The Great Pantry Cleanout-week 6

6 Weeks already?! Wow; I'm getting near the halfway-point of this thing! As a result, my pantry and freezers are looking leaner, and consequently it's getting a bit trickier to avoid grocery shopping. Hmmm, this is where the creativity is going to have to really kick in. To be honest, I'm feeling a bit stretched and weary overall (I think that's just part of being a Mom, right? ), but to put it in the words of that famous Little Engine, "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can...."
So onto week 6 with my menu and recipes! Yes, I know it's already Wednesday and I'm just now getting these posted. So all I can say is to please bear with me. Better late than never, right?

Menu:
Sunday: Spaghetti Alfredo (Take 2-a second fave recipe for alfredo sauce) with grilled chicken, broccoli
Monday: Pasta Fagioli (soup) with garlic bread
Tuesday: Garlic spaghetti with grilled chicken, salad
Wednesday: church
Thursday: Crockpot Beef Stroganoff, Mixed Veggies
Friday: Pizza (recipes for Garlic Lovers' Crust and Super Easy Pizza Sauce below)
Saturday: Salmon Noodle Bake and broccoli

Recipes:

Alfredo Sauce- Take 2
I had already posted the recipe that I use for homemade alfredo here, but here is another, QUICK way to make it in a pinch. (It's also a great way to make it in large quantities. I made it this way for a church dinner, and got a lot of complements and requests for the recipe :)

Take 1 jar of pre-made alfredo (like classico or bertolli) and about 1 cup of half-and-half. Begin heating the sauce on the stove over medium heat-stirring constantly. Start to drizzle in half and half to thin the sauce until desired consistency (while still stirring). Ladle over noodles and top with fresh shredded parmesan cheese.

Pasta Fagioli-Italian bean soup with pastina (small pasta)
4 oz bacon, chopped medium
1 onion, chopped fine
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbsp fresh oregano or 1 tsp dried
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1-28 oz can diced tomatoes (or 1 jar marinara and omit the oregano)
2 cans cannellini (or great northern beans), or 1 cup dried-rinsed and soaked
3 1/2c low sodium chicken broth
2 1/3c cups water
salt
8 oz smalled shaped pasta
1/4c minced parsley (or 2 Tbsp dried)

Cook bacon in large dutch oven or stockpot on medium until crispy. Add in onion, garlic, oregano and red pepper. Cook until onion is soft, stirring constantly. Stir in tomatoes with their juice, broth, water, and 1 tsp salt. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
Stir in pastina and cook until al dente. Stir in parsely, salt, and pepper. Pour into bowls and top w/ grated parmesan.

Garlic Spaghetti
(Usually on Tuesdays, we have breakfast for dinner. But this week I had enough plain pasta and grilled chix left over from Sunday, that I decided to make our favorite go-to dish. If you like garlic, then Yum!)

1 lb. dry spaghetti

10-12 cloves garlic, minced or pressed (or 2 tbsp. garlic out of jar)

1/4c. olive oil

Handful of fresh parsley, minced or 1 tbsp dried

1 tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper or a couple of dashes of red pepper flakes

Boil spaghetti according to pkg. directions. In another saute pan, heat olive oil over med. Low heat. Add garlic, parsley, salt and pepper. Heat until fragrant, stirring constantly for 1 min. or so. Add to hot, drained noodles, and toss. Top w/ parmesan cheese if desired.

*Before adding garlic to olive oil, saute chopped/sliced chix breast. Once cooked, add seasonings.

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

We really like the recipe found here:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Beef-Stroganoff-I/Detail.aspx
and I've made it with regular cream of mushroom as well as the golden and both were great. I've also used sour cream or cream cheese, and both versions turned out yummy!

Garlic Lovers' Pizza Crust
6 ounces warm water
3 tsp dry skim milk
2 Tbsp powder milk
2 1/4c flour (can use all 'bread flour', but I use 1 1/4c bread and 1 c whole wheat)
1 Tbsp minced garlic
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tsp or 1 packet quick rising yeast

You can make this in a bread machine on 'dough' setting, or by mixing all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Just proof your yeast in the water with the sugar first (about 5 minutes) and then add the rest of the ingredients. Knead 7-8 minutes, cover with a towel, let rise until double, and then roll out into a large pizza or smaller personal sizes.

Super Quick Pizza Sauce
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 clove minced or pressed garlic
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1 -15 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 tbsp italian seasoning (optional)

Saute garlic in oil with pepper flakes (if desired) over medium-low heat for about 30 seconds. Add in tomatoes and seasoning (if desired). Stir and Voila! Pizza sauce!

Salmon Noodle Casserole
http://homesteadprep.blogspot.com/2010/11/great-pantry-cleanout-week-3-menu-and.html


Until next week, blessings to you and yours!
Hillary At Home