Menu Planning Monday: Spring is here!

Can I just say that spring has sprung in Cleveland?  It has been gorgeous outside.  Poor Logan.  He wants to stay outside and play, play, play, but needs to go to bed early because he gets up so early.  And he becomes a crabby bear when we have to wake him up in the morning!

This weather makes me want to do nothing but grill.  Unfortunately, C's new work schedule is sporadic and  I am a terrible griller.  So, we are limited!

Sunday: Salsa chicken, cilantro lime rice, corn
Monday: Brinner (Alexia brand hashbrowns are amazing)
Tuesday: Taco pasta
Wednesday: Pineapple chicken over rice, salad
Thursday: Meatloaf, roasted potatoes and carrots
Friday: Rehearsal dinner
Saturday: C is in a wedding...so wedding!

Linking up at OrgJunkie!

MPM! April into May!

After a few weeks of crappy weather, with on and off nice weather, I am so glad grilling weather seems to be here to stay!  BUT...I don't seem to have much on the menu that involves the grill!

Sunday: Mom and Dad's for my dad's birthday.
Monday: BLTs and Alexia Onion Rings (we love these!)
Tuesday: Linguine with Italian sausage and sundried tomatoes
Wednesday: Ramp pizza
Thursday: Meatloaf, roasted potatoes, corn
Friday: Leftover night
Saturday: Grocery shopping day and our first day back at our farmer's market!

What is on YOUR menu this week?  Linking up at OrgJunkie!

Menu Planning Monday

Sunday: We had a wake, so grabbed Panera on the way home

Monday: Meatloaf, new potatoes with parsley, asparagus

Tuesday: Buffalo chicken stromboli, salad

Wednesday: Chinese Orange Beef over white rice

Thursday: Slow Cooker Thai Pasta
Friday: My first book club meeting, so lots of yummy appetizers!  I think I am making sausage cups for sure...and I am not sure what else :)

Linking up at OrgJunkie!

Menu Planning Monday and Lessons

Well, we are back with another Menu Planning Monday and another OrgJunkie link up!  I went grocery shopping on Saturday and spent $130, which is about $40 more than my average grocery shopping.  I gave in to the teens' requests of...junk food.  I came home with far more CRAP than I have since joining Fresh Fork Market's CSA last summer (here is my review/post about our FIRST bag last May!).  My ideas and opinions on food have dramatically changed in the past year, and although I am working hard to get my family to change along with me, there are just some things that they are unwilling to give up or buy in to.  It is a slow process, but I think it is much harder with teenagers who have already formed thoughts and opinions about food.  I am hoping to instill some of these good habits into Logan while he is growing up.  Anyway, I came home, looked at what I bought, and was shocked with myself.  This will be the LAST time this happens.  They have been warned :)

Anyway, we had a GORGEOUS weekend here in Cleveland, and we brought the grill to the back patio and used it both nights :)

Saturday: Burgers and chips
Sunday: BBQ chicken thighs, herbed cous cous, broccoli
Monday: Pasta with tomato cream sauce
Tuesday: Chicken Caesar Salads
Wednesday: Patty Melts and Fries
Thursday:  Clean out the fridge day :)
Friday: Pizza and salad

Menu Planning Monday

Here we are!  Another week!!

Sunday: Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes, waffle fries
Monday: Chicken puffs, corn (from our CSA), butter noodles
Tuesday: Linguini and tomato sauce (both from our CSA)
Wednesday: Shepherd's pie (make with ground chicken instead of turkey from our CSA)
Thursday: Chili and cornbread
Friday: Pizza (I have a 31 party)
Saturday: Not sure yet.  I have another 31 party!

What are YOU making this week?  Link up at OrgJunkie!

Menu Planning Monday (Late Night Style)

As you know, I am participating in a Pantry Challenge over at Good Cheap Eats.  My goal is to spend as little as possible each week and to clear out our freezer and pantry.  

Sunday: Roast Chicken, honey Dijon Brussels sprouts, butter noodles with parsley

Monday: Angel hair pasta with pesto and diced tomatoes

Tuesday: Unstuffed Pepper Soup with crusty bread

Wednesday: Spicy Kale Lasagna

Thursday: BLTs and baked potatoes 

Friday: Pizza night 

I also made spicy black bean and sweet potato burritos for my lunches that I put in the freezer.

Linking up with other menu planners at OrgJunkie!  Be sure to check out the my log of our daily menus, especially the dinners created primarily out of our pantry and freezer!

