Menu Plan for the week of November 25

SUNDAY: Ranch-breaded chicken tenders, yellow rice, green beans

MONDAY: Chicken pot pie

TUESDAY: Spaghetti and meatballs

WEDNESDAY: Pot roast, mushrooms and onions, noodles and gravy

THURSDAY: Hawaiian Chicken, pineapple, jasmine rice, broccoli

FRIDAY: Linguine with shrimp marinara

SATURDAY: Breakfast for dinner: Omelets (I like mine with onions and cheese)

Menu Plan Week of November 25

OK, I forgot to do this on Monday. But the menu was done on Saturday and sitting here on my desk.

SUNDAY: Alphabet Soup, Danielle Bean's Beer Rolls

MONDAY: Heather's Tandoori Chicken, rice, fresh green beans, the rest of the beer rolls

TUESDAY: Spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread

WEDNESDAY: Spanish rice with pork, salad

THURSDAY: Thanksgiving Feast at my sister's. There will be over 40 for appetizers to celebrate our great-aunt's birthday, and over 20 for dinner.

FRIDAY: Pierogi

SATURDAY: Ranch breaded chicken tenders, baked yams, broccoli

Christmas Giveaway at 5 Minutes for Mom

5 Minutes for Mom is hosting a Christmas Giveaway! Every day until November 24, a new contest will be posted. Leave a comment to enter. Get there by clicking the image above.

And there's also a Pedal Car giveaway going on at the same site. Use this link to reach that giveaway. Again, leave a comment to enter.

Contest!

Lindsey at Enjoy the Journey is having a contest! The prize is an ebook called

A Recipe for Christmas Joy by Mary Beth Whelan

Enter here!

UPDATE: Contest is now closed. Congratulations to the winner!

Works-for-Me Wednesday: Kool-Aid Stains

I tried this tip on Sunday after Little Brother had way too much Kool-Aid at a Boy Scout event.

Oops, sorry. He had way too much Bug Juice. (That's Scoutish for "Kool-Aid.")

Anyway, Little Brother was sporting that trademark Kool-Aid mustache, which is not an approved fashion accessory at his school.

But I removed it in only 2 minutes--gently! I just took a wet washcloth, put a little toothpaste on there, and rubbed his face. Before I knew it, his face was clean, and minty fresh too.

Visit the home of Works-for-Me Wednesday for more tips!

Menu Plan Monday, November 12, 2007

SUNDAY: Favorite Chicken, Brazilian Rice, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, green beans

MONDAY: Pork Chops with maple syrup and balsamic vinegar, roasted potatoes and sweet potatoes, broccoli

TUESDAY: Spicy Orange Chicken for grownups; Chicken piccata for kids (same base chicken, different sauce), jasmine rice, mixed vegetables

I don't often make 2 different main dishes, but I really like this Spicy Orange Chicken, and the kids are not big fans of it. So I figured out a way to have what I like and let them have what they like with a minimum of extra work. TheDad is happy for either dish, but he'll probably have the Orange Chicken with me.

WEDNESDAY: Beef enchiladas made with leftover pot roast, macaroni and cheese, salad

THURSDAY: Spaghetti and meatballs

FRIDAY: Salmon, fettuccine alfredo, vegetables

SATURDAY: Whether I will cook dinner at all on Saturday is a big fat "maybe" but if I do cook, we MIGHT have this: Taco Skillet.

Visit Menu Plan Monday for many fabulous menus and recipes!

Food Budgeting

What's your food budget?

I feed our family of 5 (including Big Brother, the Teenage Bottomless Pit) for about $125-150 a week. That includes food, lunches for everyone but TheDad (the kids mostly bring lunch to school), paper products and cleaning supplies.

According to the USDA, if I follow a "low-cost" plan, I should be spending $209.70! YIKES! For that kind of money, we could eat fresh fish, organic meat and all kinds of gourmet treats. On the "liberal plan" I'd spend $270! But I really don't think anyone is feeling deprived by what's served here.

And apparently the USDA guidelines do not include "nonfoods" like dish soap, shampoo, Comet and tissues--but all of those are included in my budget.

