Month 8 of Menus

1. spaghetti
2. canned soup, rolls
3. country sausage gravy and biscuits
4. sausage mcmuffins
5. veggie burritos
6. subs
7. quattro formaggio, veg
8. mashed potatoes, shredded chk and gravy, green beans
9. pancakes, cottage cheese, eggs
10. leftover mashed potato soup
11. chk salad on rolls with gouda
12. bbq chk salad, bakery bread
13. lemon chk orzo soup
14. deli meat sandwiches
15. crockpot cheesy hot bean dip, chips
16. cheese, crackers, pickles, olives
17. spaghetti
18. sausage, eggs, english muffins w/butter and jelly
19. steak salad, leftover english muffins
20. pb banana polenta, raisins
21. tortellini alfredo, broccoli
22. crockpot machacha beef, refried beans, guac and chips
23. raspberry pear chk, pan biscuits, zucchini
24. burritos
25. crockpot teriyaki chk, rice, salad
26. pizza
27. oatmeal, fruit
28. sub sandwiches
29. spaghetti and meatballs
30. black beans and rice
31. chk salad w/relish; cucumber sandwiches

Month 7 of Menus

I explored some cookbooks from my local library this month, so there are fewer links to recipes this time.

1. sesame chk salad, rolls
2. mongolian beef, rice, broccoli
3. apricot almond chk, rice, veg
4. grilled cheeseburger wraps
5. slow cooker 20 garlic chk, toast, veg
6. goulash, veg
7. banana stuffed french toast
8. cheese and crackers, pickles, olives
9. ravioli
10. spanish rice
11. cheesy veg chowder, rolls
12. kielbasa, potatoes O’Brien, veg
13. reuben, pickles
14. sausage and egg mcmuffins
15. spaghetti
16. black bean and chk nachos
17. chop suey
18. ravioli alfredo w/broccoli
19. crockpot praline chk, sweet potatoes
20. crockpot beans and rice
21. crockpot lemon chk, berry cobbler, popcorn (movie night)
22. grilled sweet and sour chk, sesame noodles
23. lasagna in a pot
24. sloppy joes
25. teriyaki chk, Hawaiian bread, grilled pineapple, coleslaw
26. crockpot potatoes and sausage
27. asparagus lemon fettucine alfredo, salad
28. rotoloni w/sausage and carmelized onion (like a calzone rolled up), veg
29. chili cheese hotdogs
30. chk club sandwich
31. stuffed shells

Month 6 of Menus

1. salad, rotisserie chk, fresh bread/rolls
2. frozen pizza
3. baked chili
4. ravioli casserole
5. black bean quesadillas, cucumber
*Note: still messy, even when blended
6. chili cheese tots
7. burgers, smoothies
8. chk picatta, mashed potatoes, asparagus
9. salad bar w/rotisserie chk, blueberry yogurt muffins
10. steak, garlic bread, corn on the cob
11. rotisserie chk, mac n cheese
12. sesame chk and noodles, asian veg
*Note: decrease sugar to 1/2 cup
13. egg mcmuffins, sliced apple
14. deli meat sandwich
15. stuffed shells
16. dirty rice
17. hotdogs, chips, dip
18. slow cooker chk tacos
19. canadian bacon, eggs, pan biscuits, tomato
20. bakery bread, cheese, rotisserie chk, cherry tomatoes, fresh berries, sparkling grape juice
21. steak, sweet potatoes, corn
22. pancakes, sausage
23. baked egg rolls
*Note: use more garlic than you think would be decent. Also, baste liberally with olive oil.
24. deli meat veg sandwiches
25. spaghetti
26. raspberry pear chk, rice, fresh peaches
27. hotdogs, cucumber
28. crockpot pot roast, garlic bread, veg
*Note: I used the recipe in the first comment at the bottom of the page.
29. best ever black bean/rice & tomato soup/grilled cheese
30. french dip, salad
*Note: I used the leftovers from the pot roast meal.
31. buttered penne, chk, zucchini

If you're ever curious how I made something that doesn't link to a recipe, please comment. Some are from physical cookbooks, but others I just make out of my head.

