May I be frank for a moment? Since we are in the middle of Adopt-a-Blogger, I thought that this might be the perfect time to write about something that has been on my mind for quite some time. The Hazards of Blogging. No… I don’t mean getting flour on your camera and cake batter on your laptop. I mean the physical and emotional hazards of blogging. You are probably thinking, “Well, that sounds silly. What kind of physical and emotional hazards could take their toll on a person blogging?”

Blogging, like any other hobby, can turn into something that is a bit more obsessive and can take over portions of your life. When people turn to me for blogging advice, one of the first things I ask them is to share their goals with me. 99.9% of the time, people want to attract more visitors and more comments to their blog. This is a very common desire. If you enjoy blogging, having visitors come to your blog and then having people leave comments on your post tends to give you that extra push of confidence you are seeking. You know, through comments, that people are listening and their comments help to validate the purpose of your blog. Most people start out blogging for themselves, but then easily get caught up in the desire for comments, links, and higher visitor stats.

I remember when I first started Dine & Dish way back when there weren’t nearly the number of food bloggers that there are now and getting your blog noticed among the pack wasn’t as difficult as it is now.  I would always pride myself in the fact that I tried to remain on a personal level with the visitors to my blog. I would always respond to their comments as well as visit their blogs. Dine & Dish grew and grew some more and keeping up that promise to myself has become more and more difficult. Visiting and commenting on other blogs is extremely important if you want to keep your blog in front of others. Responding to or acknowledging comments is something I personally wanted to do. By keeping up with all of the comments and blog reading, I one day recently realized that my blogging time was starting to take over my life. Balance was something I have always had trouble with, but more so now than ever.

This past weekend my husband and I went to a movie called Fireproof. It is a Christian based movie about marriage and it was probably one of the most eye opening, moving movies I have seen in a very long time and I highly recommend anyone (Christian or not) who is married to see it. During one scene, the husband (who had an addiction to internet porn) took his computer outside and crushed it with a bat. It was at that moment in my head that I thought “Wow… sometimes that would be so nice… to be able to just get rid of technology for awhile.” It was then that I realized blogging, commenting, reading other blogs had taken a place in my life that was not healthy. I was spending less time with my family and more time with my laptop. Between writing my blog posts, cooking for my blog, photographing what I cooked, reading comments, reading other blogs, writing posts on Twitter about my blog, etc. I realized that Dine & Dish was getting more attention than some of the most important people in my life, and that was unacceptable.

I wanted to write this post to all the new bloggers out there. Some of you can balance this and balance it well. Others may have a more difficult time with it. When you are blogging, I want you to remember the sole reason you are blogging…for me that reason is to document my life for me… for my children… and for my family. Everything else (the friendships, the connections, the information), which I appreciate so much from each and every one of you, is just icing on the cake. Live your life and then blog about it. Don’t let your blog become your life.

Because this is a food blog, I’m adding a recipe. I made this a long time ago for the 3-A-Day Blogher campaign, but thought the photo was not stellar so didn’t blog about it. Well, I’ve decided…who cares if the photo isn’t great? You are going to get the recipe anyway!

Chicken, Mushroom and Cheese Quesadillas from Cooking Light Magazine

45 min | 15 min prep

SERVES 4

I have been sitting here, with my computer on my lap, for the past two hours trying to think of what to write about. For two hours, I have been sitting here and nothing even remotely related to food has crossed my mind. Instead my mind has been wandering to far off places, thinking of things that really aren’t helpful at all when trying to write a post for a food blog.

• Random Non-Food Related Thought #1 - I’ve been contemplating buying a Dyson vacuum but am hesitant to plunk down that much change for a vacuum cleaner. According to my contacts over at Twitter, a Dyson is well worth the investment. What do you think? Experiences?
• Random Non-Food Related Thought #2 - I turn 35 in less than 2 weeks. Why is it that as a teenager I had perfect skin, but now that I am in my mid-30’s I am having massive breakouts?  Bring on the Noxzema.
• Random Non-Food Related Thought #3 - I wonder if people who are auditioning for American Idol play the American Idol Wii game. I’ve actually won the game and have become the next American Wii Idol… thinking it may give those people considering auditioning a little more confidence than they should have to audition.
• Random Non-Food Related Thought #4 - I really need to find a good blog designer for another blog I’m working on. If Jules with Everyday Design is not available, I need to get someone else in place pronto! Do you know of anyone you can refer?
• Random Non-Food Related Thought #5 - My husband doesn’t read this blog or our family blog, and I think that is starting to irk me a bit. Seriously… if he wrote a blog (which will never happen) but still…if he wrote a blog I would hang on every word and would love to have that glimpse into his life.  Do your loved ones read your blog?

