Menu Planning

So I got out of the habit of doing my meal plans and I can totally tell. We've spent more money, struggled to decide what to eat, not used the food we have. So I'm getting back on track starting today!

Monday - CG Cupcakes
Tuesday - Tacos
Wednesday - Out for Joe's B-day
Thursday - London Broil, Rice, Green Beans
Friday - Picnic? Orzo Salad, Sandwiches, Fruit
Saturday - Chicken Curry

Sunday - Grilled Salmon, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Salad
Monday - Mac n cheese
Tuesday - BBQ Chicken sandwiches, fries, veggie
Wednesday - Spaghetti
Thursday - Ropa Veija, Yellow Rice, Peas
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Burritos

Menu Planning

After a very successful trip to the grocery store I am now officially ready to plan our meals for the next week and a half. (I saved over $80!)

Thursday - TBD
Friday - Angel Hair with Cherry Tomatoes w/Chicken
Saturday - Chicken Kabobs

Sunday - Chicken Curry
Monday - CG Veggie
Tuesday - Eggplant Parmesan
Wednesday - BBQ Pork Sandwiches, Tater Tots, Peas
Thursday - Beef Tacos
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Burgers, Roasted Potatoes, Green Beans

I'm going back to the HT tomorrow because I'll have a $20 GC and the store I went to was out of a few things I wanted. Hopefully, they'll have a good deal on something that will inspire dinner tomorrow.

Menu Planning Monday + Potato Soup Recipe

So I got of track the past couple of weeks with my meal plans and I can tell you that having a plan helps my sanity and my budget. So this week I'm determined to get back on track.

Monday - CG Ham
Tuesday - Potato Soup and Grilled Cheese
Wednesday - Chicken Tacos
Thursday - Fettuccine Alfredo
Friday - DATE Night
Saturday - Pancakes
Sunday - Burgers, Sweet Potato Fries and Peas


Our lunches will consist of left overs and sandwiches.

If you're like me you have a lot of left over food from your big Easter meal. One left over I always have a hard time reusing is mashed potatoes. Well I found this great recipe for potato soup that uses your left over mashed potatoes and is pretty simple.

Ingredients

• Drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 1 quart chicken stock
• 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
• 8 ounces shredded yellow cheddar cheese 

Directions

1. In a medium pot or Dutch oven, heat a drizzle of EVOO over medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook until crispy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate and reserve. 
2. Drain off excess bacon fat from the pot and add butter. When it is melted, add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle flour into the pot and cook with a wooden spoon for 1 minute. Whisk in the chicken stock and bring to a bubble. Cook until slightly thickened, about 2-3 minutes. 
3. Whisk in mashed potatoes, then stir in the cheddar cheese with a wooden spoon and cook until the potatoes are hot and the cheese is melted.  
4. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with the reserved bacon.

Meal Planning Monday

We didn't need to do a lot of grocery shopping this week. I just picked up a few essentials for Jude and I think we can make due with everything else we have.

Monday - Spaghetti w/meat sauce
Tuesday - Garlic Chicken
Wednesday - Curry Chicken w/sweet potatoes
Thursday - Tacos
Friday - Steaks, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Peas
Saturday - Black Bean Burritos

Sunday - Spaghetti w/meat sauce
Monday - Brownies
Tuesday - Taco Soup
Wednesday - Black Bean Burritos
Thursday - Creamy Tomato Penne with Chicken
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Steak, Rice, Green Beans

Menu Planning Monday

The holidays are over and it's time to get back to regular life. I've been trying to catch up on emails, photos and blogs over the past few days. I'm hoping to find a nice balance to my blogging life in 2010. I want to jazz up my menu plans this year so I will be including links to new recipes every now and then.

Monday - CG Red Rice (Yesterday)
Tuesday - General Taos Chicken w/Rice
Wednesday - Chicken Tacos
Thursday - Chili
Friday - Homemade Pizza
Saturday - Grilled Steaks, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Peas

Sunday - Crockpot Lemon Garlic Chicken w/rice and veggies
Monday - Lentils and Veggie Soup
Tuesday - Burritos
Wednesday - Garlic Chicken
Thursday - Penne with Ground Beef and Vodka Sauce
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Crockpot Chicken Curry w/Rice

Menu Planning Monday... on Tuesday

Yesterday I vowed to spend a little less time online so I didn't get to post my menu for the next 2 weeks.

