dinner this week...

I did meal plan this past week…but I didn't follow through with each meal like I had originally planned.  Laziness/illness toward the end of the week changed our plans.

I did make Mix and Match Mama's BBQ Joes (pictured above) and they were SO good!  I made them earlier this week and actually had one again tonight.  This will definitely be made again.  Geoff and I ate them on the garlic Texas Toast…but the kids ate them on just regular buns…which was fine by me because everyone ate what was put on their plate!

We also had just regular spaghetti and meat sauce this week.  We had that 2 nights.  ;)  So cooking did end up being pretty light this week.

Up this week:

-PW's Pot Roast and Creamy Mashed Potatoes (and I may make some homemade bread in my bread maker too!)

-Mix and Match Mama's Ranch Chicken and Roasted Red Potatoes  (we were supposed to make this week, but didn't)

-I made beef stew last month and froze half…so I may thaw that and make some cornbread one evening.

-Lasagna.  We may not eat this this week, but I already have most of the stuff to make it and do not want it to go bad... so I will definitely make this week in 2- 8x8 pans and freeze for a later date.

a little meal planning

So I've been trying to get back into the swing of cooking since Nolan was born.
But much like before Nolan...I have a few goals in mind when deciding on meals to cook for the family.

1) Easy.
2) Good.
3) My kids will {read: probably} eat.
4) Easy.

If you're in a rut like me, I thought it might be nice to just share the recipes I've been using in case they might give you a little idea.


For the following recipes...I usually make the full recipe, but split it between 2- 8x8 aluminum pans.  We eat one that day, then freeze the other for another day.

-PW's Chicken Spaghetti
-Lasagna
-Pasta Bake (if we have leftover spaghetti sauce from spagetti...I will layer in an 8x8 pan: spaghetti (or penne), sauce, cheese, then repeat)
-cheese and chili enchiladas


And here are a few other meals we've been eating:

Crispy Beef Tacos (I use the Taco Bell shells and seasoning)
PW's Sloppy Joes
Chicken and Rice Casserole
Crockpot BBQ Chicken w/ Baked Potato
a deli pizza from Wal-Mart and salad

___________

For the Crockpot BBQ Chicken.....I just place chicken in crockpot.  

Mix together some BBQ sauce, a little white vinegar, black pepper, and a little brown sugar.  Then pour over chicken.  

Cook 3-4 hours on high, and 6-8 hours on low (it really just depends on your own crockpot though).  

Once chicken is cooked, I shred it all up.  We then take our baked potatoes and load them up with butter, cheese, and ranch dressing.  Then we pile the shredded BBQ chicken on top of the loaded potato.  It is so so good.  And Easy!  

For the girls, they will usually eat the chicken by itself...and then I take one of the baked potatoes' insides and make them 'mashed potatoes.'  But at least we're all eating the same thing!  :)

This week's menu:

So I've been trying to stick with a strict budget and menu planning.  This will be our 3rd week and I am so happy that we've stuck with it.  I know it's always easier when we first start doing things like this....and then over time...we become lazy or too busy.  But I really hope we stick with this because we have saved so much money....and eventhough we aren't eating the healthiest, I still think I have lost a few pounds.  Fattening foods at home just don't seem to be as fattening as fast food.  That- coupled with the fact that I usually don't place as much food on my plate as restaurants do....and I don't usually get seconds.

This week took me a little long to plan because I am working 6 out of 8 days.....so it had to be stratetigic in the difficulty and mess factor.  I also have to make sure it's something that I am at least half way looking forward to....otherwise, it's extra easy for me to just say, "ohhh....let's just pick something up."

This week is also good because several of these recipes are halved and frozen for another meal to have in a few weeks or next month.

So anyway- here is our menu for this week:

Cheese and chili enchiladas (made in 2- 8" aluminum square pans..one for eating and one to freeze for later) salsa, rice, beans, salad (we just got a tub of mixed greens already washed....made ranch dressing from the Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch dry seasoning pack....and the intention is to have a little side salad with most meals....the girls even eat the salad!)

Lasagna (also made in 2- 8inch aluminum square pans, one for now and one to freeze), salad, and olive cheese bread (I had all the ingredients except for the French bread which costs just a little over a dollar.....and I will cook half, and freeze half.

Monday night Geoff will grill hamburgers....and I am going to attempt to make PW's french fries.  Since he'll have the grill fired up....I am going to have him grill us some chicken to put on salads the next day.

Which brings us to the next meal....Grilled Chicken Salad.  We'll use the mixed greens, hard-boiled eggs, cucumber, tomato, and cheese.  The girls will probably eat some leftovers or some of our chicken and salad as well.

And a Taco Ring...served with this salsa, sour cream, and salad.


Notice: I didn't put days beside them here because it is ever evolving.  It never fails....I will have each day planned out....and I still sorta do....but sometimes, depending on what's going on...it is easier to make certain things on certain days.  Also keeping in mind if I need leftovers for lunch the next day or not.

And for breakfast throughout the week....I thought we'd try these egg muffins {another recipe that we already have all of the ingredients for}


If you're in a meal planning rut, I hope this helps!

Cheap and Easy Freezer Meal Idea- PIZZA!!

I haven't been very good lately with getting a home cooked meal on the table. I could give you a long list of excuses....but the only one I am truly good with is pure laziness. Sure...I'm busy....but come on....priorities!!

My plan (for a while now) has been to buy a bunch of groceries....have a big cooking day....then freeze my meals!

This way....everyone wins. We eat healthier....at home....and for less (I haven't done the exact math....but am sure it has to be true).

So this past Monday we made a family trip to the store and I got all stocked up to cook.

However....I still haven't made the time to do it!! (But...I will. Tomorrow. For real this time.)

But yesterday....we did get one thing done. Pizzas!!

I had never done this before, but thought I'd try it out.

I got these cardboard cake circles....

I made pizza dough in my breadmaker (And I know there are so many homemade pizza dough recipes out there that aren't too difficult and really aren't all that expensive. My recipe calls for bread flour, butter, water, sugar, salt, powdered milk, and active dry yeast. And honestly- once you have all of these ingredients....they really go a long way.)

We divided our dough into 6 balls.

I made this pizza sauce from Our Best Bites. It is seriously SO. Good. Really. And I'm not just saying that. This is pretty inexpensive, as well. (I made a double batch and just froze what I didn't use).

You also need to invest in one of these....haha.

Geoff flattened the balls of dough onto the cardboard circles. And then he pricked them with a fork. We let the dough rest again (but really only because the recipe said and we were wrangling our 2 year old and 4 and a half month old at the time....so we had time to let the dough "rest.")

Then top your pizza as you wish.

I just wrapped them in Press-n-Seal. I think this should work fine. They should stay good for a month or two, I would think. However.....they are so good...something tells me they won't last that long around here. ;)

So we saved one pizza for that day....and froze FIVE for later!! It really is a good feeling having food that you made...saved for you for a later date!

And because I didn't plan for dinner tonight (it really slipped my mind)....we had pizza again.

I was anxious to see how the pizza would come off of the cardboard....and it popped right off!

Cooking it frozen....I put the oven on 425 for about 13-15 minutes. But honestly...every oven is different...and depending on how thick (or thin) you make your crust would determine how long to leave it in. So I'd just watch it until it looked like you want it!

Makes me want to go make another one right now! ;)

{You could also make your own pizza pockets. We've done this before, as well. And we still may with our leftover pepperonis, mozarella cheese, and pizza sauce.}