How cute are these bananas? I took a trip to the Berkeley Bowl on Friday (oh, the pictures I have to share with you! coming soon…) and could not resist buying these bananas. We’ve yet to eat them. They’re too cute.
I was an International Relations major in college. I remember discussing a banana stalemate between the Germans and the French. One country liked big bananas, the other small. Believe it or not the issue caused problems in the European Union. I’m a mom now, so the details have since been fried in my brain. But for some reason buying little bananas was fun. I felt like I was rebelling against the French…no wait, the Germans. No, the French. Wait…who knows?!?!
MONDAY:
– Luscious Lemon Chicken
– Pencil Asparagus
TUESDAY:
– Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We’ll be having corned beef sandwiches and all things green! I’ll share instructions for cooking corned beef on Tuesday!
WEDNESDAY:
– Paninis of some sort
THURSDAY:
– Something Mexican…tostadas? tacos?
– Guacamole
FRIDAY:
– Meatball Soup (when I made spaghetti & meatballs last week, I doubled the recipe and froze half of the raw meatballs (half-size) for the soup this week)
SATURDAY:
– Leftovers
SUNDAY:
– Chicken stir-fry
– Brown rice…does anyone know what kind of brown rice I should buy that is like what they serve at PF Chang’s? The brown rice I have comes out differently, so I know I need another variety.
Okay, bring the menus ON!
Hi! My name is Jane Maynard and you've landed yourself on my blog, This Week for Dinner™. Every Sunday I share a weekly menu...and count on you to share yours! You'll also find other deliciousness that I hope you'll enjoy!
I’ve never had the PF Chang’s rice. This is how I make my brown rice at home. I use my rice cooker and it turns out pretty nice. Once the rice cooker is finished, I let my rice sit uncovered on my kitchen counter for an extra 10 mins. It lets the brown rice dry out a bit making it less mushy. Hope this helps! Here is my menu:
S-still on vacation
M-still on vacation
T-grilled chicken salads
W-pesto with some sort of pasta and some chicken on top
T-salmon & veggies (love living in Seattle, great fish)
F-leftovers
S-stirfry chicken with veggies
I’ve never had brown rice at PF Changs either, but I recently discovered short-grain brown rice. Most brown rice sold is long grain, so it cooks up fluffy and separate. I found some rice that is the polished short kind, similar to the Calrose rice that is short and polished so it cooks up kind of sticky. (Actually I just looked at the package and it says it is ‘Sun Luck Niko Niko brown rice’) I found it next to the other Asian rice at the grocery store. A lot of times I like to combine half brown and half white in my rice cooker–in HI they call it ‘hapa rice’ 🙂
Monday: Cooking Group
Tuesday: Chicken in a Pot and Corn
Wednesday: Kung Pao Shrimp and Mixed Veggies
Thursday: Corned Beef and Cabbage
Friday: Chicken Curry with Mint Chutney
Saturday: Alfredo and Salad
Sunday: Left Overs
I too have been wondering how to get brown rice like PF Changs. Mine never turns out as good.
Sunday: Easy Smoked Sausage Jambalaya
Monday: Grilled Vegetable Pizza with Fresh Mozzarella and Feta
Tuesday: Leftovers
Wednesday: Chicken and Asparagus Stir Fry in a Honey Ginger Sauce
Thursday: Lemon Rosemary Chicken Kebabs with Grilled Red Potatoes
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Date Night – Macaroni Grill Giftcard
I don’t know about PF Changs, but I think alot of it has to do with the type of brown rice. I don’t seem to be able to make brown rice anywhere near as well as TJ’s frozen stuff, but I think using Basmati makes a big difference. I’m starting to think we just don’t like the long grain type.
Oh, my menu
S-Chicken, broccoli, potatoes
M-Corned beef and cabbage
T-leftovers
W-Shrimp stir fry with swiss chard and lemon sauce
Th-Bean and Greens soup with Turkey Kielbasa Sausage
Fri- Date night: Sammy’s pizza?
Sat-Dinner with friends: menu unknown
I don’t know what PF Chang’s brown nice is like, but our rice cooker has a brown rice setting, and it turns out great.
I got my act together this week, so here we go.
Mon – baker potatoes w/ brocolli & salad
Tues – beef stew
Wed – homemade past w/ marinara
Thur – teriyaki chiicken & mushroom
Friday – pizza
Sat & sun – good luck husband
We’ve been a disease-ridden household for the past two weeks so many of our menu items are recycled due to a lack of interest in cooking from the chef (me):
MONDAY: BLT’s
TUESDAY: pot roast; brown rice
WEDNESDAY: grill sausage; roasted sweet potatoes
THURSDAY: tacos
FRIDAY: homemade pizza
SATURDAY: sesame chicken; rice; snow peas
SUNDAY: ribs; broccoli; baked potatoes
sun: chicken gyros & salad
mon: giada’s spinach lasagna rolls & salad
tues: chinese beef stew
wed: veggie fried rice
thurs: leftovers
… then we’re headed out of town!
