I’m Back….
It has been a wild month of travel, MOPS moms, trainings and T-shirts. I left my blog in a corner because I didn’t feel I could give it the attention it deserves.
The other thing that was getting neglected in my house was my meal planning.
With the travel and coming home late and getting up early in the morning, my meal plans took a back seat. Which meant a lot of last minute looking at each other and a lot of rotisserie chickens.
Now don’t get me wrong. I LOVE a rotisserie chicken (especially if it’s a COSTCO rotisserie chicken. To. Die. For.
But when the question becomes not “Should we have rotisserie chicken tonight?” to “What kind of rotisserie chicken should we have?” That’s a problem.
The biggest time, money and energy saver for me is to figure out what I am eating for the week, write it down and put it on the fridge for the world to see. A plan, even if it’s a back-of-an-envelope plan, is a life saver for me.
So, I’ll show you my plan if you show me yours.
I’m doing super accountability here. My plan is that every Monday, I will show you my week’s plan. If you tell me yours by Tuesday night, I will enter you in a drawing for an advance copy of my latest book, THE WHAT’S FOR DINNER SOLUTION.
Just tell me in the comments what you are eating Monday thru Friday. (You can put in the weekend if you are really ambitions.) Some of my best ideas come from hearing what other are eating and copying… I mean, letting that inspire me…
Here is my menu for the week:
Monday- Every Man for Himself (we have a ton of leftovers)
Tuesday – Pepper Corn Steak and Baked Potatoes and Grilled Asparagus
Wednesday – BBQ Pork Loin with Cajun Rice and Salad
Thursday – Going to my mom’s house
Friday – Out of town (eating out)
I know – it looks like I’m cheating. I’m actually only cooking twice this week because of leftovers and going out of town. But isn’t that kinda how life is? If you count in the times that you have to eat on the road because of soccer practice, and then the number of times you could eat leftovers if you planned ahead, or the times that you are eating at a friend’s house, or at your small group, suddenly cooking for a week doesn’t seem so daunting.
So share your menu, and I will randomly pick one winner to receive the book the week before release. But the real prize? Having your meals planned out!
What a great book and I love reading all the ideas above!! Can’t wait to see you in January when you come to our MOPS meeting!!! (I am the new coordinator)
Meals for our week: stuffed chicken from Costco, chili (made by an awesome mentor mom), pot roast and mashed potatoes, left overs, ground turkey burritos, eating out.
Monday – Red Robin. Yum!
Tuesday – Stir Fry (freezer meal)
Wednesday – Spinach and Chicken Tortellini
Thursday – Reubens and french fries
Friday – Leftovers
Saturday – Dinner at church activity
Sunday – Steak and mashed potatoes
Monday – Salad Night (Open House at school need a quick dinner)
Tuesday – Tacos – made with turkey but don’t tell my hubby!
Wednesday – Heading out for a girl’s night with my mom – Daddy and kiddo will hit the local wing joint
Thursday – LOOP – Mexican Casserole using Taco Night leftovers
Friday – Pesto Pizza and black bean brownies
Saturday – Baked Chicken and veggie rice
Sunday – dinner at my mother-in-law’s
Weekly planning is the only way to go. It also helps with the budget and couponing. So this week we are having:
Sunday- Pasta Shuta, califlower
Monday-Mole, carrots
Tuesday-Chicken Sliders w/ french fries
Wednesday- tostadas and corn
Thursday- It’s my birthday so we might go out. It not, we’ll have chicken bruschetta or baked lemon chicken
Friday- dinner w/ the inlaws
Saturday- leftovers
My hottie husband and I figured out a weeknight dinner plan that we love. We usually carpool, so when we get home and hit the kitchen, manuevers begin: he fixes salmon or chicken while I prepare the salad of field greens, sliced almonds, craisins, strawberries and a few spritzes of raspberry vinegarette. We also serve fresh broccoli and/or green beans sauteed with mushrooms…yum! A piece of fresh fruit for dessert and wa la! It might sound boring, but we really look forward to it…and then mix it up a bit more on the weekend. This meal has lots of health benefits and helps us both maintain our hefty weight loss! And with no growing children at home, we can get away with it…
Well I don’t have a whole week to share, but I will tell you I had to go to Costco today. Guess what we had for dinner? 😉
i always do a meal plan for the week then go to the store for my shopping less headaches.
