Behind the curve

Somehow Holiday weekends always make me feel like I am behind the curve.  Kind of like a horse watching the race from the starting gate.....and the race is almost over.

So much of my mental well-being depends on me getting myself together.....laundry....meals.....grocery shopping.

If those aren't done, I feel incomplete and just plain behind.

So, Monday....we came home from a long weekend away with my sisters and their kids.  Had a wonderful time.  Wouldn't trade a moment for anything.  LOVED it all....nieces doing girl stuff....nephews doing boy stuff (at both ends of the range)....and my children mixing with their cousins the way my sisters and I did when we were kids.

Bonds made to span a lifetime.

Cannot wait for August when we get 2 whole weeks together....annoying each other.....bonding......living......and learning.

But, back to this week.  I optimistically started laundry when we got home Monday night.  There is currently a load in the washer and one in the dryer....with two more to start.  NOT my usual "get it done on Monday" groove.

I finally did my menu on Tuesday afternoon.  There is a heat wave coming this week....which means getting into "summer cooking"......trying to keep the extra heat in the house to a minimum when it's hotter (i.e., during dinner time).

And here I am on Thursday night/Friday morning finally getting my menu posted.  It's always there....even if it's not posted.

Tuesday - baseball (ended up getting rained out...so good day for the stew)

Cranberry orange pork stew....I do it in the slow cooker.  Sear off the pork cubes in a pan.  Then make the sauce in the pan....bring to a boil and dump it over the pork in the slow cooker

Wednesday

Picnic all-star pasta salad with grilled chicken - new Cooking Light recipe.....with a homemade pasta salad dressing added (it was a hit) - it had pasta, red peppers, corn, red onion, bacon, avocado, chicken, fresh mozzarella, and a honey lime vinaigrette

Thursday – soccer practice

Thai steak salad – new Cooking Light recipe (also a hit)

Friday - baseball 

Spicy grilled shrimp with quinoa salad – also a new Cooking Light recipe

Saturday – baseball

New burgers with roasted potato salad

Sunday

Grilled pork chops with avocado corn salsa and baked potatoes

Start of summer weekend!!!!! - Monday's menu

This week we are starting the little guy on a more advanced soccer team....and so begins the two-times a week practice.  I'd forgotten how it changes everything.  We are also headed "down the shore" with my sisters and their families...our house here will be fully occupied by our now-21-year-old and his friends.

Here's this week's menu....designed to make 14 people happy over the weekend....all with dietary issues and restrictions.  SIGH.

If you need ideas, check out orgjunkie.com.

Monday

Black bean burritos – with queso fresco

Tuesday – soccer practice

Take grown man/boy out to dinner to celebrate his birthday

Wednesday

New burgers to try – homemade tots

Thursday – soccer practice

Korean tacos

Friday – heading to shore

BBQ chicken and rice - a meal my mom made for us when we were kids...she tore it out of a magazine ad for Kraft BBQ sauce in 1970-something

Saturday – beaching it

Spaghetti meatballs garlic bread and bag salad

Sunday - still hanging with the fam in the sand

Burgers, BP, garlic corn, and baked beans

Menu and more

Last weekend was jam packed full of stuff.  All fun.  All enjoyable.  All good.

But, I am thoroughly enjoying the fact that the only thing on my calendar today is some work, laundry, a bit of cleaning, a dentist appointment for my little guy, and dinner.

This week my husband is traveling. So, that means the little guy and I get to do some fun stuff just us....movie camp out in the family room, picnic dinner at a playground, etc.

Here is this week's menu.  If you need ideas, visit orgjunkie.com.

Monday

Sausages and onions braised in beer, baked potatoes, roasted broccoli

Tuesday – p.m. meeting and baseball

Packed sandwiches

Beet, orange, and goat cheese salad with honey lime dressing

Wednesday

Pasta Primavera (moved from last week – it was too hot to cook on Friday)

Thursday – Saturday (Husband away – make junk for dinner, order chinese, picnic)

Sunday

Chicken mole casserole (moved from last week…..forgot it was Mother’s day….and DUH…I was SO not cooking)

Monday - The Start of a New Week...and a new menu plan

Last week I overextended myself with over-volunteering.  I am reminding myself to start checking the rest of the week before committing to anything....even if THAT particular day looks clear.

