Menu Plan Monday

I hadn't posted a menu plan last week because I went to California on Sunday and Monday, and basically that threw me off. It was a horrible idea not having a menu plan even if I was starting late, because one day we ended up having frozen pizzas. My son was thrilled, but I really hated doing it. I'd much rather make my own than do the frozen thing.

Monday

Shepherd's Pie - I made pork chops on Saturday and plan to use the leftover gravy for this meal.

Tuesday

Eggplant Parmesan Pizza - This week I picked up a nice-sized eggplant from bountiful baskets so I thought this would be a good use. This time we will stay a way from frozen pizza. :)

Wednesday

Leftover shepherd's pie and salad for my husband and me. Hot dogs and salad for my son.

Thursday

Black Bean Quesadillas

Friday

Chicken Fajitas

Saturday

Getting husband to grill. Plans for steak, corn on the cob, green leaf lettuce salad with cranberries, feta, walnuts and spinache.

Sunday

Leftovers

Check out some great recipes at the main Menu Plan Monday post at Laura's blog I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Menu Plan Monday

Last week I was pretty on target with my menu. We did have a slight variation on the schedule.

1. Friday was supposed to be beef enchiladas but I forgot to buy chilis to make the enchilada sauce with so that had to go on the back burner. When I made the pot roast I made extra mashed potatoes and still had tons of gravy so we had shepherd's pie on Friday.

2. Saturday was supposed to be veggie pizza BUT when I took out the frozen hamburger for the shepherd's pie to I took out two bags. I was weighing them to see which was closest to a pound. I kept one out longer than I intended so we had patty melts. This worked out great because I was able to use the extra rye bread that was left over from the beef and gravy over rye bread. I got three beautiful vidalia onions from my fruit and veggie co-op as well as a pile of corn on the cob. So I grilled up half of one of the onions and boiled up some corn.

3. This was supposed to be a left over scavenger hunt kind of day. Since I hadn't made the enchiladas yet, I made that the dinner goal using the leftover roast beef. I also made chilaquiles as I had extra taco meat from Monday (lunch tomorrow for me and my son).

Anyway, those were the changes. Here is what is up for the week.

Monday

Veggie Pizza with sorbet and fresh strawberries and blueberries for dessert.

Tuesday

Enchilada leftovers with watermelon for dessert.

Wednesday

Roast Chicken with Lemons and a green leaf lettuce salad with cantaloupe for dessert.

Thursday

Garden Rotini with grilled zucchini and chicken (utilizing some of the chicken from Tuesday). I picked up this recipe last week from Eat At Home's Menu Plan Monday link. Yogurt smoothies for dessert.

Friday

Garlic chicken lettuce wraps (a favorite way to stretch out the leftover chicken from Tuesday). Pluots for dessert.

Saturday

Rotini with meat sauce and cucumber salad the recipe I picked up from Tidbits of Happy. Random fruit for dessert. Probably pluots or peaches.

Sunday

I am heading to California on Sunday, because I have an appointment with my endo. I am not sure what my husband and my son will have. Typically when I am gone they survive on pizza and salad. I plan to take this opportunity to learn some yummy recipes from my sister-in-law.

So that is it for this Monday. It should be a pretty busy week. If you would like to join along or just get some great ideas head on over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

Menu Plan Monday Recipes That Caught My Eye

When I browsed some of the fabulous blogger menus for Menu Plan Monday, I saw quite a few menu ideas that really caught my eye. I thought I would put them here in order to have them on hand for another Menu Plan Monday. With over 300 posters I obviously couldn't check out everything, but I do think these will be marvelous!

The blog name had me intrigued so I had to check out the posting at The Fruit of Her Hands. I was so glad I did, because her blog looks fantastic. I was immediately drawn to this lovely woman's words. I especially appreciated her desire to be the woman God has made her to be. The food that caught my eye was actually her recipe for pizza crust from her Friday night pizza night. I love making pizza at home, but I must admit I have never made my own crust. When I lived back East I would just buy some dough at the bakery. Now in Arizona I am more likely to buy some Bobelli which is tasty, but probably not going the more thrifty route. In fact this week I am planning on making veggie pizza and just might have to try the crust recipe that night.

