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Menu Planning Monday: My Menu Plan for the week of 10/7

October 8, 2012 by 1 Comment

I was at a blogging conference in Atlanta for four days last week.  I learned lots of great stuff, but I’m ready to get back to my family and to meal planning!  I’m trying several new recipes this week and most of the recipes can be made in your slow cooker!

If you’re new to menu planning or would like tips for getting started, check out this post here–> Tips for menu planning

You can also view hundreds of meal plans each week at Orgjunkie.com

 

SUNDAY – Slow cooker chili  – It doesn’t get any easier than this dump and go recipe!

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef (brown in skillet and then place in crockpot)
1 can dark kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can Ranch style beans
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 packet chili spices

Mix all ingredients in crockpot and cook on high for 5 hours or low for 8 hours. Sprinkle cheese on top.

MONDAY – Slow Cooker London Broil – I found this recipe on Allrecipes.  I plan on changing it up some by using Golden Mushroom soup instead of Cream of Mushroom soup and adding some additional seasonings.  I will let you know how it goes!

TUESDAY:  Slow Cooker Chile Colorado burritos – I discovered this recipe on Pinterest and it has become a family favorite.  I could make it once a week and no one would complain!

WEDNESDAY:  Ranch House Crock Pot Pork Chops with Parmesan Mashed potatoes – My kids have really been loving pork chops lately, so I’ve been looking for new recipes to try!  This one comes from Picky Palate.  As an added bonus, you can make it in the crock pot!

THURSDAY:  Hobo Stew (slow cooker) – This is another new recipe for us. I ‘m always on the hunt for new recipes I can make in the slow cooker.  I plan on using frozen meatballs for this one to save time and I have a few other variations in mind that I’ll share when I do my recipe review!

FRIDAY:  BBQ chicken

SATURDAY:  Avocado Cilantro Lime enchiladas – I am a sucker for enchiladas and love trying new recipes.  I can’t wait to try the avocado sauce on this one!  I plan on making my own “filling”

Looking for more quick fix menu ideas? Sign up for Ready, Set, Eat by clicking on the image below! It’s completely free and you’ll get recipe ideas delivered to you by e-mail!

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Tasty Treat Tuesday: Chocolate and Peanut Butter Bugles!

October 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I am in need of a quick chocolate fix today.  It has already been one of those weeks and it is only Tuesday!  I am sure that these Chocolate and Peanut Butter Bugles will do the trick.  Thanks Cookies and Cups!

Here’s what you need to make these:

  • 1 (7.5 oz) bag of Bugles
  • 2 (9.5 oz) bags of Dove Milk Chocolates..use whatever chocolate you most prefer
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2+ Tbsp of milk

Here’s how to make them -> Chocolate and Peanut Butter Bugles Tutorial

 

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Cooking With Kids Thursday: Homemade Poptarts!

September 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I love Poptarts.  I grew up eating them for breakfast almost every morning, but I just can’t bring myself to feed them to my children.  They are just so high in sugar, among other things, and I like to send my kids out the door in the morning with something a bit more substantial.  I came across these homemade poptarts on pinterest and I can’t wait to try them out.  I’m thinking we could make a bunch over the weekend and then they would be good to go all week long.  My kids will love getting to pick/make their own fillings.  I also might not use the glaze on top.  Thanks Undressed Skeleton!

Here’s what you need to make these:

Pastry Dough:

  • 1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
  • 1 Cup White Flour
  • 2 Tbsp Baking Stevia
  • 1/2 Tsp Salt
  • 1/4 Cup Plain Chobani
  • 1/4 Unsalted Butter Diced at Refrigerator Temp.
  • 3 Tbsp Skim Milk

Glaze:

  • 2 Cups Powdered sugar
  • 2 Tbsp Meringue Powder
  • 4 Tbsp Water
  • Sprinkles of course!

Toppings:

  • Whatever you wish.  Follow the tutorial link for 12 filling suggestions.