I will be doing lots and lots of resting this week.....but first thing's first....I got my menu done.

Here's how my week is shaking out.....go to orgjunkie.com for ideas.

Monday

Slow cooker pork in beer and green chiles and black beans

Tuesday

BBQ pork nachos – using leftover meat from yesterday

Wednesday – soccer practice followed by baseball game – packable dinner

Make black beans for Thursday

Sandwiches with cucumber salad

Thursday - Moms Night Out

Chicken gyros

Friday – at-home date night

Pasta primavera – asparagus and mushrooms

Saturday – party at neighbors

Hot onion dip and chips

Bbq meatballs

Make chicken for tomorrow in slow cooker

Sunday – baby V’s first birthday party

Chicken mole casserole (make ahead and put in the oven when we get home)

Rainy Days and Menu Plan Mondays

It's Monday.....and a very rainy one at that.  Go get some menu ideas at orgjunkie.com.

This week is simple because we are going away over the weekend to help family get the shore house ready.

Monday – baseball game (seemingly likely to get rained out)

Grilled pork and roasted corn and avocado salad

Tuesday

Chicken pad see ew

Wednesday – soccer practice

Spaghetti and meatballs

Thursday

Cook ham, make gyro marinade, roast beets, make salad dressing

Mushroom fritatta and carrot salad

Friday/Saturday/Sunday – help open house up

Pack ham and chicken gyros and roasted beet salad

MPM !!!!!

This week I am taking it easy on me.  We have a crazy night time schedule this week.  My husband sweetly is allowing me to run around like I'm a single non-parent.

If you need ideas for menu planning, check out MPM on orgjunkie.com.

Monday – gardening class

Italian Wedding Soup

Tuesday  - take friend’s daughter to mandatory 4H training class at 6:30

Roasted cauliflower soup and grilled cheese

Wednesday – soccer from 5-6

Grilled chicken and grilled zucchini

Thursday – Moms night out

Cheeseburger soup

Friday/Saturday – Husband and son away camping

NO NEED TO COOK!!!!!

Sunday

Breakfast for dinner – pancakes and sausage

Manic Monday

Last week I busted some bee-hind and...with the help of my husband....got my new 80 cubic foot garden installed.  It took all the energy I had.  So, no posts other than the menu.  I will post about the garden installation later.

Here is this week's menu.  Check out www.orgjunkie.com if you need suggestions.

Monday

Pan seared chicken with mushrooms and oven roasted potato salad (I cut the oil that it was roasted in and added balsamic while they were roasting.  Also used balsamic in the dressing)

Tuesday

Beer braised sausage and onions with homemade french fries

Wednesday – soccer practice 5-6

Honey lime chicken enchiladas and roasted beet salad

Thursday

Pork with green chills and black beans and homemade tortillas

Friday – soccer practice 5-6/date night

Fettuccini alfredo with asparagus and mushrooms

Saturday – dinner/party at friends'

Soy/cola braised pork sliders with pickled veggies (I brown the meat, put it in my slow cooker, make the sauce in the pan, and then pour it over the meat in the slow cooker....cook 6-8 hours on low) - great meal to take to a potluck!

Sunday

Swedish meatballs – teaching little guy to cook (got moved because of his busy social schedule)

More to come on the garden!!!!!

Menu day!!!!!

Time to get the week together.  Check out orgjunkie.com if you need ideas!!!!!  Always some good one there.

Monday

Family dinner out for MS fundraiser

Tuesday – meeting from 5:30-6:30

Breakfast for dinner - Dutch fries (scrambled eggs cooked with sausage and potatoes)

Wednesday – soccer practice

Pork, sausage, and sauerkraut in slow cooker

Thursday

Grilled pork chops with spiral cut potatoes and carrot salad

Friday – soccer followed by baseball game

Packable dinner - Grilled chicken, cucumber salad, roasted potato salad

Saturday

Chicken gyros - if you haven't tried them yet....do....they are SO yum that it's a wonder I don't make them twice a week

Sunday

Cranberry Orange pork stew with rice - this Cooking Light recipe is to DIE for.  I make it in the slow cooker instead of the oven.  Brown it up, make the sauce, then slow cook for 6 hours on low.....or 4 on high if you're tight on time.

