Menu Plan Monday 10/31/11

Our meals are in need of an overhaul! We have not been eating very well here lately. We have been so busy so I've just been sloppy! It's got to stop! So, it's time for me to be more mindful about what I am putting on the table (and in my mouth)! I've been feeling really sluggish and I know it's partly because of poor food choices! Here is our healthy menu for the week:

Veggie Soup and Corn Bread (at my mom's)

Stir Fried Rice w/ Chicken and Veggies

Spinach Chicken Pasta

Tuna Sandwiches and Spinach Salad

Meatloaf, Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans

I'm definitely upping our intake of veggies this week and planning on lots of salads for lunch! It is amazing how much diet effects us! I'm also going to be making some whole wheat quick breads... I just haven't decided what kind. I'm seriously thinking of a sugar detox... I'm just not brave enough to do it alone. Anyone want to join me?

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Menu Plan Monday 10/24

Monday... WHAT? It's already Monday!? Last week was our fall break, so hubby took off! It was full of a lot of fun things... my sister came home, my hubby and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary, we had lots of family dinners, Luke had his last 'official' soccer game, we visited the pumpkin patch, sis and I went to the Kari Jobe concert, we celebrated my 30th birthday and the Hub's grandparents 60th wedding anniversary! We were busy but it was great! Tomorrow the Hubs goes back to work and we start back school! It will be nice to get back into a routine though. Tonight I could really tell the kids were just worn out! And I am too!

So, what are we eating this week?

Bean and Cheese Quesadillas, Steamed Veggies

Chicken Pot Pie

Vegetable Soup and Corn Bread

Lasagna and Salad (dinner with family)

This week I'm only planning 4 meals because I think we may have something planned one night (kind of up in the air right now...). If not a good grilled cheese never hurt anyone! ;)

This weekend is Alabama's open week so we're having a big meal with some family and friends! I use this recipe for my lasagna. It's a little bit of work but it's really good stuff! Totally worth it for special occasions! I usually make this when I'm taking dinner to someone (add salad and bread) and it always get compliments! I love a good recipe!

I'm planning on doing some pumpkin bread this week too! Have a great week!

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Menu Plan Monday 10/24

Monday... WHAT? It's already Monday!? Last week was our fall break, so hubby took off! It was full of a lot of fun things... my sister came home, my hubby and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary, we had lots of family dinners, Luke had his last 'official' soccer game, we visited the pumpkin patch, sis and I went to the Kari Jobe concert, we celebrated my 30th birthday and the Hub's grandparents 60th wedding anniversary! We were busy but it was great! Tomorrow the Hubs goes back to work and we start back school! It will be nice to get back into a routine though. Tonight I could really tell the kids were just worn out! And I am too!

So, what are we eating this week?

Bean and Cheese Quesadillas, Steamed Veggies

Chicken Pot Pie

Vegetable Soup and Corn Bread

Lasagna and Salad (dinner with family)

This week I'm only planning 4 meals because I think we may have something planned one night (kind of up in the air right now...). If not a good grilled cheese never hurt anyone! ;)

This weekend is Alabama's open week so we're having a big meals with some family and friends! I use this recipe. It's a little bit of work but it's really good stuff! Totally worth it for special occasions! I usually make this when I'm taking dinner to someone (add salad and bread) and it always get compliments! I love a good recipe!

I'm planning on doing some pumpkin bread this week too! Have a great week!

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Menu Plan Monday 10/3/11

Better late than never, right? Here is our (rather boring) menu this wonderful fall week:

Sloppy Joes, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes

Best Whole Chicken In A Crock Pot (I'll let you know if it is!), Peas, Whole Wheat Sweet Potato Biscuits (a recipe I'm working on!)

Toasted Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, Carrots and Ranch Dip

Spaghetti Bake, Salad

That's it! We had dinner with my mom tonight so these four dinners will last us until next week. If by chance it doesn't, I've got veggie soup in the freezer! :)

I bought a few cans of pumpkin to have on hand and I'm thinking about making these this week... Pumpkin and Cream Cheese Muffins... yum!

