Meal Plan 11/4/2019

Sunday

• spaghetti bolognese - double the sauce recipe and freeze half for later!
• caesar salad 

Monday

• chicken cheesesteaks - I'm adding mushrooms to this recipe
• cole slaw
• frozen fries

Wednesday

• szechuan beef
• brown rice
• Trader Joe's chicken gyoza

Meal Plan 10/28/2019

Monday

• crispy baked chicken tacos
• I loved this method and the tacos were easier for kids to eat
• I used a rotisserie chicken (white and dark meat)
• chop 1/4 cup of onion and heat in avocado oil or olive oil over medium heat until soft
• add roughly shredded or chopped, cooked chicken
• season with chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper
• add 1/2 cup of liquid - I drained a can of tomatoes into the pot and then added a little extra water - used the tomatoes for salsa!
• bring to boil, reduce heat to simmer for 10-15 minutes
• taste and adjust seasonings
• I used regular shredded cheddar and jack cheese and corn tortillas
• leftover instant pot black beans
• quick slaw
• thinly slice 1/4 of a head of purple cabbage + 1/4 cup of cilantro
• toss with a dash of white vinegar and salt generously
• let sit for a few minutes before serving

Tuesday

• pork tenderloin with mustard sauce
• roasted delicata squash - this was my first time trying this and I LOVED it. kids and hubs were meh.
• cheese grits

Thursday

• Halloween tradition! chili dogs using leftover chili
• I'll serve mine over another batch of quick slaw (see above) with fritos and cheese

Meal Plan 10/14/2019

Sunday

• sole meuniere
• this was our anniversary dinner so we picked up sides from a restaurant!

Monday

• cumin beef stir-fry - this was a new recipe for us and a definite winner. cannot wait to eat the leftovers
• sesame roasted broccoli
• brown rice

Meal Plan 10/7/2019

Monday

• sage rubbed pork tenderloin
• roasted green beans
• roasted potatoes

Wednesday

• chicken thighs with tomato basil rice - This was a new recipe for us. The kids did not like it at all. I thought the rice was delicious but the chicken a little bland. Probably won't make again!
• roasted asparagus

Thursday

• beef and bean burritos

Meal Plan 9/30/2019

Sunday

• lamb chops
• macaroni and cheese - I halve this recipe for us and it is plenty! I also use whole wheat macaroni
• quick creamed spinach - from cookbook Dinner: a Playbook, which I highly recommend
• thaw a box of frozen spinach
• use a kitchen towel to squeeze out the liquid
• in a skillet, heat 1 TBSP of olive oil and add 2 TBSP of finely chopped onion or shallot
• season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes
• when onion is very soft, add spinach and cook until heated through
• add 1-2 tsp of flour and cook for another 2-3 minutes
• add 1/3-1/2 cup of milk
• season with grated nutmeg, more salt + pepper and parmesan cheese

Monday

• chicken curry
• zucchini with lemon vinaigrette
• brown rice

Wednesday

• instant pot brisket tacos - this was a new recipe and the flavor was amazing but meat was not tender, HOWEVER, I just found out that I've been using my InstantPot incorrectly. I am excited to try this again! I also love this recipe for slow cooker brisket tacos.
• quick slaw
• I have purple cabbage in the fridge so I'll use that instead of the bag of cole slaw
• black beans
• will just doctor up a can - caramelize some onions first, add garlic then can of beans. Season with cumin, salt, pepper and a little white vinegar

Meal Plan 9/9/2019

Monday

• lasagna - sounds ambitious for a Monday except that I have leftover bolognese and bechamel thawing from the freezer. I've also made this with the Trader Joe's turkey bolognese with 1 can of crushed tomatoes added to it and it is great. can also add mushrooms and/or spinach to each layer
• heat oven to 375
• start with a layer of bolognese
• add layer of lasagna noodles (I use the no-boil kind!)
• add another layer of bolognese + drizzle of bechamel + layer of shredded mozzarella
• repeat until all sauce is used up, finishing with the cheese
• sprinkle with fresh parmesan
• cover and cook for 50 minutes
• remove cover and cook 10-15 minutes more
• ceasar salad

Tuesday

• pulled pork tacos - have some pork in the freezer I'll use for this
• cole slaw
• canned black beans

Thursday

• chicken tikka masala
• brown rice
• curry zucchini

Meal Plan 9/2/2019

Monday

• turkey tacos with homemade shells
• mexican rice
• red chile salsa - I have just been tossing in a seeded dried chile without toasting or soaking it - just as good!

