Category Archives: menu plan Monday

The last busy weekend. (For now.)

It is possible that we have reached the end of our Season of Very Busy Weekends. Hallelujah, so say we all.

We were a house divided on Saturday, with Rockford and Pete journeying over hill and dale to attend a high school graduation and Poppy and I at the soccer fields for her marathon games. Rockford and Pete had a lovely time celebrating the Eldest Nephew; Poppy won three games and lost two and played more ferociously than I’ve seen her play all season; and I alternated between dodging raindrops and applying sunscreen for five hours of very odd weather.

Yesterday we were together again, and it was a rather nice day. We started off the day with another wild-goose chase to look at real estate for my dad — the road this house was on ended in someone else’s driveway, and when I emailed the realtor to ask for directions he said “Oh, you don’t want that house.” Later I followed Tyler Florence’s instructions for BBQ chicken, and Rockford and The Brother-in-Law Who Was Promised (aka my sister-in-law’s fiancé) pulled all the weeds out of our jungle-like flowerbeds and then we ended the weekend watching Bran ruin everything (Beware: The night is dark and full of spoilers).

Tonight is the first of four more evenings of soccer for Poppy, who is trying out for the top-of-the-heap team in her age group. Cross your fingers for her.

Monday: Hot ham-and-cheese sandwiches
It was going to be grilled-cheese night, but Pete, as Pete is wont to do, requested more protein.
Tuesday: Fish sticks and mac & cheese
My mom and the kids discovered their mutual love of fish sticks not terribly long ago, and now they want fish sticks and mac every time she visits.

Wednesday: Sausage alfredo
The sausage alfredo recipe popped up on either Facebook or Pinterest as an ad, and I thought it sounded pretty good. We’re going to give it a shot.

Thursday: Cheeseburgers
If we’re having cheeseburgers, chances are good that it’s Pete’s Choice night.

Friday: Pizza

Hungry for more? Check out a whole bunch of menu plans at OrgJunkie.com.

The menu plan after the music festival

Since we were out acting like fun, youthful people this weekend, I am very, very, very tired today and have yet to go to the grocery store. So this week’s menu is all subject to change.

Monday: Potluck
Our homeschool co-op’s demo night is today, and it’s a potluck. I don’t know what I’m taking.
Tuesday: Beef & broccoli
This Serious Eats beef & broccoli recipe is wonderful.

Wednesday: Breakfast for dinner
I have a meeting on the calendar Wednesday evening, and Rockford said he’d like to make pancakes for dinner.

Thursday: Chick-fil-A
I have put off the required volunteer hours for Poppy’s soccer league until the very last minute, so some of us will be spending a few hours at the soccer field on Thursday. I’m planning to pick up something on the way home, and it will most likely be Chick-fil-A because I have a free salad there.

Friday: Spaghetti & meatballs
Again? Yes indeed. They were so delicious last week!

Hungry for more? Check out a whole bunch of menu plans at OrgJunkie.com.

A 100 percent chance of meatballs

I usually reserve spaghetti with meatballs for special occasions, but I’m not sure why. They make the meal more filling and 1000 percent tastier, and they’re not that hard to make. I don’t have a recipe with exact measurements, but here’s my basic meatball template:

How to make meatballs

Mix together 2 eggs, a half cup or so of panko breadcrumbs, a tablespoon of Italian seasoning (more or less to taste) and about a tablespoon of milk. Pour over one pound ground beef. Combine. If it looks too moist to hold together, add more breadcrumbs. If it looks too dry, add more milk. Use a 56mm scoop to scoop the meat out in even lumps. Roll them gently into balls. Roast at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until cooked through.

Our meatballs are simmering in the sauce right now, and I am thoroughly looking forward to dinnertime.

This week’s menu plan

Monday: Spaghetti and meatballs
Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner
Rockford made me an omelet for Mother’s Day breakfast-in-bed yesterday, and it was very tasty. I’ll probably make omelets for dinner tomorrow.

Wednesday: Taquitos
Every now and then I get a hankering for Trader Joe’s black bean taquitos. This is one such time.

Thursday: Cheeseburgers
OK, we were supposed to have cheeseburgers last week and the week before that, and I still haven’t made them. Maybe this week I’ll finally make Pete’s cheeseburger dreams come true.

Friday: Pizza
We’ll probably go with Dominos this week.

Still hungry? Check out OrgJunkie for more menu plans.