Sort of.

After I begged for the password.

As with most people, with the start of the new year, we’re working on being more healthy.  We’re trying to exercise more (I have a goal of 20 days this month and it looks like I’m going to make it!) and eat better.  After the gluttony of the holidays, simple light fare in January seems to taste that much better.

In December, Baby Bee and I hit the Scholastic Warehouse Sale (Have you been?  If not, you should go.  You can sign up on-line at Scholastic.com to be notified of the sales).  At the sale, I picked up a Cooking Light compilation entitled Fresh Food Fast: Weeknight Meals.  For the past three weeks, 90% of our at home cooked meals have come from this book, and I’m betting we can try new things we like for several more weeks as well.  I’ve never had such good like from stem to stern with any other cookbook except for maybe the old Betty Crocker standby.

This cookbook is available on Amazon (I get no kick back.  Full disclosure and all that stuff).

Two weeks ago, Big Daddy and I had the Smokey Black Bean Soup with Avocado-Lime Salsa for lunch

It was so good, we’re having it for lunch again this week.  I would like to enter in the statement that neither Big Daddy nor I are big bean eaters, but this soup was really very good AND fast.

The long and short of all this, is that the most of these meals will be coming from Cooking Light and the aforementioned cookbook.

Monday Pressed Italian Sandwiches with Pesto and oven baked potato chips

Tuesday Grilled Romaine Chicken Caesar Salad (more disclosure.  We’ve already had and enjoyed these recipes over the last few weeks.  Since I haven’t done a menu plan I’m able to blog things we’ve actually eaten and give my opinion.  The dressing for this salad was very good, but the recipe calls for you to GRILL your lettuce.  I get the point, but I thought it just made it wilty and soggy. SO, use the dressing recipe, skip the grilling of the lettuce)

Wednesday Zucchini-Potato Pancakes with Eggs and Spinach Salad with Strawberries

Thursday Panko Pan-Fried Talapia with Dijon Green Beans and Crash Hot Potatoes

Friday Pork Chops with Mustard Cream Sauce and Roasted Potato Wedges

Saturday Out!

Sunday Lasagna Cups, garlic bread and salad A Pinterest Find

What’s on your menu this week?  Have you been eating healthier this year?  Trying to?  What’s working for you?

It took a while. I’m not 100%, but I’m close. I decided not to blog during the holidays. I considered it, but I decided not to add any more balls to the load I was juggling and things here stayed quiet.

But, it’s a new year AND it’s Monday! HOLLA! Who missed the menu plan?

Monday Pork tenderloin, crash hot potatoes and asparagus.

TuesdayBlack Bean Soup with avocado lime salsa

WednesdayFalafel with Tzatziki sauce. I can’t find the recipe I’m using on-line and I’m blogging from my phone as my laptop is on the fritz. If it’s good, I’ll share when the laptop is operational again.

Thursday Pistou Halibut and Sautéed Garlicky Spinach

FridaySmoked pizza. 90 minutes on the smoker = delicious.

SaturdayCowboy flank steak Mini Cheddar Potatoes

I’m trying to introduce more meatless dishes into our weekly menu. It’s not a resolution, per se, but a small change. What changes are you making this year?

As of writing this, my new iPhone 4S is out of commission. Baby Bee managed to shatter the screen despite the phone being inside an otterbox case. We have an appointment at the genius bar tomorrow, but I’m crazy sad. And, that’s just the tip of them iceberg lately.

From laptop problems to cat problems to family problemsn, I’ve had a rough couple of weeks. However, this is my favorite time of year and I’m not letting things get me down.

Well, except for the iPhone. I’m totally bummed about that.

We’ve signed up for a new activity on Monday evenings, so for the next six weeks, we’ll crock potting two nights a week; Monday’s and Thursday’s.

Monday Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Tuesday Baked chicken with Dijon and Lime

Wednesday Lemon Feta Chicken with Oregano

Thursday Beef Stroganoff

Friday Lemon Herb Chipotle Roasted chicken, Rio Bravo Rice and Beans a la Charra

Saturday A Smoked Meat Extravaganza!