Tuesday

• leftover brisket (smoked by Chris!)
• leftover baked beans - these were delicious! I omitted the honey and cut the brown sugar in half - plenty sweet like that. I also had to add an extra cup of water while they cooked
• leftover mac and cheese
• roasted broccoli

Thursday

• fried chicken pieces - I have always followed this recipe up until the tossing in butter and garlic step. I just can't bring myself to cook fried chicken in butter??
• kale chips
• roasted potatoes

Meal Plan 8/26/2019

Sunday

• fish tacos - I used tilapia. The cabbage slaw was a little bitter - I'd opt for green cabbage next time. otherwise, very good!
• instant pot black beans - these were delish, however, I have a small instant pot and it overflowed on the first cook. Next time I'll try decreasing the liquid to 7 cups for that first cook. I also increased the second cook to 20 minutes, which was a good move.
• red chile salsa

Monday

• sichuan beef stir fry - Last time I made this it was too salty so I'm just skipping the salt on the meat and letting the soy sauce do its thing. Those sichuan peppercorns are seriously good - I ordered some from Amazon!
• brown rice
• Trader Joe's chicken dumplings

Wednesday

• pepperoni chicken
• whole wheat spaghetti
• parmesan zucchini

Meal Plan 8/19/2019

Back to school week and back to meal planning for me. enjoy!

Sunday

• shrimp rolls
• steamed artichoke
• avocado/tomato green salad
• 3/4 of an avocado
• large tomato, diced
• drizzle of white wine vinegar (1 TBSP?)
• 1 tsp grated garlic
• drizzle of olive oil (1.5 TBSP?)
• salt and pepper
• add 1/2 head of chopped romaine and toss to combine
• this was my oldest's request for her back to school dinner!

Monday

• sweet onion marinated skirt steak
• roasted cauliflower and carrots
• mac and cheese

Wednesday

• whole wheat rotini with 5 minute marinara
• roasted eggplant
• caesar salad

Meal Plan 7/22/2019

Sunday

• margherita pizza using a new dough recipe
• I liked this but made a note to cook it at a higher temp - I'll try 500 next time.
• easiest spinach salad
• spinach
• squeeze of lemon
• drizzle of olive oil - flavored ones are good here - I used basil
• grated parm
• salt and pepper

Monday

• mini turkey meatloaf
• sweet potato fries
• steamed broccoli with lemon butter
• steam broccoli in steamer basket until tender
• melt butter in microwave and add lemon, salt and cayenne
• drizzle butter over steamed broccoli

Meal Plan 7/15/2019

Tuesday

• barbecue chicken drumsticks
• mac and cheese
• roasted zucchini with lemon vinaigrette

Wednesday

• beef and bean burritos
• mexican rice

Meal Plan 7/8/2019

Monday

• korean stir fried chicken - our first time trying this recipe - it was a hit!
• stir-fried veggies
• I half the sauce here and used 3 carrots, 3 stalks of celery, 1 red bell pepper and half a bag of cole slaw. I added sauce as needed - didn't use it all. we love this combo!
• brown rice
• Trader Joe's chicken gyoza

Tuesday

• whole wheat spaghetti with marinara sauce
• I used Trader Joe's Tuscan marinara and added olive oil + salt as I warmed it
• fried eggplant
• slice eggplant 1/4 inch thick and salt slices. let sit on paper towels for 10 or so minutes
• beat 2 eggs with some water
• mix about 1 cup of breadcrumbs with parmesan cheese, garlic powder, oregano and salt
• heat 1/2 inch of olive oil in a nonstick skillet for 5 minutes
• toss eggplant in egg, then breadcrumbs. fry about 3 minutes on each side, flip with a fork
• drain on paper towels