My thoughts are now getting a bit too random to even continue. I do have to share this recipe with you that I tried out last week. You may have remembered seeing it on our menu. I followed the recipe exactly, but added some chicken breast pieces sauteed in rosemary and garlic. Delicious!

Penne with Pumpkin Cream Sauce from Everyday with Rachael Ray Magazine

1 pound penne pasta
2T butter
1 onion, chopped
salt & pepper
1 15-oz. can pure pumpkin puree
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese plus more for topping
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Cook pasta until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking water.

In the same pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the onion and season with salt and pepper; cook, stirring until softened, about 6 minutes. Stir in the pumpkin and heavy cream and bring to a boil. Return the pasta to the pot, along with the reserved pasta water, and toss. Stir in the parmesan; season with salt & pepper.

Top pasta with parsley and more parmesan to serve.

I know that so many people have such a love/hate relationship with Rachael Ray. I admit, I don’t watch her shows, but I do like a lot of her recipes. Other food bloggers do too! Check out some of these food blog tried and true Rachael Ray recipes:

• Gigi’s Apple Cake from Culinarily Obsessed
• Garlicky Bean and Chicken Enchiladas from Taste and Tell
• Spanish Shrimp and Chorizo Skewers from I’m Running to Eat
• Cheddar Cheese and Macaroni from Family, Friends and Food

Hubby is gone on business again this week, so the kids and I are on our own. I remember when I was a kid and my dad would go out of town on business, we would get to have frozen pizza, boxed macaroni and cheese and hot dogs. My mom always cooked fantastic meals when dad was home, so although we missed him when he was out of town, we looked forward to eating meals that we didn’t get to eat when he was home. Just like when we had babysitters, TV Dinners (with the dessert and everything) was our special dinner. We got to get out the metal TV trays and everything! What a treat

Our menu this week is pretty much inspired by what we have in the fridge, freezer and pantry that needs to be used up. Check out I’m An Organizing Junkie for other Menu Planning Monday participants!

• Monday - Easy Chuck Roast from Tammy’s Recipes (modified for Crock Pot)
• Tuesday - Shredded Beef Tacos with leftover Chuck Roast
• Wednesday - Tuna Noodle Casserole inspired by Pinch My Salt
• Thursday - Mom’s Mustard Chicken from Apples and Butter (my adoptee!)
• Friday - Homemade Pizza
• Saturday - Date night out at the Barn Party - eating at the party!
• Sunday - Zippy Chicken and Mushroom Soup from Dine & Dish (one of our Family Favorites!)

What’s on your menu this week?

I got a couple of emails after I posted my “kid friendly” menu on Monday. I guess I should have clarified. I know that my definition of kid friendly and other parents definition of kid friendly can be completely different things. I have been very blessed in the fact that my kids are not picky. They eat just about anything I put in front of them, but part of that is because I don’t cater to their tastes. I cook the recipes I want to cook, and they know that they at least have to try everything on their plate. I don’t make something different for them if they don’t like what we are having for dinner. I do always have fruit and vegetable options available that I know they will eat (so they don’t “starve”), but for the most part, they generally like our meals and eat what is put in front of them. I know I’d better count my blessings because my good fortune with picky eaters is sure to change when they get older. We will cross that bridge when we come to it, but for now I’ll continue cooking the way I do.

Lunch time is when we go for the all out kids fare at our house. Chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, PB&J… they get to have the limelight at lunch time. One very kid friendly recipe that my kids go crazy for are Extra Cheesy Crescent Mozzarella Wedges. I love it too because it is so easy to put together and really tastes great.

The ingenious people over at Pillsbury have created a product to make this recipe (and ones like it) even more simple. Crescent Recipe Creations… a product just like the Pillsbury crescent rolls, but with out the perferated seams. Isn’t that brilliant? This will make making the Extra Cheesy Crescent Mozzarella Wedges, Grandma Doyle’s Breakfast Pizza, and more recipes like that so much easier!

The folks at Pillsbury sent me some other great products to try out. Stay tuned for what is new at Pillsbury!

