Menu Planning Monday: my menu plan for the week of 3/10

SUNDAY:  Grilled cheese and tomato soup  – Complete with Goldfish crackers in the soup, which I think is my kids’ favorite part!  I have been sick and didn’t feel like cooking, so this was a quick fix!

MONDAY:  Rice Meatballs – This is a recipe from my mother in law and it’s always a hit when we make it.

Ingredients:
1 cup uncooked minute rice
1 lb ground beef (I use 93/7)
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 t. grated onion
2 t. salt (I cut this in half)
1/8 t marjoram
dash pepper
2 1/2 cups tomato juice (or two 8 oz cans tomato sauce mixed with 1/2 cup water)
1/2 t sugar

Combine rice and all other ingredients except tomato juice and sugar. Form balls and arrange in skillet. Pour tomato juice & sugar over meatballs. Bring to boil. Reduce heat & simmer uncovered 15 minutes.

Rice Meatballs – This is a recipe from my mother in law and it’s always a hit when we make it.

Ingredients:
1 cup uncooked minute rice
1 lb ground beef (I use 93/7)
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 t. grated onion
2 t. salt (I cut this in half)
1/8 t marjoram
dash pepper
2 1/2 cups tomato juice (or two 8 oz cans tomato sauce mixed with 1/2 cup water)
1/2 t sugar

Combine rice and all other ingredients except tomato juice and sugar. Form balls and arrange in skillet. Pour tomato juice & sugar over meatballs. Bring to boil. Reduce heat & simmer uncovered 15 minutes.

TUESDAY:  It’s my dad’s birthday and my mom is cooking!

WEDNESDAY:  Slow Cooker Garlic Pesto chicken – I found this one on Pinterest and it looks SO YUMMY!  I can’t wait to try it!

THURSDAY:  Taco Pasta Bake This is another recipe I found on Pinterest.  It sounds easy enough and has ingredients that sound kid friendly, too!

FRIDAY:  Slow Cooker Beef & Broccoli – I pinned this awhile ago and tried it a few weeks ago and it was an absolutely disaster.  I’m thinking it was because it cooked for too long!  The meat had basically disintegrated by the time I got home from work!  I’m going to try it again and see if it works out better with fewer hours of cooking.

SATURDAY:  A-mazing Chicken Avocado Enchiladas – this recipe is simply AMAZING and the sauce is so good that you’ll want to lick your plate clean!

See my menu plans from previous weeks here–> Menu Planning Monday

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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Menu Planning Monday: My Menu Plan for the week of 3/3

Last week I got back on track with menu planning!  This week is going to be a busy one, so I mainly chose my tried and true quick fix and slow cooker recipes!

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

See my menu plans from previous weeks here–> Menu Planning Monday

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

slow-cooker-chicken-noodle-soup

SUNDAY:  Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Noodle soup – This is the PERFECT comfort food and it’s super easy to make!

MONDAY:  Steak stroganoff (slow cooker) – My family LOVES this recipe!!

Ingredients:
2T flour
1/2 tsp Garlic powder
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
1 3/4 lb. boneless round steak
2 cans 10 3/4 oz cream of mushroom soup (I use 98% FF)
2 c. water (or 1 can 100% FF beef broth for more flavor)
1 envelope beef stew mix
4 oz can mushrooms, sliced and drained
1/2 c. sour cream
1 T minced parsley

Combine flour, garlic powder, pepper, and paprika in slow cooker. Cut meat into 1 1/2 inch strips. Place in flour mixture and toss until meat is well coated. Add soup, water, and stew mix. Stir until well blended. Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours. Stir in mushrooms, sour cream, and parsley and then cook on high 10-15 minutes until heated through. Serve over egg noodles. (Depending on the consistency of the sauce, you may need to add cornstarch to thicken or add more water/broth to thin)

To freeze: Pour into gallon freezer bags (I used Ziploc containers for this one). Allow to cool before freezing.

To reheat: Thaw in refrigerator overnight. Warm on stove and serve over rice or egg noodles. (Add sour cream when warming if you left it out of the initial recipe)

TUESDAY:  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.

WEDNESDAY: Chicken enchilada casserole – This is a recipe that my sister came up with. She uses canned chicken when she makes it. I came up with a little bit of a variation.  It is so easy and kid friendly, too!

Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts (shredded) – or 1 can chicken
1 large can red enchilada sauce
corn tortillas
shredded cheese – I use reduced fat

Directions: (this is what I do) – I put my chicken and the enchilada sauce in the crockpot the night before and then shred it when I get up in the morning. If you are using canned chicken, you can just shred it as you are making the casserole. I spread some of the chicken/sauce mixture along the bottom of the casserole dish so it doesn’t stick. Break corn tortillas into four pieces and layer across the bottom of the casserole dish. Spread a layer of the chicken/sauce mixture and cheese. Add another layer of corn tortillas. Continue until you are out of the chicken/sauce mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes until the cheese is bubbly.

 

THURSDAY:  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!

FRIDAY:  Country Style Macaroni Casserole – Every time I ask my family to help out with menu planning and give me recipe suggestions, this is always one of the things they choose.

Ingredients:

1 lb country ham slices or regular smoked ham in one piece (I just use whatever leftover ham we have on hand)
1 large onion, diced
1 lb elbow macaroni (whole wheat)
2 cups shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese (8 oz) – I use reduced fat
1 cup sour cream (I use reduced fat)
1 can cream of chicken soup (I use 98% fat free)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) margarine, melted (I don’t use this when I make it)
1 cup dry plain bread crumbs

1. Heat oven to 400º.
2. Bring 4 quarts water and ham to boiling in large pot. Once water begins to boil,
remove ham to a plate. Add onion and macaroni to pot. Return water to boiling; cook 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Coarsely chop ham, discarding any fat and bones.
4. Drain macaroni and onion and return to pot. Add ham, cheese, sour cream and soup. Scrape into a 13x9x2 baking dish. Pour melted margarine over top. Sprinkle with bread crumbs.
5. Bake in heated 400º oven 30 minutes or until heated through and top is golden brown.
Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Note: Prepare in two 8×8 casserole dishes, bake one and freeze one (unbaked) for another day. If freezing, top with crumbs and margarine right before baking.

SATURDAY:  Slow Cooker Lasagne – I’ve had this on my “to try” list for awhile, and since I’m off work today, I figured it would be a good day to try it!

See my menu plans from previous weeks here–> Menu Planning Monday

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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*This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my disclosure policy for more information.

 

Menu Planning Monday: my menu plan for the week of 2/24

Last week I got back on track with menu planning and I have a few new recipes I’m excited to try this week!

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

See my menu plans from previous weeks here–> Menu Planning Monday

Melt-in-your-mouth-chicken

My most popular recipe from last week was this one for Melt in Your Mouth Chicken–> Melt in Your Mouth Chicken

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

cowboy-casserole

SUNDAY:  Cowboy Casserole – This is an easy way to use up leftover beef and the best part is it’s kid friendly, too!

MONDAY:  Oma’s Sour Cream Chicken – The recipe I tried last week for Melt in Your Mouth Chicken was such a hit that I was searching Pinterest for other new chicken recipes to try and this one sounds YUMMY!  I can’t wait to try it!

TUESDAY:  Taco Pasta Bake – This is another recipe I found on Pinterest.  It sounds easy enough and has ingredients that sound kid friendly, too!

WEDNESDAY:  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!

THURSDAY:  Eat Out!

FRIDAY:  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!

SATURDAY:  Oven Tacos – My family loves tacos, and I’m always looking for new recipes to try.  I found this one on Pinterest a few weeks ago and it was a hit!  Plus, it’s super easy to make!

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!

ReadySetEat

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my disclosure policy for more information.

Menu Planning Monday: My Menu Plan for the week of 2/17

Last week, after 3 weeks of NOT eating out at all, I fell off the wagon.  If I don’t get things prepared in the mornings before I leave for work, it’s usually a disaster when I get home from work.  Add in kid activities and needing to be in various places all at once, and it didn’t go as well as planned.  I’m going to get back on track this week with some tried and true quick fix recipes!

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

Cheesy-Baked-Ravioli

SUNDAY:  Cheesy Baked Ravioli – This is a “quick fix” meal that’s easy to throw together when you don’t really feel like cooking!  You can’t go wrong with Ravioli!

MONDAY:  Sweet potato foil pack tacos ~ I found this recipe on Marci’s blog.  My family was skeptical the first time we tried these, but once they actually tasted them, they were a hit, even with my kids! (and that’s not an easy feat!)

