Sunday, February 19, 2012

Menu Plan Week of 2/20/12

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend - here in Minnesota, we were blessed with an amazing weekend of 40+ degree, sunny weather.  Is it really February?!  It has been such a mild winter.... no complaints from this sun-loving girl!

Things get tricky for my family this week....  we are putting our house on the market tomorrow morning.  This means I will have to be more flexible than usual with my menu planning and will need lots of grab and go food options for my little guy.  Having a kid with food allergies makes this process all the more interesting.  But, like everything else, it gives me the opportunity to work on being flexible with food options.  I hope to make some cold salads (like the quinoa salad on my plan this week) that will allow for leftovers that I can pack in a cooler and take along with me if we need to eat dinner on the go due to showings.  Wish us luck!!!

Monday: Homemade chicken nuggets with broccoli and rice

Tuesday:  Superfood Quinoa Salad (leave out avocado until right before eating)
Tip:  Prepare the quinoa salad the night before, the more time it has to sit the better the flavor!

Wednesday:  Keema (this sounds interesting...  scroll down for recipe...I'll use ground beef and butter instead of lard) served over brown rice couscous or noodles
Tip:  Prepare this the night before - lots of leftovers to freeze!

Thursday:  Pizza night! (Roasted vegetable pizza)

Friday:  Out of town

Saturday:  Out of town

Sunday:  Winging it!

Monday, February 13, 2012

Menu Plan Week of 2/13

Better late than never!  We are putting our house on the market one week from today.  Life is just a little bit crazy as a result.  This makes it all the more important that we have healthy meals on the table at the dinner hour, along with a stockpile of healthy snacks.  Now, to find some time to grocery shop.... hmmmm..... :)


Monday:  Sausage and Shrimp Pasta (make it without the half and half for dairy free, I will not be using pepperoncini to make it more kid-friendly!)

Tuesday:  Happy Valentines Day! :)  Burgers, veggie and a special valentine treat (to be determined)

Wednesday:  Pork Tenderloin with roasted potato wedges and salad
Tip:  Prepare slow cooker with pork the night before.

Thursday:  Poblano, Mango and Black Bean Quesadillas
Tip:  Prepare the filling the night before, heat inside the quesadilla before dinner!

Friday:  Mexican Sloppy Joe's and raw veggies
(batch cook, cut the recipe in half if you do not want leftovers!)
Note:  Sloppy Joe recipe:  brown 2 lbs beef in 3 tbsp. coconut oil.  Mix in slow cooker with 4 cups salsa, 4 shredded carrots, 1 diced bell pepper (or jarred roasted pepper), 6 tbsp. tomato paste, 4 pressed garlic cloves, 1 tbsp. Italian seasoning, 2 tsp. salt).  Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours.  Serve on rolls.

Saturday:  Out

Sunday:  Chicken and Wild Rice Soup (with or without the roux mixed in!)

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Menu Plan Week of February 6th

We are in the midst of a busy weekend and a busy week ahead!  I am hoping to include a post this week featuring some of the meatless meals we have been enjoying lately.  In the meantime, enjoy this week's menu!

As a special treat this week, I think I am going to give the chocolate brownie batter dessert hummus recipe a try.  Check it out!  It is healthier than you may think based on the name of the recipe!

I am also going to make the crispy treats featured on this site (January 24th post) - great for lunch boxes, a pre or post workout snack or as a special after dinner treat for your kiddos! (I'll use a new find, Enjoy Life flex puffs, in place of crispy rice cereal).

Monday:  Baked chicken breasts with Saffron, Zucchini and Herb Couscous and roasted broccoli

Tuesday:  Baked Oatmeal

Wednesday:  Quinoa Casserole (slow cooker!) no almonds, no cheese, add garbanzo beans; salad

Thursday:  Italian Sausage Ragu served over Polenta (instead of pasta)
TIP:  Prepare pan of polenta and the sauce the night before.  Cut polenta into large squares and quickly pan fry to warm up before eating (while warming up the sauce).  If you are dairy free or would like a quicker ragu, just mix browned sausage with a jar of organic pasta sauce.

Friday:  Leftovers

Saturday: Out

Sunday:  Turkey Burgers with sweet mustard sauce and a veggie side