Extra Cheesy Crescent Mozzarella Wedges

22 min | 5 min prep

SERVES 8

This is probably completely inappropriate talk for a food blog, but why is it that you can get in the car, leave work, drive for 30 minutes and not have to go to the bathroom at all. Then, when you pull onto your street and open the garage door, you suddenly have to go soooooo bad that you can hardly stand it! What is up with that? I think it is all about the anticipation of being home.

Being an instant gratification kind of gal, I don’t do well with anticipation. I buy my husband Christmas presents and have to give them to him early because I can’t stand to wait to see his reaction. I rarely let cookie dough chill before baking it. I’ve never made a sourdough starter because the thought of waiting for days for something to come to fruition would drive me to drink (actually… that may be a good enough excuse as any!).

Bierocks were on the menu for tonight. Biercocks are a German food, commonly seen at Oktoberfest events and well known for being a “stretch your dollar” kind of recipe. The only problem I have with Bierocks is it takes awhile to put them together. You start with the dough then you have the filling cooking on the stovetop… the aroma of it filling the air and your mind racing to the time when you can actually take your first bite. No instant gratification with this one, just a whole load of wonderful anticipation. I can tell you this much… the first bite of one of these Bierocks, fresh out of the oven, is well worth waiting for!

Did you know that Susan over at Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy is celebrating her 1 year blogiversary with a huge bash? She is and she has asked each of us to bring a dish. I know that Bierock’s are probably not common party fare, but I am going to bring them anyway. They are a great handheld treat and are not something that people get to have everyday. Just like Susan’s blog, they are a little pocket full of goodness with something unexpected in every bite!

Bierocks (adapted from Delicious! Delicious!)

Dough:
2 1/4 tsps. dry yeast
1 cup warm milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs, beaten
4+ cups bread flour

Filling:
1/2 medium-sized onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb. ground beef, pork, or turkey (I used turkey)
1 Tbs vegetable oil
1/2 small head of cabbage, shredded
salt and pepper, to taste (I add garlic salt and other seasonings as I see fit… make sure you season the filling well because the cabbage can take the show if you don’t!)
2 Tbs Butter, melted

1. Dissolve sugar and yeast in warm milk. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. In a heavy -duty mixer, combine oil, salt and eggs; add yeast mixture. Add 1 cup of flour and beat for 1 minute. Beat in 1/2 cup of flour at a time, until dough pulls away from sides of bowl.
2. Switch to dough hook. Knead on low speed, adding remaining flour 1 TB. at a time, until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
3. Place dough in a well-oiled large bowl and loosely cover. Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
4. To make filling, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add meat, onion and garlic and cook until meat is browned, stirring to crumble. Add cabbage and cook until wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool.
5. Punch dough down and let rest 5 minutes.
6. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into a letter-sized rectangle (roughly 8 by 11) and cut each rectangle into 6 squares. Spoon 1/4 cup filling into center of each square. Bring opposite corners together at the center, pinching corners and seams to seal. Place seam side down on a large baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Repeat with remaining dough. Cover and let rise 20 minutes.
7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
8. Uncover, brush tops with melted butter and bake until lightly golden, about 15 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

Makes 12 bierocks.

How about some other German recipes to get you in the Fall mood! Check out what these other food bloggers have to offer:

• Hot German Potato Salad from Andreas Recipes
• German Farmer’s Breakfast from Simply Recipes
• Hearty German Soup from the Green Gourmet Giraffe
• German Salad Dressing from A Veggie Venture
• A Whole German Meal from The Open Pantry

• Read about what has caused me to be a bit of an emotional wreck lately HERE
• I’ve started what I am calling a Button Blogroll. If I read your blog (which if you comment on my blog, you are in my Google reader) and you have a button you would like for me to add, please contact me and I’ll add your button!
• It isn’t too late to enter the giveaway for the Cabaret Brewed Chocolate! Comment on THIS POST to enter.
• I have to give an extra special thanks to Robin at Big Red Kitchen for adding my Mom’s blog “On the Inside Looking Back” to her Blogs of the Month group. I am so proud of my mom and having other people recognize her just makes my heart swell!

My husband is out of town all week this week on business. While he is enjoying all the fine dining New York establishments on his company’s dime, the kids and I are going to be attempting to have somewhat decent meals at home. My instinct is just to feed them cereal every night, but I guess that wouldn’t be very appropriate, now would it? Instead, I’ve planned meals that they like…mostly centered around pasta!

Join Menu Planning Monday. More information can be found at I’m an Organizing Junkie!

