Meal Plan Monday: January 4th - January 10th

Happy New Year!  I'm so excited for this year.  It is going to be good things, I can feel it.  There are things that I wanted to accomplish last year that I have already tackled, such a creating a 5 minute workout for anyone looking to add exercise to their day.  Please comment if you would like a copy.  I started the Hammer and Chisel workout program this morning.  This program, once again, uses the containers that we were first introduced to with the 21 Day Fix.  It's nice to continue to try new Beachbody workouts but have a little comfort in knowing the meal plan.

Here is what we are having this week:

Monday:  Slow Cooker Kielbasa and White Bean Cassoulet
Recipe from Real Simple

Tuesday: Cheeseburgers

Wednesday: Cashew Chicken
Recipe from Wegmans

Thursday:  Pesto Pasta

Friday: Dinner Out

Saturday:  Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers
Recipe from Lisahov Health & Fitness.com

Sunday:  Chicken Lombardy
Recipe from My Recipes.com

Meal Plan Monday: December 7th - December 13th

The countdown to Christmas is on and that includes Christmas parties!  We have my companies party this Saturday but before we get there we have to get through a crazy week.  I have three church meetings this week at church.  This doesn't always happen but I guess you can say the stars aligned.  This week is all about fast meals to help us get through this busy week.

Monday: Kielbasa, Pepper, Onion and Potato Hash
Recipe from The Two Bite Club

Tuesday: Philly Cheesesteak Burgers
Recipe here














Wednesday: School Fund at Moe's Southwest Grill

Thursday: Store Bought Quiche and Salad
I like buying a quiche and throwing an arugula salad together for a quick meal.  Changes up getting a frozen pizza or making a grilled cheese.













Friday: Chicken Tortilla Soup
My husband found this recipe on Reddit.  He's going to cook it too!!

Saturday: Lasagna with Béchamel Sauce
Recipe here

Sunday: Pot Roast
The recipe is a family secret.  Here is a similar recipe

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: January 4 - January 10

New Year; New Recipes

Well Christmas has been packed away.  The house is back to normal and we are heading back regular routine.  I am starting this year with trying new recipes.  I'm so excited I'm almost giddy about cooking dinner this week.

Exported from Mealboard

Sunday: Beef and Vegetable Potpie

This recipe was good but needs so tweaking.  I used cubed potatoes instead of zucchini.  It needed salt and I wouldn't use thyme again.

Recipe from Cooking Light

Monday:  Kielbasa, Pepper, Onion and Potato Hash

Recipe from The Two Bite Club

Tuesday: Toasted Penne with Chicken Sausage

Recipe from Cooking Light

Wednesday: Left-Overs

Thursday: Sriracha Lime Chicken Chopped Salad

Recipe from Lexi's Clean Kitchen

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Making Freezer Meals - Lasagna, King Ranch Chicken, Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

Lasagna Recipe Coming Soon

King Ranch Chicken Recipe from Cooking Light

Chicken Spaghetti Casserole from Cooking Light

Meal Plan: November 16 - November 22

About a month ago I started doing the 21 Day Fix.  1. Because I had a wedding coming up.  I have always said one of the best motivators for losing weight is a wedding.  2. With the help of this blog I saw how much cheese was in our diet and I wanted to "fix" our diet.  It is always nerve wracking to start a diet when you also have a family to feed.  I have to say I have not had any complaints about the new healthy meal plan .  Well, except for the brown rice but I get that.  The texture is very different.  Here is what we are eating this week:

Sunday - Chicken with Carrots and Potatoes (Crock-pot Meal)
Recipe from My Recipes
Update:  This took longer than the 3.5 hours that the recipe said it would.  It was more like 5.  So we had spaghetti and will have this for leftovers on Wednesday.  Other than that, the little taste of potato and carrot I had was delicious.

Going into the Crock-pot

Monday - Maple Cinnamon Glazed Ham with Maple Roasted Butternut Squash
Ham Recipe from Best Clean Eating Recipes
Butternut Squash Recipe from Skinny Taste
Ham steaks are great quick night dinner meal.  We used to make these all the time.  It's nice to bring back a family fav.  We would pair these with pre-made sweet potatoes but I'm going to make this butternut squash instead.  My kids have been asking for butternut squash after loving it at a friends house.  I may tweak this Skinny Taste recipe and mash the squash. This would make a good Thanksgiving side.

