Menu Monday 07.06

Hi guys! Here is what we have on the menu for the next week or so.

Monday--Cheesy Chicken & Rice Bake, Peas & Carrots
Tuesday--Jambalaya, salad, garlic bread
Wednesday--Chicken Marsala, mashed potatoes, broccoli
Thursday--We'll be eating at mom & dad's house. :)
Friday--scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits
Saturday--ribs, corn on the cob, potato salad
Sunday--hot dogs, pasta salad, baby carrots & ranch dip
Monday--chicken spaghetti, green beans, garlic bread
Tuesday--Tater tot casserole, Sweet Peas

Here's a great recipe that we've tried before & I'm happy to pass along--
Pioneer Woman's Chicken Spaghetti
Ingredients:
2 cups cooked chicken (I've used just breasts before, too)
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 cup finely diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup finely diced onion
1 (4 oz.) jar diced pimentos, drained
3 cups dry spaghetti, broken into 2 inch pieces
2 cups reserved chicken broth from the pot
1 teaspoon Lawry's seasoned salt
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt & pepper to taste
1 additional cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

Cook 1 cut up fryer and pick out the meat to make 2 cups. Cook spaghetti in same broth until al dente. Do not overcook. When spaghetti is cooked, combine with remaining ingredients, except additional 1 cup grated cheese.

Place mixture in casserole pan and top with remaining sharp cheddar. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until bubbly. (If the cheese on top starts to get too cooked, cover with foil.)

Enjoy!

Menu Monday 06.15.09

Wow! I can't believe it's been so long since I posted here. Last week just flew by! Here's what we have on the menu until the end of the month. I'll be trying some new crockpot recipes--it's just way to hot to cook something in the over for more than a few minutes. We had a great dinner tonight in the crockpot & I'll share the recipe at the end of the post. And, as usual, you'll see some repeats from my previous meal plan because we didn't end up making them as planned before.

6.15--Crockpot Sante Fe Chicken over rice with refried beans
6.16--Leftover Sante Fe chicken served in flour tortillas, with chips & salsa
6.17--Beef, Cheddar, and Tomato Macaroni with broccoli
6.18--Broiled Tilapia Parmesan, with mashed potatoes & sweet peas (This recipe is really yummy, but Scott has requested no more tilapia for awhile after this...he's just not a tilapia fan!)
6.19--Beans & Cornbread
6.20--Vacation
6.21--Vacation
6.22--
6.23--Quiche, biscuits, bacon
6.24--Spaghetti, green beans, garlic bread
6.25--Barbecue chicken, pasta salad, sauteed zucchini
6.26--Barbecue chicken pizza made with leftover chicken
6.27--Steak, baked potato, salad
6.28--Taco Salad
6.29--
6.30--

Ok, so I've got some gaps in my menu...please post any great dinner ideas you'd like to share!
And, here's the recipe for our dinner tonight...

CROCKPOT EASY SANTA FE CHICKEN

1 15 oz can black beans -- rinsed and drained
2 15.25 oz cans whole kernel corn -- drained
1 cup bottled thick and chunky salsa
5 or 6 skinless boneless chicken breasts -- (can use frozen) (and I only used 3 large breasts)
1 8 oz brick cream cheese -- low fat is fine
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a slow cooker, mix together the beans, corn, and 1/2 cup salsa. Top with the chicken breasts, then pour the remaining salsa over the chicken.

Cover and cook on the high heat setting 2.5-3 hours (I cooked it on low for 5 hours), or until the chicken is tender and white throughout; do not overcook or the chicken will toughen.

Remove the chicken and cut into bite sized pieces (I shredded it...it seems to me that when you shred cooked chicken you have so much more than when you leave it whole...and I like to save a buck!). Add back to the slow cooker.

Add the cream cheese (cut into cubes to melt faster), and turn slow cooker to high heat. Heat until cream cheese melts and blends into sauce.

Serve over rice. Top with shredded cheese.

I really look forward to serving these leftovers in a tortilla--a yummy burrito!

Menu Monday 06.01

Here's what we have on the menu for the next 2 weeks. I'll also post our favorite recipe from my previous menu plan.

Monday--leftover spaghetti & garlic bread
Tuesday--scrambled eggs, bacon, & cheesy grits
Wednesday--Chicken Noodle Casserole, french bread
Thursday--Beans & Cornbread with salad
Friday--Taco Melt with refried beans
Saturday--we have a wedding to attend that night
Sunday--Chicken Bacon Crescent Ring (potluck dinner for Bible study)
Monday--Broiled tilapia parmesan, broccoli, stuffing
Tuesday--Santa Fe Chicken over rice with cheese
Wednesday--Chicken Spaghetti, salad
Thursday--leftovers
Friday-Sunday--out of town

Our favorite meal from the previous menu plan was Crockpot Creamy Italian Chicken. Not only do I love the simplicity & ability to cook it in the crockpot--the flavor is delish!! Oh, how I love the sauce! We've served it many different ways--over rice, pasta, even biscuits. I normally remove the chicken breasts and shred them up and return to the crockpot before serving. Here ya' go!

