Menu Plan Monday - March 11th

Another week has come and gone, not sure how I feel about this time change.

Sunday felt like it was over before it started.

 

This weeks menu is going to be mainly using groceries that we have in the house.

 

Monday Menu Week March 4th

I've been slack and hadn't put together a weekly menu together for quite some time.

And it ends up being a last minute decision on what to make. Because I need structure,

this wasn't working so well for me so I decided that I had to get back into the habit and

getting this back in place for peace of mind. Plus we save on groceries and then

don't buy more than what we need.

 

With that said, here's this weeks menu.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday -  Chicken Noodle Soup
Tuesday - Breakfast Tator Tot Casserole
Wednesday - Pizza Pot Pie
Thursday - Tilapia
Friday - Crock Pot Lazy Cabbage Rolls
Saturday - Ranchy Crockpot Chicken

The breakfast tator tot casserole was found on Pinterest and has quickly become on of our favorite meals,
it's easy, only need a few ingredients and it's so yummy!

Have you found a favorite recipe on Pinterest?

If so, please share!

 

Thanks for stopping by today.

Wishing you all a wonderful week.

Menu Plan Monday - Week of Jan 21, 2012

I'm finally back and ready to get on track with blogging.

My first thing to get things organized and make my life smoother, is to plan the weekly menu.

Menu planning is a small yet huge step to getting your life under control, plus you save

money and hopefully stay on track when grocery shopping.

Let me share this weeks menu:

Monday: Slow Cooked Tators

Tuesday: Chicken Noodle Soup

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Ranch Pork Chops

Friday: Fish

Saturday: Meatloaf

 

 

Giving you a sneak peek at the balsam boxes that I picked up at Michaels craft store for a $1 each.

Tomorrow I'll share how I altered them up!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Linking to these parties.

Menu Plan Monday : Week 10/29/12

Do you plan your meals for the week?

If you aren't, you will save so much time and money at the grocery store buying things that aren't needed. This week my hubby asked why the grocery list was so small, probably like you, our pantry is overflowing with food items that never get used. But also, I don't like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen making complicated meals but I still want the food to taste delicious.

So with this in mind, here's my weekly menu:

 

Monday: Hot Turkey Sandwiches

 

Tuesday: Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

Wednesday: FREE

 

Thursday: Taco Soup - recipe below

 

Friday: Out of Town

 

Saturday: Crockpot Italian Chicken


Taco Soup
This is another one of our family favorite soups and is very filling and fast to make!

(picture courtesy of pinterest)

1 pound hamburger
1 packet taco seasoning
1 packet ranch dressing mix
1 can corn (undrained)
1 can black beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can hominy (white)
1 can diced tomatoes

Brown meat and drain.
In crockpot or large kettle, add meat and sprinkle seasoning packets on top.
Add entire contents of the canned ingredients - do not drain the juice!
Stir until mixed and and cook on low for 2 -4 hours in crockpot or on stovetop until hot.

Feel free to add shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream.

Menu Plan Monday: Week of 10/22/12

Well last weeks menu wasn't exactly followed as planned.

One night we had breakfast instead of pizza and ended up not making the taco pasta bake.

And come to think of it, we didn't have the crockpot chicken and dumplings either.

So grocery shopping should be easier and hopefully less money spent.

 

Last week ended up being one of those weeks that not much got done around here.

This week, I've got a list of projects that I need to get done.

 

 

 

Here's our menu for this week:

 

Monday: Chicken Spaghetti

 

Tuesday: Taco Pasta Bake

Wednesday: FREE

 

Thursday: Crockpot Chicken & Dumplings

 

Friday: Taverns (some people call them bar-b-ques)

 

Saturday: Grilled Chicken Breast

 

 

I'm going to have a giveaway later this week, something fun!!

 

For more menu ideas, check out I'm an Organizing Junkie

Thanks for stopping by!

Our Family Favorite - Spaghetti Pie

Well I've been missing in action lately, kind of lost my mojo and had some stuff going on.

No health issues but rather employment issues. The job that I started last month ended up

not being a good fit and I quit without finding another job.

