Category Archives: menu plan Monday

I am still waiting for you, autumnal weather

I’ve been yearning for fall weather — just like I always do this time of year — so over the weekend I tried to conjure up some cooler weather by making Mrs. Happy Homemaker’s Beef Stew for dinner. It purports to be the Best Beef Stew Ever, and it is pretty terrific. It has a nice flavor and the beef was really tender, but I felt like the potatoes were working overtime to make up the bulk of the dish. Next time I’ll add a few more carrots and maybe also some red wine in place of some of the water.

I started the stew in the slow cooker around 10:30am and didn’t have to touch it again until dinnertime. I need to remember to put the slow cooker to use more frequently on the weekends. It helped us have a super-relaxed Sunday.

Monday: Chicken and dumplings
Yesterday’s beef stew was tasty, but it didn’t quite convince fall to make an appearance. Maybe Rachael Ray’s chicken and dumplings will do the trick.

Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner
Breakfast for dinner is generally a very basic affair. This week, though, I’m going to make a hashbrown casserole a la Cracker Barrel.

Wednesday: Spaghetti
I’m going to let you in on a secret: I already don’t want spaghetti for dinner on Wednesday. But I had pasta and sauce in the pantry, so we’re going to use it. By golly.

Thursday: Poppyseed chicken casserole
I used to make a lot of recipes that called for cream-of-something soups. I’ve mostly stopped making them, but there will never be a day when Poppyseed Chicken isn’t in my recipe box.

Friday: Pizza

What’s your favorite slow cooker recipe?

Want more menus? Check out Menu Plan Monday at OrgJunkie.com.

Anticipating fall with some cool-weather dinners

Monday: Sloppy Joes
I used to make a lot of Rachael Ray recipes, but her Super Sloppy Joes recipe is the only one that has remained in our meal repertoire.

Tuesday: BFD
It’s breakfast for dinner again. Maybe I’ll make scrambled eggs instead of fried eggs. But probably not.

Wednesday: Baked ravioli
This is super, crazy simple, but I usually only make it when it’s cold out. It’s appearance this week is equal parts I-need-something-easy and I-wish-it-were-fall.

Thursday: ???
Oh Thursday! Why are you so action-packed! We have a bunch of stuff going on Thursday, and I’m not sure who if anyone will actually be at home at dinnertime. We may all eat cereal.

Friday: Pizza
I’m thinking about doing a chicken-bacon-ranch pizza this week.

Want more menu plans? Check out OrgJunkie.com!

Well, Brian, this is a very nutritious menu plan. All the food groups are represented. Did your mom marry Mr. Rogers?

The kids and I are all having a hard time getting in gear for school today. I stayed up way too late watching TV; I suspect the kids are just taking advantage of my malaise. So they’re watching “Teen Titans Go” and I’m Photoshopping esteemed actor Judd Nelson onto pasta.

The good news is: We have nothing on the schedule this afternoon, so we’ll dive into math and history once the Teen Titans finish vanquishing their foes or eating pizza or whatever.

Monday: Choose Your Own Adventure Burger
We have some veggies burgers and some Trader Joe’s chicken-lime burgers in the freezer.

Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner?
Poppy starts soccer practice this week, and it’s my turn to drive the carpool. We may end up at McAlister’s for kids night instead of have BFD.

John Bender loves spaghetti and meatballs.

Wednesday: Spaghetti & meatballs
Pete thrust his fist into the air à la John Bender when I asked if he’d like meatballs this week. That’s always a good reaction to the menu plan.

Thursday: Meatball subs
I have a theory about meatballs, and that theory is this: If you’re going to make meatballs, you may as well make a lot of them. Hopefully I’ll have some left over for the freezer, too.

Friday: Pizza
It’s pizza-on-the-grill night! Will I put meatballs on the pizza? Probably so!

What’s your favorite mode of procrastination?

Want more menu inspiration? Check out the OrgJunkie.com link-up!