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Tag: menu planning

  • Summer is Here!

    Summer is Here!

    School has been out for a month here now, but it hasn’t really felt like summer until this week. Possibly because we’ve been holed up working on our bathroom remodel, or maybe it’s the rising temps with no AC that made it feel more real. Either way I propose a toast (with my Crystal Light Raspberry Lemonade) to the start of summer vacation. 
    To Summertime – May you be filled with the laughter of children running through sprinklers, and good books on the porch. May your temps stay mild, and the bugs kept to a minimum. As we begin our first ever swimming lessons, let us all kick back and relax while we enjoying your sunshine.  May we remember that time spent with our children should be treasured more than possessions – and time spent with friends a bonus. As we bbq, hike, camp, and swim, let these summertime memories be just that – Memorable!
    I hope you all are enjoying your summers! I’ve learned very quickly that despite my previous thoughts that 3 hours with 1 child gone didn’t leave much time to get things done, it did indeed allow my to get a lot done. I’ve spent the last few weeks reorganizing and dejunking more of our house because the child tornadoes kept tearing through. Now that we seem to be mostly on a schedule, I’m tossing swimming lessons into the mix. In just a few hours I will be poolside with a book, while my oldest 2 Princesses learn the life skill of swimming. The younger 2 are getting some special time with Mark. It will probably make for a long 2 weeks, but will be so worth it….just don’t let me forget the sunscreen!  
    Thankfully with such a busy week, this week’s menu planning seem to come together easily. Between swimming lessons, a trip up to Manti, and a Balloon Festival on Saturday, I really need this plan to stay on top of meals, while still having some family fun!
    Menu Plan week of 6/17
    Monday – Cake Pan Pizza
    Tuesday – Shepherds Pie
    Wednesday – Fajitas
    Thursday – BBQ and Smores with friends

    Friday – Sandwiches on the go: Meeting Aunt M and Uncle J at the Mormon Miracle Pageant
    Saturday – Leftovers
    Sunday – Dinner with relatives

    MPM-Summer
  • DIY sneak peek and Menu Plan

    DIY sneak peek and Menu Plan

    I’ve got some pretty sweet kids, I tell you. This morning they came running to me with a bunch of flowers

    “For you Mommy! We forgot to pick them for Mothers Day.”

    I have no idea what kind of flowers these are. I originally thought they were weeds and had pulled half of them out around our big tree. Before I got back out to the rest though, they started blooming these pretty flowers. Any flower experts want to tell me their name, and if they are indeed just a pretty weed? 
    I’ve got a lot going on this week, so I hope you’re all ready for it!  I’m kicking off a week of Fathers Day gift Ideas tomorrow, and behind the scenes will be working on a couple more DIY projects for future sharing. On top of it all, we’re still working our tail ends off on the Master Suite Remodel. 
     Menu Plan Week of 6/10
    Monday – Beef Enchiladas
    Tuesday – Spaghetti and Corn on the Cob
    Wednesday – Sandwiches
    Thursday – Tallerino Casserole
    Friday – Curry Chicken
    Saturday – Leftovers
    Sunday – Cranberry Pork Roast
    MPM-Summer
  • Mouth Watering Menu

    Mouth Watering Menu

    I really can’t look through our Foodie Friday Party without my mouth beginning to water!  I’ve found a lot of treats to add to our menus lately, and side dishes have been saved thanks to all of you!  Really though, how can you not start salivating over things like Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Parfait

    Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Parfait by Jazzy Gourmet

    Victoria Sponge Cake 
    Which by the way, I just might have to make for my birthday this week!
    (please click on the links to see the original recipes from their creators, and pin from their site!)

    This weeks Menu
    (with help from emeals)
    Monday – Creamy Mustard Pork Ribs
    Tuesday – Chicken Cordon Bleu with Strawberry Fields Salad and a Doctor Who Themed Cake (My Birthday Dinner!)
    Wednesday – Tuna Noodle Casserole with Parmesan and Chive Quinoa Patties
    Thursday – Chicken Lettuce Wraps (recipe coming Friday)
    Friday – Tacos and Burritos
    Saturday – leftovers
    Sunday – Cranberry Pork Roast
    MPM-Spring


  • Meal Planning with Emeals

    I have been completely lax about our meal plans the last few weeks. Perhaps you even noticed that I wasn’t posting my plan every Monday as I have in the past. Life was just getting too crazy, and so I let go of dinner control.

    Really, that should not be what gets let go. Meal planning saves my sanity every single night. Instead of 4 kids whining and crying to eat, because I took too long deciding what to make and then getting it on the table by 5:30 – I would have 4 kids happily playing, and eating most of their dinner that they helped prepare because I knew what we were having, and gave myself the right time to make it.

    I was thrilled when this last week eMeals contacted me to see if I would like to join the eMeals Connect program. Basically, they gave me a 1 year eMeals plan in exchange for me telling you all about them. Of course, all opinions are my honest to goodness true thoughts on the program! So no worries, I’ll let you know just how much I like them (or don’t if that’s the case).