But things are good now, I start a new job on Nov 5th and the pay is great.

The downside is going to be the hours that I'll be working, 1:30 pm to 10 pm, which should be interesting because I have never been a night person.

I would never work these kind of hours if I had kids at home.

Crossing my fingers that it won't take long to get more normal working hours.

So I've been a little preoccupied lately!

 

As I was working on our weekly menu, I decided to make one of our family favorites, spaghetti pie.

My kids still ask me to make this when they come home and so I thought I'd share it with you today.

 

First up is the menu for this week, took me about 5 minutes to put together

and the grocery list is all ready.

 

If you're wondering why I list Wednesday as a free night, my hubby works and

so I eat leftovers. I love leftovers, don't you?

 

Monday: Crock pot chicken and dumplings

Tuesday:Spaghetti Pie (recipe at bottom of post)

Wednesday: FREE

Thursday: Slow cooked pork chops

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Taco pasta bake



 

Spaghetti Pie

 

Cook 6 oz spaghetti

 

Mix together:

2 T margarine

2 eggs

1/3 c parmesan cheese

1 c cottage cheese

 

Add egg, cheese mixture to hot spaghetti and mix together.

 

Form into crust in greased 9" pie pan.

 

Brown 1 lb hamburger and drain.

 

Mix in:

6 oz tomato paste (I add a little water so the mixture isn't so thick)

1 T sugar

1/2 t oregano

1/2 t garlic salt

 

Cover spaghetti with meat mixture just as you would when making a pizza.

Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees, covered.

Uncover and spread 1/2 c shredded mozz cheese and bake 5 more minutes.

 

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

Linking to these parties

Menu Plan Monday

Pinterest Recipe - Low Fat Chicken Enchildas

If you're ever hungry and looking for a recipe on the web, you might want to start searching on Pinterest.

 

One of my goals is to try a recipe from Pinterest each week and see if we can't find some new favorites. Since we are trying to reduce calories and fat, there are still more recipes on Pinterest

than I could ever make.

 

 

This week I decided to go Mexican and make low fat chicken enchildas.
You can get the recipe here.

I must say this was DELICIOUS!

I did modify the recipe a little. I couldn't find the chipotle chilis in adobo sauce and then I used regular chili powder because I also couldn't find chipotle chili powder.

Some suprising statistics for one enchilda:
4 pts (Weight Watchers)
159.5 calories
Fiber: 8.3 grams
Fat: 5.9 grams

The verdict: I'll be keeping this recipe for the next time I have a craving for Mexican food.

Have you found a great recipe on Pinterest?
Leave a comment and let me know!

Thanks for stopping by.

Linking to these parties
 

Pinterest - Apple Enchildas - YUMMY!

I've tried a few Pinterest recipes, some good and some not so good.

And because this one turned out so yummy,

I thought I'd share it with you.

Apple Enchildas  Pinterest

Really the recipe is super easy, take a flour tortilla and add about a teaspoon of pie filling,

sprinkle some cinnnamon and roll it up, I let the edges up but you can

 certainly wrap the ends. The filing on mine, did not ooze out so

I'm good with the way I rolled them up.



Make a sauce, full recipe is here and pour over the enchildas...let it set 45 minutes before

putting in the oven.

I baked my enchildas a little longer than the recipe said because I wanted them to

be golden brown....

And as soon as it was out of the oven, it was time to dish it up.

Trust me, this is yummy and best of all doesn't call for a lot of ingredients.

Have you found a favorite recipe off Pinterest?

Leave a comment and let me know!

Thanks for stopping by today,

don't forget about my giveaway going on here

Linking to these parties





Cheesy Pizza Potatoes

I wanted to share one of our family favorites that I use to make

when the kids were younger...

Cheesy Pizza Potatoes

1 pkg AuGratin potatoes

1 lb Hamburger

1-14 oz Pizza Sauce

Mozz Cheese

Place potatoes in 10 X 10 casserole dish.

Bake as directed.

While that is cooking, brown hamburger and drain.

Spread pizza sauce on top of potatoes,

then add hamburger and cheese.

