Menu Monday - Shannon

I have FOUR doctor appointments this week on top of family coming in from out of town. I'm trying to stay as stress-free as possible these next 9 days before this baby is born so our meals will be simple but our bellies will be filled.

Monday - Meatloaf and mashed potatoes premade by Costco (homemade is way better... I had two of the four appointments today)
Tuesday - Baked Monte Cristo Sandwich with some swiss instead of american cheese. Raspberry jam on the side for dipping.
Wednesday - Cheese Tortellini Alfredo (sauce from a jar) with chicken and broccoli.
Thursday - Dinner brought in by the ANGELS of my Relief Society (another two doctor appointment day)
Friday - California Style BBQ-Chicken Pizza
Saturday - Arena Football game, dinner out before hand
Sunday - Dinner at Mom and Dad's

Yummy Smoothie

Hi Ladies,

I make smoothies frequently for my kids and I for snacks because they're quick, easy, and I can squeeze in some fruit and dairy in one step. I went to make one today and realized I was out of milk, so I improvised and it was really good! Only 12 Weight Watchers points for the whole blender pitcher, so I had about a quarter of that and it filled me up! Okay, here you go:

1 (12 oz) can fat free evaporated milk
1 c. fat free strawberry yogurt
1 medium banana frozen (I always take my bananas that are going brown and peel them, break them in half, and throw them in a ziploc bag in my freezer. They're great for smoothies or banana bread)
8 large frozen strawberries (I buy the big bag at Costco or WinCo)

Blend at high speed until smooth and increased in volume.

Menu Monday - Erin

We are heading out of town this weekend to go visit family (Cori and Colin, and other family that will be up there at that time) so I'm trying to not shop much this week and use what I got. I'm a fan of freezing meals, and by the time next week comes to an end, I'm sure I'll need to start stocking up my freezer meals again. Our family isn't quiet big enough to eat all of one recipe for a lot of meals we eat, so I make a full batch and freeze the other half. If you want to ready more about that you can check out our other blog. When it comes to meal planning I usually plan my meals around what's on sale at my store and I have coupons for, that's a whole other post I can go on and on about. I have a white board that I keep on my fridge, that I keep track meals I have in the freezer, my menu and things I need I certain stores. So here is our menu at our house

Monday - Beef Stroganoff, here's one with a pic if you want it (I had half of a recipe in my freezer minus the mushrooms and sour cream)
Tuesday - Left over BBQ Pork Sandwiches
Wednesday - Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken (ok this isn't in my freezer, but I have most of the things I need)
Thursday - Sandwiches, since we will be on the road
Friday - Out of town
Saturday - Out of town
Sunday - Chicken and Wild Rice Soup (not sure where I got the recipe, and I'll post it later) with Orange Rolls (we could easily eat a whole recipe, but shouldn't, so last time I made a full recipe and froze half of it, so I plan on just getting them out to let them raise all day.)

Easy White Chicken Chili

We love this recipe! It's easy, tasty, filling, and healthy! 1/2 c. only has 1 Weight Watchers point, so I can have a big bowl for really low points/cal/fat.

This is a lighter recipe, so I like to stir in a couple of TBS of fat-free sour cream (I only like the "Naturally Yours" brand...it looks like a cow pattern on the outside) to make it richer with hardly any added calories or fat. I also prefer mine without cheese (strange, since usually I love anything with cheese) and with a few baked tortilla chips crushed and stirred into it. I also usually substitute black beans for half of the white beans.

White Chicken Chili:

2 cans white beans, drained and rinsed

15 oz (one costco can, or equivalent amount) cooked white meat chicken

1 can diced tomatoes (the normal size...14 oz?)
1 onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 can chopped green chilies
2 cloves garlic
1 can chicken broth
1 t. cumin
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1/4 - 1/2 t. chili powder
cilantro to taste...I always add probably at least 1/2 cup

Toppings:
additional chopped cilantro
low-fat sour cream
shredded cheese (low fat or, in moderation, full fat)

Saute onion, pepper, garlic, and green chilies until onions and peppers are soft (no need to use oil...the liquid from the chilies works just fine). DON'T let garlic burn...use medium heat.
Add all other ingredients and simmer 10 minutes. Top with sour cream, cheese, and cilantro.