Month 5 of Menus

1. chk parmesan
2. sausage mcmuffins
3. slow cooker italian beef (philly cheesesteak)
4. chk BLT
5. steak, foil potato packets, salad
6. grilled cheeseburger wraps
7. chef salad, bread
8. lazy lasagna
9. slow cooker chk tacos
10. tomato soup, grilled cheese
11. grilled steak, potato/onion packets, grilled zucchini
12. hotdogs
13. spaghetti
14. red beans and rice, salad
15. stromboli bread braid
16. pancakes, sausage, egg
17. chk salad, fruit salad, rolls
18. slow cooker lemon garlic chk, salad, rice pilaf
19. slow cooker pork w/peaches sandwiches
20. spinach walnut penne
21. french rolls, gouda, fruit salad
22. pineapple steak fajitas
23. cheesy veg chowder
24. stuffed shells
25. corn and potato chowder, shredded zucchini
26. crockpot chk and rice
27. spaghetti
28. grated potato, sausage, cheese, veg
29. vegetarian soft tacos
30. ham and cranberry sandwiches, sliced apples
31. goulash

Month 4 of recipes

Month 4

1. gumbo, bakery bread
2. club sandwiches
3. black beans, rice
4. pancakes, eggs, sausage
5. potato cream cheese soup, bread, veg
6. picnic (sandwiches, chips, apples, cookies, juice)
7. brisket, potatoes, veg
8. spaghetti
9. cheese, crackers
10. calzones
11. lemon chk soup, bread
12. baked chili, fritos
13. pizza, salad
14. ravioli alfredo, asparagus
15. pan-fried pork chops, garlic bread, veg
16. breaded chk, soda bread, veg
17. cheesy veg chowder
18. sausage over rice
19. bbq chk salad, rolls
20. cheesy chk chowder
21. meatloaf, mashed potatoes, veg
22. chk cheese lasagna
23. hotdogs
24. salisbury steak, sweet potatoes
25. pancakes, canadian bacon, eggs
26. spaghetti and meatballs
27. burgers, raspberry chocolate smoothies
28. lemon chk orzo soup
29. black bean quesadillas
30. bean and cheese nachos
31. goulash

Black bean quesadillas

How have I never put black beans in my quesadillas before? Somehow the beans combine with the cheese to create this smoky flavor that I never could have imagined. I don't think I'll ever cook a bean-free quesadilla ever again.

tortillas (I use fat-free to avoid those nasty trans fats)
15 oz black beans (approx. 2 cans), drained
2 cups sharp cheddar, grated
butter
salsa
sour cream

Mix together the beans and cheese. Melt butter in a frying pan. Put about half a cup of the bean mixture on a tortilla and fold in half. Place tortilla in the frying pan and brown both sides. Serve with salsa and sour cream.

Warning: this is a messy meal. Those beans tend to slide right out of the tortilla. You will have beans burning your hands, but you won't care because your mouth is enjoying the flavor. Next time I'll experiment with a blender to see if it helps to puree the beans first, or if they'd still fall out of the tortilla. If anyone has already tried this, let me know if it helps.

