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The rain has arrived in New England and I’m not sure when we will see the sun again.  Time for some hearty meals and the crock pot.

Monday~ Homemade Chicken Nuggets, family favorite!  Along with some peas from our local farm stand.
Tuesday~ Pork Chops with Apricot Preserves (didn’t get to this last week as I went to Disney on Ice on Thursday, so fun yet so exhausting with a 3 year old)
Wednesday~ Chicken Piccata, Daddy’s favorite.
Thursday~ Chili in the crock pot (Recipe below)
Friday~ Homemade Pizza

Chili in Crock Pot
1 lb ground beef (85% lean works best for flavor)
1 large onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic chopped
1 green pepper chopped
1 28oz can + one 14 oz can whole tomatoes
1 15 oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 adobo chile chopped (be careful, it’s spicy!)  You can find these in the canned good section, they last for awhile in the fridge
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup cocoa powder

~Brown the beef in a sauté pan, drain the fat and transfer beef to crock pot.
~Add balance of ingredients and mix well.
~The cocoa powder helps to tone down the spiciness so it’s more kid friendly, plus it works as a nice binder so it’s not too soupy.


What are you cooking this week?

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I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit FacebookPinterest or Twitter for more conversation!  Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!     

For more meal planning ideas, check out Plan It, Don’t Panic ebook with tips, tricks and menu plans ready to go.  Or Menu Plan Monday with OrgJunkie for hundreds of meal plan ideas.  

 

Lots of seafood on deck as the sales were too good to pass up.  After doing a major Freezer Organization project last week, I was ready to restock the freezer with some meat deals.  Natural ground beef for $3.99, awesome price so I bought 3 lbs.  Maybe this will be the year to buy a chest freezer….

Today’s recipe is a made up salsa with pineapple and orange for the grilled swordfish.  Tuesday will be dinner out at my Grammy’s new senior living dining area.
Wednesday Chili Mac is a new recipe from Parents Magazine.
Thursday Salmon recipe is from Martha Stewart.
Friday Apricot Porkchops is a favorite and from Every Day Food.

What are you cooking this week?

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I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit FacebookPinterest or Twitter for more conversation!  Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!    
For more meal planning ideas, check out Plan It, Don’t Panic ebook with tips, tricks and menu plans ready to go.  Or Menu Plan Monday with OrgJunkie for hundreds of meal plan ideas.  

After a lovely weekend filled with egg hunts, a competitive game nightand hosting Easter Dinner, I’m ready to take it easy this week on the menu plan front.  I opened my freezer to take inventory and low and behold, it’s STUFFED.  I’m all for stockpiling when there are sales, but I don’t like when I can’t quickly see what I have to work with.

Time to take some freezer inventory.  Typically I use a list on the side of the fridge but I do like the idea of using a dry erase marker to take notes, especially for a deep freezer chest.  If you are wondering how long you can keep things in your freezer, check out this free printable from Life Your Way.  I keep it in my menu planning/recipe binder. Maybe I’ll even take some time and bring this “pin” to the real world and get the freezer organized.

Monday~ Easter leftovers: Ham, Green Bean Almondine and Corn Bread Pudding…and Lemon Bundt Cake.
Tuesday~ Lentils with Ham and Rosemary (crock pot recipe~ from Not Your Mother’s Slow Cooker Cookbook
Wednesday~ Sweet and Sour Turkey Meatballs from freezer (yes, this has been on the plan 2x this month. Maybe 3rd time’s the charm.)
Thursday~ Spaghetti and meat sauce, peas from freezer.
Friday~ Pepperoni Pizza at home with dough from Trader Joe’s…which did go up by $.20/bag.  Maybe it’s time I try to make my own dough…

For snacks, I think I may make another batch of my Carrot and Pear Muffins. Plus granola and yogurt.

What’s on your menu plan this week?

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I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit FacebookPinterest or Twitter for more conversation!  Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!    


For more meal planning ideas, check out Plan It, Don’t Panic ebook with tips, tricks and menu plans ready to go.  Or Menu Plan Monday with OrgJunkie for hundreds of meal plan ideas.  

We are still enjoying my sister and niece visiting from Hawaii.  Dinners have been festive over the past few days as extended family gets together.  This week will continue the trend as we have new house guests arriving on Friday for the Easter weekend.

Source: Food Network

Monday~ “CORN” Clean Out Refrigerator Night.  Lots of pasta dishes to finish up!
Tuesday~ Chicken Piccata, Broccoli and Pasta
Wednesday~ Steak Tips on the grill, Green Beans and Sweet Potato Fries
Thursday~ Chickpea Curry
Friday~ Good Friday.  Testing out Foodler online delivery ordering service.
Saturday~ Easy day to prep for Easter Dinner
Sunday~ Hosting Easter dinner…Ham, Green Bean Casserole (no can cream of mushroom here!) and Corn Bread Pudding.  Still deciding on desserts.  Any suggestions?