Monday: Basil cream chicken with noodles and zucchini and salad
Tuesday: green chili enchiladas
Wednesday: miso-teriyaki chicken thighs with rice and seaweed
Thursday: Crock pot Stroganoff
Friday: Homemade Pizza
Saturday: Chicken stuffing bake with corn in butter sauce with salad
Sunday: chicken thighs marinated in Yoshidas with rice and seaweed
We live on the big island of Hawaii and rice is a great side dish as well as my kids love seasoned seaweed with their rice. Even though we came from the mainland we have learned to love the food here. One of the great things here is its summer all year long;) Love all your suggestions.
Meal Planning is totally the way to go! Here’s what’s on our menu this week
Monday-Pesto Spaghetti with honey carrots and spinach salad
Tuesday-Cumin-spiced Chickpeas over couscous
Wednesday-Grilled Pesto Pizza
Thursday-Chickpea Burgers with sweet potato wedges
Friday-Cumin spiced Chicken Thighs with Quinoa Pistachio Salad
Saturday-Turkey-Bean Chipotle Burritos
Sunday-Grilled Vegetable Pitas with Pesto Mayo spread and steamed broccoli
This had been on my to do list for a few days. Thanks for the motivation to do it today! 🙂
Monday/today: porkchops with green beans
Tuesday: hamburgers with zucchini, broccoli and whatever looks good at store
Wednesday: noodle-less lasagna with corn on the cob
Thursday: Hubby cooking ribs and hopefully asparagus or something for veggies
Friday: chicken enchiladas
I had to go to Trader Joe’s before I could answer the question! We’ve been out of town, so the cupboards were bare!
But now I have a plan:
Monday – Korean short ribs and whatever I can find in our garden. Grilled zukes, salad…
Tuesday – Whole grain spaghetti and meatballs
Wednesday – Pizza night – homemade with TJ’s ready-to-go fresh crust. Tried this last week and it was awesome!
Thursday- Grilled shrimp kebabs, hawaiian rice
Friday – you’re on your own….
Monday: Penne pasta with artichokes and roasted red peppers.
That’s as far as I’ve gotten. 🙁
Tonight – Teriyaki Chicken
Tuesday – Nachos
Wednesday – Tacos
Thursday – Breakfast for dinner
Friday – Our first traditional Sabbath dinner (we’re homeschoolers!) of chicken soup, salmon, carrots, rice, etc.
I’ve been terrible at menu planning…and cooking…and shopping lately too – hello morning sickness! But Hubby told me if I take care of the menu planning, he’ll keep the kids while I shop, AND he’ll do the cooking! Yep, he’s practically perfect in every way 🙂
Tonight it’s baked chicken, cheesy broccoli noodles, and fresh canned green beans. As for the rest of the week, I have no clue. I only plan one day in advance.
I am eating out of my freezer now that soccer practices have started. I LOVE all the freezer meals I made a couple months ago! Tonight: Chicken Alfredo from Costco, Tuesday: tacos made with left over steak, Wed: something from freezer TBD, Thursday: chicken patty sandwiches, Friday: cub scout camping trip that I am organizing for 70 people for the weekend. I need to make room in the freezer for all the food I am buying! And next week when it is gone, I can start making triple batches of freezer meals again.
Monday: T-Bone steaks, veggies, and roasted potatoes
Tuesday: Chef Salad
Wednesday: Chicken Tacos and spanish rice (for the Husband Project Heart vs. Stomach)
Thursday: Sausage and pepper “baked” pasta (this is using the leftovers from Sunday night’s sausage kabobs, and I totally stole this idea from Sandra Lee on the Food Network)
Friday: Beef and Broccoli with rice
Saturday: hamburgers and fries
Sunday: Grilled chicken breasts with couscous and salad
Meal planning was my new year’s resolution and it has saved this mommy’s life! I have less stress and more money in my pocket because I plan our meals based on what is on sale at the grocery stores each week.
