My Pinterest Menu: Week of May 12th

After this weekend, I got pretty spoiled and did not have to cook even one meal.  Lots of great food...

lots : )

But now, it's time to get back to reality.  And I have picked out some great looking recipes. Here, in Charlotte, we jumped right into Summer, so I wanted to try out a few lighter recipes this week.  

I am excited about the Grilled Honey Orange Chicken Salad.  Even though everyone knows that apples and pork go together, I have never made them together myself.  The Apple Cinnamon Pork Chops look too good to pass up though, so this week I will be trying them out.  

Here is this week's menu...Enjoy : )

Monday: Roasted Garlic and Lemon Rigatoni with Brown Butter and Gruyere

via Baker by Nature

Tuesday: Grilled Honey Orange Chicken Salad

via BH&G

Wednesday: Apple Cinnamon Pork Chops

via Gimme Some Oven

Thursday: 5 Ingredient Black Bean Soup

via Gimme Some Oven

Friday: Double Crunch Honey Garlic Chicken

via Rock Recipes

The Grocery List:

Roasted Garlic and Lemon Rigatoni with Browned Butter and Gruyere-

1 head of garlic, bottom cut off

1 pound rigatoni pasta

*reserve 1/3 cup of the pasta water

5 tablespoons butter, browned

1/4 cup fresh parsley

2 lemons, zest and juice; divided

1 cup fresh grated gruyere cheese, plus more for sprinkling

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Crushed red pepper for sprinkling

Grilled Honey-Orange Chicken Salad-
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 3)
2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel
1/3 cup orange juice
4 cloves garlic, minced 
2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons orange juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped shallot
4 cups torn baby salad greens
1 medium red sweet pepper, thinly sliced
2 medium oranges, peeled and sectioned
Sliced almonds, toasted (optional)

Apple Cinnamon Pork Chops-
4 Ribeye (rib) pork chops, bone-in, about 3/4-inch thick
Salt and pepper
3 tablespoons butter, divided
2 apples, peeled (optional), cored and thinly sliced
1 large white onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Pinch ground cayenne pepper
2/3 cup apple cider
1/3 cup heavy cream

5 Ingredient Black Bean Soup-
3 (15 oz) cans black beans, with liquid
1 lb. (about 2.5 cups) good-quality salsa, homemade or store-bought 
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, loosely packed (plus extra for garnish)
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 clove garlic, minced

Double Crunch Honey Garlic Chicken-
4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 cups flour
4 tsp salt
4 tsp black pepper
3 tbsp ground ginger
1 tbsp freshly ground nutmeg
2 tsp ground thyme
2 tsp ground sage
2 tbsp paprika
1 tsp cayenne pepper
4 eggs
8 tbsp water
2 tbsp olive oil
3-4 cloves minced garlic
1 cup honey
1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium soy sauce is best)
1 tsp ground black pepper
 canola oil for frying