Ok, here's my plan for the week ahead.
Monday - salmon burgers with potato wedges and peas
Tuesday - sausage lentil stew and buns
Wednesday - *pineapple sweet and sour pork, rice, and chinese veggies
Thursday - *Red ribs (crockpot), mashed potatoes, salad
Friday - pizza
Saturday - leftover fun night
Sunday - crepes (both savory and sweet)
*new recipes
Monday, January 31, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
sticky crockpots
I'm kind of known as an avid user of the crockpot. It's true. It's also true that crockpots can be super duper messy. I own three (yes, three) crockpots, and only *1* of them has a removable liner. So I've had to get creative for cleaning them out.
My favorite way to clean a sticky crock pot? Easy peasy lemon squeezy. A drop (or two) of dish detergent, fill with water to the "sticky point", throw on lid, and turn on to High setting for about an hour. Then let water cool down, and clean it out. That's it!
My favorite way to clean a sticky crock pot? Easy peasy lemon squeezy. A drop (or two) of dish detergent, fill with water to the "sticky point", throw on lid, and turn on to High setting for about an hour. Then let water cool down, and clean it out. That's it!
Monday, January 24, 2011
something new from something old
Tonight's meal plan was supposed to be my beloved coconut curry lentil soup. The fridge, however, is filled wiht leftovers. This has been an ongoing issue, with me on a special diet, but still making meals for a family of 5. Leftovers have been piling up.
Last week, I made an enchilada lasagna type casserole thing...and all three children were less than impressed. The hubby liked it, but it was a lot leftover for one person to eat. So I decided to serve it tonight.
But wait! I decided to play with it so that it didn't look just like the meal they had rejected the week before. Lightbulb!
I took the leftover meal, and diced it up. Added a drained can of black beans. Mixed in a pan. Then topped with mixed shredded mozza and cheddar cheese. Baked. Voila! They all ate it.
Go figure.
So, what are your tips for creating something new out of something old? I can't be the only mom who has used this trick before ;)
Last week, I made an enchilada lasagna type casserole thing...and all three children were less than impressed. The hubby liked it, but it was a lot leftover for one person to eat. So I decided to serve it tonight.
But wait! I decided to play with it so that it didn't look just like the meal they had rejected the week before. Lightbulb!
I took the leftover meal, and diced it up. Added a drained can of black beans. Mixed in a pan. Then topped with mixed shredded mozza and cheddar cheese. Baked. Voila! They all ate it.
Go figure.
So, what are your tips for creating something new out of something old? I can't be the only mom who has used this trick before ;)
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Menu plan January 24-30
Monday
lentil coconut curry soup
Tuesday
perogies and sausage (by request of the 6 year old)
Wednesday
Sausage burrito casserole *
Thursday
dijon steak* and risotto*
crock pot night - doing 2 pots!
Friday
butter chicken (by request of the 5 year old)
Saturday
crockpot lasagna
double sized for leftovers
Sunday
leftover night
lentil coconut curry soup
Tuesday
perogies and sausage (by request of the 6 year old)
Wednesday
Sausage burrito casserole *
Thursday
dijon steak* and risotto*
crock pot night - doing 2 pots!
Friday
butter chicken (by request of the 5 year old)
Saturday
crockpot lasagna
double sized for leftovers
Sunday
leftover night
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Hot Breakfasts!
It's that stupid cold part of year in this neck of the woods. Makes for great lazy days at home, but it's always nice to send the littles off to school with something warm in their bellies.
Lately, I've been making oatmeal in the crockpot, with great success. I'll often serve it with grated apple or pear, or sometimes applesauce. In mine, I particularly like an organic breakfast mix of nuts/seeds/berries that I bought through a fundraiser that one of my fave non-profit groups ran, with a drizzle of real maple syrup. Yum! You could toss in dried fruit when making this, but my family doesn't go for it. Putting out topping options like a "breakfast bar" is a big hit here, and I find my kids use way less sugar if I let them add their own, go figure.
I use steel cut oats in this. I've discovered that they are the only oats that stand up to the "overnight in the crockpot test" without going mushy or burning. They can be pricey at the store, but they are super well priced at Costco. I do a double batch of this, it fills my medium sized crockpot, and makes enough for a couple of days of breakfasts.
4 cups water
3/4 cup milk (or use powdered milk, mixed with water)
1 cup steel cut oats
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 (give or take) brown sugar
1/2-1 tsp vanilla
Mix and cook on low for 8 hours. I turn it on as I'm going to bed, and we wake up to hot oatmeal. Just don't forget to turn it on....trust me, it's disappointing.
What are your favorite quick hot breakfasts for cold mornings?
Lately, I've been making oatmeal in the crockpot, with great success. I'll often serve it with grated apple or pear, or sometimes applesauce. In mine, I particularly like an organic breakfast mix of nuts/seeds/berries that I bought through a fundraiser that one of my fave non-profit groups ran, with a drizzle of real maple syrup. Yum! You could toss in dried fruit when making this, but my family doesn't go for it. Putting out topping options like a "breakfast bar" is a big hit here, and I find my kids use way less sugar if I let them add their own, go figure.
I use steel cut oats in this. I've discovered that they are the only oats that stand up to the "overnight in the crockpot test" without going mushy or burning. They can be pricey at the store, but they are super well priced at Costco. I do a double batch of this, it fills my medium sized crockpot, and makes enough for a couple of days of breakfasts.