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 envelope italian salad dressing mix (I use the zesty italian mix)
1/4 cup water
1 package (8oz) cream cheese, softened (I use reduced fat)
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 can (4 oz) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
hot cooked rice or noodles

Place chicken in slowcooker. Combine salad dressing mix and water; pour over chicken. cover and cook on low for 3 hours. In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and soup until blended. Stir in mushrooms. Pour over chicken. Cook 1 hour longer or until chicken juices run clear. Serve over rice or noodles

Monday Monday

A fresh start to a new week...

This morning I attended training at the Watermelon Patch. I think I'll really enjoy working there--they have so many fun activities, events, and parties--from laser tag to "girls just want to have fun" to art & cooking, and many more! In fact, I have several business cards which I have been instructed to give out that entitle you to ONE FREE CLASS! Check out their website to see all the classes that are available. Leave me a comment and I'll be glad to get a card to you.

After the training Mom, Mimi, Taylor, Ella, and I went to eat lunch at one of our favorite places--San Miguel. We all love Mexican food--especially Mimi & Taylor. Two people who don't eat much but can really put away some chips, salsa, & tacos!! :) Taylor also loves the music there and was shaking her groove thang in our booth!! Oh, my sweet, quiet, & shy Taylor--what happened?!?! Well, she's still pretty sweet, but she has quite the energetic & funny personality now.

Tonight I headed back to they gym after missing what seems like an entire month from working out. It was good to get back on the elliptical machine, but here it is nearing 11:30 and I'm still WIDE AWAKE! That's what happens when I don't get home from the gym until 9.

Ella had 2 firsts today! I pulled out the doorway jumper that Taylor loved as a baby. Guess what..Ella loves it, too! She's always kicking her legs and seems really strong. She just grinned and smiled at Tay and I when I put her in the jumper. I'm glad to have something I can put her in for a few minutes to keep her happy! After the jumper, I gave her a few bites of rice cereal. I think she loved it! She was starting to fuss since the jumper wore her out & she fell asleep shortly after that so she didn't eat much. But, we'll try again tomorrow. I'll take some pics and post them.

Well, I guess I'll go lay down & hope that I fall asleep soon.
I hope everyone else had a great Monday!

Menu Plan Monday 05.18

So, I took the week off last week from blogging. Sorry! Once I got so far behind in the week, I just figured I would start over today. Here's what we'll be having for the next 2 weeks. Again, if you see something you would like the recipe for, just leave me a message. And, you'll see some repeats from my previous menu because we didn't get around to cooking every night because of things that came up at the last minute. The beef, tomato, & cheddar mac was a HUGE hit with Tay--she had THREE helpings the first night and asked for it for lunch the next day! So, I'll go ahead and post that recipe at the end of this post. It's so easy to change it up to with different type chopped tomatoes & shredded cheeses. I may do it mexican style next time with rotel and monterrey jack. Yum!

Monday--Lemon Garlic Tilapia, Mashed Potatoes, Mixed Vegetables
Tuesday--Homemade Pancakes, Sausage Patties, and Scrambled Eggs
Wednesday--Creamy Italian Chicken over Rotini Pasta, Salad
Thursday--Chicken Pot Pie (I'll be making an extra to take to a friend), Crescent Rolls, and Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Friday--Grilled Pork Chops, Baked Potato, Sweet Peas
Saturday--Beans and Cornbread (from Pioneer Woman's website)
Sunday--Quesadillas, Chips & Salsa
Monday--Steak, French Fries, Salad
Tuesday--Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, Salad, Garlic Bread
Wednesday--Tacos, Spanish Rice, Refried Beans
Thursday--Creamy Chicken Noodle Bake, Banana Pudding
Friday--Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Saturday--out of town
Sunday--out of town

Here's the Beef, Tomato, & Cheddar Mac recipe:
Tomato, Cheddar and Beef Macaroni
~*~Sandy~*~ from Babycenter.com's Cooking for Your Family Board

1 lb ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 can (14.5-oz) diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano
1 cup water
1 cup elbow macaroni
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Brown the ground beef with the onions, drain. Stir in the tomatoes, water, and macaroni. Cover and simmer 10 minutes or until tender; stir in cheese and serve.

