February 14-20

Sorry for not posting anything the past week – my house has been on Pause because we’ve been sick. It’s like I have been in another world this past week, and I am still not 100% just yet. Such awful timing to be sick, two weeks before we move. I guess it’s better than the week before or the week of our move…(a bright side). This upcoming week all I have been able to think about is what needs to get packed and transferring utilities – none of this is fun – Food has been lower on my list, and that is what I enjoy!

I went searching for some easy meal ideas and lucky for me one of the ladies, whose blog I read often, is holding a contest for easy weeknight meals. She wanted meals that were so easy you could put it in a tweet post (if you are on twitter, you know how short that is!) Lots of people submitted their easy recipe ideas – so I took some of their ideas! I love the community of foodies out there!

Monday

Left over Slow Cooker Brisket (from last week since nothing from last week’s menu was done)

Tuesday

Cauliflower & White Bean Pasta

Wednesday

Leftovers

Thursday

Baked Gnocchi – look how easy: cook sausage and slice, add tomato sauce and heat the sauce through. Cook Gnocchi according to package, drain and place on bottom of oven safe pan, top with sausage, sauce and mozzarella. Broil in oven for 5 minutes until the cheese is melty.

Friday

Eat Out

Saturday

TBD – Last weekend before the move – may be hard to cook. PB&Js and turkey sammies maybe?

Sunday

TBD

January 31 – February 6

Now I know this month is going to fly by because we are getting ready to move. As much time as I think I have to prepare to move and pack it always creeps up on me. I have been tackling at least one room per weekend since we found out we were moving and getting ready to have a garage sale. This time I promised myself I would de-clutter, I have so much CRAP! How do we collect so much CRAP? Completely unnecessary so instead of lugging it all along with us to the new place we are getting rid of it – kicking it to the curb! So this month I am really going to be in need of some fast meals and be able to pull dinners out from the freezer. So I guess I better get on top of cooking a bunch on weekends while de-cluttering.

Last week I had to admit we didn’t follow much of the menu. There were a few things during the week that came up after work so we ate out twice and ate more left overs than I wanted.

Here is next week’s menu:

(Note: this Sunday (instead of spaghetti and meatballs) I am making a slow roasted pork shoulder from Mark Bittman’s The Minimalist column – which sadly is over after 13 years).

Mon.

Greek Shrimp Scampi w/rigatoni (Thank you Dinner: A Love Story)
(lunch: Meeting in the office)

Tues.

Roman Chicken (from freezer) – carried over from last week
(lunch: left over greek shrimp scampi)

Wed.

Sausage, onion, tomato hoagies w/green salad (This Week For Dinner)
(lunch: greek salad w/feta and kalamatas)

Thurs.

Asian Beef Bowl (recipe to follow, this is a great dish and easy to make, you will love it!)
(Lunch: Greek salad – w/feta, kalamata)

Fri.

Eat Out Night!
(Lunch: left over Asian Beef)

Sat.

To be announced –

Sun.

Roasted Chicken – redo (hopefully I don’t get another “bad” chicken).

January 24 – 30

Throughout this week I have been taking note of great dinner ideas that have come my way – one I will use is the Sausage and peppers hoagie (got that from Dinner this Week).

Last week we followed the menu pretty good – didn’t get to the Cornflake Chicken Strips on Wednesday, which I am pretty bummed about – but I’ll save it for this week because those Potato Wedges are so, so good. As for lunch a few days were bumped by two working lunches – but that’s okay we had one of my favorite lunch places – which has fresh sandwiches, soups, salads and quiches. I love an Olympian Salad – with crunchy romaine, sweet and juicy  cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, salty kalamatas and pepperoncinis and tangy feta and topped with a balsamic vinaigrette – Perfect combination of YUM! I have incorporated my own version in my lunch menu this week.

Mon.

Chicken Noodle Soup (w/leftover roasted chicken from Sunday)

(lunch: turkey avocado blt) 

Tues.

Cornflake crusted chicken strips w/potato wedges (didn’t get to this last week)

(lunch: left over chicken soup)

Wed.

Sausage, onion, tomato hoagies w/green salad

(lunch: left over chicken strips)

Thurs.

Roman Chicken and Basil garlic bread (both from the freezer)

(Greek salad – w/feta, kalamata)

Fri.

Eat Out

(Toasty turkey sandwich w/fruit)

Sat.

Leaving open –

Sun.

Spaghetti w/Meatballs

January 17-23 Menu

Sunday breakfast: doughnut muffins by King Arthur Flour – very good!

Okay this is the first of my weekly meal plans. As mentioned a few posts ago one of my goals this year is to become more organized and create a Menu and since I am sharing all aspects of my 2011 goals, here is the next part of it. My hope is that over this year I will end up with a collection of Go-To recipes that are easy enough for weeknight dinners, and some freezer friendly recipes ready prepared for quick use during the week.

For years now I have been planning my dinners by week, I will attempt planning my lunches too.  A few weeks ago I found a blog called This Week for Dinner where people share their weekly dinner menus – great site you should visit it if you want inspiration for ideas!

Monday

– Pan Roasted Pork Saltimbocca w/butter and herb orzo and green salad.

(Lunch: Egg Salad Sandwich, sliced apples & edamame)

Tuesday

-Make your own flatbread pizzas (flatbread dough made Sunday then frozen)

(Lunch: left overs)

Wednesday

-Cornflake Chicken Strips w/potato wedges and steamed broccoli

(Lunch: w/a friend -Thai food)

Thursday

– Ham ‘n Beans (from the freezer)

(Lunch: Turkey BLT w/avocado spread)

Friday

– Eat Out! (Tacos – my daughter loves tacos)

(Lunch: Toasted Turkey sandwich w/sliced apples)

Saturday

– Roman Chicken (Freeze leftovers for next week)

Sunday

– Roasted whole chicken and mushrooms (my favorite staple food) w/garlic and parmesan mashed yukon golds. (I am going to Roast my chicken this week with Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking – Style)

I warn you I am spontaneous and if I find a good recipe during the week that warrants cooking on the weekend I may change up my weekend plan.