Tuesday

• shrimp rolls
• sweet potato fries
• cole slaw
• 1/2 bag of cole slaw
• grated carrots
• chopped cilantro
• dressing (adapted from Dinner: The Playbook sandwich slaw):
• 3 TBSP mayo
• squeeze of lime juice
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• squeeze of honey
• salt and pepper

Meal Plan 6/24/2019

Monday

• meatloaf sandwiches with leftover turkey meatloaf
• grilled tomatoes, cheddar + jack cheese and little mustard + ketchup
• Trader Joe's hash brown patties
• sliced tomato salad with olive oil, balsamic, basil

Wednesday

• middle eastern chicken
• pita bread
• garlic sauce
• summer squash with lemon vinaigrette
• brown rice

Meal Plan 6/17/2019

Sunday

• migas breakfast tacos
• didn't use a recipe. just sauteed some onion, jalapeno and tomato, then added scrambled eggs. when cooked through, added a handful of crushed tortilla chips and grated cheddar. serve on warm tortillas with salsa
• bacon

Monday

• Sichuan beef stir-fry - new recipe for us
• Trader Joe's veggie spring rolls
• Brown rice

Wednesday

• tilapia two ways (didn't make this last week so making this week!)
• oven fries - use roasted potatoes recipe but cut potatoes into french fry shapes
• steamed broccoli with lemon butter
• steam broccoli in steamer basket until tender
• melt butter in microwave and add lemon, salt and cayenne
• drizzle butter over steamed broccoli

Meal Plan 6/10/2019

Monday

• sage-rubbed pork tenderloin
• green beans
• oven fries

Wednesday

• tilapia two ways
• roasted zucchini with lemon vinaigrette
• cheese grits

Thursday

• lamb naanwiches
• garlic sauce (I make this instead of the raita from recipe b/c we don't like cucumbers)
• roasted cauliflower

Meal Plan 6/3/2019

Sunday

• fried chicken tenders - Chris did the frying outside in one of these - good fathers day gift idea!
• fried okra
• spinach salad with homemade ranch, tomatoes, carrots and leftover roasted corn

Tuesday

• honey soy stir fry chicken
• stir fried baby bok choy - trying a new recipe
• brown rice
• Trader Joe's chicken gyoza

Wednesday

• shrimp rolls
• steamed artichokes
• sweet potato fries

Meal Plan 5/20/2019

Sunday

• broiled tilapia 2 ways
• rub with olive oil, salt, pepper and dried dill
• rub with olive oil and blackened seasoning
• squeeze fresh lemon over for serving
• cooking method shown here
• fried okra
• farro salad with tomato, mint and and smoked gouda - from DINNER by Melissa Clark (even Maggie loved this!)
• cook 1/2 cup farro per package directions + lots of salt added to cooking water
• drain and toss with 1.5 tsp of apple cider or sherry vinegar  while still warm
• let cool to room temp
• chop tomatoes and mint, cube cheese into tiny bits
• toss all together and squeeze with lemon

Tuesday

• pork tenderloin with mustard sauce
• trim pork and season with salt and pepper
• heat skillet to high, add olive oil
• sear tenderloin on all sides for 5-7 minutes
• turn heat down to low, cover, and cook for ~20 minutes until pork reads 160
• wrap pork in foil to rest
• deglaze pan with 1/2 cup of chicken broth
• add tsp whole grain mustard + 1 tsp dijon
• add 1/2 cup sour cream
• serve sliced pork with sauce
• roasted broccoli
• leftover fried okra

Wednesday

• leftover turkey + ricotta meatballs
• Rao's marinara or 5-minute marinara
• whole wheat spaghetti
• caesar salad

Meal Plan 5/13/2019

Sunday

• grilled chicken
• marinated in soy, worcestershire, lime + honey
• green beans
• roasted potatoes
• sriacha mayo

Monday

• fried pork chops
• roasted cauliflower
• zucchini with lemon vinaigrette

Wednesday

• pulled pork sandwiches
• I use leftover smoked pork and warm with bbq sauce + some apple cider vinegar. serve on potato rolls with pickles, onions and slaw
• cole slaw
• instant pot baked beans - new recipe for us - will report back!