Love the little bananas! Too cute. We use short grain brown rice and love it!
Sunday-Salmon with brown rice and veggies
Monday-Salad with roasted rosemary potatoes
Tuesday-Black bean and veggie quesidillas
Wed-Spinach pasta with veggie marinara
Thurs-Baked oatmeal with berries
Friday-Cooking class
Sat-Maybe out?
I always cook Trader Joe’s brown jasmine rice in my rice cooker and it turns out great. Love my TJ’s!
Monday-Park City Cashew Chicken with brown rice
Tuesday-Spinach pesto gnocchi, salad
Wednesday-leftovers
Thursday-Beef au jus sandwiches, cole slaw
Friday-Homemade pizza, salad
Saturday-Pasta and chicken sausage bake, salad
Sunday-Pork loin, risotto, green beans
GAH! I wish we had a TJ’s and/or a PF Changs! I want nice brown rice!
Monday: Gnocchi, leek and Prosciutto bake with salad
Tuesday: Spicy stir fry lettuce wraps
Wednesday: Potluck with friends–I’m bringing Mac-&-Cheese
Thursday: Cheesy Mexican casserole with a veggie
Friday: Eat Out
Saturday: Watching basketball all day! Junk food! Italian Mozzarella Chicken wings, Queso Dip, pot stickers
I use short grain brown rice and it seems more like PF Changs to me. Worth trying anyway.
Baby bananas really do just taste better. I’m still craving the morning rolls!!
M: Beef Laab (leftovers from Sunday)
T: Pizza
W: Meatballs and pasta (using up what’s in the pantry)
Th: Steak and roasted veggies
F: Leftovers/Sandwiches
S: Eat out
Mon- moist enchiladas, spanish rice
Tues- 4 cheese chicken fettucini casserole
WEd- hogie sandwiches with homemade dill dip
Thurs- Work–dad duty
Fri- Tomato Soup/ grilled cheese
Sat- citrus chicken on the BBQ
Sun- pancakes, eggs, bacon, orange julius
I have a feeling there will be some repeats next week…not so sure i will get to all of this! 🙂
Monday- Wraps or sandwiches for picnic (enjoying the spring weather, while it lasts 🙂
Tuesday- Corn Beef & Cabbage & fruit salad
Wednesday- Chicken empanadas & green salad
Thursday- Breakfast for dinner–waffles, bacon, fruit, etc
Friday- Spaghetti, steamed green beans & bread sticks
Saturday- pizza
Sunday- Soup (not sure which kind yet) & scones
Easy Planning this week….
M: Turkey Meatballs/Marinara from freezer
meal exchange group
T: Leftovers — Eat everything out of the fridge
W – F: Spring Break trip to San Antonio–Surprise for
the kids….They think we’re staying home and
spring cleaning all week : )
S: Tilapia with Asparagus and Mixed Green Salad
S: Husband is cooking!!!
I wish every week were so easy!!!
Monday – garlic beef stir fry
Tuesday – honey soy glazed chicken and rice
Wednesday – Enchiladas
Thursday – Chicken drumsticks and potatoes (elders over for dinner)
Friday – Beef noodle bowl
Saturday – Chicken parmesan in chive and cream sauce
Sunday – Pot Roast and mashed potatoes (elders over for dinner)
M-chinese takout leftover
t-caldo de pollo (mexican chicken soup)
w-spaghetti w/meat sauce
th-flautas d pollo and sopita (rolled chicken tacos and mexican vermicelli)
f-pepperoni and mushroom pizza
s-pork chops w/cranberry green beans and rice
su-hopefully eat out
M: Baked ham, potatoes & steamed pea pods
T: Turkey tacos, refried beans & sliced mango (didn’t make last week)
W: Chicken & broccoli risotto
Th:Leftovers or German pancakes with homemade raspberry sauce
F: Homemade pizza
S: Out
Su:Roast beef with mushroom gravy, potatoes and strawberry almond salad
Sun- curly pasta with lemon cream sauce
M- leftovers
T- Green stuff and rainbow jell-o
W- Jerk chicken and pineapple rice
Th- Chinese chicken salad
F- tin foil dinners
Sat- wedding dinner
Monday – Homemade Veggie Pizza
Tuesday – Making corned beef for the first time
Wednesday – Soup Night
Thursday – Turkey Burgers and oven fries
Friday – Veggie tacos
Saturday – Night Out
Sun – Swedish meatballs, noodles, carrots, cranberry sauce
Mon – lemon pork & green veg stirfry, rice
Tue – corned beef & cabbage, leek-y potatoes, carrots
Wed – lacinato chard & meyer lemon risotto (new recipe), garlic shrimp, endive apple salad
Thu – carne asada tacos, homemade tortillas, asparagus
Fri – pizza, salad
Sat – aloo gobi, tandori-ish chicken, naan, fruit salad
It’s a pantry raid week. I’m trying to go an entire week without schlepping the kids to the store for more than milk. We’ll see how we do!