This next one is from one blog linking to another. I love stuffed peppers, and I am always looking for different ways to make them. Benza Bulletin had stuffed peppers on the list with a link for the tasty recipe! I was thrilled to have another recipe for stuffed peppers. I am definitely going to keep this in mind for the weeks ahead.

Today's Specials had a link to what made my mouth water when just reading the name. Imagine BBQ Chicken Braid! I don't think this is something I will be able to work out immediately, but once I get a good mixer, I am on it!

While reading Greta's post at Mom Living Healthy, I was drawn to the apple granola recipe she got from Finding Joy in My Kitchen. They had it listed for breakfast so many times, I just had to look it up. I have quite a bit of cereal stocked up right now for my husband (he loves cereal), but I think he will flip for this recipe too!

I love salads. I get a lot of great fruits and vegetables from bountiful baskets, and I am always looking for ways to incorporate each and every one into our diet. Trina at Tidbits of Happy had a cucumber salad on her Menu Plan Monday posting. It looks so good! I just picked up two HUGE English cucumbers this weekend. I think I will try this on Sunday with our leftovers.

After seeing my fantasy coffee cup in the hands of the A Need For Caffeine, I had to pop on over and see what was the week's menu plan. I was immediately giddy over the idea of a crock pot apple dumplings. I made two apple crisps in the past two weeks and think trying the apple dumplings would be a blast. I also just love using my crock pot for anything I can.

Amanda at First Day of My New Life had a recipe link for strawberry banana bread (from A Few Shortcuts) that again had my mouth watering. I always seem to have bananas on hand, and this looks like a seriously tasty way to put them to good use (beyond my typical choice of banana bread or banana muffins). Looking at the pictures at the recipe site reminded me again that I need a good mixer. Maybe for Christmas.

Charla from Healthy Home Blog has a recipe for chicken tortilla soup. I have a recipe that I use but I was thrilled to find another option. It looks like a winner!

Unorganized Housewife has a title that kind of describes me, and a recipe that is definitely a must try. It is called Murphy's Hot Hamburger. We have a Murphy's here (well not the Murphy's that makes this burger), and after looking at the picture I was hoping that it was our Murphy's. Well it isn't so I am going to have to make this myself. Thank goodness for the recipe!

Food on the Table had me with this lovely recipe for pineapple shrimp rice bake. It contains everything I love, and I am pretty sure my son and husband will like it too. Of course, I have to wait for a good shrimp sale.

Alicia's Homemaking had some great recipes to share, but the one that really caught my eye was for blueberry zucchini bread. I have always loved zucchini bread, and this sounds like an awesome option. The vegetable pasta primavera looks pretty awesome too. She has a great picture. My only fear is my husband's lactose intolerance. :( Poor guy.

Oh the joy! More granola! I really am so excited about my granola making prospects thanks to another recipe this time from Alli 'n Son! Granola really can satisfy, and now that I have found a delightful yogurt recipe, I am ready to make that too and mix up the yummy duo!

I was thrilled to find Eat At Home. Not only are their recipes but also a grocery list accompanying her menu plan. I was especially taken with the Garden Rotini with Grilled Zucchini and Chicken. Summer is totally zucchini season!

Well that is it for this week. If you haven't yet, you just might want to head over to I'm An Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday. It has helped me regain more time in my week and more order. :)

Menu Plan Monday

An important part of saving money is definitely getting a handle on our food menu. I have participated in Menu Plan Monday in the past from Laura's blog I'm An Organizing Junkie, and it definitely helped me not only save money, but it helped me save time. I often was totally overwhelmed after work and wondered what we should have for dinner. I would often stop at the store to pick up an ingredient or two. Menu planning really takes a lot of that load off.



MONDAY

Taco salads for the grown ups and tacos for the teenager and cinnamon crisps for desert.

TUESDAY

Slow cooker pot roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn on the cob. Cherry jello for desert.

WEDNESDAY

Creamy Italian tuna pasta salad

THURSDAY

Roast beef and gravy (using leftovers from slow cooker pot roast) over rye bread and green leaf lettuce salad.

FRIDAY

Beef enchiladas and cheese enchiladas (using leftover beef from the pot roast).

SATURDAY

Veggie Pizza

SUNDAY

Leftover round up