Menu Plan Monday

Hello all. I had a long and sad week. My grandpa passed away yesterday and I spent last week at the hospital and entertaining family members who came to say goodbye. I didn't have a menu plan to speak of and it added to the stress.

So I'm back on the bandwagon this week.

Here's what I've got:

Breakfasts:
oatmeal with dried fruit
whole grain cereal
Toast with jam, fruit
Blueberry muffins

Lunches:
Mac and cheese, fruit
egg salad sandwiches, carrot sticks
lunchmeat sandwiches, ants on a log (celery with peanut butter and raisins)
grilled cheese, tomato soup
leftovers

Suppers:
Monday: Chicken 'n Biscuits (my husbands' favorite), fruit
Tuesday: Ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, fruit
Wednesday: funeral visitation, will eat at the church, (I'm bringing a meat and cheese tray)
Thursday: Ham potato puffs, fruit
Friday: Homemade Pizza with my favorite crust

Last week I made a new dessert and served it to my relatives who came to say goodbye to grandpa. It was an Apple Dumplings recipe from Pioneer Woman Cooks and I loved it. Super easy too so you should give it a try.

For other menu ideas check out I'm An Organizing Junkie.

Have a great week!

Menu Plan Monday

Last week I was so tired from my vacation to Mexico that I never got around to making a menu plan. We got home in the middle of the night on Monday and I didn't think it'd make much difference if I skipped a week.

Boy was I wrong! I spent more money and was stressed out trying to figure out what to make.

So I'm back on the wagon this week! My oldest daughter turns 3 on Saturday and I don't know what she wants for her birthday party yet (just a small get together with family that lives in the area) so I'll need to figure that out tomorrow. So far she wants peanut butter sandwiches. Good grief.

Here's what I've got planned:

Breakfasts:
Multi-grain cheerios
Hot oatmeal
To Die For Blueberry Muffins

Lunches:
Egg salad, carrot sticks
Colorful chicken salad on croissants
PB&J, pears
Mac and cheese, peas
Leftovers

Suppers:
Lasagna, salad, garlic bread
Tator Tot Casserole, peaches with cottage cheese
Easy Chicken Crockpot Dinner
Leftovers
Crockpot Pizza
Madeline's birthday meal ????
Hamburger Stroganoff

And of course my birthday girl has thought a lot about what kind of cake she wants. She is torn between these adorable butterfly cupcakes, or this fun cake/cupcake creation. Decisions, decisions.

For more menu ideas check out Organizing Junkie.

Menu Plan Monday

I have to admit I hardly followed my menu plan from last week. My uncle died (I'm thankful he's not in pain anymore) and I had lots of family in town for the funeral.

I somehow managed to feed six extra people for four days by using up items in my pantry and freezer. I had to get a little creative but overall things turned out well.

This week we are going on vacation to a hotel with an indoor waterpark. So my menu plan is a little different. The hotel does not provide breakfast so that shakes things up a bit. We will be eating out for the evening meal each night. Here's what I've got...

Breakfasts:
Homemade muffins I'm bringing from home, milk
Multi-grain Cheerioes, bananas, milk
Mini bagels, cream cheese, strawberries, milk
Instant Oatmeal packets, milk

Lunches:
PB&J, grapes, milk
Lunchables, carrot sticks, milk
Noodle soup, crackers, milk
Mac and cheese I made and will bring along

We are trying to stick to a small food budget and I think we can if we eating breakfast and lunch in the hotel room. My two daughters, M (2 3/4) and Z (14 months) are quite excited for a picnic in the hotel room. I'm bringing a vinyl tablecloth along.

For more menu plans check out Organizing Junkie.

I hope you have a great week!

Menu Plan Monday

I never really learned how to cook. My parents are both terrific cooks, but they never taught me how. I am a twin and we used to fight terribly. My mom would start teaching us a recipe and then inevitably kick us out of the kitchen for arguing.

I have really come a long way! I now make many things from scratch, which is a big accomplishment for me. One of my favorite new recipes is the muffins I'm serving tomorrow morning. I've included the link below.

