Menu Planning

It's been quite a while, but I've tried to set up a menu plan, since payday is Tuesday and we've got a few days home in the next couple weeks. Here's hoping I can feel like sticking to it, eh?

Monday (4/29): Chicken nuggets, tater tots, and corn. Not too exciting, but we're a bit low on choices currently.
Tuesday (4/30): Popcorn Parmesan Chicken. A favorite, and my daughter's request once we've got some groceries on hand. And I'll also make garlic bread, because it's son's favorite.
Wednesday (5/1): It's fend for ourselves night around here. Hubby will have friends over for their racecar build night, and they'll head out to eat together at some point in the evening. The kids and I will figure something out.
Thursday (5/2): Enchilada Casserole. We haven't had it for a long time, but I think we liked it? LOL
Friday (5/3): Breakfast for dinner. This is son's request. The highlights will be some Vanilla French Toast and bacon. Maybe I can find some yummy fruit too?
Saturday (5/4): Hubby and I have a family wedding to attend, and the kids get to spend the night with Mimi and Papa. :)
Sunday (5/5): We'll be seeing the high school's production of Addams Family earlier in the afternoon (after picking the kids up from Mimi & Papa's). Maybe a picnic style dinner? Some hot dogs with chili, baked beans, maybe some potato chips and dip?

Monday (5/6): No Peek Beef Tips. Probably with some rice and a nice green veggie.
Tuesday (5/7): There's an election in the township where I serve as an election chairperson. So I'll be at work - allll day. So my dinner is pizza, provided by the township.
Wednesday (5/8): I'm anticipating another Wednesday build night.
Thursday (5/9): Sooo excited - we have tickets to see the Wild Kratts in Ann Arbor. We won them from Raising Little Princes. Can't wait!!
Friday (5/10): Everyone here loves some chicken and dumplings in the crock pot. It's pretty much a regular in my menu rotation. It's also easy (yay crockpot!).
Saturday (5/11): Baton competition - no cooking!
Sunday (5/12): It's Mother's Day. Don't look at me for dinner plans!

Menu Plan...Tuesday?

I haven't menu-planned in quite a while. And since I've been offering the same dinner for a week or so and hubby doesn't like it, I'll try a little harder to have more meals on hand after this week's shopping expedition. This means planning ahead, right?

Tuesday (yes, today): Off to a strong start! Hubby is working his fun job tonight, so he doesn't come home til late. No cooking for me! The kids and I will eat. I'm having a Stouffers French Bread Pizza (does anyone else remember when they used to have pepperoni and mushroom? I swear they did, but I can't find them anymore).Maggie will most likely have buttered noodles, and Jack will opt for a peanut butter sandwich (if we have any peanut butter?) or pizza rolls.

Wednesday: Well, hubby will not be pleased with this, but I'm not sure if he's leaving me time to shop between other tasks tomorrow or not. So based on my current available ingredients, it'll be meatballs and gravy, with mashed potatoes, and corn.

Thursday: Hahahaha... with as seldom as I have to cook, you'd think this would be easier for me. Hubby works on Thursdays too, so the kids and I may get drive-thru of choice after swimming lessons.

Friday/Saturday: Well, this might be getting a little embarrassing. I think hubby may be heading out of town Friday afternoon to take Maggie skiing up north. Huh. So yeah, not cooking Friday or Saturday again.

Sunday: We have a neighbor's birthday party from 2 - 4, which will certainly include pizza. So really, do you think I'm gonna cook another meal between getting home and going to bed? Nope. Have some chips or something if you're hungry...

Monday: I already have half the stuff to make Smoked Sausage and Cheesy Rice again. Let's do it!

Tuesday: Yeah. Tuesday. You know the drill. Hubby's gone, and the kids and I don't eat enough for me to cook a real meal...

Wednesday: Since Maggie is at baton late on Wednesdays, I like to have something ready once we're all home. Crock pot, here I come! I can't find where I originally got this recipe, but my whole family enjoys chicken and dumplings! I put one can of chicken broth, two cans of cream of chicken, and about three chicken breasts (aren't they monstorously sized lately??) in the crock pot in the morning on low, then the last hour I shred the chicken, add four or so refrigerated biscuit dough (cut in quarters), and crank it up to high. I might try adding some VegAll  or frozen peas/carrots this time...

