Menu Plan Monday- Week of February 1, 2010

Well, the eat from your pantry challenge is Finally Over...it was tough, but we made it through..with only a few slip ups here and there.

Some major winners from last week were the Braised Bok Choy- DELICIOUS! and the Teryaki Steak was so good....highly recommend. The two recipes went together perfectly.

The Magic Mango Bread came out well too. Next time, I would chop my Mango's smaller.

This week, I am going to try to use up some of my spices because they have been in my pantry for a while. So I am going to use the ingredients search on Allrecipes.com (one of my favorite menu plan tools) and find some recipes that will help me use my veggies and my spices...can it be done? Let's see...

This Tuesday is a pick up day for our Produce Share. Here is what we will be receiving:

Broccoli Crowns
Carrots
Green Kale

Romaine Lettuce
White Mushrooms
Roma Tomatoes
Fennel
Curly Parsley
Garlic
Red Peppers
Braeburn Apples
Navel Oranges
Kent Mangos
Ruby Grapefruits

BananasFruit Share: Blueberries, Temple Oranges and Crenshaw Melons

This week's menu plan:

Breakfasts: Oatmeal( Slow Cooker), Eggs & Toast, Waffles

Lunches: Lunches: Leftovers, Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Tuna Melts

Snacks: Fruits, Veggies, Hummus, Muesli Bars, Quinoa Tabbouleh

Dinners:

Monday: Leftover Beef Stew- Slow Cooker- Have enough for a whole meal

Tuesday: Herbed Chicken Nuggets with Orange Glazed Carrots and sauteed zucchini

Wednesday: Toscana Soup- Uses Kale with homemade bread bowls

Thursday: Pollo Fajitas- with Cucumber Mango Salsa

Friday: Spicy Turkey Burgers with Broccoli and couscous cooked in chicken broth

Saturday: BLT's with Spring Salad with Fennel and Orange

Sunday: Super Bowl!! Mahogany Chicken Wings , Chili with homemade Bread bowls, The Dip...recipe below., Guacamole, Winter Fruit Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing... more to come when I think of things....

The Dip-

This dip is AWESOME....really unhealthy but soooo good:

1 Can Hormel No Bean Chili

1 Block of Cream Cheese

1 Cup of Cheddar Cheese

In a 9x9 baking dish, spread cream cheese on bottom, then chili and cover with cheese. Bake in the oven at 350 for 10 min or until cheese is melted. Enjoy! I usually serve them with tortilla chips. The scoops work really well.

Thanks!

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Friday Follow

I joined this blog hop two weeks ago, and thought I would give it a try again...welcome if you are new here! Make sure to visit One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades!




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Great Post over at Savvy Moms Save...

I did a TON of research the other night for my post

this Friday over at Savvy Moms Save...

I really recommend that you head over there today

to see the BEST deals for free ( or close to free) kids meals!

I can't believe I didn't do that sooner!

You can also read last weeks post here.

Thanks!

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Menu Plan Monday- Week of January 25, 2010

This is the last week for the eat from the pantry challenge over at Money Saving Mom. I have to say that I wasn't completely "all about" this challenge in that I definitely 're-filled' some things in my pantry which I am pretty sure is 'not' what the challenge is about....

In light of my 'lack luster' participation, we did go through many items in our pantry, and in coming up with my menu plan for the weeks, I did only use things that I had in my pantry. So all in all, I would say that this challenge was helpful for me!

Next month, Money Saving Mom will be doing a Freezer Challenge which I am excited about. I have been wanting to do some freezer cooking for a while no

w, and this is just the push I need. If you look over on the right side of this blog in the books I recommend, you will see a book I love called "Don't Panic, Dinner's in the Freezer". I would highly recommend you get this book out from the library if you are at all interested in starting to freeze some meals.

Ok, now for this weeks meal plan:

Breakfasts: Oatmeal( Slow Cooker), Eggs & Toast, Blueberry Pancakesmmmmm

Lunches: Leftovers, Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Easy Snack Wraps

Snacks: Fruits, Veggies, Hummus, Apple Squares, Muesli Bars,Quinoa Taboulleh, Magic Mango Bread

Dinners:

Monday- Pollo Fajitas- with Cucumber Mango Salsa

Tuesday- Shepherd's Pie

Wednesday- Roasted Chicken and Potatoes served with Broccoli

Thursday-Braised Bok Choy with Teryaki Steak

Friday- Beef Stew- Slow Cooker

Saturday- Going to a Birthday Party- no cooking for me!

