Menu Planning Monday

So I didn't exactly stick to my plan this week. I had great intentions, but in the end I got lazy. In cooking, sometimes you've just got to compromise or improvise. I did a little of both. For example, instead of the mahi and vegetables, I made tilapia and served it on shredded lettuce. I've got to get the recipe up on my food blog, but basically I cooked the fish on the stove in a skillet and topped it with dijon mustard, bragg amino acid, and agave. You can also finish it off with crushed pecans or walnuts. I did barbeque some chicken, but didn't go to the trouble of making kabobs. Fry's does have them on sale for $7 so I might do that. I didn't get shrimp, so I'll be moving that to this week.

I did have success on Sunday with the pork roast. My family wasn't real sure about the sweet and savory taste, but I loved it. I had to compromise and improvise because I was cooking it in my crock pot. I tried the rub, but didn't have any chili powder. When it was done I made a mixture of brown sugar and bragg amino acid and put it on top and warmed it in the oven while I made the potatoes and gravy. I'm not sure if I'll try it again. I probably will keep looking for other ideas because we eat pork roast quite a bit.

We are winding down on summer as our kids go back to school on August 11. (Yuk! Too soon!) Plus we are getting ready to take our oldest to college. He is looking for an on campus job, so I might have to make the 12 hour drive with not much notice. So I am going to work on some freezer meals over the next couple of weeks. I'd love it if you had any great ideas to share.

One last note in this very long post. Today is the 10th anniversary of Pei Wei. If you live near one, you can print a coupon for 2 entrees for $10 good only for today. Just click on the link on my menu. Enjoy!

Monday: Pei Wei 2 entrees for $10
Tuesday: Northern Italian shrimp and broccoli
Wednesday: Wedding reception for my neighbor
Thursday: Crockpot chicken (breasts w/chicken broth & zesty italian dressing)
Friday: chicken enchilladas (see recipe below) (freezer meal)
Saturday: Date night
Sunday: Pasta bar (turn into freezer meal)

Turkey Enchiladas (or chicken)

2-3 cups turkey, shredded
1 doz. Flour/corn tortillas
1 small can diced green chilies
1 lb. jack cheese, grated
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 can water
1 16 oz. container sour cream

Combine sour cream, soup, water and chilies.
Dip tortillas into mixture.
Fill tortillas with chicken and cheese.
Roll and place in 9x13 in. pan
Pour the rest of the mixture on top.
Sprinkle with any remaining cheese.
Bake at 350 for 30-40 min.

Check out organizing junkie for tons or recipes.

Menu Planning Monday

This week was a great success. I made everything I had planned and they were all very good. I guess if I had to pick my favorite it would be the salsa dump chicken, with the BBQ chicken salad coming in a very close second. My husband loved the cilantro in the dressing. The kids were not big fans of the salad. No big shocker there.

This week I am going to be trying out some recipes from Take Shape for Life's new Lean and Green Cookbook. In my weight loss program, I eat a lean and green meal every day in addition to 5 prepackaged meals and 2 snacks. Just as with anything else, I get to making the same things. Each week when I cook for my family I just adapt what they are having. I never make 2 different meals. That would make me crazy. So, I am excited to have these dishes to try that are all portioned out for me. So, I'll be posting the recipes next week with the ones I loved. Sorry there won't be any fun links for you.

Monday: chicken, black bean and corn burritos using leftovers from yesterdays salad
Tuesday: zesty grilled vegetables and mahi mahi
Wednesday: lemon scallion chicken and vegetable kabobs
Thursday: northern italian shrimp and broccoli
Friday: turkey burgers
Saturday: date night
Sunday: pork loin (I'll be trying the rub and glaze, but using my crock pot. It's 115 degrees here!)

Check out organizing junkie for tons or recipes.