Month 3 of menus

1.chk divan, rice
2.mashed potato soup, bread, matchstick carrots
3.baked fondue, bread, broccoli
4.spaghetti
5.rotisserie chk, skillet biscuits, veg
6.steak salad w/arugula & grapefruit; bakery bread
7.slow cooker chicken and wild rice
8.hash browns, pancakes, sausage, and eggs
9.goulash
10.hotdogs, french fries, fruit
11.cheesy monkey bread
12.pan fried pork chops, sweet potatoes
13.cheesy veg chowder, bread
14.shake n bake chk, baked potatoes, cucumber
15.slow cooker chk and wild rice, salad
16.spaghetti
17.chicken avocado BLT
18.banana bread pancakes, canadian bacon, eggs
19.burgers, smoothies
20.black beans and rice
21.sticky apricot chk, sweet potatoes
22.pork chops, squash, green beans
23.hotdogs
24.sandwiches
25.shake n bake chk, french fries, veg
26.leftover breaded chk, penne pasta, veg
27.slow cooker chk tacos
28.pumpkin burgers
29.country sausage gravy, biscuits, veg
30.pork tenderloin w/pan sauce, bread, veg
31.havarti mac n cheese, broccoli (extra cheese sauce to dip broccoli)

Month 2 of menus

Month 2


1.ham veggie sandwich
2.leftover mashed potato soup, fresh bread
3.meatloaf, baked potatoes, veg
4.shepherd's pie
5.ham sammy
6.shake n bake chk, stovetop stuffing
7.cranberry chk, rice, veg
8.chk braid
9.quesadillas
10.goulash (Kraft mac n cheese, ground beef, and either condensed tomato soup OR tomato sauce) - a kid favorite!
11.spanish rice -simmer for closer to an hour than 30 minutes
12.quinoa black bean bowls
13.spaghetti, salad, garlic bread
14.zucchini gratin, pot roast, biscuits
15.pizza
16.smoked sausage, hash browns, grape tomatoes
17.spinach walnut penne
18.hotdogs
19.apple bacon grilled cheese
20.dirty rice
21.cheese, crackers
22.french toast
23.grilled chk, buttered noodles, arugula salad
24.red beans and rice
25.lemon chk orzo soup, fresh bread, salad, fruit, cookies
26.calzones
27.ravioli bake
28.ham, cream cheese, and raspberry jam sandwiches
29.frozen pizza
30.meatloaf, mashed potatoes, matchstick carrots
31.slow cooker london broil, egg noodle, sliced radish

Month 1 of menus

Month 1

Chk = Chicken
Veg = Vegetable

1.wafflewiches, veg
Wafflewiches are sandwiches with waffles instead of bread. We were out of bread and I didn't have time to bake any. :P I think I used cranberry jelly instead of the strawberry preserves though.
2.carnitas, crash hot potatoes, veg
3.slow-cooked corn chowder
4.carnitas pizza
5.spaghetti
6.beef stroganoff, veg
7.honey chk, lemon zucchini muffins
8.goulash
9.cornflake chk, smoothies (then popcorn and Netflix)
10.ravioli casserole
11.breaded chk, honey, biscuits, veg
12.pancakes, sausage, eggs
13.steak, sweet potatoes
14.black bean soup w/rice
15.cheesy veg chowder, fresh bread
16.pan-fried pork chops, nuked potatoes, salad
17.beef au jus
18.tomato soup, grilled cheese
19.ham and cheese sliders, cucumber
20.hotdogs
21.chk rice soup, fresh bread
22.chk fajitas
23.spaghetti
24.frito pie
25.pizza
26.kielbasa, rolls, celery
27.cheese, crackers, pickles, olives, cookies
28.ravioli
29.crispy chk costoletta, mashed potatoes, asparagus
30.havarti mac n cheese, frozen veg
31.grilled cheeseburger wrap

Chicken Divan

1/3 c sliced or slivered almonds
1 qt chicken broth
lemon zest
4 T butter, divided
1/2 c. plus 2 T flour
1 1/2 c. rice
1 lb chicken
salt
pepper
poultry seasoning
2 T olive oil
asparagus
lemon juice
1/3 c milk or heavy cream
2 T tarragon

Toast almonds in a fry pan until golden, then reserve.
Boil 2 3/4 c. chicken broth, lemon zest, and 1 T butter. Add rice and return to a boil. Reduce to simmer, cover, and cook for 18 minutes.

Microwave asparagus in 1/3 c. water and some lemon juice.