Sunday- Baked Chicken w/ Quinoa Side Dish

Thanks!

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Why I am Appauled...

I was just listening to the Diane Rehm show on NPR today and she had on Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie, authors of " Slow Death By Rubber Duck". I have to say, I can't believe how deceived we are as a nation of consumers.


The book is about the infiltration of BPA (Bisphenol-A) in almost everything we use as everyday products in our household. They did an experiment on themselves, mostly using children's plastic containers to eat and drink out of, and found their levels to be 7 times higher!

I started my quest to eat healthier about a year ago, and I felt like I was doing well by my "Made By Me" rule. The problem was that I was still buying canned beans, tomatoes, tomato paste etc...even though they are organic, the manufacturers are STILL USING BPA in the CANS!!!

I can't believe I was naive enough to believe they were out for my best interest. I just assumed the organic companies were not using BPA in their canning and packaging.

The only company found to package without BPA is Eden Organics. They started making BPA free cans and bottling in 1999! 1999! That is more than a decade ago, and the rest of the cooporations can't catch on... Eden claims the cost increase is only 2.2 cents per can, which is a small amount compared to the health risks BPA can cause.


I am ABSOLUTELY only buying Eden Canned Goods from now on.

This brings me to another point, I am going to step up my game, and buy all dry beans from the bulk section. This has been an area where I was slacking because I hate soaking beans overnight, well, I don't hate it, but I hate that I have to remember in order to have food on the table the next day!

This BPA debacle has definitely pushed me to take my healthy eating practices even further... will you join me? If we do this together, maybe it won't be as bad...

Articles on BPA Health Risks

Mercola- Why Canned Soups can be Bad for Your Health

Mercola- 5 Ways to Keep BPA out of your Food

Fast Company- The Real Story Behind Bisphenol A

MSN

Whole Foods- What they say about BPA in their products---major COP OUT if you ask me.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments on this issue!

Thanks!

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Menu Plan Monday- Week of January 18, 2010

Tomorrow I will pick up our Produce Share. Here is what we will be receiving:

Broccoli Crowns

Carrots

Baby Bok Choy

Red Leaf Lettuce

Cremini Mushrooms

Plum Tomatoes

Cucumbers

Russet Potatoes

Shallots

Zucchini Squash

Sunchokes

Braeburn Apples

Navel Oranges

Satsuma Tangerines

Bananas

I am still participating in the Pantry Challenge, we are getting down to the point where I am going to have to be pretty creative!

Here is the menu plan for the week:

Breakfasts: Oatmeal( Slow Cooker), Eggs & Toast, Pancakes

Lunches: Leftovers, Tuna Salad Sandwiches, PB&J, Easy Snack Wraps

Snacks: Fruits, Veggies, Hummus, Apple Squares, Muesli Bars, Quinoa Taboulleh

Dinners:

Monday: Baked Empanadas with Quinoa ( didn't get to from last week) and roasted Sweet Potato

Tuesday: Pork Tenderloin with Dijon Marsala Sauce served with grilled plum tomatoes and squash (uses Shallots)

Wednesday: Cranberry Chicken served with Potato Home Fries

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Chicken and Broccoli Unieng uses Bok Choy and Broccoli- served over rice

Saturday: Easy Slow Cooker French Dip w/ Glazed Carrots and Salad

Sunday: Going to a birthday party...no cooking for me!!

Thanks

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My Quinoa Conundrum...

I am looking for Quinoa Recipes.
Last time I did this for Cabbage,
y'all came through.
I bought a huge bag of Organic Quinoa from Costco...
and the bag is sitting in my pantry.


To honor my Pantry Challenge month,
I want to see this big bag 1/2 gone
by the end of the month...
can you help?

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Friday Follow- Blog Hop

I feel like I am in definite need of some help with my blog. I just joined up with Friday Follow which helps you get more traffic to your blog, as well as helpful tips from others who are doing the same thing.

Welcome to the first ever Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! You can join them every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.





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Who knew...

Who knew this little girl...

was an aspiring Jackson Pollock?

her medium? Milk and Carpet....genius


Must be exhausting....


