Showing posts with label main dish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label main dish. Show all posts

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Menu Plan 5/30/11

Notes on last week's meals: I didn't make pumpkin pancakes.  Instead, I made these paleo pumpkin muffins.  I doubled the recipe, made almond flour by grinding almonds in the blender, and substituted 1 cup of ground flax seed in place of 1 cup of almond flour.  I also didn't stick the almonds on top, that looked weird to me.  They were quite nutty and filling muffins.  They hit the spot spread with some Kerrygold butter! :)  We actually had them for a quick dinner one evening with some fresh blueberries, strawberries, and real milk.


Breakfasts:
Coconut Milk Smoothies
Eggs and Fruit
Milk

Lunches:
Leftovers from the previous evening's dinner
Fruit

Snacks:
Ants on a log (celery, almond butter, raisins)

Dinners:
Memorial Day - Stir Fry (new recipe attempt, I'll let you know how it turns out)
Tuesday - Salmon Burgers, Salad
Wednesday - Meat Sauce over Zucchini (a paleo spaghetti-ish dish), Salad
Thursday - Grilled Chicken with Broccoli, Bacon, & Cashew Salad
Friday - BBQ Meatballs*, Coleslaw
Saturday - Grilled Sausage, Peas & Carrots
Sunday - Chicken & Green Bean Stir Fry

*The sauce is far from paleo with all the sugar, but it is so good!  I may try to cut down the sugar a tad bit, we'll see.  I usually use half the sauce recipe anyways.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Menu Plan 5/16/11 and a Shopping List

Whew!  Back in town and getting organized for the week... Maybe things will be a little slower this week???  For dinner tonight, we had breakfast casserole (w/ spinach, no cheese) and I made some little pumpkin custard cupcakes things (not completely paleo with all the honey) using this pumpkin pie filling recipe.

I don't have a full menu planned, but here's what is down so far:

Breakfasts:
Coconut Milk Smoothies
Eggs and Fruit

Lunches:
BLT Salad with Chicken
Carrot-Apple Salad with Chicken
Waldorf Salad with Chicken

Dinners:
Monday - Pizza Chili (with leftover meat sauce from last week)
Tuesday - Taco Salad (might get adventurous and make some homemade salsa!)
Wednesday - Leftovers
Thursday - (unrolled) Cabbage Rolls (I have a bunch of frozen shredded cabbage.)
Friday - Leftovers
Weekend - TBD after an end-of-the-week shopping trip

A couple non-paleo things I am going to make this week:
Feta Dip (for a pot-luck party)
Chocolate Cupcakes (from a mix on sale, for my husband to take to work)

I ran to Price Chopper tonight to get some strawberries so we'd have some fruit for tomorrow.  Also got some bacon on sale, some green onion, and some dried sage.  Spent $8.

I hope to get to Aldi early this week.  Here's my list, since I will likely be a slacker on the photos:
salad mix (sale) - 4
grape tomatoes (sale) - 4
mushrooms (sale) - 2
bell peppers (sale) - 2 pkgs.
red onions
olives
avocados or guacamole
feta cheese
bread or pitas for dip
apples
carrots - 2 lbs.
celery
bananas - 2 pkgs.
eggs - 2 dozen
ground turkey - 2 lbs.
nuts
raisins
cinnamon
diced tomatoes - 2
tomato sauce - 2
tomato paste
large ziplock baggies
diapers
Should be about $55.

This post shared at Musings of a Housewife, with other gluten-free menus!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Menu Plan 5/2/11

It is May 1 right now, so happy May Day!  Also, cilantro, tomatoes, avocados, lettuce, and limes are all on sale this week for Cinco de Mayo...Yum!  I took a break from posting about the grocery shopping this past week... it was a little hectic.