Here’s my menu for this week:
Mon – Chicken, Scalloped Potatoes, and California Medley Veggies
Tues – Subs and French Fries
Weds – BBQ Chicken Pizza and Salad
Thurs – Steak, Mac & Cheese, and Corn
Fri – Parmesan Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, and Salad
Monday: BBQ Pork Ribs
Tuesday: Fried Chicken
Wednesday: Spaghetti
Thursday: Breakfast for Dinner
Friday: Swedish Meatballs
Our dinner plans this week are pretty simple.
Monday – Black Beans & Rice with Chicken
Tuesday – Beef & Veggie Soup
Wednesday – Church Supper (Beef Stroganoff I think)
Thursday – Planned-overs or Spaghetti
Friday – Pizza
I’ve also got some homemade bread rising. I love my Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day cookbook! (http://www.familymusings.com/2011/05/artisan-bread-in-5-minutes-day.html)
Monday – Hamburgers & Fresh Corn
Tuesday – Teriyaki Salmon & Stirfry
Wednesday – Out to Dinner to Celebrate 1st Day of School
Thursday – Spaghetti & Meatballs
Friday- Fast Food on our way out of town! 🙂
Well, it’s going to be over 110F here all week, so I would rather not turn on the stove or oven. The BBQ is out of propane so I’m not sure how we’re going to cook anything.
I have defrosted some cod, chicken legs, pork roast, and some bacon.
Ha … I seriously need this book because I have been lost for dinner ideas in forever and so we eat out way too often. I could use the savings too … man eating out gets expensive!
Monday: Pulled Shiner Pork, Cornbread, Grilled asparagus salad
Tuesday: Pork enchiladas (from the leftover pork)
Wednesday: Date night
Thursday: Pan-fried tilapia, corn-on-the-cob, green beans
Friday: Spaghetti and chicken meatballs
Monday: Chicken breast with Orzo and vggies
Tuesday: Grilled Chicken breast with orzo or salad
Wed: pick-up
Thursday: Mexican chicken and pan fried corn
Friday: Bar-b-que chicken quesidallas
Saturday: Left overs
Sunday peanut chicken and rice
Monday — cashew chicken
Tuesday — taco bar
Wednesday — fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and broccoli
Thursday–grilled tuna fish sandwiches
Friday–salmon patties, rice, and corn
Saturday–meatloaf
Sunday–hot dogs and chips
I seriously would like to live at other people’s houses this week. Some of these dinners sound simply delish! Rough week here with back to school functions, etc. On a bright note, I *am* making breakfast each morning as well, and it’s not cereal. So far, I’m 4 for 4 on that one. 🙂
oooh! I would love to win the book! Here’s my menu:
Monday – corn chowder & quesadillas
Tuesday – dinner with our small group
Wednesday – lasagna
Thursday – salsa chicken in the crockpot
Friday – going out to eat with my girlfriends
Monday–pork wraps w/ leftover roast
Tuesday–tortilla soup & salad
Wednesday through Friday we’re out of town this week; taking our daughter away to college.
Monday – Spaghetti with meatballs
Tuesday -Dirty rice with sausage
Wednesday – Frontega Chicken Paninis (or church dinner, kids decide)
Thursday – Baked Pizza Roll
Friday – Beef tips over rice
Saturday – Cheesy tortellini casserole
Sunday – Grilled Chicken Ceasar Salad (yes, we grill the chicken ourselves) 🙂
This is an unusual week in our household. I start Mama Bootcamp {MBC} and it is during normal dinner hours so that has affected the menu some. I will also be preparing for our youngest sons FIRST birthday party on Sunday.
