Meal Planning Monday

Monday -
pasta w/homemade pesto
carrots and cucumbers w/balsamic dressing

Tuesday -
chicken, corn, and spinach enchiladas
mexican rice

Wednesday -
bierocks (a Brian experiment)

Thursday -
grilled pork tenderloin w/mango salsa

Friday -
hamburgers

Meal Planning Monday - long overdue

Monday -
fish tacos, slaw, mexican rice

Tuesday -
chicken stir fry w/noodles

Wednesday -
grilled chicken
rice
big salad

Thursday -
spaghetti w/homemade meat sauce, garlic bread, tomatoes and cucumbers

Friday -
hamburgers, baked beans, corn on the cob, chips

Saturday -
undecided

I'm trying to use what we have in the refrigerator, pantry, and freezer. Right now I think I only need to buy some bread for garlic bread, corn and hamburger buns. We have company Thursday and Friday with a two year old, so I tried to pick meals that most kids like. Let's see if we stick to plan.

Weekly Menus - 6/22/08

Sunday - who knows? I think Brian wants to grill sausage he bought at the farmers market

Monday - fish tacos w/cabbage slaw

Tuesday - out, spaghetti w/homemade sauce for the kids

Wednesday - grilled chicken w/black bean corn and mango salad

Thursday - crock pot beef burritos, refried black beans

Friday - salmon, rice, veg.

Saturday - that's just too far away to think about now :)

Weekly Menus - 5/19/08

It's been a few weeks, hasn't it.

Sunday:
leftover flank steak
twice baked potatoes
green beans

Monday:
quesadillas
refried black beans
salsa & sour cream

Tuesday:
I'm eating out with a friend, and Brian is having the boys over for poker -
hot wings and french fries

Wednesday:
teriyaki marinated pork tenderloin
stirfried veggies
brown rice

Thursday:
roasted chicken with vegetables

Friday - Monday:
our weekend plans are still up in the air, so I'm not sure what nights we'll be home/cooking

Marinades and Meat

I've had these recipes open in tabs of my browser window for going on two weeks now because I didn't want to lose them, so I'm going to transfer the recipes (with my variations) here.

Fajita marinade: (use for meat and veggies)
object2=">1/4 cup olive oil
object2=">zest from one lime
object2=">juice of two limes
object2=">2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
object2=">1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
object2=">1 teaspoon salt
object2=">1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
object2=">1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
object2=">2 garlic cloves, minced
object2=">1 cup of water with 1 cube of beef bouillon dissolved in it

Flank steak marinade: (we used this to marinate three flank steaks, two were stuffed and rolled, one we grilled with a little championship seasoning - all were excellent)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup red wine
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper


Flank steak fillings were

#1 layered in this order:
2 cloves minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs
1 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese


#2 layered in this order:
2 cups dry stuffing mix made according to directions
2 green onions, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
and baked with a gravy made from one can of mushroom gravy whisked with 1/4 cup of red wine, 1 minced garlic clove, and 2 tablespoons of grated parmesan

Weekly Menus - 4/6/08

Sunday -
roast chicken with vegetables
salad

Monday -
grilled t-bones
roasted potatoes
broccoli

Tuesday -
Green Chile Chicken Casserole (Cooking Light)
Avocado Mango Salsa (Cooking Light)

Wednesday -
Mustard Pork Chops (Nigella Express)
roasted cauliflower

Thursday -
I'm going out! Fun!

Friday -
homemade pizza with friends

Saturday -
who knows?

Meal Planning - Mar. 31 - April 5

Monday -
Enchilasagna
Rice

Tuesday -
chicken cordon bleu
broccoli

Wednesday -
Roast chicken
potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes

Thursday -
flank steak
asparagus

Friday -
Ledo's pizza

Saturday -
something italian

Mmmm, delicious

Once upon a time there was a list of cooking/food blogs in the sidebar that I visit regularly for inspiration (or just to drool over). Then when I put up the new design I lost it all, but I've found a new blog that is absolutely drool worthy. Take a look at Nook & Pantry, and I'm sure you'll agree. Anyone who knows me well would know that all it took was a glimpse of the photo of this recipe, but since then I've found over a dozen recipes that I would love to try, running the gamut from thai to italian to delectable desserts. If you spend some time browsing her site I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Weekly Menus - 3/9/08

Sunday - monthly Sunday dinner (Mom & Dad, Janet & Gary, Jen, Brandon, Grandma and Aunt Jane)
green salad
scalloped potatoes
ham
homemade chocolate ice cream

Monday -
shepherd's pie
green salad

Tuesday -
on our way to Fort Bragg

Wednesday -
on our way back from Fort Bragg

Thursday -
lasagna
green salad

Friday -
chicken cordon bleu
rice
roasted veggie

Saturday -
out I hope!