Now I have no idea what to make for dinner...... ahhhhhhh!

Monday - CG Green Beans
Tuesday - Burgers, Fries and Peas
Wednesday - Baked Ziti
Thursday - Tacos
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Out!

Sunday - Spaghetti
Monday - GC TBD
Tuesday - Chicken Piccata with Baked Potatoes and Green Beans
Wednesday - Black Bean Burritos
Thursday - Chicken Curry in Crockpot
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Out with Friends!

Menu Planning Monday

Here it is 2 weeks worth of meals!

Monday - Ropa Vejia for CG
Tuesday - Fried Orzo with vegetables and basil
Wednesday - Beef Burritos or Tacos
Thursday - Butternut Squash Spaghetti
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Halloween! Chili

Sunday - Puree of Carrot Soup (thanks Kristina)
Monday - GC ?
Tuesday - Chicken Tacos
Wednesday - Baked Ziti
Thursday - Chicken Piccata, Sweet Potato wedges, peas
Friday -Pizza
Saturday - BBQ Chicken, Yellow Rice and Green Beans

Lunches will be sandwiches, soup or left overs.

Menu Planning Monday

Here's the plan for this week. We didn't exactly follow the plan of the last two weeks so I have some unused food that will make it's way into this week's menu.

Lunches will be Sandwiches, Soup or Mac n Cheese.

Monday - CG TBD
Tuesday - Left Over Kabobs
Wednesday - Burritos
Thursday - Fried Orzo
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - DATE NIGHT
Sunday - Ropa Vieja w/ Yellow Rice

Hopefully one night this week we will be going to the State Fair so the menu is a little bit flexible.
Monday - CG Breakfast for Dinner
Tuesday - Chicken Tacos
Wednesday - Baked Ziti
Thursday - Chicken, Baked Sweet Potato Wedges, Salad
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Chick-fil-A
Sunday - Cincinnati Chili

Menu Planning

So I didn't get around to posting our menu for the next two weeks yesterday but here it is.

Monday - Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cake with Chocolate Glaze (made for CG)
Tuesday - Pasta and Meat Sauce
Wednesday - Bean Burritos
Thursday - Beef Kabobs & Rice
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Dinner Out before U2

Sunday -  Burgers, Sweet Potato Wedges, Salad
Monday - TBD CG Night
Tuesday - Chicken Tacos
Wednesday - Pasta and Meat Sauce
Thursday - Chicken BBQ, Sweet Potato Fries, Green Beans
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Ropa Veija, Rice & Peas

Lunches will consist of alot of sandwiches since lunch meat was on sale this week. We may even have some soup if the weather is cooler.

Menu Planning

Well it's not Monday but I'm finally getting around to our meal plan. Monday and Tuesday were days off from cooking as we were celebrating our anniversary. You can read about our adventures here, here and here.  Now the cabinets are well stocked thanks to Triples.

Wednesday - Sun-dried Tomato Artichoke Chicken with Rice
Thursday - Black Bean Burritos
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Baked Chicken, Fried Orzo with Zucchini and Basil

Sunday -BBQ Pork, Sweet Potato Fries & Peas
Monday - CG - Cincinnati Chili
Tuesday - Black Bean Burritos
Wednesday - Baked Ziti
Thursday - Chicken Tacos w/ homemade tortillas
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - TBD

Meal Planning

I'm a little late posting my meal plan due to our unexpected trip to Charleston. But better late than never. This week we're really stretching things thin. Joe's take home pay is less due to a raise in his insurance deduction. We didn't realize it until it was too late, after I only got 1/2 of our grocery shopping done. I spent a little time digging through the pantry and fridge and came up with some good meals despite our shortage of food (esp meats.)

