Week of Sunday, July 8, 2012

Whew!  It's hot up in these kitchens!  Tried to plan a menu for you this week that will keep you cool...

Deadline for ordering: Friday, July 13th

Subscriptions for the month of July being taken through Friday, July 13th.
(This ONLY means that ordering "by the month" will be closed.  Order all the meals by the week or day that you want ALL through July!)

Subscription Dressing of the Week: Garlic Maple Vinaigrette
Subscription Bread of the Week: Parkerhouse Rolls (AKA Sister Schubert's from scratch!!)

1. Yogurt-Marinated Grilled Chicken

• (Or as Jenny Rosenstrach, author of "Dinner: A Love Story," calls it: Grilled Chicken for People Who Hate Grilled Chicken.  PS: This is my latest cookbook obsession--a FUN read!)
• {Preparation: Grill 3-4 minutes each side; 10 mins total}

2. Greek Pasta Salad

• It doesn't get any easier than this (for you).  Chilled rotini pasta with tomatoes, cucumber, onion, feta, and some yummy seasonings.
• {Preparation: Open & enjoy, 0 mins total}

3. Chimichurri Nachos

• Three words to reel you in: Las Delicias Chips.  You'll top em with marinated (and already grilled) skirt steak, mozzarella cheese, and crumbled cotija cheese.
• {Preparation: Assemble nachos and briefly bake, heat steak in microwave, 10 mins total}

4. Eleven Madison Park's Strawberry Gazpacho

• Ok, I know we just had Peach Gazpacho last week.  But it is the coldest and easiest summer meal you can offer for dinner.  Gazpachos are hit and miss with me...so, let's experiment!  This one has strawberries, cucumbers, bell peppers, and garlic that are marinated together before blending with extras.  Does this boggle your mind?  Me too.
• {Preparation: Open & enjoy, 0 mins total}

5. Pizza with Grape Tomatoes & Zucchini

• Homemade pizza crust, tomato sauce, farmers' market produce, fresh mozzarella.  Enough said.
• {Preparation: Heat in oven, 10-15 mins total}

Week of Sunday, July 1, 2012

Welcome to July, foodies!  Not only is this the month of my birth AND America's birth, but July showcases some of my absolute favorite fruits and veggies.

The beginning of the month means that subscriptions are now OPEN.  (FYI, subscriptions are my fancy way of letting you order & pay in advance...you can always order as many means as you want on a week-by-week basis.  The advantage to subscriptions?  The salad & dressing and super-awesome homemade bread, of course!)

If you're interested in "subscribing" to the month of July, just let me know which weeks you're interested in, you can pay the total in advance, and you'll be set for the month.  No hot kitchen to contend with, no sweaty trips from the car to the house with groceries...just good food and lots of extra time & money!  :)

Good news for my Frugal Foodie fanatics: I am now offering a referral incentive that is pretty sweet!  For every new client that mentions you recommended me, they get one free meal with the purchase of a meal...AND...YOU get a quart of my husband's amazing can't-eat-it-in-one-sitting-even-though-I've-tried homemade ice cream.  It doesn't get any sweeter than that, my friend!

The menu for this first week of July will either make you wish you weren't going out of town or rejoice that your Memphian tastebuds can celebrate the taste of summer and and good ole' American comfort food.  Every one of these dishes could be the star at a 4th of July potluck!

Orders due by Friday, June 29th at noon.

Subscription Homemade Dressing of the Week: Ranch
Subscription Homemade Bread of the Week: Artisan Loaf

1. Southern Fried Chicken

• Chicken tenderloins fried up golden and crispy.  I'll do the prep and you do the fryin' to ensure juicy, crisp awesomeness that will disappear like magic from the table.
• {Preparation: DO NOT be intimidated--frying chicken is super easy and I'll give you explicit instructions; It involves a big pot, a little canola oil, and 30 mins total.}

2. Martha Stewart's Creamy Mac N Cheese

• Yup, it just keeps getting better.  Because this recipe was adapted by Smitten Kitchen.  Foodies, rejoice!
• {Preparation: Bake for 30-40 mins total.}

3. Blue Cheese Bacon Burgers

• C'mon, you can't NOT grill burgers during Independence week.  :)  These will be juicy with a slice of blue cheese and some thick-cut bacon.  And don't worry--I'm not scrimping on the buns!
• {Preparation: Grill, assemble, 20 mins total.}

4. Peach Gazpacho

• A nice, refreshing break from the heavy stuff.  Serve chilled, which means...
• {Preparation: As quick as you can pour it, 0 mins total.}

5. Soft Pretzels with Dipping Sauce

• Another Smitten Kitchen/Martha Stewart combo, and a good stand-in for pizza night!
• {Preparation: These will be frozen; Pop 'em in the oven for 5-10 mins total.}