meal planning: overview

beau and i are making some changes.  one big change is that we're drastically cutting back on eating at restaurants.  i prefer home-cooked food.  it's healthier, cheaper, and we know what's going into it.  tonight, (with a little help from husband and bestie) i compiled a list of our favorite main-dishes (and a few things we want to have more often) so i can start meal planning!  i'm really excited about this.  in the past when we've stuck to meal planning, it added a nice sense of structure to the day.  anyway, here's the list, in no particular order, for when i need inspiration:

1. tamale pie
2. breakfast for dinner (goetta & eggs/pancakes/waffles)
3. roast chicken 
4. pork chops
5. homemade pizza
6. bean soup
7. white chicken chili
8. chicken & dumplings
9. lentil soup
10. falafel
11. enchiladas
12. salmon patties with dill yogurt sauce
13. red beans & rice
14. pot roast
15. chinese chicken pasta salad
16. sesame noodles
17. minestrone
18. fried chicken & mashed sweet potatoes
19. chili & cornbread
20. tacos
21. lamb stroganoff
22. mexican burgers
23. turkey burgers
24. spaghetti & meatballs
25. spaghetti carbonara
26. linguini & basil pesto
27. baked salmon
28. pork tenderloin
29. meatloaf 
30. baked tilapia
31. ham (leftovers: ham salad, soup)
32. tuna casserole
33. quesadillas
34. sausage & sauerkraut
35. cabbage rolls
36. stuffed peppers
37. bbq sandwiches/quesadillas
38. tilapia florentine
39. homemade pretzels & soup
40. grilled cheese & homemade tomato soup

fresh peach cobbler

i've never been a fan of peach cobbler.  when i've had it in the past, it's been doughy and dull, bland yet overly sweet.  THIS cobbler, however... this cobbler changed my mind forever.  and has probably ruined me for every other cobbler.

get ready for your life to improve significantly.

8 fresh peaches, peeled, pitted, and sliced
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp cornstarch
1 tbsp lemon juice

1 cup self-rising flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp salt
1 stick salted butter, chilled and cut into small piece
1/4 cup water that's been microwaved for 2 minutes

3 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon

-preheat the oven to 425'.
-in a large bowl, combine ingredients from first list in a large bowl, tossing to coat evenly.  pour into a 9x13" pan and bake for 10 minutes.
-while that's baking, combine the flour, sugars, and salt.  blend in the butter using your fingers until it resembles a coarse meal.  stir in the water until just combined.  you still want to see streaks of butter.
-remove peaches from oven, and drop spoonfuls of topping over.  sprinkle the top with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
-bake until topping is golden- between 20 and 25 minutes.

pink fluff

is it cranberry time yet?

1 lb whole cranberries
1 cup sugar
20 ounce can of crushed pineapple in water/juices
1 cup cream
3 cups mini marshmallows

Chop the cranberries or run them through the food
processor.
Mix the chopped cranberries, pineapple (juice and all)
and the sugar.
Refrigerate.
Just before serving, whip the cream. Fold the cream
and the mini marshmallows into the pineapple-cranberry
mixture.