Meal Plan Monday

I love planning my meals every week and posting them here. I lean toward the "lazy" side of life and so posting this here helps me stick to it.

When I started this Monday's menu I knew there was something like it out there that inspired me, I just couldn't remember what it was called, then I looked back through my blog and remembered: Meal Plan Monday!!! So I will join in that carnival.



Here goes.

M- Sweet and Sour meatballs

T- Burgers, homemade mac-n-cheese

W- Chicken on the grill, something easy because we'll be cooking all day for Christmas Eve @ Yiayia's

Th- Christmas Eve at Yiayia's: Ham, turkey, Greek stuffing, Yiayia potatoes...

F- Christmas Day, blueberry pancakes for b-fast, mom's Ham loaf

S- leftovers

Sun- family gathering



b-fast: cereal, pancakes, french toast

lunch: chicken nuggets, grilled cheese,

snacks: mandarin oranges, tomatoes/feta cheese, cookies and other Christmas yummies



Happy eats!

Sweet and Sour meatballs

The easiest and very delicious party food that I serve for dinner, because well isn't dinner a party!!

Meatballs
I either buy pre-made frozen meatballs or make my own:
Here's my recipe:
1 pound hamburg
1 egg
bread crumbs (1/4 cup- not sure I eye it)
milk (a splash, again I eye it)
1/2 onion chopped

mix the above and form into balls, cook meatballs on stovetop or broil

Sweet and Sour Sauce:
yummy and oh so easy:
mix together
1- 12 oz jar of chili sauce
1- 10 oz jar of grape jelly
double it for more sauce

add meatballs and let them all cook for an hour or more
yummy!

I serve over rice and with fresh veggies, usually broccoli, my kids favorite!

Monday's Menu

OK so a day late but we've been eating leftovers since Sunday.

day #1: jambalaya
day #2: pizza
day #3: chicken on the grill
day #4: hamburgers
day#5: eat at in-laws
day #6: grocery shop day

I will also be making cookies.
I hope to be posting some cookies recipes soon.

Writing out our menu and really sticking to it helps with the food bill! When I don't have a plan things go downhill quickly; and in the kitchen world that means we EAT OUT! We are pretty thrifty when it comes to eating out but certainly not healthy, lots of times it's dollar menu at McD's. Oh, yummy- they have a good burger.

So if you struggle with eating out try to really think through your menu and your week and see what works for you.

Happy eats!

Lasagna Soup

I saw this at my friend Aleatha's blog. I will be trying this soon.

This is so easy and so yummy

1 pd ground beef
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 (14 oz) can beef broth with onion
1/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 1/2 cups uncooked corkscrew-shaped pasta
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 (14.5) can diced tomatoes (I use tomatoe puree b/c my family doesn't like tomatoes)

directions:
cook beef w/ garlic in skillet until browned. pour off fat.
add broth,tomatoes and Italian seasoning. Heat to boil
Stir in pasta. Cook over medium heat 10 min. or until pasta is done. Stir in cheese. Serve with additional cheese if desired.

Monday's Menu

My menu starting this Monday is:
day 1: spaghetti, homemade garlic bread
day 2: turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes
day 3: grilled chicken
day 4: Shepherds Pie
day 5: crescent rolls with chicken stuffing
day 6: frozen pizza
day 7: yoyo

breakfasts: eggs, french toast
lunches: sandwiches, pb & j, tomatoes/feta, grilled cheese
snacks: chips, blackberries, blueberries

Sunday/today: lunch: beef stew
dinner: subs, mac-n-cheese, chips, apple pie

Monday's Menu

So how did everyone do over thanksgiving?
Did you eats lots of food at once?
Or, did you, like me graze alot!?

I love, love, love the food on Thanksgiving. I usually do a 6 month Thanksgiving meal in the spring!
My favorites are:
Stove Top Stuffing/gravy/cranberry sauce mixture- I mix it on my plate
Greek Stuffing- meaty with walnuts and berries
Mashed potatoes with gravy
chocolate cream pie

Oh just typing those make me hungry.

This Monday's Menu posting has really helped me. On the nights I don't wanna cook or don't know what to cook I can refer to this post and simply "do the next thing".
If the kids ask what's for dinner: we can refer to this post!

