Meal Plan Monday: Happy Easter!

Whoops! Sorry I'm late.  I guess I got too excited for Spring Break.  But we still have to eat right?

Monday: Soy-Peanut Noodles
Recipe from The Comfort of Cooking

Tuesday:  Cheesesteak Hamburgers  
My Recipe
Who needs 5 guys?  I got one guy that grills a mean burger.

Wednesday: MNO and DNO w/Daughters

Thursday:  Chicken Cacciatore
Recipe from Turbofire Meal Plan

Friday:  Black Bean Enchiladas 
Recipe from Wegmans

Saturday: Chicken Lombardi 
Recipe from My Recipes.com


Sunday: Happy Easter - Ham, Mac and Cheese, Aspargus Bundles, Pineapple Bake and More

Meal Plan Monday: February 1st - February 7th

Happy February!  This month is starting off to busy and promises to stay that way.  I hope to be able to share some exciting news soon but have to wait for other parties to finalize somethings before I do.  This month is full of dress rehearsals and my daughters' Company Showcase.  We are gearing up for the competition season.  I'm pretty excited about this year.  My oldest will be doing her first solo.  Thinking about it makes me excited, teary and feeling like I could get sick.  She will do great!  We have lots of meeting this week which means early morning workouts and quick dinners.

Here is what we are having this week:


Monday: Tuna Melt with Sweet Potato Fries

Tuesday: Broccoli Cheddar Chicken with Wild Rice
Recipe from Healthy Life with Valerie Woeste

Wednesday: Chicken Enchilada Soup
Recipe from Paleo Grubs.com

Thursday: Thai Peanut Noodles
This is a request of my husbands.  We used to eat this a lot before we had kids.  This meal is the Thai equivalent to buying jarred pasta sauce and boiling noodles as we just buy the Thai sauce from the grocery store.   A word of precaution, some companies make their sauces spicier than others.  One time we had one so spicy we found ourselves shoveling it in just to be done.  

Friday: Dinner Out
This is a late night dress rehearsal night and my hubby will be there with us helping with props.  We plan on getting take-out from a popular Mexican restaurant right down the street.  This is the kindof place you would see on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

Friday is National Wear Red Day.  Please consider wearing red to help raise awareness for Women's Heart Health.

Saturday: Daddy Daughter Dance and GNO
I hate to do takeout two nights in a row but that may be the case and I do have a Subway giftcard.  My oldest has a dress rehearsal that ends an hour and a half before the dance.  So I will have to get her changed, make-up removed, fed and to her father.

Sunday:  Super Bowl!
I almost forgot about the 50th Super Bowl and no, it's not because my team is not playing.  I'm putting together a list of healthified Super Bowl foods.  Check back this week to see my favorites.

Meal Plan Monday: November 9th - November 15th

So of course as soon as I vented about the dance everything fell into place and there was nothing to stress about.  Like calling the IT guy and then figuring out your problem.  By Friday I had so much excited energy it took everything I had to not jump in and dance; but, I had strict orders not to bust a move. It was a success if I say so myself.  I did have to give up my quiet night too myself but it was well worth it!

This Wednesday is my oldest daughters 10th birthday.  She has been waiting for this birthday since she turned 9.  She can not wait to be a preteen!  I have so many mixed emotions about this birthday.  I'm excited to see her grow and mature but she is growing faster than I can keep up.

Monday - Panera Bread Fund Raiser for the School

Not a bad choice as Panera always lands on the clean eating restaurant lists.  I hear the menu changed so I will definitely check it out and decide before we go.  

Tuesday - Black Bean Enchiladas

Meatless Monday on Tuesday!

Recipe from Wegmans / Gluten-Free version 

Wednesday - Cheeseburgers

My daughters favorite meal!

Thursday - Short Ribs and Polenta

We have a few friends at Disney this week and they have inspired me to make one of my favorite meals I had when we were there a couple weeks ago.  

Recipe from Cooking Light

From Chef Mickey's

Friday - Egg Roll in a Bowl

Take out at home!  We love this recipe.  It turned out so well last time.  I hope I can duplicate its tastiness.  

Saturday - Dinner Out

More birthday celebrating!

Sunday - Chicken Spiedies and Roasted Vegetables

Spiedies Pronounced "speedies"
Spiedies were originally from Italy. They are marinated cubes of meat, traditionally lamb, cooked on a skewer like a kebab. Pork, chicken, veal, venison, and beef are also used. The meat is marinated and then grilled. The marinade recipe varies, usually involving olive oil, vinegar, and a variety of Italian spices and fresh mint. The meat is then served on Italian bread. The bread is used to take the meat off of the skewer. I was able to find bottle Spiedie marinade at my grocery store.

Meal Plan Monday: October 19th - October 25th

Wow!  We had the best vacation at Disney.  It really is the happiest place on earth.  Such a magical place.  Reality quickly set in with unpacking, laundry and of course meal planning.  This week we will be having some of my favorite fall meals.

Bonus Recipe from Sunday: Beef and Vegetable Potpie

Recipe from Cooking Light

I substituted the zucchini for butternut squash and the breadstick dough for Immaculate pie crust.

Monday: Butternut Squash and Black Bean Enchiladas 

Recipe from Skinnytaste

Tuesday: Kielbasa, Pepper, Onion and Potato Hash

Recipe from The Two Bite Club

Wednesday: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Thursday: Skillet-Toasted Penne with Chicken Sausage

Recipe from Skinnytaste

Friday: Fall Festival at the school, Subway

Saturday: Potluck Trunk or Treat at church, Green Salad and Butternut Squash Soup
I'll share the recipe later. I'm competing in a cook-off.

