Tag Archives: menu

On The Menu…

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Good afternoon! Monday already, is it? Wow, we had a busy weekend. I’m not even sure where we were or what we did, but it definitely sped by. I’m feeling kind of disorganized today. We’re trying to get back into a good grocery shopping rhythm and I am just finally making my list and menu plan now before I head out later this afternoon.

List making. Menu planning.

I’ve got a few new recipes to try this week. Naturally I found them on Pinterest! Actually, I had the cod dish at my parents’ (my mom got it off of my sister-in-law’s Pinterest… ha!) and it was so amazingly good that I just have to make it again.

Here’s what I plan on cooking:

I also think I’ll be making some banana bread because I’m tired of looking at the bananas in my freezer. As for soup… roasted butternut squash soup in definitely in my plan, but I’m not sure that will make it until Friday. Maybe I’ll do a tortellini soup with spinach. I’ll see what we get from the farm share this week before I make a decision. I also think I have to make another dish of peach dump cake. I am so addicted!

For more menu ideas, visit Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday feature.

Menu Plan Monday

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It’s the first full week of school here (the boys went back last Thursday), and the temperatures are making cooking an absolutely pleasure! It’s cool and fall-like and I love it. I also love the return to a clear-cut routine, so hopefully my weekly meal plans will again be posted regularly. So let’s start with this week’s, shall we?

  • Monday: Chili & garden salad
  • Tuesday: Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, CSA veggies, salad
  • Wednesday: Meatballs, steamed broccoli, salad
  • Thursday: Leftovers
  • Friday: Pizza burgers, CSA veggies, salad
  • Saturday: Grilled steak, baked potatoes, salad

For more menu ideas, visit Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday feature.

Menu Plan Monday, Lazy Summer Days

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Oh, I cannot begin to tell you how glad I am to be done with summer camps. The boys had a blast and I’m so glad I got to volunteer (unplanned) at Cub Scout Day Camp, but those long days in the sun really wear you out. We have a pretty low-key week ahead, thank goodness! I’m heading out to dinner with a girlfriend on Wednesday night, and Saturday will be something easy because I’m going to see one of my Top 5 Favorite Authors read at a local bookstore. (So super excited about this!!!)

I also hope to stop neglecting my blog. I have to get up last week’s CSA post, still! Anyway, I’m enjoying the lack of having to be somewhere, and soon I need to get organized for the boys’ birthdays and then finally it will be back to school. Seems like a way’s away, but Labor Day will be here soon enough! August always seems to fly.

Enough of a tangent. Here’s what I’m thinking about cooking this week:

  • Sunday: Baked chicken with BBQ sauce, green beans, baked potatoes
  • Monday: Sausage & peppers, salad
  • Tuesday: Take-out
  • Wednesday: Chicken tenders or something easy (I get to eat out!)
  • Thursday: Chicken-tomatillo soup (slow cooker), salad or quesadilla
  • Friday: Burgers, salad
  • Saturday: ???

For more menu ideas, visit Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday feature.

Meal Plan Monday: Busy, Busy, Busy

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Happy Monday, everybody! I know I’m in the minority, but I really do enjoy Mondays. A brand-new week, things to look forward to… For us it’s the last week of school with full days, so basically the last “real” week. (Also, the last week of making lunches – yeah! I’m just letting the boys buy lunch next Monday and Tuesday.) We have a lot going on this week: field day for Jake, pediatrician and dentist appointments, a school event, and a Cub Scout Bridging Picnic. Whew!

After Laura’s well-visit tomorrow, I’m hoping to find the time to scoot down to Hobby Lobby to get some sewing supplies and also see what they have for drawer knobs. I’m missing a small knob on my jewelry armoire, so I think I’ll have to replace at least two if not all four. I have no idea where it rolled off to, but after months of searching, I finally give up.

Here’s what I’m planning for this week’s dinners!

  • Monday: Leftovers
  • Tuesday: Tacos/taco salads
  • Wednesday: Philly Cheesesteak stuffed peppers, salad
  • Thursday: Roast chicken thighs, baked sweet potatoes, broccoli
  • Friday: Lemon-butter shrimp over wilted spinach, baked potato, salad
  • Saturday: No cooking

For more menu ideas, visit Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday feature.

