Meal Planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 19

May 6-10

Monday-Grilled pork chops, asparagus, garlic bread

Tuesday-mini pork loin, broccoli, fruit

Wednesday-Meatball sub casserole

Thursday-Chicken Alfredo Roll-ups, salad

Friday-Brats, fresh veggies, fruit

It may appear that this weeks meal plan looks similar to last weeks. Our week was pretty screwy with late nights at work and unplanned trips to Des Moines, so I'm carrying a few of our meals to this week, in hopes that they get made. 

Last weeks Monday, the weather was beautiful so I made Adam grill. I made sausage and veggie pouches. They were delicious and will be a springtime/summertime regular...if spring ever decides to ever show up and stick around.  

Stove-top meatloaf is just good stuff. I will pass this recipe to my kids and then to their kids. I'm pretty sure if you tried it, you'd like it. Even if your mom makes 'the best meatloaf ever,' which my mom does, but only because it's my mom, you'd still like this recipe. Try it and find out that I'm right. 

Meal planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 18

April 29-May 3

Monday-sausage and veggie pouches
Tuesday-chimichangas
Wednesday-meatball sub casserole
Thursday-chicken Alfredo roll-ups
Friday-stove-top meatloaf  (i've made this before and this can not be messed up if you follow the directions. so good!)

Meal planning Monday-vol.3, wk. 17

April 22-26

Monday-club sandwiches, fruit, veggie sticks
Tuesday-stuffed chicken, broccoli, cherry berry salad
Wednesday-pork loin, asparagus, cheesy rice
Thursday-spaghetti bread, salad, cherry berry salad
Friday-out to eat



Last week I didn't get to the baked chicken chimichangas because I thought I had tortillas, but having them and having enough are kinda different. It will appear again next week and they will be made.

The cowboy casserole was pretty good. If you didn't see the link, find it here. It's basically just another version of tater tot casserole. The husband and I enjoyed it, but instead of doing all the additional ingredients, I will continue making it my old way and just adding a can of corn.

The other new recipe last week was confetti chicken pasta. Good dish. This will be added to the 'make again' list. Since there are lots of veggies included in the dish, I did a little prep work prior to the meal and washed and cut everything I needed. I didn't measure, and should have, because once the veggies cooked down, it looked like a pasta dish with a few veggies. Also, you can alter the spicy-ness of this dish to your taste buds. At our house, we like spice, however, it may have been a bit too spicy for the kids...oops.

No new recipes this week, but I'll have a few for you next week. Happy meal planning.

Meal Planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 16

April 5-19

Monday-old chicago tax day pizza prize
Tuesday-baked chicken chimichangas
Wednesday-baked pork chops
Thursday-cowboy casserole
Friday-confetti chicken and pasta

I don't know about you, but my fb feed has been blowing up lately with all sorts of recipes that people are sharing. Sometimes I just scroll right through them, but occasionally, the name or picture catches my eye and I and I'm lured in. That happened a few times last week and the result of that, will be the meals on Tuesday and Thursday. I'll let you know next week if they were as good as the recipe sounds. Friday's meal came from Pinterest.

Meal Planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 12

March 18-22

Monday-taco pie
Tuesday-aloha pork chops
Wednesday-meatball stuffed biscuits
Thursday-leftovers
Friday-baked ravioli casserole

aloha pork chops are in a cookbook i have. i'll post the recipe on wednesday after we try it. i'll let you know if they are worth making or not.

meal planning monday-vol. 3, wk. 11

again, i forgot to hit publish. this is what we're grubbing on this week.
March 11-15

monday-tortellini with marinara, asparagus, garlic bread
tuesday-meatloaf, brussels sprouts
wednesday-white cheesy chicken chili
thursday-baked pork chops, squash
friday-crab cakes

Meal Planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 10

monday-creamy chicken packets, corn, caramel apple pie
tuesday-ham loaf, twice baked potatoes
wednesday-pork roast, Brussels sprouts (carryover)
thursday-taco salads
friday-grilled cheese, tomato soup

***last weeks bacon mac and cheese wasn't a favorite. i will be making a new recipe, every other week, until adam and i find one that we like. if you have a favorite recipe, please share it. i'd love to try it out.

