If you had an extra long weekend this week, I hope you enjoyed it! I definitely enjoyed mine!
The plan listed here just includes our dinner menu and recipes. I have calculated someWeight 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, I’m going to increase our budget to $50 per week and I’m really going to try to stick to that, but I’m not even sure that will be enough. This will be a trial and error experience, so 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: Enchiladas – I’ve got family in town and we had a big family dinner complete with two of our favorite varieties of enchiladas!
Perfect Enchiladas – The basis for this recipe comes from The Pioneer Woman, but she uses ground beef and I’m going to use chicken (last time I used pork and that was yummy, too!)
Our “filling” – I’m going to put 2 frozen chicken breasts in the crockpot on low with a can of enchilada sauce (red) and some taco seasoning. I’ll shred the taco meat and that and some cheese will become our “filling”
The sauce (from Marci’s blog)
1 T. canola oil
1 T. flour/cornstarch
1 large (28 oz) can enchilada/red sauce
2 c. chicken broth
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. ground black pepper
2 T. chopped cilantro
-In a large saucepan over med. heat, add oil and flour and whisk together to make a paste, cooking for 1 min.
-Pour in the red sauce, chicken broth, salt, pepper, and cilantro, and bring to boil.
-Reduce heat and simmer 30-45 min.
I’m going to use 1 dozen flour tortillas. Whenever I make enchiladas, I always put a little bit of sauce along the bottom of the pan to keep the enchiladas from stocking to the pan. I’ll fill each tortilla with the shredded chicken breast and cheese, roll it, and place it in a 9X13 Pyrex baking dish. Then, I’ll cover the rolled enchiladas with the sauce and some cheese and bake it in the oven for 20-30 minutes at 350 until the cheese is melted.
WW points = 9 per serving for 2 enchiladas
Creamy chicken enchiladas – This is a family favorite!
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
MONDAY: Steaks and baked potatoes – We’re grilling Omaha Steaks from a Plum District deal I grabbed a few weeks ago!
TUESDAY: Melt in your mouth meatloaf (slow cooker) – I’ve made this several times now for our family. It’s easy to make, very kid friendly, and yummy!Ingredients:
2 eggs
3/4 c. milk (we use skim)
2/3 c. seasoned bread crumbs
2 tsp dried, minced onion
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp rubbed sage
1 1/2 pounds ground beef (we always make this with ground turkey instead and it’s yummy!)
1/4 c. ketchup
2 T brown sugar
1 tsp ground mustard
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Directions
1. In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well (mixture will be moist.) Shape into a round loaf; place in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F.
2. In a small bowl, whisk the ketchup, brown sugar, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Spoon over the meat loaf. Cook 15 minutes longer or until heated through. Let stand for 10-15 minutes before cutting.
WW points = 5 per serving with the ground turkey, ground beef may be more (makes 6 servings)
Sides – Sour cream mashed potatoes (4 pts) and green beans (0 pts)
WEDNESDAY: It’s my birthday – I don’t know what we’re having, but I’m not cooking
THURSDAY: Spaghetti
FRIDAY: Black bean and chicken burritos (slow cooker)– This is another family favorite that is SUPER easy to make! You can cook all day and it’s ready to serve (all you have to do is shred the chicken) when you get home!
Ingredients:
2 cans black beans, drained
2-3 chicken breasts
1 can green enchilada saucePlace chicken breasts in bottom of the crockpot and then add remaining ingredients. Cook on low 6-8 hours. Shred chicken before serving and serve in tortillas. We add cheese, sour cream, etc. to the tortillas. We sometimes add rice (cooked rice to the mixture once we’re ready to serve, not in the crockpot!). This is also really good if you use beef instead of the chicken!WW points = 6 points Per serving (does not include the tortillas)
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.
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I just started Monthly Meal Planning and Shopping! Thanks for posting the WW points.
Let me know how the monthly meal planning and shopping goes! Sometimes I think that would be WAY easier because I really hate grocery shopping. The trick is the planning piece! Sometimes it’s hard enough for me to get a week done!
A healthier option for good ol’ fashioned spaghetti is to make it with whole wheat pasta. I’ve not found a great true whole wheat pasta, but there are some pasta’s, like Barilla Plus, that aren’t the gritty whole wheat variety, but have all the fiber content that help keep you full. The other thing I do with spaghetti is to brown ground turkey (instead of beef) for meat sauce with onions, mushrooms and garlic. Gives it extra flavor and my kids love it! Another option for the sauce is to use the Heart Smart options out there, which are lower in sodium. All these might be more expensive, but they don’t take any more time to make! By the way, Happy Birthday! (I just celebrated mine yesterday and LOVED the freebies that came in my inbox!)
Hi Stacey – great tips! We have been using the Barilla for awhile now. I love that we can get it cheap after coupons every now and then and we’re converted to ground turkey, too 🙂 My husband (who is super picky) doesn’t even know the difference! I personally think it has more flavor!!