

We are kicking things off this week with another “un-burger.” Miss Paula Deen has a recipe for Salmon Burgers that is amazing!!! And isn’t it a good thing that Giant Eagle has salmon on special! If you don’t think you have the time to whip these up (although the recipe is about 15 minutes prep time and 10 minutes cooking time) Giant Eagle is also running a special on their premade Gourmet Salmon Burgers which receive rave reviews from many followers. Both the Salmon fillets and the premade burgers are $8.99/lb.

Then we are grilling up pork chops that will be marinated in my somewhat-famous Pork Marinade. You know the one where we usually marinate pork tenderloins but for whatever reason pork tenderloins have NOT been on special in a LONG time … so we are going to use chops instead. Hint Hint – we would like to see some of those tenderloins on special!!! ;-) Then we will close the week with a no fuss slow cooker recipe for Italian Sausage Hoagies. A simple tasty way to begin the weekend!!!

Freezer Tip – we are using ginger this week. When you buy the root (found in the produce section) peel and grate whatever you need. Place the remaining root in a freezer bag and store in the freezer for a couple of months. Fresh ginger is AMAZING!

Don’t forget - you can now follow the menu on Facebook and Twitter!!! Go to Kristen Kill Reisinger’s Menus That Save on Facebook and click like!!! You will receive updates and pics throughout the week. Also follow the menu on Twitter - @menusthatsave.

ALWAYS check your coupons!!! Not only the ones we receive in our newspapers and mid-week mailers but also online! Check out www.coupons.com

Follow the plan so you can save time, money, and a few calories! Remember – cooking our own food is healthier than ordering in and eating out any day!!! Your family, wallet and waistline will thank you!

I hope you all enjoy your week, the recipes and the savings!

Monday
Salmon Burgers
Tossed Salad

Salmon Burgers – adapted from Paula Deen
½ cup of red bell pepper, diced
½ cup of yellow bell pepper, diced
¾ cup of Panko (Japanese Bread Crumbs)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 lbs. of salmon fillets, skinned and finely chopped
1 large egg, beaten
1 T. soy sauce
1 t. lemon juice
½ t. salt
Cooking spray
8 buttered and toasted sandwich buns
8 lettuce leaves
8 slices of tomato

Combine the peppers, panko, garlic, and salmon. In a small bowl, combine the egg, soy sauce, lemon juice, and salt: add to the salmon mixture, tossing gently to combine. Form into 8 patties.

Lightly coat a grill pan or skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat until hot. Grill or cook patties, 5 minutes per side, or until desired degree of doneness. Spread Sesame Mayonnaise evenly over the toasted buns. Top each with a lettuce leaf, tomato slice, and salmon patty. Cover with the tops of the buns and ENJOY!

Sesame Mayonnaise
1 cup of mayo
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 t. soy sauce
½ t. sesame oil

In a small bowl combine all of the ingredients. Cover and chill.

Tuesday

Grilled Marinated Pork Chops
Steamed rice (Make extra for Thursday night’s dinner)
Stir fry Broccoli

Pork Marinade

½ c. Terriyaki
½ c. Soy Sauce
3 T. Brown Sugar
2 Green Onions, finely chopped
1 T. Sesame Seeds
½ t. Ginger
¼ t. Pepper
½ t. Minced Garlic
1 T. Canola Oil
6-8 boneless pork chops – we are using this many because we want leftovers!

Mix all ingredients. Reserve ¼ cup of the marinade and pour the rest over pork chops in a zip-lock bag. Marinate anywhere from ½ hour to all day. Place the chops on the grill. You want to grill them about 4 minutes per side or until done depending on how thick they are.

*** Leftovers will be used again in Thursday’s dinner!***

Stir Fried Broccoli

One head of broccoli cut into florets or 3 – 4 cups of frozen broccoli florets
2 T. of Canola Oil
2 cloves of garlic minced
½ t. of red pepper flakes (optional)
1 T. of soy sauce
Sesame oil

Chop broccoli into florets. Place broccoli in microwave safe covered dish with 2 T. of water and microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes. This will steam it. Put oil and garlic in a skillet and heat. Once oil is hot, add chopped broccoli and stir frequently for 5 minutes. Add red pepper flakes and soy sauce. Cook and stir for an additional 3 minutes. Prior to serving, drizzle broccoli with a little sesame oil.