Breakfasts:
Quick Banana Pancakes (this recipe uses coconut oil instead of almond butter, I like them either way)
Eggs and Fruit
Coconut Milk Smoothies

Lunches:
Leftovers from dinner the night before
Chicken Vegetable Soup (for the weekend)

Dinners:
Monday - Chicken Taco Salad
Tuesday - BBQ Brisket, Mashed Cauliflower, Salad
Wednesday - Chicken with Chimichurri Sauce, Salad
Thursday - Salmon Burgers, Peas (my kids especially love this meal)
Friday - Out to eat :) to celebrate Mother's Day early!
Saturday - Fresh Grilled Sausages, Green Beans, Carrots
Sunday - Chicken, Broccoli, and Carrot Stir Fry

Snacks:
Apples & Almond Butter
Crispy Almonds & Walnuts with Raisins Snack Mix

It was a fun weekend, with lots of rich food, celebrating a graduation... donuts, Cheesecake Factory, cake pops... Mmmmm :)...

Here's to a good (and healthy) week ahead!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Paleo-Friendly Chicken Salad

I've made 2 really good chicken salads this week, if I may say so myself.  Bear with me, I don't use measurements here.

#1 Salad
broccoli slaw mix or shredded cabbage (I used both)
chopped chicken
cooked bacon, crumbled
toasted/roasted almonds, chopped (I use crispy almonds.)
raisins
some paleo olive oil mayo (recipe found here)
some apple cider vinegar or lemon juice (I used both)
raw honey? (only if needed)

#2 Salad
apples, chopped (tossed in lemon juice)
chopped chicken
diced celery
raisins
toasted/roasted almonds, chopped
paleo olive oil mayo

Shovel them in your mouth with a fork or spoon, whichever you prefer :)

The breakdown of how to make a good, paleo-friendly chicken salad is as follows.
  • The obvious: chicken, seasoned if desired, cooked and chopped.
Then, add at least:
  • 1 sweet item (dried fruit like raisins, cranberries, cherries, fresh red grapes, crushed pineapple, etc.)
  • 1 crunchy item (apple, celery, nuts)
  • 1 savory, salty-ish item (bacon, nuts, etc.)
  • 1 neutral vegetable item (cabbage, broccoli slaw, celery, carrot?, etc.) 
That last one is optional, but helps stretch the salad.
  • Stir in just enough paleo olive oil mayo to coat.
As you can see, some items can count in more than one category, so you don't always need 4 ingredients plus chicken and mayo.  For example, you can make a great salad with only chicken, grapes (sweet), nuts (crunchy + savory), and mayo.

Another way to stretch the salad (since we are not eating it by way of a sandwich here) would be to serve it over lettuce.

The combinations can be as unique as you wish.  Enjoy!

The only one in our house who won't eat these salads is my 20 month old, who doesn't like the crunchiness.  He prefers his chicken smothered in guacamole :)

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Menu Plan 4/18/11

So, 30 Days of Paleo should be over sometime this week, but we are going all the way until Easter... Because we are hard core.  Not really.  But sorta.

Breakfasts:
Eggs and/or Homemade Turkey Sausage (add dried onion and cayenne)
Fruit

Lunches:
Broccoli & Cabbage Slaw (with chicken, bacon, raisins, almonds, mayo)
Waldorf Salad (with chicken)
Chicken, Nuts, Fruit
Notice a theme?  It is just easy to think, "Chicken for lunch, other meat for dinner."
Taco Salad (lettuce, homemade taco meat, tomatoes, guac)

Dinners:
Monday - Hamburger Soup (with ground turkey; omit grains, add more veggies), Salad
Tuesday - Homemade Salmon Burgers, Zucchini, Sweet Potatoes
Wednesday - Salsa Verde Pork, Salad, Carrots, and Guacamole (didn't get to this last week)
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Meatballs with Sauce (new experiment) Sweet Potatoes, Salad, Peas
Saturday - Leftovers, Green Beans
Easter Sunday - Chicken Dive-in!, Salad... Our Paleo challenge is "officially" over, so I wonder if I will make a dessert? :) ...Taking suggestions for chocolate and/or peanut butter recipes that don't involve beans or grains!  Perhaps something like these?

