Menu Planning Monday: My menu for the week of 1/29

I’m trying to stay on track with menu planning.  Having a plan definitely makes it easier to cook!  We don’t always stick to the “exact” plan, but it’s nice to have a plan!

The plan listed here just includes our dinner menu and recipes. I have calculated some Weight Watchers points values using the e-tools Recipe Builder, and points values this week are based on the new Points Plus program! (I will update with points values on the others as we have the meals)

If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, then you know that for the past two years, I have done a $40 weekly budget. With the changes to our eating habits and the end of grocery stores in our area doubling and tripling coupons, I’m still experimenting to try to figure out what a reasonable budget is.  Stay tuned!

If you’re new to menu planning or would like tips for getting started, check out this post here.  You can also view hundreds of meal plans each week at Orgjunkie.com

SUNDAY:  BBQ hamburgers (it was my niece’s birthday and I didn’t have to cook!)

MONDAY:  Creamy chicken enchiladas – This is a family favorite and we were supposed to have them for my husband’s birthday last week, but I had a “dinner fail” moment and had the crockpot on “warm” instead of “low” when I was trying to cook the chicken!

Ingredients:
1 can cream of chicken soup (I use the 98% FF kind)
1 can cream of mushroom soup (I use the 98% FF kind)
2 cans green enchilada sauce
1 8 oz-16 oz. tub of sour cream (depends how spicy you want the enchiladas)
2-3 chicken breasts, shredded (if I’m in a hurry, I use canned chicken)
8 oz cheese, shredded
1 dozen flour tortillas (you could use corn also) – we are using whole wheat!

Add cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, and enchilada sauce to a pan. Cook on medium low heat, stirring occasionally. When sauce is will mixed and starts to thin, add sour cream. Continue stirring occasionally until the sauce is well mixed and thinned out. Place a layer of the sauce along the bottom of a 9X13 baking dish. Fill each tortilla with the shredded chicken, sauce, and cheese. Roll and place in the baking dish. When you have filled all of the tortillas (this should make 1 dozen), pour the remain sauce over the top of the enchiladas and then cover with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes until the cheese is well melted.

WW points = 6 points per enchilada

TUESDAY:  Eat out – it’s “spirit night” for my daughter’s school and so we’ll be supporting the school!

WEDNESDAY:  Easy garlic chicken – I found this recipe on Food.com. It sounds like it will be super easy to make. I can’t wait to try it!

Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 garlic cloves , minced
4 tablespoons brown sugar
3 teaspoons olive oil

Preheat oven to 500°F and lightly grease a casserole dish. In small sauté pan, sauté garlic with the oil until tender. Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar. Place chicken breasts in a prepared baking dish and cover with the garlic and brown sugar mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste. Bake uncovered for 15-30 minutes.

THURSDAY: Melt in your mouth meatloaf (slow cooker) – Whenever I mention this recipe, the most common response I get is something like this “Meatloaf….in the slow cooker?  Really?  I would have never thought of that!”  Yes, REALLY!  This one is super easy and totally family friendly!

FRIDAY:  Weight Watchers Pizza Pasta Casserole – I found this recipe on Pinterest and have been so excited to try it!  This comes to you courtesy of Recipe Diaries.  It’s just 6 points per serving!

Ingredients:

1 lb ground lean turkey sausage
1 medium onion , chopped
1 clove garlic , minced
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce
8 ounces rotini pasta , cooked and drained
2 cups shredded reduced fat mozzarella cheese (20 oz)
32 slices of turkey pepperoni

Brown ground beef, onion, garlic and seasoning in oil.  Stir in pasta, spaghetti sauce and 2 cups cheese.  Place mixture in 2 greased 9x13x2 inch baking pans or 4 square pans.  Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella.  Top with pepperoni.  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, until heated through.

SATURDAY:  Peppered steak – this is a family recipe that came from my mother in law

Ingredients:
3 cups hot cooked rice
1 lb lean beef round steak (cut into 1/2 inch thick strips)
1 T Paprika
2 T butter
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 1/2 c. beef broth
1 cup sliced green onions
2 green peppers, cut in strips
2T cornstarch
1/4 c. water
1/4 c. soy sauce
2 lg tomatoes (cut in eighths)

Pound steak to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into 1/4 inch wide strips. Sprinkle meat with paprika. Let stand. Brown meat in butter. Add garlic and brother. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir in onions and green peppers. Cover and cook 5 minutes. Blend cornstarch, water and soy sauce. Stir into meat mixture. Cook, stirring until clear and thickened, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and stir gently. Serve over beds of fluffy rice.

WW points = 7 points/serving  (add an additional 3 points for 1/2 cup rice and 5 points for 1 cup rice), this makes 4 servings.