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 & Budget Friendly Menu Plan Jan 3-10, 2016

Healthy, Budget-Friendly, and Easy

Check, Check, & Check- this week's menu ticks all the right boxes! I recently discovered 2 incredible ladies and their blogs; Amelia Winslow of Eating Made Easy & Anjali  of The Picky Eater - these ladies share an incredible vision of healthy living and have created awesome recipes that look delish! I can't wait to start off this new year with some of their best recipes! 

PIC CREDIT

Budget Friendly Easy & Quick Family Meals: Sept 29-Oct. 5, 2014

Phweeee! We just had one of the busiest weeks yet! 

Most days we had 3 events in 

3 different cities on the SAME day!!

Thankfully this week is decidedly slower with only 4 events spread out over the entire week. Our budget has gotten tighter so we really needed to buckle down on the fast food runs...so hard when you are all the state and you have kids to feed lunch and snacks. Not only does it get costly it is void of any REAL nutrition, so I had a ton on prep work on grocery day that paid off!

Here are some tips on road trip lunch & snacks*

• Good eating starts with GOOD PLANNING! Plan your snacks and all other meals so you have good tasty options PLUS you won't go back to the store and spend extra $ on things you inevitably will purchase along with those snacks for the kids.
• Look at the prepackaged snacks for inspiration! They have some nifty ideas that you can duplicate at home for nickles on the dollar!
• As soon as you get home from grocery store scrub, clean, dice, peel, slice, & package produce for a quick "grab & go" snack
• Designate a "lunch/Snack Grab & Go" area in your fridge and pantry. I remove all dry snack items from boxes and place in a bin in the pantry to save space and allow easy viewing of supplies. Maybe it's only my house, but it never fails if I leave snacks in the boxes, I will think we are fine on snacks bc of ALL those boxes still in the pantry...HA!  Empty boxes...Ergo, all snacks are REMOVED from boxes, neatly arranged in their bins & boxes are PROMPTLY placed in recycling bins.
• Freeze drink boxes, they will help keep food cold until lunch time and will thawed but icy cold in a few hours! BE sure to wrap in strong paper(cloth would be best) napkin. This has double duty: #1- will hold in moisture from thawing juice box and prevent soggy sandwiches & #2- you will be have a nice moist towel to wipe that jelly off your fingertips and face!

*More on this on a future post-will link here once posted! 

Breakfast Choices:
cold oatmeal cereal, Pancakes, Toast w/Jelly, Smoothies, Fresh Fuit, Cold Whole grain Cereal, Biscuits and Sausage Gravy, Bacon and eggs of choice.

Lunch Options:

• Left Over zucchini patties & carrots with dippings, 
• pizza-dillas w/ applesauce & chopped salad
• Fish-cakes on whole grain w homemade tarter sauce and dilled potatoes with grilled asparagus, 
• Cheese, Crackers, Veggies munchies w/dip and fresh fruit, Chopped Veggie Salad w/chilled fruit cup
• PBJ on toasted rounds with veggie chips and fresh fruit
• Grilled Cheese and Tomato soup
• Grilled Veggies, hummus, Felafels on homemade pitas, and fresh fruit

Supper Selections:

Meatless Monday:
Zucchini Patties w/Tahini Sauce, Mushroom Quinoa Pilaf
Tomato & Cucumber Salad
 
Tuesday:
Beef Stroganoff over Noodles w/Mixed Greens Salad

 
Wednesday:
Crunchy Coated Chicken w/Tomato & Basil Cream Sauce over Pasta, Mixed Greens Salad, Fresh Fruit Cup 

Thursday:
Kielbasa Sausage Links w/Romanian Cabbage, Mac & Cheese and Jello Cup

Fish Tacos w/Honey-Cumin Cilantro Slaw & Chipotle Mayo

Fish Friday:
Fish-Tacos w/Honey-Cumin-Cilantro Slaw and Chipotle Mayo on Homemade Puffy Tacos (Seriously? YUMMY!)

Saturday:
Homemade Pizza & Calazones w/homemade Pizza Sauce, Fresh Salad Green w/Balsamic Vinegar, Grilled Nilla Banana Pudding Boats.

Sunday:
Crock Pot Carribbean Jerked Chicken, Artichoke Hearts w/Herbed Couscous, & Chilled Fresh Fruit. 

