I have one small goal this week, aside from getting my writing deadlines done by the 30th, and that is to get back into Menu Planning. Now that my husband is not traveling again until sometime after the baby is born, I feel like it is important to get back into the routine of having my menu mapped out for the week. We have been eating out waaaaay too much lately and that is simply because of my lack of planning and preparation for our meals at night. It is just too easy to say “Let’s just eat out since I have nothing planned.” When I have a plan, I find that I stick with it and our evenings are so much easier.
If the baby happens to hold off another week, which I think she will, I will at least have one full week of limited eating out under our belt, which does seem to add up in the wallet.
To make it easy on myself, I have decided to plan my menu this week around things off of my “I Will Make This Someday” post. These are recipes that I have found in magazines. I needed a place to bookmark them because I wanted to get rid of the magazine, but give the recipe a try sometime in the future.
Without further ado, here is the Dine & Dish household menu for the week (after the jump):
- Monday: Skillet Shrimp & Sausage from Everyday With Rachael Ray
- Tuesday: Smothered Pork Chops with Thyme from Cooking Light
- Wednesday: Low Fat Chef Salad (adding chicken) from Cooking Light
- Thursday: Stir-Fried Szechuan Steak on Rice from Cooking Light
- Friday: Pizza Night
- Saturday: Grilled Sour Cream Marinated Shrimp from Food and Wine
- Sunday: Cheesesteak Sliders from Everyday with Rachael Ray
To participate in the official Menu Planning Monday event, head on over to the I’m An Organizing Junkie Site!
If you didn’t see the post on Friday, Adopt a Blogger #3 matches have been made. Make sure to head over to my “Welcome to the Family” post to check out the 100+ bloggers participating!Michele over at Life, Lightly Salted is also having a giveaway for the “newbies” in conjunction with Adopt a Blogger. Make sure to head over to her blog for details!
Now, for the recipe. This Strawberry Layer Cake was in the May 2009 issue of Cooking Light magazine. It is supposed to be a Strawberry Layer Cake, but one of my layers got stuck in the pan and came out in chunks. That part went to my family to eat. The other half I served to my MOMS group. I am glad I did not look at the reviews the recipe has received on Cooking Light’s website or I probably would not have made it. This is a very dense and moist cake and I thought it had a great flavor! I did add an extra Tbs of Grand Mariner to the frosting, so maybe that helped? I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Strawberry Layer Cake from May 2009 Cooking Light
- Cake:
- 1 1/4 cups sliced strawberries
- 10 ounce all-purpose flour (about 2 1/4 cups)
- 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 2 large egg whites
- 1 cup low-fat buttermilk
- 1/4 teaspoon red food coloring
- Cooking sprayFrosting:
- 1/3 cup (3 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
- 1/3 cup butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier (orange-flavored liqueur)
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 12 whole strawberries (optional)
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To prepare cake, place sliced strawberries in a food processor; process until smooth.
3. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt, stirring with a whisk. Place granulated sugar and 1/2 cup butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in egg whites. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Add pureed strawberries and food coloring; beat just until blended.
4. Divide batter between 2 (8-inch) round cake pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.
5. To prepare frosting, place cream cheese, 1/3 cup butter, and liqueur in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until blended. Gradually add powdered sugar, and beat just until blended.
6. Place 1 cake layer on a plate; spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Cut 1 whole strawberry into thin slices, cutting to, but not through, the stem end. Fan strawberry on top of cake just before serving, if desired. Cut remaining 11 strawberries in half. Garnish cake with strawberry halves, if desired.
{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve started menu planning again for the same reasons. Doing OK so far!
Your meal plan looks great. I’m terrible at it. Your cake looks fabulous too. I can never make my baked goods look as beautiful.
gagas last blog post..Shrimp Bisque
Your menu sounds really good! I think it is a fun idea to have an entire week of all new recipes, I might need to try that. Your strawberry cake looks delish!
Karas last blog post..Weekly Menu and No Bake Cookies
I saw this cake and hoped someone would make it for me, haha! Glad you’re back to meal planning; I fell off the bandwagon but am trying again!
sharons last blog post..Good Ol’ Tuna Noodle Casserole
Mmmmmmm! That cake looks awesome.
I am an on and off meal planner. I definitely see the benefits of it, but I am not always so organized at doing it.
Sarah Carons last blog post..Fabulous Asiago Pepper Steak Fries
Strawberries are popping up all over! This looks so good… my post tonight will be about the weeks failures though, of which Strawberries were involved, lol.
Janets last blog post..Lemon Souffle
I am a newbie to this meal planning, but I hope it sticks! I need to eat out less.
That cake looks fantastic!
Alisa – Frugal Foodies last blog post..Sinful Cinnamon-Apple Sauté (Breakfast or Dessert?)
sounds like a great plan for the week!
Impressive and delicious list of recipes to make this week, but I love the fact that you started with dessert! My kind of girl! And funny thing, I was staring at a strawberry and cream tart at the pastry shop yesterday thinking “I should really make one of these”, but I like the Cooking Light attitude of yours. And it is beautiful.