Menu Plan Monday

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OK, so last Friday I was gung-ho for this whole Whole30 thing. But as I thought about it, I began to wonder if I was setting myself up for failure.  I really think it’s an excellent program, but I know myself and if I slip up, I’m going to end up just blowing off the whole thing. The rules are very strict, and I don’t see myself reading every single label of every single condiment in my fridge. The I remembered a saying: “Do the best you can, where you are, with what you have.” That resonated with me and I decided to make a few tweaks to the Whole30 program to make it work for me.

So, for the next 30 days: No grains. No alcohol. No sugary treats. But if my ketchup or taco sauce has a bit of added sugar I’m okay with that. But if I’m OK with it, than it’s not what Whole30 sets out to be. So I’m calling it a “June Reboot.” Overall, we eat very healthy diets. I’ve just allowed myself to get lax with the bread, tortilla chips, and chocolate. My goal isn’t really weight loss because I’m happy where I am (though I wouldn’t say no to a few more digits knocked off the scale!). I will be eating tons of vegetables and protein, fruit, minimal dairy, and peanuts or beans if I really feel like it. I don’t eat a lot of those anyway. I’m going to try to stay as “Whole30”-ish as possible.

So, with all that out, go ahead and point and say “I told ya so.” I already got the “Well you gave up on that pretty quick” from Drew. Well, I’m just being honest with myself, LOL. Here’s my meal plan for the week:

  • Monday: Roast chicken drumsticks, roasted sweet potatoes, broccoli, salad
  • Tuesday: Meaty chili (no beans), salad
  • Wednesday: Sausage & peppers, CSA veggies, salad
  • Thursday: Baja cod with spicy slaw, roasted sweet potato spears
  • Friday: Grilled steak, sauteed CSA veggies, salad
  • Saturday: Pepper burgers topped with sauteed mushrooms and onions, broccoli, salad

For more menu ideas, visit Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday feature.

Menu Plan Monday

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How is it possible that tomorrow is the first day of May? This month really flew by. I think I need to start thinking about anniversary gifts. In a month, D & I will celebrate our 11th anniversary! So much has changed with wedding planning since then, hasn’t it? Back then, titanium wedding bands were a new thing, but now I read about them all the time. And let’s not even begin to get into photography and decorations. All you have to do is browse Pinterest. I’m actually glad I’m not planning a wedding now. Thing were much simpler back then!

Speaking of planning, time to plan out this week’s menu!

  • Sunday: Out to dinner
  • Monday: Chicken cordon blue, cous-cous, steamed broccoli
  • Tuesday: Running errands – grab something out
  • Wednesday: Crock Pot BBQ spare ribs, cole slaw, steamed veggies
  • Thursday: Grilled chicken, roasted cauliflower, salad
  • Friday: Burgers (buns optional), sweet potato fries, salad
  • Saturday: Southwestern wonton “cupcakes” (new recipe I’m working on)

For more menu ideas, visit Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday feature.

menu plan monday – spring break!

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OK, I’ll be perfectly honest. There’s not a whole lot of meal planning going on this week. I threw down some ideas, but will they stick? I don’t know. The kids are on spring break this week and D. took several days off, so we’re mostly flying by the seat of our pants.

Plus, it’s Easter weekend, so there will be a few family dinners where I am not cooking. (Which reminds me I need to finish gathering stuff for Easter baskets and make a few Easter cards. I can’t forget to sign them – imagine getting contactless cards and having no idea who they’re from!)

BUT since it never hurts to have a plan…

  • Sunday: Chili
  • Monday: Salad or sandwiches because I’m going out with a friend (though I did make a real lunch – Greek chicken with olives and zucchini, with salad on the side)
  • Tuesday: Roast chicken, broccoli, sweet potato spears
  • Wednesday: Burgers, corn on the cob, broccoli, cole slaw
  • Thursday: Thai chicken curry with vegetables, jasmine rice
  • Friday: Dinner with family
  • Saturday: Dinner with family

For more menu ideas, visit Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday feature.

menu plan monday

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Last week it was 80, but this week temperatures are more reasonable for this time of year, thankfully! I get nervous when it’s too warm when it should be cold. I mean, my roses should not be budding at the same time as my daffodils – that’s just weird! Anyway… I can make some cozier dinners to use up things in my freezer this week.

