Menu 10-28/11-3-13

Monday:
Oatmeal,String Cheese,Apple, and Walnuts
Chicken,Spinach,Onion and Garlic
Roasted Shrimp and Balsamic Vegetables

Tuesday:
Smoothie
*Daddys Choice*
Hamburger Steak and Gravy,Mashed Potatoes and Peas

Wednesday:
Smoothie
*Daddys Choice*
Taco Salad with Shrimp and Corn

Thursday:
Egg White Omelet with Onion and Peppers, Avocado,Cottage Cheese, and Salsa
?
*Eat Out*

Friday:
Kefir,Banana, and Almond Butter
Tuna Salad(with Greek Yogurt) with Salad and Yellow Corn Chips
Aprils Simple Red Beans and Rice with Turkey Sausage with Broccoli

Saturday:
?
?    FREE DAY
?

Sunday:
CLEAN
OUT
FRIDGE

Menu 10-21/10-27-13

I love living in the Smoky Mountains! Took the day with family yesterday to ride around to enjoy the scenery.




Monday:
Smoothies
Salad
Marinated Lime Chicken with Roasted Veggies

Tuesday:
Oatmeal with Fruit and Walnuts
Creamy Avocado Chicken Salad
Beef and Broccoli with Rice

Wednesday:
Smoothie
Turkey Meatloaf Muffins with Veggies
Taco Salad(with Shrimp) and Corn

Thursday:
Cereal with Fruit
Tuna Salad(with Greek yogurt)
Chili (((Wendys Style))) with Sweet Potato

Friday:
Veggie Omelet with Cottage Cheese and Guacamole
Turkey Meatloaf Muffins with Veggies
Crabby Patties with Roasted Veggies

Saturday:
?
?
?

Sunday:
CLEAN
OUT
FRIDGE


**I have received 2 messages in the last little bit asking if my kids eat what is on the menu each week. The answer is YES.
Now...Sissy likes to eat Breakfast at school and right now we are 50/50 with lunches but, other than that yes they eat what's put in front of them.
I DO NOT make a separate meal for my children. They may not like all the foods that I cook but they usually eat at least half of it, and that's their choice. I refuse to be a short order cook, or to give in and make them a separate meal of crappy foods(easy "convenience foods").
My kids have a pretty wide variety of foods that they like and the way I got to that point at almost 9 and almost 4, is to just keep putting it on their plate each time I made it whether they want it or not!
I guess the key is to not give up after one offering and them not wanting it! Keep giving it to them and making them try it!

Menu 10-14/10-20-13

My Brother Timothy captures Fall in the Smoky Mountains so well!
If you haven't already check out his photography page on Facebook, Timothy H Fisher Photography  :-)

This coming week we really do not have a lot of activities planned so things are fairly simple. I have found a blog that I have been getting lots of creative meals from the name of the blog is Overcoming Obesity , they are also on Facebook! A local couple who together lost more than 500lbs!!! They are a great inspiration and very sweet and helpful!!

Monday:
Smoothie
Minestrone Soup  /Bento
Turkey Tenderloin with Quinoa and Roasted Veggies

Tuesday:
Yogurt with Fruit
Soup and Salad /Bento
?

Wednesday:
Smoothie
*Daddys Choice*
Beef and Broccoli with Rice  (with more veggies)

Thursday:
Cereal with Fruit
Soup and Salad
Fish with Roasted Veggies

Friday:
Oatmeal with Fruit
L.O.
Chicken and Spinach Wrap with Raw Veggies

Saturday:
?
Tuna Casserole
?

Sunday:
CLEAN
 OUT
FRIDGE

Menu 9-23/9-29-13

In case you haven't noticed(haha) Fall is my favorite time of the year!
We have a lot going on this week and lots of things in the fridge that need used up! I did make a menu but there are some question marks through the week.

Monday:
Cereal with Fruit
Cabbage Soup
?