Meal Planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 9

when i started mpm this year, i wanted to try something new and designate each day of the week to something specific. as i've gone through the past 8 weeks, i've tried to stick to the theme, but some weeks were messed up because i was a single parent and the meal that night wouldn't work with kids, or i just didn't feel like having the scheduled meal, or i didn't have all the ingredients the recipe required. so, i am going to stop 'following' the theme schedule, but will probably fit 3 of the 5 themes in throughout the week.

monday-beef taco bake
tuesday-sweet and sour chicken, rice, pineapple
wednesday-pork roast, garlic roasted brussels sprouts
thursday-meatball pizza
friday-bacon mac and cheese (minus the bacon for the momma)

Meal planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 8

Monday-tacos, rice
Tuesday-home style chicken and noodles
Wednesday-Ravioli in Alfredo sauce, garlic bread
Thursday-meatball marinara sandwiches, mixed fruit
Friday-baked flounder, salad, corn, applesauce

Meal Planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 7

a little late, but i still wanted to post this weeks mpm.

we've had a birthday, a night with only one parent, and a 'holiday' so i'm breaking my rules for the week and just feeding my family whatever. also, the easter season is upon this catholic girl, so 'no meat' fridays begin.

monday-chicken nuggets, french fries, mandarin oranges and birthday brownies with ice cream
tuesday-hot dogs, carrots and ranch, pretzels, pudding
wednesday-spaghetti, garlic bread
thursday-"heart" pancakes, sausage links, scrambled eggs
friday-freezer clean-up--fish stick sandwiches, potato wedges, cheesy broccoli

Meal Planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 6

monday-fajitas
tuesday-chicken and noodles
wednesday-papa john's free coin toss pizza
thursday-crocckpot meatballs
friday-tater tot casserole

last weeks philly cheesesteak peppers were GOOD...only adam and i both agreed that the peppers need to be baked a bit before stuffing. next time i make them, i will put the peppers in the oven for about fifteen minutes first. perhaps i just had really think peppers, but the crunch and pepper taste kind of took away from the yummy-ness of the beef mixture and cheese.
also, the crockpot beer chicken was not bad (no link, but follow the directions under the picture on pinterest). i used a miller high life light (we're cheap beer drinkers), and the taste of the chicken was good. only problem, it was too dry because it cooked too long. my only recommendation-make sure you are ready to eat when it is done, or you'll be feasting on dry chicken.

Meal planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 5

Monday-tacos with the fixins
Tuesday-Philly cheesesteak stuffed bell peppers.
Wednesday-cheese tortellini, garlic bread
Thursday-crockpot beer chicken
Friday- pizza boat

Last weeks meals were not bad. I did not like the taste of the honey mustard sauce I used for the Aussie chicken, but once cooked and baked in, it wasnt as strong tasting. I will make again, but will alter how I fix it.
I could not locate the recipe I had for the bacon cheeseburger soup, so I took two different recipes and pulled ingredients from both. I was quite pleased with the taste and it too, will be made again.

Meal planning monday-vol. 3, wk. 4

as i post this on a tuesday, i reassure you that this was typed out on saturday evening on my phone. i have to plan ahead for what i'll be eating the following week, you know. here's what's on the many lists reminding me what i'm going to be grubbing on.

Monday-we had chicken quesadillas
Tuesday-per request of little boy, it's pizza night
Wednesday-Aussie chicken (search on pinterest for recipe)
Thursday-bacon cheeseburger soup (carry over)
Friday-tuna cakes (carry over)

Last weeks Tuesday meal, Italian layer bake, delicious. I was very pleased with the taste and Adam didn't have anything to say about it, which means its good. The kids even ate it, minus the peppers.

There was a bit of sickness in the house early in the week and we were gone Friday evening, so that's why we have a few carry over meals this week. I'm kinda excited to try the soup on Thursday this week and look forward to making (and eating) it.