• Monday - Bierocks from Delicious! Delicious!
• Tuesday - Penny with Pumpkin Cream Sauce from Everyday with Rachael Ray
• Wednesday - Church Mother’s Circle Kickoff (eat out prior!)
• Thursday - Cheesy Baked Shells and Broccoli from Real Simple Magazine
• Friday - Homemade Pizza
• Saturday - Angel Hair with Spicy Shrimp from Real Simple Magazine
• Sunday - White Bean Chicken Chili from Dine & Dish

• If you are participating in Adopt-A-Blogger 2 and haven’t heard from your partner, please contact me ASAP! Also, if you are an experienced blogger and missed out on adopting someone, we still have newbies who want to be adopted. Just let me know!
• The winner of the Country Bob’s Cookbook is Lan from Angry Asian Creations. Congratulations to you!
• Remember to enter the Dine & Dish giveaway from Cabaret Chocolate for a jar of their delicious Brewed Chocolate! More info can be found HERE.

This weekend, as I was cleaning out my bathroom cabinets, I came to the realization that I have some serious commitment issues. Not with relationships, not with work and not with family obligations. My commitment issues lie in the form of product commitments. Shampoo for example. I buy shampoo, get through 3/4 of the bottle and go out and buy new shampoo. Instead of using all of the shampoo left in the old bottle, I put it in my cabinet and start using the new bottle. Hairspray, lotion, makeup… it is all the same. I just toss them to the side and give the newest product my attention. I can’t commit to a whole bottle of shampoo therefore I have cabinets full of the used bottle rejects wondering what they did to fail me. The thing is, I can love the shampoo, but I love trying out new things even better. Eventually the shampoo of the moment will get put aside and a shiner model will take its place too. I am, keep in mind, and equal opportunity non-commiter.

I am afraid I am passing this same trait on to my kids. If you look at the cereal boxes in our pantry, you will find boxes of cereal with 3/4 of the cereal gone. When I think we are running low on cereal, I go out and buy new cereal. As soon as the new cereal enters the house, the old boxes of cereal lose their appeal for the woo of something new.

This muffin recipe is for those of you with commitment issues, like myself. You can make your neglected cereal feel loved again by using the remaining bits to make muffins that will make you want to have even more neglected cereal so you can make them again and again. In this case, being a non-commiter is actually a good thing!

Along with these muffins, we enjoyed a cup of Cabaret Brewed Chocolate. Sweet, rich, unique… Cabaret Brewed Chocolate is the perfect drink for those of you who may not be fans of coffee but enjoy a warm beverage. Not as sweet and caloric as hot chocolate, this product is one you will want to keep around as the weather turns colder. The folks at Cabaret are giving my readers a chance to win a jar of of their Brewed Chocolate. To be considered, check out the Cabaret website and then please leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite warm beverage is. All entries must be submitted by 10pm CST on Tuesday 9/16 and the winner will be notified via email the following day. Good luck!

Breakfast Cereal Muffins (from Recipezaar)

30 min | 10 min prep

SERVES 12 , 12 muffins

Looking for more ways to use up some breakfast cereal? These food bloggers have some great ideas:

• Naboo Nuggets from Little Foodies
• Raisin Bran Bread from Cooking is Medicine
• Peanut Butter Coconut Krispie Cookies from Judy’s Kitchen
• Sweet Chex Mix from This Week for Dinner

• Tomorrow night is the deadline for entering the drawing for the County Bob’s Cookbook! Check out the details HERE
• The Adopt-a-Blogger 2 matches have been made! Make sure to check out and support those people participating. Please make sure to drop by my adoptee’s site, Apples and Butter, and say hi!
• There is a new site for moms out there created by two of my favorite food bloggers. Make sure to check out Voice of Mom

I feel sort of like a proud mama and a matchmaker when I facilitate the Adopt a Blogger event. This year I did things a little differently. I entered everyone into an automated program that we use for drawing names at Christmas and let the little program do the match making. We are witnessing fate at the hands of computers here and from the initial looks of things, I am really excited about the matches.

If you volunteered to Adopt a Blogger and your name is not on this list, please email me ASAP. I believe I got everyone who signed up under the original Adopt a Blogger post, but I have a feeling a person or two may have slipped through the cracks of a different post.

New bloggers - I had a ton of people sign up and unfortunately, had to stop accepting new bloggers because we had reached the initial limit and did not have a surplus of Veteran bloggers to adopt you all. I will make this a fairly regular event, so stay tuned to Dine & Dish for the next round!

Now without further ado, new bloggers, meet your mentors!

