Back on the Menu Planning Train

 

Meatless Monday: Tilapia Baked in Couscous served with brocolli 

Tuesday: Beef Stir Fry with onions and string beans
The beef was already cooked and frozen in some kind of sauce (I forget what kind), so I'll just be cooking up the veggies and adding the defrosted beef.  I'll be sure to set some of the beef (with the mystery sauce washed off) and string beans aside for Twin A, who does not like sauces or food that is mixed up.

Wednesday: Tuna Noodle Casserole
Easy Peasy!  Make boxed mac and cheese, stir in tuna and peas. 

Thursday: London Broil served with rice and sugar snap pea

Friday:  Shabbat dinner at my parents

Saturday: Mish Mash Leftoverpalooza

Sunday: Dinner at my in-laws'
 

Menus for the week

Last time I planned out my menus on the blog, I tried to list a whole bunch of different recipes for the various days of the week.  Since then, I've discovered Pinterest.  Oh, Pinterest, where have you been all my life?  By typing in "slow cooker" I have found sooo many amazing recipes and ideas.

And then, as if that wasn't enough, I rediscovered the amazing A Year of Slow Cooking blog.  Not only did she use her crockpot every single day for an entire year, she included her family's reaction to each meal AND pictures.  Pictures, people, pictures!  Gotta love it.

And so, inspired by all that I found online (Yes, every recipe is from the amazing Stephanie O'Dea and her A Year of Slow Cooking blog), here is my slow cooker menu plan for this week:

MONDAY - Honey Garlic Chicken

TUESDAY - Make your own pizza.
Okay, so I listed this idea in my last post, but we actually never got around to trying it.  But this week, we're doing it.  For real.  I mean it.

WEDNESDAY - Sweet Mustard Beef Roast

THURSDAY - Slow Cooker French Toast - Yes, you read that correctly, I'm making it in the slow cooker.  Can't wait to try it!

FRIDAY - Shabbat Dinner at my parents.  (Don't hate me because I don't have to cook tonight.)

SATURDAY - Mish Mash (I would say leftovers, but I think "Mish Mash" sounds better)

SUNDAY - Dinner at the in-law's (Alright, you can hate me a little.)

For more menu planning ideas, check out Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Menu Planning

In an attempt to once again organize my life, I am putting together a basic menu plan that (in theory) is good for the next month and a half.  This time around I am taking no chances; I got input from Twin A, my pickiest eater, to determine meals that he really likes.  I decided to simply pick a food category for each day of the week and go from there.  Normally I get caught up in making fun titles for each day using alliteration, but I'm too tired, so instead we have chicken on Mondays, make your own pizza on Tuesdays, beef on Wednesdays, vegetarian or breakfast on Thursdays, Shabbat dinner at my parents' or once a month at my synagogue on Fridays, "mish mash" (a.k.a. leftovers) on Saturdays, and Sunday dinners are usually at my in-laws'.  I am going to list a bunch of choices for each category and just pick and choose each week.  Here's the plan:

Mondays -

• Baked Slow Cooker Chicken - So simple, yet it gives us chicken for that night and then lots of leftovers that I can freeze for the next week.
• Chicken Pot Pies - I love this recipe. It makes individual pot pies, one for everyone. Of course, for Twin A, I will simply give him the cooked chicken and the vegetables; there's no point in even giving him the pot pie.
• Orange Chicken - For those rare times I have chicken breasts (like when DH goes grocery shopping and buys them because I said "buy some chicken" - not thinking I needed to specify "make sure it is less that $2 a pound")
• Busy Day Chicken - The recipe says to do this with a whole chicken, which I've never tried, however I can vouch for how well it works with chicken legs and/or thighs.
• Chicken and Apples - Love my slow cooker!

Tuesdays -
Make-Your-Own Pizza
In an effort to be healthy and frugal, I plan on making my own crust using this recipe.  I am going to put out lots of cut up veggies which will hopefully encourage the kids to add them to their pizzas.

Wednesdays -

• Meatloaf
• Make-Your-Own Tacos - Cooked ground beef, chopped tomatoes and lettuce, grated cheese, and taco shells, with sauce on the side so Twin A will eat it.
• Pot Roast - Again, gotta say it, I love my slow cooker!
• Cranberry Roast
• Beef Stew - I love stew.  Twin A can't stand foods that are all mixed together, so when I make stew, I scoop some up in a big pasta spoon, rinse it off in hot water, and then separate the foods on his plate so he doesn't get too overwhelmed.

Thursdays -

• Pancakes
• French Toast Sticks - I cut hot dog roll halves into thirds, dip them in the egg mix, and then fry it just like normal.  I give the kids a little bowl with some syrup in it for dipping.
• Apple-Raisin French Toast Casserole - Twin B's favorite!
• Egg sandwiches - DH has introduced the kids to bacon and the boys LOVE it.  I grew up keeping Kosher, so I still can't quite get myself to buy real bacon, but I have gotten quite good at cooking them turkey bacon.  The boys love these sandwiches with bacon and cheese, and the Princess is thrilled with it as long as it is on a biscuit or english muffin.
• Ravioli - no sauce for Twin A, sauce on the side for the Princess, and lots of sauce all over it for Twin B
• Grilled cheese

Menu Planning

Monday - The Princess was home sick today, so I'm going to use one of the meals from the freezer I bought on sale last week - Tostino's Pizza Rolls! 

 

Tuesday - All three kids will be home from school due to Election Day.  I never got to do this last week, so this will be the day for Cheesy Tuna Melts.




Wednesday - These look really interesting - wonder if the kids will like it.

Thursday - Rotiserie chicken (been in the freezer from someone nicely bringing me dinner when I was in the hospital) with Mashed Mock Potatoes.

Friday - Potluck Shabbat Dinner at our synagogue
I am going to bring Yummy Couscous Salad.







Saturday - Mish Mash (Pick your own meal from the leftovers in the fridge)

Sunday - Dinner at the In-Laws'

For more ideas, check out http://www.orgjunkie.com/!

Menu Planning

I haven't done this in a while, so I think it's about time to get back on track.

Monday, in honor of Halloween:  Crescent Mummy Dogs 

Tuesday:  Chicken in Every Pot Pie using some of the baked chicken that someone brought to us while I was still recovering from Pneumonia

Wednesday:  Trying to make do with what is currently in the house, so tonight it will be Cheesy Tuna Melts

Thursday:  I was thrilled to discover last week that the kids ALL ate and enjoyed eggs, so I am going to try Eggs in a Boat

Friday: Shabbat Dinner at my parents'

Saturday:  I have some leftover frozen meatballs, so I'm going to make this great Cocktail Meatball sauce to go along with them.

Sunday:  Dinner at my In-Laws'

For more menus, go check out I'm An Organizing Junkie!