Jamies last blog post..THE WAY TO A MAN’S HEART AND GOOD MOOD
i find myself eating out too much altely too….. gotta start cooking more
and it wouldn’t be hard to stay home to eat if i knew i could have that cake afterwards
That cake recipe has me drooling! Glad to see you back
Laura
Org Junkies last blog post..Spring Giveaway Carnival ~ Healthy Homemaking
I was checking out that cake in CL and thinking it would be amazing! Yours turned out so pretty!
patsyks last blog post..Smoking Chicken
Love your meal plan… I am almost tempted to follow it to the letter, but that is almost like cheating..:) I do like to plan my meals for the week as well, which makes grocery shopping as well as daily life so much easier!
Simone (junglefrog)s last blog post..Daring bakers challenge april 2009!! Cheesecake!
Love your cake! Strawberries are so juicy and tasty right now. I can’t get enough of them!
Marias last blog post..Artisan Bread in Five Pizza Party!
Yay! It’s strawberry cake season. That’s cause for celebration!
Susan from Food Bloggas last blog post..A Tootsie Roll Fudge Recipe and a Give-Away
nummy! looks amazing!
Jos last blog post..No Food 4 You
I read that as “cheesecake sliders” and I was thinking “Exactly what I would have wanted to eat when pregnant.”
Kates last blog post..Tea and Cookies — Earl Grey Cheesecake
We have been having the same problem with eating out too much due to a lack of planning recently. Your weekly menu looks yummy, and I hope you’ll let us know what you think of some of those recipes after you’ve tried them.
Lizs last blog post..Balsamic Chicken with Baby Spinach and Orzo
I see so many people making menu plans. I just don’t think I could do it. I have enough trouble getting the meat out of the freezer in time to thaw for dinner! LOL I’m definitely a spur-of-the-moment cook! OMG I looked at your “to do” list… it’s humongous! Great way to have them all in one place though… easy to look up.
Karens last blog post..Arroz con Pollo aka Chicken with Rice EXACTLY like Stacey’s
I wish I could eat this but my doctor said to stay away from sweets.
Palabuzzs last blog post..Manny Pacquiaos Team?
This looks fabulous! what a great way to use some strawberries.
Kristens last blog post..Movie Monday
Yum…this looks wonderful! I hope that your plan works and that baby comes easily and quickly!
claires last blog post..Wwwwwwhat’s Up Doc!?
Your cake looks great and everything on this weeks menu sounds terrific!
I try to plan my meals and desserts for the week. I stick to it sorta.
~ingrid
ingrids last blog post..Pizzookies?
Cake looks delicious! Anything with strawberry sounds good to me.
I could only hope to have as much energy to do meal planning in my 9th months of pregnancy as you do.
Psychgrads last blog post..Daring Bakers April Challenge
You certainly turned what could have been a kitchen disaster into 2 delicious cakes…I probably would have gotten frustrated and tossed the whole thing
mariss last blog post..Buon Appetito – The Urban Kitchen Makes Pasta from Scratch
I love the strawberry cake!! I have to meal plan because we go for groceries every 2 weeks. We’ve found that we spend less money that way!
Bunnys last blog post..Chocolate Covered Cherry Pie
Your menu plan sounds delicious. I love kicking it off with the strawberry cake. Hope all goes smoothly for you and your new little girl!
Lynns last blog post..April Fools, A Bit Late
You are right about the whole menu thing- much less eating out. I planned my menu for the year once- best year of my life! I need to get back into it too. We eat better, healthier, leftovers are used up, and we save money. So what is my problem?!
Robin Sues last blog post..Jack and Jill Baby Shower Appetizers
Dude Kristen. I would be MORE than happy to drop off a dish for you after you have the baby! Please, please… I drive into KC all the time (like at least every weekend). You’re awfully hard on yourself. Aren’t you like 12 months pregnant or something? You might be eating out because you’re expecting an impending new addition.
Anywho, consider the offer- I’d be more than happy to help out!
~Cat
Cats last blog post..Dilly Bread
“Like, like… like”? What am I? 14? Sorry.
Cats last blog post..Dilly Bread
I like that you’re asking the baby to hold off for another week
Cynthias last blog post..Lunch in the Caribbean
Love the strawberry cake, so beautiful!
I wish I could get my act together and do weekly meal planning.
leslies last blog post..Brown Sugar and Toasted Pecan Cheesecake
Perfect way to use up the berries in my fridge–and yes please to the Grand Marnier!
Menu planning saves the day around here. I like to be organized.
Aimees last blog post..DIY: Pita Bread
Great meal plan!!
Is it too late to be included in the Adopt A Blogger program?? I was shut-out last time, haha
VeggieGirls last blog post..Let The Battle Begin!!
Oh man do those Cheesesteak Sliders look and sound delish!
Cate O’Malleys last blog post..Malted Milk Ball Cookies
I’m all about the menu planning! If I don’t, I end up eating what I shouldn’t and spending way too much money on food! I’d like it if my menu were your menu… looks like some good eats this week at your place!
We’ve been eating out a lot lately too, and I’m not pregnant—just incredibly busy!
Sandies last blog post..Inns That Cook: B&B Getaways and Cooking Classes
I hope that someone will be planning menus and cooking for you once you have the new baby. You do too much! : )
Menu planning definitely saves me. Your menu sounds delicious. And that cake looks awesome.
kamailes last blog post..BBQ Chili
I love your menu. I should go back to menu planning.
Hélènes last blog post..Brownies with Brown Sugar Sauce
I made this cake last week for a friend’s birthday and we LOVED it. My strawberries weren’t as flavorful as I like so I did add a couple drops of strawberry flavoring. Other than that it was fabulous… nice dense old fashioned cake.
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