Category Archives: Recipes

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How I like to cut a cantaloupe

Are you a fan of the best melon around- the cantaloupe? Right, me, too. I’m not a fan of cutting a cantaloupe into wedges and cutting the flesh from  the  skin, so I’ve been cutting my cantaloupe like you do a pineapple for some time. I like to cute the melon into half first, scoop out the seeds and turn the flat side over on my cutting board.

_MG_0076

_MG_0098_MG_0075Now we’re ready to get down to some business. Take your serrated, oversized knife and slice a thin top off the melon.

_MG_0078Be careful of your hand holding the top! Ouch if you knick it, right?

Ah yes, you should have achieved a shaved-off top. Let’s call it flat top.

_MG_0079Proceed to cut the sides of the melon skin off, like you would a pineapple’s sides:

_MG_0080

_MG_0082(my colors are wonky and I’m going to blame it on the fabulous light my kitchen has (sarcasm) teamed with my lack of interest in processing these shots today)

Once you go around the perimter of the cantaloupe, you’re left with a hunk of flesh. You’re ready to slice down pieces from the top:

_MG_0090_MG_0092Now turn a slice or two the opposite direction and cut across the first slices to create smaller, more edible, pop-in-your-mouth bites.

_MG_0094_MG_0097Repeat with the second half of the cantaloupe and you get a bowlful of melon ready for breakfast, snack, lunch or pre-dinner spoiler!

_MG_0111Go ahead, grab your cantaloupe and give it a go :) You won’t regret it!

Menu Monday

Monday: Taco Salad (we postponed this from last week)

Tuesday: Steak Tips with Mushroom Gravy, mashed potatoes, veggies

Wednesday: Yvette’s Meatball Soup (recipe below!) and crusty bread

Thursday (Girls’ Choice!): Chili Dogs and Hamburgers, tater tots and fruit

Friday: Deep-Dish Quiche Lorraine (Andy’s cooking from Cooks Illustrated, it’s sure to be a winner!)

Saturday: Date night + Carb Load!

Sunday: Dinner @ Disneyland

Monday: Chicken Alfredo (my vote was for ribs, but Andy’s bent on getting a smoker first)

When we lived in San Diego, we had the great privilege to be apart of a Young Marrieds home fellowship (which we no longer qualify under “young” marrieds, now we’re “older” marrieds. ha.). The leaders of the group would host us in their home weekly and bi-monthly, we would have a dinner night and sometimes, Yvette would make a soup that Andy and I couldn’t get enough of (but we didn’t take too much, we shared) (promise). After I had Lauren, she brought it over for us and in her other hand, she wrote out the recipe for me. I love her for this and I still have the beloved written out index card. I think it’s similar to Italian Wedding soup, but this is pretty easy and tasty-tasty so give it a try for when a cool fall night calls for some soup!

Yvette’s Meatball Soup

Ingredients:

2 lbs. ground beef

2 cloves garlic, minced

few springs parsley, chopped

1/2 tsp each marjoram, basil, onion salt OR tsp. fresh (she increases the fresh options)

3 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

4 eggs

floud

4 beef bouillon cubes

8 cups water

2 cups canned tomatoes (I buy chopped)

2 small bay leaves, crumbled

6-8 tbsp. uncooked rice

Directions:

Mix first 4 ingredients, 1 tsp. salt, pepper and 2 eggs.

Shape into 62 smaller round balls and dredge in flour.

Bring bouillon cubes, water, tomato, bay leaves and remaining salt to a boil (I start this while making the meatballs)

Add meatballs and rice. Cover and simmer 45 minutes.

Just before serving, stir in remaing 2 eggs, slightly beaten with a fork.

Enjoy with some crusty bread!

(I automatically doubled this recipe, so if you don’t need leftovers, or have a family of five, maybe half it back)

Meal Plan Monday

Inspired by bloggin' buddy, Erin, I'm going to post our meal plans for the week today- plus my mom is always wondering what to make for dinner. MOM!! I've got a weeks worth of dinners for ya! Because I shop on Thursdays or Fridays, my plans are always halfway executed by Monday, but I'm thinking that {decorate your soul} needs some categories. Plus, we have a  heck of a time keeping our new "keepers" in our Sincock Family recipe book so maybe this will be a good place to reference our best recipes. It's a work in progress…

Saturday: Beef & Noodles & vegetables

Sunday: dinner @ friends

Monday: NEW! Apple Pork Chops (recommended by Kelly) w/ glazed butternut squash

Tuesday: NEW! Pioneer Woman's Favorite Enchiladas, Spanish Rice, salad
 
Wednesday: Leftovers

(recommended by Amy), w/ tomato-cilantro couscous

Friday: Homemade Pizza (I don't make our own dough… yet)
What's cooking in your kitchen?