Tag Archives: menu planning

Days of soup and babies

10/17/2017 Nichole

Rockford and I were trying to count up the number of times I’ve had trips away from home on my own in the last 12 years. It was a very small number — four or five blogging conferences, that time my nephew was born — but it’s about to get one digit larger because this weekend I’m going to my brother’s house to greet my newest nephew! I can’t wait to meet him, and the kids are pleased to get Daddy Meals for a few days.

Monday: Soy-glazed pork & rice cakes: I tried to re-create the Blue Apron recipe that we loved from a few months ago, and it was pretty successful. I used House of Tsang “Classic Sauce” in place of the soy glaze, and I couldn’t find fairy tale eggplant so I just left the eggplant out. It was a little too salty — I need to find a less sodium-packed black bean sauce — but otherwise it was a success. I want to find another use for the Korean rice cakes, too, because I love them.

Tuesday: Butternut squash ravioli: We’re trying Trader Joe’s ravioli this time, with their Autumnal Harvest pasta sauce as a dipping sauce. I’d just toss it over everything, but it’s made with cream so I can’t have it.

Wednesday: Chicken Noodle Soup: I’ve been making a lot of Crockpot recipes on Wednesdays because the alternative is picking something up at a drive-thru on the way home from soccer practice and I’m trying to avoid that as much as possible. It’s been excellent soup weather here so far this week. Hopefully the cool weather holds out until Wednesday.

Thursday: Rockford’s Choice: I’ll bet it’ll be pancakes.

Friday: Pizza: There’s a pretty fair chance they’ll get Papa John’s.

Hungry for more? Check out the Menu Plan Monday linkup at OrgJunkie.

menu plan Monday

Peer-pressuring our way to Menu Plan Monday

12/05/2016 Nichole

“Mama, did you post every day in November?”

“Yep.”

“Have you posted anything in December?”

“Nope.”

“You should post something.”

Alright, kiddo. Here’s something.

Saturday was relatively low-key at our house, but we had an action-packed Sunday. Church, Christmas play rehearsals, piano recitals, rearranging our bedroom, a high-speed dash through our favorite local craft show and the usual Sunday night dinner with Rockford’s parents. Today has thus far been blissfully quiet. I’m grateful for the busy times and even more grateful for the peace.

Here’s what we’ll be enjoying for dinner this week:

Monday: Frozen pizza: I think I made need to lay down some guidelines for these “kid’s choice” nights. We’ll also be having salad.

Tuesday: Sausages & macaroni: There was a good sale on Johnsonville sausages at the grocery last week.

Wednesday: Cereal: We will be scattered to the four winds most of Wednesday, and I’m not sure when or where we’ll all be dining.

Thursday: Tacos: It’s Pete’s choice night, and the only food he could think of was that ol’ standby, the taco. I’m fine with that.

Friday: Pizza: Friday is another crazy day for us, but we should be able to reconvene for pizza at some point.

Homeschool, menu plan Monday

And a time to every carpool under Heaven

10/17/2016 Nichole

For every thing there is a season, and it is the season of Driving to Sporting Events and Other Kid Activities at our house. We spent most of the weekend dashing to and fro for Poppy’s soccer games, and today has been a whirlwind of co-op classes, orthodontist appointments and guitar lessons. And after all of the running, we still have to eat dinner.

Here’s what we’re having this week:

Monday: Pot roast

I didn’t want to make hamburgers and/or tacos for our Poppy’s Choice and Pete’s Choice nights this week, so I handed the kids a couple of issues of Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country magazines and asked them to choose something new. Not surprisingly, Pete chose something meaty: Pressure-Cooker Pot Roast. I usually do pot roast in the Crock Pot, but this recipe sounds like it’ll work just fine. We’ll also be having green beans and The Best Crunchy Roast Potatoes You’ll Ever Have.

Tuesday: Fettuccine with butter and cheese

It should come as no surprise that this was Poppy’s pick. It was the simplest thing she could find.

Wednesday: Pot roast pot pie

I’d planned to make chicken pot pie this week, but then Pete requested pot roast so that plan evolved. Pot roast pot pie is the best thing about making pot roast.

Thursday: Crispy Garlic Chicken

I have not actually purchased the chicken for this one yet, so we’ll see if it actually happens.

Friday: Pizza

Still hungry? Check out the Menu Plan Monday linkup at OrgJunkie for more menu plans.