Menu Plan Monday April 26, 2010

Wow! It has been a while since I posted one of these. I've still been planning menus for each week. If I stick to them, it definitely helps us avoid eating out when I'm just too tired. (Although, we've still done a little bit of that....as you can see from my helpful ticker above, I am now in 6 months of pregnancy, so I don't push it if I don't have to!) I've also found I have to start making larger portions as I am constantly hungry! This week, I want to start experimenting with doubling my meals. I don't do a lot of freezer cooking, but I know I'll want plenty of meals stocked up for when the baby comes.

Here's what's on the agenda for this week.

Sunday: Barbecue: Surprise welcome home party at our church for a returning soldier.
Monday: Leftover night: Shepherd's Pie and Chicken Tetrazzini
Tuesday: Manicotti (make the full recipe, but freeze the leftovers)
Wednesday: Potluck, I'm bringing dessert, so I think I'll take applesauce bars.
Thursday: Chicken Dijon with Italian Cheese Bread (a new recipe) and Potatoes.
Friday: Brown Bag Burritos (A new recipe. If we like it, I'll make more to freeze for easy meals).
Saturday: Not sure yet....To be determined :-)

We have a limited grocery store budget this week. I already went over going to Costco, so I'll just be picking up the essentials: Milk, eggs, fruit, and I forgot the manicotti noodles in last week's purchase! Other than that, we should have everything for the next few days.

For more great menus, visit Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Delicious Chicken Dijon

I discovered this Chicken Dijon recipe from a church cookbook my aunt gave us for our wedding. This recipe is quick and easy to prepare (you have to start earlier in the day as it requires two hours to sit in the refrigerator), but it tastes like you spent hours working on it. It is very delicious. I have to add it to next week's menu as my mouth is watering just thinking about it! (Ah pregnancy...The mere mention of food makes me crave it.)



Chicken Dijon

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Marinade: 5 tsp. Dijon mustard, 1/4 lb butter or margarine, 1 clove fresh garlic.

Melt butter in saute pan over low heat. Add fresh garlic, simmer on low for 2 minutes. Blend in mustard, stirring well. Remove from heat and let cool enough to touch, but not solidify. Whip vigorously until mixture thickens.

Breading: 1 T fresh parsley, 1 T tarragon, 5T Parmesan Cheese, shredded, 1 1/2 cups crushed bread crumbs.

Mix herbs, cheese and crumbs, blending well. Dip chicken breasts in marinade, coating all surfaces, then breading mixture, packing crumbs in chicken to coat well. Place chicken in single layer in low pan. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours to set breading. Bake at 350 for 35 to 45 minutes. If desired, top with finely shredded Parmesan cheese.

Notes: I usually halve this recipe. I found I never need the full amount of butter. I only use 1 T for two chicken breasts. It is very important not to rush the chilling time. I've chilled it for a shorter time before, and the breading did not adhere as well. I've never topped the chicken with Parmesan at the end either.

Enjoy!

Shopping While Pregnant

Going grocery shopping when you're hungry is ill advised, you'll have a harder time sticking to your budget. Go grocery shopping while you're hungry and pregnant, and you'll end up with 1.98 bag of Cool Ranch Doritos and 88 cent box of Cheese Nips in your cart.

Menu Plan Tuesday :-) February 9, 2010

Yea!! I'm back with menu planning. Not only am I grateful to enjoy food again, but our household budget was feeling the pinch from eating out more. I'm still going to pick up a few frozen convenience foods for the nights I don't want to cook. It costs more, but is cheaper than eating out....especially if I pick it up with a coupon. As my energy picks up, I want to start making more foods for the freezer.

Sunday: Superbowl! I made my chimichurri cheesesteaks using the pork carnitas recipe from Family Feasts for $75.00 a Week. This was a new way to cook pork. It worked well, but I did let it get too dark at the end. I trimmed off some of the burned spots. I served the sandwiches with applesauce.

Monday: Potluck, I brought banana chocolate chip bars for dessert.

Tuesday: Date night! (I planned tacos, but Ben is treating me to a dinner out instead.)

Wednesday: Late work night. I'm picking up a $5.00 8 piece fried chicken special at the local thriftway, and then I'll serve it with mac and cheese, applesauce, and possibly foolproof biscuits, for a KFC type dinner at home.

