Healthy, Quick, Easy, Family & Budget Friendly Menu Plan- B,L,D, & Snacks w/Links Included!! Jan 24-30, 2016

Winter is Here!! Funny living in Northeast Ohio we JUST started getting winter-like weather. A bit to the north of us in the snow-belt regions were hit a few months ago. 

But, in my area we forgot we lived in Ohio with all the 50+ degree days, sunshine, and zero snow. I was ready for it in theory...

Our menu this week is filled with soul-warming recipes, that "stick-to-your-ribs" (Not to your waistline or ehemm, other areas!!), a little comfort, a little traditional, and whole lotta LOVE!!

Easy, Quick and Budget Friendly Meal Plan + Links... January 17-23, 2016

We are week 3 into January, how's it going, have you been able to maintain your goals for 2016? Were the goals attainable, realistic? 

If you can't honestly answer "Yes", then simply take a step back, get perspective, and adjust. Maybe it's just me, but once I set a goal it's "Set in stone" and I feel this incredible guilt if I don't attain it, I have to tell myself, "It's ok to readjust". If that's you, take another look at your goals, and if some adjusting needs done give yourself some grace and adjust to a more attainable and realistic goal or mini goals that lead to the bigger picture.

This week I have saved my family time and money while creating fantastic, healthy, and filling family meals. How? Cook once and eat 3 times!! Yep, you heard right, I made bolognese sauce this week and that only gets more depth with time and it is perfect for this type of meal plan.

Menu Mondays: June17-23

 I don't know what is about Summer and Mexican Food, 

but it seems to go together like: 

• peanut butter & jelly, 
• cereal & milk, 
•  kool aid & sugar, 

it just fits! 

I love the unique taste of cilantro, the tang of lime, 
smokey heat of the chipotle tempered with the cool 
& creamy finish of an avocado!

Yum, YUM! If you love Mexican food like my family does you will appreciate this week's menu!

 

Mexican Cole Slaw W/Lime and Cilantro

RECIPE WED: Chicken Tortilla Soup-Crock Pot Version

Chicken Tortilla Soup 

My delish version of a recipe I saw online, very delish and you can use your slow cooker!!

DELISH LOOKING SOUP

Ingredients

• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 (15 ounce) can black beans
• 1 (16 ounce) bag frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or  bottle dark amber beer
• 2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with diced onions, undrained
• 1-lime juiced
• 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning {or homemade seasoning click for recipe}
• 3 whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)

RECIPE WED #8: MYO Ortego-like TACO SAUCE!!

I am a sucker for MYO mixes and sauces that taste just like the ones that cost $$ at the grocery stores, and I stumbled upon this taste-alike recipe from THE Make Your Own Zone blog and am going to give this recipe a try since we really enjoy the taco sauce. Now I am on a quest to find a good taste-a-like MYO HEALTHY Catalina dressing, since I really like Catalina dressing on my taco salad along with taco sauce...

 

6 Lbs of tomato puree = 4 days worth of meals!

This is my base for a Ragu/Bolognese type sauce that I convert into several dishes or I freeze into smaller portions for "Sunday Gravy" later in the month when time is short.

I make Fresh Tagliatelle Pasta (recipe here), and the KIDS eat it up, they especially like when I add in meatballs (What can I say I have carnivores!)

I then make a variety of meals from this base, this week I decided to concentrate on soups and since it is the cold of winter, soups are just the ticket!

RECIPE WED #22: Bubbles & Squeak

A perfect warm up dinner in the winter time!!

This is a dish my momma 

would make often!! 

We loved it, she would change it up with what was available in the garden, grocery store, or even fridge. 

Kinda like a Shepperd's pie. 

My momma never called it "Bubbles and Squeak" 

but as I grew up I realized it wasn't just a "made up dish" it actually had a name...

Isn't this head of cabbage lovely?! This pic is from this blog.

Medicine Cabinet in your Pantry Thursdays: MYO Cough Syrup

PIC CREDIT

IT'S that time again....COLD & FLU season!! The hacking and coughing upper respiratory junk has hit my household this morning with a vengeance! So I pull out my YUMMY Cough/Sore Throat Syrup Ingredients and whip this up!



 It contains only 5 ingredients and we all pretty much keep these on hand

Teach Me Tuesdays: MYO Natural Triple Butter Whipped Super Lotion

 

 Winter Time Remedy for Chapped 

& Red Hands

I saved 6oz baby food jars from son (they were FREE otherwise I made my own baby food) and I pour the mixture in them. This way I don't have to worry about contamination and each batch stays fresh. I store the unused portions in the fridge if I happen to run out of room I place them in the closet in my bedroom which remains cool 9 months out the year.

