January 2013

I can't believe how busy the last half of 2012 was.   I feel like I can finally breathe again!

I finished up my January meal plan a couple of days ago.... and got my groceries this morning (just a milk/produce pick up mid-month).

Can you believe it's 2013???    Crazy!!

This month we don't have much going on in the evenings, so I had a lot of freedom in my planning.   We do have a vegetarian house guest the last week of the month though, so I did factor that in when planning, as well as travel (eat out) days.  I also want to use some of that meat had has moved towards the bottom of the freezer.   I try to do that every 6 months or so, so nothing gets too old in there (saves on the grocery bill for a month too).  Due to changes in our Christmas plans, I didn't end up cooking Christmas day, so we are now having a turkey dinner this month (I cannot wait!)

 

January Meal Plan:

1- Baked Salmon, Rice, Broccoli

2- Cabbage Rolls, Spaetzle, Sausage, Salad (husband is cooking)

3 - Beef Stew*, Buns

4 - Shepherd's Pie*, Salad

5 - Beef & Broccoli**, Rice

Source: weightwatchers.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

 

6 - Belgian Waffles, Fruit

7 - Steak, Roasted Potatoes and Carrots*, Salad

8 - Pork Chops, Broccoli and Rice Casserole*, Salad

9 - Chicken Stir Fry, Rice

10 - Spinach Lasagna Rolls, Salad

11 - Homemade Pizza*, Raw Veggies

12 - Turkey Sausages, Eggs, Homemade Hashbrowns, Toast

13 - Roast Beef, Yorkshire Puddings*, Roasted Carrots and Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Corn

14 - Cheese Ravioli, Raw Veggies

15 - Beef on a Bun, Raw Veggies, Asian Coleslaw**

Source: homeiswheretheholmansare.blogspot.com via Judy on Pinterest

 

16 - Baked Butter Chicken, RIce, Stir Fry Veggies

17 - Balsamic Pork Loin*, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli

18 - Burgers, Fries, Raw Veggies

19 - Fish, Dill Sauce*, Rice, Asparagus or Broccoli

20 - Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Carrots, Corn, Broccoli Divine*, Yorkshire Puddings, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce

21 - Leftovers

22 - Turkey and Rice Casserole*, Salad

23 - Beef Stew, Buns, Salad

24 - Leftovers

25 - ~Dinner out~

26 - Tuna Pasta, Peas

27 - Stirfry, Rice

28 - Homemade Pizza, Raw Veggies

29 - Supreme Green Spaghetti, Salad

30 - Homemade Soup*, Buns, Raw Veggies

31 - ~Take Out~

 

*Recipe to share

**Trying new recipe... will share

Prepping to meal plan

Getting ready to work on this week's meal plan.



Some of my favourite books on the shelf got pulled for this week:


We have company for the whole week! So I'm excited to actually cook... probably all new recipes too.. since I'll have extra hands with kids.

My meal planning is usually monthly, and my process is:

1. Decide if I'm working out of cookbooks or online (often I do a combo). I find I have all these books on the shelf though, and rarely use them... so I make an effort to use them almost every month.

2. Set everything on the table... and wait.... and wait... until all kids are sleeping, or otherwise busy (preschool, out with daddy, etc).

3. Start flipping through books until something catches my eye (or browsing recipes on pinterest, or my favourite food blogs).

4. I write a general list at first... just write down the recipes, where they were found, etc.

5. Start assigning recipes to days on the calendar (I generally use a full size calendar when doing it by month). As I assign, I know Tues/Thurs I have more time in the morning, so crockpot recipes I do those days, Saturday I know I never think about dinner til it's dinnertime... so something quick those nights, and so forth... (Also great to use a calendar, since you can see any other events you have those days, to accomodate what type of meal you'll want to do).

6. Also good to account for leftovers. I generally don't have leftover nights in my meal plan, since my husband takes them for lunches the next day. The exception is if we have a larger meal on a Thursday or Friday, I'll have left overs Saturday, since they won't be good for lunches the next week.