• www.wardstreetbistro.com is being adopted by www.coconutlime.blogspot.com
• www.paninihappy.com is being adopted by www.blog.buckymcoinkumsbbq.com
• www.peckerwoodgravycompany.com is being adopted by www.diannesdishes.com
• www.starfruitgypsy.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.cooknkate.wordpress.com
• www.vegetarian-hausfrau.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.tomatokumato.com
• www.hopieskitchen.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.eatfordinner.blogspot.com
• www.practicallyvegan.wordpress.com is being adopted by www.traineedomesticgoddess.blogspot.com
• www.lemonbasil.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.realfoodforrealpeople.blogspot.com
• www.icookhecleans.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.culinaryescapade.blogspot.com
• www.yellowgirl12.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.bakingdelights.com
• www.cyclingcook.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.lapetitechef.blogspot.com
• www.carmencooks.wordpress.com is being adopted by www.sarahscucinabella.com
• www.brokenrecord.ca/foodblog is being adopted by www.kitchenparade.com
• www.palatetopen.com is being adopted by www.andreasrecipes.com
• www.savvysuzie.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.kopiaste.org
• www.kittensinthekitchen.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.stickygooeycreamychewy.com
• www.theslackerkitchen.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.watkinslynn.typepad.com
• www.deliciousbynature.com is being adopted by www.columbusfoodie.com
• www.ezrapoundcake.com is being adopted by www.artandaioli.blogspot.com
• www.takethecannoli.us is being adopted by www.play-with-food.blogspot.com
• www.divaofdining.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.heateatreview.com
• www.homewithmandy.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.thegoodamericanwife.blogspot.com
• www.tastytrends.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.whatscooking.us
• www.artsy-foodie.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.bigredkitchen.com
• www.applesandbutter.com is being adopted by www.dineanddish.com
• www.baseballbakingandbooks.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.diannesdishes.com
• www.thecookmobile.com is being adopted by www.whatscooking.us
• www.sarahssweetsomethings.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.napafarmhouse1885.com
• www.foodalogue.com is being adopted by www.tinnedtomatoes.blogspot.com
• www.mangerlaville.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.kitchen.mroph.com
• www.illeatyoudelish.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.chocolatemoosey.blogspot.com
• www.purplepeopleeatery.blogspot.com is being adopted by www.meganscookin.blogspot.com

Just a quick reiteration of the expectations for Adopt-a-Blogger Round 2:

• Newbies will commit to writing one post about their Veteran. Veterans will commit to doing the same. Trying a recipe out and posting this on your blog would count as well, as long as you are introducing each other and the blogs.
• You will each add each other to your respective blogrolls.
• Please link back to the original Adopt-a-Blogger Round 2 post when you do any Adopt-a-Blogger related posting. That way I can make mention of it here!
• At the end of the 3 month mentoring time, where the Veteran will help the newbie find their way, I ask that the Veteran write one post linking back to this Adopt-A-Blogger post with a piece of advice for new bloggers. I also ask that the newbies write one post about what they have learned about blogging during the 3 month mentorship. Please note that by three months, I don’t mean that you have to be in constant contact with each other. Just keep in touch with each other for the three months and be available to ask/answer any questions that might pop up. The posts that you write for this piece of the Adopt a Blogger event will be included in a round-up at the end of the 3 month period.

I think that is it. Thank you so much to everyone participating this round! Have fun, keep in touch with how it is going and enjoy your new relationships!

I cannot walk into a pet store when there is a pet adoption going on. I know my limits, and resisting sweet little puppies and kittens, dogs and cats is not something I can do.

Let me tell you a little story to go along with this. I was very pregnant with Kelly, my 2nd child, when my husband and I decided to take to visit a PetSmart during one of their Saturday pet adoptions. I walked in and immediately was drawn to this big, fat, slobbery bulldog. I don’t know what it was about him, but he pulled me in with his sad eyes. Bulldog’s aren’t usually the kind of dog I go for. I’m more of a Golden Retriever / Lab girl, but there was something about this bulldog that made me HAVE to have him. I sat there, petting this big hub of love and felt such a tug on my heart… he needed a home and from the look in his eyes, I was meant to be his mother. Knowing that such a thing couldn’t happen (I had a 15 year old cat… adding a dog to the household would kill her!) I sat there on the floor at PetSmart and bawled. Seriously. Cried my eyes out. I even named the dog Tubby. I reluctantly left the store without a new dog in hand… but my heart ached and ached for him.  I have a soft spot for animals, and when I am in a place where pets can be adopted, I want to take each and every one of them home.

