Tag Archives: meal planing

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Meal Planning Monday Inexpensive meals ideas

mushrooms

Meal Planning Monday: inexpensive meals ideas.  I have been away for a long time and my meal planning has suffered.  It has been a trying time and I feel with the start of spring I can get back to what I enjoy.  I need to make myself happy and I know I will be a better mom and wife for it.  I am trying to get back to things I enjoy, blogging being part of my happiness.   My little space in the world.

I had a great loss this winter.. actually the lost has been since last July resulting in my fathers passing this past February.   I miss him and I will address it at another time.  With him being so sick for so long my life was in an emotional limbo and truly super exhausting.

My 1st step back to sharing with my readers is my meal planning.

Meal Planning for a family of 4 ideas what to feed a family that are inexpensive yet homemade:

Sunday: Loaded potato skins

Monday: Shepard’s Pie

Tuesday: Baked chicken, asparagus, rice

Wednesday: Chili

Thursday: Special Meal for my mom

Friday: Pasta with sausage (Kids cooking)

This week I spent $101 on groceries and $20 at the produce store.

I am hopping you have a wonderful week and may life bring you joy.

Cheers.

 

 

 

Cooking, LIfe

Menu Planning and Life

mushrooms

This week is a busy week.  I have a lot going on at work and in my life.  I have a bazaar at work, I am headed at the end of the week to a wedding in Dallas leaving my husband to do the running with the kids.  Plus my daughter is preforming in a play on Sunday.   I need to meal plan which I have not been doing any regularity lately causing me to be very disorganized.

My meal planing this week is all about easy because of how much I have to get done.  Easy for my self and my husband is super important.  also Tuesday night I have to make a pot of my  Split pea soup for the Bazaar.

I really also want to tell you about what else I have been up to.  I am still sewing and making superhero capes.   Check out BABYPOP (for your custom capes starting at $17 for custom letter, color, and logo they make great Christmas gifts.

babypop super hero capes starting at $17

I even make capes for the family pets !

super dog cape

My mask are $4.50 each at my store Babypop

super hero mask

I have been reading more because the political environment makes me shut of the TV.   I just finished Orphan Train and now I am reading Boys on the Boat.  Both books are amazing.  What are you reading .. any suggestion for my next book.

Meal Planing this week:

Sunday : Baked Fish and potatoes asparagus

Monday: Beef and noodles

Tuesday:Pork chops

Wednesday: Chili

Thursday: Perogies and kielbasa

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Burgers and Tator Tots

 

Be sure to check out my posts :

My top 10 Favorite Things to buy at Aldi and Save

save at target

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Meal Planning with Teens

Meal Planning on Budget with TeenagersDaylight savings time always messes me up.  I never know what time it is.  I never really understood the purpose of daylight saving ..because of Farmers and longer time in the field but it is unnecessary.  This morning I think my Iphone changed but the clock I have which changes automatically is pre 2008 so my clock turns automatically  a few weeks prior to the current week of March 13th so I seriously was so confused this morning.

I finally figured it out feeling like a confused child.

This week is a fun week the schools Talent show. I have my moms group and my sons volunteer.   It is also St Patrick’s Favorite so My favorite Holiday Meat!  Corned Beef!!

Meal Planning with Teens

Monday : Pork Chops, Rice and Black Beans

Tuesday: Roasted Chicken Mac n Cheese

Wednesday London Broil, egg noodles, cauiflour

Thursday: St Patrick day Corned Beef, Potatoes and Cabbage

Friday Taco Night, Re-fried Beans, Yellow Rice

Saturday: Pasta Night red sauce with sausage

Linking Up with  Motivation Monday and Menu Plan Monday

Meal Planning on Budget with Teenagers

 

 

 

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Meal Planning with Teens

Meal Planning on Budget with Teenagers

This weekend has been a busy few days Halloween isn’t even here and I am exhausted.  I had a an Octoberfest at a friends hour I brought Bacon 3 ways to go with the beer,  all sweet.  I made Candied Bacon, Chocolate bacon, and toffee bacon.   I would love to say I have pictures but I was making it last minute and none survived.  I have to say all of it went, I brought none home.  The Candied bacon was  the bacon everyone raved about you can find the recipe here.  The candied bacon is very  labor intensive because you have to flip and basted every 5 minutes for 35 minutes,  yea to much up and down next time I need netflix in the kitchen. I would just sit down when you have to flip the bacon again and basted it.

