WOW I haven’t sat down to really plan out our weekly menu in quite a while! Got it done this week, woohoo!  I already feel more prepared and organized

MONDAY: Spaghetti with Italian Sausage

TUESDAY: Pork Chops with Country Gravy, served with sauteed cabbage and mashed potatoes

WEDNESDAY: Crockpot Peppercorn Steak and Baked Potatoes (This is our busy day out of the house, so I like to have something in the crockpot to eat between outings. For the Baked Potato, I cover the outside of the potato with olive oil and seasoned salt (or just salt and pepper) and I’ll stick them in the oven before we leave and set the oven to start cooking at a certain time…makes it easy)

THURSDAY: Simple Split Chicken Breasts, with some veggies

FRIDAY: Baked Chicken Wings (half traditional buffalo sauce, half lemon-pepper), and oven fries.

(Just getting to post my MPM, because of Memoral Day.)

I’m trying to find some yummy light recipe we will all like, so I went through my Cooking Light and Weight Watcher magazines this week!

Monday: Layered Taco Pie (from last week)

Tuesday: Lemon Chicken with Potatoes (WW Recipe May/June 2009)

Wednesday: Tuscan Tuna Salad (Cooking Light June 09)

Thursday: Cowboy Steaks (Cooking Light June 09), baked potatoes

Friday: Feta and Green Onion Couscous Cakes over Tomato Olive Salad (Cooking Light June 09)

Saturday: veggie quesadillas (WW May/June 2009)

Sunday: leftovers

posting my MPM real quick today!

Monday - Chicken Fettuccine, salads

Tuesday - Pan Fried Steak, mac & cheese, salad

Wednesday-Grilled chicken wrap-ini’s (wraps in the panini maker)

Thursday -Layered Tortilla Pie (layer tortillas, browned ground beef with taco seasoning, cheese, repeat layers, top with cheese. Microwave to melt cheese. Top with lettuce, sour cream, tomatoes etc. Super quick & easy! Kids love it!)

Friday -Meatloaf, mashed potatoes

Saturday - Spaghetti

Last week’s roasted Sweet Potato Salad turned out pretty yummy. We’re not huge sweet potato fans, but like them a few ways (usually as a dessert!). I branched out and tried this recipe and it was pretty good. My 18 month old seemed to like it quite well too!

The best meal last week was the boneless buffalo wings and oven fries…(hubby kept going on about how good it was!) I almost bailed on it after taking a closer look at the recipe but I altered the recipe a little and it was really good.  For the boneless buffalo wings, I actually made two kinds–buffalo (mostly for hubby) and lemon-pepper. I breaded the tenderloins as the recipe described (worked out great!) and browned them. I put them in a baking dish –actually because I did two flavors, I used two pieces of foil on the baking sheet to separate them (putting the chicken on the foil and folding the foil to make sides, if that makes sense). One one, I poured on melted butter mixed with Frank’s Buffalo Sauce and on the other, I poured on butter mixed with garlic and lemon pepper. Then I broiled them on high about 10-15 on each side.

For the oven fries, I did something that I have never done before and think is genius! Oven fries usually take forever so I loved this recipe. You cut the potatoes into fries or wedges and boil them 5-7 minutes, you don’t want them to be mushy or anything.  Place them on a baking sheet. Mix 3T cornstarch, and whichever seasonings you prefer (I used lawry’s, garlic powder, salt and pepper). Toss the mixture with the potatoes. Broil them until they are as crisp as desired.

MONDAY: Crockpot Chicken and Rice
TUESDAY: Mini Burgers and Onion Rings
WEDNESDAY: Salads (Macaroni for kids)
THURSDAY: Asian Beef Kabobs, rice
FRIDAY: Tacos, rice & beans
SATURDAY: Simple supper
SUNDAY: leftovers

I really slacked on following my menu. I guess we just got busy and ended up doing quick mac n cheese or corndog meals a few days. oh well, here’s to a new week!

MONDAY: Waffles, eggs and bacon
TUESDAY: out at God of the City!
WEDNESDAY: Pork Steaks and Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
THURSDAY: Boneless Buffalo Wings (Buffalo-style chicken tenders)
FRIDAY: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes
SATURDAY: Simple — maybe macaroni with little smokies
SUNDAY: leftovers

I guess I got a little over-ambitious with last week’s menu, as we had many weeknight activities and ended up grabbing something simple to eat. So some of last week’s dinners are moving to this week!