    So far, however, I am enjoying eMeals immensely. I received my first week of meals in my email shortly after signing up for the Classic Plan with Walmart as my grocer of choice (they have a few different grocers to choose from, but Walmart was the only one near me). They also just recently announced their Slow Cooker Classic and Clean Eating Plans! This would be a great summer plan to avoid turning the oven on.

    Slow-Cooker-Launch_Kitchen-Aid-Kitchen

    Shocked I was!  The first thing I noticed was that they break down the price of each item on the shopping list, so you know about how much you’ll be spending for that week of groceries. I thought I was a frugal shopper, but eMeals just managed to save me another $10-$20/week in groceries.  If the subsequent meal plans are similar in price I will be thrilled!

    I haven’t tried any of the recipes yet, but we will be this coming week. I’ve exchanged a few of the eMeals out in favor of my own preferences (and chicken 3 times a week is just a bit much for me).  I’ll show you the original plan with my altered plan in italics. This is just to accommodate for what I have on hand since I don’t plan on grocery shopping this week.

    Menu Plan
    Sunday – Chicken Pot Pie with buttered Biscuits and Honey Carrots
                 Actually making Spaghetti with Biscuits and a Side Salad
    Monday – Mexican Beef Bake with Fajita Rice
                 Changing the side to regular White Rice
    Tuesday – Easy Spare Ribs with Coleslaw and Baked Potatoes
                 Skipping the Coleslaw and having Mashed Potatoes
    Wednesday – Chicken Fried Rice with Sesame Ginger Salad
                  Actually having Ham Fried Rice
    Thursday – Classic Ravioli with Stuffed Zucchini
                   no zucchini, just a simple side salad
    Friday – Apricot glazed Pork Tenderloin with Wild Rice and Green Bean bundles
                  Strawberry glazed Steak with Creamed Corn
    Saturday – Rosemary Garlic Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Black-Eye Peas
                 No black eye peas


    *I received a 1 year eMeals plan in exchange for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

  • Weekend Baking {Menu Plan}

    Weekend Baking {Menu Plan}

    I’ve never spent quite so much time in the kitchen as I did this last weekend. Maybe it was because I finally got some major cleaning done during the week, or maybe I was just really excited about some of the ideas I have cooked up for you. I don’t know. I do know, that by the end of the day yesterday my feet were killing me!

    Here’s a little run down of what I made:

    Sourdough bread.  I made my first starter ever last Sunday, and was itching the whole week for it to be ready to use. Unfortunately my bread machine decided it can’t sit still anymore, so it pulled it’s own cord partway through rising. Thankfully my mom taught me bread making as a child, so I easily adapted and oven baked it.

    Mini Apple pies. I tried making these a month or so ago and they failed. They failed again. I don’t think I’ll be attempting apple pie with phyllo dough anymore. It’s just too tricky to work with.

    Chocolate Butterflies. These were so fun to create, and turned out so pretty. Although Mark’s reaction to the books in the fridge will be right up there on things I will never forget – “Umm, did you know there’s a couple of books in the fridge?” Yes honey, I put them there.  Find the tutorial at We Lived Happily Ever After.

    Chocolate chip Banana Muffins and Yogurt Oatmeal parfaits.  I’ve made these before, and whipped them up quick Saturday so I could do a little photo shoot. I even bought some pretty flowers just for show (and really I love having fresh flowers in the house!)

    Nutella Banana Fudgesicles. This happened. It oh so happened. Mark bought our very first jar of Nutella and I went wild! Last Sunday it was nutella no-bakes (just switch out the peanut butter in this recipe with nutella). This week it was fudgesicles and sandwiches. The girls loved their Nutella and Honey sandwiches.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     
    This week’s Menu
     
    Monday – Steak and Egg Burritos
    Wednesday – Pancakes and Bacon
    Thursday – Lasagna
    Friday – Pizza night
    Saturday – Leftovers
    Sunday – Hawaiian Ham Skillet

    May’s Freezer Cooking:
    Italian Beef and Beans
    Beefy Enchiladas
    Chicken Tucson
    Spaghetti Casserole
    Ham and Corn Casserole

    
    MPM-Spring
  • Menu Plan Monday 8/15

    Menu Plan Monday 8/15

    I’m back to menu planning. We’ve had some crazy fun this summer, and some interesting dinners. I’m ready for set plans, so that it’s easier for me to have dinner on the table each night. Morning sickness (which happens at night for me) has not helped in the food making process, but Mark has been a trooper! I am very excited about this weeks line up. I may actually feel good enough to eat, just because of these recipes!!
    Monday – Chicken Cordon Bleu, recipe from my Aunt J!
    Tuesday – Hot dogs and burgers with my Sister-in-law and her new boyfriend.
    Wednesday – Chicken scalliopine (ok it was turkey, but I’m making it chicken)
    Thursday – Thai Salmon Filets. I’m hoping the mix of ingredients on this one, will help Mark overlook the Salmon part of it 🙂
    Friday – Chicken Fajitas
    Saturday – Creamy Chicken Salad
    Sunday – Lemon dill chicken popovers (can you say YUM!)
    Also throughout the week we’ll be eating Sesame Onion Braid Bread, and chocolate cream cheese cupcakes.