Last week's menu got thrown in the trash

I always allow some flexibility in the menu, but last week, I went rogue and decided that my family and I needed some time together.

Since we had nothing big scheduled for the weekend....and my big boy was available....we decided to get away.  I threw out all the menu stuff, grabbed some easy-to-make/quick stuff, and hit the road.

REALLY enjoyed the time with all of my guys at the same time….and most importantly we relaxed and bonded.

So, this week, I have some refugees from last week’s menu….several.  

Wouldn't have changed a thing!

Check out Menu Plan Monday at orgjunkie.com for ideas.

Monday

Chicken cutlets with Tarragon-Mushroom Sauce and quinoa with toasted pine nuts (page 70 Cooking Light April 2013) – one of last week’s refugees

Tuesday – baseball game (packable dinner)

Chicken gyros – cooked ahead/served room temp and PBJ for the boy 

Wednesday – soccer practice/PTO meeting (dinner needs to be ready-to-go and self-serve)

Ham and bean soup (never did make it)

Thursday – baseball game (another packable dinner)

Grilled pork (served room temp) with carrot salad and roasted beets

Friday

Fish tacos http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/fish-tacos-recipe/index.html another refugee

Saturday

Soft tacos - one of the quick and easy meals I picked up that didn't happen because we went out to eat

Sunday

Swedish meatballs - chosen by the 7 year-old for this week's cooking lesson

Monday, Monday (la, La, la, La, La, la)

Monday again!  Every Monday, I think of the Beatles song.

Despite the snow...and the child home on Spring break, I managed to get the menu done. This week I am trying two new Cooking Light recipes.  The new issue came last week and I was salivating as usual.

Take 15 minutes and plan your menu!

Go to orgjunkie.com if you need ideas

Monday

Pork with Rice Vermicelli (Bun thit Nuong)

Tuesday

Pancakes and Sausage - little guy wants to learn to cook and this is the first meal he wants to make: pancakes from scratch and “real” sausage (i.e., not Brown n Serve)

Wednesday

Black Pepper Caramel Shrimp with rice (page 25 Cooking Light April 2013)

Thursday

Chicken cutlets with Tarragon-Mushroom Sauce and Quinoa with toasted pine nuts (page 70 and page 132 Cooking Light April 2013)

Friday

Fish tacos 

Saturday

Ham and bean soup (moved from last week…ended up being invited to a party)

Sunday – Easter….tbd – need to figure out family’s schedule…could be fondue with sister’s family, could be take out Chinese, could be potluck with friends

Monday - again....do you have a menu?????

If you haven't caught on yet, it's Monday....and....for me....that means MENU day.  If you want ideas or suggestions, check out orgjunkie.com.

Last week, we had to change some things around because there was a last minute meeting...and previously unplanned family visitors.

Here is what we're doing this week.

Monday - Chicken Pad See Ew (moved from last week)

Tuesday (baseball practice and evening doctor appointment for me) - Roasted Veggie and Ham Frittata (using the left over veggies from my St. Pat's dinner....roasted potatoes, brussel sprouts, and carrots....and ham left over from the dinner for 10 that I hosted on Saturday)

Wednesday (soccer practice) - Chicken Gyros (skipped them last week...but they are too good to be off the menu for long)

Thursday - Chinese eggplant in black bean and garlic sauce over Rice (had another trip to the Asian grocery store this weekend)

Friday - Clam chowder with homemade bread

Saturday - Korean tacos

Sunday - Ham and bean soup (using the ham bone from the previously mentioned dinner for 10 that I threw in the freezer Saturday; note, there will be a 3rd meal coming from this one ham coming in the next month....4 meals; one ham)

Monday, Monday - What's for Dinner????

It's Monday!!!!  For me, that means a new week's menu plan.  I share this at orgjunkie.com.  Go visit there if you need some ideas.

Monday

Chicken mole casserole - This is like a lasagna.  I use tortillas instead of noodles, sour cream instead of ricotta, and Don͂a Maria Mole for the sauce

Tuesday – dinner time meeting followed by boy scouts

Spaghetti and meatballs with homemade garlic bread (moved from last week)

Wednesday – PTO at 7

Roasted cauliflower soup and grilled cheese

Thursday

Breakfast for dinner – breakfast burritos (scrambled eggs, ham, scallions, cheddar)

Friday

Fish tacos - Cooking Light last month

Saturday

Chicken pad see ew

Sunday

St. Patty’s dinner – slow cooker beer braised corned beef with roasted brussel sprouts, carrots, and red skinned potatoes AND slow cooker chocolate pudding cake

Meal Plan Monday

Meal planning saves me.  It saves me every week.  It saves me every day.  It saves me every hour.