Tuesday:
?
Salad/L.O.
PW Pot Roast

Wednesday:
Smoothie
*Daddys Choice*
Breakfast- Eggs,Hash browns,Bacon,Sausage,etc..

Thursday:
Cereal with Fruit
*Firehouse Sub for Birthday*
?

Friday:
Oatmeal with Fruit
Salad
?

Saturday:
YAYAS
   CHOICE
-------------

Sunday:
CLEAN
 OUT
  FRIDGE

**WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE FALL STUFF? FOOD,MUSIC,THINGS TO DO, ETC..

Menu 9-16/9-22-13

Monday:
Smoothie
*Eat Out with YaYa*
*Freezer Meal*

Tuesday:
Yogurt with Fruit
Salad
Turkey Kielbasa and Summer Veggies

Wednesday:
Smoothie
*Daddys Choice*
?

Thursday:
Oatmeal with Fruit
L.O.
Baked Chicken with Quinoa(Carry Over)

Friday:
Scrambled Eggs with Fruit
Salad
Tuna Cakes with Roasted Veggies (Carry Over)

Saturday:
?
?
?

Sunday:
CLEAN
OUT
FRIDGE

Crock-Pot Taco Chili with Rice

I found this recipe on one of my favorite food blogs Undressed Skeleton. I made a few changes and I love it! I love the easiness of cooking with a crock-pot!
I always try to make a soup (or chili in this case) in the crock-pot on Sunday night or Monday morning to eat on through out the week. It always saves me having something already made in the fridge when we are in a hurry or running behind.

The original recipe calls for a lot more spice, I like a mild spice so I changed it up just a bit. :-)

CROCK-POT TACO CHILI WITH RICE 

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup green onion,chopped
2 white onions,chopped
5 ears of sweet corn,roasted
2 cans black beans,drained and rinsed
1 can Ro-tel
2 cans petite diced tomatoes
1/4 cup olive oil
1 pack Taco Seasoning OR 3 Tbsp Homemade Seasoning
1/2 cup water
1lb ground beef OR Ground Turkey OR Simple Truth Meat Crumbles(I have used these and they are great too,can't tell difference)
1 box Spanish Style Rice

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Place corn on greased baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes while preparing chili

3. Add all other ingredients to the crock pot, mix well

4.Remove corn from the oven and slice kernels off cobs. Add to the crock-pot.

5.Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours.
*Do not cook longer because the rice gets mushy...just FYI)  :-)

You can serve this over fajitas, tortilla chips, or salad. Add a little avocado and Greek yogurt and it's amazing!

Do you have any favorite crock-pot meals to share?

Menu 9-9/9-15-13

Monday:
Yogurt and Granola
Taco Chili with Rice (recipe coming soon)
*Daddys Choice* Goulash with Green Beans and Salad

Tuesday:
Cereal with Fruit
Bento/L.O.
Baked Marinated Chicken with Quinoa and Mixed Steamed Veggies

Wednesday:
Smoothie
Bento/L.O.
*Daddys Choice* Hot Dogs with Chili and Chips (Someone is still holding onto Summer...)

Thursday:
Muffins with Fruit
Bento/L.O.
?

Friday:
Oatmeal with Fruit
Salad
Tuna Patties(Recipe coming soon) with Roasted Veggies

Saturday:
?
Egg Salad Sandwich(Made with Greek Yogurt)
?

Sunday:
CLEAN
  OUT
    FRIDGE

Chicken and Veggie Lo Mein with Homemade Sauce

Going right a long with my Chicken and Veggie Stir Fry and Beef and Broccoli  here is the recipe I used for Chicken and Veggie Lo Mein. Everyone in my house loved this dish!

