Meal Plan Monday: December 14th - December 21st

The countdown is officially on to Christmas!  I hope you are all surviving and not letting the preparation stress you out too much.  This week we have our daughter's first school chorus concert and a fun party to go to.  And, of course, we still have dance to navigate through.  This weekend we are going to bake our cookies.  What is your favorite Christmas cookie?

Monday: Spaghetti Genovese - This is an Italian dish with pesto, potatoes and green beans.  Eating Well added spinach to give it a boost.
Recipe from Eating Well

Tuesday: Quesadillas on the Go
This is concert night.  I make four at time in the oven.

Wednesday: Red Beans and Rice
Recipe from Cooking Light

Thursday:  Christmas Cookie Beer Pairing Party
Beat that Ugly Christmas Sweater Party!

Friday: Dinner Date

Saturday: Tostado Nachos and Movie Night
Recipe here

Sunday:  Pot Roast
We ended up not having this last week because my parents took us out to dinner after the girls Christmas Pageant.

Meal Plan Monday: September 28th - October 4th

We are heading into another crazy week at our house.  There were moments while I was planning that I just stared at the day saying. "I'm don't even know."  Our biggest dinner goal is to try to eat together but there are going to be nights this week where that isn't going to happen.  Thankfully that is not the norm.  This week I am relying on pre-made meals and leftovers to carry us through.

Monday: Leftovers
Minestrone soup or chili from the weekend.

Tuesday: Taco Tuesday

Wednesday: Red Beans and Rice
Recipe from Cooking Light
This recipe idea was inspired by Dave Ramsey who says while saving money to live off of rice and beans.

Thursday: Chicken Stuffed Bell Peppers
Recipe from the Fixate cookbook
I have a wedding rehearsal this night so I will be making the filling for this on Wednesday.

Friday: Leftovers
Red Beans and Rice or Stuffed Peppers

Saturday: Creamy Chicken and Noodles
Recipe from The Going Jane blog
This recipe calls for cans of cream of chicken soup.  I'm going to clean in up with this recipe from Center Cut Cook.
This recipe is so good.  It reminds me of my Nana and Aunt's Chicken and Dumplings.

Sunday: Chilaquiles
Recipe from Cooking Light
I have been wanting to make this for so long.  This nacho like meal seems like a great football meal to me.  I'm all about the crock-pot on Sunday's so Sunday dinner is ready soon after we get home from church.

Meal Plan: July 26th - August 1st

The kids are still with their grandparents this week.  Hubs and I were surprised at how busy we still were last week.  It was a different busy still not as laid back as we thought.  We hope to work on that this week.  We definitely had a lazy Sunday so I would say we are doing pretty good.  I think my favorite part about it just being us is the amount of teamwork we have when it comes to preparing dinner.  Since we aren't having to tag team with the kids we spending more time together in the kitchen.  Isn't that the best room in a house?

Here is what we are having this week:

Sunday: Veggie Nachos
Recipe from Cooking Light Magazine
1 green, 2 yellow, 1 blue

Monday: Meatless Monday - Lemon Ricotta Parmesan Pasta with Spinach
Recipe Inspired by Cooking Classy
1/2 green, 1 red, 2 yellow

Tuesday: Chicken Stuffed Bell Peppers 

Recipe from the Fixate cookbook

1 green, 1 yellow, 1 red, 1/2 purple

Wednesday: BBQ chicken with Corn on the Cob and Salad

1 green, 1 red, 1 yellow, 1 orange

Thursday: Philly Cheesesteak Burgers with Sweet Potato chips

Fit Foodie Life recipe

Chips recipe from Fixate cookbook

1 green, 1 red, 1 blue

Friday: Eating on the road.  Going to pick up our girls!

The colors on the menu plan represent the portion containers included with the 21 Day Fix, 21 Day Fix Extreme, Insanity Max 30, Cize and Portion Fix programs.  As a Beachbody Coach, I have included the container colors to support those currently using these popular programs.  Message me for more details.