Sunday Chicken and Dumpling soup

Hoping for a problem free week.  Happy Monday!

I found, for me, that Fall and Winter are the seasons of tradition. Spring and Summer are about new things, but Fall and Winter are about the comforts of tradition and the warmth of doing things the way they’ve always been done.  Carved pumpkins and soups.  Sugar cookies and a well worn pop-up book from which we read the same story every Christmas Eve.  Like I was read to and like I expect they’ll read to their babies someday.

I’m looking forward to sharing our Halloween pictures with you tomorrow, but for now?  A Monday Tradition.  The Menu Plan!

Monday

Carrying on our traditional theme, we’re having our traditional Halloween dinner of Halloweenie Winks and tater tots.  I’m sure most of you have made and eaten these and call them different things, but my Mom always called them weenie winks.  When the Princess was a baby, we added the Halloween twist and they’re our traditional pre-Trick or Treat dinner.

Tuesday

Double Dinner and a carry over.  Mama’s Meatballs and gravy over egg noodles with veggies

Wednesday

Double Dinner! Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

Thursday

Slow cooker Brown Sugar and Balsamic Glazed Pork with couscous and veggies

Friday

Date Night!  If I can confirm with Auntie.  ;)

Saturday

Family Movie Night (and probably the easiest one yet!)

Sunday

Penne with Chicken Thighs, garlic bread and salad

What are some of your favorite Fall and Winter traditions??

We had a lovely fall weekend with my Dad and some very good friends in Northern Michigan.  Have I posted about how much I love Michigan?  I think I might have mentioned it in my birthday post from this past year, but if I haven’t let me tell you know.

I love Michigan.

But I never want to live there again. Which is a totally different story.

Anyhow, I usually need to take Mondays for myself to recuperate from what we’ve done over the weekend and that means I’m late with the menu plan.  BUT, never fear.

We are having an insanely busy week this week.  Tonight was our only free night this week and we had to take our poor old kitty cat to the vet.

She’s the white kitty.  On the right.  The kitty on the far left passed away four years ago.  The large annoying one in the middle is still going strong.  Kitty goes back to the vet for surgery tomorrow and I’m not sure the news is going to be good and I’m afraid we may not have her longer.  She was mine and Big Daddy’s first baby and despite people asserting that she’s “the devil” or “evil” she’s really just the perfect cat and they’re jealous and don’t appreciate her unique personality.

So, if you can spare a good thought for my kitty, I’d appreciate it.  She’s 12 but I’m pretty sure she has another 10 years of spunk in her.

And on that depressing note, how about the menu plan!

From now on, I’m referring to meals we’re making for the freezer as double dinners.  I’m not once a month cooking and freezer cooking doesn’t sound very descriptive or snappy.  I’ll use a * to denote which dinners will be double dinners (doubled, with the extra batch frozen).

Monday

Sausage Potato Casserole

Tuesday

Mama’s meatballs and gravy over egg noodles*

Wednesday

White Chicken Chili*

Thursday

Cider Braised Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potatoes and Sage

Friday

We’ll be prepping for our big party, so it will probably be pizza night

Saturday

We’re having a Halloween Spooktacular and I’ll be serving from traditional cool weather fare along with some yummy, spooky goodies

Sunday

TBD-based upon how tired we are.

I’m also planning on making up a few loaves of Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread for breakfast eatings as well.

Really, don’t be stressed.

But I’ve already bought four Christmas presents.

But no stress.

And now hate mail, mmkay?

I’m happy to accounce that last week we ate the LAST meal from our August Once a Month (or, really batch) cooking.  I’m not sure why it took us so long.  Wel, that’s not true.  I do.

True Once a Month cooking would never really work for us.  It’s not because it’s not a fantastic concept, but because Big Daddy and I like to play a little more on the fly when it comes to menu planning.  It means that, on Thursday, if I get a taste for chowder, we’re having chowder.  No matter how many meals are waiting in the fridge.