Thursday: I think Thursday we'll be heading out to a coney island or something as a family. We have the fifth grade musical performance at 7pm.

Friday: February 9 is one of our community's much-anticipated daddy/daughter dances. So while they dance the night away, I bet Jack and I can go out for his favorite. Unless I can talk him into somewhere besides McDonalds.

That leaves Saturday, Sunday and Monday open before Maggie and I leave for the Twirlmania competition on Tuesday, but goodness! I feel like I've written a novel! No wonder I don't like cooking, if this much work goes in weeks in advance! LOL

What are your favorite, easy, go-to menu fillers? Since I obviously cook so much, I might be better off with keeping some ingredients around for easy meals. I don't 'Instapot,' (saw a scary anecdote about one exploding...I'm happy with my crock pot and don't watch This is Us...), but I do enjoy casseroles (more than hubby does), skillet meals (although I could use a bigger skillet!), and regular old stove-top and baking.

Menu Plan Tuesday

Welp, I guess I'm not much for following the rules sometimes.

Welcome to Menu Plan Monday, but on a Tuesday.

Today is payday, and grocery-shopping day, so it is now (by necessity) menu plan day.

Tuesday (Jan 31): Let's start out easy, shall we? Hubby works his other job tonight, so the kids and I eat whatever is handy.

Wednesday (Feb 1): Tacos! Probably chicken tacos. They're a favorite of hubby's and because he likes lettuce on them, they've got to be close to shopping day, so the lettuce is still crispy ;)

Thursday (Feb 2): Happy Groundhog Day!! Maybe the kids and I will go out and celebrate, since hubby works his other job tonight.

Friday (Feb 3): Tonight we're meeting up with friends, and grabbing dinner on the run.

Saturday (Feb 4): Birthday party for a friend of the kids tonight, so hubby and I will probably grab carryout somewhere in lieu of the birthday party pizza. That's how we usually roll.

Are you getting the impression yet that I don't cook much? Apparently that's what works for our family.

Sunday (Feb 5): I'm undertaking another fun task lately - trying to go through all my purchased, direct sales food mixes and such. I've got a GIANT box of stuff from four different companies. The catch is, I purchased it because I sampled something, or they mentioned something that sounded good. But now I have a box of mystery! Hmm....
So, Sunday we're going to try Smoked Bacon Chicken Alfredo. (Actually, most of the reason for this whole post was so I could link this recipe now. LOL). I've got a two-pack of Tastefully Simple's Hickory-Smoked Bacon Sauce Mix, so if this stuff is tasty, we'll have it again. If not, their website is excellent for searching out different recipes using their current and retired products.

Monday (Feb 6): Hubby has been wanting to make his 'Chinese Chicken.' It's a recipe he pretty much made up when we lived in Germany for a few months, nearly a decade ago. This is an exceptionally good night for it, as he usually gets home before the kids and I on Mondays.

Tuesday (Feb 7): Hubby works his other job, so the kids and I will do something simple with what we've got here.

Wednesday (Feb 8): I've found a box of a Lasagna Skillet Meal from Wildtree that I think we'll put together for tonight.

Thursday (Feb 9): Another work night for hubby.

Friday (Feb 10): Tonight is the big daddy/daughter dance! And the boy and I will be going to a fun event at school. So I get we'll either meet up for dinner beforehand, or all just be on our own.

Saturday (Feb 11): Orange Chicken. Except this recipe thinks we should bread our own chicken. Not gonna happen. I buy the Tyson Popcorn Chicken - just heat it up in the oven at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes, then toss it with the sauce - yummo!!

Sunday (Feb 12): One of my favorite comfort meals is actually meatballs and gravy, with mashed potatoes and a vegetable.

Monday (Feb 13): We're all actually home tonight! Everyone enjoys City Chicken, as long as Meijer has them available in the week or so before I want to make them. I'll check the market over the weekend sometime. If not, we can always bake up some kielbasa, with macaroni or shells and cheese.

Tuesday (Feb 14): Happy Valentine's Day!! Hubby's back to work at his part-time job, so the kids and I will make do with whatever's left.