Meal Planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 3 & a confession

January 14-18

monday-taco pie
tuesday-italian layer bake
wednesday-chicken spaghetti with lemon garlic sauce  (click on top right photo for recipe)
thursday-bacon cheeseburger soup
friday-tuna cakes

confession~last week i was in a slump. truth is, i'm still not out of it. last weeks meal planning did not go as i had hoped. although i did make 4 of the 5 recipes, but they were not made on the days posted. with adam's 'new' job, he isn't getting home until 6:30 or 7, the weather is sucking all the energy i have and i just don't feel like doing ANYTHING.

 also, the bubble up pizza recipe....not fantastic. the topping was not very appealing to me, but it was edible. i will either not make it again, or i'll find something else to put on the top. maybe some little canned biscuits could do the trick. 

Meal Planning Monday-vol. 3, wk 2

here goes the first attempt at my new themed weekly meal plans. i'm sure i'll be able to stick with it for a few weeks before i begin cheating.

monday-chicken enchiladas
tuesday-pop up pizza
wednesday-spaghetti, garlic bread
thursday-honey sauced chicken over rice
friday-baked sandwiches

meal planning monday-vol. 2, 11/19-11/23

monday-maple pork chops with pumpkin risotto
tuesday-mexican dorito casserole
wednesday-grilled chicken salads, cherry enchiladas
thursday-turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, apple salad, rolls
friday-turkey baguette sandwiches, other leftovers

meal planning monday-vol.2, 9/17-9/21

i had this all typed out and ready to publish, and apparently i forgot to hit the button, as it greeted me this morning. here's what we had last night and what we're having this week.

monday-taco pie, chips and guacamole
tuesday-grilled chicken salads, fruit
wednesday-fridge clean-out night
thursday-eggplant parmesan with spaghetti and garlic bread
friday-hot roast beef sandwiches, broccoli,

**the taco pie recipe is the one i used last night as a last resort. i had all those ingredients, but did not have all the ingredients for the original recipe i like to make-using crushed doritos and crescent rolls. it was ok, but prefer the other.

meal planning monday-vol.2, wk.25

monday-big o' chef salads
tuesday-ham steak on the grill, corn on the cob, fresh strawberries
wednesday-brat burgers, broccoli, mexican fiesta pasta salad
thursday-grilled chicken salads, fruit
friday-yet to be determined

mouth watering goodness

saw these on pinterest. thought they looked yummy. and easy. i made them. they were delicious.

***Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza Bites***

ingredients

chicken

cheese

bacon (i used 'real bacon' crumbles)

pillsbury pizza crust

Preheat oven to heat specified on pizza dough package. Usually it's 400-425 degrees. Cook/chop bacon and cook/shred chicken. I just eyeballed the amount, add more or less to your liking.

Unroll your pizza dough onto a lightly floured surface. Roll dough so it's about 12" by 8". You're going to want to cut it into 12 squares. I used a pizza cutter to slice the dough.

Place cheese, chicken and bacon on each square and wrap the dough around the toppings. Pinch opposite corners and make sure seams are closed completely.

Then place them seam side down in a lightly sprayed muffin tin. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle a bit of the dry ranch powder over top.

Place your rolls in the oven. Set your timer for 10 minutes and check on them after that. They may take up to 15 minutes to be done. (Mine baked about 12-13 minutes) Take them out when they're lightly golden on top.

Serve them warm with a side of freshly made ranch dressing for dipping...sour cream and ranch powder mix (made ahead of time). Adam and I didn't use the homemade ranch, but rather the salad dressing ranch. They were still delish.

*and the beer was quite delightful too.

meal planning monday-vol. 2, wk 16

and because my family has to eat again this week, i give you, meal planning monday.

monday-*teriyaki, orange and ginger fish, rice and mixed veggies
tuesday-**grilled cheese, veggie sticks, apples and peanut butter
wednesday-cheesy chicken enchiladas verde, mexican rice
thursday-kielbasa, sauerkraut, bread and butter, fruit
friday-**braided spaghetti bread, fruit

*the fish is starkist seasations. we've tried all the other marinade flavors and this was our least favorite. pretty much guaranteed you won't be finding this in our freezer again.
**adam is working late. when this happens, i plan easy meals for the kids and i.
***this is a pinterest pin that sounds too fun not to try. i'll be sure to let you know next week how it turns out and our final decision on the concoction.