Monday {MBC }~ CORN (Clean Out Refrigerator Night)
Tuesday ~ FNP (Family Night & Pizza)
Wednesday {MBC} ~Crock Pot Pulled Pork
Thursday ~ Baked Chicken
Friday {MBC} ~ Spaghetti & Meatballs
Saturday {MBC} ~ Leftovers (I need to concentrate on the cake and food prep for the party)
Sunday ~ Sandwiches & Veggies(saving some from when I prep the Meat & Deli Trays for the party, also some of the Veggies with Dip)
I know after the party I am going to be way too tired to think about making dinner so this seemed the laziest..I mean easiest thing I could think of 😉
Monday: Adobo skirt steak, mashed potatoes, and salad
Tuesday: Chicken, rice, Lavash /w marsala sauce, and salad
Wednesday: Sausage, roasted vegetables, and Portuguese sweet bread
Thursday: Pork chops, rice, and corn
Friday: Hamburgers, baked onion rings, and salad
Mon.- Whatever Dad decide to make night
Tuesday- Turkey Taco Tuesday
Wed.- Pizza
Thurs-Grilled Chicken w/ mashed potatoes & Asparagus
Fri- Salisbury Steak W/ Rice Pilaf & veggies
That is what my family gets to have this week. As for me I get to be on the gall bladder diet until surgery Sept. 2nd : (
(That is eat next to nothing diet)
fish tacos, stir-fry, bday pizza party, spaghetti with mizithra cheese & garden veggies, and homemade mac n cheese!!!
Hey Kathi–I did learn from you these last few months–the proof–here is my menu:
Monday–Grilled Chicken with Mango,peach salsa with baked Asparagus Italiano and salad
Tuesday–Pot Roast with Potatoes, carrots and onions
Wednesday–LOOP meal–Left overs from Tuesday diced and lightly fried with mushroom gravy, green bean and salad
Thursday—LOOP–Chicken or Pot Roast Fajitas
Friday–C.O.R.N. in other words YOYO (your on your own)
Spaghetti Pie..my oh my, it will probably end up on my thigh!
Monday ~ going out!
Tuesday ~ chicken taco, corn
Wednesday ~ hotdogs (camping) & s’mores! 😉
Thursday ~ lasagna, salad
Friday ~ sandwiches (dd’s sports night), fruit
Tomorrow night we are having my favorite meal. Chicken that is browned and then you put a piece of ham and a piece of mozzarella cheese on it and finish baking it. yum!
Monday-Grilled Pork Chops, mac & cheese, and green salad with homemade honey mustard
Tuesday-Chicken and Dumplings and green beans
Wednesday- Spagetti
Thursday- Roast with potatos & carrots
Friday-Tuna Casserole
Monday-Grilled chicken, squash and zuchinni
Tues-Wheat crust veggie pizza and salad
Wed. MOPS meeting the kids will eat with grandma
Thurs-Tilapia, sweet potatoes and asparagus
Friday-breakfast for dinner–pancakes and movies with the kids.
ElizabethJean Carouthers Walters
Mon- Chicken in the pan with fat free italian dressing and soy suace. Cook till sauce is glazed. Serve with veggie of choice and pasta.
Tues-Spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic bread.
Wednes- stuffed cubbed steak with stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy and veggie,
Thurs- Pork Loin seared with an olive oil pesto then baked for 40 min on 375. served with augrautin potatoes and veggie
Fri -is swiss chicken.. boneless skinless chicken topped with swiss cheese AND cream of chicken soup wth white wine poored over chicken topped with bread crumbs and backed for an hour then served with veggie rice.
Monday: Grilled Mahi Mahi tacos w/lettuce, tomato, onion, salsa & fresh fruit
Tuesday: Chicken Greek Salad with mixed greens, feta cheese, red onion, & kalmata olives w/ whole grain pita bread.
Wednesday: Mini turkey meatloaf topped w/bar-b-q sauce with steamed mixed grains and chopped veggie salad
Thursday: Baked Mannicotti Florentine with steamed veggies
Friday: Grilled Prawn Salad with Avocado Aioli Dressing and home made herb crusted breadsticks
Saturday: Home made chicken & spinach pizza with artichoke hearts & mushrooms & fresh cantalope
Sunday: Any leftovers from the week – We don’t cook on Sundays
Haha…am I the only one who doesn’t have a menu planned? I have no idea what we are having for dinner this week 🙂
Monday: Meatloaf and scalloped potatoes
Tuesday: Chicken, black beans, and rice with tortillas.
Wednesday: Pesto Salmon, green beans, and wild rice.
Thursday: Family dinner out
Friday: Red beans and rice with sausage.
Can’t wait for your book!