Menu Mondays - Heather

This is a great idea, Cori! I always plan my meals a week at a time...I just don't know how to function at dinnertime otherwise, and we end up eating out. Todd's family is great at just whipping up something tasty out of whatever they have on hand, but I'm horrible at this. I'm too much of a perfectionist, so I can't just leave one ingredient out if I don't have it. Okay, there's my plug for menu planning! :) This is my first attempt at links, so I'm sorry if they don't work, but I'll post my menu anyway because maybe it will at least be good for ideas. :) Here are my plans for the week:

Monday - Spaghetti (nothing fancy...we're babysitting two additional kids, so it's gonna be a hectic "add some ground beef to Ragu" kind of night)

Tuesday - White Chicken Chili

Wednesday - Grilled Sweet and Sour Pork Chops/ wild rice/ sauteed zucchini

Thursday - Tossball practice and Todd has meetings every Thursday this month, so the kids will probably have corn dogs and I'll have a Boca burger. Raw veggies on the side.

Friday - Young Women's Fundraiser Auction/Dinner

Saturday- Date Night

Sunday - Tea's Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Bake

Menu Mondays

If you are like me you hate dinner time.  It's not the cooking part cause I actually love cooking and exploring new things, its the whole " whats for dinner" part.  I always have the hardest time figuring out what to fix.  And most of the time I start thinking about it too late to do anything nice.  And many times my sister and I will call to figure out what the other is fixing. Now we have both done menu planning on and off for years.  But I got out of the habit when I was pregnant, which looking back now that is probably when I need a planned out menu the most. It would of helped my hubbers alot when that last thing i wanted to do was think of food.  Now that my tiny sweet pea is here, and the morning sickness is long gone ( good riddance).  We are back full swing into our menu planning.  about 2 weeks ago we sat down and planned our menu mostly using stuff that we already had.

It has been so nice to already know what we are having the next night.  It makes me love dinner time again.  Not to mention it always seems to save us money and time at the grocery store!!  I was lucky enough this year to have 2 great calendars, one I made of our family then my sister made a Family one.  So one is for all the things going on and the other one is hanging up in my cupboard door with our menu, right next to my fav.  pizza/ bread-stick recipe!!

Don't you just love the  picture of my brother and sister in law in their Halloween  costumes!!

 So now I am thinking why not have menu Mondays each week on this blog, which will help us all to be better prepared each week.  Lets see if we can't help each other out.  Every Monday lets each take 5 minutes and post our menu for the week.  If you have a link to a recipe include that or if its a recipe from a cookbook tell us which one!!   And if we see something on someones menu that we might like to try lets ask for the recipe!!  What do you think?  Should we give it a try?  

I'll go first, although you can see in the pictures what We are having for the whole month!!  Here is what we have planned for the week!

Monday- left overs from our yummy Easter dinner

Tuesday-  meatloaf and my favorite brown rice

Wednesday- Chicken Alfredo with Homemade garlic bread-sticks ( I just have to look on my cupboard door!!)  

* cook roast for enchiladas next day*

Thursday- Amanda's enchiladas and spanish rice

Friday- sloppy joes, pasta salad  - we will have a ton of people here for the Mr. graduation and sloppy joes are easy to fix in huge quantaties, and if it doesn't get eaten freezes really well!

Saturday-   Breakfast- hash brown breakfast casserole in crockpot ( make it fast cook it slow cookbook pg. 51)

                  Dinner-  out to eat with family to celebrate!!

Sunday- Rotisserie style chicken, mash potatoes,gravy

All right that is it for me, lets see your menus!!

Whats on your Easter menu?

So as I am planning a shopping list for our Easter Dinner I can't help but wonder what you all are doing?  Whats on your menu for Easter?  Do you have any fun recipes that are traditions?   Are you doing anything special for Easter breakfast?

Here is what we are planning, it pretty traditional!!


Ham
Cheesy potatoes ( aka funeral potatoes)
roasted lemon garlic asparagus
Hot crossed buns
jello salad with bunny shaped marshmallows

and for dessert
Carrot cake!!

I will post the recipes when I have some sleep under my belt!!

oh yeah and I updated the blog to the new editor and I have been having issues.  But like I said working on no sleep here.  So let me know if you like it, if it gives you trouble or what.  If we don't like it I can change it back to the old way, let me know.  And if you figure out how to make it work then please teach me!!

I cant wait to here what on you menus for Easter!!  And if you have a good recipes please share!!