This brings us right up to our next full round of grocery shopping and menu planning :) What are some of your family's favorites? I'm always looking for more ideas!

Menu Plan Monday

MONDAY (Feb 17): Pizza! I was looking forward to it for lunch, but it turned out to be all gone :( Think I need it for dinner instead ;)

TUESDAY (Feb 18): Chili. And I may just make a double batch. Maggie and I both enjoy it for lunch, and she's home for winter break this week.

WEDNESDAY (Feb 19): Tortellini (otherwise known as 'ear noodles') with garlic bread and a fresh green veggie, if one looks good at the store.

THURSDAY (Feb 20): Taco salad

FRIDAY (Feb 21): Spaghetti with more garlic bread.

SATURDAY (Feb 22): Lots of appetizers around mid-day with our Origami Owl party (let me know if you need to look at the catalog!), and then Chicken Lazone for dinner.

SUNDAY (Feb 23): I think we still have some good cuts of beef in the freezer in the garage. I'll try to throw a good roast in the crock pot for this day.

MONDAY (Feb 24): Tacos.

TUESDAY (Feb 25): Really only two months since Christmas?? Tonight we'll try World's Best Chicken.

WEDNESDAY (Feb 26): Breakfast for dinner.

THURSDAY (Feb 27): Mommy/daughter date AKA Bingo night.

FRIDAY (Feb 28): Quartermania (mommy's at work, daddy feeds the short ones)

Menu Plan Monday

Well, the winter is continuing with lots of evenings for just the kids and I while hubby teaches skiing and works on the race car, and I'm working or have other plans a couple nights this week too...

Here's what's left:

MONDAY: Just the kids and I, and I promised Maggie we could go shopping for belated Groundhog Day presents, so we may just grab fast food while we're out...

TUESDAY: I have a big chocolate tasting at a store a couple towns away, so they'll eat whatever daddy feeds them :)

WEDNESDAY: I found this Simply Great Chicken on Pinterest and I think it's time to give it a try :)

THURSDAY: Busy day! Hubby's teaching again, and Maggie's Daisy troop is doing an activity at the library in the evening. I think Maggie would be thrilled if I pick up ingredients for us to make our own pizzas before we go.

FRIDAY: Happy Valentine's Day! While I'd love to take advantage of the 'holiday' and payday to go out for dinner, everything is likely to be crowded... Sounds like I may need to browse Pinterest some more, unless you have suggestions?

Menu Plan Monday

I think it's just the kids and I for several meals this week, which usually means not a lot of actual cooking. The three of us don't consume much.

MONDAY: Chicken Helper. Some sort of ranch breading thing, with mashed potatoes.

TUESDAY: Chili. For lunch and dinner, incidentally.

WEDNESDAY: Nachos. Yet another meal that gives me a delicious leftover lunch. Go figure ;)

THURSDAY: Tortellini. And I may even throw a can of chicken in with it too.

FRIDAY: Daddy/Daughter date. And honestly? Not much makes Jack happier than Totinos pizza. How can I deny him that??

SATURDAY: Maggie and I have to go clear to Ida for competition with her baton team. Hopefully daddy will be okay with using one of our restaurant gift cards to go out for dinner.

SUNDAY: Maggie has a birthday party at the gymnastics place during the day. Not sure what sounds good for dinner yet. Especially since there's a payday between now and then. Maybe the grown-ups can have steaks while the short people have tube steaks. Except the part where the kids have really been liking eating MY steak lately...

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Pork Schnitzel (made by hubby) with Au Gratin Potatoes

Tuesday: Chili

Wednesday: Popcorn Parmesan Chicken

Thursday: Tacos (probably chicken tacos - and we found a good chipotle ranch dressing in a bottle so now I don't have to try and go to Rio Wraps the day of taco dinner to pick up the really good sauce...)

Friday: Lemons Race Team holiday party. I think hubby promised our guests pizza :)


Saturday: Creamy Cheese Chicken with noodles

Sunday: Sloppy Joes

Monday: Tortellini (aka 'ear noodles') with garlic bread

Tuesday: Christmas Eve at Mimi & Papa's

Wednesday: Christmas - probably at my in-laws?

