tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61500035017801231322009-05-28T18:07:06.356-07:00A blog by mom/graphic designer, Jane Maynard, with the best husband and daughters in the world who tries to cook dinner daily and couldn't do it without Trader Joe's.this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.comBlogger410125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-68952795645485715602008-10-01T18:40:00.001-07:002008-10-01T18:54:48.338-07:00

If for some amazing reason you found This Week for Dinner at this address, we have upgraded. Please visit www.thisweekfordinner.com to visit the blog!

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-76828121253222120832008-09-29T22:49:00.000-07:002008-09-29T23:06:44.558-07:00

My friend Melissa invited the girls and me over for lunch last Friday. It was wonderful! The table was set beautifully and the food, oh the food. I suppose pretty much anything is a step above my usual PB & honey sandwich. But this lunch was probably a million steps above that. It was a real treat. Cate gobbled up the salad. That's really saying something when a 3-year-old will eat

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-18382741518021459312008-09-28T23:39:00.000-07:002008-09-28T23:51:35.877-07:00

We were invited to dinner this evening at someone's home and had an amazing meal. This couple is way into food and cooking. They served a delicious vegetable soup, olive polenta with mushrooms, GOAT (yes, you heard me, goat) with veggies we've never eaten before, and a very fancy french dessert. Seriously, this meal was amazing. They plated all of the food, so it was beautiful, and it was fun

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-74176240216569068142008-09-26T15:00:00.001-07:002008-09-26T15:37:57.222-07:00

Dear Skillet,You are the best skillet a cook could have. You have a beautiful clear lid. You are the perfect shape...not too shallow, not too angled. You've served me well for over 9 years and I am so grateful someone gave you to me for a wedding present. My life would not have been the same without you.But it's time I moved on. You're not healthy for me. Every time I cook with you, I fear

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-10650060255213911312008-09-23T08:05:00.000-07:002008-09-23T08:05:01.099-07:00

Today we are heading off to Carmel to celebrate my big 3-0. I can't wait to get there!As a little birthday present to myself, I am leaving my computer at home and staying off-line the whole two days we're gone. Seriously. No email. No work. No blogging. As much as I love all those things...okay, well, as much as I love blogging...I am so excited to UNPLUG.See you Thursday! Better have a

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-89730076473373613562008-09-23T08:00:00.000-07:002008-09-23T08:00:01.461-07:00

I am SO loving my subscription to Everyday Food. It's the BEST.I made these Crispy Garlic Potatoes from the September issue. They were simple and fantastic. Just wanted to share the recipe with you!A few notes...I used a little more than 1 Tbsp of oil and I put my garlic through a press instead of mushing it with a knife. Oh, and the thinner the potato slice, the yummier they were.

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-45610589110003848802008-09-22T21:50:00.000-07:002008-09-22T22:09:44.902-07:00

Oh yes I did! I bought a BOX of mac & cheese, cooked it, and ate it.Probably everyone reading this is thinking, what's the big deal? Okay, seriously, my mom never bought boxed mac & cheese growing up. Never. Honestly. And the idea of powdered, orange-colored cheese never really appealed to me that much anyway. Hence, my need for a good homemade recipe.Tonight I asked Cate what she wanted for

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-4420094951971766272008-09-21T09:08:00.000-07:002008-09-21T09:26:38.863-07:00

I am so excited about this week's menu...mostly because I don't have much to do with it! Thursday is my 30th birthday and we're going on a little trip to Carmel, CA to celebrate. I AM SO EXCITED! Although, I'm not excited I only have 4 more days in my twenties. Remember thirtysomething? I thought they were all SO OLD.Last night I grabbed some clam chowder from Cook's Seafood, a restaurant

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-6847207268121025972008-09-19T10:19:00.000-07:002008-09-19T10:59:32.306-07:00