Monday: Sandwiches/Salads
Tuesday: Pork Steaks, Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
Wednesday: Popcorn Chicken, Macaroni, Corn, maybe mashed potatoes (hubby will be out, so just me and the kids)
Thursday: Flautas, Rice & Beans, chips & salsa, etc
Friday: Breakfast, either pancakes or waffles, eggs, and bacon or sausage. I’ll ask everyone Friday which they would rather have and decide then
Saturday: BBQ Chicken sandwiches (Thanks for the great deal Kroger!!!)
Sunday: Leftovers

See other menu plan monday participants’ and their menus here.

Last week I made Lasagna for a couple that came over for dinner. I hadn’t made lasagna in a long time and I loved the recipe I used this time. I actually mixed two recipes that I had, so here is what I came up with! (This is for you, Sean & Laura!)

YUMMY Lasagna

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• 1 pkg Barilla No Boil Lasagna Noodles (The “Rolled Flat like Homemade” ones. These are awesome, you don’t have to boil them!)
• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 eggs
• 28 oz Ricotta
• 2- 6oz  cans tomato paste
• 1- 14.5 oz can Italian Seasoned Diced Tomatoes, undrained
• 1 clove minced garlic
• Dried Italian Seasonings (I have an Italian Seasoning Grinder, but you can use basil, parsley, oregano)
• Spaghetti Sauce (mine was Classico Olive and Mushroom)
• 1 cup shredded Parmesan
• 4 cups shredded Mozzarella
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic Powder

1. Preheat oven to 375º
2. Brown the meat and stir in garlic.
3. Add tomato paste and diced tomatoes. Season with Italian herbs, salt, pepper and garlic pepper to taste.
4. Simmer, covered 20 min
5. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl combine eggs, ricotta, 2 cups Mozzarella, Parmesan, 1 tsp Italian Seasonings and optional: 1 tsp salt
6. Spray baking pan if necessary.
7. Spread 1 cup spaghetti sauce on bottom of pan
8. Layer 4 uncooked Barilla lasagna noodles overlapping (you can overlap because they will expand out as they cook)
9. Spread half the Ricotta mixture on top of lasagna noodles
10. Top Ricotta with 1/2 the meat/tomato mixture
11. Layer with another 4 lasagna noodles overlapping
12. Repeat with the other half of the ricotta, meat mixture and then 4 more noodles.
13. Spread spaghetti sauce over the top of the lasagna.
14. Sprinkle with 2 cups Mozzarella
15. Bake, covered with foil 50-60 minutes
16. Uncover and bake 10 minutes or until cheese on top is melted.

This is a 3 layer lasagna because my dish is 2″ deep. If you have a 3″ deep dish, you can make it 4 layers by using 1/3rd of the mixtures each time instead of 1/2.

And here’s my Menu Plan for the week!

Sunday: sliders, fries/tater tots
Monday: Crockpot Beef Stew
Tuesday: Garlic Lemon Salmon and Asparagus
Wednesday: something quick and easy or on the go, maybe Grilled Cheese
Thursday: Chicken Flautas
Friday: Mexican Lasagna (thanks, Whit!)
Saturday: leftovers

Hope your Resurrection Weekend was a blessed one! I’m looking forward to this week. Hubby is off for ‘vacation’ and we are getting to have a couple nights with friends over for dinner!

Monday: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Tuesday: Flautas  with rice/beans
Wednesday: Spaghetti
Thursday: Lasagna, salad
Friday: Sliders (Mini Cheeseburgers)
Saturday/Sunday: leftovers, simple suppers

Check out Chive Talkin as well! She also hosts the MPM!

I’m hitting the cookbooks this week. I thought I should really go through recipes in my books that I have and stop printing new ones! (this week anyway)

Monday: Italian Roast and mashed potatoes
Tuesday: Salmon and couscous from Jamie Oliver’s cookbook
Wednesday: Crockpot Mac & Cheese from Southern Living at HOME Slow-Cooker cookbook
Thursday: Beef with bok choy, mushrooms and noodles from Jamie Oliver’s cookbook
Friday: Steak with Bleu Cheese Butter from Southern Living at HOME Busy Mom’s Weeknight Favorites
Saturday & Sunday: something simple/leftovers

Just now getting my menu done and posted…only Tuesday and it’s already such a busy week! whew!

Monday: Beef Stroganoff
Tuesday: Turkey Tenderloin Scalloppine (with asparagus and farfalle)
Wednesday: crockpot potato soup
Thursday: Bleu Cheese Burgers (Paula Deen’s Black & Blue Burgers), baked potatoes
Friday: Paprika Chicken Legs, asparagus
Saturday & Sunday: something simple… leftovers!

What’s with all the potato? a 5 lb bag was $.49 after the $1 target coupon!
Asparagus was also on sale this week