Menu Planning Monday!

Blogger won't let me post the cute little menu planning header, but if you are looking for more great menu plans, click here.


I know, I know, you've been hanging out at your computer all day just to see what the Mc family is having this week. (have I ever mentioned that I am very sarcastic at times?) Well, first things first. Two of my 3 kids (the girls) definitely have strep throat! Its still up in the air right now if Little Man has it or not. He started coughing yesterday, but not a lot. He wasn't up last night either, in fact he is the only person in our house that slept through the night! Thank goodness they are all a little sluggish today because this girl needs a nap!

So as far as the menu plan goes....

Monday - Crock Pot Chicken and Dressing with Green Beans and Stewed Potatoes (one of our all time favorite meals, this recipe is not the one I use but its pretty close!)
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Pork with Apples and Asparagus (I have some pork chops in the freezer so I will use those instead of the pork roast, and I have some apples that need to be used up)
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Crock Pot White beans (cooked ALL Day) with cornbread (our kids love white beans)
Saturday - Leftovers
Sunday - Out

I have also found another fabulous blog for you guys to check out. Its called $5 dinners. Its a great place to get menu plans and ideas. She is committed to only spending $5 for dinner every night, but her blog is so much more. She posts her menu plan for the week, but also for the month (on the left sidebar). She is also a runner (!) and very committed to serving her family healthy meals with include mostly organic ingredients. We could all definitely get inspiration there! Go check it out.

Ok, so this is for JenD. She asked if I could help her better plan the weekly meals for her and her boys while her husband is out of town all week long. Jen works, has 2 boys and her husband travels during the week. She also lives right across the street from a great park and has an adorable house...but that's another post. Anyhow, Jen, and anyone else who is interested, I really and truly think the Crock Pot could serve you well. If you get your meal in there either before you leave for work in the morning, or at least do the prep work, get it into the crock, then dash home at lunch and turn it on, then you won't be stressed at 6 o'clock. If your kids won't eat leftovers, your best bet would be to find meals that do double duty. You could turn a pork roast with veggies one night into pulled pork sandwiches the next night. My kids adore poppy seed chicken, so I will often roast a chicken in the oven or crock pot, eat some the first night and the next night use the leftover chicken for the poppy seed dish. Breakfast for dinner is also a fast and easy fix for kids. Pancakes can be made in a snap along with eggs and bacon. Waffles would be a good choice as well. You can add just about anything to them to make them seem special. Waffle irons are inexpensive and are a good investment. Another kitchen tool I can't live without is my rice-cooker (I am terrible at making rice on the stove-top!). Ziploc zip n' steam bags are wonderful to make smaller portions of steamed veggies in a hurry (think steamed broccoli and carrots with low fat ranch dressing for dipping). Stuffed baked potatoes are also a good choice and you could always fill them with leftover roast beef, chicken or pork along with sour cream, cheese and butter. I encourage you to check out $5 Dinners as well. She has several dinners that do double duty. Please don't allow you to get into the rut of not eating dinner together at the table just because one member of the family isn't there. Kids need that time to re-connect with each other and with their parents. Its a good way to get them to open up and talk about their day.

Another idea is to have each night of the week be a theme. For example if its Monday its Mexican. You could whip up some super quick taco meat, re fried beans, cheese, sour cream, and other fixins (prep the night before or in the morning) and let the children fix their own tacos. Use the leftover taco meat on Tuesday to make some sort of taco pie (like Frito pie, or a Bisquick impossible pie, check out Bisquick.com). You could follow through with a theme for every night Wednesday night could be pasta night, Thursday could be chicken, Friday could be homemade pizza night. The kids would think its fun to have themes!

Two books I love are "The Dinner Doctor" and "The What Can I Bring Cookbook" both by Anne Byrn. In both books she gives suggestions for quick and easy dinners. She also gives the background stories for many of her recipes, which I appreciate! Also, if you love cake like me check out her books "The Cake Mix Doctor" and "Chocolate from the Cake Mix Doctor". Both are fabulous reads!

Well, that's all I've got for now. I have get off here and go love on my babies!

Go get to work on your menu plan!