Menu Plan for January 27 - Feburary 2

I find myself planning and re-planning depending on who's going to be home. I hate to make a favorite for someone who won't even be here. It didn't work out well last week, when I made some pork ribs in barbecue sauce (not in the original plan) and TheDad never got any.

SUNDAY: Vegetable soup, bread and salad

MONDAY: Roast Pork with Caramelized Onions, green beans, fettuccine alfredo (thanks, Lipton!) I don't care about the sides anyway. I am too busy hogging up all the onions for myself!

TUESDAY: Chicken pot pie (never made this last week)

WEDNESDAY: Beef Paysanne

THURSDAY: Time to make the Big Batch of Spaghetti and Meatballs

FRIDAY: Pepperoni Bread, salad

SATURDAY: The Boy Scouts are camping, so it will just be me, Little Brother and Middle Sister. We'll think of something. Maybe French Toast.

Frugal Fried Rice by the Coupon Queen (AKA SFO Mom)

Or, how to feed one mom, one teenage boy and one "tween" girl on about $1.75!

Here's the shopping list. I bought on sale and used coupons.
1 Perdue Perfect Portion boneless/skinless chicken breast (6 for 4.99, $1 off coupon, so 67 cents for one piece of chicken)
1 bag Birds Eye Steam Fresh Asian vegetables (99 cents a bag, save $1 off 2 coupon, so 49 cents for a bag)
2 cups cooked jasmine rice (1/4 lb raw rice=1 cup raw=2 cups cooked; this rice is 20 pounds for about $10 at the warehouse store so 12 cents for rice)
1 small onion, chopped fine (3 pounds for $2 and this onion was probably 1/4 lb at most, about 15 cents for the onion)
1 tablespoon minced garlic from a jar (I get maybe 100 tablespoons out of a jar, and a jar cost me $5, so 5 cents for garlic)
Some soy sauce and a splash of sesame oil (no prices on these but the amount is small)
Olive oil for the pan
I allowed a very generous 30 cents for the 2 kinds of oil and the soy sauce.

67 + 50 + 12 + 15 + 5 = $1.45

Saute onion in the olive oil. Add garlic & saute. Add cubed chicken and cook until browned. Add thawed vegetables and cooked rice. Stir until everything is hot. Stir in a little soy sauce and drizzle a bit of sesame oil over top.

Cheddar Cheese Bread

Cheddar Cheese Bread in the bread machine:
1 1/4 cups milk or water
1 1/2 Tbls butter
3/4 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1 1/2 Tbls sugar
1 tsp salt
3 1/2 cups bread flour
2 tsp yeast

Use dough cycle. Shape into a loaf, rise 1 hour, and bake in a heavy pan at 375 for 35 minutes.

This is a really high-rising bread!

Menu Plan for mid-January 2008

I've fallen out of the habit of posting these here.

SUNDAY 13: Our anniversary! We ate out and made a fast-food run for the kids.

MONDAY 14: Hawaiian Chicken

TUESDAY 15: Spaghetti with shrimp marinara

WEDNESDAY 16: Beef Paysanne

THURSDAY 17: Spanish rice with pork and onions

FRIDAY 18: It was only me, TheDad and Little Brother, so we all went to IHOP for a pancake dinner. Little Brother loves the strawberry syrup.

SATURDAY 19: Birthday party for my brother-in-law

SUNDAY 20: Tandoori Chicken, Spanish Country Bread

MONDAY 21: Spaghetti

TUESDAY 22: Pork with maple and balsamic sauce, Cheddar Cheese Bread, Hash Brown Casserole

WEDNESDAY 23: Chicken pot pie

THURSDAY 24: Big Brother is having a birthday party, so we'll have pizza for dinner

FRIDAY 25: Baked flounder

SATURDAY 26: "Pizza, Pins and Pop" bowling party sponsored by our parish

SUNDAY 27: Chicken Piccata

Apron Contest

The Apronista is running a contest where you can win a vintage apron AND an autographed copy of The Apron Book by Ellynanne Geisel. You have until Friday to enter! Post about it on your blog and get an extra entry.

Menu Plan for the New Year

I've actually got my menu planned through next Friday. We are having a roof put on the house early next week, so I won't be able to get out to the store on those days. Since I did a freezer inventory late last week, I've got a good idea of what's already here.

NEW YEAR'S DAY: We visited TheDad's family. Dinner: Lasagna and Chicken Parmesan made by my father-in-law.

WED. JAN. 2: Tandoori Chicken, little red-skinned potatoes, green beans

THURS. JAN. 3: Beef Paysanne

FRI. JAN. 4: Too Easy Tortellini Soup (new recipe), homemade bread

SAT. JAN. 5: The whole family is attending the Oplatek Dinner at church. It's a family event featuring Polish food.

SUN. JAN. 6: Spaghetti with Italian sausage

MON. JAN. 7: Balsamic Chicken with thyme, roasted potatoes and carrots

TUES. JAN. 8: Teriyaki pork with rice and broccoli

WED. JAN. 9: Pot roast with noodles, onions and gravy

THURS. JAN. 10: Spaghetti with meatballs

FRI. JAN. 11: Tilapia; sides to be decided later

Contest at 5 Minutes for Mom!

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