Brown Jasmine rice is very nice, but I don’t know how it would compare to Chang’s.
Sun. – birthday request dinner: salmon and marinated flank steak on the barby + roasted peppers and some thick-sliced bacon, broccoli, rice, homemade french bread, arugula salad with lemon dressing and some chopped pistachios AND peach cobbler with our own frozen peaches from last fall.
M. corned beef and cabbage and another vegie (gotta shop today)
T. dinner at friends – I have to make a green dessert. Haven’t a clue yet.
W. Jicama black bean salad, chicken & mushrooms, bread
Th. Fresh Tuna (why can’t I get my tuna? this week fer
shure : ) more roasted peppers and roasted asparagus
F. Lettuce wraps
Sat. another birthday dinner, but at a great restaurant. Mmm.
Our plan this week:
Monday: leftover Shepherd’s pie from Sunday, green beans
Tuesday: Happy St Patty’s! Corned beef & cabbage
Wednesday: I’m going to try one of these ‘Steamfresh’ meal things from Bird’s Eye … I’m not a frozen food fan but I have heard good things and how can we go wrong with no pans and 10 minutes in the microwave?
Thursday: Leftovers from Tues and/or cabbage soup
Friday: Homemade mac & cheese
Saturday: Out with friends
Sunday: Cabbage soup
M: bean burritos & salad
T: broccoli calzones
W: spinach manicotti & garlic bread
Th: simple roast chicken
F: chicken noodle soup
Recipes & other info can be found on my blog.
Thanks for inspiring me to meal plan each week!
We buy the little red mini bananas, which are to DIE for. Myself and a few others each independently thought “this is what bananas are supposed to taste like!” or ” I think this is how bananas tasted when I was a kid.”
Yum.
M — Brunch ham bake, mixed fruit
T — Jerk pork chops, Watergate salad, broccoli
W — Beefy shells ‘n cheese, spinach salad
TH — Out to Souper Salad with the kids
F — king Ranch Chicken, corn
Sa — Bird Dog BBQ out
Sun — Tuna cakes with dill sauce, macaroni ‘n cheese, peas
M – cafe rio-style chicken salad, guacamole
T – chicken, mango, pineapple kebabs
W – baked potato bar
Th – roasted balsamic vegetables (new potatoes, red pepper, red onion, zucchini, squash)
I agree with FoxyJ. I believe PF Changs uses short grain brown rice. It has more of a nutty taste and chewy texture over long grain like Jasmine or Basmati. It makes really great fried rice! I learned that from my mom…she would make it for us when we were litte.
I just bought some short grain brown rice to see how it’s different than long grain. (Besides the length of course.)
M- Grilled veggie, mozz. and pesto sandwiches
T- Pesto noodles + salad
W- Burritos + chips + salsa
T- Oven-baked Tilapia + brown rice with red peppers
F- Veggie soup + cheesy bread
S- Quesadillas
S- Fettuccini with swiss chard, walnuts, currants and brown butter…we’ll see if I really feel like doing this on Sunday.
Try this brand.
http://www.bearmountaingifts.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=100
I bought mine at World Market.
Your rice cooker will have a huge impact as well.
My brother has this one and highly recommends it.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00007J5U7/ref=asc_df_B00007J5U7738571?tag=the004-20&creative=380337&creativeASIN=B00007J5U7&linkCode=asn
ugh, so uninspired lately (because I don’t want to go grocery shopping!) and late with my menu:
S – Pulled pork sandwiches with salad and chips
M – Thai noodles with veggies and peanut sauce
T – Ham and Bean soup with oranges and crackers
W – BBQ chicken pizza
TH- Leftovers
Fri – Sun out of town – yay!
thanks for all the rice advice! love hearing what people use and like. so helpful when I’m starting at the product on the shelves. I bought some short grain brown rice in the bulk aisle yesterday…I have a feeling that’s going to be like PF chang’s. I’ll be sure to report.
as always…THANK YOU for your menus and comments! so so awesome.
Wow! I love this!! I have been telling myself I really need to start planning a weekly menu…I think it will be so much easier than coming up on pm and wondering what I am going to cook. I have 1 year old twin girls that I am cooking for daily and really need some good, easy, healthy ideas. I believe I have just been inspired! thanks!
I’m happy to hear that! 🙂 welcome!
Check different types of brown rice out on this site: http://www.saveur.com/gallery/Types-of-Brown-Rice
The first type is as close in resemblance as I can find to PF Changs.
Hope this helps 🙂
awesome, thanks for that link!!