H/T to Angie at Many Little Blessings.

Food Safety Information

You can't be too careful!

With Thanksgiving coming up, this is my friendly reminder to you: purchase a meat thermometer if you don't already own one.

And print out the information here: Is It Done Yet? I have this hanging on the inside of one of my kitchen cabinets.

I cook my turkey with stuffing "in the bird" so I use TWO meat thermometers: a probe-style digital one for the turkey and a conventional dial type for the stuffing. My stuffing contains raw pork sausage, and I want to make sure that meat cooks before I serve it!

Menu Plan Monday, November 5, 2007

Last week was one of those times when we just didn't work off the planned menu very well. Hopefully this week will go better.

SUNDAY: Pizza with friends

MONDAY: Teriyaki pork, jasmine rice, broccoli

TUESDAY: Chili, macaroni & cheese, salad. This has been on the menu for 3 weeks running but we haven't had it yet. Let's see if the third time's a charm!

WEDNESDAY: Chicken, roasted sweet potatoes

THURSDAY: Spaghetti, garlic bread

FRIDAY: Salmon, fettuccine alfredo, vegetables

SATURDAY: Pork paprikas, noodles, green beans with carrots

Menu Plan Monday, October 29

SUNDAY: Pot roast, mushrooms, onions, noodles and gravy

MONDAY: Tandoori Chicken, baked potato, vegetables

TUESDAY: Lemon Mushroom Herb Chicken, rice, crescent rolls, vegetables

WEDNESDAY: Meatball sandwiches. I've got the meatballs all made already, and I'll just start a roaster full of sauce in the afternoon.

THURSDAY: Pork Teriyaki, rice, broccoli

FRIDAY: Pierogi (bought frozen at our church's Fall Festival)

SATURDAY: Chili

Menu Plan week of October 22

OK, so I am really late doing this menu plan!

SUNDAY: Chicken parmesan, spaghetti, salad

MONDAY: Beef Paysanne with bow-tie noodles (New recipe, and it was delicious!)

TUESDAY: School fund-raiser night at Chick-Fil-A

WEDNESDAY: Chicken lo mein (a takeoff on my cashew chicken recipe, minus the nuts--I have to use up all the leftover spaghetti!)

THURSDAY: Spaghetti and meatballs

FRIDAY: If we have One More Pasta Dish this week I think the family will rebel! So it will be Spanish Garlic Shrimp over jasmine rice.

SATURDAY: A Pork Dish to be Named Later

Scarborough Fair Chicken Soup

2 bone-in chicken thighs (frozen is fine)
6 cups chicken broth
1 onion, chopped fine
2 stalks celery, chopped fine
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1 cup cooked chicken, cubed
handful of dried parsley
seasonings to taste:
sage
rosemary
thyme
black pepper
onion powder
garlic powder
1/2 lb bow-tie pasta (farfalle)

I made this soup in my 4-qt Nesco. Put in the chicken thighs and the broth. Turn on roaster to 225 until it boils, then down to 200. Let cook a few hours. Remove the chicken and let cool. Add remaining ingredients. Remove skin and bone from chicken thighs, cube the meat and return it to the pot. 20 minutes before serving, pour in the pasta.

Serves 6, generously.

This soup couldn't have been easier or more delicious. See if you can season it without channeling your inner Simon and Garfunkel.

Menu Plan week of October 15

I feel like I'm in something of a cooking rut here. And I can't figure out what I will be making for dinner Wednesday night. I need some good inspiration.

SUNDAY: We visited my parents. Grilled London Broil and "turkey London Broil" along with boiled red potatoes, corn on the cob and green beans.

MONDAY: Chicken Crescent Casserole

TUESDAY: Spaghetti

WEDNESDAY: I have NO idea!

THURSDAY: Taco skillet

FRIDAY: Shrimp fried rice

SATURDAY: Philly cheesesteak casserole (this one is an "invention in progress" so I will post it after the fact; inspired by a recipe I saw posted at Family Corner)

Menu Plan week of October 8

SUNDAY: visiting my in-laws. Pop's a great cook and my family is an appreciative audience--a winning combination.