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Menu Plan Monday 9/26/11

We're eating out of the pantry, fridge and freezer this week! So, I've been going over what we have to come up with our meal plan! Here it is!

Chicken and Dumplin's, Peas (I've got several kind in the freezer), Corn Bread

Beef Soft Tacos, Corn

Cabbage and Navy Bean Soup, Leftover Corn Bread

Crockpot BBQ Chicken, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, Cheddar and Herb Biscuits (made with ww flour)

Chili & Fixins

I'm going to be doing a little baking too: Pumpkin Bread & Loaded Oatmeal Cookies (though now I make them with all whole wheat flour and only sucanat in place of the sugar)!

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Menu Plan Monday 8/19/11

Busy week means a late and rushed menu! Oh well! I hope you have a great week!

Beef Curry (I've never had curry.. but we're going to try it this week!), Sweet Potato Biscuits

Tomato Bacon and Egg Strata (recipe from the book I'm reviewing), Fruit

Cheesy Baked Stuffed Chicken Breasts, Easy Garlic Broccoli, Brown Rice (didn't get to this last week)

Beef Stew, Leftover Biscuits

Spaghetti, Salad

Other meals: leftovers, sandwiches, ect

I'm also planning on making some zucchini muffins! Tried anything new lately?

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Menu Plan Monday 9/12/11

Last week was a busy week! No blogging time! Hopefully this week will be a little more relaxed. And I'm hoping to have a few posts up this week (including a book review!). Here is what we're eating this week:

Chicken Fried Steak Strips, Green Beans, Sauteed Squash & Onions

Cabbage Tomato Soup, Divine Breadsticks

Cheesy Basil Stuffed Chicken Breast (new recipe that sounds so yummy!), Easy Garlic Broccoli, Brown Rice

Homemade Pizza

Hot Ham and Swiss Sandwiches, Veggies and Ranch Dip

Last week I came up with a new muffin recipe (you're shocked, I know). They were really yummy. Hopefully I can share it this week, too. The ingredients included: bananas, peanut butter and chocolate chips!

I found a super good sale on Bob's Red Mill Organic Pancake Mix and picked up a package. I'm planning on trying the mix this week so we'll have pancakes & fruit for breakfast a few days. I love my favorite from scratch recipe but it will be nice for breakfast to have a mix. Other days will be cereal. :)

Lunch is totally boring around here... PB&J's or leftovers. :)

Homemade Snacks/Treats*:

Crunchy Granola Bars (we crush them up and make granola bites, which btw is yummy on yogurt or in milk as a cereal!)

And these healthier Peanut Butter Brownie Cups

*I do buy snacks as well... Kashi Fruit bars are a favorite around here... As well as Annie's snacks. I buy a few boxes when Target has them on sale to keep for quick snacks. And we usually have some kind of cracker, right now we have some Cheez Its and some Kashi Pita Crackers. And of course cheese, yogurt and fruit! I'm the mean mommy who makes their kid eat fruit or yogurt when I hear "I'm HUNGRY!!".. then if they're still hungry, they get something else.

Have a great week!

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Menu Plan Monday 8/29/11

Happy Birthday to Eli!! (that post is coming soon... hopefully today on his actaual birthday.. but it IS 10:15 pm...)

Yes, I'm late with my menu. It's been a crazy weekend with the birthday party and all. I am so behind on EVERYTHING. Oh, when will I catch up. It really is depressing. So, let's not think about all that I have to do. Let's think about what we're going to eat this week!

Here are our simple suppers!

Hot Dogs, Tater Tots and Fruit (you know me.. this is not a typical dinner but it was Eli's choice tonight!)

