Category Archives: Nico in the Kitchen

Feb 1

February’s Monthly Menu

Say hello to February, and yep I’ve got another monthly dinner menu planned. This month, and the next few months are going to be a little different though. I’m returning to my vegetarian ways, and making a separate dinner for the family. So here is the monthly dinner menu for the guy’s…

  • 2/1/2010: Nacho Bar
  • 2/2/2010: Chicken Nuggets, Fries, and Macaroni & Cheese
  • 2/3/2010: Grilled Chicken, Hominy, and Cheddar-Broccoli Rice
  • 2/4/2010: Salmon Cakes, Corn, and Rice
  • 2/5/2010: Toast, Bacon, Cinnamon Rolls, and Jellies
  • 2/6/2010: Chicken Stir-fry with Rice
  • 2/7/2010: Chili, Saltines, and Brownies
  • 2/8/2010: Taco Bar, Tortilla Chips, Salsa, and Cheese Dip
  • 2/9/2010: Salmon Cakes, Corn, and Rice
  • 2/10/2010: Pasta with Meat Sauce, and Garlic Pull-apart bread
  • 2/11/2010: Chicken Fajitas, Mini Bean Burritos, Tortilla  Chips, Salsa and Cheese Dip
  • 2/12/2010: Muffins, Toast, Bacon, Scrambled Eggs, and Jellies
  • 2/13/2010: Angus Burgers, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, and Fries
  • 2/14/2010: Pot Roast with Potatoes, and Chocolate Bundt Cake
  • 2/15/2010: Beef Stroganoff and Mashed Potatoes
  • 2/16/2010: Dinner Out! Cause it’s my birthday…
  • 2/17/2010: Salmon Cakes, Corn, and Rice
  • 2/18/2010: Nacho Bar
  • 2/19/2010: Scrambled Eggs, Toast, Bacon, and Jellies
  • 2/20/2010: Beef & Broccoli Stir-fry with Rice
  • 2/21/2010: Grilled Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, and Cinnamon-Sugar Biscuit Bites
  • 2/22/2010: Chicken Fajitas, Mini-Bean Burritos, Tortilla Chips, Salsa, and Cheese Dip
  • 2/23/2010: Pasta with Meat Sauce and Garlic Bread
  • 2/24/2010: Chicken Chow Mien, Chow Mien Noodles, and Rice
  • 2/25/2010: Salmon Cakes, Corn, and Rice
  • 2/26/2010: Sausage, Biscuits & Gravy, and Monkey Bread
  • 2/27/2010: Angus Burgers, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, and Fries
  • 2/28/2010: Chicken Noodles and Mashed Potatoes

I don’t have my menu planned out just yet, but I’ll share it soon. Happy February!

Jan 21

Keeping Busy In The Kitchen

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I finally made up my mind on what to make for the MOPS Spa Night, and I’ve been busy in the kitchen all morning. The Little Miss and Dylan were there to help me out too. So far I’ve got the Raspberry Balls chilling  in the fridge, and waiting for a drizzle of White Chocolate. I’m half-way through baking Mini-Red Velvet cupcakes that I will frost tomorrow. I’ve got lunch to make too, so I had better get back to it.

Jan 8

Winter Wonderland Cupcakes

Yesterday we were baking some cupcakes to pass the time, and to give the kiddos something to do, and I heard my phone go ” ding ding”. That means I’ve got a text, and this one announced another snow day!

These cupcakes are prefect for the snowy weather, and another day indoors.

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I baked off a batch of French Vanilla cupcakes, cause that was what I had on hand. I checked the pantry for some decorating supplies, and grabbed the decorating sugar and the vanilla snowman marshmallows too.

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I didn’t have frosting on hand, so I whipped up a batch. I can’t tell you the exact recipe, because this is one frosting that I made up as I went along. It does include: Vegetable Shortening, Margarine, Powdered Sugar, Granulated Sugar, Goodman’s Vanilla, Flour, and Lactose-free Milk, and it is delicious, but really unhealthy.