*************
And a recap of last week - we stuck to schedule initally, but then Wednesday I didn't feel up to cooking so we had leftovers. Thursday we had - umm - something. Friday we had the chicken noodle soup with yummy homemade paninis. Saturday we had the homemade pizza (we had friends over). Claire liked the polenta pie, but Ben wouldn't eat much of it. Neither of them ate a lot of the chicken tettrazini, but Brian and I thought it was delicious. They both had sandwiches, and a little bit of the noodles, but that's about all on Friday, and devoured the pizzas on Saturday.

Weekly Menus - 3/2/08

Sunday:
corned beef
potatoes, carrots, cabbage

Monday:
chicken tettrazini

Tuesday:
polenta pie
green salad

Wednesday:
shepherd's pie

Thursday:
chicken noodle soup
sandwiches

Friday:
homemade pizza

Meal Planning - Feb. 18-24

Monday -
chicken noodle soup
rolls

Tuesday -
quesadillas
mexican rice

Wednesday -
pot roast with potatoes and carrots

Thursday -
Three-Cheese Polenta Pie
green salad

Friday -
Lemon Pepper Pappardalle with Tuna and Capers
broccoli

Saturday -
hopefully out to Jaleo with friends

Weekly Menus - 2/4/08

Monday -
pizza

Tuesday -
pancakes
sausage

Wednesday -
fish tacos with lime-cilantro crema

Thursday -
chicken cordon bleu
rice
broccoli

Friday -
dinner out I hope!

Weekly Menus - 1/20/08

Sunday: more family here for dinner
buffalo wings
chili and fixings
brownie sundaes

Monday:
Korean style beef short ribs
veggie fried rice
green beans

Tuesday:
chicken mole
rice
green salad

Wednesday:
blackened cajun salmon
rice
broccoli

Thursday:
Sonoma corn chowder
sandwiches

Friday:
pork tenderloin
baja stuffed potatoes
green beans

Last week's update

Wow, it might be a record around here. The only substitution last week was the side's for Thursday's dinner, other than that we stuck to plan all. week. long. I am, quite frankly, amazed.

Weekly Menus - 1/13/08

Sunday: (Sunday dinner with family)
pasta w/meat sauce
fresh baked rolls
green salad
chocolate torte

Monday:
quinoa with black beans
lite kielbasa

Tuesday: (I teach again)
leftovers

Wednesday:
Deep Dish Pizza Casserole
green salad

Thursday:
Sauteed Tilapia with lemon peppercorn pan sauce
lemon pepper pappardalle
steamed broccoli

Friday: (Sarah and Pete here)
enchilasagna
mexican rice

Last week's recap

Well, we stuck to plan Sunday and Monday. I forgot when planning that I was teaching Tuesday night, so it became a find-what-you-can night. Wednesday we did Friday's menu, just with chicken thighs instead of pork chops. Thursday we stuck to plan, and Friday changed to chicken marsala as we had friends over who don't eat red meat. All in all, the planning helped me know what I would have ingredients for, and the meals were tasty.

Weekly Menus - 1/6/08

Sunday:
Zatarain's black beans and rice
Lite kielbasa
corn

Monday:
Fish tacos with cabbage slaw

Tuesday:
Deep dish pizza casserole
green salad

Wednesday:
Quinoa with black beans
green salad

Thursday:
Chicken parmesan
Pasta with marinara sauce
green salad

Friday:
Grilled pork chops with Mango-Ginger-Habanero glaze
Sweet potato fries
green salad

A new year

And hopefully, some new menus, and a new dedication to better planning so that there is less spontaneous poor eating choices. Unlike the Godiva truffles I ate which were excellent eating choices, and fully planned.

Wednesday:
chicken cordon bleu
jasmine rice pilaf
roasted broccoli

Thursday:
Easy Asian Beef and Noodles

Friday:
Smothered Pork Chops with Thyme
roasted potatoes
green salad