Meal Planning Monday

I am going to start doing these a week late (if at all) so that I can make notes and remember what worked and what didn't. 

This week I tried 2 new recipes and  both were hits. So much so that I wanted to make sure that they were here instead of lost in all my pins on pinterest so that I can find them easier. 

Via

Pioneer Womans Chicken & Noodle We have made this before and it is always good. We ended up having leftovers from the week before so we ate this for lunch all week. It was nice to warm up and enjoy some comfort food every day. 

Via

Baked Ravioli This actually surprised me at how delicious it was.  I used Publix frozen Beef Ravioli. JJ & I both agree that ravioli is our favorite that we have tried so far. This recipe is really easy to make and with crispy cheese on top is A-MAZING! I had some for leftovers this week. I just put some more mozzarella on top and put it in the oven. Just as good reheated as it was the night of. 

Via

Chicken Alfredo Rollups  This was another surprise.  It is no secret that I am not the biggest fan of chicken. I have to have a lot of sauce or have it hidden in a bunch of ingredients to really like it. This one fits both of those bills. The recipe makes 8 and we at all of them up. I served these with sweet potatoes cut like fries. This is the first meal I have ever made that both kids ate everything on their plates and asked for more. JJ & I loved these as well. I think that next time I will double to recipe and have some for lunch for the week.  I don't think they will be good reheated in the microwave but in the oven should be great. 

Via

Ham & Cheese Biscuit Sliders  I have made these before and they are great and easy. The kids love them because the honey adds a nice sweet touch. I am going to serve these with butter beans on the side for a nice well-sounded-ish meal. 

So, great meals this week. all that I want to make again!

Meals for the Week

For a healthy-ish low-carb dinner. We have BBQ Chicken Salad  Hope this is good!
(This was a hit with JJ & I. I made 1 modification. I put BBQ sauce on the chicken before cooking it so that it had more of a BBQ flavor. We gave the kids just part of the BBQ chicken breast for their dinner and H told me that dinner was very good!)

Monterey Tortilla Casserole  

JJ & I loved this last time I made it  so I will be making it this week

Enchilada Casserole

Always delicious and there are leftovers! (NOTE: use the whole 15 ounce can of tomatoe sauce and more cheese)

(JJ informed me at dinner last night that this is one of his favorite meals. I was shocked because it really isn't my favorite. Maybe with more sauce and more cheese I could come to love this as much as he does).

Rigatoni with swiss chard and Sausage - from FNM November 2014 issue. Pg 90

Meal Planning Monday

Chicken A La King



Pizza Meatballs

Meals for the Week

We don't have anything going on this week which makes me very happy. I like when we aren't rushed to eat dinner before heading somewhere or missing someone at dinner time.



Monday: Green Chile chicken baked tacos. With this I am going to make the chicken the day before in the slow cooker and have JJ shred it that night and save for the next day.
For a side item, we are going to have sweet potato mash
(These really weren't that great. The tacos ended up being soggy. Not sure if I will make this again.  The sweet potato mash was a huge hit with everyone!)















Tuesday: Pumpkin & Sausage Ravioli This will have a little bit of something for everyone. Sausage for JJ & Harrison, pumpkin for me and pasta for Annsley



Wednesday: Mom's stuffed bell peppers. Green for me & A, Orange or Red bell peppers for JJ & H.

Thursday: Breakfast for dinner. Egg, bacon, biscuits and hashbrowns. Perfect cozy family meal that I know H & A will gobble down.

Friday: Pork Chop Masala with Mashed Pots These are delicious and we have almost all of the ingredients for it. 

Meals for the Week

I have started the tradition of making cookies every week like Mom used to to. I am making Hot chocolate Cookies this week.

Via

The temperature is going to vary from the highs in the high 90's to highs in the low 80's this week so my menu will be part summer and part fall. 