MONDAY: Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and vegetables

TUESDAY: Spaghetti and meatballs (time to make the Big Batch)

WEDNESDAY: Hawaiian chicken with pineapple, Jasmine rice, broccoli

THURSDAY: Spanish rice with pork, corn muffins, salad

FRIDAY: Cheese ravioli with marinara sauce, salad

SATURDAY: Minny's Monte Cristo Sandwiches (new recipe of the week), fresh fruit

Menu Plan week of October 1

MONDAY: Pork medallions with onions, hash brown casserole, vegetable

TUESDAY: Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup and homemade bread

WEDNESDAY: Chicken piccata

THURSDAY: Spaghetti

FRIDAY: Quesadillas

SATURDAY: Appetizer night--Pepperoni bread, chili cheese dip

SUNDAY: Roast chicken

Menu Plan for the Month of October 2007

Here are 30 dinners to be served in October. I left one day open for "eat out" or visiting.

In no particular order:
4 spaghetti (including "make the big batch")
Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup
Chicken noodle soup (using leg quarters)
Vegetable alphabet beef soup
Chicken piccata
2 Appetizer Night: Pepperoni bread, Chili cheese dip
Breakfast for Dinner
Filet mignon (it's on SALE! Won't this be a nice surprise?)
Spanish rice with pork
Oven stuffer roaster
2 shrimp meals, could be Spanish Garlic Shrimp, Rainbow Stir Fry, Shrimp Marinara or Quiche
Taco skillet
Pork chops
Pork roast
Quesadillas
Ravioli marinara
Chili/hot dogs
Chicken noodle casserole
Pot roast
Hawaiian chicken
Cashew chicken
"Mummy dogs" for Halloween
Ranch chicken strips
Sausage with spaghetti

Heather's Tandoori Chicken

Source: To Love, Honor and Blog II

This recipe has become a family favorite, though no one can remember what it's called, other than "that really good chicken." Get the recipe at Cook and Count!

Menu for the weeek of September 23, 2007

SUNDAY: Teriyaki pork, rice, broccoli

MONDAY: Spaghetti

TUESDAY: Chicken Divan, crescent rolls

WEDNESDAY: Roast pork with potatoes and sauerkraut, or maybe roast pork with caramelized onion, or maybe balsamic roast pork

THURSDAY: Swiss Chicken Melt, rice

FRIDAY: Shrimp marinara over linguine

SATURDAY: Who knows? TheDad and Big Brother are camping with the Boy Scouts in the Washington, DC area.

Thinking ahead to next Sunday: Tandoori Chicken

Menu Plan Monday, September 17

SUNDAY: Barbecued pork ribs, French fries, salad

MONDAY: Roast turkey breast with stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables, crescent rolls

TUESDAY: Turkey noodle soup, salad

WEDNESDAY: Spaghetti and meatballs

THURSDAY: Chicken quesadillas

FRIDAY: Pierogi, mushrooms, bread (I'm cheating and using Mrs. T's pierogi. Shh! Don't tell my in-laws!)

SATURDAY: Sausage and pepper sandwiches

Visit the home of Menu Plan Monday to see lots more menu ideas and recipes!

Menu Plan Monday, September 10

SUNDAY: After serving a big brunch to the Boy Scout leaders, it was take-out pizza for dinner

MONDAY: Spicy Orange Chicken using the "lazy" method described at bottom; rice and broccoli

TUESDAY: We need a meal that can keep hot in the slow cooker for a little while since we're never sure what time Brig Brother will be home after a cross-country meet. This one works: Chicken paprikas, noodles

WEDNESDAY: Beef enchiladas, corn muffins, salad. This is a great way to use up leftover pot roast or roast beef--pour some canned enchilada sauce into a casserole dish, mix some sauce with shredded cooked beef, chopped onions and cheese, roll up enchiladas, and top with more sauce and cheese. Cover and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

THURSDAY: Roast chicken, potatoes, green beans

FRIDAY: Cheese ravioli with marinara sauce

SATURDAY: Pork ribs on the grill, macaroni salad

Visit the home of Menu Plan Monday and check out everyone else's recipes and meal ideas!