What ya cookin' good lookin'?

So a few of my friends and I were chatting last night- and we were waaaay off topic AGAIN from what we were supposed to be doing and they said that when I plan my 2-weeks of meals, that I should just e-mail it to them so that I can save them some work.


Can I just say- it must be nice to have a wife?  My darling husband gets home from a long day of work to a usually somewhat clean and picked up house AND dinner waiting.  Not to mention that he left that morning with breakfast in his belly also made by his adoring wife.  But I can't help it.  I love this guy.

Who else would do things like this: 

He does the ironing.  I love this guy.

Well, today is Thursday and I hope to go shopping for groceries for tomorrow- so, friends- here is my process.

STEP 1:
 I chose a printable menu and then print it twice.


Printable menu- I have a couple I like:

Lately, I've been using this one- http://eatathomecooks.com/printable-menu-planner
But I have also been known to use this one, which by the way- I designed! http://stampwithlinz.blogspot.com/2011/09/yummy-goodness-free-menu-planner.html
There are a couple of others I use when I feel like it, but these are my main 2.


STEP 2:
I begin with breakfast- isn't that how you are supposed to start the day?
I have a breakfast board on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/linzenoel/breakthefast/  I usually go there and then decide what kind of pattern I'd like to write down.  If I am going to make something- like muffins- then I'll make enough for both weeks.  Here is what I am planning for the next 2 weeks


Monday- Banana Bread, fruit, & milk
Mondays are always a little sleepy for me, so I try to do something easy.  I'm thinking I'll make something ahead of time, freeze it, and then pull it out the night before.  Let's try this recipe (scroll down a bit): http://8weekstoabetteryourecipes.blogspot.com/p/breakfast-smoothies.html  x 2.


Tuesday- Scrambled Eggs, Toasts/Biscuits, Fruit, BACON

These are Pioneer Woman's Buttermilk Biscuits- yum.  I like my blue bowl, makes it look fancy.

I have a picky eater. Just one.  So I decided a while back that I can't cater to just her, that I need to plan the meal for the other 4 of us and then make sure there is at least something she will eat OR cereal available.  She won't do eggs.  She won't even do normal toast- so it will probably need to be biscuits.  Here's a secret...don't judge!  Biscuits are very easy to make, and I've made them a million times...but sometimes, I like the frozen kind.  I don't like the Pilsbury kind much, but the frozen-pop-in-the-oven taste just as good as mine!  Don't judge! :)
I also cook my bacon in the microwave.  I love my bacon cooker.

Wednesday- Pancakes with Bananas (and nuts for those that will eat them)
I try to make enough for both weeks and freeze half.  It's a time saver!  I also like Banana Pancakes- that link is here: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/04/21/recipe-whole-wheat-banana-pancakes-freeze-the-leftovers/

Thursday- Yogurt, Fruit, & homemade granola
I have 2 recipes I like for granola.  One of for a chewy kind & the other is crunchy.  My family prefers the crunchy, but I could eat the chewy ALL. DAY. LONG.

Chewy Granola- from my friend Nicole.

10 C. rolledoats

4 C. sliced almonds

1 1/4 c. pure maple syrup

1 1/4 c. oil (I used veggie oil)

1 1/4 tsp. Salt

4-5 tsp. vanilla

Optional (though I included most everything with what I gave you):

2 c. nuts

2 c. raisins

2 c. dried cherries

2 c. unsweetened coconut (I normally used sweetened...all I find at Wally)

1 20oz. drained crushed pineapple

(Or any other combination of dried fruit)

Mix all ingredients together. Spread thinly on cookie sheets. Bake 20-25 minutes at 325-350 or until lightly browned. Cool 10 minutes in pan, then transfer to tupperware bowl. Keep tightly covered. This recipe makes a large bowl full. Will keep about 2 months in cupboard because of the oil. 

The crunchy kind is found here: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/04/04/recipe-granola-bars-cereal/

Friday- Cereal...because I feel like it.


Saturday- Todd fixes breakfast, so I have the morning to sleep in. Bwahahaa- that was funny, wasn't it? :)


Sunday- Baked Oatmeal
My little girls love oatmeal, and I think this is a fun way to do it and I've been wanting to try it. http://www.sugarfreemom.com/recipes/personal-sized-baked-oatmeal-with-individual-toppings-gluten-free-diabetic-friendly/

The following Sunday I want to do scones again: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/05/basic-baked-scones/


Step 3:
Lunch.  Since the girls are in school- we play it day-by-day.  I let them buy their lunch 2-3 times a week because they like to do that and the food is pretty good!  Todd takes left-overs and Lucy and I just eat whatever we feel like- BUT I do plan for Saturday.  Sunday, we just kinda do whatever- which is sandwiches most of the time.

