Cooking For The Whole Week

 Weekend cooking  can be a pain but it pays off, especially if you are planning to have it for the entire week. Saturday and Sunday are perfect days  to make those frozen meals for week night dining. There's so much you can make for a full five busy days ahead.

Be ready when you want  to cook a lot.Make sure that the cutting board is clean and wiped down. Are the knives sharpened? Do you have the right ones? Are the pots , both for stove top or for the microwave also clean and ready? When the utensils and gadgets are ready then look at what you have? Jarred sauces and pasta make for good weeknight dinners. They both store and freeze easily. Have boxes of your favorite pasta along with lasagna sheets for cooking. Have both read and white pasta sauces to cook with to vary the upcoming agenda of meals.beans are a vital ingredient in soups and stews. Make sure you have the appropriate number of cans . Also have a variety too, Chickpeas are versatile and can be used in everything form soups to  curries. red kidney beans are another must. They add flavor to soups like minestrone. Do you have enough herbs and spices. Make sure there is enough garlic and onion powder along with oregano and rosemary. Do you have enough of the basic seasonings such a as sea salt and peppercorns that can be freshly ground? Most importantly  - do you have the storage containers ready to be filled and stored.

As for recipes, again a hearty pasta such as penne or bucatini work well with reheating. You can just cook the pasta and then let everyone microwave their own cup of sauce. for later eating. They can be cooked together too.Another dish that can last well into the next weekend isa bean stew. Add any kind of bean you like or a combo of them such as chickpeas and cannellini along with a veggie such as spinach . Tomato paste and vegetable broth give it a smooth texture.  Keep in mind that you can add chicken or beef to this along with stretching it out with rice. or quinoa.For easier cooking with this use your crockpot It allows you to to go about yoru Saturday chores and errands with only having to check in once or twice to see how it's cooking. A meat based stew even lets you make some dumplings for a more filling meal. These can be made either plain or with herbs for a tasty extra.Of  course soups are a good dish to make. They're easy to to store and easy to reheat in the microwave. Take advantage of the season's bounty. A good squash, cauliflower ro pumpkin soup is easy to whip up especially if you have a bof soup pot and an immersion blender.

It's so easy to devote a weekend for weeknight cooking.Decide what you want to make. Get the ingredients and cook. You;ll have delicious homemade meals for the week ahead,

A Quick Saturday Sandwich

 Let's face it  no one likes to really cook on a Saturday. That's where a quick but tasty sandwich comes in. Layer cheddar and bacon on toast and you have a tasty dream lunch or supper.  You don't even have to fry the bacon. Microwaving or air frying does the trick.

Of course I made the vegan version.I used Miyoko's Creamery new Roadhouse Cheddar. 

This has  nice tang to it and spreads on smoothly.As for bread I used Pepperidge Farm 's Italian bread

However you can also use a toasted baguette or thick slices of toasted sour bread. Warmed rolls would work well here too. It's then using Morningstar Farms soy bacon.

                                                   Cook until crisp for about two to three minutes.        

It's just toast, spread and pile. That's it. The flavor of the bacon and cheese combined is amazing.Cheddary, salty and tangy.  I may try it with a slice of tomato  next time, just for a different spin. Add a square of cooked Just Egg or real egg for a yummy brunch sandwich. If you want, add a handful of chips or some gherkins on the side to make it more substantial.

This is the perfect quick meal for a no cook Saturday.It's a tasty , bite fuill of cheesy, bacon-y goodness. Best of all it's so easy to make.

Your Fall Pantry Guide

It's time to rethink and restock your pantry and fridge now that fall is just around the corner. What do you need for cooking and baking? What  veggies should you be buying right now

? There's a whole list of ingredients that you'll need as the temps drop.

Of course pumpkin spice is everywhere, from lattes to even dish washing soap. It's basically a mix of the spices used in pumpkin pie - ground ginger and cinnamon. Each on their own is vital to fall cooking. Ground ginger can be used to give zing to pork chops and roast chicken. It can be used as a rub or part of one for wings and drumsticks and even part of breading for cauliflower. Ground ginger can also be used in sweet recipes and elevates ordinary muffins , cakes and cookies. Cinnamon is the quintessential fall spice. This ground bark from the canella tree graces everything during the cooler months.It's a must for autumn baking and you should be buy a larger containers that hold 8.75 ounces (McCormick sells these in all the grocery stores). You'll definitely use it for at home baking but it will also probably be used to make cinnamon rolls and spices cookies for school bake sales. Another fall must have is the herb sage. It's used in homemade dressings along with flavoring for chicken. Combine it with browned butter for a sauce for pumpkin or squash ravioli.