Sloppy Joes, Easy Potatoes and Onions with Dill, Sauteed Squash (I've got some pretty and 'different' squash from my csa box that I'm excited to use! Round zucchini and a type yellow squash called zephyr that is two toned)

Easy Chicken Noodle Stir Fry (using this recipe to go by)

Sour Cream Waffles, Scrambled Eggs, Fruit (didn't get to this meal last week)

Nachos (made with beef instead of chicken)

Other nights: Leftovers/Sandwiches

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Menu Plan Monday 8/22/11

**Edited to remove one of the meals since we're celebrating a certain little boy's 3rd birthday this weekend! My mom and I are getting together tonight to plan the menu. Probably sandwiches and finger foods!

Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Carrots and Ranch Dip (the only meal we didn't get to last week, boiling the chicken today... which means homemade broth!)

Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

Baked Penne with Spinach and Sausage, Salad

Sour Cream Waffles, Scrambled Eggs, Fruit

Others- sandwiches/leftovers... and sometimes the boys and I eat with my parents when the Hubs has school! :)

I'm also going to make a batch of crunchy chocolate chip granola bars (except we make them into bites for snacking)! We're out of muffins too and according to my children that is just not acceptable. I'm really, really ready for fall so I think I might make pumpkin muffins! :)

Have a great week!

P.S. I have a book review coming soon! I'm really excited about it and I can't wait to share more! It's all about food and family! Two of my favorite things! :)

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Menu Plan Monday 8/15/11

Doesn't this look yummy?

This is the breakfast that I have after we have Easy Potatoes and Onions with Dill the night before. It's so good the next day with scrambled eggs! Sometimes I scramble my eggs with the potatoes but today I did them separate. So good!

We've got a busy week so I've got a few easy meals! I am trying a few new recipes this week too! Fun!

Hot Dogs (these nitrate and nitrite free ones) on the 'gill' as Eli says, Green Beans, Potatoes & Onions with Dill

Grilled Pineapple Chicken w/ Pineapple Salsa, Green Peas and Corn

Taco Salads, Cheesy Rice

Chicken Salad, Carrots and Ranch Dip

French Dip Sandwiches (Crock Pot), Creamy Pasta Salad with Celery

Others: Leftovers/Sandwiches

Check out orgjunkie for hundreds of menu plans and recipes! Later this week I'm sharing my recipe for Taco Soup!

Who's ready for fall!!?? ME!! Fall is my favorite... Alabama football, cooler weather, chili and soup, our 7th anniversary and I turn the big 3-0!

Have a great week!

Menu Plan Monday 8-8-11

A few meals didn't go as planned last week, so there are some repeats!

Favorite Pancakes, Eggs, Fruit

Chicken Soft Tacos, Cheesy Peas and Rice

Mini Meat Loafs, Black Eye Peas, Easy Potatoes and Onions with Dill

Taco Soup, Corn Bread

Homemade Pizza

Others: Leftovers, Sandwiches

Also on my cooking 'to-do' list is:

chocolate banana muffins
loaded oatmeal cookies (with some healthier modifications)

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Menu Plan Monday 8/1/11

I have lots of yummy things from my Dad's garden... squash, eggplant, cucumbers, tomatoes! Yum! Here is our menu for the week:

Eggplant Parmesan, Salad

Sloppy Joes, Squash, Cucumbers/Carrots with Dip

Chicken Tacos, Cheesy Rice and Peas

Homemade Pizza

Favorite Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, Fruit

Other: Leftovers, Sandwiches

A friend gave my dad some apples so I'm also going to be making some more apple pies! This time I'm going to mash the apple filling! I think the boys will like them more!

What's on your menu?

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Menu Plan Monday 7/25/11

Cheeseburger Soup, Corn Bread

Spaghetti with Yellow Squash, Garlic Broccoli

Cheesy Sausage Pizza, Cucumbers and Carrots with Ranch Dip (trying this crust)

Biscuits & Gravy, Scrambled Eggs, Cantaloupe (this biscuit recipe is one of the best whole wheat biscuit recipes I've ever tried! Since we're having it as a breakfasty meal, I'll just leave out the cheese!)