Dredge chicken in flour, salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning. Heat 1 T butter and the olive oil in the fry pan, then add chicken. Cook chicken 3-4 minutes on each side. Melt remaining butter around the chicken. Add 2T flour and stir one minute. Slowly pour in remaining chicken broth and milk. After sauce bubbles, add tarragon and allow to thicken another 2-3 minutes.

Serve chicken and asparagus on a bed of rice, then cover in tarragon sauce and sprinkle with toasted almonds.

Reuben sandwiches

8 slices bread
butter
3T mustard
4T dill relish
8 slices swiss cheese
2/3lb ham
1/3lb corned beef
saurerkraut

Mix together mustard and relish. Spread on one side of sandwich, then layer cheese, meat, and cheese. Top with sauerkraut and other slice of bread. Grill sandwiches in butter on medium heat for 5 minutes per side.

I know the relish sounds odd, but it makes the sandwich.

After Thanksgiving (which I am suddenly hosting this year - eeks!), this blog will take a turn. I have posted all of my unique recipes, and would now like to share my favorite recipes that others have created. My plan is to post a year of meal plans, with links to recipes where possible. Eventually, we should have 365 dinners, as well as quite a few lunches. Then I'll have a master yearly meal plan that I can tweak for my schedule, adding in new recipes where I had unfortunately planned flops.

I won't post regularly until after the holiday, but until then, here's a preview of what's to come:

*recipe is new to me, so try at your own risk

11/14 D half a recipe of split pea soup, canned tomato soup for the kids, fresh bread (baked from frozen bread dough I made earlier this month)
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Split-Pea-Sausage-Soup/Detail.aspx

11/15 L ham, pb banana choc chip muffins (I'll double the recipe and freeze half for breakfast over the holiday), fruit
http://dinnersdishesanddesserts.com/peanut-butter-banana-chocolate-chip-muffins/
11/15 D spaghetti

11/16 L mongolian beef, broccoli, rice
http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2010/09/mongolian-beef-broccoli.html
11/16 D *sausage and biscuit skillet
http://allears.net/din/recipes/rec_sbs.htm

11/17 L chicken salad wrap
11/17 D beef tips, sweet potatoes, salad
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/steak-tips-with-mushroom-sauce/detail.aspx

11/18 L pancakes, leftover smoked sausage, eggs
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/whole-grain-pancakes/detail.aspx
11/18 D bbq chicken pizza, salad

Happy meal planning!

Chocolate french toast

I recently modified a recipe I found in a library cookbook. It was such a hit with the kids, and I thought it would be fabulous for a holiday brunch, although we'll only make this on occasions that the hubby misses a meal due to work. Chocolate French Toast 3 T butter 3/4 c. milk 2 T sugar 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 c. chocolate chips 2 eggs 6 slices bread Melt butter and chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds. Add milk, sugar, and vanilla. It's okay if the mixture looks chunky, just mix it as best you can. Whisk in eggs. Cut bread into triangles, then push into buttered loaf pan (9x5). Pour chocolate mixture over the bread, making sure to cover all the bread. Feel free to push the bread down to submerge it - just make sure there's no naked bread. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 hours (or 30 minutes, if that's all the time you have before the minions demand food). Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes, or until custard is set and edges are golden. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.

peanut butter snack

You know when you get to the bottom of a peanut butter jar and you feel guilty for throwing away that last tbsp that you you know you could scrape up but you're too lazy to bother? It makes a quick easy snack for kids. Simply tear up a piece of bread into bite-size pieces, stuffing them into the nearly empty pb jar. Get a spoon and stir it around, then drizzle about 1 tsp dark chocolate syrup into the jar. This ensures the kids dig around for every last bit and only adds about 3 grams of sugar to the snack. As soon as picky E. finished her snack, she asked when we could have it again! Try different varieties, like Sunbutter and oat bread. You could throw in some raisins to make it more like a pb&j. It bet it would be really awesome with banana bread!