For anyone wondering:
I don't miss bread.  Or really many baked goods, for that matter.  I do occasionally miss chocolate, homemade popcorn, pizza, and ice cream.  Oh, and a bowl of crunchy granola for breakfast.  I couldn't do this without the support of my husband.  Yay for teamwork :)  We have yet to decide the eating plan after our 30 day challenge is over.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Menu Plan 4/11/11

Last week, I made the mayonnaise recipe found here.  The stick blender came in very handy.  By itself, the mayo tasted very olive oil-y, but it was great mixed with canned salmon and in a chicken salad with apples, raisins, and crispy almonds.  I will be using the recipe again.  Here is the plan for the coming week...


Breakfasts:
Eggs
Fruit (Bananas, Grapes, Oranges)
Milk

Lunches:
M-T - Chopped Chicken Salad
W-Th - Grilled Chicken Salad
F - Sa - Chicken Tortilla Soup (my own version)
Su - Leftovers

Dinners:
Monday - Tuna & Spinach Stuffed Tomatoes, Green Beans
Tuesday - Paleo Salisbury Steak, Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans
Wednesday - Paleo Lasagna with Zucchini and Spinach (my own creation), Salad
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Homemade Salmon Burgers, Peas, Baked Apples
Saturday - Salsa Verde Pork, Carrots and Guacamole, Salad
Sunday - Leftovers

Snacks:Apples & Almond Butter, Crispy Nuts and Raisins

Non-Paleo, but Grain-free Dessert for Bible Study:
Black Bean Brownies (I promised my husband I am not going to taste any... this is going to be torture!)

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Menu Plan 3/28/11

OK, here is my creative menu plan.  Or uncreative, depending how you see it.  It is a lot harder to come up with these grain, dairy, and legume free meals, but I am getting better... I am more excited about the menu this week.

Breakfasts:
Spinach Oven Omelet (no cheese or cooked milk)
Eggs (with nitrate-free bacon or sausage, bell peppers, and/or sun-dried tomatoes)
Paleo Pancakes
Fruit

Lunches and Dinners:
Monday - 
Chopped Chicken Salad
Beef Burgers, Green Beans

Tuesday - 
Salmon Burgers, Peas & Carrots
Pork Loin & Roasted Veggies

Wednesday -
Chopped Chicken Salad
Leftovers

Thursday - 
Taco Salad (use chimichanga filling minus the sour cream)

Friday - 
Turkeyburger Soup
Nitrate-free Hot Dogs & Sweet Potato Fries

Saturday - 
Meaty Sauce over Spaghetti Squash

Sunday - 
Meaty Sauce over Spaghetti Squash
Chicken & Vegetable Soup

Sides:
Real Milk
Pineapple
Cantaloupe
Strawberries
Oranges
Bananas
Carrots & Guacamole
Apples & Almond Butter
Fruit and Nut Snack Mix

Happy eating, everyone!

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Menu Plan 3/7/11

Last week, we enjoyed some orange juliuses for a fun snack one day.  It had been awhile since I'd had one of those.

Here's the meal plan for this coming week...

Breakfasts:
Baked Soaked Oatmeal
Granola with Blueberries and Milk
Eggs and Toast

Lunches:
PB&J Sandwiches
String Cheese
Crispy Almonds
Carrots and Ranch (double the spices)
Apples

Dinners:
Monday - Cheeseburger Macaroni, Broccoli
Tuesday - Waffles (new recipe experiment) with Syrup
Wednesday - Black Bean Burritos, Lime Rice, Fruit
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Tuna Cheesies, Sauteed Vegetables
Saturday - Leftovers
Sunday - Gourmet Garlic Chicken Pizza

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Menu Plan 2/28/11

Last week I went to Costco (not a big shopping) and Super-Target twice (diapers, clementines, peanut butter, hair products, etc.) so our monthly total is about $355.  That leaves enough money for our monthly grass-fed beef order, and some to put towards our coconut oil.  Not quite my goal (I wanted to have the full amount for our coconut oil) but not bad.  I ended up spending more on diapers than I had planned because I bought a $20 box at Target since they come out to about 13-14 cents a diaper that way.  It is a box of 144 so hopefully I can stretch that through April since we use cloth at home.  I think I will be doing some major food shopping early this week for the first half of March.

