Menu for the Week - May 25 - June 1

Menu planning makes a big difference in having good meals on a small budget.  I find the weeks that I don't take the time to plan, we can wing it and have plenty of meals but the quality is improved when I plan ahead.  

Mediterranean Chicken Couscous
Sfeeha - This is the closest to what I am used to but don't use tomato paste.  Add tahini to the meat after it is cooked.  Also, if you brown the meat with some fresh lemon juice, it doesn't get as dry.  After it is cooked, you can also serve with plain yogurt on top.
Pizza Bread
Spaghetti Pie
Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, etc. for a couple of meals


Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi soup

By kimbraman1961 (Guest Post) 02/27/2009

I tried this recipe and it is the closest you can come to the soup at Olive Garden. As with the Olive Garden soup, it can taste a little different each time you make it. From beginning to end it takes about 10 min. of prep and 30 min. cook time.

1/3 cup butter
2 cloves of minced garlic
1 lb. chicken cubed or large chunks
1/3 cup flour
1/2 carrot shredded
1 stick of celery shredded
1/4 cup onion shredded
1/2 cup fresh spinach torn in pieces
2 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy cream (I use half and half)
3 chicken bullion cubes
Cracked pepper to taste
17.6 oz. of Gnocchi

On medium heat.
Melt butter in a soup pot, add in the garlic and sautee, add your chicken and cook through out
Add flour and stir in flour and mix well until the flour is cooked into the chicken.
Next add your milk and heavy cream
Then add the veggies(Carrots, Celery, Onion, Spinach)
Add three bullion cubes
Add your Gnocchi last it takes 3-4 min. to cook throughout
Mix ingredients well until soup thickens and stirring occasionally. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

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