All My Loose Ends » menu planning

Smokey Goodness (and Menu Plan Monday!)

Jamie — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Last summer, we bought Big Daddy a smoker. We smoked pork and brisket and it was good.

Big Daddy liked it so much, he bought a better, more efficient smoker and it was REALLY good. We’ve had smoked pork shoulders so delicious that I was actually sad that there were no left overs the next day. It was juicy and smokey and I think I might be in a relationship with it now. Had I not eaten it, of course.

This past weekend, Big Daddy got a little adventurous. We smoked hamburgers on Saturday evening (a really good week night meal from the smoker, because it only took 45 minutes on the smoker plus some browning time on the grill). Sunday evening, we smoked chicken. It was brined and smoked to perfection. Look at this, don’t you want to eat this??

If you don’t, that’s fine. More for me. We’re hosting Baby Bee’s second birthday party here next Saturday and we’ll be smoking pork shoulders and burgers for our party’s main course. I can’t WAIT.

I look forward to Mondays. Maybe because I don’t have to go back to work? I like the fresh start to the week and I’m LOVING summer right now (I reserve the right to change my mind on that come August). We’re filling up our days and nights with fun outdoor things to do, so I’m trying to keep dinners quick and easy

Monday-Grilled Chicken Brushetta, spinach salad (from our GARDEN!) and garlic bread sticks

Tuesday-Baked Creamy Chicken Tacquitos with Cilantro Lime Rice

Wednesday-Gnocchi and summer veggies with garlic bread

Thursday-Garlicky Lemon-Pepper Chicken, couscous and snow peas

Friday-Family’s coming into town, so our plans are up in the air.

Saturday-Baby Bee’s Birthday Party!

Sunday-Left0vers

Menu Plan Monday 2011-Week 21

Jamie — Mon, 23 May 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Can you believe that in a little more of a week, we’ll have lived in our new house, in our town in, in our own state for a year! While, there’s a post about that in here somewhere, it meant it was time to readdress my freezer.

Last summer, our chest freezer died. In the summer. With meat in it. In the summer. When we were gone for a weekend. In the summer. Yeah. Ewwww. Our in the house freezer is crammed full of stuff and I decided it was time to make lemonade and clear out the freezer. To eat up the things we’ve been amassing in there. Do you do that from time to time? Clean up and clean out? Our pantry should probably be next, but I can really only handle one of them at a time.

Monday

Garlic Cheddar chicken, Pasta Salad with Creamy Chive dressing and veggies of some sort. I know I make Garlic cheddar chicken a lot, but it really is THAT good. Have you made it yet? If not, you should. I also substitute panko for the bread crumbs and it’s just as good if not better. Really. I also reduce the amount of butter and cheese. It’s still delicious, but more healthy.

Tuesday

Grilled Mahi Mahi (with chicken nuggets for the two fish adverse children), grilled veggies and couscous

Wednesday

Grilled Turkey Burgers and Tex-Mex Sweet and Red Potato Salad

Thursday

Turkey Pilaf with chick pea flour flat bread

Friday

Dinner out!
Saturday

Smoked spare ribs (Big Daddy’s special recipe), watermelon and corn on the cob

Sunday

Locally made, German sausage (boiled in a good Irish beer, of course ;), foil potatoes and watermelon

Hey, it’s almost Memorial Day! What’s your favorite grilling recipe? We’re always looking for something yummy we haven’t tried.

Menu Plan Monday 2011-Week 20

Jamie — Mon, 16 May 2011 12:00:00 +0000

It was probably obvious from last week’s menu plan that we were out of town over the weekend and if I haven’t mentioned that May was going to be a very busy month for us, let me mention it now. We’re BUSY. Exceedingly. And after a rather whirlwind trip to Chicago for the wedding of a dear, dear friend (Congratulations!!)we’re home with another packed full weekend.

In addition to all of that, it has now occurred to me, that the Princess only has 11 more days of school and I’m not sure I’m ready for the summer, yet. The weather’s not sure either, because I’m pretty sure it’s only 40 degrees here this morning, which is just not right. I’m trying to think spring in my menu planning, but it’s pretty much stew weather.