BUT, some things about OAMC cooking really is great.  We all loved having some pre-made breakfast and lunch options to change up what really become mundane meals.  AND, it means on busy nights, cooking is pretty easy.  Just remove dinner from the freezer the night before and reheat.  Easy peasy.  That convenience also keeps us from eating out which is why I’m going to stock up the freezer again.  Not because I “cook for a day and eat for a month” but because it keeps us on the straight and narrow (and out of the drive thru line).

The reason I worte all of that out is because this weeks menu will be pulled (and doubled for later eating) from the fabulous Once a Month Mom website. I’ll be honest.  I don’t look for my own OAMC recipes anymore.  Tricia offers FIVE different monthly plan and I”m sure to find enough we like over there.

Monday

Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf, and scalloped tomatoes

Tuesday

Salsa chicken over rice with veggies (We’ve made this dish in the past and it’s very good.  I serve it over rice as noted above, but you can eat them in Tacos or as a sammie, if you’d choose)

Wednesday

Meatballs and gravy with crash hot potatoes and veggies

Thursday

Chicken and stuffing bake, cranberry sauce and veggies

Friday

I plan to either eat something cooked by my Daddy OR cooked over a campfire

Saturday

Fabulous brew food with some great friends.

Sunday

Sausage Potato Casserole with corn bread

This week, I will also be making a batch Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice soup to stick int he freezer in individual portions to be eaten for lunches. I’ll be making up Early Morning Power Pitas for breakfast

* did you need further proof that I’m really a 12 year old boy??

**whenever possible, I substitute healthier options into our meals.  Ground turkey instead of ground beef.  2% cheese instead of whole milk cheese, light sour cream, etc.  I’m pretty picky about taste and these small substitutions do make a difference as far as fat and calories go without it making much difference in regards to taste.

However, it has left room and time to organize some other parts of the house.  Thanks to a small washer issue (we have a front loader and the drain got clogged with the detritus from our pockets.  We unclogged the drain, but put the plug back in wrong and flooded the laundry room and part of the kitchen.  Thank goodness for ceramic tile.  Big Daddy and I spent Saturday night scrubbing every inch of the laundry room and educating the Princess on the proper laundry room sweeping techniques*) and I’m pretty sure you can eat off of every surface.

I also organized our pantry…

and the spice cabinet….

…and the arts and crafts drawer and cabinet.

I think this might be launching me into a full house purge/clean/reorganize.  I’ll let you know.  I might peter out first.  ;)

The little girls and I are going to be as sparse as possible around the house today as the floorers do their job, but I made sure I made time to write out the menu plan..

Monday

Baked Potato Soup (a carry over from last week)

Tuesday

Unstuffed Pepper Bake (a carry over from our Once a Month Session done in August)

Wednesday

Garlic Cheddar Chicken and Briami (hey!  It’s been a while!  I know I sand the praises of this dinner int he spring, but I want to do it again.  You could use any combination of veggies (I may add carrots this time and reduce the amount of potatoes), but it’s warm, hearty and filling)

Thursday

Leftover Chicken and Sausage Penne from our last Once a Month session

Friday

Smoked Pizzas.

Big Daddy and I have found that while slow roasted meats like pork shoulders and brisket are AMAZING, there are many shorter smoking time meals we can enjoy on week nights.  Burgers are a favorite as is chicken but smoked pizza is not to overlooked, if you have a smoker.

Saturday

Big Daddy, the Girlies and I are heading out for some Autumn fun and will probably have dinner out.

Sunday

Perfect Pot Roast? We’ll try and see.

We’ll be working on our first set of Once a Month meals next week.  I’m not sure that cooking in smaller batches saved us much money, BUT it did save us a lot of time and keep us from eating out on nights when time was short, so I think it did save us money, from that perspective.

*The Princess is responsible for cleaning the litter box and sweeping the laundry room.  Her sweeping has been lacking and when the washer flooded the laundry room we ended up with kitty litter stew all over the laundry room floor.  Super fun Saturday night!

So that makes this experiment less fun than it would be if he didn’t.