Variations:
- ground turkey, onion, plain diced tomatoes, chicken broth, whole wheat rotini, and Irish Cheddar cheese
- ground venison, plain tomatoes, smoked paprika, garlic

Menu Monday 05.04

In the past, I shared my weekly menu plan with you. Typically, I don't do it this way. I prefer to make my menus from paycheck to paycheck. This way, I spend all I need to in 1 trip with only an occasional trip back to the store for fruit, milk, bread, etc. So, here is our meal plan until next Friday. :)

Monday--leftover rotisserie chicken & potato salad, with a garden salad
Tuesday--mini taco bowls with chips & salsa (for Cinco de Mayo!)
Wednesday--barbecue chicken in the crockpot with coleslaw and corn
Thursday--pancakes, sausage, and scrambled eggs
Friday--grilled pork chops, baked potato, sweet peas
Saturday--out to eat
Sunday--dinner at Shelli's for Mother's Day
Monday--hot dogs, french fries, coleslaw
Tuesday--beef, tomato, and cheddar macaroni with green beans and garlic bread
Wednesday--red beans & rice with sausage, corn bread
Thursday--beef stew with biscuits
Friday--lemon garlic tilapia, mashed potatoes, salad

If you are interested in any of the recipes above, just leave me a comment! The lemon garlic tilapia will be a new recipe for us to try. The beef, tomato, & cheddar macaroni is a great kid-friendly meal that you can put together quickly and uses ingredients that I usually have on hand. And, I love the red beans & rice recipe--one of my favorites! I'd be glad to share if you'd like, it's just too time consuming to post the links for all of the recipes. Sorry! :)

I can't wait to post tomorrow's "Toddler Tuesday". We had such a fun (but busy) weekend with Tay's 3rd birthday party & Ella's baby dedication at church. I'll try to post some pictures this week, too. I am AMAZED at how fast Ella is growing!

I'm back!

Whew! So, last week was ROUGH! But, thank goodness my sweet Taylor is back to her normal self! Therefore, I didn't get much blogging done last week since I was usually holding either her or Ella...or both of them!

Here are our dinner plans for the week:
Monday--spaghetti/garlic bread/green beans
Tuesday--pork chops marinated in Dale's/macaroni & cheese/sugar snap peas (this is a repeat from last week since I didn't get around to making it then, so we're having it this week...not much cooking with a very fussy 2 year old last week!)
Wednesday--pancakes/scrambled eggs/sausage
Thursday--taco soup/tortilla chips/salad
Friday--buffalo chicken pizza (another repeat)
Saturday--Scott & I will be in Tuscaloosa for the A-Day game!
Sunday--barbecue chicken/baked beans/pasta salad...we're having friends over to watch the A-Day game on TV...yes, Scott's that excited about Bama football!

Menu Monday 04.07

Hmm...what to make for dinner this week? I have a freezer, fridge, and pantry full of food...I just need to figure out what to do with it. :) This is one reason I'm a big time fan of menu planning before grocery shopping. I always go to the store with a list & a plan! Otherwise, how do you know what you already have and what you need? Also, you'll never be stuck at home with a meal you can easily put together. So, let me take a look at what I've got and make up my weekly menus for you here.

Monday--Chili with cheese/crackers/leftover banana pudding or chocolate chip pie for dessert
Tuesday--leftover chili
Wednesday--pork chops marinated in Dale's seasoning/rice/salad
Thursday--Crockpot creamy italian chicken/pasta/pea pods
Friday--Meatloaf/mashed potates/sweet peas
Saturday--Buffalo chicken pizza
Sunday--Easter lunch at Lori's house--I'm bringing mac and cheese

Menu Monday 03.30

I'm already behind in my blogging! Even though it's Tuesday, I want to backtrack and start with Menu Monday.

• Monday: Chicken Noodle Soup, garlic chiabbata bread, ice cream sandwiches
• Tuesday: Baked Omelet, fried potatoes, and strawberries
  
• Wednesday: We're having a sweet friend, Jenniffer, over for dinner & will be serving Baked Ziti, french bread, salad, and chocolate chip pie
• Thursday: We're going to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate Taylor being totally potty-trained (no accidents!) for one month. Way to go, Tay!
• Friday: I'll be going out of town for a Living Proof conference today and Taylor is spending the night with Nana, so Scott's on his own to get dinner wherever he wants! I think I will make some of these Banana-Chocolate Chip Muffins to take with me when I go to the conference.
  
• Saturday: Our sweet neighbor is bringing us enchiladas for dinner as a post-baby gift. Thanks, Laura! We'll be saving it for Sunday lunch since my sister is in town and we'll be eating dinner with my family. I'll be making banana pudding to share with my family.
  
• Sunday: Enchiladas from Laura

I have to tell you that I've made the Baked Ziti a few times already & it is FABULOUS! It makes a lot and I can usually get another casserole out of it to freeze for another meal.