Archive for the ‘menu plan monday’ Category

I have a bit of a crazy week this week due to the fact Jess and I are leaving for Mexico on Saturday morning.  We are getting very excited to go on our mission trip and I know food for the week really hasn’t been on my mind much.  I know if I don’t plan this my week will just get more unorganized.  So I plan to go for simplicity this week if at all possible.

• Taco Pasta
• Sausage Ziti
• Sloppy Joes
• Sub Sammies
• Pancakes

That should be it a short week and the guys will eat freezer meals this weekend if they are around much.

Do you sometimes find that you plan a menu for the week only to fudge it up and not do what you planned?  Is it a challenge to remember to take the meat out of the freezer and then when it is time to make supper it is still frozen?  Well this week I want to challenge you to make your menu plan and stick to it!  The week goes so much smoother when you don’t have to worry about what is for supper.

• Quesadillas
• Pork Chops with Applesauce
• Paninis
• Tuna Noodles
• Vegetable Soup with Ham & Cheese Sandwiches
• Beef & Potato Skillet
• Leftovers

I am going to attempt to work on the freezer overload again this week.

• Creamed Turkey Sandwiches with Pears
• Ham Steak with Mashed Potatoes
• Spaghetti with Garlic Herb Bread
• Enchilada Casserole
• Broccoli Cheese Soup
• Leftovers

Another week another plan.  I will be using up more of those Thanksgiving leftovers and trying to be creative about it.

• Turkey Tetrazini
• Garlic Turkey Pizza
• Turkey Cordon Bleu Casserole
• Baked Potato Bar
• Pork Roast and Veggies
• Soup & Sammy Night

I will not be posting my menu plan this week due to the fact that I am starting a new to me weight loss program.  I am still working out the planning of food and the holiday this week leaves things a little crazy.  I hope you have a great healthy week and try not to overdo it on that Thanksgiving meal!

I am back from the blog conference and it is time to sit down to reality and organize my week.  What a better way to start than to do my menu plan.

• Pork chops with Veggies
• Ham & Cheese Crustless Quiche
• Broccoli & Cheese Soup
• Stir Fry
• Chicken ala King
• Leftovers

Another week, another menu. This weekend I will be heading to I_Blog Conference in Perry, Iowa so the men are left alone. I have a feeling that planning to use some of those freezer meals will be helpful for them.

• Paninis
• Cheesy Meatloaf
• Enchiladas
• Baked Ziti (crockpot style)
• Stir Fry
• Leftovers

That should do it.  Have a great week!

It is time for a bit of organizing in the form of a menu plan.  Do you take the time to plan your menus?  If not you should really consider it.  It is an easy way to save money, use what you already have and keep an eye on your current pantry stockpile.  It really doesn’t take long and all you need is a pen and paper (or computer in my case).  Write down what appeals to you or your family to eat this week and then go see if you have ingredients on hand.  Make a shopping list of missing items or edit your menu to what you have in the house if funds are low.  Enjoy it when you can tell everyone what is for supper without feeling overwhelmed!

Here is what we are eating this week.

1. Calzones (homemade)
2. Goulash (homemade)
3. Tacos (from a kit in the pantry that needs to be used)
4. Chicken Noodle Soup (homemade and using up some of those tiny ABC noodles off a good clearance deal)
5. Russian Chicken and Roasted Potatoes (crockpot meal)
6. Pork Chops with Creamy Mushroom Rice
7. Flex Night (might be leftovers or whatever I am in the mood for in the pantry not an opportunity to go shopping)

As you can see we aren’t fancy but we definately don’t starve either.  Give a menu a try this week and see what happens at the supper rush.

This week I am going to do something a little different with my meal plan.  I have had the opportunity to review an excellent cookbook (review & giveaway to be posted tomorrow).  Dawn Hall wrote the Fast & Frugal Cookbook and is allowing me to use the cookbook for my menu plan this week.  So here goes and if you are intrigued make sure you come back starting tomorrow for a chance to win the cookbook.  I will have 2 winners.

