Menu Monday

Its Monday again!  You know what that means...

So last week I didn't follow my plan that great!  Opps...  I did however eat items in the house so I didn't really spend too much extra money!  So some of these items are going to be a repeat from last week...  I am going to include recipes for some things that I thought I had linked last week and didn't...  OPPS!  That was brought to my attention later in the week by a friend!  Sorry!!!

Monday:  Lasguna

My mouth is watering thinking about this!  I had this on the menu last week but I accidentally bought tomato paste instead of tomato sauce so I couldn't make it...  That made me sad!  LOL!!!  Here is the recipe for it:

Hope you can read that!!!

Tuesday:  Easy Cheesy Chicken Enchilada

Campbell's Soup recipe!  Amazing!  If you haven't tried it you should!!!

Wednesday:  Mongolian Beef

I credit my love for Mongolian Beef to pregnancy with Chrissy!  I couldn't get enough "hot" food.  I am so sad because the restaurant I would get this at closed and I was left with no Mongolian beef...  Until I found this packet!  I will admit that it is not hot but it is super easy and very very yummy!  I am going to experiment this time with some chili sauce I found in the isle where I get the seasoning packet and see if I can spice it up a notch!  Oh I can not wait till Wednesday gets here! 

Thursday:  Italian Wine Chicken

This has been on the menu for weeks and kept getting pushed off.  I'm not sure why.  Lack of motivation I guess.  I am going to premake it on Wednesday so Thursday morning I only have to throw it in the crock pot and turn it on.  This way I will not have to think about it and there for will not push it off another week!

This was on a previous Menu Monday but in case you missed it here is the recipe:

4 Chicken Breasts

1/4 cup white wine

1 pkg of good seasons Italian salad dressing mix

Brown chicken.  Place in crock pot.  Sprinkle with salad dressing.  Add wine... 

Cover and cook on high for 6+ hours. 

I usually then serve it with noodles and pasta sauce.

Friday:  Movie Night

Saturday:  Chicken Squares

Jake's favorite food!  They are pretty awesome I will admit!

Here is the link to the recipe.  I was going to post my original but its quite torn and looks very "loved"...  LOL

Sunday:  Homemade Deep Dish Pizza



 This was pushed off from the previous week.  I didn't feel like cutting up all of the vegetables.  I know...  Slacker!  Well, I have it on the menu again this week and this week I'm actually feeling it...  So I can't wait to make it! 

Here is the recipe:

If this is too small to read click on it and it will make the picture bigger for you! 

So there you have my meal plan for the week!  I wonder how much my groceries will be this week because I am pretty low on EVERYTHING in the house! 

What are you having? 

Until tomorrow!





Menu Monday

Well, I'm back from the warm state of Arizona...  I already pre-planned my weekly meals so I won't have to think too hard this week for planning.  I actually have a lot of the ingredients too so I should make out well at the store!

So I know you want your mouth to water with all the yumminess I have planned:

Monday:
Frozen Pizzas  (I know I know this isn't fun, but since I just got home this morning I do not want to think about cooking tonight!)

Jake eats Home Run Inn Sausage and Pepperoni

I eat Gino's Deep Dish Cheese. 

Tuesday:

Crispy Cheddar Chicken

I've blogged this one on a previous Menu Monday!  It was amazing the last time we had it.  I wished that I had made more that time so I will definitely be making more this time!!!  If you haven't tried it yet you should!

Wednesday:
Juicy Hamburgers and Homemade Fries

This has been on a previous Menu Monday too!  We do eat hamburgers and fries often but I make them at home so they aren't fast food bad for you! 

Thursday:

Lasagna

This was on a Menu Monday a couple of weeks ago but I didn't have a picture and a recipe.  So I took a picture of it that time and here is the recipe.  Its more of a mock lasagna but it is from an old weight watchers book so it shouldn't be too bad for you!  I also made this Thursday's meal because I can premake it on Tuesday (my day off work) and Jake can just cook it so it is hot and ready to eat when I get home!

Friday:

Movie Night

Saturday:

Italian Chicken with Provolone Cheese and Smashed Potatoes

No picture.  I will have to take one when I cook it.  Super easy though.  Marinate chicken breasts in Zesty Italian Salad dressing, grilled, and when cooked through top with Provolone Cheese and let melt.  Smashed Potatoes were featured previously on a menu Monday!  Another recipe that if you have never tried you should!!

Sunday:

Homemade Deep Dish Pizza

This is a recipe from a dear friend and it is sooooooooo good!  Another old weight watchers recipe. 

What are you having this week for dinner?

Until Tomorrow!

52 Week Organization - Week 8

Week 8 of the 52 Week Organization is:

Week #8 Organized Home Challenge Healthy Meal Planning & Creating Grocery Shopping List

Meal Planning...  I used to never do it.  Then I tried it for a while and really liked it.  However, I never was good at sticking to it.  Ok back in the day I hardly ever stuck at my plan.  Last year I took it up again, only for about a month.  Once again I stopped.  I never really found my groove and it was too "hard".  Since discovering pinterest I have been bit by the organizing bug and the motivation to accomplish these things...  This is how I actually discovered this 52 week challange.  A friend started it and hooked me to it by her "pin". 