Thursday - Fried Orzo w/ Vegetables and Basil
Friday - Black Bean Burritos
Saturday - Pancakes
Sunday - Grilled Salmon, Baked Sweet Potatoes and Peas
Monday - Chick-fil-a Sandwiches (FREE!)
Tuesday - Black Bean Burritos
Wednesday - Rigatoni w/ Meat Sauce
Thursday - Rotisseri Chicken, Rice, Salad with apples!
Friday - Spaghetti w/ Meat Sauce
Saturday - Family in Town (Anniversary Sushi at Shaba Shabu!)

Lunches will include sandwiches, salads, left-overs, and maybe free chick-fil-a.

Meal Planning

Lunches will either be left overs or sandwiches. (PBJ, Turkey, Veggie Wraps!)

Monday - CG some sort of vegetable.
Tuesday - Spaghetti w/ Meat Sauce
Wednesday - Black Bean Burritos
Thursday - Chicken Picatta, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Peas
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Sun Dried Tomato Artichoke Chicken
Sunday - Grilled London Broil, Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans

Monday - CG Brownies
Tuesday - Cincinnati Chili
Wednesday - Tacos
Thursday - Spinach Baked Ziti
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Wedding
Sunday - Picnic

Menu Planning Monday

I got a great deal on some Natural London Broils at Harris Teeter. BOGO! Also, Whole Foods had chicken this week but no ground beef. Luckily, we still have some left over from last time.

Monday: CG - TBD
Tuesday: Fried Orzo w/Veggies and Basil
Wednesday: Pineapple Chicken, Rice, Peas
Thursday: Chicken Tacos
Friday: Pizza
Saturday: Burgers, Baked Beans, Sweet Potato Fries
Sunday: Spaghetti w/ Meat Sauce

Monday: CG - Black Beans and Rice
Tuesday: Baked Chicken, Boiled Potatoes, Okra
Wednesday: Black Bean Burritos
Thursday: Ropa Veija, Rice
Friday: Pizza
Saturday: Spinach Baked Ziti
Sunday: Grilled London Broil, Sweet Potatoes, Peas

Menu Planning

2 Weeks

Monday - CG Macaroni and Cheese
Tuesday - Tacos
Wednesday - BBQ Baked Chicken, Rice & Squash
Thursday - Cincinnati Chili
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Burgers for a Party
Sunday - Spaghetti w/fried Zucchini

Monday - CG Brownies
Tuesday - Pork Chops w/Red Beans and Rice
Wednesday -Burritos
Thursday - Baked Ziti
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Burgers, Sweet Potatoes, Peas
Sunday - Grilled Beef Steak Fajitas

Meal Planning Monday

2 Weeks worth of meals for us Liebs!

Monday - Community Group - Steak Taquitos
Tuesday - Green Curry Chicken and Rice
Wednesday - Black Bean Burritos
Thursday - Baked Ziti with Zucchini
Friday - Hamburgers
Saturday - OUT - OF - TOWN WEDDING
Sunday - Grilled London Broil, Rice & Salad

Monday - Community Group -
Tuesday - Burritos
Wednesday - Gnocci
Thursday - BBQ Chicken, Baked Sweet Potatoes & Peas
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - TBD
Sunday - Spaghetti w/ Meat Sauce

Meal Plan for the next 2 weeks

So far this meal planning thing is going pretty well. We've managed to stick pretty close to the plan only switching things up a bit due to time constrains. Overall, meal planning helps take the guess work out of cooking dinner. It also saves us money. 1. I went grocery shopping once for 2 weeks worth of groceries and stayed within a $100 budget. (that includes toiletries, cleaning, and baby stuff.) 2. We're much less tempted to go out when we have a plan, which saves $.

Here is our plan for the next 2 weeks!

Monday - CG - Mac n Cheese
Tuesday - Chicken Picatta, rice, yellow squash
Wednesday - Baked Ziti (spinach, zucchini, carrots)
Thursday - Black Bean Burritos
Friday - Family in Town
Saturday - Family in Town
Sunday - Pizza

Monday - CG - BBQ Pulled Pork
Tuesday - Spaghetti w/meat sauce
Wednesday - Steak, Sweet Potatoes, green beans
Thursday - Chicken Tacos
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Burritos
Sunday - Chicken cutlets, Smashed Potatoes and Peas