What's for dinner???

Oh I don't wanna cook! I'm too lazy to get in the kitchen and actually use my brain to make something for me and the whole fam damily! Alright, so that's probably the consensus general this week... well I'm gonna try to take some of the stress out of that... here are some simple dinner recipes that are delicious, simple and easy!

Monday:

PENNE AND VODKA SAUCE

TOSSED SALAD

ITALIAN BREAD

Penne and Vodka Sauce:

1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta

2 tablespoons butter

1/3 cup vodka

1/2 cup cream

1 1/2 cups tomato sauce

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

Mean

while, melt butter or margarine in a large skillet over medium heat. Add vodka and stir in tomato sauce and cream. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Stir every few minutes. Stir in pasta, and heat

through. Add cheeses and give a final stir... Serve with a tossed salad and warm Italian bread.

OPTIONAL** Can add frozen peas or chopped basil for more flavor.

Tuesday:

SHREDDED CHICKEN TACOS

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1/2 cup minced onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 serrano chili, minced

1/2 cup tomato sauce

1 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 1/2 cups shredded, cooked chicken

12 flour tortillas

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and chili and sauté until the onion shave softened, about 3 minutes.

Add the tomato sauce, cumin, and salt and continue to cook for one more minute. Add the chicken and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.

Taste, and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Top with Shredded Lettuce, Chopped Tomatoes, AvocadoSlices or Jalepenos.

WEDNESDAY:

VEAL MARSALA WITH MUSHROOMS AND ARTICHOKE

6 Thin Veal Scallopini Pieces

Juice of ½ Lemon and slices

½ c Flour

½ cup Marsala Wine

¼ c Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper

1 small box of fresh cleaned sliced mushrooms

1 package frozen artichoke hearts

1 tbs butter

Lightly dust veal pieces in flour. Saute sliced mushrooms in olive oil until golden brown and remove and place in a dish.

Add Veal in same sauté pan and brown on both sides. Add lemon, Marsala

wineand return mushrooms and artichoke hearts. Add pat of butter.

Cover and simmer over low flame for5 minutes.

Serve with rosemary roasted potatoes.

THURSDAY:

NOT YOUR MOTHER'S MEAT LOAF

1 POUND GROUND BEEF OR GROUND TURKEY

½ RED BELL PEPPER DICED

2 STALKS CELERY DICED

1-2 CARROTS DICED

1 ONION DICED

1 LARGE CLOVE OF GARLIC MINCED

3 TBS HOT SAUCE (NOT TABASCO, USE CRYSTAL OR TAPATIO)

4 TBS WORCESHIRE SAUCE

1/3 CUP KETCHUP

1/4 CUP PLAIN BREADCRUMBS

1/2 CUP MILK

1 OR 2 EGGS (I USUALLY USE 1)

MIX EVERYTHING TOGETHER WELL-

ADD TO

A BREAD LOAF PAN THAT HAS BEEN SPRAYED WITH A NON STICK SPRAY OR COATED WITH OIL.

PAT IT IN THERE AND PUSH DOWN THE EDGES SO IT MAKES A LITTLE SLOPE THAT GOES DOWN TOWARDS THE EDGES-

BEFORE IT GOES INTO THE OVEN- MIX ABOUT 1 TSP KETCHUP, A FEW DASHES OF HOTSAUCE AND WORCESHIRE SAUCE TOGETHER AND SPOON IT ON TOP OF THE MEATLOAF- COVER THE WHOLE TOP OF IT WITH THIS MIX- WILL MAKE A GREAT GLAZE ON TOP OF IT- ADDS GOOD COLOR AND FLAVOR

COOK IN OVEN FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS ON THE BACK OF THE MEATLOAF PACKAGE- OR I USUALLY DO 35 OR 40 MIN ON 400

SERVE WITH MASHED POTATOES & GRAVY

EASY MASHED POTATOES:

PEEL, DICE & BOIL POTATOES-

DRAIN- RESERVE A BIT OF WATER

ADD ½ STICK

OF BUTTER, ¼ CUP OF MILK OR HEAVY CREAM, 3 TBS SOUR CREAM

MASH WITH A FORK FIRST- THEN USE HAND BLENDER AND MIX ON MEDIUM HIGH SPEED FOR UP TO 5 MINUTES.

FRIDAY:

BAKED SALMON WITH LEMON & DILL

BUTTER RICE PILAF

• 4 salmon fillets (about 1 inch thick)
• Non Stick Cooking spray
• 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Juice of 1/2 a lemon
• 1/3 c. of white wine

Place fish on a baking sheet lightly coated with cooking spray; lightly coat fish with cooking spray. Sprinkle fish with dill,

salt, and pepper, lemon juice & wine. Bake at 350° for 10 -12 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges.

BUTTER RICE PILAF

1 Cup of Rice

3 TBS Butter

2 Cups of Chicken Broth

Salt to taste

Combine all ingredients in a small pot

Bring to a boil

Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 17 minutes.