As far as veggies, what should you stock up on? The aforementioned pumpkin and squash.It pays to have one or two cans of pumpkin puree(don't confuse it with pumpkin pie filling which has sugar an all those spices in it).Yes, it can be used for pies and even tartlets, but the mash has a savory side too. Combined with chicken or vegetable broth and sauteed onions, it's the Piedmontese zuppa di zucca. This is a great soup to make on a Saturday or Sunday night. Remember that pumpkin puree can be used for ravioli filling too if you're into making homemade pasta. You could buy fresh pumpkins too but there's a lot of work involved gutting them and making your own puree. Sub in those summer zucchinis now with acorn and butternut squashes. These are easy to make and one half of one makes for an excellent, filling side. Acorn squash can also be mashed similar to potatoes. Turn the leftovers into puffs or croquettes.Brussels sprouts are on the scene again. Home  and commercial chefs alike love them. They can be turned into crispy chips or served whole, parboiled, topped with melted butter and Parmesan cheese.

These are some of the more vital ingredients you'll need this fall. Stock your pantry and fridge with them. They're important in autumn cooking and baking.

Simple Saturday Suppers

Saturday is usually the busiest day of the week. There's chores to do, food shopping and anything school related Who isn't tired after all that?Thne add in cooking a dinner? That just adds to the exhaustion. Don't despair. Just think simple.

It's tempting to get fast food or take out delivery when you're too tired to cook.Yet you'll wind up with a meal that's too greasy, salty and fatty. Order their version of healthy and it 'll be soggy lettuce with drippy sweet dressing and loaded with everything from bacon to cheese. Your best bet is buying easy to cook foods  and just making everything fresh. Anything egg based is a good choice. Eggs are simple, especially when creating an omelet. Add fresh spinach or sliced grape tomatoes along with bell pepper slices for a tasty and colorful dinner.Turn it into a sandwich by putting wedges on toasted whole wheat or \seven grain breads.Another idea is whipping up a hearty scramble. This is where you can really  get creative. Toss in some kale and Swiss chard along with the usual veggies. Spice it up with garlic , onion powder or even a few drops of hot sauce. Serve with toasted pita . Scoop up the scramble with wedges.If you love breakfast sandwiches, make those. There's no written rule that they're just for breakfast. Layer the egg with low calorie cheese , turkey bacon, and avocado slices.

Pizza is always an easy supper to make.All you need is all purpose flour  ( you can also use whole wheat or gluten free to customize it to your family's need). yeast, warm water and olive oil. For more flavor throw in a pinch of garlic powder and oregano. Sub in freshly sliced vine ripened  or Roma tomatoes for the usual jarred pizza sauce. As for toppings, go with the usual like pepperoni and mushrooms or something different like shredded chicken or juliennned ham slices. A novel idea is a white pizza. Top it with ricotta and mozzarella . A bechamel sauce can also be added. This is a mix of butter , flour and heavy cream, flavored with crushed garlic cloves. Prosciutto and arugula top it. Of course the simplest and most delicious dinner is a grilled piece of steak with a string bean or broccoli salad. Brush the steak with olive oil infused with rosemary and garlic. The salad can be made earlier and chilled in the fridge.If you're not into steak then try chicken.Add in a baked potato to make it more filling.

A Saturday supper doesn't have to be fast food. You can create an easy and simple meal . It's a nice way to end a busy day.

Saturday Night Specials

Saturday is usually the one night of the week when the family can sit down and have dinner together. The problem is that it's the same foods week after week,  The solution is adding some zing to make these family meals  special. Don't worry  They're nothing elaborate. It's just tweaking  recipes up a notch or two for  tasty and memorable meals.