Thursday: No Peek Beef Tips

Friday: Breakfast for dinner

Saturday: Taco salad

Sunday: Hamburger Helper

Monday: Kielbasa and Mac & Cheese

Menu Plan Monday

Whew. My last menu plan went out the window while hubby was feeling under the weather. See, when he isn't eating with us - for whatever reason - there's no point in me making an actual meal. The kids and I just don't eat enough to warrant the effort.

So now I'm back to trying another menu plan, but I'll warn you in advance - our schedules are CRAZY for the holiday season already, so I get to skip a lot of days (and stock up on bread, soup, cheese, and Totinos pizzas).

MONDAY (11/4): Off track already! We have a visitor in town for one more day and hubby's taking off work, so I think we'll go show him around fabulous Detroit. And eat dinner out while we're there...

TUESDAY (11/5): Popcorn Chicken Parmesan. This was a real winner from my list of suggestions from friends a few weeks ago.

WEDNESDAY (11/6): Tacos. And as usual, I'd love to make time in my schedule on this day to get the yummy chipotle ranch sauce from Rio Wraps.

THURSDAY (11/7): City Chicken.

FRIDAY (11/8): I'm doing a chocolate tasting party this night, so I'm sure hubby will figure something out for himself and the kids.

SATURDAY (11/9): I'm representing Dove Chocolate Discoveries at a fundraising event til 4PM, so my plan is to throw a roast in the crock pot before we all leave in the morning.

SUNDAY (11/10): Tortellini (better known as ear noodles) with alfredo sauce, garlic bread and a fresh veggie.

MONDAY (11/11): Kielbasa and shells & cheese.

TUESDAY (11/12): Another chocolate tasting party

WEDNESDAY (11/13): I scheduled a babysitter so hubby and I can go grab dinner together before our daughter's parent/teacher conference. Woo-hoo!

THURSDAY (11/14): Chili

FRIDAY (11/15): I'm doing another event for Dove, and hubby will be taking the kids to Maggie's baton dress rehearsal. I've recommended that he take them out for dinner afterward to celebrate what a fantastic job I know she will do!

Menu Plan Monday

Boy, a menu plan certainly does make my day-planning easier.

MONDAY (10/14): We still have a few more weeks of swimming followed-by Chinese carry-out. And now it's even more justified, as Jack has asked to have mommy in the pool with him each week. Mommy is less than thrilled. Just three weeks left, and I do it to see him having fun.

TUESDAY (10/15): Kielbasa and shells & cheese. Maggie's been feeling a little run down for nearly a week. Hopefully one of her favorites will help her eat-up and stay strong against the germies.

WEDNESDAY (10/16): I've been dying to use my new Dove Chocolate Discoveries Red Wine Cooking Sauce. I may do a bit more research in the next day and a half, but I'm thinking a good cut of beef from our freezer plus half a jar or so of the sauce in the crockpot all day on low....

THURSDAY (10/17): We haven't had any OMG Taco Bake in a while...

FRIDAY (10/18): City Chicken, with rice and a fresh veggie. Unless we end up going to the Zoo Boo at the Detroit Zoo this night??

SATURDAY (10/19): We're definitely looking for quick and easy, as we have the Spooktacular Stroll at a local nature center this evening. The kids always love spaghetti (meat sauce for Jack, more noodles for Maggie...).

SUNDAY (10/20): While I'm not a big fan of bone-in steaks, I think we have a few of those still in the freezer. Probably a good day to grill em up!

MONDAY (10/21): The end is in sight! Just one more Monday after this one that is scheduled for swimming and carry-out dinner.

TUESDAY (10/22): Tacos. Hopefully I can make the time to go pick up some Rio Wraps sauce.

WEDNESDAY (10/23): We really enjoyed the Popcorn Chicken Parmesan one of my Facebook friends suggested previously. Even the leftovers got eaten! Let's try that again.

THURSDAY (10/24): Busy night! Tonight is the Spooky Spectacular at Maggie's school, or she may opt to go with mommy to vendor bingo (we haven't won anything lately - I think it's our turn!). Dinner is leftovers or whatever you can find.

FRIDAY (10/25): Mommy's got chocolate work one way or another. Either I've got a tasting party scheduled, or if that doesn't pan out (remember, I'm writing this almost two weeks in advance), I've offered to step in at a fundraiser.