The kids have no school on Friday (a “give back” snow day since they only used up one this year), so as a treat, I plan on making these Jell-O pinwheels with them. I also plan to bake some more coconut flour pumpkin muffins. I made these a few weeks ago and they were ridiculously good. This time I’ll write down exactly what I do so that I can share the recipe! I love using coconut flour because it is so dense and filling. One coconut flour muffin goes much farther than one made from AP or even WW flour. (At least I think so.)

But I digress. Here’s my meal plan for the week.

  • Sunday: Stuffed Chicken Parmesan, Cesar salad
  • Monday: Leftovers
  • Tuesday: Crock Pot roast beef with horseradish sauce, zucchini au gratin (based on this recipe, which was delicious, but the mini muffins are way too fussy for me), baby carrots, salad
  • Wednesday: Possibly take-out
  • Thursday: Crock Pot gyros (pitas optional) with romaine, tomato, onion, olive, feta, and tzatziki
  • Friday: Fish tacos, black beans
  • Saturday: Roasted chicken drumsticks, roasted sweet potato spears, creamed spinach*, salad

* Before I go, let’s talk about spinach. Specifically creamed spinach. This is a dish that never, ever, ever appealed to me until very recently. Chalk it up to changing tastes, I don’t know. Last week I grilled steak and thought creamed spinach would be perfect with it. So I cooked down a bag of fresh spinach, gave it a few pulses it in my food processor to break it up, and then added a hunk of butter, a couple spoonfuls of sour cream, a pinch of nutmeg, some parmesan cheese, and a little swiss. I let it all cook down so the flavors could meld together. It’s not rocket science, so I don’t have a specific recipe. Just a little of this, and a little of that.

All three kids loved and I mean loved it. They were dipping steak fries in it, asking for more. It was crazy! So now we’re on this spinach kick. With our CSA starting in a couple months, I’m relieved that this year I won’t have to eat all those greens by myself! I also made this Indian spiced creamed spinach for Drew and myself the other day. It was also really tasty (though I had to seriously cut down on they cayenne — woo, hot!)

For more menu ideas, visit Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday feature.

menu plan monday, feels like spring edition

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Well it seems that spring is impatient and is sneaking her way into the northeast early this year! Of course I’m no fool – I doubt we’ll enjoy these warm temperatures for long. There’s bound to be another bout of chilly air, but for now I am so happy to sit on my deck with an iced coffee while watching my daffodils peek up through the ground! Having a meal plan means that I can have a little extra free time to do that because I’m not running around to the stores trying to pick up dinner at the last minute. Here’s my plan for this week.

  • Sunday: Leftovers
  • Monday: Roast chicken, cole slaw, green beans, spaghetti squash gratin
  • Tuesday: Beef curry over jasmine rice, cucumber and onion salad
  • Wednesday: Kielbasa, spinach, and white bean soup; green salad
  • Thursday: Turkey burgers (sans buns), black bean salad, baked sweet potato spears
  • Friday: Fish tacos or grilled cheese (for picky kids)
  • Saturday: Corned beef, cabbage, carrots

For more menu ideas, visit Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday feature.

menu plan monday, 2.20.12

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Well, after several days of decadent eating last week on our vacation at Woodloch Pines, we are back to the usual menus here! I admit that I overindulged on breads and desserts. (By most people’s standards I probably didn’t do so bad, but for me it was a lot). Nevertheless, I savored every bite and don’t regret a spoonful 🙂

Lent begins this week, and that gives me an incentive to work more fish dishes into our meal plan. We ate quite a bit of fish on vacation, so that was a great way to get inspired! Of course, I only post my dinner plans and I realize there’s not much fish here this week, but I’ll be making it for lunch. I might try stuffing tuna fish into cucumber cups for a quick bite, or a quick marinated shrimp salad.

Here’s what I’m planning for this week:

  • Sunday: chicken fajitas, fruit salad
  • Monday: pesto chicken, riced cauliflower, green salad
  • Tuesday: mushroom-swiss burgers (buns optional), tomato basil soup, green salad
  • Wednesday:  onion soup, hard-boiled eggs, green salad
  • Thursday: cube steaks with mustard gravy, mixed vegetables, green salad
  • Friday: salt & vinegar baked cod, steamed broccoli, cole slaw
  • Saturday: Blue & Gold Banquet for Cub Scouts ~ no cooking!

For more menu ideas, visit Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday feature.