Tag: menu planning

Posted in menu plan monday, Menu planning

Mom, What’s For Dinner? Week of April 25, 2021 (Mainly vegetarian)

Posted on by traci

Jump to menu:

My dear children, you are not going to like what I have planned for dinner. (I’m talking about my 2 children, not all of y’all. Oh, and I’m not southern. I just like the word y’all.)

Let me pick up from where I left y’all. My health is not the best right now. We are still trying to figure out what is causing the pain. I sorta have an idea, but nothing is solid just yet. So, yesterday I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy to see what is going on with both my upper and lower GI. They found and removed a polyp from my colon/ large intestine. It’s now being biopsied. They also saw the gastric sac (not the real name) in my stomach. That is also being biopsied. Now it is a waiting game.

So Traci, who enjoys Googling stuff, found out that polyps are more than likely not cancerous. However, they are caused by eating red meat and greasy food. Three years ago, I went vegetarian for over a year. So, I know I can do it. This is a week 1 of back to eating vegetarian. Oldest told me that he’s glad that he is not going to eat vegetarian because he couldn’t handle not having red meat.

Week of April 25, 2021

Sunday – Cheesy bread and sausage (boys) – Veggie cauliflower crust pizza (Me)

Monday – Italian salad (Me) – Boys are on their own.

Tuesday – Veggie Chili (Me) – Short rib pappardelle (Boys)

Wednesday – Nachos with leftover chili – Boys are on their own.

Thursday – Sloppy Joe’s (Vegetarian & Meat)

Friday – Loaded fries with leftover sloppy Joe’s

Have a magical day,
Traci

Posted in menu plan monday, Menu planning

Mom, What’s For Dinner

Posted on by traci

Last night, I made a baked penne pasta dish. When Youngest came into the kitchen, he told me that it looked good. After he finished his dinner, he told me that it was excellent cooking. Swoon! That’s the best early Valentine’s Day present.

Here is what I’m planning for next week.

This QR code will take you to a plain copy of the menu.

Ohio is suppose to be getting two different snow storms this coming week. It’s unsure how much snow we will get between those two storms. I’ve seen reports of 10 inches up to 20 inches. We normally don’t get more than a few inches at a time, so this would be a historic storm if the predictions are true. Here’s the kicker: I’m supposed to go back to hybrid teaching on Tuesday. I don’t know if I’ll be able to get to the school on Tuesday or not.

I needed to get food for next week, so instead of going to the store and dealing with the crowds I ordered the food and had it delivered. So much easier than dealing with the influx of people.

Happy cooking,

Traci

Posted in menu plan monday, Menu planning

Mom, What’s For Dinner? Weeks of December 7th and 14th

Posted on by traci

Sunday the 13th – Turkey Meatloaf, Pasta Roni, Veggie to be announced

All of these meals were frozen crockpot meals. I’m trying to use them up, so that I can make new crock pot kits next weekend. I haven’t figured out the veggies for next week just yet.

I’ll share the freezer meals that I’m going to cook later.

Have a magical day,
Traci

Posted in menu plan monday, Menu planning

Mom, What’s For Dinner? – Thanksgiving Week 2020

Posted on by traci

On Thursday, I got word that I was going to be at home for the next two months. I’ll have more time to make us dinners at home. (No commute to or from the school building.)

I was going to be home this week anyway because it is Thanksgiving break. However, our plans for Thanksgiving have changed due to the fact my youngest is in quarantine for possible exposure. I’m going to be making our Thanksgiving dinner. I’ll make a big meal that can be eaten at lunch time and then we’ll have a grazing dinner or leftovers later on in the day.

My Misfits box came in yesterday with a few surprises of veggies that I’m going to cook this week. One of which is celery root. I’ve never cooked one of those so that would be interesting to try. I also got eggplant so I’m going to have an Italian themed lunch on Monday and Tuesday. The third veggie I got is fennel. I’m going to have that with my fish on Monday.

If you click on the images, it’ll take you to a Google Slide presentation where you can click on the links to the recipes I’m using this week.

Two of the recipes are going to be made in the slow cooker which makes life easier. I already have the mashed potatoes in my fridge. I had bought some already cooked mashed potatoes for something else. We never used them so they are going to come in handy. The mac and cheese is a family favorite. The recipe makes a lot but I know the boys will eat it.

I decided on turkey breast instead of a whole turkey. It’s going to be a lot easier to make. Easy is my name this year for Thanksgiving.

I hope my meal plan helps you decide on what you are going to cook this week.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving! I know it looks different this year and that’s okay. For me, it’ll remind me of 25 years ago when I was in Walt Disney World. I made my own Thanksgiving dinner for the first time. Grandma sent me recipe cards with some of my favorites – white salad and sweet potato casserole. I made a chicken instead of turkey.

Look for the positives and be grateful. I know it’s hard in 2020 but there have been silver linings through all the hardships. For me, it’s the 3 trips I got to take this year. They looked different than what I typically do. However, I’m blessed I was able to create those memories.

My family has been healthy through this pandemic which is another blessing.

