what's cooking: last week's menu (and a whole new me)

There's a bit of a transformation taking place. What started as a simple new year's resolution to eat healthfully and make dinner every night has evolved into me really enjoying cooking. It's become more than just a means to an end. And I'm finding that the more I do it, the more confidence I carry with me into the kitchen. Like a lucky rabbit's foot in my pocket.

My Sunday nights go a little something like this: hunker down on the sofa (glass of wine optional, but likely), stacks of cookbooks teetering by my side and my trusty brown file brimming with clipped recipes perched on my knee. Pen and notebook in hand, I start planning next week's menu. I page and mark and sort and finally narrow it down to four or five entrees and sides. As the menu takes shape, I find that I'm genuinely excited to make each meal and imagining that look of happy contentment on Wade's face as he finishes his last bite and wonders aloud if there are seconds. That makes me smile. Every time.

Here's last week's...

Monday - Gingered Pumpkin Soup with Pea Pesto Crostini
Tuesday - Baked Salmon* with Green Bean & Fennel Salad and Baked Polenta Fries
Wednesday - Three Cheese Calzones and Chocolate Shortbreads
Thursday - Baked Chicken Breasts with Sweet Potato Bake
Friday - Leftovers

Favorite? Ooey, gooey, cheesy calzones. Heaven in a pizza dough crust. (Wade clapped. I beamed. ;)
Worst? Ginger Pumpkin Soup (aka Boring Pumpkin Water). Blech. What a waste of a good can of pumpkin. It was destined for muffins, poor pumpkin. Thank goodness the pea pesto was Awesome. (Yes, that's a capital A.)

*Why's the salmon marked, you ask? Because the intended main course seemed a little "fishy" (no pun intended) and so it went in the trash. On our plates instead? Grilled cheese sandwiches. Here's to being flexible!

I'll try to start providing links to recipes (like above), but it all depends on how much time I have to track them down since most recipes I use are hardcopy. But you've been requesting, so I'll do my best!

xo, Kristin

Three Cheese Calzones (top) and Baked Chicken with Sweet Potato Bake (bottom)