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I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit FacebookPinterest or Twitter for more conversation!  Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!    

For more meal planning ideas, check out Plan It, Don’t Panic ebook with tips, tricks and menu plans ready to go.  Or Menu Plan Monday with OrgJunkie for hundreds of meal plan ideas.  

Oven Roasted Salmon and Asparagus

The past week was an emotional roller coaster of highs and lows.  I finally got to hug my lovely niece for the first time.  She is nearly six months old and it’s been a long wait.  Sadly she and my sister were home to say their goodbyes to my Nana who passed away last Thursday.  We will never forget how Nana reached for my niece the moment she laid eyes on her.  It was a moment to treasure forever.

So this week ahead is one of memorial services and visiting with family.  The meal plan is light and bound to change.  The important thing will be spending time with each other as much as we can.

And we will raise a glass to Nana.

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I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit FacebookPinterest or Twitter for more conversation!  Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!    

For more meal planning ideas, check out Plan It, Don’t Panic ebook with tips, tricks and menu plans ready to go.  Or Menu Plan Monday with OrgJunkie for hundreds of meal plan ideas.  

I really could get used to 70 degree weather in March.  This was such a beautiful day and we got a little head start on organizing our spring plantings.  It was a perfect night to grill!

Sunday~ Homemade teriyaki marinated steak tips and steamed broccoli

Monday~ Turkey Soup. Using up leftover cooked turkey from the freezer and the extra carrots and celery from the fridge.  Also found 4 cups of homemade chicken broth to use for the soup.

Tuesday~ Chicken Nuggets and Roasted Green Beans

Wednesday~ Hamburgers and Sweet Potato Fries.  In my burger mix I add 3 shots of Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon chopped garlic and about one teaspoon of grainy mustard.

Thursday~ Taking a day off and making eggs for dinner.  My favorite is a salsa and cheese omelet.

Friday~ Maple Glazed Salmon

Saturday~ I’m off to my first blogging conference all day so I’m going to put in a bag of frozen leftover Sweet & Sour Turkey Meatballs into the crock pot and hope that it’s nicely warmed by dinner time for Daddy and the kids.

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I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit FacebookPinterest or Twitter for more conversation!  Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!    

For more meal planning ideas, check out Plan It, Don’t Panic ebook with tips, tricks and menu plans ready to go.  Or Menu Plan Monday with OrgJunkie for hundreds of meal plan ideas. 

This week’s plan revolved around when to have a traditional Irish, or St. Patrick’s Day, dinner.  I found an amazing recipe last year and everyone loved it so it’s coming back again.

Monday~ Slow Cooker Sausage and Spaghetti, quick zucchini on the side.  This is a great dish to throw together before you head out for the day, smells delicious when you get home.  We are using sweet Italian chicken sausage in this dish.

Tuesday~ It’s my birthday so I’ve requested tacos.  I think I asked for the same thing when I was 10, but I know my husband can handle it. We will do a homemade taco mix with chili powder and cumin.

Wed~ Corn Beef, Carrots, Cabbage and Potatoes in the Crock Pot!  My husband wanted nothing to do with corn beef last year when I said I was making this.  He was so pleasantly surprised with how good it was and is happy to see it on the menu again this week.

Thursday~ Mom’s Night Out for me so everyone else can enjoy leftovers

Friday~ Baked Sea Scallops, along with Sweet Potato fries.

Saturday~ Birthday dinner out on St. Patty’s Day!

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I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit FacebookPinterest or Twitter for more conversation!  Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!    


For more meal planning ideas, check out Plan It, Don’t Panic ebook with tips, tricks and menu plans ready to go.  Or Menu Plan Monday with OrgJunkie for hundreds of meal plan ideas.