You see, last Friday?  it was the first day of Autumn.

Fall.

My favorite time of year.

I already wrote about why I love fall so much, but I might not have mentioned how much I love that it becomes soup and stew weather and how much I love soup and stew.

So…this week, I’ll be making, and serving, five different soups.  I’m wondering how long it takes for the Fam’ to figure out what’s going on.

Monday

Lasagna soup from the Deen Brothers.

Tuesday

Guinness Beef Stew (one of the recipes considered a favorite.  You can find other favorite recipes, at my Favorite Recipes page.)

Wednesday

Four Way Cincinnati Chili

Thursday

Quick and Easy Chicken Soup

Friday

Baked Potato Soup

Saturday

Probably out

Sunday

Another fall favorite, Caramel Apple Pork Chops.

What sorts of food do you  like to cook when the weather changes from summer to fall?

Monday, we celebrated her actual birthday with presents and cake.

And Saturday, we had a little party with our family.  I can’t wait to share the adorable cake topper I was inspired to make (thanks to Pinterest, naturally).   Littlebit is a lot like Big Daddy.  She loves spending time with her family, so she had a great birthday week.

She also loves Lalaloopsy dolls.  I do NOT get it, but I’m not a five year old girl.  Mostly.

This is the last week that we’ll be eating from the freezer before we need to make a new batch of yummy freezer meals.  We haven’t gone over the budget yet, so I can’t tell you, for sure, if it saved us money, but I think it DID save us stress.  Which is huge.  I was looking forward to the school year providing us down time, but honestly?  We’re more busy now than we were before.

This is a short week for us.  We’re talking a small trip out of town this weekend, which means less planning, less shopping and less cooking.

Monday

20 minute roasted tomato pasta, garlic bread and salad

Tuesday

Pesto Mozzarella Chicken breasts, couscous and salad

Wednesday

Spicey Stuffed BBQ chicken, crash hot potatoes and salad

Thursday

On the Road

Friday

on the road

Saturday

on the road

Sunday

Unstuffed Pepper bake, garlic bread and salad

The weather is getting cooler and this week will mark the true coming of Autumn.  What yummy things are you cooking this wek as the weather gets cooler?

Birthday.

Back to School.

Back to School

Birthday.

We’ve had one every week for the past four.

It’s not helping my diet much because no one picks poached chicken and broccoli for their back to school/birthday dinner. I don’t even pick that on an ordinary day.  Yuck.

I’m happy that my family likes my cooking and that i like cooking for them and that they enjoy picking out meals for their special days.  When they’re in school it’s hard, sometimes, to give a special day the real oomph it deserves, but a special dinner of their choosing helps a lot.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that your Mama makes you epic cupcakes.  ;)  I’ve been blogging about baking so frequently lately, I’m wondering if I’m not missing a passion or something.  Stay tuned for more baking and blogging because I’ve bakes some more yummy things that I can’t wait to share with you.

Monday

We celebrated Littlebit’s Fifth Birthday with a dinner of her choosing.

Oven Fried Chicken and “Dirty” crock pot mac and cheese, veggies and Hi-Hat Cupcakes.  Not familar?  Stay tuned!

Tuesday

Baked Pesto Chicken* over couscous with baked parmesan tomatoes

Wednesday

Unstuffed Pepper Bake*, garlic bread and salad

Thursday

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya*, corn bread and salad

(Yes, we eat a lot of salad.  I can buy a large container of organic spring mix lettuce for 4.99 and it feeds us for lunch and dinner all week. I can’t even feed us frozen veggies for that price)

Friday

20 minute roasted tomato pasta, garlic bread and salad

Saturday

Littlebit’s Fifth Birthday Party!  Can’t wait to share it with you!

Sunday

Something quick and easy.  We’ve had a busy few weeks with another busy one to go.  I like to “cook fresh” on Sundays (meaning, we don’t eat previously frozen meals).  It keeps us interested and keeps the food from being borning.

*Previously frozen earlier in the month and part of Once a Month Mom’s August menu plan.