This Week's Eats

Argh, my husband is leavin' on a jet plane for work this week.  He NEVER travels.  Last time he left me with the kiddos, well I only had one kiddo...  Big brother was only months old at the time.  So, it's been over four years that I've done a little single parent stint.  I need to nut up, he's only MIA for three days; it's just not what I'm used to.  I have friends who's husbands seem to be out of town at least every month, if not more, and it's so not a big deal.  And, of course, there are military wives (and husbands) and the truly single parents who inspire awe in me by doing it all on a daily basis. 

As a result, I'm gonna have a little fun with this week's dinners.  I'll gorge on random stuff like I did when I was a singleton!  Namely, my favorite potluck salad mom always used to make...  And after I nosh, I shall watch the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice whilst painting my nails and reading girly magazines.  In other words, a typical Friday night.

• Monday, still eatin' pizza!
• Tuesday, 24 Hour Salad, awwww yeah!  (this is an old school pot luck salad with chopped iceberg lettuce, red onion, and peas topped with a layer of mayo, a dash of sugar, shredded sharp cheddar and bacon - it can be kept in the fridge for, you guessed it, 24 hours before you combine and season with salt and pepper)
• Wendesday - my favorite Tarte D'Alsace from Trader Joes (it's like a flatbread pizza with ham, Gruyere and caramelized onions) with a big salad, mmmmmm 
• Thursday - thinking homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese at this point, but if I'm feeling lazy, I'll have leftover enchiladas from last Sunday*
• Friday - hubs will be home and we're breaking into the Portillos dogs again
• Saturday - easy baked ziti (my favorite recipe I got off the back of a Safeway box of ziti - layer the noodles, shredded mozzarella/provolone and sauce like lasagna with the added secret ingredient of a little sour cream mixed in with the shredded cheese layer)
• Sunday - southwestern chopped salad (chicken, black beans, tomatoes, corn, peppers, red onion, with avocado dressing: blend an avocado, 1/4 C olive oil, juice of one large lemon, handful of cilantro and a jalapeno in a food processor - season to taste with salt)

* The Spicy Avocado Chicken Enchiladas were a Pinterest success!  The sauce wasn't difficult to pull together at all, and the avocado on the INSIDE of the enchiladas was a big hit.  I also subbed low sodium black beans for some of the chicken and only made 6 tortillas because I like my enchiladas saucy.  It's rather spicy, so I wouldn't serve it to the kiddos!

source: novice chef blog via Andrea on Pinterest