Meal Plan Monday – Sept 17 - 23rd

I know, I know… Long time no post.  I KNOW!  OK!  Gosh….  *blink. blink blink*

I’m really hoping to get back into the habit of posting. I swear I am.  Life is crazy, seems more often than not, now a days – and blogging my grocery plans have just not been very high on my priority list.  HOWEVER…  I need to start blogging them again because, it seems, when I don’t blog them…I am less likely to stick to the plan!

So my menu for this week…

 

MONDAY

• Lasagna
• Salad
• garlic toast

 

TUESDAY

• Baked Honey Mustard Chicken
• Steamed Cauliflower  Carrots in Garlic Butter & Dill Sauce
• Green beans (or salad)
• Rolls

 

WEDNESDAY (Kids Night 1 – Sis Cooks)

• Corn Dogs
• tator chips

 

THURSDAY (Kids Night 2 – Bran Cooks)

• Burgers
• Fries

 

FRIDAY (Mr C’s choice)

• Southern Fried Steak (recipe here)
• homestyle mashed potatoes
• beans
• salad
• cornbread

 

SATURDAY (Lazy Day)

• BLTs

 

SUNDAY

• FEND FOR YOURSELF NIGHT

 

Do you plan your weeks cooking ahead of time?  I do.  On Sunday morning I sit down in my office and I plan out what we are going to eat all week.

Meal planning for me, really, is pretty easy.  My Mr. works a weird shift at work that rotates so he is only home for dinner a few nights per week.  Those nights I try to cook a NICE meal with the trimmings.  I mean, he works hard and he deserves it.

On the nights Mr. C isn’t home, I still cook, but those meals are more KID FRIENDLY.  Anything to lessen the amount of whining I have to listen to – WORKS.  lol…

Once I have my “loose” menu made (because lets be honest here…sometimes I just don’t feel like making what’s on the list!), I head upstairs to check the pantry and fridge and make out my grocery list for the week.

Mr C likes to go shopping at like 3am when there is NO ONE in their right (or wrong) mind at Wal-Mart.  Since he is used to being up all night anyway, and I hate to go to Wal-Mart this works for us.  Plus, he seems to spend a lot less when he goes shopping with my list – than we do when I go shopping with my list. LOL!

So what’s on my menu for this week?

PASTA WITH SAUSAGE and TOMATOES

• 2 TBSP Olive oil
• 2 lb Italian sausage
• 1 cup yellow onions (diced)
• 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
• 1 can tomatoes (22 oz), (drained and chopped)
• 1 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 12 oz pasta (I like wheat penne or bowtie)
• 3 TBSP fresh parsley (minced)
• grated Parmesan Cheese

 

In a large deep skillet, heat olive oil.  Add diced onions and garlic.  Sautee for two or three minutes, until onions start to go clear.  Crumble in sausage and brown.  (You can drain off some of the grease if you think its too much, but leave some for flavor).  Add tomatoes, cream, and salt.  Simmer, stirring occasionally, until it starts to thicken.

In a large pot prepare pasta and drain.

Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan.

Pasta Shell with Spicy Jalapeno Sauce

• 4 Garlic cloves
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 1 jalapeno (seeded and chopped fine)
• 8 plum tomatoes, cut into at least quarters
• 3 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/3 lb pasta shells (I luv Barilla!)
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)

Sauté garlic in oil until golden.  Add jalapeno and sauté for 1 or 2 minutes.

Add tomato, 1 tsp salt and the pepper.  Cook partially covered 10 – 12 minutes

Bring pot of water to boil and add remainging salt and the shells.  Boil 7-9 minutes or until just tender.

Drain pasta shells and add to the simmering sauce.  Toss to combine and coat the shells.  Add cilantro and toss lightly again.

Remove from heat and serve.

 

Pasta in Broth

Pasta In Broth

The easy,
simmer pasta in a can of chicken broth until tender.  Whaaaahlahhhhh….. LOL…

How I like it…

In a deep skillet, bring broth to light simmer.  Put in some broccoli florets, and some carrots.  Cover with lid, and steam  until broccoli starts to brighten up.  Drizzle with lemon juice and basil.  Add noodles.  ANY noodles work.  My two favorite are whole wheat penne or bow ties(as seen above)  Stir to wet noodles in hot broth.  Cover.  Stir ever few minutes to keep noodles from sticking.  Once noodles have absorbed the broth, you should be good to go!  If noodles are still hard, add a little water to soften them up.  As an added YUM, I sprinkle with fresh grated parmessian.

Sorry no amounts.  I always wing it.  Usually its one can of Swanson LOW FAT Broth.  For the noodles, I do a handful per person.  My favorite cheese comes from a company called Frigo.  Its sold in little bowls back by the Deli at Hell-Mart.  For whole wheat penne, I LOVE Healthy Harvest.  And bow ties I like Barilla.

one bowl, and Im completely STUFFED.

For variations:
Sis likes JUST the noodles, with parmessian.
Bub like just noodles, with pasta sauce (like ragu)
Hubby likes to throw it in the trash and grill a steak. hehehehehe

Good luck!