Since we are trying to save money, I am making a lunch that should last me all week. Last week was tuna pasta salad. This week I am making a chicken salad.

(This is very good. I added some arugula to my sandwich for added flavor. I am excited to get to eat this for the rest of the week).

For a healthy-ish low-carb dinner. We have BBQ Chicken Salad  Hope this is good!
(This was a hit with JJ & I. I made 1 modification. I put BBQ sauce on the chicken before cooking it so that it had more of a BBQ flavor. We gave the kids just part of the BBQ chicken breast for their dinner and H told me that dinner was very good!)

Pizza Bagels left over from last week that we didn't get around to doing. Boring but easy.

We are making Butternut squash lasagna which sounds perfect for fall and almost the start of football season. 
(This was delicious. A loved it. Once we got H to eat it he really enjoyed it. There was enough leftover for us to save some for dinner next week.)

Via

And.... Football season officially starts on Thursday so we are going to celebrate in style with the Pioneer Womans Dr Pepper Spicy Pulled Pork on Hawaiian rolls. We are going to start football season off right!

Meals for this week

This past week was a busy one and we are always trying to save on groceries.

Via

I made the above Tuna Pasta Salad as my lunch for the week. It was really good and I enjoyed the warm aspect of it but towards the end of the week it got very "tuna-y". 

Via

I made baked chicken parm  which is always a winner and delicious. I made it over vegetable noodles this time for some added veggies and you really couldn't tell the difference. 

Pizza Meatballs

These were delicious and very good over arugula for JJ & I. It added a nice crispness to the meal and the contrast between the hot meatballs and the cold arugula was very nice. 

Via

Sausage and shells 

These were ok. It was very easy to put together and H loved the shell pasta but I wasn't that crazy about it. It was so easy that I know I will make it again. 

I also made a creamy chicken & mushroom pasta from the Food Network Magazine September insert (I have saved the insert). I will try to take a picture next time so that I remember what it looks like. I made the chicken cajun and was very good. 

Lastly we made pizza bagels. These were normal easy to make but the kids loved them. 

Meal Planning Monday

It's Monday again! This means a weekly trip to the grocery store to get our groceries. I have never been very good at planning meals. In college I lived in the sorority house so someone cooked for me and I lived with my parents for 4 years after college so if I wanted a home cooked meal my mom cooked it for me. So, when JJ I got married I didn't know how to cook much less plan meals for a weekly grocery trip! This has been 4 years in the making but I feel like I am finally good at planning (relatively) well balanced meals. 

** I don't have pictures for ANY (ok, I do have pictures from online for 1) of these recipes or even any of these recipes up online but I love them all so I will be posting them this week as the week goes on.  Sorry! ***

Monday: Spaghetti with Moms Spaghetti Sauce & crusty dutch oven bread

-- I make this on Monday so that we have something to eat for lunch during the week

Tuesday: Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Wednesday: Doritos Pie 

-- JJ has a work Happy Hour so he won't be home for dinner. I am making this for the kids & I

Thursday: Taco Dip

The weekend is my time off so it is most likely going to be take-out unless JJ is feeling adventuresome. 

I truly am hoping to get recipes and pictures of these to link up to this week. 

KK

Meal Planning Mondays

I have decided to keep track of our meals for the week here starting every Monday. Well, at least that is my plan. We will see what happens. 

So, this week, the meals are as follows:

Monday: Pulled pork with yellow rice and broccoli

Tuesday:Tacos using beef and any leftover pulled pork

Wednesday: Breakfast night: Sausage & Cheese Frittata from Southern Living with biscuits

Thursday: Chicken, orzo and spinach casserole from Southern Living

Friday: Leftovers or frozen pizza or takeout. 

I don't cook on the weekends. We feel that is my time to relax.  That is JJ's time to cook or we do takeout/restaurants. 

So, I hope that this gives you some ideas of what to make this week. After I make them I will be updating my recipe page. 

I hope that you have a great day!

KK