Without futher ado...
This weeks menu:
a heavy red-meat week: we are eating the freezer empty

day #1: steaks on the grill with potatoes
day #2: Philly cheese steak with peppers and onions
day #3: frozen pizza
day #4: steaks somehow: grill or thinly sliced- looking for recipes on this one
day #5: sweet and sour meatballs
day #6: I don't care: most likely we'll eat out! My night off!!
day #7: YoYo Night!

OK, so send me some steak recipes or your stir-fry recipes!!- yum!
Have a good week in the kitchen.

Swiss Cheese Chicken

I have always gotten positive feedback from this recipe.
I got it from my mom before I was married and we have loved it ever since.

So for my friend Michael in Detroit, holla 4 De-troit!, here it is:



Swiss Cheese Chicken

4 boneless-skinless chicken breasts
4 slices swiss cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup white wine or grape juice
1 cup Stove Top stuffing
2 Tbsp melted butter


Preheat oven 350 degrees.
Place chicken breasts in 13x9 pan
Lay cheese on top of chicken
mix cream of chicken and wine, pour over chicken
sprinkle stuffing over the top
sprinkle with melted butter
bake 350, 30-40 minutes or when chicken is done

Serve with more stuffing and carrots!

Homemade Lemon Tea

This is a picture of my lemon balm herb plant.
I have had it for about a month now and decided to cut some leaves and actually DO something with them! I took the leaves and tore them into small pieces. Then I placed them in a tea spoon I have. It is a little pod with holes in it and a hinge and clasp.

I placed that spoon into boiling water and let it steep.
It was/is tasty.
Now I need to look into drying the leaves and using them because i want to make our own iced tea!

Happy Thanksgiving

Pita in the oven.
Mashed potatoes being mashed.
Chocolate cream and pumpkin pie in fridge.
Green bean casserole ready for oven.
Table set.
Ready for family.

Happy eats and happy Thanksgiving.

Monday's Menu

Once again it is only this blog that is making me make up my menu!
At least it's working.

OK so this week we will eat:
day 1: Lisa's pork chips edited by Mike
day 2: Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas
day 3: Subs, turkey, ham, roast beef with veggies and chips and Rotel/Velvetta dip
day 4: THANKSGIVING
day 5: leftovers
day 6: chicken salad with dressing, nuts, croutons
day 7: beef stew with Bisquick dumplings

breakfasts:
bagels with cream cheese
eggs, sasuage, french toast, pancakes

lunches:
tomatoes/feta/green pepers
grilled cheese
mac-n-cheese
leftover turket sandwiches

snacks:
yogurt
chips
tomatoes/green peppers/feta

Pork Chops & Potatoes In Creamy Gravy

from my friend Lisa's blog.

Found in: American Heart Association One-Dish Meals
6 WW points
Serves 4 (1 pork chop & 1 1/4 cups veggie mixture)

4 lean pork chops with bone in (about 5 oz. each)
Paprika to taste
Pepper to taste
Veggie oil spray
2 cups fat-free, low sodium chicken broth
1 lb. red potatoes cut into wedges
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
1/4 tsp. dried tarragon, crumbled
1/2 cup fat-free evaporated milk
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. salt
4 oz jar sliced pimientos

Sprinkle one side of the pork chops with paprika and pepper.

Heat a large skillet over high heat. Remove the skillet from the heat and lightly spray with vegetable oil spray. Cook the pork chops with the seasoned side down for 1 minute. Remove from the skillet.

In the same skillet, stir together the broth, potatoes, onions, carrots, and tarragon. Bring to boil. Cook 12 minutes then add the pork chops for 12 or so until pork is done.

Using a large slotted spoon, transfer the veggies to a serving platter with a rim or to a large shallow bowl. Top with the pork. Cover with aluminium foil to keep warm. Set aside.

Increase the heat to high. Bring the broth to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes, or until reduced to 1 cup.

Reduce the heat to medium. Whisk in the evaporated milk and flour until well blended. Stir in the salt. (You can scrape the skillet with a flat spatula...you know to get the yumminess on the bottom) Cook for 2 minutes.

Stir in the pimientos (You could totally leave this out if you were not a pimiento fan)! Pour over the vegetables on the serving platter and voila! Sounds like comfort food to me!!

Monday's Menu

OK, so this blog is helping me do my menu for the week.
It's Monday morning and I don't want to grocery shop
and
I don't want to plan a menu.
I do know that when I do not only will I have one less thing to do today, but our family will eat good and eat within our budget.

