Menu Plan Monday - September 3, 2012

Labor Day weekend!  The kids have been in school a month already and in another month will be Fall break.  Boy, this summer went by really fast this year.

Well, we didn't get much here from Isaac, just a little rain.  LD had his first ever soccer practice last week.  He was so excited.  He can't wait for another practice.  Wait until he gets his uniform.  I think he may live in it!  Another rainy day expected here.  No real plans, just hanging around the house and watching the US Open, I imagine.

 Oh, but the big news of the weekend is that we bought a new microwave - Yeah!  I know, not really breaking news, but I have been hemming and hawing on getting a new one for a while (like two years).  We actually did buy one a couple of years ago, which we had to return, but that is a whole other story.  The old one was making pretty loud, disturbing sounds.  I think it was time.  I look forward to melting chocolate and popping unscorched popcorn very soon!

The other project for this weekend was starting to prepare for LD's 4th birthday.  Another round of marshmallow fondant making and here are the results:

Ready for a superhero cake!

Ok - to the menu:

Monday - Shredded BBQ Beef sandwiches (leftovers from the pot roast on Friday), corn on the cob, baked beans

Tuesday - Pasta - maybe with some sliced turkey sausage. Salad.

Wednesday - Chicken Continental, Broccoli, Rice or Quinoa

Thursday - Homemade Pizza night - a must

Friday - Hoisin Grilled Chicken with Peking pancakes, Stir fry veggies, challah



Looking for more menu plans and ideas, please visit MPM at orgjunkie.com

Menu Plan Monday - August 27, 2012

Waiting. We keep waiting to find out which way Isaac will turn in the Gulf.  Still days away from us here.  Will we get any rain, or remain dry?  Will we have soccer start this week or will we get rained out?  I have an almost-4 year old who will be very disappointed if he can't use his new cleats.  These things I can't control.  The menu plan I can.


Sunday - Leftover Spaghetti and Meatballs

Monday - Fish Tacos, avocado, salsa

Tuesday - Pasta night - not exactly sure yet

Wednesday - Teriyaki Chicken (maybe on the grill or not), broccoli, rice

Thursday - Homemade Pizza night

Friday - Onion Pot Roast, Potatoes, carrots, challah

For more recipes and menu ideas, please check out MPM at orgjunkie.com

Menu Plan Monday - August 20, 2012

The weeks are rolling right along now.  Not too many changes in the menu from last week.  As the menu stands now, we have a pasta night and a pizza night alternating on our "busy" nights.  So far this seems to be working, although I know that in another week or two the schedule will get even busier with soccer and then later Nutcracker.  The good thing about a weekly plan is that you can see what works and change it the next week.  The past few weeks I have been trying a new recipe on Monday (see Recipe Update).  I decided to try another new recipe tonight Korean BBQ using tofu.  I've made this marinade before, but have used beef in the recipe.  I am excited to try it with the tofu and see how it works out.

Sunday - Comfort meatballs (Pioneer Woman, but I use my baked meatballs instead), homemade dinner rolls, roasted zucchini

Monday - Korean BBQ - I plan on using a pureed kiwi in place of the pear juice to make a thicker sauce, rice, broccoli

Tuesday - Pasta Primavera

Wednesday - Grilled Chicken fajitas with avocado, salsa, etc.

Thursday - Homemade Pizza, veggies

Friday (Field Trip day) - Spaghetti and Meatballs (the kids have been begging for weeks), challah, salad.  Meatballs already made and in the freezer.  Just have to pop them in the Crock-pot with some sauce and boil some pasta. 

For more menu ideas, please visit MPM at orgjunkie.com

Recipe update

Just a quick post for an update.  The past two weeks I have tried new recipe each week.  Last week it was the Mexi-chop salad, with real dairy additions to it and this week was the vegetarian moussaka.  Well, one recipe was a big success and the other I had to promise never to make again.  And the clear winner was:

Mexi-Chop Salad

Never know until you try, right?

Menu Plan Monday - August 13, 2012

Well, I survived my first week with both kids in school.  (*sniff*)  I think we are finally getting into a routine with school mornings.  So far, the packed lunches have been working out, but that really is a whole other post.  I'm sticking mostly with my plan from last year.  There are a few changes to the plan.  In my son's class, he needs to bring/have milk with his lunch everyday.  While we've pretty much have stuck with dairy lunches anyway for my daughter over the past years, this really solidifies it.  I'm trying out a few new things this year.  Now that I have two lunches (well, really three) to prepare, I feel I need some new inspirations.  I love the idea of the bento box lunch with all of the cutie faces and animals, but I wonder how does all of that stuff stay put?  Lunch boxes get tossed in the car and dropped on the ground and who knows what else before they make it to school.  I imagine everything as a jumbled mess by lunch-time.  I have a few things I'm trying out and hope to post about.  Anyway, another post for another time.

Menu:

Monday - Vegetarian Moussaka (new recipe)with Caprese salad (tomatoes and basil from the garden, yum!) and corn

Tuesday - Broccoli and Bowtie pasta  - a Barefoot Contessa favorite.  I'll omit the pine nuts though, due to allergies.

Wednesday - Mango Chicken, zucchini and corn

Thursday - Homemade Pizza, veggie and dip.

Friday - Orange Chicken and Broccoli, rice, maybe sushi salad?  challah

If you are looking for more menu ideas and plans, please visit MPM at orgjunkie.com

Menu Plan Monday - August 6, 2012

Yes, it has been almost a month since I last posted.  We were definitely on a Summer schedule around here.  Not too much planned, a bit of visiting family and relaxing.  Now it's back to schedules again.  school has started.  Today is the first day both kids are in school full-day.  Sigh.  So time to do my plan for the week.

Monday - Mexi-chop salad.  Trying a new recipe.  I'll let you know how it goes.  I probably will use romaine for the kale and real sour cream.  Baby steps.  Also, some homemade baked tortilla chips and salsa.

Tuesday - Pasta night.  Pasta primavera

Wednesday - Chicken piccata, sub in some EVOO for the butter

Thursday - Homemade pizza night

Friday - Onion Pot roast, carrots, potatoes, challah


Looking for more menu ideas, please visit MPM at orgjunkie.com

Menu Plan Monday - July 9, 2012

Ants!  Yes, you heard it right, ants.  Blah!  What a weekend it has been.  Buckets full of candy from the July 4th parade led to the ants marching into my house and invading my pantry.    It's my fault, I know.  I should have taken the candy and put it directly into baggies and washed the buckets.  Sigh.  The good news is that the pantry has been completely cleaned, organized, purged of candy, and most items (besides the canned goods) bagged and double bagged.  Seven years in this house and barely an ant, and now, days of them - yuck!  I am hoping for an ant-free day today.

Now, doesn't that make you want to hear about my menu??  I'm keeping it simple this week.  Hope to post some more during the week of more projects going on. 

Monday - Veggie Chili in tortilla bowls

Tuesday -  Pasta night, maybe ravioli?

Wednesday - Grilled Chicken and grilled veg. quinoa

Thursday - Pizza

Friday - Spaghetti and Meatballs (kids' request)

For more menu ideas, please visit MPM at orgjunkie.com