Sunday: Dorito Enchilada Casserole 

Recipe from Charlie Gibson 

Meal Plan: February 8th - February 14th

Happy Valentine's Day!  We are all set for the school parties.  The valentines are signed and snacks have been delivered to the school.  We are even set for a little party at the house.

This is what we are having for dinner this week:

Sunday: Chicken Scaloppine With Pesto with Asparagus Orzo
I gave in to being over tired last week and took a night off from cooking.  This was a winner last night.

Chicken Recipe from Weight Watchers  
4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup marsala wine
2 tablespoons pesto
4 slices part-skim mozzarella cheese

Monday: Potato Pasta Kielbasa Skillet 
Recipe from Taste of Home
So I used the potatoes that were bought for this recipe to make Chocolate covered Potato Chips.  Whoops!  I raided the pantry and used ditalini pasta as a stand in.  Still delicious.

Tuesday: Taco Tuesday

Wednesday: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Thursday: Black Bean Enchiladas - Second baking dish; Frozen
Recipe from Wegmans

Friday: Dress Rehearsal Part 2: Subway

Saturday: Papa Murphy's Heart Pizza, Cupcakes and Chocolate covered strawberries

Meal Plan: February 1 - February 7

It's Super Bowl Sunday!  As Patriots fans we are very excited for tonight's game!  I am also celebrating the fact that January is over!  Whew! I thought it was supposed to be March that came in like a lion.  January made me want to run and hide back in 2014.  Even though it is a Hallmark holiday, I am going to take comfort in the fact that Valentine's Day is this month and focus on doing all things will love... and joy and understanding.

Here's what we are having this week:

Sunday: Walking Tacos, Clean Eating Chicken Wings and Mozzarella Sticks
Walking Taco Recipe from Dine and Dash
Wings Recipe from The Gracious Pantry

Monday: Chef Salads - Using up the Virginia ham from the church State Dinner.

Tuesday: Stir Fry

Wednesday: Pulled Pork BBQ and Cole Slaw

Quick Cole Slaw1lb Bag of Cole Slaw mix1 cup Marzetti Original Slaw Dressing1/8 tsp celery seed1 tsp sesame oil (optional but delicious)

Thursday: Chicken Scaloppine With Pesto with Asparagus Orzo
Chicken Recipe from Weight Watchers  
4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup marsala wine
2 tablespoons pesto
4 slices part-skim mozzarella cheese


Friday: Pizza at Dance Dress Rehearsal

Saturday: Black Bean Burritos
Recipe from Wegmans
So good it's hard not to eat the whole pan.

Holiday Meal Plan: December 21 - December 27

Christmas is here!!  I feel like someone just told me there were 10 days until Christmas and now it is 3 days.  I'm totally almost ready.  Big shout out to Amazon Prime for helping make it all happen.  It's a life saver.

We are celebrating Christmas twice at our house.  Christmas Day with my mom and again on Saturday with my Dad and Stepmom.  This meal plan includes two totally doable and cost friendly holiday dinners.  

Happy Holidays!!

This is what we are having this week:

From MealBoard

Sunday - Chicken Nacho Dinner 
I used my Make-Ahead Chicken Recipe for these nachos. I cubed the chicken instead of shredding it.  I also added cumin. These were a great fit for football Sunday and an impromptu Family Game Night.  We played a cute game called Beat the Parents.  A great game for those that are addicted to Trivia Crack.
Recipe from Moms Who Think

Monday - Baked Ravioli
I made this last week and frozen one.  To reheat bake frozen at 350 for 1 hour or until bubbly.
Recipe from Tasty Kitchen

Tuesday - Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas w/ Chicken 
I baked extra chicken when I made the nachos to add this these enchiladas.  Since I'm doing a lot of cooking at the end of the week I decided to buy enchilada sauce instead of making the Ranchero Sauce recipe.  I went with Frontera Sauce because it is all natural and preservative free.
Recipe from Cooking Light

Wednesday - Homemade Sauce with Italian Sausage and Meatballs served over Rigatoni
This is another family vault recipe.  Basically it is sauce with the sausage and meatballs cooked in the sauce. ;)

Thursday - Pork Tenderloin, Hasselbeck Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, Tuscan Salad
Pork recipe from Southern Living
Potato recipe from Cooking Light
Brussels Sprouts recipe from a local restaurant - Ayse Meza
Tuscan Salad from Giada De Laurentiis - Green beans, Cannellini Beans, Black Olives

Pic from Cooking Light

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday - Turkey Breasts, Mashed Potatoes, Arkansas Green Beans, Mashed Butternut Squash
Roasted Honey-Brined Turkey Breasts Recipe from Wegmans
Make-ahead Mashed Potatoes Recipe from Betty Crocker
Arkansas Green Beans Recipe from AllRecipes.com
Maple Roasted Butternut Squash Mashed Recipe adapted from Skinny Taste

Family Dinner Meal Plan: August 3 - August 9

Here's what we are having for dinner this week:

Sunday: Chicken Piccata with Pasta

Chicken Piccata Recipe: Giada De Laurentiis

Monday:  Tuna Melts on English Muffins

1. Brown muffins in toaster or broiler oven.
2. Make your Tuna Salad
3. Top each muffin with tuna with cheese. I use slices of cheddar or muenster. 
4. Broil 5 inches from heat until cheese melts and is a little bown.

Tuesday: Virginia State Dinner - Ham Biscuits and Quiche


Wednesday: Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas - For me and the girls

                     Smithfield Ham and Peanut Spread - For my husband to take to his Dad's Group
Enchiladas Recipe:  My Recipes.com
Spread recipe: The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg

Thursday: Frozen Pizzas

Friday: Fried Rice 
Recipe: Family Dinner Recipe

Saturday: Dinner with Friends.