Menu Plan Monday 5-21-12

Great weekend! We went to my cousin's wedding Saturday and got to visit and watch the kids play.  This week will be very short, as we are getting ready to head out of town again on Friday to come and camp out at Grandpa's farm. 

Monday - Balsamic brown sugar pork chops- on the grill, three-cheese potatoes, green salad
Tuesday - Leftovers? Or quesadillas
Wednesday - Creamy caprese pasta
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - camping!

Lunches: turkey & swiss sandwiches, salads
Camping: s'mores, cracker/deli meat trays, snacks!  Hamburgers/hot dogs on Friday, milk can stew on Saturday, and a campfire breakfast Sunday.  No idea what milk can stew is but I guess we will find out! 

Menu Plan Monday 5-14-12

I'm interested this week in trying something new. Health food! I've been reading about people who eat "clean" or "whole" foods, and people that go vegetarian for a few meals a week.  The thing I get from all of these people is that they feel so much better when they do this!  No more crap.

So I'm trying to eat healthier, not so much processed food. 

On top of that, I'm trying to eat less.  So here goes nothing!

Monday - Meatballs (breadless) in tomato sauce, pasta on side?
Tuesday - Taco salad, no shells
Wednesday - BLT's, chips
Thursday - meatless pizza?
Friday - trip home

Lunches:  spinach salad with cheese & ham or chicken, sun chips, diet dr. pepper

Sunday potluck - Chicken Pasta Salad with grapes & almonds
Snack - Apple pie popcorn

Menu Plan Monday 5-7-12

I've been making some fun food lately. Last week, we tried the balsamic spinach tortellini with chicken, and it was delicious! I didn't get great reviews from the hubby or kid (picky, picky), but I loved it and it's a great lunch leftover as well.

I did nachos on Thursday, and we ate out at Old Chicago on Friday.  We have been eating good around here (and sooner or later we need to get back on the healthy wagon, but for now we are enjoying ourselves!)

I have been paging my way through Ree Drummond's Food From My Frontier and this book is amazing. I may have to buy it (I just have a library copy today).

So this week's menu is going to be some of Ree's recipes:

Saturday - Peach-whiskey chicken on mashed potatoes
Sunday - Pasta with pesto cream sauce
Monday - Taco salads
Tuesday - (haircut for me)
Wednesday - Cheeseburgers (on the grill?), chips, veggie
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Out?

Menu Plan Monday 4-30-12

Monday - Balsamic chicken, spinach, and tomato pasta salad
Tuesday - Class
Wednesday - Ham & pineapple kabobs, rice, peas
Thursday - Pizza
Friday - Out?

Vanilla Pudding Fruit Salad

I got this recipe a couple years ago from a work potluck. This is seriously healthy, with all of the sugar-free and light ingredients.  Another great summer recipe.

16 oz plain lowfat yogurt
8 oz lite cool whip (thawed)
1 large box sugar/fat free instant vanilla pudding
1 large can mandarin oranges in juice (drained)
1 regular can pineapple tidbits in juice (drained)
1 cup to 1 1/2 cups grapes

Mix yogurt, cool wihp, and pudding together. Mix in fruit and chill.

Ejoy!

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

I got this recipe from Jeremy's aunt Kim a couple years ago. It's a delicious summer recipe.

1 head broccoli
1 head cauliflower
Real bacon pieces (as much as you want)
1/2 cup shredded chedar cheese
1/4 cup chopped onion (optional)
1 cup Miracle whip
1 cup sour cream
1/3 cup sugar

Mix sour cream, mayo, and sugar in a bowl

Cut broccoli and cauliflower into bite sized pieces.  Add bacon pieces, onion, and cheese in large bowl.  Add mayo, sour cream, and sugar mixture and stir together.

Enjoy!

Cinnamon Honey Butter

This is a great recipe for a food gift, or just to have on hand.  I halved the recipe because I wanted to check it out, but you can make more if you're going to share!

I found this recipe at Fly Through Our Window.  If you have a chance, check out her blog. She has lovely photographs.  It makes me want to live at the Gulf Coast!

Here is the recipe:

2 sticks of butter at room temp
1 cup of powdered sugar
1 cup of honey
2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon

Using the whisk attachment for your mixer, whip the butter {make sure it’s soft and room temp}. Add to it the powdered sugar, then the honey, then the cinnamon. Whip it good. Scrape the sides. Whip it again.

Serve! Darby's recipe recommended you spoon into 4 on jars you can find at
Wal-Mart.  This recipe makes 6 of those jars.  Seriously, check our her blog, the recipe is towards the bottom of the post I linked.  The pictures she had for this recipe are great!