So here goes:

Day #1: Steaks with noodles and veggie?
Day #2: Pulled pork sandwiches (pork in crock pot since last night- will feed a lot of kids)
Day #3: Grilled Maple-Glazed served with spanikoptia and fresh picked tomato, steaks for the boys
Day #4: Pizza
Day #5: leftovers, please Lord may we have leftovers
Day #6: sandwiches or breakfast
Day #7: Yiayia and Papou's house

Breakfast: eggs, pancakes, cereal, oatmeal, meat product
lunches will be: mac-n-cheese, grilled cheese, pb&j, fruit, feta/tomatoes

I also need to buy something sweet- maybe a cheesecake?

No recipe from me this week. Anything you want from my past menu's let me know.
Also e-mail me your favorite recipes, or post on your own blog.

Happy eats!
Now to the grocery store

Pulled Pork or Beef

So our new favorite meal has been pulled pork or pulled beef sandwiches!

You'll need:
large roast: pork or beef
Publix brand honey BBQ sauce
hamburg rolls

Crock-pot roast for ever and a day, I've done anywhere from 1 day to 2.5!
Just add some water to keep the meat covered. If you use a beef roast add a beef bouon cube for more flavor!

Remove meat and place in a large dutch oven on the stove top
shred meat using 2 forks
add BBQ sauce and stir to cover meat while heating over low-med heat!
Serve on buns!
Corn bread, baked beans, garlic bread can single-handedly round the meal off nicely!!
Oh an eat sometign green with it- broccoli w/cheese wins over here!

Mondays Menu and Mimi's Teriyaki recipe

I got a deal on mac-n-cheese so we're eating it a few times this week!

Monday: burgers with fresh lettuce and tomatoes picked this morning! mac-n-cheese, juice
Tuesday: teriyaki steaks on the grill, broccoli with cheese and garlic noodles
Wednesday: boys gone so maybe dinner out with Steve? date night?
Thursday: pulled pork with baked beans and corn bread
Friday: pizza
Saturday: Teriyaki Chicken on the grill, mac-n-cheese
Sunday: Greek Festival!

We teriyaki everything. chicken, pork, steaks, veggies.

You name it we've tried this recipe on it. We got this recipe from my mom at the start of our marriage, who knows it may have saved us a time or two -wink*

Mimi's Teriyaki Marinade

1/3 cup soy sauce
2 tsp Blk pepper
2 tbsp and 2 tsp brown sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tbsp and 1 tsp ground ginger

Marinate meat overnight or add a small amount to stir fry veggies!

Monday's Menu

Ok, so I am getting into this menu groove. I do find that my menu changes a little bit as we have been getting invited to my in-laws on a random, weekly basis.
I also love that we are eating home more and not out at the 99 cent menu.

Monday: leftover pot roast, with biscuits and honey, carrots and salad with my homegrown, from seed lettuce!!
Tuesday: teriyaki chicken on grill, stir-fried veggies, garlic noodles (my kids love these)
Wednesday: Port chops, Lisa's recipe
Thursday: Breakfast, Greek omelets, sausage, OJ, maybe french toast too?
Friday: pizza, we get Hungry Howies pick-up special: 1 bacon/pepperoni, 1 ham and pineapple, 1 more if I have extra kids
Saturday: Yoyo night
Sunday: lunch with my mother and Nana: dinner: Sub sandwiches, I'm think Maine style italians

Monday's Menu

Here's this weeks menu.
How about you? What's your family eating this week?

No recipe from me today, instead this tip: One of the first things you should think about when you wake up each morning is, "What are we having for dinner?".

By asking yourself this one question you can save time and money, and we are into saving both of those around here: our current debt free date is Nov. 2023, Lord willing.
Happy eats!

Monday - cheesy chicken with carrots, I made Kelly's recipe below and have named it "Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas"

Tuesday - hamburg helper with broccoli

Wednesday - pork chops on the grill (they were a huge hit ast week) with garlic noodles

Thursday - steaks on the grill with mac-n-cheese and broccoli

Friday - teryiaki chicken on the grill with noodles and carrots

saturday - yoyo night

Sunday - roast with potatoes, carrots, garlic

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

This recipe came in from my friend Kelly.
I have made my changes in red

3 Large Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 Can of Campbell's Condensed cheese soup
1 can Enchilada sauce
1-2 cups of cheese
Sour Cream
1 tomato
1 package of 10 soft tacos
1 package of taco seasoning ( I buy the big one at Sams as we use alot of it throughout a year, and for $4-5, you get your moneys worth!!)