Now, comes the point of the post. Look at that sweet little puppy up in the picture…awwwww…isn’t she just precious? Imagine that she needs to be adopted and you just happened to walk into the pet store where she was at. Can you leave without taking her home? Look at that face….so sweet. Now, pretend like she is one of the few newbies who are still looking for someone to adopt them for the Adopt a Blogger 2 event. You’ve walked into Dine & Dish…have seen their hopeful faces…can you turn away? I didn’t think so.

We have room for a few more experienced bloggers. Please let me know if you would be willing to mentor one of these talented new bloggers. Let’s show them how wonderful and giving this food blogging community is! Trust me… adopting a blogger is far less work than bringing home a new puppy and as I’ve said before, they come already potty trained. (Details of Adopt-a-Blogger can be found HERE.

Thanks!

Kristen

PS - A HUGE thanks to Lalaine over at The Cook Mobile for donating the wonderful badge for the Adopt-a-Blogger event. I love it! Lalaine is one of the many newbies up for adoption this go around! Let’s lend a hand and offer up our support as they navigate the world of food blogging!

I have received a lot of emails over the last couple weeks about Menu Planning. I really think that many of you are a lot like me… you don’t want to start doing something if you can’t do it absolutely perfect. Menu Planning is one of those things that I used to shy away from. I wanted to cook each night based on my mood, not on a strict schedule. That wasn’t so difficult when there was just two of us. Now, with a family of five, I have no choice but to have a little structure to my menu.

I menu plan for a couple of different reasons. The main reason is this…I am a work at home mom. I work part time from home doing freelance work. Our food/entertainment budget since staying at home has dwindled considerably. We just don’t have the funds to go out and eat on a whim like we used to. When I have a menu planned for the week and have shopped from my grocery list for those meals, I am much less likely to be tempted to eat out. Plus, if I can limit the number of times I go to the grocery store, that helps eliminate the impulse buys that inevitably happen when I go to the store unprepared.

I try to stick to our menu each week, but it doesn’t always happen. Last week, we had the first really cold, fall day of the season and to me that screams chili. I didn’t have chili on the menu plan, but I did have the ingredients on hand, so we switched out whatever was that day for chili. When you have at least five days worth of dinners planned out, you know that with at least those ingredients on hand, you have a meal to fall back on. If your mood calls for something different that night and you have the ingredients on hand, don’t feel like you are stuck to what’s on the menu. Let your menu be a flexible guide and start with baby steps. Once you get in the routine of planning, you will find it is an enjoyable event. (Think of it this way… what better excuse do you need to get to browse through your recipe collection? My husband knows that Sunday afternoons, I can usually be found pouring over magazines, cookbooks and food blogs, all in the name of “menu planning”.  Me time, with a purpose!)

Here is what the Dine & Dish household has on the menu this week. What do you have planned? Make sure to head over to Organizing Junkie to see what others are planning this week!

Let me know one thing that is on your menu this week or what you find to be the most challenging aspect of menu planning, and your comment will be entered into a giveaway for a great cookbook from Country Bob’s.  Winner will be chosen by the Random Number Generator. Deadline for commenting will be 10pm CST on Friday, September 12th.

• Monday - Maple Grilled Salmon from Cooking Light
• Tuesday - Grilled Bacon Cheeseburger Calzones - from Everyday with Rachael Ray
• Wednesday - Tacos
• Thursday - Chicken Baked in White Wine Marinade from Cooking Light
• Friday - Homemade Pizza
• Saturday - Onion Smothered Italian Burgers from Cooking Light
• Sunday - Pork and Bell Pepper Stir Fry from Everyday with Rachael Ray

Since you stuck with me through this whole post, let me share with you one of my favorite Tilapia recipes.

Mama’s Supper Club Tilapia Parmesan (from Recipezaar)

35 min | 15 min prep

SERVES 4

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In buttered 13-by-9-inch baking dish or jellyroll pan, lay fillets in single layer.
3. Do not stack fillets.
4. Brush top with juice.
5. In bowl combine cheese, butter, mayonnaise, onions and seasonings.
6. Mix well with fork.
7. Bake fish in preheated oven 10 to 20 minutes or until fish just starts to flake.
8. Spread with cheese mixture and bake until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
9. Baking time will depend on the thickness of the fish you use.
10. Watch fish closely so that it does not overcook.
11. Makes 4 servings.