Here’s one way to make menu planning a little easier… April 11, 2013

let someone else pick the ingredients!

We recently joined a CSA for a local farm.   This was the first week of getting a box of goodies.  In the box this week:

• Kale
• Sweet potatoes
• Peach jam
• Strawberry jelly
• Pepper relish
• Pecans
• One lonely green pepper

Recipes we’re making with it this week:

Wednesday: Strawberry Avocado Kale Salad with Bacon and grilled chicken — pretty good, we loved the strawberry/kale combination

Thursday: Pinto beans and cornbread with pepper relish; Kale Salad (with dried fruit/nut/homemade vinaigrette) — we used almonds, craisins, and golden raisins

Friday: Eating out!

Saturday:  Sausage, Potato, and Kale Soup – aka a remade Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana

Sunday: Grilled Chicken, Sweet Potatoes, Zucchini

Monday: Grilled Bratwurst/Peppers/Onions & Corn on the Cob

Tuesday: leftover soup

Hoping strawberries are ready next week but thinking it’ll be a little longer… I’m glad to be back on track with cooking again!

 

Updates and some new recipes! September 2, 2012

Well, I am back to menu planning but haven’t updated here in a while.  Trying to make even more dietary adaptations here, so look for relatively low-carb meals (I’m not following any particular commercial diet, but keeping meals to under 45 carbs… which has been a challenge).  Outside activities (and time away from the house) are ramping up too, so this is the place to come for crockpot meals!  I have so many meals pinned from Pinterest that I want to try too!

Last week’s notable meals (done with minimal planning, so they don’t even merit their own post)

Multigrain Waffles, with 1 cup of blueberries added to the batter.
1 blueberry waffle (1/6th of recipe) + 1 TBSP light cream cheese
2 links turkey sausage
410 calories/47 carbs/24 protein/14 fat/5 fiber

Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore
1 serving + 3/4 cup Ronzoni Healthy Harvest wheat linguini + 2 TBSP freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
335 calories/42 carbs/23 protein/10 fat/7 fiber

Now to figure out a menu plan for next week!

Lentil Soup/Stew January 10, 2012

Wish I could remember who I got this from so I could give credit!  This is so quick and easy (and healthy too, I love when I can cook with all fresh ingredients!)

Ingredients:

1 pound	Lentils, dried
4 cups	Chicken broth, reduced sodium (1 box)
4 cups	Water
3 stalks	Celery, diced
3	Carrots, diced
2 medium	Onions, diced
2 cloves	Garlic, minced
1 tsp	Parsley, dried
1 tsp	Basil, dried
1 tsp	Oregano, dried
1/2 tsp	Garlic powder
Large pinch	Red pepper flakes
	Black Pepper to taste
	Table salt to taste (I don’t use any)

Directions:

Throw everything into the crock, and stir. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Near the end of the cooking time, give it a stir and add more water or broth if you want it soupier.

Serves 12, 1 cup/serving

Menu Plan 1/9-1/15/2012 January 9, 2012

Monday: Lentil Soup (I need to add the recipe to this page!) with Light Oat Bread

Tuesday: Spaghetti Italian with salad

Wednesday:  Mediterranean Chicken with mashed potatoes and honey roasted carrots

Thursday: Leftover Buffet

Friday:  Taco Soup

Saturday: Breakfast for dinner

Sunday: lunch — Leftover Buffet (again, I know, that’s what happens when you have tons of soup!); dinner — potluck @ small groups

Linking up with orgjunkie.com again!

Menu Planning 1/2-1/8/2012 January 1, 2012

Monday: leftover chili + leftover macaroni and cheese = chili mac!

Tuesday: Beef Stew in the crockpot (have to have something easy to get back into the normal routine!)

Wednesday: Taco Bar (or Taco Salad)

Thursday: eating out at Red Robin

Friday: Leftover Buffet aka whatever you can find in the refrigerator!

Saturday: date night, yay!

Sunday: Dollar Sunday @ church (meaning, who knows what I’ll be eating?) and either leftovers or potluck for supper

Menu Plan 11/7-11/13 November 8, 2011

Monday: eating out!

Tuesday: Roasted Winter Squash Soup with Light Oat Bread

Wednesday: Bubble Up Pizza Casserole (new recipe for us, I’ll post if we like it!)

Thursday:  Bacon Jack Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

Friday: Leftover Buffet

Saturday: Breakfast for Dinner (eggs, cheese grits, whatever else sounds good!)

Sunday: eating lunch @ a friend’s; eating supper @ small group for church (nice to have a day with no cooking!)

Linking up with orgjunkie.com again!

Menu Plan 8/29-9/4 August 29, 2011

Finally back to menu planning… and I added in breakfasts for the week as well!

Breakfasts:
Monday: Pancakes
Tuesday: Crockpot Oatmeal (we can pretend it is autumn, right?)
Wednesday: Homemade Egg McMuffins
Thursday: Leftovers from oatmeal or Cheerios, berries and milk
Friday: Triple Berry Smoothies

Dinners:
Monday: Spaghetti Italian with French Bread
Tuesday: Chick Fil A before soccer practice!
Wednesday: Tender Barbecue Chicken, mashed potatoes, honey roasted carrots
Thursday: Leftover Buffet
Friday: Dinner on the road…

Linking up with orgjunkie.com again!