Horror of horrors! My Costco doesn't carry $5 rotisserie chickens!!!! WHAT am I supposed to do now? My go-to meal is toast. Oh, and I'll never be able to take someone dinner again. It's a sad, sad day. Because Costco was chickenless, I had to pick one up at Whole Foods. It was $10, smaller and a little dry. How depressing.Time to go eat some chocolate. Seriously, I think this cake could

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-41380922739376267142008-09-18T09:59:00.000-07:002008-09-18T10:18:18.737-07:00

When we first got married, I never planned side dishes. And my salads consisted of lettuce. Pretty sad. And funny. I've come a long way, baby. I almost always remember to do a side dish these days, and I may even throw a carrot in the salad. ;)Anyway, side dishes are pretty important and can really make or break a meal, wouldn't you say? And it's amazing how much better they can be with just

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-377680772539534172008-09-16T11:36:00.000-07:002008-09-16T12:56:15.055-07:00

Time to share another one of my favorite kitchen accessories...Ikea has the best cheese grater I've ever used. And it's only $5.99 for a pack of two. And it's called CHARM...how appropriate. It's certainly charmed me! Yeah, yeah, that was CHEESY. A-ha-ha-ha....Reasons why the Ikea CHARM cheese grater rules the land of cheese:1) Grippy thingy on the bottom holds the bowl in place while you

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-78034300385470303212008-09-14T15:33:00.001-07:002008-09-14T15:55:15.698-07:00

Is it really time to plan another menu? These weeks go by far too quickly.It finally feels like autumn! I LOVE FALL. It's my favorite season hands down. I love everything about it. The weather, warmer clothes, the leaves, the colors and the food. Butternut Squash Soup, here I come!MONDAY:- Butternut Squash Soup- Whole wheat french breadTUESDAY:- Bolognese (recipe to come!) over whole wheat

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-5756883756947217612008-09-12T11:53:00.000-07:002008-09-12T12:28:24.000-07:00

Time to check in on the experiment. I've been good, friends. Seriously, I haven't eaten any refined sugar, white flour or dairy yet this week. Amazing. Truly. If you know me, you know I like me my treats. Here are a few observations...I feel good after everything I eat, which isn't always the case in "normal" life - more often than I'd like, I have meals that make me feel heavy and sorta yucky

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-34805883182656885062008-09-11T10:12:00.000-07:002008-09-11T10:27:54.461-07:00

Today's recipe comes from reader, Kate. It was on her menu a few weeks ago and I stole it shamelessly. Nate and I really enjoyed this dish, and it is super easy to prepare. Plus, it's so pretty!Caramelized Onion & Roasted Red Pepper PastaFrom Robin to the Rescue by Robin Miller, via TWFD reader Kate :)- 12 oz spinach fettuccine (Kate note: I always use regular fettuccine or whole wheat

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-28434049066767546082008-09-10T10:15:00.001-07:002008-09-10T10:30:55.219-07:00

Homegrown tomatoes are the BEST, but until the day I start growing them, I'm stuck with buying tomatoes at the store. Which can lead to very disappointing results. But occasionally I come across some flavorful tomatoes that make me happy...like the Splendido little tomatoes I wrote about a few months ago.I have a new tomato love. Heirloom tomatoes. I've gotten them at my regular old grocery

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-27168805841404350802008-09-10T10:14:00.000-07:002008-09-10T10:55:25.562-07:00

I'm sure many of you have heard about NieNie, a mom blogger from Arizona who was recently in a serious plane crash. If you'd like to read more, her sister's blog is a great place to visit. Lots of wonderful updates, beautifully written.As I've followed this story it's been both heart wrenching and uplifting. Such a mixture of feelings...sadness for this young family, amazement at the love

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-50166292993140115572008-09-07T12:15:00.000-07:002008-09-07T17:33:36.928-07:00

Let me preface the following paragraph with this statement: I think "diets" are bad news. That said, I'm trying something out this week. It's not a diet. I'm just not going to eat sugar, white flour or dairy. Just for 1 week. My Aunt Barbara, who is a health food nut, has been trying to get me to do this 1 week experiment for ages. I'm finally gonna do it. And when the week is over, the