Bean and Cheese Burritos, Peas & Brown Rice

Other: Leftovers, sandwiches :)


These are our meals for the week! Soup is typically not a summertime meal but I have been craving soup, particularly potato! This soup is like a cheesy potato soup but with the addition of beef! Also, the boys will not eat bean and cheese burritoes so I will probably cook a little chicken for them and shred it! My hubby loves frozen bean burritos but I haven't bought them in a while because of all of the 'extra' ingredients. I'm hoping to try and freeze some so he will have quick snack to pull out of the freezer!

Linking to Orgjunkie.com ! Check it out for more menu and recipe ideas!

Menu Plan Monday 7/18/11

We had some unexpected events come up this past week so some of my menu got thrown up in the air. That's how life works though, right!? I've got a decent stocked freezer and that's good because our budget is tight this week!

Salmon Patties, Green Beans, Corn on the Cobb, Whole Wheat Buttermilk Cheese Biscuits

Crock Pot Chicken and Broccoli, Brown Rice (one of the meals we didn't get to last week!)

Chicken, Potatoes and Eggplant/Squash (all on the grill and this will be my first time grilling egg plant! My daddy's is just now coming in! Yum!)

Favorite Pancakes, Bacon, Cantaloupe


Mexican Tortilla Pie



Others: Sandwiches, Leftovers, ETC



I find that when I plan and buy food for 7 meals, we never eat it all. So I usually plan 5 meals and we mostly get to them! :)

Today I'm making mini apple pies with the apples I picked from my dad's trees yesterday! Hopefully I can share the recipe!

What are you eating this week?

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Menu Plan 7/11/11

I have been slacking on menus because I felt they were all super boring, same old dinners over and over!! We have family favorites (which means the kids will actually eat them), so I cook them often! I've been searching for some quick(er) summer meals and even crock pot meals, so hopefully I'll get out of this rut! I've got two new recipes on the menu this week and hopefully I'll get to them!

Cheesy Black Bean Burgers, Potato Salad, Green Peas

BBQ Grilled Chicken, Potatoes and Squash Patties

Chicken Nachos, Corn on the Cobb (is that a weird combo or what? My kids like it though!)

Lasagna (using a recipe my mom uses and is so yummy!), Salad, Bread Sticks (friends coming over for dinner)

Crock Pot Chicken and Broccoli, Brown Rice

Other: Sandwiches, Leftovers!

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Menu Plan 6/13/11

I *almost* got back on track with my budget this week. I spent $110. My goal is 80-100. (note- that includes paper towels, toilet paper, and diapers!). I only used one coupon too! And $25 of that is produce from local CSA organic produce (kale, lettuces, onions, radishes, blueberries). I don't have time to break it all down but I'd like to start back doing that in the future. I was doing MUCH better on our grocery budget when I did! Here is what is on our menu:

Crockpot Apricot Chicken, Brown Rice, Steamed Broccoli

Tuna Sandwiches, Salad or Carrots with Ranch Dip

Favorite Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs with Homemade Turkey Sausage, Fruit

Beef Nachos w/ Black Beans and Corn, Side Salad

Last night we FINALLY ate the Apricot Herb Glazed Salmon. It was really good but the Hubs and I both agreed that we needed extra sauce to pour over everything! So, next time (um, hoping I can find wild caught salmon on sale!) I'll make double the sauce and save half for after they are finished. The boys and I are eating dinner one night with my mom while the Hubs is at class! And I haven't figured out what we're doing for Father's Day dinner yet! I've got kale coming from the CSA so I'll probably make Kale and Onion Breakfast Casserole FD morning since the Hubs enjoyed it so much. We'll probably be grilling something out!

Have a great week!