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

Healthified Friday's Tostado Nachos

I love LOVE Friday's Tostada Nachos.  A half order of their nachos has about 690 calories.  Here is my take on a healthier version.  It saves around 200 calories.

Ingredients

2 chicken breast halves, cooked and sliced
1 can 16 oz fat free refried beans
1 cup Mexican blend shredded cheese
8 round corn tortilla
1 cup shredded lettuce, optional
1/4 cup sour cream, optional
1/4 cup diced tomatoes, optional

Notes / Directions

1. Season and cook the chicken. I seasoned the chicken with a little cumin.  I par baked it and finished it on the grill pan. 

2.  Cut the chicken in strips.

3.  Cut each corn tortilla in half. A pizza cutter works well.

4. Place the tortillas under the broiler turning when the top side starts to brown.
5. While the tortillas crisp up, heat the refried beans in a pot over medium heat.
6. Stir until beans has been heated through. Remove from heat.
7. Spread each tostada with enough bean to cover all around and place on a baking sheet. About a tablespoon each.  

8. Top with 2 or 3 pieces of chicken.

9. Sprinkle a tablespoon of cheese on each tostada and place under the broiler at 400 degrees for 3 minutes or until cheese has melted.

10. Top with lettuce, tomato, light sour cream (plain greek yogurt) and salsa. (Optional)

Serving Size - 4 tortilla halves

21 Day Fixers - 1.5 Yellow, 1 Red (more if Greek yogurt is used), 1 Blue, 1 Green

Meal Plan: November 9 - November 15

How is it the second week in November already! The girls had Monday and Tuesday off last week so we spent a couple days at Great Wolf Lodge.  What a fun place to visit!  My daughter's birthday is this week so going to Great Wolf was her "birthday party".  We went with friends whose daughter's birthday is also this week.  What a fun way to celebrate!  Sorry there wasn't a meal plan for last week.  With being out of town we were playing catch up and attending meetings.  The next thing I knew it was Friday.  Here's a travel tip:  Instead of grabbing fast food for the night you get back have spaghetti.  What is easier than boiling water and heating a jar of sauce.  Fast and cheap. Er... Fast and inexpensive.  Here is what we are having for dinner this week:

Exported from Mealboard.com

Sunday - Family Secret Pot Roast

Oh my word it is good.  Award winning in fact.  I once turned this pot roast recipe into a beef stew and entered it into our church's cook-off.  I can't remember if it placed first or second. 

Here is a similar recipe

Monday - Healthified Friday's Tostada Nachos

Last week, I overheard that my daughter's friend was having nachos for dinner and they have been on my mind ever since.  We are big fans of nachos in this house. I will post the recipe for this soon.  I want to make it first.

What is your favorite nacho topping?  

Tuesday - Dine Out
Happy Birthday to my daughter!  She has asked that we go out to dinner and she choose BJ's.  I see a pizookie in her future.  Don't know what a pizookie is?  Pizza + Cookie = Deliciousness

Picture from BJ's website

Wednesday - Crock Pot Bolognese Sauce and Spaghetti
My parents are coming into town to take the girls Goodies with Grandparents the next day.  We have a busy dance night but using the crock pot will allow me to visit more and be in the kitchen less.  Thumbs up!  Remember your Crock Pot liners for quick clean up!
Recipe from SkinnyTaste.com

Thursday - Cashew Chicken
One of my favs
Recipe from Wegmans

Friday - Sushi Date
I bought the girls these new Mac and Cheese cups from Stouffers.  My oldest has a long dance night and my youngest has been craving her favorite.  Hubby and I are craving sushi.  Sushi and Mac and cheese it is! Haha
What is your favorite roll?

Saturday - Pot-au-feu
Um? What?  Okay, so, I signed up with America's Test Kitchen to test recipes.  When this recipe showed up in my inbox I was a bit overwhelmed.  Pot-au-feu is a French Pot Roast.  The recipe they sent me used a lot of ingredients that I have not cooked with but I was going to give it my best.  Unfortunately, I could not find one of the ingredients so I had to turn down testing the recipe.  I now have leeks, red potatoes and asparagus on hand that I will need to use. I also need a new plan for Saturday!