Weekly Meal Plan #23 - And we're back!

April 3 - April 9

As I type, I'm enjoying a cup of coffee in our lovely kitchen in OUR NEW HOME!  We did it!  We are all cleaned and painted and packed and moved and unpacked and ready to Rock and Roll!  I'm still in disbelief that we are here.  It's been a week and every morning I wake up I get excited all over again our being in OUR house. 

I did not meal plan last week because we had a little snafu with our refrigerator and ended up needing buy a new one.  Our cold stuff only last so long in a cooler while waiting for the new fridge, which didn't get here until Thursday.  It was one long week of eating like garbage.  Ugh.  I never want to do that again.  I am so excited to finally cook in our kitchen this week!  This week's plan is mainly made up of familiar favorites, with two new meals thrown into the mix.  I thought I would keep it familiar for myself, since I'm still getting used to maneuvering around our kitchen.  Don't need to make cooking this week more difficult then it needs to be!  Oh, and shhhh...I'm most likely actually NOT making next Saturday's (4/9) meal myself because....::wimpers:: it's my 30th birthday.  Eek!!!  I don't know what we are doing yet, but I will be having a meal worthy of celebrating a 30th birthday...that's for sure!

I'm playing around with a new format.  I'm going to list the meal with it's link to the recipe and directions, and directly below it I will list what you will need a the grocery store for that meal.  You can still copy and paste to a word document and print out an entire grocery list in the end, but now you can better pick and choose which ones you will be doing! 

It's good to be back!  Have a great week, everyone!!

Sunday - Simple Hamburger Stroganoff

1 package egg noodles
1lb ground beef
1 packet dry brown gravy mix
1 package cream cheese
1 (6oz) can of chopped mushroom
1 (8oz) container of sour cream
2 cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
Milk


Monday - Broccoli Sausage Pasta

Olive oil
Garlic
1 small onion
1 head of broccoli 
1lb smoke sausage
8oz penne pasta
Parmesan cheese


Tuesday - Artichoke and Tomato Chicken

Olive oil
4 tomatoes
Fresh basil
Fresh oregano
2 red bell peppers
1 (8oz) package mozzarella cheese
6 chicken breasts
Marinara sauce


Wednesday - Creamy Burrito Casserole

1lb ground beef or turkey
1 small onion
1 package taco seasoning
6 flour tortillas
1 package of shredded cheddar
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup sour cream


Thursday -  Pork Chops with Mushrooms and Shallots

Butter
4 pork loin chops
Shallots
Chicken stock
Baby bella mushrooms
Dijon mustard
Fresh parsley


Friday -  Chicken Broccoli Casserole

2 chicken breasts
1lb broccoli
1 box of elbow noodles
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 package stuffing mix
1 package of cheddar cheese
Milk


Saturday - Cream Cheese Potato Soup

Chicken broth
4 medium potatoes
1 small onion
1 package cream cheese
 

Pictures to entice you!

There will be no official meal plans created for the next two weeks due to all the yummy goodness that will be taking place of said meals during the holidays.  Therefore, this weeks post contains pictures of some of the meals I have made over the past few months. Make sure you have eaten, or you might be hungry when you are done looking.  I know...I need to do this more often. 

 Bahama-Mama Pork Chops  Yum!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Chicken, Shrimp, and Andouille Sausage Jambalaya 

It was so good, and we have major left overs!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the spirit of the season, I've made this sweet and tart cranberry sauce for
two years now.  It's perfect for both Thanksgiving and Christmas!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From a fellow Recipe Nest blogger, this Chicken Broccoli Casserole really hit the spot!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cream Cheese Potato Soup

Shhh....this is a knock off of Panera's potato soup, and it is almost spot on! 

I made this last week, then went to Panera over the weekend and had their potato soup.  

The only difference was mine had more spice due to a few more crushed red 

pepper flakes.  Other then that, it was totally the same.  Plus, it is totally easy to make!

If you didn't end up using these the week of their original meal plan, 

now is the time to try them!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Weekly Meal Plan #10

November 28-December 4

 
Happy Belated Thanksgiving, everyone!  Still stuffed?  I hope you all had a great turkey day, full of family and good food.  We had two thanksgivings, which tends to become the norm when you are married.  Hubby and I celebrated with his family last Sunday, and with my family on actual turkey day.  This year, our brothers hosted thanksgiving!  Hubby's brother typically hosts, but this was a first for my brother.  He and his girlfriend made the most succulent, the most juicy, tastebud-defying turkey EVER!  It was, "Legend...wait for it....DARY!"

But alas, we are nearing the end of our leftovers.  So here we go again, embarking on another journey in meal planning.  This week is a mix of mostly oldies (recipes...not food), with one newbie, compliments of my school's PTO president.  She and I got to talking during the book fair about meal planning and cooking, and she was kind enough to print off a whole bunch of recipes her family enjoys.  Click on the links for the recipes or see any notes I make below the plan.  

Two wishes:  I wish you a quick recovery from your turkey day food hangover, and I wish my hubby a Happy 30th Birthday and quick recovery from his Texas de Brazil dinner tonight!  Mmmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm.