SATURDAY (10/26): This is the weekend before daddy leaves for another race. His availability will be pretty much non-existent for the next week or so. Maybe we can do make-your-own pizzas tonight? Maggie and I have fun with it, and Jack always loves pizza.

SUNDAY (10/27): We haven't had Enchilada Casserole in the crock pot since the first time I made it. And there's usually some extra, since there may be an extra person or two in our garage working on the race car.

Menu Plan Monday

I'm going back to trying the two week plan again. Don't you hate knowing something worked, but being too overwhelmed to continually put in the effort? Grr...

Monday (9/30): Swimming lessons/Chinese carry-out (don't judge!)

Tuesday (10/1): Tacos/Nachos

Wednesday (10/2): Kielbasa with Mac n Cheez

Thursday (10/3): Popcorn Chicken Parmesan and another fresh veggie

Friday (10/4): Thanksgiving-in-a-Dish (Ground turkey, browned and mixed with "cream of" soup, then layered in a casserole dish with frozen veggies (add seasoning), and topped with prepared stuffing.)

Saturday (10/5): Halloweekends at Cedar Point!! 

Sunday (10/6): Some wonderful beef from our freezer, probably in the crock pot so we can go enjoy watching Maggie twirl in the homecoming parade, then come home for a hot, delicious dinner.

Monday (10/7): Swimming lessons/Chinese carry-out

Tuesday (10/8): Campbell's One Dish Chicken & Rice with some fresh veggie

Wednesday (10/9): Breakfast for dinner - probably Vanilla French Toast

Thursday (10/10): I'm going to a Jewel Kade party at a friend's house, and probably taking Maggie (?). I can absolutely live on the appetizers at these things, so I think dinner will just be leftovers.

Friday (10/11): Spaghetti

Saturday (10/12): Daddy's in charge while mommy does two chocolate tasting parties

Sunday (10/13): I have a mid-day chocolate event, so probably something in the crock pot again

Menu Plan Monday

This week isn't very 'stressful' for meal planning...

MONDAY: Swim class, and we always pick up Chinese on the way home.

TUESDAY: I have my Dove team meeting... I had originally requested that hubby come along and eat a pizza with the kids so I can maybe join them if no one shows up, but now I'm thinking I may make something in the crock pot so I can just head home afterwards and enjoy.

WEDNESDAY: Probably Whole Grain Chicken Helper - the honey mustard flavor one.

THURSDAY: For whatever reason, I haven't written it in my calendar yet, but I know I have a direct sellers bingo night. Free bingo, donated prizes, more cards for doing business with the vendors. Oh, and for dinner, that translates to: I'm not home, so hubby will call the shots.

FRIDAY: I have a chocolate tasting party. See the last sentence of Thursday ;)

SATURDAY: Jack's birthday party! I think we'll go with ordering pizzas. It's Jack's favorite, after all!

Menu Plan Monday

MONDAY: Shnitzel (made by hubby), along with au gratin potatoes, and peas

TUESDAY: Breakfast for dinner (Maggie's request) - Super awesome Vanilla French Toast and sausage links

WEDNESDAY: Tortellini with pink sauce, with garlic bread, and brussels sprouts

THURSDAY: I'll be doing a chocolate tasting party, so daddy will probably take the kiddos out somewhere

FRIDAY: Maybe steak for the grown-ups, and tube steaks for the little ones :)

Menu Plan Monday

This is actually more or less just a posting of the menu plan I made at the end of last week. I'm really trying to stick with doing our menu plan twice a month, when hubby's paycheck comes in...

MONDAY: And sometimes I just don't make it all the way through the day still committed to my menu. After Jack and I spent all day running errands and such, I called hubby and agreed to skip my kick-boxing class so he could work in the garage, if he'd bring home pizza for dinner so I could focus on some stuff I needed to get done. Win/win!

TUESDAY: Spaghetti Pie - I have plans to try modifying this a bit. It calls for cottage cheese, but I miss the taste of my mom's lasagna...I think she used ricotta cheese instead, so I'm going to try substituting that.

WEDNESDAY: Chicken Helper (the Whole Grain Honey Mustard one - yum!)

