Menu Plan Monday - 7-25-11

Monday - Ham and Cheeses Sliders, chips, salad
Tuesday - Panko coated fish nuggets with carrot ketchup, rice pilaf, salad
Wednesday - Grilled cheese, green beans, applesauce
Thursday - Chicken strips, butter noodles, steamed veggies
Friday - Chicken Pillows, steamed broccoli

Other treats:  No-cook freezer jam, Slab apple pie


For more menu planning ideas, visit http://www.orgjunkie.com/

Menu Plan Monday 7-18-11

Hello!  Been a while. Computer problems, finally got my baby back.  Nothing new on my side, luckily I have my iPhone so I have been surviving on that lately.  But I do have over 1000 new posts on GoogleReader to get through, hopefully I get new menu inspiration somewhere down that line!

Here is this week's menu:

Monday - Pork, red peppers, onions, on tortillas with sour cream. Fruit on the side.
Tuesday - Cheeseburgers, chips, salads
Wednesday - Chicken breasts, sliced potato packets, green beans
Thursday - Steaks, frozen vegetables, texas toast
Friday - Homemade pizza

For more menu plan ideas, check out http://www.orgjunkie.com/

Menu Plan Monday 6-27-11

Monday - Smoked Turkey Club Pannini (sandwiches), chips, fruit
Tuesday - Quesadillas (steak/chicken?), ranch dipping sauce
Wednesday - Spaghetti with Lemon and Olive Oil, Roasted Zuchinni and Yellow Squash, Mushrooms, Red Pepper
Thursday - Sweet BBQ Chicken Kabobs, Grilled Pineapple, Rice, Broccoli
Friday - Homemade Pizza

Weekend:  Cola and Jam Spareribs
Treats:  Starbucks Frappuccino

Menu Plan - Week of 6-20-11

Hello there! Here's an update on my husband's weight loss: 72 pounds from the beginning of the year. He struggled quite a bit in April and May, but I think he's on track again. He has a decision to make about what his goal will be. Honestly, the cost of the program he is on eats into our budget A LOT, so I am counting the days until he is done with it.  It is worth every penny to see the results, but I am counting the days until he is done. Whenever that may be.

As for me? Well, I try to make healthful choices most days and get out to exercise with my son most days as well.

Here's the plan for this week.  With cookouts this weekend, I am off the hook for making anything at home, and we may in fact head over to Taste of Champaign one of these afternoons as well.  Maybe the Farmer's Market yet this morning.

I hope everyone's weekend is as fun and relaxing as ours is shaping up to be!

Monday - Pizza Paninis (Sandwich)
Tuesday - Kicked Up Carbonara (Pasta)
Wednesday - Chicken Fajitas (Mexican)
Thursday - Cheeseburgers, Waffle Fries, Corn (Grill out)
Friday - Homemade pizza

For more menu plans, visit orgjunkie.com!

Pasta with Pesto Cream Sauce

From the lovely Ree at Pioneer Woman. Check out her recipe. I've simplified it quite a bit.

Ingredients
Jarred Pesto - a couple tbsp
½ cups Heavy Cream (or whole milk)
2 Tablespoons Butter
¼ cups Grated Parmesan (optional)
12 ounces, weight Pasta (cavitappi, Fusili, Etc.)
2 whole Tomatoes, Diced (or red pepper, diced)
Chicken Breast, cooked and sliced (optional)

Cook pasta until al dente.

Heat cream and butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add pesto and stir.

Drain pasta and place in a serving bowl. Pour pesto cream over the top. Toss to combine. Add diced tomatoes (or peppers) and toss quickly. Top with grated parmesan.  Serve immediately.

Menu Plan - Week of 6-13-11

Monday - Pasta with Pesto Cream Sauce with grilled chicken slices
Tuesday - Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Apricot Sauce, fresh fruit and chips
Wednesday - Pork Chops, butter noodles, green beans
Thursday - Soft shell tacos
Friday - Homemade pizza

Menu for my son's 2nd birthday party:
Hamburgers
Hash Brown Casserole (Church cookbook)
7-Layer Salad (brought by my mom)
Veggie Tray and dip (brought my my Mother in Law)
Chips
Smores Cookies
Chocolate Cupcakes with buttercream icing

Sweet & Sour Chicken

Try this!  It is delicious. Even my husband, who is not always willing to try anything "new" and insisted he wanted his own naked chicken pieces, ate up the rest of this recipe. 

(Sorry no pics, we ate it too fast!)

Straight from Chef Mommy

Chicken:
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper
1 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup canola oil

Cut boneless chicken breasts into chunks. Season with salt and pepper. Dip chicken in cornstarch and then in egg. Fry in a little oil until brown but not cooked through. Place in a single layer in a baking dish. Mix sauce ingredients (below) together and pour over chicken.

Sauce:
¾ cup sugar
4 tablespoons ketchup
½ cup vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic salt

Bake for one hour at 325 degrees. Turn chicken every 15 minutes. If you like extra sauce, make another batch of sauce and bring it to a boil on the stove top. Stir constantly and let cook over medium heat until thickened and reduced – about 6-8 minutes