Wednesday

Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
Cole Slaw

Grilled Chicken Sandwiches

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup of Wishbone Italian salad dressing
1 cup of beer – whatever you have on hand preferably your favorite
4 Kaiser rolls
Sliced tomatoes
Mayo
Lettuce

Combine the dressing and the beer in a large zip-lock. Add chicken and marinate for at least 30 minutes. Place the chicken on a hot grill for about 5 minutes per side. Be sure to finish any remaining beer while you are grilling! We do not want to waste! =)

Let the chicken rest before serving. Place a chicken breast on a roll and top with lettuce tomato and mayo!

*** The key to this recipe is equal parts of the dressing and beer. Adjust according to how many you will be serving.

Tangy Cole Slaw (adapted from Cooking Light and our FAVORITE!)

1 pkg. of slaw mix
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper

Combine vinegar, sugar, mustard, mayonnaise, salt, black pepper, and red pepper in a small bowl; stir well with a whisk. Add the mustard mixture to cabbage mixture, and toss well to coat. Cover and chill for 20 minutes. Stir before serving.

I love that this ONLY has 2 T. of mayo!!!! Use reduced fat for an even healthier version!


Thursday

Pork-Fried Rice
Fortune cookies

Pork-Fried Rice

Leftover rice (at least 2-3 cups – cold)
Leftover pork – chopped
1 box of frozen peas and carrots – combo
1 small onion, diced
2 eggs, beaten
3 T. Canola oil
¼ cup of soy sauce, more depending on your taste
Sesame oil, to taste

In a large skillet or wok, heat the oil and sauté the onion until soft. Add the peas and carrots and pork. Sauté until heated through. Push the meat and veggies to the side and scramble the eggs in the skillet or wok. Combine the veggies, pork and egg, Add the cold rice and soy sauce. Stir to combine. Add additional oil if necessary – you want the rice to crisp a little but you do not want it loaded down with oil. Once the rice is heated through, drizzle with sesame oil and more soy sauce to taste.

My kids LOVE this!!! Try to find fortune cookies at your market.


Friday

“Hoagie Night”
Italian Sausage Hoagies
Chips
Grapes

Italian Sausage Hoagies

5 pieces of Italian Sausage, sweet or hot
1 large onion, sliced
1 green pepper, sliced
1 jar of pasta sauce
10 slices of provolone cheese
1 pkg. of sausage rolls

In a large skillet, brown the sausage on all sides. Remove the sausage and place in a crock-pot. Add the onion, green pepper and pasta sauce. Cook on low for 6 hours.

Take a sausage roll and layer two slices of cheese on the inside of each roll. Place under the broiler until the cheese melts and the roll is slightly browned. Top with a piece of sausage and peppers and onions. Enjoy!!!

***Kid Tip*** - we use sweet or mild sausage for our kids’ taste buds but use a spicy pasta sauce to satisfy our need for some heat! I use very little sauce for the kids’ hoagies and lots for us!


And now for the shopping list. As always, double check your pantry, fridge and freezer to see if you already have any of the items listed below. This will reduce your spending and create less waste!

Shopping/Checklist

Produce
Salad – GE special on bagged salad
Red bell pepper
Yellow bell pepper
Green bell pepper (or you could use the leftover red and yellow to add to the sausage)
Garlic
Lemon
Lettuce for sandwiches
Tomato
Green onions
Ginger
Broccoli
Pkg. of slaw mix
Small onion and large onion – GE special on Vidalia
Grapes

Deli
4 Kaiser Rolls
8 sandwich buns – could use Kaiser as well
Sausage rolls – GE special

Spices/Oils/Vinegars/Condiments
Cooking spray
Mayo – GE special on Kraft
Brown Sugar
Sesame seeds
Canola oil
Red pepper flakes
Italian dressing – preferably Wishbone – GE special on Ken’s (look for coupons)
Rice wine vinegar
Whole-grain mustard
Ground red pepper

Canned Goods/Ethnic Foods/Dry Goods
Panko Bread Crumbs
Soy sauce
Sesame oil
Teriyaki
Rice – white or brown
Fortune cookies
Jar of pasta sauce or 3 cups of your homemade – GE special on Prego and Rizzo’s

Seafood/Meat Case/Butcher
Salmon – 2 lbs. (Or premade gourmet burgers) both GE special
8 boneless pork chops – GE special BOGO
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts – GE special
Italian sausage links – hot or sweet – GE special

Frozen Foods
Box of carrots and peas – combo

Dairy
Eggs
Slices of provolone cheese

Bread

Misc.
Beer
Chips