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Menu Plan Monday: Sept. 28th~Oct.3rd

Last week was filled with good food, I must say. It was my birthday week and I got to celebrate all week long~just the way I like it:) Seriously.
On my birthday night my awesome hubby took me to P.F. Chang's. Wow. Have you eaten there?! I've been hearing about it forever and just discovered there was a new one only an hour from us, so I requested it for my birthday date night. I was a little worried that I had built it up so much in my mind that I might be disappointed...NO way! It was sooo yummy, I can't wait to go back!
The rest of the week was filled with good home cookin' and another night out, compliments of my parents, on the weekend to celebrate my birthday some more. We went to one of our all-time fave places, a local Italian restaurant, Taliano's. If you live in the Fort Smith, AR area at all you really have to eat there~the manicotti is amazing!
I promised you a couple of the recipes from my menu last week, so here they are, with my menu plans for this week following:

Chicken in a Package

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3/4 cup red and green sweet peppers, sliced thinly
1 1/2 cups red potatoes, sliced thinly
BBQ sauce
Freshly ground black pepper
4 small pieces of aluminum foil

On each piece of foil spread a small amount of bbq sauce on half of it. Place the chicken breasts on top of the sauce, then cover each piece of chicken with slices of peppers and potatoes. Sprinkle with black pepper and top with more bbq sauce.

Wrap each chicken breast up with the other half of the foil piece and seal well. Bake @350 for 1 hour or until potatoes are tender. (Its a good idea to place a baking sheet on the shelf under the packets to catch any possible drips).

Delicious!!

***********

Mom's Potato Soup
Enough peeled, chopped potatoes to fill a soup pot 1/2 full
3 Tbls. butter
2 onions, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 can chicken broth
Salt & Pepper, to taste
1 quart half-n-half
1/2 lb. bacon, fried crisp
2-3 Tbls. cornstarch
*****
Melt the butter in a large skillet and saute the onion and celery. Put the peeled, diced potatoes in a large stockpot and cover slightly with water; cook until just tender. After the onions and celery are sauteed, add the chicken broth and simmer for 20 minutes. When potatoes are done, leave water in and partially mash them. After the broth mixture has simmered, add it to the potatoes and stir well. Add salt and pepper; cook about 8 minutes longer. Add the half-n-half and stir. The soup will be thin. Let this simmer on low for 15 minutes, stirring often. Then mix the cornstarch with a little water and pour into the soup, stirring well. Just when you are ready to serve the soup, crumble the bacon and sprinkle on top. I also like to add in shredded cheddar cheese. And this is also good to make with broccoli or cauliflower.


Monday: black-eyed peas, spinach tart* and baked potatoes
Tuesday: beef veggie soup with cornbread
Wednesday: spaghetti pie with garlic bread
Thursday: baked salmon, baked potatoes and a veggie tba
Friday: homemade pizza & movie night
Saturday: Going to the Apple Festival in Lincoln, AR


This post is linked to Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Comments

Betsy Brock said…
Oooh...you had a yummy, fun week of eating! Changs is wonderful! :)
Kayren said…
The soup looks really good. I love potato bacon soup. It's going to be chilly and fall-like here this week. Bring me some?
Lisa said…
It sounds like you had a great birthday week! In my book, good food makes everything better :)

Great recipes! Potato soup is one of our favorite fall meals. I'm definitely going to have to make the chicken in a packet. That looks easy and delicious! Oh, by the way, have you ever tried PW's potato packets? Those are great too! I'm a little addicted to them....I've made them several times in the past few weeks haha! Thanks for sharing!
Unknown said…
Yes, I've been to PF Chang's when we were living in San Diego. It had terrific food and great service.
Happy Belated birthday wishes.
You have so many yummy recipes planned for this week's menu.
I love participating in MPM. I get such inspiration from visiting.
Lisa~
No, I haven't tried that particular PW recipe, but I'll have to check it out. I did make her bacon-wrapped stuffed jalapenos the other night though and they were delicious!
Zonnah said…
I will have to try the Mom's Potato Soup.

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