THURSDAY/FRIDAY/SATURDAY: No daddy? No cook-y! Hubby's doing a race, so the kids and I will make it by on ocean nibbles, frozen pizza, and maybe some tacos?

SUNDAY: (I know I don't usually post the WHOLE week, but I've got plans!) We're going to Mimi and Papa's house to celebrate my birthday!!

Menu Plan Monday

My menu planning is sort of short-term for now. We've got a side of beef at the meat processing plant now, so once it's in, I'll be able to 'beef' up the menu ;)

MONDAY:  City Chicken with a potato or rice and vegetable.

TUESDAY:  I won't be here...maybe I'll stop and get a rotisserie chicken in the afternoon for their dinner? Or maybe I'll pick up a pound of ground beef and make some spaghetti pie... Dunno.

WEDNESDAY:  Kielbasa and pierogies or mac & cheese

THURSDAY:  Chicken Alfredo (thanks, Velveeta!)

FRIDAY:  Pork chops (hubby, care to schnitzel-ize?)

SATURDAY:  Hopefully we can have some hamburgers on the grill with our awesome new ground beef :)

Menu Plan Monday

Yay for me! Doing my menu-plan every other week, when I actually do the grocery shopping, worked out great last time. So here we go again:

Monday (4/1): My very favorite Honey Mustard flavored Chicken Helper.

Tuesday (4/2): Chili

Wednesday (4/3): Homemade pizza. I think I saw it on Pinterest - you cut a loaf of french bread so it's open faced, and everyone makes their own pizza on part of it.

Thursday (4/4): Hubby is taking off work and we're having a staycation. So I didn't plan anything since we may or may not be home...

Friday (4/5): Same as Thursday ;)

Saturday (4/6): No-Peek Beef Tips

Sunday (4/7): My Tupperware party! No 'real' dinner, just yummy appetizers and visiting with friends and family. Feel free to click the link if you need anything - doesn't matter if you live near me or not - you can order and have it shipped to your door.

Monday (4/8): Spaghetti Pie - the easy way this time. When I made it last time, I made the two trays of it. So tonight we're just heating the second tray.

Tuesday (4/9): Hubby's making schnitzel.

Wednesday (4/10): Italian Crock-Pot Chicken - found this on Pinterest and this will be my first try making it. I'll let you know how it goes!

Thursday (4/11): Tacos

Friday (4/12): Either eating at my parents or going out.

Saturday (4/13): Meeting in Chicago - probably eating on the road...

Sunday (4/14): I think hubby will be taking a test day at the racetrack..I never cook a full dinner for just the kids and I ;)

Menu Plan Monday

Well, I'm posting this to make me accountable. Every other week, I was out of grocery money, so menu planning was nearly impossible. This time, I made up my menu first, then hit the store. So here's two weeks of menus for us. Hopefully this works a little better at costing us less in the end.

MONDAY (3/18) - Pork roast in the crock pot with mashed potatoes and asparagus

TUESDAY (3/19) - Chicken Tacos

WEDNESDAY (3/20) - Dinner out at BW3's. It's a Dine to Donate night for a friend's Relay for Life team

THURSDAY (3/21) - Breakfast for dinner. I'm making awesome Vanilla French Toast with sausage.

FRIDAY (3/22) - Spaghetti Pie

SATURDAY (3/23) - Taco Salad

SUNDAY (3/24) - City Chicken

MONDAY (3/25) - Another dinner out at BW3's again. This time it's Dine to Donate night for my daughter's school.

TUESDAY (3/26) - It's both my mother's retirement dinner at her office, and I have a team meeting that's at a restaurant right after that. I'm definitely not cooking.

WEDNESDAY (3/27) - OMG Taco Bake

THURSDAY (3/28) - Chicken and stuffing. There's a nifty recipe on the canister of Stove Top Stuffing.

FRIDAY (3/29) - PAYDAY!! I'll either scrape something together, or we'll go out :)

Menu Plan Monday

MONDAY: Spaghetti, garlic bread and a vegetable.

TUESDAY: Trying to squish the budget around so we can go to On the Border with a portion of the proceeds donated to Maggie's school (most of her school's 'fundraisers' are called Dine to Donate, where a local restaurant donates something based on the people who show up with a flyer...).