candied bacon

This weekend was  also Community service day or what we call “The Church has left the Building. ” At church instead of a sermon and service we reach into the community helping others.  250+ people served all day doing various task from raking leaves for a older person in need to working in a soup kitchen. We took some preteen kids and picked up trash. The kids were surprised at the amount of cigarette butts yuck.. But they cleaned up. Teaching kids social responsibility.

social good with kids

This week is also my annual Pumpkin Carving Party.  I have hosted this event 8 times.  For many of the moms this is the only pumpkin they carve.   They also get to get out, drink wine, eat, and socialize till after midnight.  I love it every year many say it is their favorite event in our moms group.   Check out last years pumpkin art.

pumpkins

This week with Halloween there is a ton on our schedule but with a Teen I want to make sure I’m feeding them and they are not just eating candy.

Meal Planning with Teens

Monday; Roasted,  Chicken Carrots, and Potatoes

Tuesday Pumpkin Carving:  Crockpot Smoked Sausage and Hash browns (easy for a busy night)

Wednesday: London Broil rice and beans

Thursday (trunk and treat) : English Muffin Pizza and Tator Tots

Friday: Halloween Party : Cooking night off

Saturday : Halloween Easy Ravioli Bake

baked ravioli

I am linking up to

Motivation Monday

Organizing Junkie

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Meal Planning on Budget with Teenagers

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Meal Planning on Budget with Teenagers

Meal Planning on Budget with Teenagers : Having a teen can be over whelming on your budget.  Adult size clothing and a growing appetite.  I find meal planning is the only way that I will make it through the next 8 years as my kids make it through their teenage years.  My son is a 6′ 1″ at 14 and he can put away the meat with the best of them.  I live near Philadelphia so I like to say I don’t get the buying or sales that the lady’s in the Midwest get. Food is expensive and it I don’t plan I could spend close to $1000 a month on food.  My goal is to keep it under $500 a month.

I do stock up if I see a sale on meat.  Like 2 weeks ago Predue ground chicken was $2.57 a pound. Turkey bacon was on sale 3 for $5 which is a huge help because I make an egg sandwich for my teen every morning.

This weeks meal plan

Meal Planning on Budget with Teenagers:

Monday : Chicken Pasty  Left over Chicken,  Potatoes, carrots, in a homemade Pastry $8.30 for 8

Tuesday: Fried Rice Rice $1.30, 4 carrots $1,  onion $1, Mushrooms $1, Broccoli $1, Diced Ham $2.99 – $8.20 for 10 cups

Wednesday : London Broil $6, squash $3, broccoli  $2= $11 for 5 servings

Thursday: Sam Clubs Chicken $4.88 , homemade mash $2.50, Green Beans  $2.50- $10  for 5 serving

Friday: My Blue Ribbon Chili– Ground Chicken (family fun night at school need a quick dinner)  $13 for 18 cups enough to eat for lunch all weekend

Saturday : Fend for yourself night Left overs

6 night dinners with left over for my husbands lunch for $50.50

Check out my post on Tips for Budget menu planning with teens

Tips for Menu Planning with Teenagers on a Budget

I am linking up to

Motivation Monday

Organizing Junkie

Meal Planning on Budget with Teenagers

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Skinny Fake Fry Mushrooms and Meal Plan Monday

mushroomsMeal Plan Monday and Skinny Fake Fry Mushrooms. I love mushrooms and anything fried.  By my waist could stand to not eat the grease.  so I can up with a skinny fried (baked) mushrooms.  The not as golden or pretty as fried.. But my husband said I did good and I can defiantly make the skinny Mushrooms.baked mushrooms

Skinny Fake Fried Mushrooms

  • 1 pound of White Button Mushrooms
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons of pepper (you can use less,  but yummy)
  • 4 tablespoons of grated Parmesan
  • 1 tea spoon garlic salt
  • 1 teaspoon of onion powder
  • 1/8 cup Hot sauce
  1. Preheat oven to 425
  2. Mix flour will all dry ingredients
  3. Crack and beat raw egg
  4. Clean mushroom with paper towel (don’t wash with water), trim bottom of stems leaving  attached
  5. Dip mushroom in egg wash (if you want hot sauce – dip in hot sauce then egg)
  6. Dredge in flour mixture
  7. Place on baking tray
  8. Cook for 15-20 minutes
  9. Check increasing heat to 450 watch careful to make golden brown
  10. Remove and eat ( you can dip ranch  or blue cheese)