Bake long enough to heat hamburger and cheese,

about 10 minutes..

Serve.

I personally don't like the box au gratin potates but

when time is limited, this works!

Linking to these parties...



Tuesday Treasure - Christmas Cookies

One of the last, few things I need to do to be ready for Christmas is - baking some goodies...

The must have's are cutout cookies, gingersnaps, spritz, peanut blossoms, sandies...

Just listing these cookies, makes me so hungry...

I found these pictures from 2008 and we made a lot of cutout cookies that day...

I can't get over how different our kitchen looks now...

no more dark cabinets, countertops or curtains..

I like to use my Pampered Chef stones for making cookies..

And while I noticed that this picture is quite dark, I've kept it to remember how
many cookies we made that day...

And then we have to wait for the frosting to harden before being packed up and put in the freezer...waiting for Christmas..

But as I said, I still need to make cookies...

and an essential part of Christmas is having home made goodies...

Ashley found a recipe for fat free gingersnaps..

and this is the only recipe I use now...

 Peanut Blossom cookies are also a must have cookie in our house...

This cookie looks so yummy...mint chocolate chip cookies.
If you've ever made these, please let me know, are they as good as they look?

In my family these are called Sandies, my husband calls them Snowballs but I think another name is Russian Tea Cakes...regardless of what you call these cookies..they are delish!

Some other staples for Christmas goodies in our house are:

Chex mix, english toffee, almond covered pretzels..

Leave me a comment and let me know what your favorite Christmas cookie/goodie is.

I'm working half a day on Friday and then home to make cookies this weekend...

Thanks for stopping by!

Linking to these parties...

Bite-Size Cinnamon Pecan Twirls

When I stayed at Crystals home to help out with the baby...

I was the chief cook and bottle washer...

and I tried out some new recipes on them...

and because this one was so delicious, I have to share with you...

Bite-Size Cinnamon Pecan Twirls

1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp. corn syrup
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 (8 oz) can refrigerated crescent rolls
1 1/2 tsp sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake pecans and butter in lightly greased 8-inch round cake pan for 2 minutes. Swirl pan to combine, and bake for 2 more minutes. Remove from oven and stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and 1/2 tsp cinnamon; spread mixture over bottom of pan. (I had to microwave this mixture to soften it, because it was too thick to spread.)

Unroll crescent roll dough and separate into 4 rectangles, pressing performations to seal. Stir together white sugar and remaining 1/2 tsp cinnamon, sprinkle over rectangles. Roll up each rectangle tightly, starting at 1 long side; press edges to seal. Cut each log into 4 slices; place slices in prepared pan.

Bake for 14 to 16 minutes or until center rolls are golden brown and done. Remove from oven and immediately invert pan onto a serving plate.

I promise you, they are delicious!!
Linking to these parties

And don't forget to enter my giveaway here....

Have a great Thursday!

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

I'm very lucky...because my husband loves to cook...

One of his signature meals, is his homemade chicken noodle soup..and when I go to stay with Crystal when the baby is born, this will be one meal I'll be making for them...

This is a family favorite..

Buy a bag of carrots and celery...chop up 3-4 carrots and 3 -4 celery sticks.

we leave the skin on the carrots...makes it that much easier to make..

and you have left over carrots and celery to snack on..

Chop up one large onion..probably best to chop it fine but

really it's your preference..

Put them in your crockpot and mix up with your hands...

you'll want to have a large size crock pot..

makes a large batch and the soup is better the second day

(if you have any leftovers!)

Then add two large cartons of chicken broth..

also a package of chicken thighs..skin..bones...all of it..

raw...we like it best with 4 thighs..

the add a tablespoon of parsley, basil & garlic powder

and salt & pepper....

See how the crock pot is full?

Put it on low and let it cook for six hours or so...

Then you'll need to take the chicken out and sit it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to cool.

Pick the meat off the book and shred it for the soup..

Once you've got this done, put it back in the crockpot.

Make sure to taste the broth because it probably needs more salt..

Discard the bones and skin...

At this point you can add homemade noodles or you can add some frozen noodles.

These taste just like homemade....and one package is enough.