4 cups water
3/4 cup milk (or use powdered milk, mixed with water)
1 cup steel cut oats
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 (give or take) brown sugar
1/2-1 tsp vanilla
Mix and cook on low for 8 hours. I turn it on as I'm going to bed, and we wake up to hot oatmeal. Just don't forget to turn it on....trust me, it's disappointing.
What are your favorite quick hot breakfasts for cold mornings?
Meal plan January 17-23
Ok, I'm giving up on doing lunch plans. If we have leftovers, we'll eat them. If not, sandwiches of varying types will be the main event, I think.
Monday - Shepherds' Pie (using leftovers from Sunday's pot roast, which the hubby declared the best pot roast *ever*)
Tuesday - salmon, rice and veggies
Wednesday - beef enchilada casserole and salad. *
Thursday - crockpot beef stroganoff *
Friday - crockpot lemon pepper ribs* and baked potatoes
Saturday - crockpot vegetarian curry
Sunday - TBD (following a potluck lunch at church, will be light)
* indicates new recipe
Monday - Shepherds' Pie (using leftovers from Sunday's pot roast, which the hubby declared the best pot roast *ever*)
Tuesday - salmon, rice and veggies
Wednesday - beef enchilada casserole and salad. *
Thursday - crockpot beef stroganoff *
Friday - crockpot lemon pepper ribs* and baked potatoes
Saturday - crockpot vegetarian curry
Sunday - TBD (following a potluck lunch at church, will be light)
* indicates new recipe
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Meal plan Jan 10-16
The previous week's meal plan was great. It was so nice to have all the meals lined up. I'm tweaking a new, yet extremely simple, way to organize my meal plans. As I'm finishing off last week's meals, I've got a fantastic smelling beef stew simmering, and an apple bread pudding fresh out of the oven. Unfortunately, my diet won't let me eat any of it! Oh well. If anything though, me being on a specific diet requires me to be more organized for the family's meals.
Monday
oatmeal
leftovers (we've got quite a bit)
dry garlic been sausage with linguine and veg
Tuesday
oatmeal
leftovers (seriously...)
quiche and salad
Wednesday
cereal
sandwiches
baked beans and buns
Thursday
cereal
sandwiches
taco soup in the crockpot
Friday
cereal
?
baked potato night with salad
Saturday
pumpkin pancakes
?
homemade pizza
Sunday
cereal/toast
?
roast beef, potatoes, veggies, yorkshire puddings
I might make the pumpkin pancakes earlier in the week, and make a large amount. I love making more and then freezing them, ready for the toaster for quick breakfasts.
Monday
oatmeal
leftovers (we've got quite a bit)
dry garlic been sausage with linguine and veg
Tuesday
oatmeal
leftovers (seriously...)
quiche and salad
Wednesday
cereal
sandwiches
baked beans and buns
Thursday
cereal
sandwiches
taco soup in the crockpot
Friday
cereal
?
baked potato night with salad
Saturday
pumpkin pancakes
?
homemade pizza
Sunday
cereal/toast
?
roast beef, potatoes, veggies, yorkshire puddings
I might make the pumpkin pancakes earlier in the week, and make a large amount. I love making more and then freezing them, ready for the toaster for quick breakfasts.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Menu, Jan 2-9
Ok, here's my first week of meals. I'll include all 3 meals.
Monday
oatmeal
sandwiches
crockpot lasagna, salad, french bread
Tuesday
cereal
leftovers
sweet and tangy chicken (new recipe) rice and veggies
Wednesday
oatmeal
sandwiches
pereogies and sausage, sliced raw veg
Thursday
cereal
lunch?
Aloo Mattar Potatoes and Peas, rice
Friday
muffins or coffee cake
lunch?
vietnamese roasted crockpot chicken
Saturday
cereal
leftovers
beans and rice tortillas
Sunday
scrambled eggs
toasted sandwiches
beef stew in the crockpot
Will make cookies this week, plus maybe jello for school lunches
Monday
oatmeal
sandwiches
crockpot lasagna, salad, french bread
Tuesday
cereal
leftovers
sweet and tangy chicken (new recipe) rice and veggies
Wednesday
oatmeal
sandwiches
pereogies and sausage, sliced raw veg
Thursday
cereal
lunch?
Aloo Mattar Potatoes and Peas, rice
Friday
muffins or coffee cake
lunch?
vietnamese roasted crockpot chicken
Saturday
cereal
leftovers
beans and rice tortillas
Sunday
scrambled eggs
toasted sandwiches
beef stew in the crockpot
Will make cookies this week, plus maybe jello for school lunches
Meal Planning
Alright, it's a new year. Time to get back on the meal planning bandwagon. I'm good with making lists, I'm good with cooking from scratch....I just need to figure out what to cook already! The last few months have really brought along a lot of McGyver style cooking around here. You know, two sticks of gum, a roll of duct tape and a package of spaghetti noodles, and voila, a meal! I'm done with that.
Time for menu planning.
Throw some meal ideas at me, pretty please. My kids are strangely picky, but are adventerous in strange ways too. I'm open to any suggestions. Bring em' on!
Time for menu planning.
Throw some meal ideas at me, pretty please. My kids are strangely picky, but are adventerous in strange ways too. I'm open to any suggestions. Bring em' on!
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