Menu Monday

It is the start of a new year and time to get back to good habits, which include planning a menu instead of just winging it at dinner time.

Here is what we will be enjoying this week. Or if your name is Roo you will be picking at and not eating and complaining that you don't like anything that is on your plate.

• Monday - chicken pot pie
• Tuesday - minestrone soup
• Wednesday - zippy ziti
• Thursday - chicken tortilla soup
• Friday - pizza
• Saturday - who knows
• Sunday - roast and potatoes

Usually if I put it on my menu it is homemade . If I am going to use a shortcut trust me I will put down that we are getting take out or grabbing a frozen whatever. At one time I didn't trust my cooking abilities and everything came out of a box, but I have learned and experimented and now I try to do as much homemade as possible. Well I guess you might call it semi-homemade. There are plenty of recipes I use that call for a jar of this or a can of cream of whatever soup. And I am fixing dinner for a family with 5 young kidlets and I only plan on fixing one meal a night, so it is usually kid friendly.

The zippy ziti is a new recipe that we haven't had before. I hope it is good. I should try it before I share it in case it is gross, but here you go:

Zippy Ziti

• 8 oz pkg of ziti, uncooked
• 2 C. frozen broccoli cuts
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 C. alfredo sauce
• 14 1/2 oz can Italian-style diced tomatoes
• 2 C. mozzarella cheese
• 2 Tbsp. Italian style bread crumbs
• 2 tsp. butter, melted
• Prepare ziti according to package directions; add broccoli during last minute of cooking time. Drain; add garlic, alfredo sauce, tomatoes and cheese, mixing well. Spoon into a 2-quart casserole dish; set aside. Toss bread crumbs with butter; sprinkle over ziti. Bake at 350 degrees about 20-30 minutes, until top is golden. Makes 4-6 servings.

This recipe actually calls for a jar of alfredo sauce, but seriously it is so easy to make why would you use a jar. And if after we try it and it is really gross I will let you know.