Breakfasts:
Baked Soaked Oatmeal
Cranberry Vanilla Muffins
Eggs & English Muffins

Lunches:
PB&J Sandwiches
String Cheese
Mini Sweet Peppers (in a bag from Costco, these are amazing)
Fruit

Dinners:
Monday - Leftovers
Tuesday - Chinese Chicken Salad (going to experiment on some msg-free dressing)
Wednesday - Cheese Tortellini Soup & Toasted Pesto Chicken Sandwiches on Ciabatta Bread
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Beef & Bean Soft Tacos, Creamy Crockpot Corn (have to make a batch of this anyways...)
Saturday - Leftovers
Sunday - Homemade Pizza (PW's crust)

It has really been helping me these past few weeks to be almost out of sugar and butter!  When I can't make baked goods, I can't eat them :)  I found a fruit and nut mix at Costco that we really like - kind of like Larabars, but not in a bar.  So that has been a good, crunchy snack.

Have a great week!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Tuesday Brain Dump

I am the meanest mom.  I just put all my daughter's toys on top of the fridge indefinitely.  Long story short - she was NOT a "big girl" today.

I made this gourmet garlic chicken pizza (a Papa Murphy's copycat recipe) on Sunday night because we had already eaten everything on the menu plan and I didn't want regular pizza.  Fortunately, I had the makings for ranch dressing (double the spices) as well as sundried tomatoes (subbed for fresh) in the fridge, and the cooked chicken, chopped green onion, and mozzarella were in the freezer.  It hit the spot.  I loved it and am already looking forward to making it again.  I used up all our jarred garlic on the potatoes last night, though, so I need to get some more.  I don't know if garlic powder would cut it.

I am trying not to make desserts that hang around the house.  Like right now, I have the munchies, but I am going to go get a glass of real milk instead... We'll see how well that goes.

I have not tried these, but this seems like an AWESOME price for new cloth diapers.  Amanda likes them.  I kind of wish I needed to order some more cloth diapers... makes me a little sad :(

I just realized that all these "paragraphs" start with "I".  Oh well, it is my brain dump session after all.  And I guess I didn't have as much to say as I thought... So... so long for now.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Menu Plan 2/14/11

Happy (almost) Valentine's Day :)

I made cinnamon rolls on Saturday for a Valentine treat since this Monday is a typical weekday schedule, no lazy morning.

No crazy rants this week (hopefully).

Breakfasts:
Eggs and Cinnamon Raisin Toast
Homemade Granola with Milk
Smoothies

Lunches:
Leftovers or PB&J Sandwiches
Carrots
Yogurt
Apples

Dinners:
Monday - Sliders, Oven Fries
Tuesday - Beef, Bean, & Brown Rice Burritoes
Wednesday - Spinach Stuffed Shells, Broccoli
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Nitrate-free Hot Dogs, Peas, Potatoes
Saturday - French Toast - I love this from when I was a kid and haven't made it in forever.
Sunday - Homemade Italian Sausage Pizza

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Menu Plan 1/31/11

Or lack of menu plan!!

I will very likely go shopping sometime this week, so I am not planning the meals, yet.