Picture from Skinny Taste

Tuesday - Hawaiian Chicken Skewers
I forgot to note where I got this recipe.  The original recipe was for a sandwich but I'm nixing the bread and making a kabab instead.

Ingredients 

4 (4-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken cutlets
4 (1/2-inch-thick) slices fresh pineapple
1/4 cup salt free teriyaki marinade

Directions

1. Preheat Grill
2. Brush chicken and pineapple with teriyaki marinade. Place on grill rack coated with cooking spray. Grill chicken and pineapple 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until chicken is done and pineapple is caramelized. 

Wednesday - Tacos
"Bring them a meal" idea from Peanutblossom.com.  I will be making some for us and some for a friend.

Thursday - Kielbasa and Pierogies (One Dish Meal)
I will admit when my husband asked for pierogies the 21 Day Fix in me panicked a little.  So this will have to be a good lesson in moderation. ;)  I plan on using Turkey Kielbasa.
Recipe from Foodie with Family

Picture from Foodie with Family

Friday - Pizza and a Slumber Party
Some of my daughter's dance friends are coming over to spend the night.

Saturday - Test Recipe from America's Test Kitchen
I got another test recipe from America's Test Kitchen.  Looking over the ingredients this one is definitely a go!

Meal Plan: October 26th - November 1st

Exported from Mealboard

Sunday: Frozen Pizza and a Movie 

I was out of town visiting my new baby niece this weekend.  Dinner was a quick frozen pizza, salad and cuddles on the couch.

Monday: Kielbasa, Pepper, Onion and Potato Hash from The Two Bite Club

Prep is super fast for this meal.  This was a family hit.

Tuesday: Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Mashed Cauliflower from Our Full Plate

I have this all prepped and ready to start cooking tomorrow morning.  

Wednesday: Hot Dogs and Baked Beans - Dad and Kid Dinner
MNO with the Church Moms for me.  

Thursday: Tuna Melts and Sweet Potato Chips

Tuna salad on top an English Muffin with Cheese melted on top.  I always use Munster cheese.  I cheated and bought Terra chips.

Friday:  Pizza Delivery

Happy Halloween!!  The second busiest night for pizza delivery.  Last year I went all Pinterest and made Mummy Hot Dogs.  I asked the girls if they wanted that again and they choose pizza.  I'm good with it.

Saturday:  Lasagna with Salad

My MIL is coming to visit and bringing dinner! Woot Woot

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

50 States; 50 Meals: South Carolina

I definitely needed a food dictionary for this state. Hoppin John, Perloo, Frogmore Stew, it wasn't easy to make a choice.

What we had for dinner:

Frogmore Stew

Commonly known as Low Country Boil, this dish gets its name from St. Helena Island aka Frogmore, SC.  It traditionally includes redskin potatoes, corn on the cob, kielbasa and shrimp.  I love all the ingredients in this dish except for the Old Bay.  If anyone has a recipe that doesn't require Old Bay please pass them on.  This is a great summer family get-together meal.
Try this recipe from My Recipes.
Ingredients
5 quarts water
1/4 cup Old Bay seasoning
4 pounds small red potatoes
2 pounds kielbasa or hot smoked link sausage, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces

6 ears fresh corn, halved
4 pounds unpeeled, large fresh shrimp
Old Bay seasoning
Cocktail sauce
(I added a fresh squeezed lemon juice)

Directions

Bring 5 quarts water and 1/4 cup Old Bay seasoning to a rolling boil in a large covered stockpot.
Add potatoes; return to a boil, and cook, uncovered, 10 minutes.
Add sausage and corn, and return to a boil. Cook 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Add shrimp to stockpot; cook 3 to 4 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Drain. Serve with Old Bay seasoning and cocktail sauce.
Note: For testing purposes only, we used Hillshire Farm Polska Kielbasa.
 

Love Old Bay? Pair your Frogmore Stew with a Flying Dog Dead Rise

 

Dictionary:

Hoppin John - Black-eyed peas and rice
Perloo - One pot rice dish similar to jambalaya 

 

Next State: South Dakota