Chicken and Mandarin Chopped Salad
(serves 3) 10 minutes to make, 384 calories per serving

1 (15 oz) can chilled mandarin oranges
1/2 cup Marzetti lowfat slaw dressing
1/3 cup dried cranberries (will sub raisins for hubby)
1/4 cup finely crumbled feta cheese
1 medium head of iceberg lettuce chopped to make 5 cups
1 (12.5 oz) can of chunk chicken

• Reserve 1/4 cup of juice from oranges, drain the remaining juice and discard.  Set oranges aside
• Make the dressing in a small bowl : stir together orange juice and slaw dressing.  Set aside.
• In a medium bowl: add cranberries, feta and chopped lettuce.
• Add the chicken, oranges and dressing and then toss until well mixed.
• Serve immediately.

Beef Gravy over Biscuits
(5 servings) 30 minutes, 300 calories per serving

1 (7.5 ounce) can home-style biscuits
1 (16 ounce) package extra lean ground beef
1 1/2 teaspoon steak seasoning
1 (8.5 ounce) can peas & carrots
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
3 cups skim milk

• Place the oven rack in the middle of the oven.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Place th biscuits on an ungreased cookie sheet and set aside.
• Spray a 12 inch saucepan with cooking spray. brown and crumble the ground beef with seasoning over high heat.
• Drain the liquid from the peas and carrots into a small bowl set the veggies aside.
• Add cornstarch to the liquid from veggies and mix until dissolved.  Set aside.
• Once the meat is browned reduce heat to medium.
• Stir the milk and cornstarch into meat and gently stir in the veggies.  Cook over medium heat bring to a slow boil while stirring occasionally.
• Let the meat and veggie mix cook at a slow boil for 10 minutes.
• Place the biscuits in the oven and bake for 10 minutes
• Turn off the heat ans the mixture sits the gravy will thicken.
• Serve beef gravy over the biscuits.

Broccoli and Cauliflower Chowder
(serves 15) 25 minutes, 168 calories per serving

• See Wednesday’s post for recipe and crock adaption.

Wet Pizza Burrito Casserole
(serves 6) 25 minutes, 282 calories per serving

1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian diced tomatoes
1 (6.5 ounce) can mushroom pieces and stems
2 (14 ounce) jars pizza sauce
7 fat-free flour tortilla shells
62 slices of pepperoni
1/2 cup shredded part-skim milk mozzarella cheese

• Drain and discard juice from tomatoes and mushrooms.
• Place the tomatoes and mushrooms in a mixing bowl and add pizza sauce.  Stir to make a tomato sauce.
• Spray a 2 qt microwaveable baking dish with non-stick spray.
• Place 1 tortilla in the bottom of dish
• Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce on the tortilla
• Place 8 slices of pepperoni on the tomato sauce
• Continue layering until sauce is gone
• For the last layer place 1/2 cup tomato sauce, cheese and 14 slices of pepperoni.
• Cover with waxed paper and place in microwave on high for 10 minutes.

Baked Ham
Very Berry Spiced Applesauce
(serves 5 minutes prep, 90 calories per serving

1 (20 ounce) can no-sugar added apple pie filling
1/2 cup firmly packed dried mixed berries
1 (25 ounce) jar unsweetened applesauce, chilled
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 Tablespoon Splenda granular

• Open the can of pie filling.  While the filling is still in the can run a sharp knife through the apples to chunk them up.
• Finely chop the dried berries and set aside
• In a medium sized serving bowl, combine pie filling, applesauce, allspice, berries and splenda. Stir until well mixed and serve.

Leftovers
Hot Spiced Peaches
(6 servings) 15 minutes prep and 145 calories

1 (29 ounce) can no sugar added sliced yellow cling peaches
1/3 cup red hots (cinnamon imperial candies)
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 Tablespoon water

• In a 2 1/2 quart saucepan stir in peaches and candies.  Cook on high heat bringing to a boil.  Boil for 10 minutes, stirring occassionally.
• In a small bowl make a paste of cornstarch and water then stir into the peaches
• Remove from the heat and let it sit for three minutes
• Serve

Flex night

I hope you enjoyed the recipes come back tomorrow and Wednesday for a chance to win the cookbook and the crockpot adapted soup recipe.

I am still cleaning out the freezer and pantry!  So I had to do some digging to see what I even have.  I have a general idea but sometimes I just have to look again.

• Bean & Ham Soup
• Pork Loin
• Burgers & Fries
• Pizza
• Chicken Pot Pie
• Leftovers
• Flex Night