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Menu Plan Monday, 6/6/11

After a great birthday weekend we need lots of good, healthy food to fuel us this week! We have a few roll overs from last week and I'm working from what we have here on hand too! Here's what we'll be eating this week:

Apricot Glazed Salmon, brown rice, sautéed green beans and onions

Roast with potatoes and carrots

French toast, scrambled eggs, cantaloupe

Tacos

Grilled chicken, easy garlic broccoli, corn (I get the Winn Dixie Organics brand of frozen corn, several when they go on sale!)

Extra (though I doubt we'll get to it): Spaghetti

I'm trying out this recipe for whole wheat snickerdoodles! Can you believe that in all of my baking I have never made snickerdoodles?

Looking forward to a great week!

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Menu Plan Monday 5/23

Here's what we're having this week... along with a night or two of leftovers or sandwiches!

Italian Roast Wraps, Green Beans

Apricot Herbed Salmon, Brown Rice, Easy Garlic Broccoli

Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Pasta Primavera

Sausage Spinach Pasta Toss
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Sloppy Joes, Corn, Carrots and Cucumbers and Ranch Dressing


I've got blueberries for Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins and I'm also thinking about making some of these homemade cheese crackers. I LOVE Cheez Its... but rarely buy them. I'm hoping to find something healthy to satisfy my cheese cracker need!

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Menu Plan Monday - 4/18

I have a few repeats this week!

French Toast, Papa's Fruit Salad

Apricot Herb Glazed Salmon, Sauteed Spinach, Brown Rice

Taco Corn Fritters, Black Beans, Salsa

Italian Roast Wraps, Salad

Chicken Pot Pie with Savory Herb and Cheddar Crust, Green Beans

Breakfast: Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins (posting redo recipe this week), cereal, yogurt/cheese, fruit

Lunch: PB&J/honey, Cheese Quesadillas, Corn Dog Muffins, Veggies and Fruit for sides!

I have no idea what we're having for Easter! I've got to get with my mom so we can plan our meal! We typically have ham and lots of sides! I'm thinking of making a Pina Coloda cake.. the kind with coconut cream! Yum! Do you have any favorite Easter dishes? Care to share?

Menu Plan Monday 4/11/11 (recipe review)

I meant to post this review last week but I forgot! We love our pancakes around here and I have a very favorite recipe. But I saw a link for Peanut Butter Pancakes over at I'm an Organizing Junkie and thought I'd have to try it! And they were so yummy! My boys really enjoyed them! I don't think I'll be replacing my normal recipe but it will be a nice recipe to have for a change every now and then! Oh and I used all whole wheat flour and sucanat in this recipe, too. Now, here's what we're eating this week:

Chicken Fingers, Peas, Mashed Potatoes

Italian Roast Wraps, Sauteed Green Beans

Taco Corn Fritters with Salsa, Salad

Apricot Herb Glazed Salmon (new recipe), Steamed Broccoli, Brown Rice

Chicken Ranch Pasta (re-making a recipe), Salad

I didn't get to make Maple Pecan Muffins last week so I'm making them this week! I did make the granola though! It was soo good! I made it with 1/2 cup chopped dried cherries and 1/4 cup chocolate chips. I gave in a bought the boys a box of Chocolate Cheerios. That's as close as they get to 'junk' cereal. The box is gone though and it will be a while before I give in again. I've regained composure. ;) We get so much cereal on WIC that we usually have too much! I'm not a huge fan of boxed cereal because there are much healthier options but it's free so the boys get it sometimes for breakfast and occasional snacks. WIC cereal is healthier cereal (Cheerios, Multigrain Cheerios, Frosted Mini Wheats, Honey Bunches of Oats w/ Almonds, ect) So...

Breakfasts: Maple Pecan Muffins, Peanut Butter Pancakes (from freezer), Cereal, Fruit, Yogurt, Cheese, Scrambled Eggs

Lunch: PB&J/Honey, Cheese Quesadillas, Leftover Veggies from Dinner, Fruit (and we always have a bag of baby carrots for lunches too!)

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