Menu Plan Monday - October 8, 2012

October is flying by so fast.  Every week there seems to be more and more to do, I have to remind myself each day what needs to get done.  The kids had off from school last week, but now we are back to school and back to schedules again.  The temperatures dropped this weekend and it is truly looking and feeling like Fall around here.

Menu:

Monday - Fish tacos, avocado, etc.

Tuesday -  Pasta night - Broccoli and Bowties

Wednesday - Leftover night, and soup - maybe potato and leek?

Thursday - Homemade pizza

Friday - Ranch chicken, veggies, Challah

Looking for more menus and recipe ideas, please visit MPM at orgjunkie.com

Menu Plan Monday - September 24, 2012

Well, the weather has definitely shifted here to Fall.  As usual, it's been crazy busy here.  Just popping in for a quick menu post, since I didn't get a chance last week.

For this week:

Monday - Pan-seared Tilapia, corn on the cob

Tuesday - Spaghetti and meatballs has been requested, but it may just be a meat sauce this week  :)

Wednesday (Breaking the Fast) -

• Bagels, cream cheese, lox
• Souffled Egg casserole
• Noodle Kugel
• Fruit
• Babka Pull-apart Rolls

Thursday -  Chicken Piccata (sub EVOO for the butter)

Friday - Pumpkin Risotto, Challah

Oh, and if you are wondering about our Rosh Hashana Menu last week:

• Matzo Ball Soup
• Gefilte Fish with Horseradish
• Mock Chopped Liver
• Honey Vanilla Spiral Challah
• Aunt Babe's Brisket (Sunday)
• Roasted Chicken (Monday)
• Potato Knishes
• Apple Noodle Kugel (parve)
• Honey Glazed Carrots
• Apples/Honey
• Chocolate Honey Bee Cake
• Date-Nut Loaf
• Apple Cake

Chocolate Honey Bee Cake

For more menus and recipe ideas, please visit MPM at orgjunkie.com

Menu Plan Monday - September 10, 2012

Chugging along.  Nutcracker auditions were this weekend and the weather suddenly turned to Fall (at least temporarily).  I'm trying to quickly post this menu so that I can get back to planning out the menu for Rosh Hashana next week.  It has snuck up on me quickly and I feel like I need to map out some things that I can do this week, so that next Sunday doesn't become the crazy cooking day.  Yesterday I was able to get a big batch of chicken broth made and in the freezer - 5 quarts.  I'll use some for soup this week, but mostly for matzo ball soup next week.

 I also experimented with my challah dough this week.  I substituted pomegranate juice (warmed in the microwave) for the water in the dough.  I'm sorry I didn't take any pictures.  The dough had a slight pink-y purple hue and after letting it rise in the fridge overnight, by Friday morning it had a sweet/almost sourdough smell to it.  The dough was a bit soft to work with and after the first braid, it was already "blowing out" the sides a bit.  The remaining dough I put in baking pans.  Actually, the pans were those tortilla bakers.  Have you seen the infomercial?  Well, I have had them for over 10 years (most likely when they actually manufactured them).  Anyway, those loaves came out really nice.  The taste was subtle, yet definitely sweet.  I think I will be trying it again with the pans.  And next time, I will take a picture :)

Menu for this week -

Monday - Tofu tacos.  After the success of the Mexi-chop salad, I thought this may work with some seasoned pan-fried tofu cubes in place of meat.  And then we can have real sour cream with it, yum!

Tuesday - Pasta primavera or ravioli.  Ravioli was requested, but alas, none in the freezer.  Perhaps I can get out to the store before Tuesday.

Wednesday - Italian Wedding soup (with homemade chicken broth), using Ina Garten's recipe, minus the milk and cheese and using just ground turkey for the meatballs.

Thursday - Homemade Pizza

Friday - Spaghetti and meatballs- another request for the week.


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

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?