Dairy-free Egg-free Jam Bars

For Mother's Day, I was looking for an easy light dessert, and ended up heavily adapting one from a cookbook. The result was still quite delicious, like a cross between a fruit crisp and a jelly doughnut. 1 c. oats 1 c. flour 2/3 c. brown sugar 1/4 t. baking soda 1/4 t. salt 1/4 c. sunflower oil 3 T. apple juice (give the rest of the juice box to the child watching you bake) 10 ounces tart jam (I used a lingonberry jam) Mix together all dry ingredients. Add oil and juice. Set aside 1/2 c. of this mixture. Press remaining mixture into a greased 9x9 pan. Spread jam over the top. Top with sprinkles of the reserved mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

chicken and rice soup

I made a pretty good soup today:

3/4 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped carrot
garlic, to taste
onion, to taste
french herb mix, to taste (savory, thyme, rosemary, basil, tarragon, lavender flowers)
1/2 tsp salt (optional)
1 qt chicken stock (or 4 c. water and 2 chicken bullion cubes), divided
1 cup rice
1 cup milk
4 T butter
4 T flour
1 cup cooked chicken, cubed or shredded (I used leftover rotisserie chicken)

Add celery, carrot, garlic, onion, salt, french herb mix, and 1/4 cup chicken stock to large pot. Saute veggies until soft. Add rice and 2 1/4 cups chicken stock, then cook for 20 minutes, until rice has absorbed liquid.

In a smaller pot, melt butter and add flour. Slowly mix in milk. Add this creamy mixture and the chicken to the rice. At this point, the "soup" will be pretty thick, so I dumped the rest of my container of chicken stock into the pot, and it was like eating soup in a bread bowl. But if you prefer a thinner soup, you can add more water or milk.

I think I probably got the french herb mix at Whole Foods. It brings out the sweetness in the milk.

Egg-free brownies

To make egg-free brownies, mix a dry brownie mix with a can of pumpkin (yes, you're omitting the oil and water as well as the egg). The texture is thicker than normal, but trust me, it will work out. Cook 5 minutes longer than the box directs for standard brownies. Ice with cream cheese frosting. If you can't make/buy icing, a bit of cream cheese to dip the forkfuls into also works well.
Yum! If it turns out V is allergic to eggs (we're still too chicken to test her), this might be her standard "birthday cake." She dug into the brownie with glee. My husband thought it tasted like a Hostess dessert. It reminded me of pumpkin bread with chocolate chips.

Calzones

Somewhere in my recipe browsing, I ran into Sandra's blog and her photos of Pizza Cheese Breadsticks inspired me for lunch today. I love that the dough doesn't require any time to rise, and my husband prefers calzones over pizza, so he can control the amount of marinara (a lot!) on his slice. Rather than buy or make a marinara, I was lazy and served it with a jar of spaghetti sauce. lol Even V enjoyed her tiny pieces, and ate the equivalent of 2 pizza slices!
The only problem with making the dough from scratch is that it wrecks out the kitchen. But I'll clean up a mess if it means both my girls chow down.

Organic Valley marinated chops

Organic Valley sent out a newsletter with this recipe for pork chops, and I thought I'd give pork chops one more try tonight. I haven't been a fan of chops in the past, but I keep hoping to find a recipe that helps me appreciate whatever my husband sees in them.

We're serving it with grilled potatoes and broccoli (by E's request).

pizza

Since Thursday is our last day before payday, we're going to have another cheap meal: frozen pizza. Publix has Tombstone BOGO this week, so I'll be nabbing a couple of those for the price of a single cheese pizza from a delivery place. I'll dress up the simple meal with a 2-liter of Publix's Lemon Lime carbonated water (tastes like 7up without any sugar or other sweetener).

$5.79 for 2 pizzas
$0.69 for soda water
=
$6.48 for the meal <--not bad, considering how low effort, and my husband will take leftovers to work for lunch for the price he'd pay to eat out!