Thursday: Using the leftover pork for taco night!

Friday: Looks like it will be a rainy day. I'll make our favorite mashed potato soup.

Saturday: Leftovers or grilled cheese and applesauce

A Long Bloggy Break

Wow, since I started blogging, this is the longest break I've ever taken. Although, I do have a pretty good reason...more than just I'm too busy. I started this blog with intentions to discuss everyday events, but it has largely turned into planning my menu and posting favorite recipes. For the past three months or so, food has ceased to appeal to me. I had no desire to plan a menu, couldn't even look at other menus, recipes or food blogs, and was frankly too tired to do anything but get through my work day.

The good news is that, my appetite and desire for food has returned. This is a very good thing as I am eating for two! :-) Lord willing, at the end of July we will be having our first child! I just started the second trimester, my energy is slowly returning and I'm even showing a little. :-) Ben has been absolutely wonderful helping out a lot more around the house, going to the grocery store, not expecting a homemade dinner every night, and just taking care of me. I couldn't ask for a better dad for our child.

I appreciate all your prayers and hope to get back to blogging more regularly soon :-)

My niece drew this picture of me. Hopefully I don't get that big. :-)

Miserly Moms!

Last week, I was excited to hear Jonni McCoy, author of Miserly Moms, on a two day broadcast on Focus on the Family. If you missed it, I encourage you to listen to it here.

I've always had a saver mentality. I remember as a kid, I'd find an item I wanted at the store and then save up my quarters each week until I had the money to purchase it. However, her book was my first venture into truly learning how to keep a frugal home. I don't exactly remember how old I was when I bought it (probably getting ready to head to college), but I do remember how proud I was that I got a deal by buying the book on frugality used!


I read through it cover to cover. I learned was that it was possible to make convenience foods from scratch. It never occurred to me to try and make my own ketchup, sauces, or pancake syrup. I didn't know you could make baby wipes! I still rely on her cream of soup mix. I learned how to set a grocery plan, keep a price notebook and not assume everything at a warehouse store is cheaper. In addition to cutting the grocery budget, she gives tips on lowering your electricity and other household bills.

The negative reviews on Amazon share that this book is too basic, and the tips are common knowledge for people who have already studied or read tips on frugal living. Reading it again, I agree this book is most helpful for people just learning how to live on a tighter budget.

But, even though I've read it more than once, I still love to read through it again. First, it reinforces that it is possible for a family to live on one income. During the Focus on the Family broadcast, Jonni reminded viewers that before she chose to stay at home with their son, she didn't live a frugal mindset. They lived off half her income, and as she notes in her book "some yuppie amenities such as...kona coffee flown in from Hawaii, and weekends at a bed and breakfast on the coast." When she decided to stay at home, she realized either she cut the budget in half, or she and her husband move out of the big city of San Francisco, buy a house in the country, and require her husband to drive 2 hours each way to work! Determined, she cut their budget in half. She and her family still take vacations and have nice things, just not as much and not as often. Second, as much as I have learned about frugal living, it is still good to reinforce the basics and remind myself of ways I can be more mindful of my budget!

Jonni McCoy's Miserly Moms definitely Works for Me.

(ps, this is my first time participating in a Works for Me Wednesday hosted by Kristen at We Are That Family. Each week, there are a wide variety of helpful tips and how-tos.)

Menu Plan Monday November 16, 2009

Don't you love the new button Laura has available this week? It makes me want to decorate the house for fall even more!

Here's my menu for this week. It is a pretty straight forward week. I have quite a bit of meat in the freezer, so I am trying to use it up with some old standbys :-)

Sunday: Spaghetti
Monday: Chicken Marsala with Applesauce and Acorn Squash This is a great chicken recipe that is simple to make, but looks and tastes like you went to a fancy restaurant!
Tuesday: Slow Cooker Beef Stew and Peasant Bread (actually, I won't have time to make it, so I'll pick up some garlic bread at the store.)
Wednesday: Ham Noodley Dish with pears
Thursday: Breakfast for dinner, hashbrowns, eggs, bacon
Friday: Honey Pecan Chicken with rice
Saturday: Leftovers

Check out more menus at Laura's I'm an Organizing Junkie!