Monday

Fusili with Caramelized Spring Onions and White Wine

Tuesday

Pressed Cubano sammies with sweet potato fries

Wednesday

Spicy Honey Brushed Chicken Thighs with roasted potatoes and a green salad

Thursday

Beef and Broccoli stir fry

Friday

We’ll have company? Maybe. But I’m not cooking anyhow

Saturday

Shower day!

Sunday

Spiedini of Chicken and Zucchini with Almond Salsa Verde, crusty bread with olive oil and salad

Working the Menu Plan-It’s Monday!

Jamie — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Last week I figured out that, yes, menu planning IS worth the time and effort even though I REALLY hate to admit it. (Really REALLY!!)

And then, I realized that using my crock pot really helped to stream line dinner.

I know what you’re thinking–you’ve been married 11 years and a mom for 10 and you’ve just figured out that menu planning and cooking with your crock pot works?

I know. I like to pretend I don’t know things, but then I realize that smart people aren’t wrong and I assimilate.

Monday

Crock pot turkey sloppy joes, tater tots and sliced veggies (carry over from last week. Turns out, Big Daddy and I were flying mostly solo last Thursday and we opted for dinner out.)

Tuesday

Turkey Bake with Whole Wheat Pasta, veggies and garlic bread

Wednesday

CSA pickup day

Sour Cream Pork chops, couscous and more veggies

Thursday

The girls spend the night with Auntie Awesome on Thursday nights leaving Big Daddy and me to our own devices. We might cook in. We might eat out. The world is our oyster. Kind of.

Friday

Pizza Night! WOOOOOOOOT!

Saturday

Family in the kitchen night

Our girls love to help cook. And, one of the best things about our new kitchen is that there is a ton of space for everyone to get in on the act. I want to try harder to get the girls into the kitchen, not only because they love to cook, but it’s a valuable skill.

Cheesy volcano meatball sandwiches, tater tots and veggies

Sunday

Pasta with pancetta and leaks, salad and homemade bread.

For more menu plans, check out:

Menu Plan Monday

Jamie — Mon, 17 May 2010 12:16:27 +0000

This week’s theme seems to be pork. When I inventoried the freeze this weekend, I found out that we had 11 more dinners. I think half are pork chops. Seriously.

Well, not really, but…I think three of them are. I have no idea where all the damn pork came from, but there it is. In all of it’s porky goodness.

Monday

Umm….pork!

Actually, Baked pork chops (to also use up tomato sauce and brown sugar) with crash hot potatoes (to use up potatoes)

Tuesday

soccer practice

Buffalo shrimp over rice and veggies

Wednesday

Girl Scouts-Last meeting of the Year

Mystery Casserole!! And veggies

Thursday

Soccer Practice

Maple Honey Mustard Pork Chops, pasta and veggies

Friday

I’m not sure, but not pork.

As an aside, Big Daddy and I joined a CSA in our new location. We pick up our first box of yummy produce (well, probably a lot of greens at first, frankly) our first week in town. We can’t wait.

It’s Monday and that means….

Jamie — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:11:51 +0000

It’s Monday again. We had a busy week last week with the Princess’s birthday and an out of town trip to celebrate. I love the estivities, but it means that my usual weekend tasks of menu planning and grocery shopping have been put off until today.

This week, I’m going to be cooking from “Dinner Made Easy”. It’s a great service from Betty Crocker.com that focuses on getting dinner on the table quickly. I’ve been getting their e-mail newsletter for a while, but thought that maybe it was time to give a few recipes a try.

Monday
Southwest Chicken Skillet

I might serve it with spanish rice or corn (Littlebit’s favorite) but it really is a fairly complete meal.
Tuesday

Slow cooker pork chops with cherry apple stuffing and veggies

Wednesday
Chicken breasts with creamy mushroom gravy, asparagus and fresh bread

Thursday

Tamale Pot pie and veggies
Friday

Bacon wrapped filet mignon, crash hot potatoes and veggies and onion rings.

Saturday

Pizza Night!

Menu Plan Monday

Jamie — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:40:55 +0000

Since I’m done eating out of the freezer and haven’t yet decided when I’m going to undertake another Once a Month cooking session (You can follow the plan I do at onceamonthmom.com) we’re back to planning our menu around here.