Meal Plan 4/29/2019

Monday

• chicken curry
• kale chips
• brown rice

Tuesday

• taco salad
• instant pot black beans

Thursday

• leftover weeknight bolognese
• Trader joe's cauliflower gnocchi
• roasted eggplant + mushrooms

Meal Plan 4/22/2019

Sunday

• smoked beef tenderloin - no recipe! Chris did this on his smoker.
• farro with tomatoes
• baked spinach
• deviled eggs

Monday

• instant pot chile verde
• I used hatch chiles from Trader Joes instead of the poblanos + anaheims
• It needed more liquid so I added 1 cup of broth to the chiles before pureeing
• I think it could have gone for an extra 5-10 minutes to get the pork super tender
• cheese quesadillas for the kids

Wednesday

• leftover tenderloin
• roasted zucchini with lemon vinagrette
• arugula pesto

Meal Plan 4/15/2019

Monday

• turkey meatloaf
• roasted okra
• sweet potato fries

Tuesday

• chicken stir-fry with magic mustard sauce (new recipe for us)
• brown rice
• Trader Joe's chicken gyoza or springrolls

Thursday

• leftover chili over purple cabbage slaw - using our leftovers from chili cook-off but this recipe is a good standby
• hot dogs for the kids
• chili fixins - fritos, onions, cheddar cheese

Meal Plan 4/8/2019

Sunday

• grilled shrimp - I used the recipe for Basque Style Shrimp in Joy of Cooking, which is similar to the one I linked, but doesn't have sugar in it - doesn't need it!
• steamed artichokes
• roasted potatoes
• aioli + garlic butter for artichokes
• aioli - 2 TBSP mayo + 1 tiny clove garlic, grated + squeeze of lemon (or lime!) + salt and pepper

Monday

• lamb naanwiches
• roasted eggplant with yogurt sauce

Wednesday

• chicken with dijon + herbs (new recipe!)
• roasted broccoli
• brown rice

Meal Plan 4/1/2019

Sunday

• broiled salmon with mayo/mustard sauce - from cookbook "Keepers". the sauce wasn't my favorite but I love the way they tell you to cook fish in the book:
• preheat your broiler for 10 minutes
• put a cast iron skillet under the broiler so your fish will be 4-6 inches from heat
• heat skillet for 5 minutes (should be smoking)
• prepare your fish while skillet heats by rubbing with olive oil and whatever seasoning you like. we like blackened seasoning or salt, pepper and dill
• carefully pull hot skillet from oven, add fish to skillet, topped with a bit of butter and put back under the broiler for 3-5 minutes depending on thickness of fish.  
• roasted asparagus with lemon
• rice

Monday

• posole with chicken - my mom had recommended this recipe, but I think I'm going to add in a couple of poblano peppers to keep it mild
• toppings: sliced cabbage, radishes, avocado
• cheese quesadillas for the kids

Wednesday

• rosemary grilled pork chops
• roasted potatoes
• spinach salad

Meal Plan 3/25/2019

Sunday

• turkey and ricotta meatballs - this was a new recipe for me and we all loved it.
• zucchini noodles - another first from Trader Joe's freezer aisle. good but we needed 2 boxes
• spinach caesar salad - I have been adding a little mayo to my caesar dressing and extra anchovy paste - good changes!