Instead, I am going to link to some things that have caught my eye, that I might like to try - in addition to the Chinese food that has been tempting me lately.  Yeah, I like the unhealthy fried kind, covered in sauce and probably loaded with MSG.  Here's a story.  I ate Chinese takeout the night before I had major bleeding due to a placenta tear and a potential miscarriage when I was pregnant with my girl (thank the Lord my doctor put me on bedrest and it healed).  My neighbor ate Chinese take-out from the same place the night before she went into preterm labor (and delivery!) with her girl....   Um, yeah.  I didn't eat Chinese food for the rest of either of my pregnancies.  And I will probably never go back to that restaurant.  And yet, one of my all-time favorite restaurants remains a Chinese restaurant - a very different and far-away Chinese restaurant... I don't even know if it still exists.  Anyways.  On to the links...

Recipes I Want to Try:
Lentil Soup (I have some lentils in the pantry.  I've used them once, and am still looking for a good recipe.)
Stir Fry (We like stir fry a lot, but I don't make it very often!)
Pasta Primavera
And since I was mentioning Chinese food, should mention that I want to concoct some homemade Wonton Soup.
And speaking of soups, PW's Chicken Tortilla Soup looks fabulous.
Pumpkin Spice Waffles (I want to give pumpkin waffles a second chance...)
Cottage Cheese Pancakes (I'm guessing they might be similar to sour cream pancakes?)
I'd also like to make Peppermint Pattie Coconut Bark, but I'm afraid I might eat it all!

I need to make a shopping list... Help!  What should I buy for us to eat this month?

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Menu Plan 1/24/11

Last week's menu invention:  Instead of pizza, I decided to make a calzone/pizza pocket sort of thing.  I was inspired by this idea of chicken and herb and garlic cheese spread baked in crescent rolls.  For the cheesy spread, I found a recipe for a tasty dill, feta, and cream cheese spread, and I happened to have everything it required (I used garlic powder in place of fresh garlic.)   I had pre-cooked chicken that I pulled from the freezer.  If I make it again, though, I will use crescent rolls instead of the pizza dough which I used.  Crescent rolls probably would have turned out better than the pizza dough because it was a little heavy, but altogether, the creation had good flavor and my husband agreed.  I supposed if you used crescent rolls, premade herb cream cheese spread, and canned (or just pre-cooked) chicken, this would be a pretty easy, quick dinner.

Breakfasts:
Cereal with Milk
Eggs and Toast
Smoothies
Cranberry Vanilla Muffins

Lunches:
Leftovers
Sandwiches
String Cheese
Crispy Almonds
Carrots
Oranges, Bananas

Dinners:
Monday - Shepherd's Pie
Tuesday - Chili & Cornbread (For Bible Study, taking Sundried Tomato & Brie Pasta with Chicken, Salad, and Divine Brownies)
Wednesday - Nitrate-free Hot Dogs, Oven Fries
Thursday - Burritoes, Corn
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Salmon Melts & Potato Soup
Sunday - Homemade Cheese Pizza

Still a little overwhelmed, but trying to pace myself, so feeling better... Have a great week!

Completely unrelated thought:  Isn't it time for another Will Smith movie at the theatre?  Wintertime is movie watching time for me (via netflix) and he hasn't had a new movie out in awhile...  Or is it just all about his kids now...?

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Menu Plan 12/27/10

I'm not making a structured plan this week, since it is my vacation week and we will spend some time with family.

do plan to make this appetizer for the first time for our New Year's Eve party.  I like bruschetta, and I like feta cheese, and this looks like a comination of the two.  Of course, I have to mess with it: I want to use my own Greek seasoning mix since the one from the store contains MSG.  I just have to find a homemade Greek seasoning mix recipe that looks suitable...

My husband gave me some Larabars.  Why haven't I tried these before?  And why didn't I invent them?!  Seriously, the ONLY things in them are fruit and nuts.  Finally, a packaged snack I can feel good about.

I also want to try this pasta recipe.  I am almost certain someone made it for me after my little girl was born.  I've always wanted to duplicate it, but never knew how.

Ok, we'll be eating whatever we can find around here this week, which is lots of random leftovers...  Major grocery shopping planned for the end of the week.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Menu Plan 12/20/10

Last week I spent some money at Walmart, Costco, and Whole Foods (for some de-licious pears), and on farm milk to bring the total on the grocery bill for the month up to $353 out of $400.