I took this photo on Thursday morning not realizing it was going to be my last morning commuting to work for a while. I took the photo through my rear view mirror. Behind me was the sunrise over the tornado damage from Memorial Day 2019. Something beautiful over something horrific. We need to find that sunrise in our lives right now. That something beautiful

Have a magical day,
Traci

Posted in menu plan monday, Menu planning

Mom, What’s for Dinner? – Week of August 3rd

Posted on by traci

I don’t put Sunday’s plan on the calendar because it all depends on what we are doing on Sundays. This week we had chicken parmesan from Aldi with my Instant Pot Spaghetti, garlic bread, and roasted broccoli. I’ve finally perfected the roasted broccoli because they were not charred last night. Yeah! I’ll have to share the recipe with you.

Links:
Peach BBQ Pork Sandwiches
Mashed Potatoes
Pancakes
Instant Pot Spaghetti

Have a magical day,
Traci

Posted in menu plan monday, Menu planning

Mom, What’s For Dinner? Week of July 5, 2020

Posted on by traci

Here is our menu for the next week.

Under the menu, I’ll link some of the recipes if there are recipes from this blog.

Hamburgers

Bramble Beans

Bramble Beans

Roasted Potatoes

Brown Sugar Ham

Oldest has also requested cream soda ice cream if we can find the cream soda. He would like to have that for his birthday.

I already made the granola for next week. Yum!

My wish is you have found inspiration for dinner next week.

Have a magical day,
Traci

Posted in menu plan monday, Menu planning

Mom, What’s For Dinner? – Week of June 29, 2020

Posted on by traci

One night last week, my now 15-year-old walked into the kitchen as I was cooking and said, “What’s for dinner?” Even 10 years after I started this blog and began to put our meal plan up on the blog, he is still asking the same question.

So, what is for dinner this week?

Grilled Cheese sandwiches, fruit, cucumbers, fried potatoes

Beenie Weenies – Side dishes to be determined

Spaghetti, sourdough bread that I got at Jungle Jim’s

Either cilantro lime chicken with rice or leftovers

You are on your own.
The kitchen is closed.

4th of July
Hubby has to work so I’m probably going to do breakfast for dinner and then do the 4th of July food on Sunday.

On Tuesday, I’ve got 2 professional development classes in the afternoon, so I needed something easy that can be cooked in the slow cooker. That way the food will be done at a reasonable time. However, it doesn’t matter because Kung Fu and Scouts are on hiatus right now. Hubby doesn’t work on Tuesday. I probably will be exhausted after the two classes and not want to cook.

I’m meeting one of my best friends for lunch on Wednesday afternoon. The spaghetti is another easy meal to prepare. Plus the family loves it. Okay, not Oldest but the rest of the family loves it.

I hope my menu helps you with planning out your meals for the week.

Have a magical day,
Traci

Posted in Menu planning, Recipes

Favorite Meals 2019

Posted on by traci

Updated August 31, 2019 – Original Post

A piece of advice for planning out your meals is to create a list of your family’s favorite meals. That way when you get stuck on creating a menu, you can refer back to the list.

Not only will it help you menu plan, you can also make certain you have the ingredients for some of the meals on hand if what you had planned for dinner does not pan out.  I know there are days I don’t feel like cooking. If I had meals ready to go, I would less likely stop at a fast food restaurant on the way home from work.

I’m going to share my list of 20 meals that my hungry boys and Hubby enjoy eating.  Some of my meals can be frozen or portions can be frozen ahead of time which helps.

The ideas in bold print can be made from items that can be stocked up in the freezer, fridge, or pantry.

  1.  tacos – Make ahead and freeze.You’ll only need to get items to top the tacos. (The Youngest’s favorite meal)
  2. sausage and mac & cheese – A very inexpensive meal and one I can keep on hand. (It’s a family favorite meal.)
  3. chicken nuggets and French fries – If I get both of those items at Aldi’s, it’s a budget friendly meal.  I can keep the food on hand. I priced it out at about $3 for a meal if you use half of each bag at a time.
  4. Quesadillas – These are quick meals to eat on busy nights. Both boys love basic cheese quesadillas.
  5. Hamburgers or hot dogs – The Imaginative One loves hamburgers. – Get the 12 frozen hamburgers from Aldi. They are about $9 to $10. Those last for at least 2 to 3 meals. It takes about 5 minutes to cook on my indoor grill.
  6. Grilled cheese – I only like American cheese on grilled cheese sandwiches.
  7. Spaghetti
  8. Soy Sauce Pork Chops – Marinade them while at work – Cook them on the indoor grill in the evening. Get them when they are on sale.
  9. Steak – A very rare occurrence do I serve them steak.
  10. Roast and then hash – Roast would be more for Sunday dinner.  Hash would be later in the week.
  11. Breakfast for dinner – We don’t eat a lot of breakfast foods in the mornings.  We prefer it in the evening.
  12. Meatloaf or meatloaf muffins
  13. Sloppy Joes – Make ahead and freeze. Such an easy meal. Serve with French fries or chips and a raw veggie or a fruit.
  14. Brown sugar ham – The boys absolutely love this dinner.
  15. Ravioli
  16. Roast chicken in the slow cooker or rotisserie chicken
  17. Chicken noodle soup
  18. Potato Soup
  19. Chili
  20. Pizza
  21. Pulled Pork – Make ahead and freeze for a busy evening.
  22. Pork Roast

Here is a form that will help you make a list of family favorite meals. The form is very simple and allows for 10 meals to be listed. There is also an area for 5 meals that can be easily frozen.

Happy eating and meal planning,
Traci