Week 321 Menu

Sunday: Chana masala over rice with naan

Monday: Mac and cheese (Panera copycat)

Tuesday: Individual pizzas

Wednesday: Slow cooker ribs

Thursday: Chicken piccata and cauliflower rice

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Out

Butter Popcorn Bars

I am not a dessert person. Wait. I am not a bake-a-dessert person. I'm more of a enjoyer-of-desserts girl. These buttered popcorn bars, however, are my go-to dessert now. I always have the ingredients in the house, and, in less than an hour, I can have finished dessert. Voila! 

I made these bars for a family dinner and we decided to class it up. Ice cream, shaved chocolate, and sea salt take this dessert over the top! Feel free to experiment on your own.

You can make your popcorn any way you want: microwave or stovetop. The more buttery, the better. I use 1/2c popcorn kernels and 1/4c vegetable oil in a Whirly Pop (Whirly Pop makes air-popped popcorn in 3 minutes flat!).

Buttered Popcorn Bars
from Smitten Kitchen's cookbook

Ingredients

4 cups popcorn, popped

1/4 teaspoon table salt

1 tablespoon butter, melted

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 light brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1-1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1. Pop up a batch of popcorn using your favorite method. 

2. Preheat your oven to 375º F. 

3. In a large bowl cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth. 

4. In another bowl, whisk the flour and baking soda together. 

5. Stir the combined dry ingredients into the butter sugar mixture. 

6. Fold in the cooled popcorn so that it is evenly distributed through the batter. 

7. Grease a 9x9" baking pan.

8. Press the batter into the pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.

9. Allow to cool and cut into bars.

10. Serving options: plain or fancy (with ice cream, popcorn, chocolate shavings, and a pinch of sea salt).

This recipe can also be doubled and placed in a 9"x13" pan. You can use 6 cups of popped popcorn (1/3c kernels in your Whirly Pop). The result is more popcorn-y, but delicious nevertheless!

Week 320 Menu

Sunday: Dinner at Bible study...I brought Buttered Popcorn Cookies

Monday: Shrimp with buttered noodles

Tuesday: Homemade calzones

Wednesday: Baked sweet potatoes in slow cooker

Thursday: Slow cooker ribs

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Out...Grandparents here!

Week 319 Menu

Sunday: Dinner at Bible study

Monday: Baked mac and cheese (ATK recipe)....requested again and broccoli

Tuesday: Chicken carnitas

Wednesday: Pizzas

Thursday: Breakfast burritos for dinner and green beans

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Ginger fried rice

Week 318 Menu

Sunday: Miso udon soup and ginger fried rice
Monday: Baked mac and cheese (ATK recipe)
Tuesday: Hot dogs with homemade buns
Wednesday: Baked sweet potatoes in the slow cooker with cranberry sauce
Thursday: Homemade pizzas
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Out with friends to Lou Malnati's

Week 317 Menu

Sunday: Out

Monday: Pizza

Tuesday: Burgers on pretzel buns

Wednesday: Taco bake

Thursday: Yorkshire pudding and cranberry sauce

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Miso udon soup and ginger fried rice