What's For Dinner? Week 4

I have some yummy family-favorite recipes to share with you today!


Here's what's on our menu this week:
1. Saturday: Remember we went to Marblehead this morning? Well Craig was supposed to be gone ALL DAY at a car show, but it got rained out. And remember how he's not that big a fan of zucchini? (Ya, I know. He's crazy.) Well I was planning to make a stir fry where the two main ingredients are chicken and... zucchini! And I expected that he wouldn't eat with us. But in the end, he went out to dinner with friends and then to watch UFC at his sister's, so it was still just the kids and I eating this tasty dish:

Lemon Chicken & Zucchini

Here's Sophie's plate (lately we've been giving her an actual plate on her tray):

The stir fry has the flavors of lemon and fresh ginger and it's so good. Here's the recipe (from my mom):

1 1/2# chicken - cut into 1" pieces

3 1/2 cups thinly sliced zucchini
1/4 cup chicken broth (I used stock)

1 Tbsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sugar
2 Tbsp oil (probably more)

1 tsp grated FRESH ginger

2 Tbsp FRESH squeezed lemon juice

-Blend broth into cornstarch; stir in soy sauce and sugar. Preheat wok and add oil. Stir fry ginger for 30 seconds. Stir fry 1/2 zucchini 2-3 mins. Remove and repeat with remaining zucchini. Remove. Stir fry half of chicken (will need more oil) about 4 mins or until cooked through. Remove and do remaining chicken. Return all chicken to wok. Stir broth and add to chicken. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Add zucchini and lemon juice - cook 1 min more. Serve over brown rice. 4 servings.
2. Sunday: Cecilia's baptism party had delicious food! Barbecue chicken on the grill, sweet corn, my mother-in-law's German potato salad (my fave!), mandarin & candied almond green salad, tomato & mozzarella skewers, strawberry pie, etc. Ahh! Heaven!

3. Monday: Chicken Tortilla Soup with Chipotle and Fire Roasted Tomato. I've made this A TON and you've seen it here several times before. It's the best! 4. Tuesday: leftovers.

5. Wednesday: Peanutty Pork Kabobs. Wow! I can't believe I haven't ever posted this one here before. I used to make it all the time and it's one of my top requested recipes by my more gourmet family and friends. :) Definitely a family fave. I found it over 10 years ago in a Quick Cooking magazine so you know it's fast and easy, but it tastes so fancy with "Thai" flavors.
Here's the recipe for Peanutty Pork Kabobs:

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice

1/4 cup peanut butter

2 Tbsp brown sugar

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1# pork tenderloin cut into 1" cubes

2 medium green peppers, cut into 1" pieces

-In a large bowl, combine first seven ingredients; mix well. Set aside 1/2 cup for basting and pour remaining marinade over pork cubes in a large resealable plastic bag or shallow glass container. Toss pork to coat, cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. Drain and discard marinade. Alternate pork and green pepper onto skewers. Grill, uncovered, over medium heat for 6 mins, turning once. Baste with reserved marinade. Grill 8-10 mins longer. Yield 4 servings.
*Note: Sophie scarfed this stuff right up! I was shocked. I tentatively decided to offer it to her despite the peanut butter... and red pepper flake... and chewy pork... She doesn't eat meat very well so I didn't expect her to touch it. But she did and she ate it really fast! So yay! And I guess she's officially been introduced to peanut butter now!

6. Thursday: leftovers

7. Friday: probably scrounging and leftovers. We're planning to go to the football game so who knows?

Happy eating and I hope you enjoy these recipes!