WEDNESDAY: Meatballs with either gravy or BBQ sauce, mashed potatoes and a vegetable.

THURSDAY: Creamy Cheesy Chicken over noodles. I'd forgotten all about this til I pulled up the recipes I've posted before while looking for something else. This stuff is yummy - why did I quit making it??

FRIDAY: City Chicken with rice and a vegetable.

Menu Plan Monday

Here I am, cheating at practically the middle of Monday night again ;)

MONDAY: A very mild version of YOYO (You're on your own...). I browned up some taco meat, and made myself a plate of nachos (though I somehow forgot to use the beans I bought). Hubby and Maggie had tacos.

TUESDAY: There a very lonely half of a kielbasa in the fridge waiting to be paired with some shells and cheese.

WEDNESDAY: The kids and I are going to a meeting, and hubby has a late meeting at the office. I'll probably warm up some pizza rolls or something similar for the kids before we go.

THURSDAY: I found a cool looking chicken and stuffing thing on Pinterest that I'd like to try....

FRIDAY: I get to go out for dinner with a co-worker ;) A regional training is coming to our area to do a chocolate meeting on Saturday, so she and I (and anyone who wants to join us) are going out to eat, visit, and talk business.

Menu Plan Monday

So maybe I do sort of cheat when I don't put up the week's menu plan til after dinner Monday. You'll get over it.

Monday: Pork Roast in the crock pot (see, so I've more or less known all day what was for dinner anyway)

Tuesday: It's a Dine to Donate day for Blessings in a Backpack at one of our favorite local restaurants. Since Jack's restaurant behavior has been a little iffy lately, maybe we'll just get carry-out. Love G's pizza!

Wednesday: Probably something simple - Shells and Cheese with Kielbasa? And maybe some peas.

Thursday: Mimi and Papa are staying for dinner after they watch Jack for part of the day. Maggie says they'd like spaghetti. The jury's still out, but that's the best suggestion I have so far.

Friday: Maggie's also been asking for city chicken lately, so this may be the day...

Want much better ideas than mine? Check out Menu Plan Monday over at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Menu Plan Monday?

Hahaha....or not.

Hubby's off to Korea, so I'm not at all motivated to cook for a fussy toddler, a kindergartener who loves macaroni and cheese above anything else, and myself, who can make do with wine for dinner :)

So this week's plan goes like this:

Monday: Finish off freezer foods - Maggie had ocean nibbles (read: fish sticks) and french fries, and I had chicken nuggets and french fries. Jack had....oh, heck. I have no idea what Jack actually ate. The tray (and the baby) were eventually coated with Gerber chicken and brown rice, two fish sticks, a couple french fries, some club crackers, a container of yogurt, and a Gerber fruit chew thing. I'm sure at least some of the same made it into the baby.
I'm now topping it off with an excellent Pinterest suggestion: one part orange juice, one part cranberry juice, and two parts Moscato. By the way, this is just mine (and thanks, Mom, for the Christmas bottle of Moscato - I knew I was saving it for a rainy..er...snowy day).

Tuesday: Oh, man. I have to do this again tomorrow? We have a library thing in the early evening, so maybe I'll be motivated enough to stay out and get some real food. Maggie's suggestion for this week was kielbasa and macaroni & cheese. Unfortunately when we went grocery shopping I forgot the kielbasa. Maybe it will make its way here tomorrow.

Wednesday: Our old stand-by will work well one evening this week. Perhaps Wednesday will be the lucky day for our OMG Taco Bake.

Thursday: We have a blogging meeting at 7:30 on Thursday. It leaves me with an interesting dilemma. Do we head out a bit early and grab some fast food, since we need to leave the house anyway? Or do we have sandwiches or something here before leaving, knowing there will be munchies once we get there anyway?

Friday: Hard to believe we've gone almost a whole week of just me and the kids with no Totinos pizza (well, unless you count the pizza rolls last weekend, which I obviously don't). Friday is the perfect day for pizza. We'll either have the Totinos classic standby, or maybe we'll make our own.

Check out Menu Plan Monday for what will almost always be better ideas than mine. Especially this week. ;)