I Crockpot the chicken breast on low heat all day while I am at work. Come home shred it, put it in a pan, use a package of taco seasoning and a cup of water and let it simmer while I get the enchilada sauce ready. Once it cooks through, about 15 minutes, add the can of cheese soup along with 1/2 cup of water. Cook on medium heat for about 15 minutes.
Dip the tacos in enchilada sauce, I did not understand what this meant so I waited and skipped this step, put a couple spoonfuls of the chicken mixture and roll it like an enchilada. I use a 10x13 and can make 10 nicely. Once done, pour enchilada sauce evenly over rolled stuffed tacos then spread the cheese over it and bake 15 minutes at 350 to heat through and melt the cheese.
Serve with Mexican rice or beans and add the tomatoes and sour cream as garnishments

Success with family! Thanks Kelly!

Broccoli

Maybe everyone knows this already but I learned a few things about broccoli this last week.

Broccoli is yucky when overcooked.

Steam broccoli for 5-6 minutes, then serve.

I had always been hit or miss with my family, and myself, eating broccoli. I couldn't figure it out and since I don't really love cooking I just figured it was my lack of skills.

Then Martha filled me in.

Don't overcook.

Serve immediately.

Also broccoli is so full of good stuff that cheese and butter are OK to add in large quantities.

Enjoy, it is broccoli season.

Monday's Menu

Link to your Monday's Menu by leaving a comment; also look for the red below to see what I need help with in my menu this week.

Above all, have fun in the kitchen and recipes always welcome here.
Monday - Beef Stew, my mother-in-laws recipe-we didn't eat it last week, click here for recipe

Tuesday - Pork Tenderloin on the grill, with Steve's teriyaki marinade and broccoli with cheese and brown rice

Wednesday - Justin pizza at youth group: Beef Stroganoff, Hamburger Helper with glazed carrots

Thursday - Pork Chops on the grill, however Steve wants to cook them, butter and herb noodles, broccoli

Friday - pizza

Saturday - Yoyo Night

Sunday - Chicken something?? Need help on this one, what can I make with chicken that I can leave in the over/crockpot while we are at church- so like 1 1/2 hours?

Monday's Menu

Meals this week:

Beef Stew click for recipe
Jumbalaya with shrimp, chicken and sausage
Steaks on the grill
Chicken on the grill
Hamburg Helper
Burgers (something fun from Martha Stewarts show on this topic)
Yoyo Night- Your On Your Own

Beef Stew

There is nothing better than the smell of beef stew on a chilly October day, or the way the smell greets you as you walk in the door, starving after church on Sunday.

I'm not sure if you can relate to the smell so I thought I'd share the recipe that warms my senses and is one of Justin's favorite meals.

BEEF STEW

1.5# Stew beef

1 Onion

1/2 c ketchup

1/4 c vinegar

2 TBSP sugar

carrots

potatoes

3 Tbsp Cornstarch

In large pan or Dutch oven brown stew beef and onions; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add ketchup, vinegar and sugar. Wait a few minutes and fill 1/2 with water. Simmer 4 hours.

Cut raw carrots and potatoes into 1 inch pieces

1.5 hour before done, add carrots (raw) or .5 hour before done if canned.

.5 hour before done add potatoes

Fill large coffee mug 3/4 full with cold water and add cornstarch, stir until dissolved.

Slowly add to boiling stew- stirring.

Top with Bisquick Dumplings

Grab a bowl, a big spoon and a friend.

Enjoy!

Welcome to My Kitchen

I do have a confession to make: I'm not a very good cook, at best a mediocor baker, somewhat of a chocolate addict and a "simple meal" queen.

I hope to look for inspiration and begin to test my hand at trying new things in the kitchen.
This site is to chart that journey.

Thanks for joining me, please send me your recipes, e-mail them to vintagesheet (at) yahoo dot com- I need as many as possible!

Links

Sea Pea Cakes

Bread and Butter

Bread and Butter pickle recipe