7. Hang it up! Blog it! :)

I never stress about my meal plan, I completely rearrange it as the month goes on.. sometimes things come up, and you need to postpone a meal for when you have more time... sometimes you get taken out for dinner, etc... rearrange, drop meals that the ingredients will keep with freezing. Meal planning is so stress free! I mean, we love looking at recipes, salivating over them anyway... this just gives you a 30-60 minute scheduled time to do so! :)

Off to tuck the little one in for nap, and send the bigger for quiet time. Will post tomorrow! :)

Happy Planning!

Meal Plan

Well it's meal plan time again.. but this month I'll be doing 1 week at a time. We have a busy month ahead, so not as much cooking planned.

This week it's just me and the kiddos... so it'll be super easy foods that they both love. Probably won't be many recipes attached to these, as they'll be pretty easy ones, and then I'll cook a "real" meal for Sunday for when the hubby returns.

Monday - quick bean burritos, salad
Tuesday - potato soup
Wednesday - hot dogs, salad
Thursday - stir fry, rice
Friday - green spaghetti
Saturday - homemade pizza
Sunday - ham, scalloped potatoes, veggies

It's an easy week for me :P Not very rewarding cooking for a toddler and a baby, so will just keep to simple ones they love.

The next week will be more fun, as we'll have out of town company! :)

March Meal Plan

Not sure where March is going, but I'm just now getting a chance to blog our meal plan for the month.

This month I am mostly doing new recipes, with just a few old ones thrown in.

In no particular order (since I grab from the list based on time, what we feel like that day):

1 - Best Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff*
2 - Grilled Chicken and Pineapple Quesadillas*
3 - Turkey Stirfry and Rice
4 - Stew
5 - Pizza
6 - Slow Cooker Quinoa Casserole*

Source: crockpot365.blogspot.com via Tamara on Pinterest

7 - Mozza Tomato Gnocci Bake*
8 - Matzo Ball Soup*
9 - Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken*, Rice
10 - Bubble Up Enchiladas*
11 - Slow Cooker Tikka Masala*

Source: themealplanner.blogspot.com via Tamara on Pinterest

12 - Chicken Taco Chili
13 - Beef and Broccoli*

Source: simplyrecipes.com via Tamara on Pinterest

14 - Cranberry Chicken
15 - Chicken and Cheese Lasagna Roll Ups*
16 - Tacos
17 - Rosemary Garlic Chickpea Soup*

Source: bowllicking.com via Tamara on Pinterest

18 - Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole*
19 - Sloppy Joe Pizza*
20 - Chicken Stuffing Bake*
21 - Spaghetti and Meatballs
22 - Veggie Cheese Soup*
23 - Broccoli and Black Bean Rice*
24 - Slow Cooker Pot Roast, Roasted Veggies, Yorkshire Pudding

Source: veryculinary.com via Tamara on Pinterest

25 - Balsamic Pork Roast*
26 - Waffles and Fruit
27 - Quick Burritos
28 - 15 Min Chicken and Rice*
29 - Hot Dogs, Potato Salad
30 - Slow Cooker Potato Soup*
31 - Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Sandwiches*

Source: the-girl-who-ate-everything.com via Tamara on Pinterest

*will try to share these recipes with reviews.

February Meal Plan

Here we go.. jumping back into a meal plan and lots of new recipes.

