Showing posts with label meal planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meal planning. Show all posts

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Menu Plan Monday-2 weeks


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! 

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Menu Plan Monday


Linked up at ORGJUNKIE.COM


Well this is an interested week for us as I have to work two days during dinner time, and will be out of town on Friday night until Saturday night.  Hmmmm~ 
However, I do have some meals ready to go, cleaned, washed, and frozen for whatever might happen...  Here are five menu ideas for this week!


  • Steak Fingers-Mashed Potatoes-Fresh Fruit

  • Turkey Tacos-Yellow Rice-Fresh Fruit

  • Pasta/Alfredo with Grilled Chicken-Green Beans-Fresh Fruit

  • Meatball Parmesan-Garlic Bread-Fresh Fruit

  • Grilled Chicken or Mahi Ceasar Salad-Fresh Fruit
QUICK TIP:  Next time your fire up your grill, cook your meat, veggies, etc... for several meals in advance.  Makes it a whole lot easier to get your meal to the
table with the delicious taste of the grill.


I know our menu may seem redundant with FRESH FRUIT at EVERY MEAL.  Well in all defense, we live 2 miles from a farmers market and who wouldn't want FRESH FRUIT at every meal.  It is inexpensive, healthy, and everyone eats it!  I hope everyone has a great week of cooking and eating.  I plan on trying new recipes next week from a few new cookbooks I got from The Pampered Chef.  I will be sure to include links to get those new recipes!

Until we eat again...

Monday, May 3, 2010

** Menu Plan Monday **

Okay here I am again... It's time to post my weekly menu.
I won't tell you as much as I did last post on Menu Plan Monday-so if you want some good tips check a few posts ago...

Here are my Five Menus for this week!
  • Monday- 30 minute Roasted Chicken with gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans
  • Honey Baked Ham :) carrots, fresh fruit
  • Mahi Mahi over salad greens, fresh fruit
  • Grilled Italian Chicken Sausage with Pasta and Marinara, fresh fruit
  • 10 minute Honey Mustard Roasted Pork Loin. salad greens, corn on the cob, fresh fruit

Happy Mother's Day to all this week!  I hope all of you readers have someone to cook for you or take you out for a well deserved meal!  I am treating my mom and mother in love to a beautiful home cooked meal!  I haven't finished my menu yet, but will post when I do~

Check out http://www.orgjunkie.com/ and see all the great menu's this week-grab some ideas-to help your family planning!

Monday, April 26, 2010

Menu Plan Monday


Join me and HUNDREDS of others who post and share great menu's for the week!  Check it out at Organized Junkie!

You can go back a few menu's and see why Menu Planning is so important! 
Here are just a few thoughts to get you started.


SAVES TIME!!

SAVES $$ MONEY!

IMPROVES NUTRITION!


Start Simple-Write down 5 meals your family likes-or-
5 meals you can start to plan with the ingredients you have in your icebox/pantry
-use your sale ads from the paper or online to create your menu/shopping list (this is the part that saves you $$)-be flexible {plan 5-7 meals and pick from those-instead of saying you will have ___ on Monday-that may throw people for a loop and then not continue}-continue once a week to set aside time to do this-take input from your kids and family members-if you don't blog and you need accountibility to do this EMAIL your menu's to me (cookwithbarb@aol.com)- I would be glad to praise you for your efforts-help you with recipe ideas or give your resources-and overall be your cheerleaderto help you stop asking yourself
at 5 PM "What's for Dinner?"

Here are my 5 menu ideas for the week!
What's on your Menu?
Comment below and let me know!!

** Some of my readers have often asked -"why do you eat so much Caesar Salad?"  Well-that is the hubster's only salad dressing choice-so I have searched HIGH and low for a "healthy" alternative to the original and I found it!! Thank you Publix Market!  Found in the Produce section of refrigerated dressings Bolthouse Yougurt dressings are DE-LICIOUS!  I linked to their site above so you can see!