You can find them in the freezer section of any grocery store...

Cook on low for another hour and it's ready....

Guaranteed to be a favorite for your family!

So now I've got one meal covered...

As I mentioned, I'll be staying with Crystal and Stuart once the baby is born

and I need some ideas for other meals..

Leave a comment and let me know what your families favorite meal is..

I'm linking to these parties...

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

I found this recipe in Gooseberry Patch Favorite Recipes and the combination of cranberries and white chocolate intrigued me. And I must tell you that this is my new favorite cookie. The only two ingredients you'll probably need to buy in order to make this recipe is white chocolate chips and dried cranberries.

White Chocolate-Cranberry Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1 egg

1 t. vanilla

1 3/4 cup flour

1 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1 cup sweetened dried cranberries

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Beat butter in a large bowl at medium speed until creamy. Gradually add sugars, beating until combined.

Add egg and vanilla, beat until smooth. Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda, gradually add to sugar mixture, beating well. Stir into cranberries and chocolate chips.Shape dough into 1 1/2 inch balls; place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 14 minutes or until golden. Remove to wire racks to cool. Makes about 2 dozen.

I hope you'll give this cookie recipe a try!

I'm linking to these parties...

Mexican Lasagna

It's been quite awhile since I shared a recipe and this one comes from a Gooseberry Patch Cookbook, Family Favorite Recipes.

I made this for supper Monday night and it was really good and thought I'd share it with you.

(I forgot to take a picture straight out of the oven, I've got leftovers for work tomorrow!)

Mexican Lasagna

1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 pound ground beef,
2/3 cup diced tomatoes with green chilies(Rotel)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Can of Cream of Celery soup
Can of  Cream of Mushroom soup
10 ounces enchilada sauce
18 pieces corn tortillas
2 cups cheddar cheese -- shredded
1 cup Monterey jack cheese -- shredded
1 tomato
4 green onions -- chopped
1/4 cup cilantro -- chopped

Cook sausage and ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring until meat crumbles and is no longer pink. Drain. Stir in jalapeno and next 5 ingredients; cook until thoroughly heated.

Stir together soups and enchilada sauce in a saucepan; cook until thoroughly heated.

Spoon 1/3 of sauce onto bottom of lightly greased 13x9"baking dish; top with 6 tortillas. Spoon half of beef mixture and 1/3 of sauce over tortillas; sprinkle with half of Cheddar cheese. Top with 6 tortillas; repeat layers, ending with tortillas. Sprinkle with Monterey Jack cheese and next 3 ingredients.

Bake @ 350 for 30 minutes.

Very yummy!

Chocolate Mini Cakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

I've had this recipe for awhile now and finally getting around to making it.

Two great combinations - chocolate and peanut butter!

I got this recipe from another blog and I'm sorry I don't remember which one.

The recipe is so easy - I don't know why it took me so long to get around to making it.

Chocolate Mini Cakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

1 Devils Food Cake Mix - mix and bake as directed

Peanut Butter Frosting

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature

1 cup creamy peanut butter (I used chunky)

2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

3 tablespoons milk

18 small Reese's peanut butter cups, quartered

Cream the butter and peanut butter together until smooth.

Add powered sugar and vanilla.

Slowly add one tablespoon of milk at a time, until you get the consistency you want.

Microwave for about one minute.

Stir good and add to top of cooled cake.

Top wiht quartered peanut butter cups.

Some of the mini bundt cakes fell apart...but still delicious to eat at home!

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Our Favorite Night Time Snack

DH & I have been working really hard to cut the fat from our diet and eating much healthier. I found this idea from watching Dr Oz and I have to share what has become our favorite night time snack.

And it's only two ingredients..graham crackers and Cool Whip

Break the crackers in half and put on a large dollup of Cool Whip...

Put them in a air tight container and freeze overnight.

So yummy!

Cinnamon graham cracker - 130 calories or 2 points

Lite Cool Whip - 20 calories or 1 point

Total 150 calories or 3 points

Not bad for a night time snack!

Another great thing - less expensive than buying premade low calorie frozen snacks!

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