One of the easiest meals to assemble is the BLT. It's a quick throw together of bacon, lettuce and tomato, on toast.Tweak it by changing the bread. King's Hawaiian Rolls are perfect for creating mini sandwiches or you can try the new Sandwich Thins by Pepperidge Farm.One roll  may be only  one hundred calories but it's also great for creating the perfect sandwich .The filling will stand out  because the slices are almost wafer thin yet sturdy I like these for my BLTs. As for the tomatoes, get the vine ripes. These are a deeper red and richer in flavor. Ditch the iceberg lettuce and switch to Romaine. Again this type of lettuce amps up the sandwich and melds well with the tomato and bacon. Also a dab of ranch dressing zings up the whole combo, rather than just plain mayo , Heroes are another much eaten Saturday night meal. Give them  a Gallic twist by using a baguette  and slathering on a homemade garlicky aioli,  This is a simple blend of garlic and mayo. Add some sliced hard boiled eggs and tuna for a Provencale vibe, along with capers  and a variety of veggies. You could also just have a typical Italian hero, but add pancetta, and mortadella with a balsamic vinegar based dressing.

Dinner means a hot meal too. A family favorite is baked mac and cheese. Liven it up with adding different cheeses as opposed to using just cheddar.Use fontina and Gruyere along with fontina for bite. Bacon or ham are another great way to give the classic casserole some zing. Add layers of  either  along using them as a crunchy topping. Bacon and ham can also make a homemade pizza more interesting too. Since Saturdays are usually pizza night, Try your hand at a homemade one.Please everyone by using their favorites as toppings, from steak slices to even crab meat. This is great if there's adults but you'll need to create a special kind of pie  to grab the kids' attentions. Try mini deep dish ones baked in a muffin tin. The dough can be a homemade one or one made with Biscuit. You can also use Pilsbury  crescent rolls. too. The filling is pizza sauce, of course, but you can also throw in pepperoni or olives for a nice surprise. Baked fried chicken that's been spiced up with cayenne is another fun meal. Serve with homemade cheddar biscuits and ranch slaw.This last is just simply mixing shredded cabbage with ranch dressing. (you can use any salad  dressing here).

Amp up that Saturday night meal. Give those much used recipes a well needed twist with new ingredients or products/ The result is a memorable dinner that the whole family will enjoy,

Saturday Night Pasta

One of the great things about Saturday night is just taking it easy. This applies to cooking as well.It doesn't pay to make an elaborate supper because you may be doing that tomorrow. One of the simplest and most tastiest is pasta.It's just a quick boil and then an easy sauce is added.

Spaghetti is a hearty and hasty  meal. It's a ten minute cook up and then a canvas for any kind of sauce Try  just melted butter on it for pasta con burro Add about two or three tablespoons of the pasta water to give it some body. Another snap sauce is aglia e olio, garlic and oil. This is just chopped garlic sautéed in a light  olive oil  and then poured over the pasta (you can also use angel hair or linguine too for this.). For heat add a scant sprinkling of red pepper flakes or for more zest some chopped anchovies. The anchovies can be cooked down  in the oil for a kind of bagna calda sauce. Many pasta affectionados go mad for a breadcrumb sauce. Even a novice home chef can make this. It involves toasting just plain breadcrumbs in a bare pan and then adding two tablespoons of butter to stop the browning as you take the pan off the stove. More butter, approximately six tablespoons   along with a cup of the pasta water is added for an incredibly delicious sauce. Keep in mind that most sauces require pasta water (see tomorrow's New York Times Magazine  Food section about this) because it does add extra flavor along with thickening the sauce.

A truly delicious pasta is when you cook it in any kind of broth or even the sauce. For this last mix five cups of water with one can of tomato paste. Four boullion cubes and four coarsely chopped garlic cloves are also tossed in along with four tablespoons of oil. It basically a one pot meal. It can be reheated with either margarine or more broth for a soupier pasta. Leftovers are great for sauces too. That leftover chicken or steak can be used as a variation of a Bolognese or chicken caccciatore. A can of tuna can yield a very flavorful sauce.It's just basically tomato sauce with the fish added. For a smoother texture try it with Genoa tonno e olio, This is simply the tuna packed in olive oil, and on it's own it's heaven,In sauce it is amazing,Veggies can be repurposed as well. Spinach  and onions go well with any pasta, especially with rigatoni or cavatelli. A sofriso sauce, made with onions is a nice change from the usual garlic studded one. You can even mix eggs with it for a classic and truly simple dish. It's just adding beaten eggs to al dente or semi cooked spaghetti  and cook it up in a frying pan.

It's Saturday. Kick back with a simple but easy pasta dinner. It's a nice way to enjoy a lazy Saturday .