This make so much & is so rich you 

only need a small amount- you can make  

some for yourself and  

give some for gifts! 

I use my Cricut die cutting machine to cut adorable tags and labels then I use adhesives to affix labels when able or tie on tags with pretty ribbon.

Menu Mondays: Dec 31-Jan 6, 2013

I wanna go!! Pic Credit

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

What a year 2012 was for my family, I don't think I would ever want to repeat that year again that is for sure. It's one of those things  you hear people say it was the worst of times, it was the best of times...

I am looking forward to great beginnings this year, new chapters, and starting over- recalibrating... Really finding a new standard to measure up to...

So I hope you had a safe new year eve and

learned lots from 2012 to make

2013 one the best years EVER!!!

This menu really utilizes the left overs from New Years and capitalizes round #2 recipe. My mom was really instrumental in teaching us by example, we learned even when she wasn't speaking and with a family of 5 on one income every penny counted. 

So she would use every last scrap of left-overs and with a particular husband and finicky kids we sure gave her a run for her "culinary skill". She really inspired me to make a menu out of "Sunday" dinner and make is last all week long and still taste exciting and "new".

Breakfast Options:

Crispy Mashed Potatoe Pancakes served with sour Cream and Applesauce, Customized Omelets, French Toast, Hot Cereal, Fresh Fruit, Toast Points, Cold Cereal, Smoothies, Fried Egg Sammies

Lunch Choices:               Side Selections:

Mashed Potatoe Polpetti   Applesauce           Fresh Veggies
Kraut Dogs                        Mac & Cheese     Apple Wedges
PB&J Roll Ups                  Veggie Chips        Fresh Fruit
Chicken Noodle Soup       Whole Wheat Crackers   Dried Fruit
Pain Perdu                         Cottage Cheese   Black Grapes
Bo Ssam-Lettuce Wraps   Carrot Slivers      Orange Segments
Pizza Crescent Roll-Ups   Carrot Coins        Green Grapes

Bo Ssam from Peck the Beak

Supper Offerings:

Monday:
Customized Tomato Soup & Sharp Cheddar Creamy Grilled Cheese Sammies on Homemade Chibatta Bread

Tuesday:
Crock Pot Pork Shoulder Roast
Crisp Sour Kraut & Caramelized Onions
Buttermilk Whipped Potatoes
Chicken Gravy
Super Sweet Corn Nibblets
Ice Box Dinner Rolls
Black Forest Brownie Torte
Apple Pie

Wednesday:
Kapausta (Cabbage Soup), Ice Box Dinner Rolls, Spinach Salad with toasted Almonds and Feta Cheese, & Black Forest Brownie Torte

Thursday:
Pork Lo Mien, Chopped Salad, & Apple Pie w/Fresh Whipped Vanilla Bean Infused Cream

Friday:
Sour Kraut and Mashed Potato Perogies, Brown Butter & Sour Cream Sauce w/Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms, Cripsy Pork Ribbons, Spinach Salad, & Dinner Rolls
(I just take about 2 C of Leftover Pork and coat in brown sugar and hickory salt, then blast in 500 degree oven for a few minutes to caramelize the outside.)

Saturday:
Barb-B-Q Pulled Laquered Pork, Spring Rolls, Twice Baked Loaded Mashed Potatoes, Chopped Salad. 
(I take Left over Mashed Potatoes, & Stin in: Sour Cream, Chopped Green Onions, Sharp Cheddar Cheese-Shredded, & Bacon- cooked crisp and crumbled. Pour into a casserole pan and bake 350 until heated through. Sprinkle more add-on ingredients on top.)

Sunday:
Chicken Scaloppine, Angel Hair Pasta, Spinach Salad.

Snack Fancies:

Smoked Almonds, String Cheese, Apple Sauce, Cottage Cheese, Yogurt, Carrot Sticks, Fresh Fruit, Dried Fruit, Granola, Juice, Water, Keifer Smoothies.   
  

Crustless Quiche

1/2 pt Heavy Whipping Cream
8 Xtra Lg Eggs
2 C Shredded Cheese (Swiss, Gruyere, Or Smoked White Cheddar)
8 Oz Crimini or Button Mushrooms, sliced
8- 12 oz Diced Ham
1/4 Finely Diced Green Onion
kosher salt and Pepper

Heat oven to 350

• Heat skillet over medium heat and add EVOO, once hot add Sliced Mushrooms
• Allow to cook over medium, stirring frequently until reduced and caramelized, season liberally with kosher salt & fresh cracked pepper- should take about 15 min, remove from heat and allow to cool to room temp b4 adding to eggs!!
• Meanwhile, Whisk Eggs and Combine with Heavy Whipping Cream
• Stir in Diced Ham, Green Onions, shredded cheese, and cooled caramelized mushrooms, and season w/s&p
• Pour into prepared 11X9" glass pan 
• Bake for 20-30 min until fully cooked and slightly browned on top!