Snacks Offerings:
Salted Caramel Greek, Vanilla or Peach Yogurts, Cottage Cheese, String Cheese, Puddings, Jellos, Chunk Cheese, Grapes, bananas, Peaches, Apples, Cucumber Spears, Carrots, Broccoli florets, Cauliflower, whole grain crackers, Dip, popcorn, applesauce, juice boxes, water, Hard boiled eggs, peanut butter crackers, dried fruit, & granola bars.

Linked to Menu Mondays!

Menu Mondays: Feb 24- March 2, 2014- Healthy Eating!

What a week! My whole family seems to be in such horrible moods, couldn't be because the winter has been so long, cold and bitter!  

 At least the sun has been out for the most part these last few days, that never fails to place a smile on my face!!

In that vein, like it or not, we are going to eat healthier!! I think when you get the proper nutrition your body just responds and your mood lightens. Not being bogged down with artificial flavors, dyes, or sweeteners is a step in the right direction too. 

Eventually the Family's attitude

will improve 

because of eating better...

Menu Mondays: February 17- 24, 2014

This week I received my menu inspiration from the

Taste of Home website.  

Before my days of using the Internet & Food Network for cooking influence- I would save each TOH magazine and insert with recipe index side up in a sheet protector w/my favorite recipes highlighted and then place 2 years worth of issues into a 3-Ring binder. 

 Pic Credit

Yeah, I have always been a geek that way, LOL! That is also how I would plan my freezer cooking sessions and basically how I learned to cook and keep a house before we got cable TV and my beloved Internet. 

In honor of TOH magazine & the great reading material plus motivation this magazine provides, I dedicate my menu week~

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

Menu Mondays: April 8-12, 2013

Pain Perdu...DELISH!!

BREAKFAST OPTIONS:
Cold Cereal Hot Cereal 
Eggs made to order
Granola Bars
Fresh Fruit w/Yogurt
Keifer
Pancakes
Toast Points
Pain Perdu

LUNCH TIME CHOICES:
Macaroni & Cheese, Raviolis, Tuna Fish Bundles, Felafels & Tzaziki Sauce, Black Bean Burgers, Barley & Beef Soup (From left over Roast), Chicken Nuggets
WITH SIDE SELECTIONS OF:
Cottage Cheese, Yogurt, Cheese Slices, Fresh Fruit, Carrot Sticks, Steamed Veggies, Humus, Ranch Dippings, Veggie Chips, Rice Cakes, Pita Crisps, Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars, Pudding, Jello, Canned Fruit Cocktail or Mandarin Oranges.

MUNCHIES:
Apples, Grapes, Bananas, Dried Berries, Carrot Sticks, Cheese Chunks, Granola Bars, Humus, Veggie Chips, Cottage Cheese, Yogurt, Keifer, Graham Crackers, Cheese & fruit Plate, Pop tarts, Rice Cakes, Woven Wheat Crackers,

SUPPER OFFERINGS:

SUNDAY:
Crock Pot Creamy Mushroom & Onion Roast, Mashed Garlic Potatoes, & Buttered Corn w/ Ice Box Yeasty Dinner Rolls & Caesar Salad

Kinda like mine, Will post Soon!

MONDAY:
Monterrey Jack Crispy Chicken, Steamed Broccoli, Quinoa Pilaf w/ Chopped Salad and Homemade Ranch Dressing



TUESDAY:
Lemon Pepper Baked Swai, Baked Potato, & Grilled Asparagus w/ Romaine Heart Salad, pickled red onions, sun-dried tomatoes, toasted pine-nuts and feta cheese

WEDNESDAY:
Chicken & Broccoli Bow-tie Pasta Bake w/ Chopped Salad and Balsamic and EVOO Vinaigrette Dressing

THURSDAY:
Crock Pot Swedish Meatballs and Homemade Noodles, Caramelized Brussels Sprouts w/Bacon, & Romaine Heart Salad w/pickled Red Onions, sun-dried tomatoes, toasted almonds, and Balsamic & EVOO Vinaigrette Dressing

FRIDAY:
Take in- PIZZA NIGHT!! & Family MOVIE Night!!! Yay!!

SATURDAY:
Left-over Buffet!

My Own "Chopped" Basket Menu Mondays!

I just totally love that show "Chopped" I love it when Alex Guarnaschelli gives the chef with the egos a redressing or when Amanda Freitag does the one eyebrow raised when she is not happy with the arragance of some chefs. I always pull for the underdog and I cringe when the souffle flops, the ice cream is watery goo, or the GOD FORBID the Pork is dry!