* a new recipe to me - will share them

1 - Hawaiian Turkey Stir-fry*, Rice
2 - Slow Cooker Chicken Curry*, Rice, salad
3 - Tuna Melts, raw veggies
4 - Cream of Broccoli and Cheese Soup*, buns
5 - Roast beef, yorkshire puddings, roasted veggies
6 - Green Spaghetti
7 - 15 Minute Chicken and Rice*, salad
8 - Beef Taco Bake*, salad
9 - Eggs, turkey bacon, diced potatoes
10 -Quick Chicken Curry*, Salad
11 - Pizza, raw veggies
12 - Waffles, fruit
13 - Southwest Easy Oven Chicken*, salad
14 - Tacos
15 - Creamy Chicken and Spinach*, veggies
16 - Baked Mac and Cheese*, veggies
17 - Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken*, rice, salad
18 - Savoury Chicken Bundles*, salad
19 - Black Bean Enchiladas*, salad
20 - Soup, grilled cheese sandwiches
21 - Crockpot Cheesy Chicken and Potatoes*, veggies
22 - Take Out
23 - Make Ahead Unstuffed Shells*, salad
24 - Hot dogs, potato salad
25 - Balsamic Pork*, mashed potatoes, roasted veggies
26 - Tuna macaroni
27 - Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole*, veggies/salad
28 - Baked Butter Chicken, rice, veggies
29 - Spaghetti and meatballs, veggies/salad

Menu Plan - October 17-23

Last week I had a meal plan, and never posted. We didn't try anything new, or too terribly exciting. I did make a dozen egg mcmuffin sandwiches* for the freezer this evening, while my husband made eggs benedict for dinner. It was very good, but I think we're going to do just a few tweeks before we share that recipe.

This week we are having:

Monday: Chicken Shepherd's Pie
Tuesday: Tacos
Wednesday: Matzo Ball Soup*
Thursday: Crockpot Chicken Taco Chili*
Friday: Stirfry and rice
Saturday: Creamy Potato Soup*( (will make 3 batches, 2 to freeze)
Sunday: Muffins and fruit salad

I am also on snack for the preschool on Thursday. I'm thinking we might do muffins and celery stick with cheez whiz. Kinda at a loss at what to bring.

On the side this week... I plan to do some baking too. I have a zucchini just waiting to be used, as well as some pumpkin puree. I also have a big heap of apples to work with.

Goodies to make:
Chocolate Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins*
Pumpkin Apple Muffins*
Pumpkin Gingersnaps*
Caramel Rice Krispie Squares*
Apple Butter*

Also hoping to make a batch of buns.... or at least one loaf of bread in the bread machine.

I can only hope to stick to all these plans for the week... but here's hoping.


*will share recipes

Meal Plan Sept 26 - Oct 2

Here is my meal plan for this week.... 2 new recipes, and a couple older ones that I plan to share. Hoping I can stay on track. Kids are both snotty today, so I suspect that I won't have some pre-school time to do prep, but hopefully I can still get it done. I might rearrange a bit, as right now the weather on Friday is supposed to be hot, so I might not want soup that day.

Monday - Spaghetti, meat sauce, peas
Tuesday - Baked butter chicken**, rice, naan bread
Wednesday - Whole chicken**, potatoes, veggies
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Matzo Ball Soup*
Saturday - Pork chops, potatoes, salad
Sunday - Waffles and fruit

*recipe from my collection that I will share
**new recipe to try, and share

Will be sharing as we make them hopefully as well. I do have a few other recipes to share in the mean time.

Meal Plan for the week

Here is what I've determined for our meal plan this week, eating only what we have in the house already, and based on weather for that day:

Monday - leftover turkey dinner
Tuesday - burgers, salad
Wednesday - crockpot ribs, rice and veggies
Thursday - corn chowder
Friday - leftovers
Saturday - Enchilada Casserole, salad
Sunday - leftovers

Lots of leftovers this week... either from this weekend, or from larger meals I'm making this week. Hopefully I can stick to my first meal plan as the mom of 2!

:)

Been greatly enjoying the lettuce and green onions from the garden.... I've got several tomatoes coming, my potatoes are getting big plants on them, and my onion tops are huge! :) Carrots are definitely sprouting too :) My first garden, so I'm very pleased!

June Meal Plan

Here is my meal plan for June. With baby potentially coming near the end of the month, it's easy dishes as we get closer (with the exception of Rouladin, which I'm hoping my hubby will tackle, but thinking we'll have company who would appreciate it around then).