Mmmmmmmm mmmmmmm DELISH!!!!

Menu Mondays: Dec 24-30, 2012

I wish you the Merriest of Christmases and the Happiest of New Years!! I can tell you that this is a MAJOR improvement from last year's Christmas/New Years.... We "affectionately" call that the 4 plagues of Christmas, we had Hand, Foot, & Mouth Disease, Pink Eye, Roto Virus, and the Flu..AND my kids DO NOT go to day care but had been around family members who were exposed to all these illnesses and graciously passed it on to my family....So this year, MAJOR improvement!! 

I know a lot of families out there have specific fancy dinners at Christmas, I grew up with Pizza from Pizza Oven- a local joint in my area with killer pizza!!), Jo-Jo Broasted Potatoes, Broasted Chicken & Creamy Slaw...But my Hubby's family does a traditional dinner as does my dad's side. So I have some options in my menu for left over Ham. 

One day I am going to do the feast of the 7 fishes like the Italians do!!!

We are starting a tradition this year of making a birthday cake for Jesus Christmas Eve, I hope to do this every year to keep the kids' mind on the REASON we are celebrating!! 

On Christmas Morning I do a Big Breakfast Brunch, this year I will have it later in the morning this year as my children really love to open their gifts slowly and they are not early risers. 

I hate the feeling pressure to leave the living room and cook things, so I make a lot of the day before we head to my mom's side gathering and it is all set up. All I have to do is throw it in the oven and enjoy!!! 

Breakfast Options:
Hot Cereal, Toast Points, Fresh Fruit, Cold Cereal, Sausage links, Bacon, Peach French Toast, Sausage & Egg Strata, Smoothies

Lunch Choices:      Side Selections: 
PB&J Roll-Ups             Apple Rings     Carrots & Dippings
Tuna Salad Sammies   Veggie Chips      Grapes
Grilled Cheese             Cream O'Tom Soup  Oster Crackers
Fish Sticks                    Tator Tots          Orange Wedges
Hot Ham & Swiss Cheese Monte Cristo Sammies w/Sauteed  Mushrooms                   Veggie Sticks     Cottage Cheese
Homemade Spagheti'O's  Cheese Plate    Apple Slices
Sausage Strata                Fresh Fruit Plate   Celery Ant Logs
 

Supper Offerings:

Christmas EVE/Monday:
Pizza, Jo-Jo's Potatoes, Broasted Chix, Creamy Coleslaw, & Rolls

• Make ahead- Mix up and place in Oven Containers:
• Sausage, Egg, & Cheddar Cheese Strata, Peach French Toast, Cheesy Hash browns,  Yeasty Dinner Rolls, & Slice up Fresh Fruit Plate.

Christmas DAY/Tuesday:

• Brunch: Sausage, Egg, & Cheddar Cheese Strata, Peach French Toast, Cheesy Hash browns & Fresh Fruit Plate{Made the day before in fridge)
• Sausage Links, Bacon, Scrambled Eggs {Kept Warm in Rectangle Crock pot on low)
• Later in Day: Spiral Sliced Ham Glazed w/Fruit Cocktail, Homemade Dinner Rolls and whatever is left over from brunch

Wednesday:

Cheddar Cheesy Ham & Potato Chowder, Yeasty Dinner Rolls, & Spinach Salad

Thursday:
Homemade Scalloped Ham & Thinly Sliced Potatoes


Friday:
Chicken Cordon Blue Stuffed Shells, Steamed Broccoli, Cheesy & Side Salad

Saturday:
Crustless Quiche w/Ham, Swiss Cheese, and  Mushrooms, Grilled Asparagus, Spinach Salad

Sunday:
Orange Chicken, Brown Rice and Stir-fried Veggies W/Side Salad

Frugal Fridays: MYO Christmas Gifts- #4: Coconut Bon-Bons

 I Love these TASTY LITTLE treats!!!

Another "mystery" ingredient, that you might hesitate when I tell you, but it is IMPORTANT to the texture of this treat.
 
THERE IS  is also a bit of a science behind this as you watch the powdered sugar dissolve the "mystery ingredient" &  you are amazed the first time you see it happen. 

Nearly every year I make this I have to still have to fight the urge to NOT to FREAK out when the mystery ingredient turns liquidy, then when I stir more powder sugar in, it seems to take more than I remembered to firm it back up.

Are you ready for the mystery ingredient YET??

