Hoboken Metro Mom

Here are some suggestions for what to make this week based on the store sales.

Monday: Roasted Cornish Game Hen with Rice
This recipe on lifesambrosia.com sounds great. With Tyson Frozen Cornish Hens on sale at A&P this week for $0.99lb this seems like the perfect time to try out a new recipe. Serve it up with a simple salad- Fresh Express Garden Salad is on sale at A&P from Friday April 3- Monday April 6 only for $0.98. NOTE: just came back from shopping at A&P and they don’t expect to have the Cornish Hens until Monday 4/6/09.

Tuesday: Gratin of Aparagus Wrapped in Ham
The recipe we linked to from cookingninja.com calls for endives; however, since asparagus is on sale this week at ShopRite for $1.49lb we thought we would just make this with asparagus instead. The recipe specifies cheese- we suggest using gruyere or swiss cheese for this dish. Bechamel sauce, cheese and ham… mmm.

Wednesday: Chicken Pillows
When one of us goes to our mother in law’s house, we look forward to this yummy, easy to prepare meal. Note that Philadelphia cream cheese bars are on sale at A&P for $0.89 and Pillsbury crescent rolls are also on sale at A&P 3/$6.00 (better if you have coupons we list) and buying 3, combined with the coupon we list, can get you two Land o Lakes butters for $0.88 each.

Thursday: Tortilla & Black Bean Pie
This recipe from Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food is one of those recipes that you can make easily from some frozen veggies and pantry ingredients. ShopRite has Birds Eye frozen boxed vegetables on sale at $1.00 each this week.

Friday: Homemade Pizza
Get some refrigerated pizza dough, stretch it out on the bottom of a heavy duty baking sheet which has been sprayed with a non-stick cooking spray or rubbed down with oil and top with homemade sauce and mozzarella. Polly-O Mozzarella is on sale at ShopRite this week for $1.69 and can be shreded easily in the food processor. You can also top your pizza with veggies to make it just a little bit healthier. Bake in oven at 375 degrees for approx 15 mins or until done.

Saturday: Shrimp Scampi with Linguini
This recipe, which can be found at foodnetwork.com, is from the Barefoot Contessa- we love her name. One of us plans to leave out the crushed red pepper flakes and add in some white wine, if we have it that evening for dinner. Large Raw Shrimp 31-40ct is on sale this week at A&P for $5.99 lb (Sold in 2lb bag or loose, Frozen or Thawed). Barilla pasta (assorted varieties) is on sale at A&P for $0.89. Spaghetti or Angel Hair pasta would work well for this recipe too if linguini does not happen to be one of the varieties on sale. Note: just got back from shopping at A&P and the Barilla pasta on sale includes spaghetti, linguini and the whole wheat spaghetti, among others, like the penne pasta. Even the Piccolini is included in this sale.

Sunday: Roasted Leg of Lamb and Baked Ham and Cheesecake with Strawberries and Ice Cream
This recipe from homecookkirsten.blogspot.com for her Leg of Lamb looks lovely. The semi-boneless leg of lamb is on sale this week at A&P for $1.99 lb. I may just save myself some effort and serve the lamb with instant mashed potatoes and a veggie. Betty Crocker Instant Mashed Potatoes are on sale at A&P this week for $1.00 and Birds Eye boxed sauced vegetables are on sale there for $0.79. I will also be serving the free ham I get from ShopRite with mashed sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are on sale at ShopRite $2.99 for 5 lb box. I will also be making a cheese cake that I will top with strawberries. Philadelphia Cream Cheese bars are on sale at A&P for $0.89 (Limit 4) - which is perfect because I will need 4 bars. Strawberries are on sale at ShopRite for $1.49. Breyers Ice Cream is on sale for $0.49 after coupon at ShopRite this week and will serve as a perfect dessert for the kids- I doubt they will be wanting the cheese cake.

If you are intersted in making the cheese cake- you will need 4 packages cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 4 eggs, 1-1/2 cup Honey Maid Graham Cracker Crumbs, 3Tbsp Sugar, 1/3 cup butter, 9 inch springform pan, electric mixer. Recipe to be posted on Wednesday. Note- you will need to have time to allow the cake to cool and then will have to refrigerate the cake for at least 4 hours or overnight.