Menu Planning Monday

Sunday: Hamburgers on the grill, baked beans, salad

Monday: Frittata with Yukon gold potatoes and turnip greens

Tuesday: Chili with cornbread (maybe)

Wednesday: Chicken puffs, honey mustard brussels sprouts, rice

Thursday: Tortellini bake, Caesar salad

Friday: Chicken stir fry

Saturday: Depends on if the kids are home!

Linking up at OrgJunkie!

Menu Planning Monday

Seriously.  How is it Monday?  I still feel like garbage and I seem to be incapable of kicking this cold.  Instead it is kicking MY ass.

Sunday: Breakfast: Waffles of Amazing Greatness; dinner at my parents'
Monday: Salsa chicken, cilantro lime rice, corn
Tuesday: Orange chicken and fried rice
Wednesday: Angel hair pasta with butternut squash and sage
Thursday: Bacon corn hash
Friday: Pizza and Caesar salad
Saturday: Unsure, as it depends on our CSA

What is on your menu this week?  Link up at OrgJunkie!

Menu Planning Monday

Sunday: Browns party (even though they got their asses kicked)
Monday: Laughing Cow Alfredo with red pepper pasta; side of roasted asparagus
Tuesday: Pork roast with roasted potatoes and Brussels sprouts
Wednesday: Unstuffed Pepper Soup
Thursday:  Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, some sort of veggie
Friday and Saturday: TBD (depends on our CSA bag)

Linking up with OrgJunkie!

Menu Planning Monday

Sunday: Spaghetti with artichokes and tomatoes, salad, crusty bread
Monday: Chili dogs, cornbread muffins, vegetable, baked fries
Tuesday (Mardi Gras!): Jambalaya, salad
Wednesday: Tuna salad sandwiches, chips
Thursday: BBQ Chicken Salad
Friday: Out for our anniversary
Saturday:Pasta dinner fundraiser

Looking for inspiration?  Visit OrgJunie to see other menus!

Weekend Recap/MPM

Last week was extremely mentally exhausting week at work.  We started rehearsals for what will be my last show as director and with meetings three times this week after school, I was drained.  And when Friday rolled around and I realized we had NOTHING planned, I could not have been happier.  Was my house a disaster?  Yes.  But I did not even care.  I worked on cleaning up slowly over the weekend and did lots of laundry, cleaned the bathrooms, swept and mopped the kitchen and laundry, and menu planned on Sunday.

What did we do Friday?  A was in bed at 8:30 (her choice) and we were asleep by 10 PM.

Saturday we went out to dinner BY OURSELVES.  Had some adult conversation.  It was great.

Here is the menu for the rest of the week.  Wednesday I will be posting a recap of how our Pantry Challenge went.

Sunday: Stuffed Cabbage Casserole
Monday: Pepper Steak
Tuesday: Chicken Chili
Wednesday: Unstuffed Pepper Soup
Thursday: Orzo with Broccoli and Carrots; Salad
Friday: Pizza night
Saturday: Something easy (I have a 31 party)

Linking up at OrgJunkie.

Weekend Recap/MPM

Someone (yeah, me) forgot to blog her weekend plan for the blog hop (sorry Molly!).  Then when I went to recap...I also just can't seem to remember what we did this weekend!  Here are the things I can remember, in no particular order and I am not even sure on what day.

• Played Mario Kart on the Wii
• Made Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal (need to try it again...recipe needs tweaking)
• Took Logan outside to play in the snow with Alexys
• Went to a camera class and lunch with my sister-in-law
• Stopped at HomeGoods and didn't buy ANYTHING
• Stopped at Target
• Watched some TV (Once Upon a Time and the Golden Globes...perfect way to spend a Sunday)

Um...yeah, that is all I can remember.  Oh, and we did some cleaning.  So how 'bout them apples?  Er, recap.  Whatever.

While I am at it, here is the menu plan for the week.  Still working on The Pantry Challenge  (check out my meal log here) getting ready to do a ton of freezer cooking in February as rehearsals begin for our musical (I can't believe auditions are this week!).  I know I am going to have to pick up some meat from the deli for lunches and eggs for pancakes but here is our menu for the week (I am making the pizza dough from scratch today):

Sunday: Skillet Lasagna
Monday: Buttermilk pancakes and hash browns
Tuesday: Chicken Caesar sammies, baked fries, corn
Wednesday: Not sure yet..something with ground beef because I know I have that in the freezer, lol
Thursday: Chicken corn chili
Friday: Stromboli and salad
Saturday: Mom and Dad's for my brother's birthday

Link up at OrgJunkie for Menu Planning Monday!