The 30 minutes I spend every week doing a meal plan.....saves me 10 times that during the week.

Before....always wondering what to do for dinner consumed SO much of my daily mental time.

Try it...You will be amazed.  Check out Meal Plan Monday if you need ideas or thoughts.

Here is this week....a bit burned out from a crazy cook week last week.  So, taking it "easy."

Monday

Chicken pad see ew

Tuesday

Cheeseburger soup - a couple changes to this recipe in my house.....NO celery, I skip the sour cream, and I use 10 ounces of Velveeta.  Also, I break out my food processor for EVERYTHING.  It make the bits small enough that no one notices that they are eating veggies.

Wednesday

Chicken gyros - CANNOT stop eating these.  Everyone who has tried them LOVES, LOVES, LOVES them.

Thursday

Spaghetti and meatballs - I buy my meatballs from a local italian butcher....they are to die for.  And, at $16 for 5 lbs, a bargain and saves me the time and effort

Friday

Mushroom fritatta - Cooking Light 2 months ago 

Saturday

Chicken fingers and homemade tots - I make the tots smaller in a nonstick mini-muffin pan

Sunday

Chicken tortilla chip casserole (last month's Cooking Light)

Menu Plan Monday

Because you can......Because it saves money....Because it saves your sanity!!!!!  Visit orgjunkie.com for more idea

Monday

Chicken pad see ew - recipe adapted from Cooks Illustrated

Tuesday

Roasted cauliflower soup  and grilled cheese

Wednesday

Chicken gyros...yes AGAIN....they are damn good  

Thursday

Korean tacos 

Friday

Bang bang shrimp with rice (made some changes to this recipe...added in 1/4 cup honey to the mix and cut the mayo slightly...to about 1/3 cup)

Saturday – dinner at old co-worker's of husbands AND  party at close couple-friends (what can I say...we are social piranhas)

Soy braised pork sandwiches with pickled veggies on mini buns 

Hot onion dip with chips and bbq meatball 

Hot onion dip - cup of thinly sliced onion, cup of mayo, cup of parmesan....cook at 400 for 20 minutes

BBQ meatballs - frozen mini meatballs (I prefer Trader Joe's), 1 bottle of BBQ sauce (rinse out with 1/4 cup of water and add in)....put in slow cooker for 3 hrs on high; 6 hrs on low.

Sunday – pizza at friend's house (we are bringing pizza fixings)

Make your own pizza – chicken, meatballs, olives, red onion, scallion, mushrooms, red sauce, bbq sauce, etc.

Menu Plan Monday

I used to join in at Menu Plan Monday at orgjunkie.com a few years ago.  I have been menu planning for about 10 years now.  I find that when I plan out my menu, I am less tempted to eat out....and waste money.  I also feel much less stress throughout the day.  So, to that end, here's my first Menu Plan Monday.  Some of them reference Cooking Light recipes that are not yet available online.  Every time I get a new CL in the mailbox, it feels like Christmas and I cannot wait to go through and try new ones.  I do love to cook....but some of these are really, really simple....but yummy.

Monday

Crockpot roast chicken with gravy, rice, and honey roasted carrots (Kathy’s slow cooker chicken)

Tuesday

Grilled cheese with Thai butternut soup (CL March 2013 page 24)

Wednesday

Chicken gyros

Thursday

Coconut chicken soup (use left over chicken)

Friday

Shrimp linguini with ricotta, fennel and spinach (CL March 2013 page 26)

Saturday – Friend's 3 kids over for sleepover; 1 REALLY enjoys cooking

Cheesesteak eggrolls

Homemade pizzas – top your own (red onions, scallions, pepperoni, mini meatballs, left over chicken, olives, bbq sauce, hot sauce, pizza sauce, sriracha, mozzarella, gorgonzola, cheddar)

Sunday

Mushroom frittata (CL Feb 2013)