INSTANT MASHED POTATOES 

I know, you might not think that a typically savory dish could make this treat soo delicious, but it does!!  And I am not one to advocate the uses of "instant" anything, but I have tried this with fresh made mashed potatoes and it doesn't have the right texture unless you use a food mill, even then I still didn't quite like it. 



It is easy and only a bit involved simply because you have quite a bit of "guess work" when it comes to the proper amount of powdered sugar.  

Just be patient!! 

And stir, wait a few moments, add more powder sugar & then stir again. Unless you have the forearms of Popeye you might end up using your hands.

Other than that it is simply add ingredients and stir, stir, stir....

COCONUT BON-BONS

• 3/4 C Instant STIFF Mashed Potatoes, cold
• 4 C Powdered Sugar
• 4 C Sweetened Flaked Coconut
• 1-2 t Almond or GOOD Gourmet Handmade Vanilla Bean Extract - {Personally if I don't like the flavor profile when almond extract is omitted, but I give you that option, try if first w/almond though!}
  
• 1-2 t GOOD Gourmet Handmade Organic Coconut Extract (or store bought)
• 12 Oz REAL Chocolate, cut int to cubes and tempered

---------------------

1. Mix COLD Mashed potatoes with almond & coconut extract 

2.  Stir in 1 C powder sugar & mix until sugar has dissolved. Will look liquidy, don't freak! Keep adding Powder sugar until mixture holds its shape. WILL TAKE MORE THAN YOU THINK JUST BE PATIENT AND ADD SMALL AMOUNTS AT A TIME!!
3.  Place in fridge until firms up about 20 minutes.
4. Shape into 2" inch diameter Balls & place back into fridge until firms up about 20 minutes or up to over night. (I typically will make all my candy fillings in one day, place in either fridge or freezer over night, then spend all my effort the next day tempering with finicky chocolate!) 

 5. Use fork and dip into tempered chocolate, I like to double dip!

You could totally shape these into little "Bars" and place a raw almond on top before you dip into chocolate for a "JOY-full" experience!! Pun-FULLY intended!!! OMGoodness I wished I had more of these as they are sooo good!!

Menu Mondays: December 17-23, 2012

Gearing up for the Holidays and trying to make it as easy and comfortable for everyone involved!!

I have an easy menu again OUT OF MY FREEZER storage... 

Pic Credit

IT is kinda funny to me as this freezer storage is reminding me of "The Widow's Oil" in the Old Testament, when the prophet Elisha blesses the widow's oil and the jar kept pouring out oil as long as she has empty vessels to fill. 

{2 Kings 4}...the freezer doesn't seem to have an end in sight!! 

That was one heck of a session I must have been preparing for Armageddon!!

Breakfast Options:
Fresh Fruit, Hot Cereal, Kashi, Granola, Dried Fruits, Baked Oatmeal, Choose Your Own Omelet, Blueberry Waffles, Toast Points

Lunch Choice:            Side Selections:
Pizza                             Apple Slices                Dried Berries          
PB & J  Roll-Ups         Carrots and Dippings    Oranges
Fish Cakes                    Grape Tomatoes           Banana Boats
Quinoa Burgers             Veggie Chips               Yogurt
Mac & Cheese               Crackers                      Grapes
Taco Cups                      Steamed Snap Peas      Apple Sauce
Grilled Cheese               Cream O' Tom Soup     Oster Crackers

Supper Offerings:   

Monday:
Baked Pasta w/Meatballs {Was pre-made and Frozen in bake and toss pan!!}, Toasted Homemade Organic Herb Garlic Bread, & Spinach Salad


Tuesday:
Chicken Picotta, Loaded Stuffed Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Spinach Chopped Salad

Wednesday:
Crock Pot Salisbury Steak, Wide Egg Noodles, Hot Buttered Corn Nibblets, 

Thursday:
Crock Pot Chicken Swarmas, Tahini Sauce, Pickled Onions, Orzo Oilo, Spinach Salad

Friday:
Carniatas Meal in a Bag {I had made Carnitas one night and had so much left over I have enough for an entire meal for my family!!}

Satuday:
Repeats Buffet!

Sunday:
Christmas Dinner with In-Laws

Snack Fancies:
Fresh Fruit, Cottage Cheese, String Cheese, Crackers, Pickles, Yogurt, Applesauce, Cheddar Cheese Slices, Pepperoni Slices, Carrots & Dippings, Celery Ant Logs, Apple Lady Bugs, Peanut Butter Dip, Milk, Apple & Eve Fruitables Juice, String Cheese, Apple Rings w/peanut butter and raisins, Dried Fruit, Nuts, Veggie Chips, Rice Cakes, Ginger Bread Marshmallows, Keifer Smoothies w/frozen fruit & Veggie Purees.      

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