Menu Planning Monday

Wow, we had such a fun vacation. The weather in Southern California was divine. The highest temp we saw in 10 days was 80. I won't even see that for the low in Arizona for the next 3 months. Oh well, back home and ready to eat good home cooked food again. Although we ate at some pretty scrumptious restaurants. Tomorrow we'll be eating from the freezer until I can get to the store, and then I'm hoping to try some new recipes. I had a little withdrawal not posting last week, but I didn't mind sleeping past 6:00 a.m.

Monday: barbeque hamburgers and hot dogs
Tuesday: Sauteed shrimp with arugula and tomatoes
Wednesday: Sweet salsa dump chicken
Thursday: Chicken spaghetti
Friday: Honey ginger grilled salmon
Saturday: Date night
Sunday: BBQ chicken salad with cilantro ranch dressing


Check out organizing junkie for tons or recipes.

Menu Planning Monday

This week we are getting ready to leave on vacation. So, I am going to keep my menu simple and try to cook from my freezer. I don't want to spend too much time or money at the grocery store. This menu will probably seem boring. Sorry.

Modnay: leftover chicken enchilladas
Tuesday: spinach raviolli (frozen from Costco)
Wednesday: homemade pizzas on tortillas (or little caesars)
Thursday: grilled burgers (also frozen from Costco)
Friday: Leave for vacation

Check out organizing junkie for tons or recipes.

Menu Planning Monday (100th post)

What a great week we had. I made the pecan and dijon crusted chilean sea bass over zucchini slaw with mahi and without the slaw. So it ended up being pecan and dijon crusted mahi mahi. I turned out to be delicious. I rarely cook my fish on the stove so I was a little nervous, but it went well. I simply served it over a bed of shredded lettuce because I was too lazy to make the slaw. Maybe another time.

My husband and I spent a few days in California at the beach to celebrate our 21st wedding anniversary, so I was able to enjoy fresh seafood, which I love. We ate at Beaches in Manhattan Beach and I had the most wonderful tropical halibut. I wish I had taken a picture of it, but I was so hungry that I forgot.

Our actual anniversary is this week, so I will be spoiled with another fine dinner. The kids are happy to have me back and cooking for them. (I think!)

Monday: leftover grilled chicken with creamy mashed potatoes
Tuesday: spaghetti squash (never made it last week)
Wednesday: anniversary dinner at Donovans
Thursday: ground turkey and bell peppers
Friday: chicken enchilladas
Saturday: date night
Sunday: pork roast (in crock pot)

Check out organizing junkie for tons or recipes.

Menu Planning Monday

Alright, I did not make one thing from my menu last week. This should make this weeks planning much easier. However, with all the schedule's this week, I can't see one night where we will all be home together except Sunday. Here's to looking forward to a great family dinner on Sunday.

Monday: chicken tacos
Tuesday: pecan and dijon crusted chilean sea bass over zucchini slaw
Wednesday: spaghetti squash with turkey meatballs
Thursday: leftovers (clean out that fridge)
Friday: oatmeal pancakes
Saturday: pizza (takeout)
Sunday: grillin-turkey burgers


Check out organizing junkie for tons or recipes.

Menu Planning Monday

This week, the Crockpot chicken tacos were my favorite. I added more chicken breasts, so I should have added another can of corn and beans. But, it was still delicious. The week was so much calmer and it was nice to not have homework and the like to deal with. The beginning of summer is always so fun. Tomorrow the swim lessons begin and that brings more routine to our lives, for better or worse. We've also got one starting tennis. Of course we are going all summer long with the 6:00 a.m. open gym for the volleyball player. I've got to get to bed earlier. I really want to keep it so simple this week.

Monday: salmon quesadillas
Tuesday: wedding reception
Wednesday: pecan and dijon crusted chilean sea bass over zucchini slaw
Thursday: spaghetti squash with turkey meatballs
Friday: oatmeal pancakes
Saturday: date night
Sunday: grillin-turkey burgers

Check out organizing junkie for tons or recipes.