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Once the cupcakes had cooled, I iced them with the makeshift icing, and topped them off with the decorative sugar and the snowmen too.

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They look like a “Winter Wonderland” to me.

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Thade gave them a double thumbs-up!

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Dylan thought they were pretty tasty too. He might have liked his Christmas ring-pop a little more, that is why his lips are all red.

I think the cupcakes would be super tasty with a big cup of Hot Cocoa, or an ice cold glass of milk.

Jan 4

January’s Monthly Menu

I’m a few days behind, but I’ve got my first monthly menu for the new year. I’m still menu planning in 2010, when the kiddos will let me have a few moments to collect my thoughts and plan some meals. So here is what’s for dinner in January:

  • 1/1/2010: Chicken Fajitas, Mini Bean Burritos, Re-fried Beans, Tortilla Chips, Salsa, and Cheese Dip
  • 1/2/2010: Grilled Chicken, Hominy, and Salad
  • 1/3/2010: Chili and Saltines
  • 1/4/2010: Angus Burgers, Fries, and Macaroni & Cheese for the kiddos
  • 1/5/2010: Pasta w/ Meat Sauce and Garlic Bread
  • 1/6/2010: Salmon Cakes, Corn, and Rice
  • 1/7/2010: Chicken Chow Mien, Rice, and Chow Mien Noodles
  • 1/8/2010: Cinnamon Rolls, Bacon, Toast, and Scrambled Eggs
  • 1/9/2010: Chili and Saltines
  • 1/10/2010: Chicken Noodles and Mashed Potatoes
  • 1/11/2010: Angus Burgers, Fries, and Macaroni & Cheese for the kiddos
  • 1/12/2010: Salmon Cakes, Corn, and Rice
  • 1/13/2010: Nacho Bar
  • 1/14/2010: Pasta w/ Meat Sauce and Garlic Bread
  • 1/15/2010: Breakfast Burritos, Waffles, and Bacon
  • 1/16/2010: Chicken Fajitas, Mini Bean Burritos, Re-fried Beans, Tortilla Chips, Salsa, and Cheese Dip
  • 1/17/2010: Pot Roast and Potatoes
  • 1/18/2010: Nacho Bar
  • 1/19/2010: Chicken Chow Mien, Rice, and Chow Mien Noodles
  • 1/20/2010: Pasta w/ Meat Sauce and Garlic Bread
  • 1/21/2010: Chicken Fajitas, Mini Bean Burritos, Tortilla Chips, Re-fried Beans, Salsa, and Cheese Dip
  • 1/22/2010: Toast with Jelly, Scrambled Eggs, and Bacon
  • 1/23/2010: Salmon Cakes, Corn, and Rice
  • 1/24/2010: Grilled Chicken, Hominy, and Green Beans
  • 1/25/2010: Angus Burgers, Fries, and Macaroni & Cheese for the kiddos
  • 1/26/2010: Grilled Chicken, Hominy, and Salad
  • 1/27/2010: Sloppy Joe’s and Chips
  • 1/28/2010: Chicken Nuggets and Fries
  • 1/29/2010: Lil Smokies, Spirals Mac & Cheese, and Chocolate Bundt Cake
  • 1/30/2010: Chicken Fajitas, Mini Bean Burritos, Re-fried Beans, Tortilla Chips, Salsa, and Cheese Dip
  • 1/31/2010: Chicken and Noodles with Mashed Potatoes

Time to make some shopping lists and get to cooking…

Dec 20

Christmas Cookie Baking part 3

It took 2 days and one awesome helper, but we finally got all of the Christmas Cookies finished.

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Stacey-cakes and I ended up making 479 cookies! It was so much fun too, but I don’t think I want to bake cookies again for a long time.

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We moved all of the cookies into the dining room to assemble the plates and trays. The kiddos had fun hanging out in the living room, and snagging a few cookies too.

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Even James couldn’t resist the cookies.

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We assembled 20 plates, 4 trays, and we both had a few left over for our families too. It was a blast baking Christmas cookies with my best buddy.