I watched recent episode and found our why my pork gets dry sometimes, it's because I leave it too long in the crock and it "boils", That is Marc Murphy told one contestant, "Your pork got boiled that is why is it so dry & no amount of sauce will help..." Owwwwwww, I will have to adjust the times in my crock pot recipes bc that is what happens a lot to me. 

Have you learned any tricks from watching "Chopped"?

One more thing, don't you just love how sincere Todd Allen is when the contestant gets chopped? I think he sounds so sad unlike that dork who judges CupCake Wars! Grrr, he is irritating and NOT funny, I practically don't watch it anymore bc he is such a smuck, IMO...

Ok enough chit chat on with the show! SO I totally over spent at the grocery store last Wed, and I now am on a STRICK budget. So to make it fun I am going to treat Easter Dinner left overs like a "Chopped Basket" Get ready for some round #2 Recipes... In the basket you will find honey and brown-sugar glazed ham with a fruit sauce, Wild Rice & Mushroom Soup, Corn, Chibatta Rolls, Citrus Butter, Strawberries, and Mashed Potatoes

Menu Mondays: March 25-31

 This will be a LONG week! So I have utlized my crock pot and one pot wonders! Somewhere between the grueling work load and research I have to get Kissi caught up and remotivated in school... I can do it, I can do it!!

No real big menu just honest food that is quick tasty and little mess!!

Meal Plan Monday: March 11-17, 2013

Sorta fell off the organizing wagon for awhile...but I am back on it again!! I had to use up the freezer pantry and it wasn't pretty...

Thankfully there was as SUPER MEAT sale one of my local markets and I bought:

• 30Lbs gr beef, 
• 50 Lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, 
• 4 whole Roasting Chickens, 
• 40 Lbs Beef Roasts, 
• 15 Lbs Pork roasts, 
• 10 Lbs of Country Pork Ribs.

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.   
  

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

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.      

Linked to Menu Mondays 
 
 

Menu Mondays: December 10-16, 2012

As is typical, this is a very busy week with appointments, I have my usual Mon-Wed-Friday nurse visits, Izak has 2 therapy sessions and I have a huge meeting with all 5 of his therapy team members to review the status of goals we set 6 months ago and to establish new ones.  Not to forget the normal homeschooling and therapy sessions I do with both kids. 

All the gifts I did buy I have wrapped, so that is done, thankfully!! At some point I am finishing up Christmas gifts I am making and packaging on top of helping Kissi w/the gifts she is making her cousins and friends.  

Additionally, I hope to get 

Christmas cards out this week,

but we shall see...

Breakfast Options:

Cold cereal, Multi-Grain Bagels and Cream Cheese, Whole Wheat Toast Points, Pumpkin Pancakes w/Blue Berry Syrup, Multi-Grain Waffles, Customized Hot Cereal, Scrambled Eggs, Keifer Smoothies, Fresh Fruit, Turkey Sausage.

Lunch Choices:      Side Selections:

Nuggets                       Fresh Fruit        Cottage Cheese

Peanut Butter & Jelly Roll-Ups          Veggie Chips 

Grilled Cheese           Customized Cream of Tomato Soup

Homemade Macaroni & Cheese          Applesauce

Veggie, Fruit, & Cheese  Plate              Yogurt  

Pizza Roll-Ups            Carrots & Dippings

Hot Ham & Cheese Sammies                Preztles

Supper Offerings:

Monday:

Crock Pot Mexican Chicken, Soft Tortillas, Yellow Rice, Homemade Salsa

Tuesday:

Creamy Crock Pot Roast w/mashed potatoes & buttered corn nibblets

Wednesday:

Broiled Flounder with Lemon Herbed Butter, Homemade Tartar Sauce, Double Stuffed Twice Baked Loaded Potatoes & Roasted Cauliflower

Thursday:

Beef & Barely Soup, Homemade Artsian Bread, Spinach Salad w/almonds and feta cheese

Friday:

Home Pizzas, Roasted Veggie Medley and Bread sticks

Saturday:

Chicken Scampi w/ Grilled Asparagus, Roasted Potatoes & Chopped Side Salad

Pic Credit

Sunday: 

Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce and bread sticks

Snacktime Fancies:

Poptarts, Nuts, String Cheese, Sweet Potato Crinkle Chips, Woven Wheat Crackers, Fruit Leathers,Celery peanut butter logs with raisin ants, Carrots & Dippings, Gingerbread Marshmallows, Grass fed raw milk Cheese, fresh fruit selections, & Veggie Chips