Saturday lunch- needs to be something easy.  Our schedule is a little weird for the next 2 Saturdays, so I'm going to buy hotdogs.  And because I'm a ROCK STAR- I've started making my own buns.  They are so yummy.  You can find that link here: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/09/french-bread-hoagies-and-buns/ I love this site.  And while I'm at it, I might make 2 batches and save some for dinner.

Step 4:
This is a loooooooooooong post.
Very similar to breakfast planning.

I try to theme each day to help me organize and think.  That doesn't always mean we have Mexican on Mondays every week, but it does mean we get Mexican at least once a week! :)

I use my Pinterest page a lot while planning: http://pinterest.com/linzenoel/on-my-grocery-list/

Monday: MEXICAN & A Treat
This needs to be a simple meal and one that can be cleaned up fast so we can have Family Home Evening and a treat at the end of the night.
Week 1- Tacos, this is a family favorite.  Everyone eats it.  I also make my own Taco Seasoning, I use this recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/taco-seasoning-i/
Week 2- Fajitas.  I have a favorite marinade, but I only know it comes in a yellow container in the Mexican isle.  That's very helpful, I know.  Fajitas are best on a grill, but I have done them in a crock pot AND in the oven.  Pick your poison.

Treats: Check out my Pinterest page for that: http://pinterest.com/linzenoel/the-sweet-stuff/  There's a ton on there, pick one and make it.  I usually let one of the girls decide.

Tuesday: MEATLESS
Week 1 & 2- Pasta- I have some great marinara recipes.  There's one right here: http://blackhurstfamily.blogspot.com/2007/08/marinara-sauce-recipe.html  This recipes makes a ton, so we're good for a whole month on sauce probably- and its cheap.  I can also use this as Pizza sauce- see Thursday!  I'll mix up the pastas to make it interesting.  We always have a salad and a bread- most of the time they are Rhodes Rolls or something fresh from the store. :)  If we're really lucky then I make breadsticks- found here: http://blackhurstfamily.blogspot.com/2008/01/because-i-am-elayna-enrichment.html

Oh my goodness these are soooo good!

If I don't want the marinara, then I go for the Alfredo sauce found in my trusty Better Home & Gardens Cook book.

Wednesday: CROCK POT
My hubbie volunteers after work on this day, so I don't get to see him much on Wednesdays- so I try to plan something in the crock pot...AND I often use paper plates.  It's all about survival on Wednesdays.  I have a cookbook that I looooooove for the crock pot. But I want to try something else this week.

Week 1- Fauxtisserie Chicken: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/05/rotisserie-chicken/  Although I admit, cooking a whole chicken is kinda creepy. It makes me feel like I'm cooking a small child.  Gross.  I know, but you asked- didn't you?  No?  Oh well, its MY blog!

Week 2- Pulled Pork sandwiches using the extra buns I made for the hotdog buns.  This is also a fun site that I use a lot: http://recipestop.blogspot.com/2010/01/crockpot-pulled-pork.html made by a few of my best cook friends.  This recipe is super easy and super yummilicious.  It's a word.

Thursday: ITALIAN
Week 1- Pepperoni Monkey Bread- because this stuff is AMAZING. You'll thank me later.  http://www.thesweetslife.com/2011/10/pepperoni-pizza-monkey-bread.html
Week 2-Stromboli http://www.squidoo.com/homemade-calzone because it makes you look like you are a REALLY good cook.  Just don't tell anyone you used the stuff that came from a can, they DON'T need to know!

Friday: Take-out/Left-overs
TGIF- baby!


Saturday: FROM THE FREEZER
Hey- I mentioned this is my day "off" right?  Todd likes to be super helpful on Saturdays, and I let him! This is kinda our WHATEVER day.  The day we get to eat corn dogs (or corny dogs as I call them), frozen pizzas, frozen taquitos, frozen chimichangas.  Don't judge!  WE LIKE IT!  At least for 1 day we don't mind. Otherwise we stay pretty fresh and healthy.


Sunday: HOME-Cooking
Week 1- Man-pleasing Chicken (this is a new one): http://www.wittyinthecity.com/2011/08/man-pleasing-chicken/
...with salad, cooked broccoli- probably, rolls/bread.  I hope this is woman & little girl pleasing chicken too!

Week 2-Dr. Pepper Roast Beef: http://www.ziplist.com/recipes/372956-Dr_Pepper_Slow_Cooker_Roast_Beef_Recipe
Trust me. You won't got back to that Onion Soup packet.

With Potatoes (My own version is slightly different):  http://www.seasaltwithfood.com/2009/05/hasselback-potatoes.html

And salad!  Because salad takes like 2 seconds and is healthy!  Sometimes I make my own dressing, but now I'm just bragging.

Now I need to check my pantry & fridge for what all I need!  And...now that I've written this EPIC LONG POST, I'm kinda hungry!

My cart is always pretty full...

Bon Appetite!
xoxo