Weekly Menu Planning Saturday #16

SUNDAY

Breaded Chicken Cutlets with Milk Gravy

MONDAY

Green Chile White Sauce Beef Enchiladas

TUESDAY

Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken

WEDNESDAY

Lighter French Toast Casserole

THURSDAY

Shortcut Calzones

FRIDAY (4th of July)

Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches with Mexican Corn Pasta Salad

Mexican Corn Pasta Salad

SATURDAY

Menu-Plan Day and Take-Out Night

FOR DESSERT

Red, White and Blue Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies

Grammy's White Sheet Cake

Fresh Fruit Bowls with Vanilla Bean Custard

Peach Pie Sheet Cake Bars

Lucky Leaf  provided me with products, at no cost, for the purpose of this blog post.  All opinions expressed herein are my own.  

I might have found a favorite pie filling.  The Lucky Leaf Peach Pie Filling I used for this cake is absolutely delicious.  It's so good, that we snuck a little right from the can, before adding it to the cake.  The flavor is perfectly peachy with just enough sweetness.

It took my sheet cake bars to a whole new level.  Peaches, Cake, Cinnamon Streusel and Cream Cheese Icing, what more could I ask for!

The texture is cakey, but you can pick the bars up and eat them without needing a fork, which makes them such a great Summer dessert.  Not a peach fan?  No problem, you can make these delicious bars with any type of pie filling.  Cinnamon and fruit go so well together, so Blueberry, Raspberry, Cherry and Strawberry would all be amazing.  

Peach Pie Sheet Cake Bars
From: Jenn@eatcakefordinner
(Printable Recipe) or (Printable with Picture)

1 c. unsalted butter, room temp.
1 3/4 c. sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3 c. all-purpose flour
1 (21 oz.) can peach pie filling, pureed
  
Cinnamon Streusel Topping
5 Tbl. light brown sugar
1 Tbl. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
pinch of salt
1 Tbl. unsalted butter, cold

Cream Cheese Icing
4 oz. cream cheese
1 c. powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1-2 Tbl. milk, as needed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cream together butter and sugar.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add the vanilla.  Add the baking powder and flour and mix until just combined.  Spread a little more than half of the cake batter into a greased 13''x18'' jelly roll pan.  It might seem like there is not enough batter to cover the bottom of the pan, but it will.  It will be a very thin layer, but it puffs up while baking.  Spread pureed pie filling over the top, then drop spoonfuls of the remaining batter randomly over the top.  Spread out slightly, but there should be many spots without any batter.  

For the Cinnamon Streusel Topping:  In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt.  Add the cold butter and using your clean hands, rub together the dry ingredients with the butter until is resembles coarse crumbs.  Sprinkle over the top of the cake.  Bake for 33-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Cool completely.  

For the Cream Cheese Icing:  Place cream cheese in a microwave-safe glass dish and microwave for 10-15 seconds or until very soft.  Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and stir until smooth.  Add milk, as needed, to reach adesired consistency.  Drizzle over cooled cake.     

Linked up at Weekend Potluck!

Amish Friendship Cinnamon Bread Alternative {without a starter}

Have you ever had real Amish Friendship Bread?  The kind that is made with a "starter"?  It is one of the best breads I have ever eaten, but it isn't a bread that you can jump up and make the second you get a craving.  The "starter" takes at least 10 days to be ready.  Check out this post if you are interested in the original version.

I pinned a recipe a long time ago that claimed to be just as good as Amish Cinnamon Bread.  I tried it once as mini loaves, but filled the pans too full and it wasn't very pretty.  

Months went by and I finally tried again, but as a regular loaf.  

It turned out so GOOD!  Whether you eat it warm with butter or at room temperature, it doesn't matter, it will be delicious.  It is so soft and moist and I even used half butter and half applesauce.  

The cinnamon sugar crust on top will have you going back for slice after slice.  

Now, this isn't quite the same as actual Amish Friendship Bread, but it is a good alternative for when you get that craving.  Next time, I am thinking of cutting back on the sugar and adding some vanilla pudding mix instead.  If you try it let me know what you think.

You might also like:

Amish Friendship Bread  

Snickerdoodle Muffins

Great Harvest Cinnamon Chip Bread

Amish Friendship Cinnamon Bread Alternative
adapted from: Red Fly Creations
(Printable Recipe) or (Printable with Picture)

1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened (I used 1/4 c. butter and 1/4 c. applesauce)
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. buttermilk
2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

Cinnamon/Sugar Topping
1/3 c. sugar mixed with 1 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cream together butter and sugar.  Add the egg and vanilla and mix to combine.  Add the buttermilk, flour, baking soda and salt and mix until just combined.  Spread half of the batter into a greased 9x5-inch loaf pan.  Sprinkle 3/4 of the cinnamon sugar mixture over the top.  Gently spread remaining batter over the top and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar mixture.  No need to swirl it with a knife, but you can if you want.  Bake for 48-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool in loaf pan for 15-20 minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the pan and invert to a wire rack and cool.  Makes 1 loaf.    

Linked up at Weekend Potluck!