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-22755356821082820592008-09-05T12:16:00.000-07:002008-09-05T13:03:33.957-07:00

How about a little eye candy from Tartine Bakery in San Francicso. I provided a taste of Tartine here and here, but today you get the whole meal.Warning: These pictures will make you want to find the nearest bakery and pig out. TWFD is not responsible for readers' weight gain.This is the storefront. Looks like a movie set, no?Just a simple sign propped up in the front window to let you know

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-67785091728747950422008-09-03T21:55:00.000-07:002008-09-03T22:11:14.335-07:00

Today's featured recipe is one of my favorite pasta dishes ever. It was No. 3 on the menu at American Grill, a restaurant in SLC, UT that has been out of business for some time now (sadly). Our family always just calls it No. 3 or Green Noodles, and we all love it. You're gonna love it to. PS to you parents out there...Cate, my 3-yr-old who has been quite picky about food lately, ate two

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-41240847797430413352008-09-02T09:41:00.000-07:002008-09-02T10:25:17.418-07:00

What kitchen 'accessories' do you use ALL the time that just can't live without? Here are my true loves...Cheapo plastic mixing spoons. We received these as a wedding gift and I honestly could not live without them. They aren't made out of fancy plastic or anything (I've melted a few of them). They aren't fancy at all. But they are my mixing spoon of choice...even over my much nicer wooden

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-50663414624740868582008-08-31T18:07:00.000-07:002008-08-31T22:22:04.408-07:00

THESE are my greatest weakness...and tonight I succumbed. Warm cookies, about 10 minutes after they've come out of the oven. I wish I could resist, but I just can't. I need a support group. Or maybe I just need to stop making the cookies. Yeah, right.Your menus are always great inspiration as I plan. Thank you for always sharing! I need to mix things up a bit, so I'm going to start

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-19403416145440697582008-08-29T15:01:00.000-07:002008-08-29T15:16:44.148-07:00

Looking for a fast, super easy dinner? Maybe even one your kids can make? Look no further... (Wow, do I sound like a commercial or what?) English Muffin Pizzas are here to save the day!Super easy for your kids to make.Very customizable for each member of the family.And they actually taste good! This meal was a staple in our early married years...which is perhaps why I steer clear. Um, yeah, I

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-42901461057720074452008-08-27T18:53:00.000-07:002008-08-27T19:21:00.739-07:00

Let's get corny, shall we? And I'm not talking stupid jokes, although those can be fun, too. No, it's time to pull out all the stops on your corn recipes! It's in season! It screams summer! Bring it on my friends! What's your favorite way to eat corn? Do you have a great corn recipe? Please share!Cate and I stopped at a local produce stand today to grab a couple of ears...the people whose

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-47434858138606539792008-08-26T10:12:00.001-07:002008-08-26T10:34:26.616-07:00

My favorite pizza place in San Diego is Leucadia Pizzeria. My favorite pizzas at Leucadia are Thai Chicken, Hawaiian and, today's featured recipe, Barbecue Chicken. Since they won't deliver to the Bay Area, I've had to try to recreate these yummy pizzas at home.The BBQ chicken pizza is quite simple. Barbecue sauce, chicken, gouda cheese & cilantro. That's it, you're done. I do a mix of gouda

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150003501780123132.post-77485952034420050622008-08-24T19:11:00.000-07:002008-08-24T19:23:02.226-07:00

I know it's still summer, but I have a real hankering for some bread pudding right now. Mmmmmmm. Of course, my bread pudding will never be THIS good...Pictured: Yet another delight from Tartine in San Francisco. They are famous for their bread pudding...with good reason, my friends.Okay, enough dreaming about bread pudding. Focus, Jane. Menu time.MONDAY:- English Muffin PizzasTUESDAY:- Chicken

this week for dinner - jane maynardnoreply@blogger.com16