Sunday - Veggie BBQ Pizza (see below)
Monday - Creamy Linguini with Red Pepper and Zucchini (see below)
Tuesday - Zesty Slow Cooker Chicken
Wednesday - Loaded Baked Potatoes (see below)
Thursday -  Burrito Casserole
Friday - Linguini with White Clam Sauce (see below)
Saturday - Chicken Broccoli Casserole

**************************************************************
 Veggie BBQ Pizza

Ingrediants

       1 Boboli Thin Crust Pizza
       1 C Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce (or any kind you like)
       1 C chopped red onion
       1 C chopped sweet red pepper
       1/4 tbs of crushed red pepper
       1 C shredded mozzarella cheese
       1/2 C shredded sharp cheddar cheese


Directions

Preheat oven to suggested temperature on the Boboli package.  Spread BBQ sauce over pizza crust.  Top with red onion and sweet red pepper.  Sprinkle with crushed red pepper.  Cover entire pizza with mozzarella cheese.  Sprinkle cheddar cheese over mozzarella.  Bake for 10 minutes.   

**********************************************************

Creamy Linguini with Red Pepper and Zucchini

 
Ingredients

      1/4 C. olive oil
      1 large zucchini, diced
      1 large sweet red pepper, diced
      2 cloves garlic, minced
      1/2 tsp. salt
      1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
      1 (12 oz.) package linguine pasta
      1 C. 1% milk
      2 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley
      1 C. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

*You could also add 2 cooked, diced chicken breasts for protein.

Directions

In a large skillet, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add zucchini, red pepper and garlic to hot oil, and season with salt and red pepper flakes. Cook, turning occasionally, until zucchini and pepper are slightly browned on all sides, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of generously salted water to boil. Add pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, and set aside.

Stir milk into zucchini, and simmer until it is reduced by about half, about 10 minutes. Add pasta to skillet, and stir well. Sprinkle parsley and 1/2 C. Parmesan over the top, and toss. Garnish with remaining

Makes 6 servings.

*********************************************************
Loaded Baked Potatoes

A few weeks ago, one of our teams at school hosted a luncheon that was like a Baked Potato bar.  They baked some awesomely huge potatoes, and provided an array of fixin's: butter, sour cream, chili, cheese, salsa, broccoli, french fried onions, etc, etc, etc.  It really hit the spot and I've been craving another one ever since.  So, just buy enough BIG baked potatoes for your family, whatever toppings you all enjoy, and load 'em up!

*********************************************************
Linguini with White Clam Sauce

Ingrediants

     1/3 C of butter
     2 cloves garlic, minced
     2 Tbs of flour
     1 2/3 C of clam juice
     1/4 C chopped parsley
     2 C of minced clams
     1 lbs cook linguini noodles

Directions 

Melt butter and garlic over medium heat.  Add flour and stir for one minute.  Stir in clam juice.  Add clams and parsley.  Simmer for 10 minutes.  Pour over cooked noodles and serve.  Easy peasy!

***********************************************************
Grocery List

1 large red pepper
1 zucchini
2 large red onion
Garlic
Baked potatoes
1 large head of broccoli
Fresh parsley
Frozen or fresh boneless chicken breast 
**1 lb ground beef** (edit: added)
1 1/2 lbs of clams
1 package of taco seasoning
Flour tortillas
Boboli pizza crust
1 can refried beans
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup 
1 packge of stuffing mix
BBQ sauce
Italian salad dressing
Worcestershire sauce
Clam juice
2 packages of linguini
1 package of elbow noodles
Brown sugar
Flour
Butter
Sour cream
16 oz cheddar cheese
8 oz mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese


Enjoy!

Val

Our Favorites!

Weekly meal plans will begin Sunday, August 29th.  In the mean time, I thought I'd introduce you to some of our favorite meals!

Now, I can't take complete credit for coming up with these on my own.  Most recipes I *steal* from recipe finder websites, such as RecipeZaar, Recipes4Living, and MyRecipes.  A couple I found on other blogs.  I tend to adjust each recipe slightly to our liking, and I suggest you do the same if you feel like it.  Still, I will do my best to link to the original recipe or blog as to credit the original recipe maker!

So, here is...

Favorite Meal #1: Broccoli-Sausage Pasta


Let's start with the end in mind...

Mmmmmmmm!

Ingredients:
     1/4 C of Olive Oil
     3 cloves garlic, minced
     1 small red onion, sliced thin (use your Santoku knife!)
     1 large head broccoli, cut into florets
     1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes  (more or less depends on how spicy you want it!)
     1lb package of smoke sausage (beef or turkey), sliced and quartered
     8 oz of short cut pasta, such as penne or rigatoni
     Shredded or grated parmesan cheese

Heat olive oil in a large skillet with high sides on medium heat.  Add onion and garlic and cook until soft, 2-3 minutes.  Meanwhile, fill pot with water and start heating it up for the pasta.  Slice and quarter the sausage.  Add sausage to skillet and cook an additional 3-4 minutes.  Meanwhile, cut broccoli into florets.  Put pasta in water to cook.  Add the broccoli and red pepper flakes to the skillet and toss.  Continue cooking 8-10 minutes until pasta is ready.  Drain pasta, but reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water.  Add cooked pasta and reserved water to skillet.  Heat 2-3 more minutes.  Serve topped with parmesan cheese.

Hope you like it!    This recipe originated from a blog called Peace, Love and French Fries.  You will see this meal in my plans about once (maybe twice) a month because we love it so much.


Be on the look out for the next recipe coming at you this weekend!