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Menu Plan Monday- Week of January 11, 2010

This week I am going to be participating in the Pantry Challenge... over at Money Saving Mom...which I "sort" of participated in last week with the exception of Football Sunday and going out and getting some stuff for a party...oops.


But this week, we actually really NEED to do this since my husbands work has been slowing down..time to SAVE.
And what better way to SAVE then to use what you already have.


I will be purchasing Milk, Eggs and Bread(If the loaf I make isn't edible) and trying to keep any purchases below $30 this week.

Here's what we have left from the Produce Share:

Broccoli Crowns

Carrots- About 3

Cilantro- 1 bunch

Red Leaf Lettuce

Cremini Mushrooms- 1/2 bag

Sweet Potatoes- 3

Garlic

Red Onions

Ruby Red Grapefruit

Kent Mangoes

This week menu plan:

Breakfasts: Oatmeal( Slow Cooker), Eggs & Toast, Pancakes

Lunches: Leftovers, Mac N Cheese, Chicken Salad Sandwiches, PB&J, Easy Snack Wraps

Snacks: Apple Squares, Muesli Bars, Veggies & Fruit w/ Peanut Butter, Quinoa Taboulleh

Dinners:

Monday: Leftovers from this weekend- Split Pea Soup and Pulled Pork( wasn't on menu last week, I added it!)

Tuesday: Garlic Broiled Chicken Thighs w/ Salad and Broccoli and Rice

Wednesday: Spicy Mango Sweet Potato Chicken over rice with Salad

Thursday: Almost Stuffed Peppers- Really QUICK and EASY!

Friday: Black Beans A La Olla (Vegetarian)- Real Pantry User! I'll add one chicken breast for more protein- served over rice

Saturday: Baked Empanadas with Quinoa

Sunday: Crock Pot Barbecue Chicken and Cornbread Casserole with Salad

Well, that's it...
I hope to use up many items in my pantry
seeing as I don't have to go to the store
to buy anything for this weeks menu..
wish me luck...
and why not give it a try yourself!

Thanks!

:

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Forgot to Tell You Something....

A few weeks ago, I started contributing over at Savvy Moms Save...
I wanted to give you the link. Crystal comes up with great topics to write about, and I am thrilled to be a part of this blog. I will be focusing on Frugal Family Fun... on Fridays (of course), because that topic is near and dear to my heart.

Here are some links to previous articles... I am also posting there tomorrow!

Create Traditions

New Year's Resolution

and click here tomorrow- Friday for my latest post!

Thanks!


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Who knew...

Um yeah, Santa shops at Costco...

He was there today and I was totally star struck..

its like seeing your dentist at the mall.... just a little wierd.

But Lily and Claire had no problem talking to Santa

because he was dressed in regular clothes

(they were red)

He gave them both his "business card" with his name , Santa on it....

go figure.

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Menu Plan Monday- Week of January 04, 2010

Happy New Year!

I am so happy because it is cooler than 60 degrees here in Florida which is unheard of at this time of year... but a great excuse for making winter meals.

Here is our items for our produce share this week:


Broccoli Crowns

Carrots

Cilantro

Red Leaf Lettuce

Cremini Mushrooms

Red Slicing Tomatoes

Green Pepper

Sweet Potatoes

Garlic

Red Onions

Golden Delicious Apples

Haas Avocados

Ruby Red Grapefruit

Kent Mangoes

Bartlett Pears

Bananas


Here is the Menu Plan for this week:

Breakfasts: Oatmeal( Slow Cooker), Eggs & Toast, Pancakes

Lunches: Leftovers, Mac N Cheese, Chicken Salad Sandwiches, PB&J, Easy Snack Wraps

Snacks: Apple Squares, Muesli Bars, Hummus & Veggies, Fruit

Dinners:

Monday: Beef Stew with Bread and Broccoli

Tuesday: Pork Tenderloin- served with salad and Mashed Potatoes

Wednesday: Split Pea Soup (-Never made from last week)

Thursday: Garlic Broiled Chicken Thighs w/ Salad and Broccoli and Rice( SOO YUMMY)- BCS Football Game!

Friday: Spicy Mango Sweet Potato Chicken over rice

Saturday: Chicken and Dumpling Soup (uses Mushrooms)

Sunday: Moussaka Cottage Pie


Have a great week!

Thanks



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