Weekend Recap and MPM

Seriously?  How is it Monday?  Where did the weekend go?  Wait...the same place as summer break, I suppose.  Heavy sigh.  Anyway, what did we accomplish this weekend?  It feels like a whole lotta nothing.   And this is going to be a lame update because I am exhausted after the weekend.

Friday:

-Pick up the mess that has become our dining room and living room

-Snuggle Logan because I really missed him this week

-Dinner with the fam (pork chops, rice, peas)

-Watch JIM THOME's first game back as an Indian!! while drinking a chai latte and relaxing

Saturday:

-All day bachelorette party (winery tour)

Sunday:

-Thirty-One party

-Lesson plan for the week (HA!  That so did NOT happen...)

-Laundry/prep clothes for work week

-Grocery store for any last-minute things we need for the week

Sunday:Jambalaya with turkey smoked sausage, corn
Monday: Sloppy joes, fries, veggie
Tuesday: Spaghetti, garlic bread
Wednesday: Sausage and peppers, cous cous, veggie
Thursday: Beans and rice enchiladas
Friday: Pizza night

Link up at OrgJunkie to join in Menu Planning Monday!

Weekend Recap and MPM

So..what was accomplished this weekend?

Green: Done

Red: Not completed

Blue: Change made in plan

Friday:

* Store to purchase groceries for Sunday and a black and hot pink sheet for my display table 

* Vacuum bedrooms and upstairs 

* Work on lesson plans for Beowulf (thrilling, I know) (um...no way was this going to happen)

* Pray that Logan naps after we go for a walk. This whole standing in his crib screaming is extremely frustrating.  Thank you Jesus, he napped in the afternoon.

* Maybe a birthday party tonight.

Saturday:

* First Browns preseason game! Go Browns! While C is at the game, we will go to my parents' house. I am hoping to drop the kids off for awhile and come back to clean.  We went to my mom and dad's and I ended up staying over.  We went shopping for some back to school stuff for Alexys and stayed for dinner.

* Clean bathrooms

* Dust and vacuum living room and dining room

* Wash kitchen floor

* Set up display table and appetizer table 

* Make BLT dip, veggie dip,  prep veggies, make strawberry dip, cut bread for BLT dip

Sunday:

* Thirty-One Open House!

* True Blood date with my girlfriends!

Woot!  LOVE seeing all that GREEN of accomplished items!!  School starts next Tuesday, so I want to get some organizing done this week, which I will post for Tackle It Tuesday.  How did your weekend go?  Did your to-do list get finished??

Now, menu planning...this is a weird week.  We unexpectedly had to get Jamie's braces taken off, so it has cut into the budget quite a bit.  This week is going to be an odd one when it comes to the menu and basically cleaning out the fridge and pantry.  I am going to just put down the meat I am going to be using because the rest of the menu will be spur of the moment.

Sunday: Burgers and fries
Monday: Pork chops
Tuesday: Turkey sausage
Wednesday: Grilled cheese and tomato soup
Thursday: Chicken
Friday: Pizza night!
Saturday: Dinner at Mom and Dad's for Mom's birthday

Link up at OrgJunkie to check out the other menus!

Menu Planning Monday/Weekend Recap

First of all...YAY for all those who participated in the blog hop!!  Wow!!  Molly and I are both SO excited to have you joining us on Fridays!!  And WELCOME to my new followers!  I am so happy to have you around and with me on my journey while I bake my way through the chaos that is my life!

Now, down to business.  I am just going to lump these two things together on Mondays...because it makes my life easier!  So, here is what was on the agenda for this weekend:

Friday:

• Grocery list and menu plan for week
• Target for baby and household items (non-grocery) then to grocery store
• Potential trip to zoo (no zoo trip...boo!), depending on C's work schedule OR yard work (trim shrubs, edge, clean up flowerbeds, mow)
• Family dinner and game night (moved to Saturday)

Saturday:

• Clean both bathrooms
• Clean family room and declutter living room
• Dust and vacuum family room
• Dust and vacuum bedrooms, upstairs hall, stairs
• Set up canopy outside
• Make C's cake (decided to make it Sunday so it would be fresh) and veggie pizza, prep corn on cob (ended up not having this on Sunday)

Sunday:

• Get pork to smoking early!(note: Chuck was up at 4 AM to get things started! Crazy man!)
• Made Chuck's cake
• Party!
• Oh and my weekly True Blood date with my two besties!

