This weekend we're focusing on chicken, as I have two huge bags of boneless, skinless chicken breasts in my freezer. My grocery store had a 'buy one get one free' special this week on bags of the frozen meat. The chicken breasts are cooked by just plunking them in the oven, still frozen, and baking for about an hour until juicy and tender. Line your baking pan with foil or parchment paper to make cleanup a breeze.
I suppose this weekend's menus were inspired by one of my favorite dishes - Chicken Risotto. The version I love is unconventional because it doesn't use arborio rice, which means you can make it even if you don't have the special Italian short grain rice in your pantry.
And since it's almost summer, I'm starting to rely more on main dish salads as refrigerator staples. Spend a little time making a pasta or grain based salad on Friday night or Saturday morning and you have at least two meals all ready to pull out of the fridge and eat. (I've even been known to eat the Gemelli Chicken Melon Salad for breakfast - it's that good!)
Enjoy your weekend.
Friday Night
- Chicken Risotto
Save two cups of this risotto to make Risotto Cakes with Tomato Sauce for Sunday night dinner. - steamed green beans
- simple lettuce salad
- Sorbet Parfait
Saturday Breakfast
- Quick Coffeecake
- orange juice and coffee
- fresh fruit
For breakfast, serve some of the fruits you purchased to make the Fresh Fruit Salad with Poppyseed Dressing.
Saturday Picnic Lunch
- Chicken Melon Salad
This delicious and easy five ingredient recipe is one of my favorites. Make sure to properly pack your picnic lunch using lots of ice. - baby carrots and celery sticks
- breadsticks
- Nut Lover's Brownies
- beverages
Saturday Dinner
- Crockpot Sweet and Sour Chicken Stew
Start this easy crockpot meal after breakfast and let it meld and simmer all day while you enjoy a picnic or putter in your garden. - Fresh Fruit Salad with Popppyseed Dressing
- Lemonade Ice Cream Pie
- beverages
Sunday Brunch
- Blueberry French Toast Bake
- crisp bacon
- orange juice and coffee
Sunday Dinner
- Risotto Cakes with Tomato Sauce
These little cakes, crunchy and golden on the outside, and creamy and tender on the inside, are such fun to make and eat. - Seven Layer Slaw
This cool and crunchy coleslaw is the perfect complement to the Risotto Cakes. - dinner rolls
- more Nut Lover's Brownies