And without further adieu, our menu plan for this week:

Breakfasts:
To Die For Blueberry Muffins
Oatmeal
Multi-Grain Cheerios
Toast with jam

Lunches:
Egg salad sandwiches, carrots, milk
PB&J, fruit, milk
Soup, crackers, milk
Leftovers

Suppers:
Monday: Chicken 'n Biscuits (My husband refers to this as "kick ass casserole"

Tuesday: We're eating at my parent's house to celebrate my sister moving to our town. Woo hoo!

Wednesday: Fish, sweet potatoes, green beans

Thursday: Skillet soup with biscuits

Friday: Chicken Chipulos

Saturday: Steak Chili, homemade bread

Sunday: Pot roast, potatoes, carrots

Check out Organizing Junkie for more menu ideas.

Have a great week!

Menu Plan Monday

Ugh. I did not feel like making a menu plan for this week because nothing sounds good. But I know it will save me time and money so I am doing it anyway.

Here goes....

Breakfasts:
Multi-grain Cheerios, banana, milk
French toast, orange, milk
oatmeal, banana, milk

Lunches:
PB&J, carrot sticks, milk
Lunch meat sandwiches, broccoli/dip, milk
Mac and cheese, cottage cheese with peaches, milk
Leftovers

Suppers:
Monday: Spaghetti, lettuce salad, garlic bread

Tuesday: Grilled cheese, tomato soup

Wednesday: Out to eat for husband's birthday Woo hoo! I will be making him this yummy chocolate cake.

Thursday: Breakfast for supper

Friday: Homemade pizza with my new favorite crust

For more menu plans check out Organizing Junkie.

Menu Plan Monday

I have had mixed success with my menu plans. Sometimes life happens and I'm not able to follow the plan. In the past I might have given up but not this time. We really need to save money and following a menu plan helps us do that. So I'm back with another go at it.

Breakfasts:

Multigrain Cheerios, fruit, milk

Blueberry bagels, banana, milk

Toast, yogurt, milk

Lunches:

PB&J, apple slices, milk

Lunchmeat sandwich, cheese, crackers, milk

Mac and cheese, peas, milk

Leftovers

Suppers:

Mon. - homemade veggie soup and homemade bread

Tues. - easy chicken casserole, green beans, mixed fruit

Wed. - supper at my parent's house for my birthday :)

Thurs. - pork patties, baked carrots, peaches/cottage cheese

Fri. - frozen pizza, mixed fruit

Menu planning and paying in cash at the grocery store is really helping our budget. Hopefully not too many surprises pop up this week so I can stick to it.

For more menu plans, check out I'm an Organizing Junkie.

There have been times when I have menu planned but I never really stuck with it. Usually because hubby (or myself) didn't feel like eating /cooking what was planned. I also never incorporated leftovers into the plan and ended up wasting a lot.

I'm joining Laura's Menu Plan Monday over at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Here is my attempt at menu planning for two adults and two young children:

Breakfasts: (will repeat themselves...I have a picky 2 year old!)

cereal, banana, milk

peanut butter toast, apple, milk

oatmeal, juice

Lunch:

mac and cheese, pears, milk

turkey sandwich with cheese, yogurt, pretzels

chicken nuggets, peas, apple slices

tuna fish, peaches, cottage cheese

peanut butter & jelly (what my daughter wants for every meal!)

leftovers

Snacks:

crackers and string cheese

fruit bars

fruit snacks

Suppers:

Monday:

tacos, refried beans, spanish rice

Tuesday:

spaghetti with italian sausage, butter baked carrot sticks, garlic bread

Wednesday:

beefy biscuit cups (with sauce/sausage leftovers), lettuce salad, pears

Thursday:

smoked chicken, mixed vegetables, cranberries

Friday:

homemade pizza

Saturday:

crockpot chicken spaghetti (we will be out of town for a work conference...kids will be at home with MIL)

Sunday:

pork chops and stuffing, green bean casserole, peaches/cottage cheese

Woo hoo! I'm excited. I'm trying to use up stuff in the freezer/pantry and I think this menu will help me accomplish this.

I can't wait to check out other menus.

Until next time,

Leone