I am going to try to avoid the store as much as possible this week.  Maybe just one trip to Costco.

Here's what is on the menu for the coming week....

Breakfasts:
Baked Soaked Oatmeal
Cereal with Milk
Breakfast Casserole
Cranberry Muffins - might try a new recipe...
Bananas or Juice

Lunches:
Homemade Hummus and Pita Chips
PB&J Sandwiches
Leftovers
Carrots
Fruit

Dinners:
Monday - Three Cheese-Stuffed Shells with Meaty Tomato Sauce, Green Beans
Tuesday - Leftovers or Sherried Tomato Soup
Wednesday - Chimichangas, Corn (didn't get to it last week)
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Pizza (crust recipe)
Saturday - Chili* & Cornbread
Sunday - ??

*Not my all-time favorite chili recipe, but my favorite one that the kids can handle eating ;)

Some meals might get rearranged this week... we'll see how it goes.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Menu Plan 12/14/10

This past weekend I made two double batches of these Mom's Mint Christmas Brownies for my neighborhood cookie exchange.  They are the best when chilled!  (They contain very little flour, so I wonder if you could try to substitute a non-wheat flour, if needed...?)  PS - They also won the "Best All-Around Cookie" ribbon :)  Also made some of these Easy Shortbread Cookies for the church's children's program.  (These contain little sugar and no egg, so would be great for anyone with egg allergies.)

Breakfasts:
Feeling uninspired due to all the other baking going on...
Cereal with Milk
or maybe Baked Soaked Oatmeal with Milk
Oranges or Orange Juice

Lunches:
Homemade Hummus and Pita Chips
or PB&J Sandwiches
Carrots with Ranch
Cheese
Crispy Almonds
Pears, Bananas

Dinners:
Monday - Spaghetti Pie (doubled), Broccoli
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Beef Chimichangas, Sweet Corn
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Out to Eat
Saturday - Fish Sticks, Peas
Sunday - Chicken Pot Pie

Make for Parties:
Spinach Balls

Meal for Friend:
I am going in together on this with another friend who is providing the BBQ Brisket and Cheesy Potatoes.  I am making some easy Creamy Crockpot Corn and Swiss Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Take to church:
Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake, Sliced Oranges

Have a great week!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Menu Plan 10/11/10

Hello!  Better late than never with the menu plan...
We were gone for the weekend, so we are still enjoying a few things left from last week.
I went to Whole Foods today to get some apples.  I also thought I'd get some canned pumpkin to make these muffins.  They were out of the store brand, so I paid $1.69 for ONE can of Libby's pumpkin.  (More than twice what I would pay at Aldi.)  These mufins better be worth it.

Breakfasts:
Cereal or Granola with Milk
Easy Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
Eggs and Toast
Bananas
Orange Juice

Lunches:
PB&J Sandwiches
Carrots
Cheese
Apples

Dinners:
M - Chili and Cornbread
T - Soft Chili Tacos
W - Stuffed Shells, Salad
TH - Fried Rice
F - Vegetable-Beef Soup & Grilled Swiss Cheese Sandwiches
S - Leftovers

Make to take elsewhere: Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

Enjoy!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Menu Plan 10/4/10

I tried to change our dinners up a little bit this week because I was starting to feel a little bit like we were in a rut.  As for breakfast and lunch, that's okay.

Breakfasts:
Baked Soaked Oatmeal (modified)
Eggs and Toast
Orange Juice

Lunches:
PB&J Sandwiches
String Cheese
Carrots
Apples or Bananas

Dinners:
Monday - Ham & Swiss on Rolls (I'll try not to kill the yeast this time), Salad with Ranch (new to me recipe)
Tuesday - Fish, Broccoli, Potatoes
Wednesday - Calzones (a version of PW's Calzones), Salad
Thursday - Fried Rice
Friday - (Musings of a Housewife'sFriday Night Chili & Cornbread
Saturday - Soft Chili Tacos
Sunday - Leftovers

I made some easy treats for church today: Two Ingredient Pumpkin Cake and Swiss Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Since it is fall after all, if you need of some apple recipes, here is an easy-to-make-easy-to-eat one: No-Peel Apple Cake!

