During the 2008-2009 school year, I got the hoity-toity distinction of getting to call myself a private chef (ooooh, aahhh). Four nights a week, I cooked dinner for 15 girls, 5 other adults (us, the house parents, and the kitchen cleanup guy — yeah, I didn’t even have to clean up after myself), and 1 baby (mine) at a sorority house on the USU campus. It was a beautiful deal. Here are the menus for each week, as well as a smattering of recipes.
Week 10: March 23-26
Basil Chicken Curry, Coconut Rice, Stir-Fried Veggies
Killer Sandwiches, Pickles, Chips, Strawberry Lemonade
Grilled Chicken, Greek Salad, Chocolate-Raspberry Cake
Lasagna, Green Salad, Garlic Bread
Week 9: March 16-19
Carnitas with the Fixings, Cilantro-Lime Rice
Chicken-Apple Sausages, Veggie Kabobs, Cilantro-Lime Rice
Baked Potato Bar, Broccoli Salad, Grapes
Sloppy Joes, Chips, Fresh Fruit Salad
Week 8: Feb 23-26
Soy-Glazed Salmon, Chilled Sesame Noodles, Stir-Fried Vegetables
French Toast Casserole, Fruit Salad, Orange Juice
Spinach and Artichoke Lasagna, Green Salad, Garlic Bread
Baked Ham, Funeral Potatoes, Peas, Chai-Spice Carrot Cake
Week 7: Feb 17-19
Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia, Fattoush (Toasted Pita Salad with Feta, Olives, and Tomatoes)
Chicken Biryani with Basmati Rice, Raita, Steamed Peas
Spaghetti and Meatballs, Green Salad, Garlic Bread, Chipster Brownies and Ice Cream
Week 6: Feb 9-12
Baked Omelet, Bacon, Fruit Salad, Orange Juice
Hot and Sour Soup, Egg Rolls, Vegetable Lo Mein
Grilled Chicken, Bow Ties with Pesto, Glazed Carrots
Lasagna, Green Salad, Garlic Bread, Strawberry Cupcakes
Week 5: Feb 2-5
Grilled Chicken, Spinach Salad with Citrus and Avocado, Brown Rice
Potato-Leek Soup, Artisan Bread
Ham and Asparagus Quiche, Green Salad, Peach Cobbler and Ice Cream
Sloppy Joes, Grapes, Chips, Pickles, Ice Cream Sandwiches
Week 4: Jan 26-29
Broccoli Beef, Steamed Rice
Oven-Fried Chicken, Cole Slaw, Baked Beans, Berry Cobbler with Vanilla Ice Cream
Moroccan-Style Chickpea Soup, Rolls
Fettuccine Alfredo, Green Salad, Garlic Bread
Week 3: Jan 20-22
Baked Potato Bar, Broccoli Salad, Fresh Fruit Salad
Chili con Carne, Corn Muffins with Lime Marmalade
Grilled Chicken, Sesame Noodles, Green beans, French Pear and Almond Tart
Week 2: Jan 12-15
Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Roasted Broccoli
New England Harvest Bisque, Crusty Bread, Green Salad
Oven-Broiled Sausages, Veggie Kabobs, Rice Pilaf
Ravioli, Crusty Bread, Green Salad, Brrrr-ownies with Vanilla Ice Cream and Hot Fudge Sauce
Week 1: Jan 5-8
Shredded Pork Tacos with Fixings, Cilantro Lime Rice, Frijoles
Soy-Glazed Salmon, Chilled Whole Wheat Sesame Noodles, Garlicky Bok Choy
Roast Pork, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Roasted Broccoli
Grilled Chicken, Bow Ties with Pesto, Honey-Glazed Carrots
Spring Semester
Week 15: Dec 8-11
Mom’s Mac & Cheese with Dogs, i.e. Dog Mac, Peas, Biscuits
Tex-Mex Burgers, Potato Salad, Baked Beans
Clam Chowder in Sourdough Bread Bowls, Green Salad
Spaghetti and Meatballs, Caesar Salad, French Bread
Week 14: Dec 1-4
Christmas Formal Dinner: Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Green Beans, Rolls, Cheesecake, and Christmas Cookies. All pre-fab, instant, or frozen, thank you very much (they gave me four days’ notice that this event was occurring and, by the way, we’ll have twice as many people).
Ricotta Gnocchi with Tomato Cream Sauce, Sauteed Summer Squash, Ciabatta
Chef’s Salad, Creamy Potato Soup
California and Mediterranean Wraps, Chips
Week 13: Nov 17-20
Spicy Sichuan Noodles with Ground Pork, Sauteed Bok Choy
Broiled Sausages, Creamy Polenta, Green Salad
French Toast Casserole, Mixed Fruit, Orange Juice
Killer Sandwiches, Pickles, Chips, Peanut Butter Crispy Bars
Week 12: Nov 10-13
Quiche Lorraine, Green Salad
Taco Salad
Ribollita
Grilled Chicken with Pesto, Greek Salad, Rolls
Week 11: Nov 3-6
Roast Turkey Breast, Peach Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy,
Cranberry Compote layered with with Lemon Ricotta (NOTE: The stuffing and the compote thing were gross. Truly unfortunate.)