Ingredients:
1/2 lb ground beef or turkey
2-3 T taco seasoning
1/2 cup tomato sauce (4 ounces)
1 can black, kidney, or pinto beans, drained (I used black)
2-3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 6 cups total)
2 T butter
salt
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh spinach
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
sour cream, salsa, and/or guacamole for garnish
6 12-inch long pieces of aluminum foil

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Brown ground meat in a skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in taco seasoning, tomato sauce, and beans. Set aside.

To assemble packets, spray the foil with non-stick spray. Place 1 cup sweet potato cubes in the center of each piece. Top with a small piece of butter (about 1 tsp) and a pinch or two of salt.

Sprinkle some chopped spinach over the sweet potatoes, followed by about 1/3 cup of taco meat and sprinkle of cheese. Fold the sides in, then bring the top and bottom ends of the foil together in the center and fold, sealing the packet.

Repeat with remaining ingredients, placing the packets on a rimmed cookie sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the sweet potatoes are tender.

Serve with sour cream, salsa, and/or guacamole.  Makes 6 servings.

TUESDAY:  French dip sandwiches – I enlist my family’s help with recipe suggestions each week when I’m making my menu plan and this was my daughter’s pick this week.   This is another easy “dump and go” recipe!

WEDNESDAY:  Slow Cooker Beef & Broccoli – I’ve had this one pinned for awhile, but I wasn’t sure how my non-broccoli eaters would feel about it.  I’m testing it out this week and I’ll let you know!

chicken-tortilla-soup

THURSDAY:  Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla soup – This is a family favorite and so easy to make!

FRIDAY:  Spinach tortilla wraps

SATURDAY:  Stacked green enchiladas – This is a modified version of a recipe my dad makes

Ingredients:
1 can green enchilada sauce
1 can cream of chicken soup (I use 98% FF)
1 can Rotel (drained)
3-4 chicken breasts
corn tortillas (one dozen)
monterrey jack cheese

I place the chicken breasts, enchilada sauce, cream of chicken soup, and Rotel in the crockpot on low all day. When I get home, I shred the chicken and add it back to the mixture. Then, you can either do stacked enchiladas (pour some of the mixture on a corn tortilla/add cheese and repeat for as many layers as you would like) or do rolled enchiladas (place some of the mixture in the corn tortilla, roll, and place in a pan….repeat 9 times…then, pour the remaining sauce mixture over the top and top with cheese and bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes).

See my menu plans from previous weeks here–> Menu Planning Monday

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!

ReadySetEat

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my disclosure policy for more information.

Menu Planning Monday: My Menu Plan for the week of 2/10

We have now gone three weeks without eating out!  I love that we’re saving money and having dinner together as a family, too!  What’s amazing is that now that we are eating at home more, we’re realizing that we really haven’t missed eating out!  The highlight of eating at home for me was when my 5 year old who ordinarily hates and resists veggies asked for more!

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:  Hawaiian Chicken – I saw this recipe on Pinterest and wanted to try something different.  We like things “saucy” around here and so I was a bit disappointed in that respect.  Plus, I used frozen chicken breasts when I made this, which left it kind of watered down.  Next time, I will probably use fresh chicken breasts and double the recipe for the sauce!

MONDAY: Melt in Your Mouth chicken – I have been seeing this recipe all over Pinterest and figured it was worth checking out!  I’ll be serving it with Roasted Parmesan Asparagus and a salad.


TUESDAY:  Black Bean & Chicken burritos – When I use my slow cooker, I love quick fix “dump and go” recipes because I never have enough time in the mornings!  Prep time on this one is about 2 minutes…seriously!

WEDNESDAY:  Slow Cooker Beef & Broccoli – I’ve had this one pinned for awhile, but I wasn’t sure how my non-broccoli eaters would feel about it.  I’m testing it out this week and I’ll let you know!

THURSDAY:  Baked Ravioli – I always make something “red” for Valentine’s Day.  This year is a bit of a challenge because my daughter has choir practice right after school and we won’t be home until 6.  We’ve tried this recipe once before and it was quick and easy to throw together and everyone loved it, too.

FRIDAY:  French dip sandwiches – I enlist my family’s help with recipe suggestions each week when I’m making my menu plan and this was my daughter’s pick this week.  I figured it would be perfect for a Friday because I never have much energy left by the end of the week!  This is another easy “dump and go” recipe!

SATURDAY:  Bourbon Chicken – I discovered this recipe a few years ago and it’s still a hit every time I make it!

See my menu plans from previous weeks here–> Menu Planning Monday

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!

ReadySetEat

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my disclosure policy for more information.