Well, I fell off the eat at home ALL WEEK FO SHO wagon last week, so I get some of those meals to make this week and take the place of the meals that I don’t really want to make anyway!
Mon- Curry chicken and broccoli casserole
Tue- slop, sloppy joes
Wed- crockpot chicken lasagna
Thur- taco night
Fri- Friday Night Homemade Pizza night
Sat- skillet bow ties
Sun- DIY
It’s a busy back to work/school/Wed night routine week, but I actually planned ahead!
Monday – Spaghetti Pie & salad
Tuesday – Trader Joe’s Taquitos for kids, C.O.R.N. (clean out refrigerator night) for the adults
Wednesday – Chick-fil-A dinner at church
Thursday – White Roughy, coconut rice and veg
Friday – Pizza Night at the Irishes
Can’t wait to read this new book!!
Mon-going out (husband works weekends, we go out on Mon)
Tues-ham, sweet potatoes, green beans
Wed-chicken Caesar salad
Thurs-whole wheat pasta with meat sauce (grass-fed beef), salad
Fri-scrod with cracker crumbs, rice pilaf, broccoli and carrots
Homemade Mac and Cheese, Tacos, Pizza. I love reading all the posts, may be a little more creative with my menu with all this inspiration. Definitely could use this new book. 🙂 Big hugs!
Kabobs, Chef salads, honey chicken skewers, marinated shrimp, bbq chicken sandwiches, baked ziti… that’s the plan anyway! Back-up plan of tacos and rotisserie chicken in case I need something quick and easy like say I forget to defrost the meat or an ingredient at the store or something. Which *never* happens… 😉
Monday (mexican Monday) Quesadillas
Tuesday (chicken) Chicken parmesan
Wednesday (breakfast for dinner made by the cutest 9yr old ever) Pancakes
Thursday (beef of pork) Spaghetti with meatballs
Friday (finger food friday) Chicken nuggets, fishsticks, sweet potato fries…
Saturday (C.O.R.N.) clean out refrigerator night
Wonderful meeting you at the MOPS Convention!
Monday: Leftover Fettucini and Meatballs (made by Italian in-laws),
Tuesday: Turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy,
Wednesday: fish and veggies,
Thursday: Steak and Salad
Friday: pizza night!
Monday – Pad Thai
Tuesday – Tacos!!!
Wednesday – Tuna Helper – ick (cause Dave likes it)
Thursday – Spaghetti
Friday – Fend for yourself
Saturday – **Southwest eggrolls and fresh Guac *if Dave grills steaks*
Sunday – Leftovers
Hello! Loved you at the MOPS Convention, by the way! I love to cook homemade/from-scratch so here are our plans this week: BBQ Beef Sandwiches {from the leftover braised beef ribs from today}; {Made Today} Vegetable Soup & Salad; Shepherd’s Pie; Pork Loin with a few leftover veggie/sides; Mexican Build-Your-Own-Nachos; Chinese Orange Chicken, Fried Rice, Noodles & Egg Drop Soup -with a little packaged/frozen food help; and Hot Wings with home-cut fries for my Man Food Night Assignment. My DH loves leftovers for lunch, which is a great thing, too! Looking forward to a great week!
Moday ~ Boned Chicken Breast on the Grill with Brown Wild rice and steamed Broccli
Tuesday~ Beef Tacos with Spanish Rice
Wed ~ No peek chicken
Thursday ~ BLT’s and Pasta Salad
Friday ~ Home Made pizza
Saturday ~ Onofry Family BBQ Hamburgers Fritto sald and potato sald and Grilled Veggies
Sunday ~ Chilli with corn bread
The menu for the week is: bbq chicken, Asian turkey meatballs w/brown friend rice, chicken enchiladas, Thai chicken and pineapple stir fry and wagon wheel taco pasta salad
Here is what we are having for dinner this week:
Monday-Sheperd’s Pie and Tossed Salad
Tuesday – Grilled Salmon, Green Beans and Rice
Wednesday – Spaghetti and Homemade Meatballs and Corn
Thursday – Chicken Stir Fry and Quinoa
Friday – Leftovers
Saturday – Pizza, Raw Veggies and Dip (Family Movie Night
Have a great week!