24-Hour Omelet, Bacon, Fruit, Orange Juice
Chicken Tikka Masala, Basmati Rice, Pita, Salad
Lasagna, Salad, Bread
Week 10: Oct 27-30
Black Bean Chili with Corn Muffins and Lime Marmalade
Meatballs with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Baked Broccoli and Cheese
Ham and Cheddar or Pepperoni Stromboli, Green Salad, Apples with Pumpkin Cream Cheese
The Halloween Spooktacular: Bat Wings, Mummy Wraps, Veggies and Swamp Dip, Green Salad; Marshmallow Bones with Blood-Red Hot Chocolate (!)
Week 9: Oct 20-23
Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Dill Pickles, Chips
Pasta ai Quattro Formaggi, Green Salad
Miso Soup, Edamame, Teriyaki Chicken, Steamed Rice
Good Old Taco Salad, Banana Cream Pudding
Week 8: Oct 13-16
Roasted Cream of Tomato Soup, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Maple-Glazed Pork Loin, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Buttered Green Beans
Killer Sandwiches with Pesto, Hummus, or Red Pepper Spread; The Utah Salad Special
Pasta Puttanesca, Rolls, Green Salad, Flourless Chocolate Cake
Week 7: Oct 6-9
Grilled Chicken, Roasted Pear & Arugula Salad, Rolls
Broiled Chicken-Apple or Chicken Sun-Dried Tomato Sausages, Tabbouleh, Green Salad
Pasta e Fagioli, Crusty Bread, Pumpkin Cobbler
Spinach and Provolone-Stuffed Flank Steak, Rolls, Green Salad
Week 6: Sept 29-Oct 2
Pepper-Crusted Beef Tenderloin, Baked Potatoes, Steamed Mixed Veggies with Butter and Herbs
Stromboli, Green Salad
Sweet & Sour Chicken, Rice, Green Beans, Cheesecake Brownies
Spaghetti and Meatballs, Green Salad, Bread
Week 5: Sept 22-25
Shredded Pork Soft Tacos (just the pork from this recipe, minus the sauce), Guacamole, Fixings, Rice with Cilantro, Frijoles
French Toast Casserole, Breakfast Sausage, Fruit, Orange Juice
Chinese-Style Roast Pork Tenderloin, Szechwan Slaw, Corn on the Cob, Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake
Creamy Pesto Fettuccine, Grilled Chicken, Salad
Week 4: Sept 15-18
Grilled Chicken with Basil Pesto, Caprese Salad with Local Heirloom Tomatoes,
Italian Almond Cake with Raspberries & Whipped Cream
Salade Nicoise, Bread
Grilled Chicken; Farfalle with Tomatoes, Olives, and Feta; Green Salad, Bread
Week 3: Sept 8-11
Pancakes, Bacon, Scrambled Eggs, Fruit
BBQ Pork Sandwiches (but without the sauce the recipe gives), Cole Slaw, Baked Beans, Corn on the Cob
Stouffer’s Lasagna, Salad
Toasted Pita Salad with Feta, Olives, and Tomatoes; Parmesan-Basil Stuffed Chicken; S’mores Bars
Week 2: Sept 2-4
Moroccan-Style Chickpea Soup, Crusty Bread, Green Salad
Baked Potato Bar, Broccoli Salad, Watermelon
Sesame Noodle Salad with Chicken, Corn on the Cob, Fresh Peach Pie
Week 1: Aug 25-28
Chicken Enchiladas, Mexican Rice, Green Salad
Quiche Lorraine, Green Salad, Fruit Salad
Chicken Salad in Pitas, Veggies & Dip
Baked Ziti with Sausage, Green Salad, Bread, Chocolate Fondue with Fruit and Pound Cake
We would like you to share your recipes for the Stromboli, Italian Almond Cake with Raspberries & Whipped Cream, Moroccan-Style Chickpea Soup, and the Sesame Chicken Noodle Salad. Yum!
Marvelous! I’m working on making my own cookbook of the stuff Sam and I like the most. I’m certain some of these will make it in there! How about the Parmesan-Basil Stuffed Chicken, Szechwan Slaw (what is that?), and dido to all Flattail wants!
I know Dave would love the recipe for Pepper-crusted Beef Tenderloin, and that’s all I add to what has already been mentioned! The menus look divine!
What is your recipe for chicken curry? I looove the stuff and am always looking for a good recipe!
Hey! How is the basil chicken curry? I don’t know if I would put those flavors together… but I looove curry! Also – on your blog – there are pictures of your honeys, but not you! I’d love to see your smiling face every now and again, ‘Miss Joy!’