Now I plan weekly.  I have sheets that I found on pinterest that keep me organized.  This is what it looks like:

I found the form (through pinterest) at:
http://www.theprojectgirl.com/2009/01/19/menu-planning-form-free-download/

What I like about this form is that it has the meals on one side and a spot to write down the coresponding grocery list on the other. 

I used to put all my meals into a monthly calander.  I had no place to write grocery lists for the cooresponding meals/weeks.  This way combines them so nicely.  I have the list and the menu right there!  I have these made out for about 4 weeks.  Since I go grocery shopping on tuesdays (usually) I always try to make sure I buy what is on next weeks monday menu or have all the ingredients for it! 

 

Every week's menu has all the ingredients for every meal on it even if I have the items at the time I made the list.  My reasoning can be explained by an example...  This week I have Cheesy Chicken and Rice on my menu.  Back when I made this I added chicken, cream of chicken, cheddar cheese and rice to the list.  Upon reviewing my list for this weeks shopping trip I am able to cross of rice and cream of chicken soup for this recipe because I have these items in my pantry.  I didn't know 3 weeks ago when I made this if I'd have any of those items left, so, instead of forgetting an ingredient because I didn't write it down I am covered. 

 

This also helps me with my "budget".  I put budget in " " because I try to stay between $50 and $80 every week.  How do I do this you ask?  I usually put an approximate store price of the item next to it on the list.  This gives me an idea of how much I will be spending.  I usually am pretty good at guessing the price.  I always guess high.  I'd rather be happier that it was cheaper.  I also adjust this price while I'm shopping.  I try to not change it if it is on sale, I try to keep the orginal price next to it though.  Below is an example of a past week.  I shop directly off the list on the sheet.  No making another list, its not necessary.  This is why items are crossed off and there is scribble on it. 

 

I'm not sure if you can tell in the above picture but certain items are highlighted.  Those are items I have a coupon for.  That way I am aware that I have a potential for more savings.  I then can use my coupon ring at the store to its max!  After I am done shopping I attach the reciept for this week to the paper. 

You might think this is redunant because I have my guessed prices on the front, but it actually came in handy this week.  I looked up the exact price of an item that I wasn't sure what it is usually because I only buy it on sale! 

So there you have it.  Menu Planning.  Ease into it.  You might not want to start out with a whole 4 weeks in advance like I do.  (Or maybe you would!)  I would suggest, however, doing 2 weeks at a time.  You don't want to do great for 1 week and then not do it the following week because you don't feel like doing it.  It really is fun to know whats for dinner.  When your husband or kid(s) ask you what is for dinner you know!!  It is also fun for me to pull out my recipe binder while I'm making my menu and list.  It reminds me of things I haven't made in a while and it allows me to add a variety of items to our meals. 

This planning also ties into my menu board that I have on my refrigerator.  (If you didn't see it before you can find it here.)  I love being able to change this Sunday night to the next weeks menu.  Jake likes it too.  He knows what to expect.  No more of him saying I had a buffalo sandwich at lunch because I didn't know you were making buffalo wraps for dinner...  (this used to happen a lot!) 

So there you have it, Week 8!  Do you meal/menu plan and how do you do it? 

Can you believe this was the last of the kitchen organizing in the challange?  Weeks 1-8!  Can you believe we are 8 weeks into 2012?  I can't!  Where has the time gone?!?  If you have been doing this challenge how does it feel to have a clean organized kitchen.  I love it!  I get annoyed now when it gets messy!!

Anyways, they gave us a preview of where we will be heading to next:  

 The next big section of our homes and lives we'll be working on is all the paper that comes into our homes, and that we need to deal with, save, file, respond to, etc. Since this area of our homes also has lots of things to work on we'll break it down into manageable chunks and work on it for several weeks to get it all under control. Next week we'll work on organizing our addresses and contact information.

That will be a fun one, I think.  I know I have my phone, Jake's phone, and my written address book out when I write christmas cards or send invites.  I'm afraid I will forget somebody!  So hopefully the next challenge will kick my rear end into shape and get all these addresses together!

Until Tomorrow!

Menu Monday

This week's Menu is very sparse!  Why you might ask???  Well its because Chrissy and I are heading south to the warm state of Arizona on Friday!!!  I am so stoked.  It will be her first airplane trip.  I am sad Jake doesn't get to go and experience her first airplane trip though...  I guess there are always other firsts... 

So without further ado:

Monday:
Cheesy Chicken and Rice

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Campbells-Cheesy-Chicken-and-Rice-Casserole/

Super yummy and easy!  I haven't made this in a long time!!!

Tuesday:  Jake will be in Indianapolis for work so it will be just Chrissy and I...
Tomato soup and grilled cheese

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/tomato-soup-and-grilled-cheese-sandwich/detail.aspx

I kind of hope you wouldn't need a recipe for tomato soup and grilled cheese, but JUST IN CASE...  LOL!!!  Comfort food at its best! 