Easy Print recipe for the Skinny Fake Fried Mushrooms
skinny mushrooms

Meal Plan Monday  This weeks meals:

Monday: Sausage and Onions over egg noddles

Tuesday : Pizza –  I will be at toy Fair .. the husband is on his own

Wednesday : Ash Wednesday Meager meal at church  ( I am baking 6-10  loaves of bread using this bread in a bag method) Guess what? I am doing all day Wednesday

Thursday: Valentines Pick Shrimp and Scallops over pasta, skinny mushrooms

Friday- tilapia fish with rice and veggies  (I will head to the market and see what is up)

What  are you planning?  I want to hear it it great getting ideas.

Have a Great Week.

I am linking this post up to I am a Organizing Junkie  Menu Planning Monday Link Up

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Menu Planning Monday Feb 4-10 and Frozen Mirepoix

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mirepoixHow to Freeze Mirepoix I froze my  Mirepoix (onions, carrots and celery)   so I have my starter for the week. I am excited to use it.  I made enough for 4 uses.   My fish last week turned out amazing.. cant wait to share the post in a few days.

Here is how I did the Ready to use frozen Mirepoix.

  • 6 onions
  • 2 lb of carrots
  • 1 head of celery
  • salt
  • 2 tbls oil or butter
  1. Dice Onions and start saute in large pot with oil/salt on low
  2. while onions are cooking peel carrots and dice  ( I prefer a whole carrot to mini ready to eat carrots)  add to onions
  3. Then clean celery dice and add to carrot onion mixture.  salt
  4. Cook stiring till carrot are tender (not mushy)
  5. Remove from pot in large pot to large bowl allow to cool.
  6. Place cooled Mirepoix 7-8 cups in a gallon freezer zip lock (you can use quart size bags -2 cups per Bag)(I was out of quart and prefer to use less plastic)mirepoix celery,carrots,onions
  7. Place on a large cookie sheet, laying bag flat, Using back of knife press into bags to create separate sections.
  8. Freeze.. checking to make sure sections stay separated during freezing process.
  9. Now ready to use simple break off a sections and place in pan for cooking.  should speed up your cooking time.celery,carrots,onions or mirepoix

What to use MirePoix for:  stews, soups, casserole, any thing where you want a great flavor base  with out the time.steps to freeze mirepoix

Easy to print frozen Mirepoixmushrooms

My menu plan for the week

Monday:  Chicken fingers and white cream sauce  pasta

Tues: Leftover Superbowl my award winning Chili

Wednesday: Lemon chicken noodle soup using my Mirepoix

Thurs: Pork Chops with orange glaze

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: something with beef..

Have a Great Week.

I am linking this post up to Organizing Junkie Menu Plan Monday

So I am off to make Superhero Princess Capes.  If you need one for a party they Start at $17.00 Check My store out Made in the USA by me! Superhero capes

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Meal Plan Monday week of Jan 28 2013

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mushroomsSo I am restocking fridge after the fridge fail of last weeks.  So it gave me a chance to think about how I am restocking.   This we my husband and I are build freezer stock items.  I am making bags of meal starters.  I cook many times a week and start with Mirepoix (onions, carrots and celery) small batches to freeze and   I always caramelize my onions so I will make small batches of them as well.  So I am going to make my start mix in my freeze ready to use for the nights I need an easy meal.   More to come next week.

This weeks meal Plan January 28, 2013

Monday:  Moms Bake Chicken (rub with oil, sprinkle spices (salt,pepper, garlic powder,paprika,cumin) Broccoli and rice/beans

Tues: My recipe Beef and gravy in my Ninja MC701 Multi Cooker 3 in 1 Cooking System
(used as a slow cooker) with egg noddles

Wednesday: perogies and kielbasa (Ninja MC701 Multi Cooker 3 in 1 Cooking System
recipe)

Thursday: Fish and veggies

Friday- Pizza

Saturday: Free night.. Moms off

Sunday My  Pulled Pork in Ninja for Superbowl  and My lettuce Wraps

Have a Great Week.

I am linking this post up to Organizing Junkie Menu Plan Monday