Monday

Pasta bolognase recipe from the “Cook This not That” cookbook.

Garlic bread and salad

Tuesday

Trying a new recipe for Hamburger stroganoff (one of Big Daddy’s personal favorite) with veggies

Wednesday

Chicken Fried Rice, egg rolls and sugar snap peas

Thursday

Sweet Italian Chicken, crash hot potatoes and veggies

Friday

The Princess turns 10, so her choice. YAY!

Saturday

Pizza for more Princess birthday festivities.

Sunday

Bacon wrapped fillet Mignon, potatoes and veggies.

Menu Plan Monday

Jamie — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:27:04 +0000

It’s supposed to snow here today. Do you hear me Internet? It is OCTOBER! This is not acceptable!!

Ignore the crocheted mice. Notice the SNOW!!

That was Valentine’s Day, ya’ll. It’s not supposed to snow before Halloween. We do NOT live in Canada!!

Monday

On the run due to other plans, so will probably pick up something quick-like from the store

Tuesday

Book Club

Freezer beef stew and fresh bread

Wednesday

Baked ziti, chicken parmesan and salad

Thursday

soccer practice which I’m already praying will be canceled

Beef Stroganoff, egg noodles and veggies

Friday

Pizza and movie night!

Saturday

Big Daddy and I are going out on a date. So long as my MIL will babysit. Won’t you, lovely MIL??

Sunday

Broccoli cheese soup and fresh bread, maybe bread bowls if I’m feeling saucy.

Menu Plan Monday

Jamie — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:14:58 +0000

Can I say that Once a Month cooking rocks! I can? Sweet. It does and I just said it. I probably said it last week too,but I’m saying it again. I thought that spending two weeks cooking and doubling meals made the two weeks off worth it, but in truth, that was totally counter productive and a waste of work. If I was going to have another kid, I’d probably name her (because we don’t make boys) Once a Month Mom.

So, it makes my menu planning pretty easy

Monday

Chicken Marsala, pasta and asparagus

Tuesday

soccer practice

Beef Stew and fresh bread

Wednesday

Mexican cornbread casserole and salad

Thursday

soccer practice

Deconstructed broccoli stuffed chicken breasts and veggies

On the go with previous plans for the weekend.

Last week, I noted that we were having caramel apple pork chops for dinner. They were pretty. I wish I’d have taken a picture, but they were so good all of us sort of inhaled them. I guess 800+ reviews and an overall rating of 4.5 stars on allrecipes.com really does mean something. It means yummy.

Weekly Menu, week beginning 9/28

Jamie — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:45:46 +0000

Well, we did it. This weekend we tried out Once a Month Mom’s September Once a Month cooking plan. We convered on my MIL yesterday afternoon and she helped with the cooking and kid managing and Big Daddy and I went to town. It took 6.5 horus from start to finish (from beginning to clean up) and our outside freezer is stocked with 17 dinners (we halved the recipes based on our family’s needs), three separate breakfast options and four separate lunch options.

I’m so excited about not having to plan dinner for 20 of the next 28 days and I’m more than a little sure that this new plan will save us money.

Again, we halved the plan and figure we spent about $200 to do so. We will be using the meals four days a week (one day a week will be our pizza night, one day a week will be wev. and one night a week will be special requests, grilling, entertaining, etc).

Next time, we will be sure to do ALL of the suggested early preparations EARLY. Big Daddy spent the first hour or more chopping which slowed down our cooking prep.

Monday

Eating a Chili’s to support St. Jude’s hospital to support the fight against childhood cancer. Even though I just spent a ga-million hours cooking, we’re going out to eat at Chili’s to offer our support. If you can manage it, you should too.

Tuesday

Soccer practice @6p

BBQ pork sammies and sweet potato fries

Wednesday

park play date at 4p

Deconstructed stuffed chicken breasts and pasta

Thursday

soccer practice 5:30p

Beef stroganoff, egg noodles and veggies

Friday

Pizza and a movie night.

Saturday

Usually on the run

Sunday

Caramel Apple Pork Chops mashed potatoes and fresh green beans.