Menu Plan Monday-2 weeks

uploaded to http://www.orgjunkie.com/

Last week was probably the busiest week I have had recently.  My "balance" game is getting easier as my littliest boy is getting bigger.  With the fall approaching lot's of activities are launching and meetings underway and now a school-age kiddo - Balance is my Mantra!  I did not get my menu plan up, but I definitely had it posted up in my kitchen and used it!! That's the goal of menu planning, right?

We had some delicious easy dinners, and tried a few new recipes.

Here is last weeks:

• BBQ Mixed Grill - steak/chicken/veggies
• Baked Meatball Parmesan (Frozen Jumbo Meatballs (thawed), Homemade sauce, Parmesan/Mozzarella) - Layered and baked at 350 until cheese was gooey and meatballs where fork tender.
• Slow Cooker Fajitas (Super EASY, Super Delicious!)**see notes below what I did different
• Grilled Chicken with Sausage & Pancetta - Marinara - pictured above
• Left Over Buffet

This is my menu for this week:

• Baked Ham Sandwiches (we use the yummy Hawaiian Rolls), serve with cool side dishes, since it is still so hot in South Florida!
• Breakfast for Dinner (Pancakes, eggs, bacon, fruit)
• Taco Salad
• Roasted Turkey Breast/Mashed Potatoes/Green Beans
• Slow Cooker Open Faced Brisket/Coleslaw/Biscuits

**what I changed: used a red pepper instead of a green one.  Served over brown rice.  You could use yellow or white too (I try to fool sneak a little health in there when I can). I did not have coriander so I skipped that, but will try in the future with it...and I lessened the amount of cumin as didn't want it to be too smokey for the kiddos.

Recipes: 

Homemade Sauce (Marinara)
This is a family recipe so good, so easy and I do it in large batches to freeze for dinner sizes for other meals.

Saute' one medium diced onion with 4 cloves of crushed garlic (the REAL deal, no fake garlic!!) for about 4 minutes or until translucent with olive oil or drippings from meat if using.  Add 1 large can of Tomato Puree or Crushed Tomatoes 1 small can tomato paste, I like the canned organic tomatoes or Muir Glen brand, they just don't taste so-"canny"- does this make sense? Then use the small can of paste to fill with water and add.  Bring to a boil on medium.  Top the entire pot with fresh parsley and dried oregano.  Add two tablespoons of sugar, salt and pepper to taste.  Sometimes I add a shake of dried pepper flakes if you want a slight bite to the sauce.  I like to allow it to simmer on the stove for a few hours.  Always tastes better the following day.  You can add water to thin it out as it thicken the more it cooks. You can add sauteed/cooked sausage/turkey sausage cut up or squeeze out of the casings or meatballs to the sauce while it is simmering all day.  Make in double/triple batches so you can use for several recipes like your favorite pizza, lasagna, or pasta. Freezes great in freezer zip bags, flatten out so there isn't any air left, freeze flat.

Happy Eating this week!