Weekly Menu Planning Saturday #15

SUNDAY

Baked Italian Sandwich

MONDAY

Cheesy Zucchini Stuffed Chicken with Cheesy Broccoli Orzo

Cheesy Broccoli Orzo
You could also throw some leftover spinach in this and it would be delicious.

TUESDAY

Potstickers and Easy Lo Mein

Easy Lo Mein

WEDNESDAY

Chicken Parmesan Crescents with a Side Salad

THURSDAY

My Favorite Ground Beef Tacos

FRIDAY

Spicy Chicken and Pepper Jack Pizza

FOR A SNACK

Easiest Salsa Around
(Made in the blender or food processor)

You can use this for the tacos and for the pizza.

FOR DESSERT

My Over-the-Top Birthday Cake

Butterscotch Cookies 'n Cream Cake Mix Cookies

These cookies were a result of clean out the pantry Saturday.

Saturday was in the 60's and it was windy.  I opened up my windows and let the breeze cool the house down while I did some cleaning and then rewarded myself with Cafe Rio and Cookies.

 I'll clean out my pantry any day of the week for Cafe Rio and Cookies!  I'd probably even clean out yours :)

I found an opened bag of Cookies 'n' Creme bars with just enough left to throw in these cookies.  I have decided that those Cookies 'n' Creme Bars taste good in everything.  They are one of my new favorite ingredients to add to cookies, because they have so much flavor and they are so creamy.

Those creamy melted candy bars and butterscotch chips mixed with a chewy chocolate cookie sure is a rewarding treat and I think you deserve these tonight!  

You might also like:

Mint Cookies 'n Cream Pudding Cookies

Cookies 'n Cream Marshmallow Red Velvet Cookies

Pistachio Cake Mix Cookies

Banana Rainbow Chip Cookies

Butterscotch Peanut Butter Bars

Butterscotch Cookies 'n Cream Cake Mix Cookies
From: Jenn@eatcakefordinner
(Printable Recipe) or (Printable with Picture)

1 chocolate cake mix
1 (3.4 oz.) box instant Butterscotch pudding 
2 eggs
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla
12 Cookies 'n' Creme fun-size bars, broken into pieces
1/2 - 3/4 c. butterscotch chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl combine dry cake mix and pudding mix.  Add the eggs, oil and vanilla.  Mix until blended using a hand mixer.  Roll dough into 1 1/2-inch balls and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Press a few Cookies 'n' Creme pieces and butterscotch chips into the top of each dough ball.  Bake for 10-11 minutes.   Makes around 30-34 cookies. 

Linked up at Weekend Potluck!  

Weekly Menu Planning Saturday #14 - Father's Day Edition

Today's Menu Plan Saturday is a Father's Day Edition.  This is all food that my Dad would eat, which means . . . NO CHICKEN!

SUNDAY 

Perfect Pot Roast with Mashed Potatoes and Bread Machine Dinner Rolls

Bread Machine Dinner Rolls

MONDAY
Spaghetti a la Philly

TUESDAY
Hash Brown Sausage Breakfast Casserole

WEDNESDAY

Parmesan and Panko Pork Chops with Oven-Baked Steak Fries and Fry Sauce

Oven-Baked Steak Fries and Fry Sauce

THURSDAY

Salsa Sloppy Joes

FRIDAY

Fresh Garden Tomato Chili
If you have any leftover Pot Roast, it would be great in this chili.

SATURDAY
Menu-Play Day and Take-Out Night

DESSERT AND SNACKS

Zucchini Cake Sandwich Cookies

Oh Henry Bars

Copycat Fritos Bean Dip

Turkey Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

Father's Day is this weekend.  Do you have any plans?  Maybe a BBQ with the family?  Ya know, this pasta salad goes perfect alongside some grilled chicken or a burger and it can feed quite a few people!  Just saying :)

  

My Dad gave me a Betty Crocker Healthy Cookbook and this recipe was inspired by a similar one in the book.  Rather than using Mayonnaise, it calls for Light Ranch Dressing.  I always buy Light Ranch Dressing.  With the brand that I buy, I really can't tell the difference.

This pasta salad is delicious and I love that it is lighter than traditional pasta salad.  

You might also like:
Mom's Macaroni Salad
Roasted Red Pepper Macaroni Salad
Mexican Corn Pasta Salad

Turkey Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
From: Jenn@eatcakefordinner
(Printable Recipe) or (Printable with Picture)

16 oz. medium shell pasta
1/4 lb. deli ham, diced
1/4 lb. deli turkey, diced
2 green onions, chopped
1 tomato, diced
1/3 c. imitation bacon bits
3 c. fresh spinach, chopped
3/4 - 1 c. light ranch dressing, or more to taste
salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese, for garnish before serving

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse well with cold water.  Allow to dry completely before preparing the salad.  Once pasta is dry, add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.  Taste and adjust any ingredients, if needed.  Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.  Garnish with Parmesan cheese just before serving.  Serves: 8-10. 

Idea from: Betty Crocker Healthy New Choices

Linked up at Saturday Night Fever!