Coming soon: the stash of groceries from this past weekend.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Friday Update

Well, it is a massive stocking-up weekend for food.  I've done some shopping and hope to do some more tomorrow.  Then, I will hopefully give a run-down of what I got and where, with a picture.

This morning, I went to Target to get my daughter some cowgirl boots.  They weren't on sale, but they always run out of her size, so I decided to save myself the trouble and just get them, because she will be needing something to wear on her feet this winter.  I'd really like some real cowboy boots for myself, not because I am not the type of person who wears them at all times - I've acutally never worn them before, in spite of where I have lived - but because they are cute and stylish now, even if you don't live on a ranch.  (I don't live on a ranch.)  Ah, but I am saving up for something else.  The boots will have to wait.

I've decided this is what I will be adding to the menu for this weekend (since I had left it as ToBeDetermined):

Cheddar Cheese Soup with Zucchini, Broccoli, and Carrots & these No-Knead Dinner Rolls
Also making some Apple Banana Muffins for breakfast.
3 new recipes!

I was inspired by Katie last week and decided our pantry needed and minor overhaul... here's the before and after:


(Nothing very drastic, but it is better. You see multiple oats containers because I save them and store things like flour and granola and opened cereal in them.  The shelves go as follows: #1: breakfast and vitamins, #2: dry goods and sandwich stuff, #3: drinks - which is really odd to me because we usually drink water or milk, and coffee for my husband, but I guess we have a lot of leftover Kool-Aid, hot chocolate, tea, etc, because we don't drink them that much so therefore they take up a lot of room?  All I know is I don't need any hot cocoa mix for a long time!, #4 baking supplies, #5: any canned goods and other heavy stuff, like the tubs of coconut oil .)

I also reorganized my spice cabinet next to the stove.  I was on a roll and got all the kids winter clothes put in their closets, and pulled out the too-small stuff to give to friends.  Today, I am not as ambitious.

I'm trying to look ahead to Christmas.  Making mental checklist.  It seems we simplify the gift-giving a little more each year, even with the addition of our children to the family.  I think that it a good thing, because the preparing and shopping is more challenging with children, and we want to spend more time focusing on meaningful and fun things with them.  So, with a little less shoppng to think about, it all evens out.

I am not typically an overachiever in the sit-front-and-center-in-class-and-ask-questions-and-turn-your-assignment-in-early sort of way.  But, I like Christmastime.  And since it is THE busiest time at one of my jobs, I like to get a jump on shopping for gifts and get as much done ahead of time as possible.  So that is one goal for October: purchasing gifts and cards to mail later.

Ok, I hope you have a good weekend!

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Menu Plan 8/30/10

No more garbage!  (As far as eating junk, that is.)  As of now, I am on hiatus from baking treats.  I can only handle it if I am giving them ALL away.  Immediately.

The next two weeks are going to be HECTIC around our house.  But should be fun - for real!

Breakfast:
Baked Soaked Oatmeal - I can't remember if I have tried this recipe.  Looks nourishing.
Breakfast Cookies (also soaked) - These don't count as treats! :)  I figure they have no more sugar in them than granola.  And might be easier for my kids to eat on quick mornings.
Milk

Lunches:
Sandwiches or Peanut Butter on Multi-Grain Crackers
Cottage Cheese
Blueberries or Apples

Dinners:
Monday - Leftovers from Sunday's Oven Nachos
Tuesday - Salmon Melts, Green Beans
Wednesday - Leftovers
Thursday - Egg Salad Sandwiches
Friday - Dinner with family
Saturday - Grilling with family
Sunday - ??
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