Here’s how to make them -> Homemade Poptarts Tutorial

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Tasty Treat Tuesday: Lemon Brownies

September 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I feel like I have been sharing a lot of chocolate based recipes lately so I thought I would go in a different direction this week.  I came across this recipe for Lemon Brownies on Pinterest and I have been dying to try it.  The recipe is fairly easy and I already have most of the ingredients.  I just need a lemon.  Thanks for sharing Rita’s Recipes!

Here’s what you need to make these:

  • 3/4 C flour
  • 3/4 C sugar
  • 1/4 t salt
  • 1 stick butter, soft
  • 2 eggs
  • juice from 1/2 lemon (about 1T)
  • zest from 1/2 lemon (about 1t)

Here is how to make them -> Lemon Brownies Tutorial

 

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Menu Plan Monday: my menu plan for the week of 9/23

September 24, 2012 by 1 Comment

You’ll be seeing me post a lot in the next couple of weeks about budgeting and how to get your budget on track.  One of the biggest ways we’ve been able to cut expenses and stick to our budget is through menu planning!  I work full time and how two school-aged kids who have after school activities almost every day, so we’re busy.  These are quick and easy recipes that our whole family loves!  Most of them can be thrown into the slow cooker with less than 5 minutes prep time!

If you’re new to menu planning or would like tips for getting started, check out this post here–> Tips for menu planning

You can also view hundreds of meal plans each week at Orgjunkie.com

SUNDAY:  French dip sandwiches – This is a family favorite and I love it because it literally takes minutes to throw it into the slow cooker and it cooks all day!  Prep time, including shredding the meat before you’re ready to eat it, is about 5 minutes!  NO KIDDING!

I also made this, which is another family favorite, to take to a family that just had a baby:

Chicken tortilla soup

MONDAY:  Black Bean and Chicken Burritos – This is my “knock off recipe” from a place called Cafe Rio that we used to love!  It’s super easy to throw together!

TUESDAY:  Melt in Your Mouth Meatloaf  – Yes, it’s meatloaf and yet it’s a hit every time I make it…one of those recipes I can never go wrong with!

WEDNESDAY:  Slow Cooker Chicken Lickin’ Good Pork Chops – Another super easy recipe that my family loves!

THURSDAY:  Balsamic Chicken (slow cooker) – This recipe was posted by Holly on the Simply Clean Living blog.  We’ve tried it a few times now and it is a hit with our family.

Ingredients:
4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Halves – approx. 1.5 to 2 lbs.
½ C. Olive Oil
½ – 1 C. Balsamic Vinegar – depending on how tangy you like the recipe
1 large can of diced tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
3-4 cloves of garlic minced or pressed
2 t. crushed dry oregano

Combine all ingredients in Crockpot. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shred chicken with a fork and serve chicken and sauce over rice or angel hair pasta. The consistency and taste of the sauce is sweet and tangy like an Italian barbeque sauce.

FRIDAY:  Chuck E Cheese – The school where I work is having “spirit night” so I’m going to show my support plus I’m using it to bribe my kdis this week!

SATURDAY:  Bourbon chicken – Keli shared this recipe awhile back in a Menu Planning Monday post on her blog.  Our family loves it and it’s fairly easy to make!

Ingredients:
1 1/2-2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite size pieces)
1-2 T olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 tsp ginger
3/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 c. apple juice (in the comments section on Recipezaar, some people substituted pineapple juice or orange juice)
1/3 c. light brown sugar
2 T ketchup
1 T cider vinegar (in the comments section on Recipezaar, some people substituted balsamic vinger or did half and half)
1/2 c. water
1/3 c. soy sauce
Directions:
Heat oil in a large skillet. Add chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned. Remove chicken. Add remaining ingredients, heating over medium heat until well dissolved. Add chicken and bring to a hard boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve over hot rice.
NOTES: On Recipezaar, some people mixed cornstarch and water and added it at the end to thicken the sauce.

 

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