This meal plan is definitely going to be pretty fluid throughout the month, and I expect that I'll be doing a lot of rearranging.

1 - Green Spaghetti*
2 - Eating out - Sushi
3 - Frittata, Fruit On The Road - sandwiches or wraps
4 - Steak, Baked Brocolli and Cheddar Potatoes**, Salad Hot dogs and veggies (worked outside all day)
5 - Waffles, Fruit
6 - Leftovers
7 - Hawaiian BBQ Chicken**, Salad
8 - Spinach Lasagna, Salad Super easy bean burritos (was out ALL day)
9 - Beef Stirfry, Rice Spinach Lasagna*, Salad
10 - Chicken and Quinoa Supper** Leftovers
11 - Turkey Burgers*, Curry Potato Salad* Treated to dinner out
12 - Pizza Muffins and Fruit Salad
13 - Broccoli, Cheese and Chicken Pasta**, Salad
14 - Cauliflower and Potato Curry**, naan bread Grilled Chicken over Salad (wasn't feeling like anything heavy)
15 - Baked Chicken, stuffing (Stovetop), veggies Dinner out for birthday
16 - Chili, Tortilla chips
17 - Leftovers
18 - Pork Chops, pasta salad (going to try a new recipe... not sure which yet)
19 - Muffins, fruit
20 -Southwest Chicken Pasta Salad**
21 - Stew*, buns
22 - Leftovers
23 - Easy Lasagna**, Salad
24 - Bean and Cheese Quesidillas
25 - Hot dogs, broccoli salad*
26 - Crepes
27 - Chicken Rice Casserole*, Salad
28 - Salmon, baby potatoes, salad
29 - Pizza
30 - Rouladin, haven't decided on sides yet

Do you meal plan? Do you do it weekly? bi-weekly? Monthly?

I've decided this month instead of just changing the meal plan as we go through the month (rearranging), I'll do strike through editing, so you can see just how fluid our meal plans can be. Certain easy meals are easily axed, but those that I bought specific groceries usually get rearranged. :)

May Meal Plan

I've determined that I need to meal plan on a monthly basis... makes for one huge shopping trip at the beginning of the month, but it works out better with our budget.

So here is my May meal plan:

1 - Pizza
2 - BBQ Chicken Wraps**
3 - Tacos
4 - Sweet and Sour Turkey Meatballs**, rice and salad
5 - Leftovers
6 - Fish and Chips
7 - Treated to dinner out!!
8 - Muffins and Fruit Salad
9 - Lasagna Rolls*, Salad
10 - California Black Bean Burgers**, pasta salad
11 - McDonald's *fundraiser for a local charity, so we are going for happy meals and big macs
12 - Grilled Salmon, grainy mustard and lemon baby potatoes**
13 - Chili
14 - Smokies, veggies
15 - Pizza
16 - Sesame Ginger Chicken**, udon noodles, stirfry veggies
17 - Eggs, Turkey Bacon and homemade hashbrowns
18 - Leftovers
19 - Chicken Quesidillas
20 - Chicken Stirfry, Rice
21 - Chicken, black bean salad
22 - Muffins and Fruit Salad
23 - Tuna Pasta Dish
24 - Beef Enchilada Casserole, Salad
25 - Grilled Cheese and Soup
26 - Eggs, Turkey Bacon and homemade hashbrowns
27 - perogies, veggies
28 - Smokies, salad
29 - Pizza
30 - Spaghetti, meat sauce, peas
31 - Shepherd's Pie


* will share recipe
** NEW recipe, will share with review.

April Meal Plan #4

This week's menu is the following:

22 - Eating out - rehearsal dinner for wedding
23 - Eating out - wedding
24 - Sloppy Joes, Salad
25 - Curried Chicken Linguine*, salad
26 - Salmon, Rice, Veggies
27 - Leftovers
28 - Burgers, Potato Salad

I apologize for my lack of posting this week.  Being involved in a wedding this last weekend really messed with my menu planning and getting posts up.  I need to start scheduling my posts ahead of time, instead of doing them the day of.