Saturday Meals In A Snap

Fall Saturdays are the busiest days.There's the last of the summer garden to clear out or soccer games to go to.A day could be spent antiquing or repairing the house.Then comes dinner and everyone wants a hot or at least hearty meal.It's easy to get take out, yet you want something more for yourself and your family.The quickest idea - meals in a snap. One of the best ways to stock up for Saturday is food shop that morning or buy this and that during the week.One of the easiest dinners is a barbecue.The temps will still be mild, in fact, pleasurable.You can fire up the grill and make simple hamburgers and hot dogs.These are also good to make when the kids bring home friends or new college room mates.Whip up a potato salad as well as a three bean one the night before and voilà- you have your sides.Also homemade heroes are another fun choice.Get a variety of cold cuts ,fillers such as peppers and tomatoes along with different condiments so that everyone can have their preferennces.If you have the grill out, then you may want to bring the dinner up a notch.Nothing beats the taste of open air cooked pork or lamb chops.Again serve these with a salad, a more exotic kind of couscous mixed with different spices and golden raisins.Toss in some almonds for crunch.Roasted veggies are always good too and surprisingly filling.Try eggplant, tomatoes and onions .Serve with flavored rice Dessert could be honey covered roasted apples, pears or late season peaches.Serve with ice cream or caramel sauce. One of the best inventions for Sarurday night suppers is the crockpot,Make the meal in the morning and have it hot and ready by the time everyone is home and hungry.Try a spicy chili to satisfy those hungry appetites.You can make beef, tofu or turkey one, and also vary the beans you put in it.Again have fun with spooking it.Nothing beats a dish with heat. Especially on cool early autumn evening.Serve with ready made cornbread or even biscuits. Nothing beats a nice hot stew.Start with chicken or beef,add carrots and onions and top with homemade dumplings.If there are leftovers( I would be doubtful about those), save for the week, when cooking dinner is hectic.A crochet cam also be good for making Swedish meatballs, a treat for everyone.One of the easiest Saturday suppers to create is pasta.If you don't have time to make a sauce, use a pre made one or toss the hot spaghetti with a mix of sliced tomatoes, garlic ,olive oil and oragano.The pasta's heat will cook the other in to a kind of primavera sauce.You can also fry pasta, such as ravioli and serve with already heated already made sauce.Another hot and quick idea is the open faced sandwich with gravy.Buy already sliced London broil or turkey from your deli counter, arrange on kaiser rolls and ladle on pre made gravy .Serve with a simple tossed salad for a satisfying meal.Finish with store bought pound cake or just apples and caramel. Saturday is the busiest day of the fall season.If means having a limited amount of times to cook a hearty and hot meal.It can be done - in a snap. the rsult- a dinner that is tasty and satisfying.

A Simple Saturday Dinner

Saturday should be a day  to relax yet it's hard to do, especially now in September.There's soccer games to watch or late summer gardening or a day of  just simple chores to do  . The idea of an elaborate supper to end it is tiring.Cooking is yet another  chore  You can try take out  but that can be greasy and fattening.A better choice is just a simple meal that just consists of very few ingredients.

Sometimes the best suppers are ones with very little thought or choices. Think about getting a baguette and spreading cheese on it.You can get a Boursin or cheddar spread  for those or a nice creamy Brie. .If you don't have bread then use crackers. For more sustenance slice up tomatoes and serve them  sprinkled with salt. You can also just put olive oil and shredded basil leaves on them.Layer this on the sliced bread instead of the  cheese .Another idea is taking thinly sliced ham and putting it with the cheese for a kind of gourmet sandwich.

Salads work well too for a Saturday night meal. Make it heartier with whatever meat you have leftover from the previous week. Sliced cold London Broil works well in a simple green salad.Add some tomatoes and sliced peppers and a quick vinaigrette. You can do the same with chicken or ham , but used a fruit infused vinegar to make the dressing. Doing this will emphasize the meat's flavor. Soup is another easy supper choice. Start with bouillon cubes, tomatoes peppers and precut onions and carrots (you can get this in your store's salad section) then  throw in any kind of bean. Simmer and stir for a few minutes and serve with either crusty bread or crackers.

The best thing about a busy Saturday is winding down with a simple supper. It doesn't have to be elaborate.It does have to be good and that's   easy to do . All it takes is just basic  recipes to create an effortless meal.