Meal Plan Monday: December 21st - December 27th

Merry Christmas!  I hope you all have enjoyed this holiday season and are ready for Christmas.  I'm going to be cutting it down to the wire so I have planned quick and easy meals for the week.    Because Chinese delivery is a popular Christmas dinner, I am making homemade Chinese food for Christmas Eve.  Making it at home in the crock-pot will cut down on calories and it will be ready when we get home from church.  I'm excited to make this Christmas dinner again.  It was so good last year it made me dance!  Just as food should!  What are your Christmas dinner traditions?

Monday: Subway 
I won a gift card at my office's white elephant gift exchange.  With tonight's busy schedule it seems like the perfect day to use it.

Tuesday: Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Recipe here

Wednesday: Cracker Barrel Chicken Tenderloins and Steamed Broccoli
Recipe here

Thursday: Beef and Broccoli in the Crock-pot
Recipe from Damn Delicious found on Lifehack 

Friday: Turkey Breasts, Arkansas Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, Mashed Butternut Squash, Cranberry Sauce
Recipes here

Saturday: Left-overs

Sunday: Egg Roll in a Bowl
Recipe here

Simple Thanksgiving

We had this meal for Christmas last year (and probably will again but with cranberry sauce added) but it is perfect for Thanksgiving too.  Using turkey breasts instead of a whole turkey is great for a smaller get together.  We had five adults and three kids.

Roasted Honey-Brined Turkey Breasts recipe from Wegmans

Make-ahead Mashed Potatoes recipe from Betty Crocker

Arkansas Green Beans recipe from All Recipes

Maple Butternut Squash recipe inspired by Skinnytaste

I love the extra shelves I can add to the oven to get everything ready at the same time.

Here's the spread.  I can't wait to make this meal again.

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

Meal Plan: September 21 - September 27

Sunday: Grilled Cheese

The dinner with friends last Saturday was really a surprise birthday party for my MIL.  We just got back from Connecticut yesterday so dinner was a quick grilled cheese.where we surprised my MIL at her birthday celebration. 











Monday: Wegmans Subs

Since we were away the grocery shopping is getting done today so Wegmans is making dinner tonight.  Plus I have had a craving for one their subs.

Tuesday: Chicken Fritter Parm with Pasta

Last weekend I bought Chicken Fritters for the fam.  I bought way too much so I put the other half in the freezer.  My husband loved his chicken parm sub and my youngest was very jealous she didn't have one.  I'll be using the leftovers to make a quick chicken parm dinner.

Wednesday: Breakfast Dinner
                    Sweet Baked Kielbasa Sausage for Moms Group - Using Turkey Kielbasa

Kielbasa recipe from Food.com

Thursday: Potato Kielbasa Skillet Dinner
Welcome Fall!
Recipe from Taste of Home

Friday:  Healthified Copycat Turkey Bacon Ranch Wrap

Ingredients

4 Flatout Light Original flatbreads
8 oz 98% fat free roasted turkey deli meat

8 slices precooked bacon
4 slices Cheddar Cheese
1 tomato, thinly sliced
Red onion slices
1/4 cup Ranch yogurt dressing

Iceberg or Romaine lettuce

Directions

1. Spread ranch dressing all over the center of the flatbread.
2. Top with turkey, bacon, lettuce, cheese, onion, and tomatoes. Fold the sides in, and then roll up.

Saturday: Baby Shower