Wednesday:
Spaghetti

http://www.mccormick.com/Recipes/Gravy-Sauce-Condiment/Italian-Style-Spaghetti-Sauce.aspx

I usually make my sauce with the McCormick Spaghetti packets and tomato paste.  It tastes better to me than Ragu or another brand of canned sauce.  That's how my momma made it so what I grew up on!  I always brown up some hamburger to add to the sauce.  Once again, that's how momma made it! 

Thursday:
Chicken Chili

I don't have a picture...  :(

It is a recipe I got from a friend though!  Super easy!  Here it is:

1 Can Swanson Chicken in Can (the bigger one, if its not the big can just use 2 smaller ones)
1 Can Great Northern Beans
2 Cups Swanson Chicken Broth
1 Jar Salsa (I use medium or hot and I always use picante because I don't like big chunks in my salsa)
Pepper Jack Cheese & Cheddar Cheese (I can't say how much because I really like mine cheesy)

Heat all ingredients until cheese melts!  HEAVEN IN A BOWL!!! 

Friday - Sunday:

ARIZONA!! Traveling to warmer climates!  Can't wait!

Have a wonderful week!!! 

Until Tomorrow!

Menu Monday

Monday has returned...  So without further ado my menu for the week:

Monday:
Bacon Ranch Slowcooker Chicken

This is a new recipe for me.  Hopefully it will be as good as it looks!!!  I found it on pinterest.  Here is a link for the recipe:  http://healthifiedkitchen.blogspot.com/2010/08/bacon-ranch-slowcooker-chicken.html

Tuesday:  Valentine's Day
Fillet & Smashed Potatoes

OK, I know that isn't a fillet in the picture but this is the only picture I had...  You get the idea!!!  I'm hoping to have a little candle lit dinner with Jakey and eat this yummy dinner.  The potatoes are from pinterest and we've made them before!  They are amazing!!!  Here is a link for the recipe:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/06/crash-hot-potatoes/

What are you cooking for your valentine?

Wednesday:
Italian Wine Slowcooker Chicken

This isn't actually the meal.  Its close to what it looks like.  I usually add some pasta sauce over it and make it into a mock chicken Parmesan!  It is also a recipe I got from a friend so I have no link to it...  Its super easy though!!

• Dry Italian dressing packet
• 1 small bottle of white wine
• 2-3 chicken breasts
• crockpot on low for 8 hours

That is it!  I serve over noodles.  Super moist and yummy!!

Thursday:

Lasagna



Sorry no picture!  I'll have to take one when I make it this time.  It is one of my recipes that I got from a friend.  It is not so much of a standard lasguna though.  I'd call it a mock lasguna or quick lasagna!  Super yummy though!  I will preassemble this wednesday so all Jake has to do is put it in the oven on thrusday so I can come home to a yummy hot dinner after dance classes!

Friday:

MOVIE NIGHT!!! 

Saturday:

Hamburger and Fries

 The hamburgers are just my premade hamburger patties from the half of a cow we buy from our cousins in July.  We usually top them with sharp chedder!  Yummy!  Then the fries are the homemade ones from last week.  (Well, fresh, just the recipe!)

Sunday:

Sirloin Tip Roast

So I think I might make this Sunday.  I never made it this way but this picture is making my mouth water.  It looks like it might take some time so Sundays are good days to do this...  I found this recipe on pinterest.  Here is the link:
http://www.foodpeoplewant.com/roast-beef/


So this is what we are eating this week!  What are you having? 

Until Tomorrow!  (Special quick Valentine's DIY present to make for the one you love!)

Menu Monday

Its Monday again.  Wasn't it just Friday?  Anyways, I am going to post my weekly menu for you.  Last week we did ok sticking to the menu.  Only strayed 1 day because Jake had a craving for Bruno's Pizza.  I let him have it...  So that just made this weeks menu change slightly, but you wouldn't know that...  So without further ado... 

Monday: 

Juicy Hamburgers & Cheese Fries

(These are Weight Watchers recipes for all my Weight Watchers people!)

Tuesday:

Chicken Parmesan Skillet Pot Pie

Wednesday:

Easy Chicken & Cheese Enchiladas

Thursday:

Buffalo Chicken Ranch Wraps
My own recipe.  Pretty easy though!  Tortillas, Lettuce, Chicken Nuggets, Buffalo Wild Wings Medium Sauce, Ranch Dressing, and Chedder Cheese.  That's it!

Friday & Saturday:

Jake and I are going to Chicago!  This was a trip I got for my birthday!  We are going to see the play American Idiot!  I'm so excited!  So here is a sneek peek of what we will possibly be eating there!  YUMMY!

Sunday:  (Back to reality...)

Chicken Squares  (Jake's favorite food!)
My Recipe.   I think this link should give you the recipe.  Let me know if it doesn't!



Hope everyone enjoys these recipes!  I know I'm hungry already thinking about them!  Tomorrow I go to the store.  Hoping to stay between $50-$70!  We shall see!  Hopefully since I have 2 days I won't be cooking I'll be able to!

Until Tomorrow!