We actually missed a couple meals this last week, and ended up eating left overs, or some quick frozen meals I had on hand, as it was such a busy week!

I will catch up on posting the recipes from last week, and hopefully add in some photos to those posts (and previous ones).

April Meal Plan #3

This week's menu is the following:

15 - Sweet and Tangy Chicken* and Rice, veggies
16 - Homemade Pizza
17 - Sloppy Joes, Salad
18 - Chicken Tortilla Soup*
19 - Cheesy Asparagus Chicken Lasagna*, salad
20 - Chicken Chili*, salad
21 - Leftovers

Lots of chicken this week, and 3 new recipes.  :)   My husband has been requesting sloppy joes for a while....   I don't think I've ever actually made them before.... so I guess 4 new recipes!

April Meal Plan #2

This week's meal plan is a little abbreviated, as we are going on a mini holiday.

Week 2 Meal Plan:
8 - Pizza
9 - Away
10 - Away
11 - Away
12 - Away
13 - Macaroni  (needed something to make without having to get any groceries)
14 - Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Berry Sauce*, Veggies

*Will share these recipes

I also still owe you my yorkshire pop-over recipe.   It is coming tomorrow!  

As a rule with my meal plans, I try to plan for this schedule, but life happens, some days I have a more time consuming recipe on a day where my afternoon was crazy busy, etc, so I rearrange my schedule as the week goes on, based on life happenings.

For example... last week this is how is turned out:

1 - Baked Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Cauliflower   (had waffles with berry sauce)
2 - Waffles, Berry Sauce (had spaghetti and meat sauce, salad)
3 - Roast Beef, roasted potatoes and carrots, corn, yorkshire pop-overs*, salad (had meal from 1st)
4 - Spaghetti, meat sauce, salad (Beef Enchilada Casserole, salad)
5 - Beef Enchilada Casserole*, Salad (Leftovers)
6 - Chicken Curry*, Rice, Naan Bread, Salad (had meal from 3rd)
7 - Pizza (had leftovers)

So as you can see, I rearranged it based on our week... I still had every dish (with the exception of pizza), just in a different order.    Pizza got postponed, as I had some more leftovers that needed to be used up, and I figured Pizza would be good tonight, as we could take the left overs as our lunch for on the road on Saturday.

Just because you meal plan, doesn't mean you can't be flexible.   Often we end up on a playdate for an afternoon when we have a more labour intensive meal planned, but that's easy to rearrange.   As long as I pay attention to the meats and vegetables I have in the fridge, and make sure that meal comes before they begin to spoil, it's all good! :)

With baby #2 on the way, I've also been doubling a lot of my recipes lately, and stocking up the freezer.   I made 2 beef enchilada casseroles this week.   Week 3's meal plan is going to be fun, as there's several new recipes in it... looking forward to it!   For this week, since I won't be posting many recipes from the meal plan, I'll work on moving some of my favorite recipes over from my old blog (mostly desserts and goodies.... my specialties).  I've always been a "baker" not a cook....  I'm working on the cooking skills...slowly!

April Meal Planning

I have meal planned my entire month of April! Normally I meal plan 2 weeks at a time, but decided to do the whole month this month, and get most of my groceries early in the month (just picking up fresh veggies at the 2 week mark). I will be breaking it down by week for the blog though.

Week 1 Menu Plan:
1 - Baked Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Cauliflower
2 - Waffles, Berry Sauce
3 - Roast Beef, roasted potatoes and carrots, corn, yorkshire pop-overs*, salad
4 - Spaghetti, meat sauce, salad
5 - Beef Enchilada Casserole*, Salad
6 - Chicken Curry*, Rice, Naan Bread, Salad
7 - Pizza

*Will share these recipes