Monday

• leftover pot roast (from my freezer)
• egg noodles
• roasted carrots (because there are never enough carrots in pot roast)
• heat oven to 425
• toss carrots with olive oil, salt, pepper and ?? - I like curry powder sometimes or chili powder + cumin. can do brown sugar for kiddos!
• roast for 30 minutes, tossing at about the 20 minute mark

Wednesday

• sage roasted pork tenderloin - recipe above! this is from a family cookbook and I make it often.
• zucchini with lemon vinaigrette
• heat oven to 425
• slice zucchini lengthwise, then cut into 1/2 inch half moons
• toss on a baking sheet with olive oil + a little salt and pepper
• while it cooks, make a dressing:
• squeeze of half a lemon
• clove of minced garlic
• 1-2 TBSP of olive oil
• 1 TBSP chopped parsley (mint is good here too!)
• salt, pepper and crushed red pepper to taste
• cook zucchini for 20-30 minutes, then toss with the dressing before serving
• cheese grits

Meal Plan 3/18/2019

Sunday

• sweet onion marinated skirt steak
• pureed cauliflower (not my fave, so not sharing recipe)
• roasted okra and carrots with aioli

Monday

• Soy Ginger Cod 
• I buy this frozen from Trader Joes but ignore package instructions. instead:
• set oven to broil with a heatproof skillet about 5 inches from top of oven
• heat skillet for 5-7 minutes
• carefully remove from oven, drizzle with a little olive oil and add the thawed fish
• top with green onions
• broil for 5 minutes until browned on top
• brown rice
• chicken dumplings (also from Trader Joe's freezer section!)
• soy sesame roasted broccoli
• I did not toast sesame seeds - just added them raw to the broccoli before I cooked it
• wish I had cooked this on convection, but otherwise very good!

Wednesday

• chicken saltimbocca
• roasted green beans with shallots and rosemary
• didn't have enough sage so used rosemary instead + thin sliced shallots, which are my favorite part of this dish
• whole wheat spaghetti with parmesan

Meal Plan 2/11/2019

Monday

• chicken pot pie - cooked my chicken in the oven rather than poaching and omitting pearl onions
• simple spinach salad
• parmesan cheese
• olive oil
• squeeze of lemon
• salt and pepper

Tuesday

• beef and bean burritos
• mexican slaw

Thursday (valentines day!)

• not sure what I'm making yet! probably fish maybe with okra?
  

Meal Plan 2/4/2019

Sunday

• chicken and sausage gumbo - I use my mother-in-law's recipe, which is similar to this one. I don't use shrimp and add a bag of frozen, cut okra to simmer for the last 15 minutes or so. (if you add it earlier, it will fall apart)
• she also has a microwave roux recipe I used that makes this much easier!
• rice

Monday

• Lemon pork chops - I'd found a recipe in "Keepers" I wanted to try but this one looks good too. will report back!
• Roasted green beans
• Roasted potatoes

Tuesday

• turkey meatloaf
• roasted brussels sprouts
• stovetop mac and cheese - trying a new recipe for this but this is my standby

Meal Plan 1/15/2019

Sunday

• smoked pulled pork and ribs - no recipe - thanks Chris!
• potato salad
• Mexican cole slaw
• green beans

Monday

• lemon chicken - I cooked on convection at 420 and was able to cook the eggplant in the same oven. chicken was crispy, delicious!
• roasted eggplant with yogurt sauce - recipe above from Keepers cookbook - this was delicious - I could definitely eat this for a meal on its own. my eggplant shrunk a lot when I cooked it so be generous with the amount.
• leftover potato salad

Wednesday

• broiled skirt steak with mustard butter - another recipe from Keepers cookbook - will post if we love it
• roasted broccoli 
• cheese grits

Meal Plan 1/7/2019

Monday

• shrimp pad thai - trying a new recipe from Dinner: Changing the Game by Melissa Clark. Will post the recipe if it's a hit!
• Trader Joe's chicken gyoza

Tuesday

• chicken stuffed poblano peppers - using a rotisserie chicken
• Mexican rice
• Mexican slaw
• bag of cole slaw
• shredded radishes and jalapeno (I like to grate them in the food processor)
• chopped cilantro
• dressing (adapted from Dinner: The Playbook sandwich slaw):
• 3 TBSP mayo
• squeeze of lime juice
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• squeeze of honey
• salt and pepper

Thursday

• Spaghetti with vodka sauce
• Caesar salad
• garlic bread (from freezer aisle!)