Ingredients:

 For the Sauce:
  3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
  2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
  1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
  2 tsp Ground Ginger
  2 tsp Minced Garlic
  1 cup Chicken Broth
  1 1/2 Tbsp Cornstarch
 Can add hot sauce if desired(I just added it right to my bowl instead)

For the Stir Fry:
 1 package Lo Mein Noodles( Only ones I found were wide, and I found them at a local Food City)
 1 Tbsp + 2 Tbsp Oil
 1lb Chicken (or less, I only used 1 boneless skinless chicken breast)
 1 medium White Onion
 1 Bell Pepper, sliced
 1 Carrot, sliced thin
 2 cups Broccoli
 1 yellow squash
 1 small can water chestnuts

 Could also use: Zucchini,Green Onions,Mushrooms,Asparagus,Snow Peas,Cauliflower,etc..

1. Cook noodles according to package.Drain.

2.Make Sauce. Add all ingredients, EXCEPT cornstarch and broth to a bowl and whisk together. In a separate bowl mix the cornstarch and broth.( Just before you add to the stir fry you will combine the two)

3. Heat 1 Tbsp Oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and allow to cook until no longer pink. When done remove from pan and set aside.

4. Heat 2 Tbsp oil in the same skillet and add veggies(in order of time it takes to fry) continue cooking stirring frequently.

5. Add chicken back to the pan.

6. Add the broth and cornstarch to the sauce and mix well. Add to stir fry and bring to a boil.Add noodles to pan.When sauce reaches desired thickness, remove pan from heat.

Chicken&Veggie Stir Fry with Homemade Sauce

Sissy says, "Momma between this and Beef and Broccoli, if you would just learn to make Egg Rolls we never have to go to a Chinese Restaurant again"  :-)

Ingredients:

 For the Sauce:
  3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
  2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
  1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
  2 tsp Ground Ginger
  2 tsp Minced Garlic
  3/4 cup Vegetable Broth
  1 Tbsp Cornstarch
 Can add hot sauce if desired(I just added it right to my bowl instead)

For the Stir Fry:
 2 cups cooked Brown Rice
 1 Tbsp + 2 Tbsp Oil
 1lb Chicken (or less, I used 3 boneless skinless thin cut chicken breast)
 1 medium White Onion
 1 Bell Pepper, sliced
 Mixed Veggies( I had bought a bag at Kroger and needed to use it up, it had Broccoli,Carrots, and Sugar Snap Peas)
  Could also use:Zucchini,Squash,Green Onions,Mushrooms,Asparagus,Water Chestnuts,Cauliflower,etc..

1. Cook Rice

2.Make Sauce. Add all ingredients, EXCEPT cornstarch and broth to a bowl and whisk together. In a separate bowl mix the cornstarch and broth.( Just before you add to the stir fry you will combine the two)

3. Heat 1 Tbsp Oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and allow to cook until no longer pink. When done remove from pan and set aside.

4. Heat 2 Tbsp oil in the same skillet and add veggies(in order of time it takes to fry, onion first then so on) continue cooking stirring frequently.

5. Add chicken back to the pan.

6. Add the broth and cornstarch to the sauce and mix well. Add to stir fry and bring to a boil.
   When sauce reaches desired thickness, remove pan from heat. Serve over cooked rice.

Can't wait to experiment with different veggies :-)

Menu 8-26/9-1-13

Time to get back on track as far as menu planning goes.
I am trying to do better with clean eating, however, I am not stressing about it. I am trying to do 80/20.
So here is the plan for this week.

Monday:
Cereal with Fruit
Bento/ Turkey and Kale Soup (I am going to try with seasoned ground chicken)
Crispy Chicken with Zucchini Tots and Corn

Tuesday:
Omelet with Fruit
Bento/L.O.
Sausage and Veggies

Wednesday:
Granola and Fruit
Bento/Tuna Patties,Black Beans, and Avocado
?

Thursday:
Smoothie
Bento/L.O.
Freezer Wendys Style Chili with Sweet Potato

Friday:
French Toast with Fruit
HM Chicken Nuggets with Annies Mac and Cheese, Raw Veggies
?

Saturday:
?
Buffalo Chicken Tacos
?

Sunday:
CLEAN
OUT FRIDGE
Pinto Beans and Cornbread, Saurkraut and Wienies, Tomatos,Cucumbers, and Onions