So, what is on the menu for the week?
Monday: Jamie's farewell dinner of Dorito Casserole and salad, followed by leftover cake/S'mores Bars
Tuesday: I have a Celebrate and Connect meeting for 31, so Chuck and Alexys will have some leftover pulled pork, coleslaw, and fruit salad
Wednesday: Spaghetti
Thursday:Grilled cheese and tomato soup (random, yes, but in the pantry)
Friday: Pizza night
Saturday: First Browns preseason game, so hopefully we can scam dinner off of my parents :)

Did you menu plan this weekend? If so, link up at Orgjunkie!

How did your To-Do list go? Did you accomplish anything? Declutter? Work in the yard? Sit around and watch Lifetime movies?? Tell us in the comment section!

Menu Planning Monday

Another week.  I have to say, this weekend was a rough one.  I am not going to go into details, but I am sure some of them will be revealed soon on my ol' blog.  But, we are going to keep on keepin' on and do our best to make it through these rough times.

Sunday: Burgers with pepperjack cheese and turkey bacon, corn on the cob, mac and cheese
Monday: Marinated and grillecd flank steak, sauteed zucchini, rice pilaf
Tuesday: Chicken gyros, grilled corn, cous cous with toasted pine nuts
Wednesday: Pasta with sun-dried tomatoes and mushrooms
Thursday: Grilled chicken Caesar salad
Friday: An easy night...sandwiches?  Grilled cheese?  Depends on how the week goes.
Saturday: Not sure...C may be at his friend's and I have a retirement party

What's on your menu?  Link up at OrgJunkie!

Menu Planning Monday

Ah, another week.  I am a true lover of menu planning and this week, although I am really sad the girls are leaving to go to their mom's for a month, I am trying out some new recipes for the hubs and myself. Here is what is on the menu for this week:

Sunday: Coca Cola Slow Cooker ribs, mac and cheese, green beans
Monday: Dorito Casserole (their request)
Tuesday: I am pretty sure it will just be me, so a Boca Spicy Chik'n Patty and sweet potato fries
Wednesday: Burgers, beans, salad
Thursday: Chicken gyros, corn on the cob, cous cous
Friday: Out to eat (we have a giftcard and a coupon for Outback, so probably going there)
Saturday: Pecan-crusted tuna with a mustard dill sauce and yet to be determined side dishes.

What is on your menu this week?  Link up at OrgJunkie to see what we are all cooking!

Menu Planning Monday

Another week!  Since we entertained on Saturday (more on that later this week), we were over our food budget, but starting NEXT weekend when I grocery shop, I am going to try something new with shopping and budgeting, so we will see how that goes.  Anyway, here is our menu for this week (the last week the girls are with us before they are gone for a month in Florida with their mom!):

Sunday: All sorts of yummy leftovers from Saturday
Monday: Chicken puffs, green beans, herb and butter rice
Tuesday: Artichoke and tomato pasta
Wednesday: BLTs and baked fries
Thursday: Clean out the Pantry day!  We will be eating whatever we can find!
Friday: C goes out of town and I am hoping the girls and I can go to dinner and a movie if I can find a sitter
Saturday: Breakfast sammies and hashbrowns

Link up at OrgJunkie to see what everyone has on their menus this week!

Menu Planning Monday

 

Another week!  It is my first full week on break and the girls are with their mom, so I will be making some different recipes this week to share with you!

Monday: Not sure...I am going shopping in the morning, so I am trying to find something different to make.

Tuesday: Chicken and pineapple kabobs, coconut rice, grilled zucchini

Wednesday: Broccoli and carrot orzo with salad

Thursday: I will be OOT for the NKOTBSB concert!!

Friday:

Saturday: Father's Day Cookout: Smoked pulled pork sammies, cheesy potatoes, and whatever anyone else brings!

Sunday: Marinated flank steak, corn on the cob, potato packets

Link up at OrgJunkie!

Menu Planning Monday

School's ALMOST out for summer! I can't wait to be on vacation and hanging out with my little man for two and a half months! Big things are happening this week, so here is our menu:

Sunday: Leftover day. We have a ton of stuff in the fridge and freezer, so we are eating that. I am protesting cooking :)
Monday: Chili dogs, chips, green beans
Tuesday: Burgers, potato packets, some sort of veggie
Wednesday: Salsa chicken, corn, cilantro lime rice
Thursday: Out to eat because J is graduating from the 8th grade!
Friday: Rib n Rock
Saturday: Probably Rib n Rock again; we are working a booth for our Relay for Life team

What's on your menu this week? Making use of that grill?? Eating lots of fresh fruit and veggies?? Link up at OrgJunkie.com