Have you seen that wine commercial where a husband makes a gourmet dinner for his wife? I love that commercial, mainly because of the soundtrack. Salmon sizzling in the skillet, a good knife slicing vegetables on an oak chopping block, liquid streaming into a saucepan, and the clink of measuring spoons are very evocative sounds for me. Weekends have always been a time for me to enjoy cooking. I like puttering around the kitchen, listening to the sounds of the kitchen, smelling the aromas, and watching foods caramelize, soften, brown, blend, and transform in the alchemy of cooking. If cooking has turned into a chore for you, just try spending some time this weekend and pay attention to the rich sensations of working with food.
This weekend is a good time to treat your family like company. You know what I mean - too often families are so rushed getting from school to work to practice to chores that suddenly another year has gone by without your realizing it. Take some time this weekend to get together with your family and enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the kitchen.
Friday Night Supper
This menu is very delicious, and simple enough for even the most tired commuter to put together after a day at the office. The flavors in the pasta sauce are really spectacular. Serve this for dinner and your weekend will be off to a wonderful start. Let your kids make the biscuits and the parfaits while you get the fettuccine together.
- Fettuccine with Sausage Green Pepper Sauce
- mixed green salad with purchased dressings
- Cheese Burst Biscuits
- Blueberry Shortbread Parfaits
Saturday Breakfast
Assemble this french toast casserole recipe after dinner on Friday with your kids. It's very easy to assemble and is very delicious.
- orange juice
- sliced melons
- Overnight French Toast
Saturday Lunch
- Cobb Salad Wraps
- carrot and celery sticks
- beverages
Saturday dinner
This is one of my all time favorite entrees. When I was about 15, I loved an old Kraft cheese cookbook, and would read it over and over again. I wish I could find that book today! There was a recipe for Chicken Roccoco in that book, and I changed the chicken roll filling from cheddar cheese to onions and cream cheese. I've been making it this way ever since. Make the Chicken Roccoco and Easy Tartufo ahead, and all you have to do at dinnertime is make the green beans and toss the salad.
Sunday Brunch
I have always been a firm believer in Sunday brunch. If your kids just can't wait until 10 or 11 AM to eat, just have some cold cereals in the pantry that they can munch on until you get up to make this wonderful brunch. Or better yet, have all the ingredients for this brunch on hand, and let your kids cook!
- orange juice and coffee
- Apricot Waffles
- microwave bacon or sausage
Sunday Dinner
As the weekend winds down, make it easy on yourself and cook dinner on the grill. These easy packet meals are simple to customize to your family's tastes and best of all, there's no cleanup! What a great way to celebrate a lazy spring weekend.
- Mexican Fish Packets
- mixed green salad with purchased dressings
- Basil Cheese Pull-apart Breadsticks
- Cookie Brittle