Welcome to March!  I am excited for some warmer weather heading our way this week so it’s back to the grill.  In the meantime, there are lots of crock pot meals on deck.
Sunday~ New beef stew recipe made in the Pressure Cooker.  It was from the Boston Globe Magazine this weekend, Asian-style beef stew.  I followed the star anise and ginger recipe, however I couldn’t find star anise at my local grocery store.  Even without the star anise, the stew had a wonderful flavor to it that was a nice departure from beef/carrots/celery/onion mix.  In the pressure cooker, I just adjusted the cooking time to 10 minutes at high pressure. Use quick release, then add the carrots, and I also added potatoes and cooked on high pressure for another 7 minutes.  Use natural pressure release and dinner is done.  It was a little thinner than your typical beef stew, but you can thicken it up with a little butter and flour, beurre blanc
Monday~ Coconut and Garlic Chicken in the Crock Pot.  This is from Aimee at Simple Bites and it’s amazing. We have made it before and it got five stars all around.  The kids like the little baby corn in the recipe.
Coconut Ginger Chicken and Vegetables via Pinterest
Tuesday~ Crock Pot Lasagna.  My friend Caren tested this out after I didn’t get to make it from another menu plan.  It came out great and she recommends adding in fresh basil.
Crock Pot Lasagna via Pinterest
Wednesday~ C.O.R.N. = Clean out refrigerator night.  With all these big meals I want to make sure we eat the leftovers.  Plus we are working on Project Night Night in the afternoon and don’t want to worry about making dinner when we are done. 
Thursday~ Grilled Chicken and Asparagus.  Hopefully we really do get 60 degree weather.  
Friday ~ Veggie Pizza.
Saturday ~ Date night, dinner out!

What are you making this week? Any new recipes? Feel free to share your meal plan links in the comments below. 

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I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit FacebookPinterest or Twitter for more conversation!  Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!     


This meal plan is shared with Org Junkie.  If you want your menu plans ready to go, check out Plan It, Don’t Panic e-book. 

It feels like spring is nearly around the corner!  I can’t believe it’s the last week of February and the next meal plan will be for March.  Time to start thinking about some cold weather crops…spinach and broccoli are on my list for this spring.

Last week’s plan got a little off track as we maneuvered through some off stomachs, etc.  Plus we decided not to eat meat on Friday for Lent so we have two recipes that got bumped to this week.  Good thing we are all happy with pasta and meat sauce when a spicy chili wouldn’t fit the bill last week.

Sunday~ I made my own teriyaki marinade for steak tips and put it together quickly before church this morning.  Despite the crazy wind, we are going to attempt grilling outside tonight.

Monday~ take 2 on the Sweet & Sour Turkey Meatballs from Simple Bites. I’ll serve it over mashed red potatoes that need to be used up.

Tuesday~ take 2 on chili in the pressure cooker.  I have browned meat already in the freezer ready to go so this will save me an extra step and make it a quick meal.

Wednesday~ hopefully going to a potluck dinner out with our daughter’s preschool parents.  I do need to make a dessert…

Thursday~ Sausage and white bean soup.  Still a favorite that was originally in Cooking Light circa Nov 2007!  I think I’ll post my own teaks on this recipe in a future post.

Friday~ Veggie Pizza

Any new meal favorites lately? Leave a comment with a blog post, pinterest pin or recipe link for other’s to enjoy.  For more meal plan ideas, stop by OrgJunkie and Stephanie Langford’s e-book Plan It, Don’t Panic for meal planning strategies.

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I found myself adding a lot of comfort foods to the menu this week. I’m planning to make some larger quantity meals that we can freeze for later as I feel like we have a busy couple of weeks ahead.

Sunday- Sweet and Sour Chicken with Rice. This is a new recipe from the Delish menu planning service. Traditional flavoring of pineapple and soy sauce

Monday- Beef Chili. Grass fed ground beef is on sale so I plan to stock up. I’ll freeze a dinner’s worth of the chili.  I will be testing out making the chili in the pressure cooker.  Hope it’s as good as making it in the crock-pot.

Tuesday- “CORN” Clean Out Refrigerator Night.  With a couple of big meals made, I don’t want the leftover to get “left” behind. 🙂

Wednesday- Ash Wednesday so we will be enjoying fish and I’ll be trying to remember to not eat meat at lunch.

Thursday- Roasting a Turkey.  They are on sale this week for $1.29/lb so I’m going to cook one to enjoy turkey dinner, then use the leftovers for sandwiches and/or soup.  I’ll also make some Turkey Broth in the Pressure Cooker.

Friday- Was going to be Sweet and Sour Turkey Meatballs. Nontraditional flavorings of cranberry and orange.  This recipe is from Simple Bites.   After I finished my plan, I remembered it’s Lent.  Somehow I remembered for Ash Wednesday, but not the Friday change.  My guess is I’ll make a meatless pizza on Friday instead and bump the meatballs to Saturday.  Just one more reason why I like my Chalkboard Menu Plan. 

Source: Simple Bites via Pinterest
If something strikes your fancy, let me know and I’ll try to get the recipe posted.
Thanks!
For more menu planning inspiration, check out Stephanie Langford’s e-book Plan It, Don’t Panic.  There are meal plans to choose from, plus helpful tips like creating a “favorite” list to make planning easier.
Share your menu ideas on Menu Plan Monday posts at OrgJunkie.
I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit the Facebook page or Twitter for updates!  Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!