Menu Plan, May 18 - 24

     This is a post I meant to publish several weeks ago, but simply forgot.  Things have been busy at work and home so I haven't had much time for blogging.  I am hoping to be a little more consistent in the future.  Although our anniversary trip occurred almost a month ago, I want to remember the details.  We pulled out of Tuscaloosa early Saturday morning and were able to get to Atlanta before lunch.  Our first stop was Trader Joe’s because I am obsessed with food!  I spent way too much money on restocking our pantry and loved every second of it.  Next, we headed to lunch at Farm Burger, a small restaurant chain that specializes in grass feed beef.  Gluten-free buns were on the menu so this is what really lured me in. This was easily one of the best burgers I have ever had out and we can’t wait to for a return visit. 

     After lunch we made our way to IKEA, a place neither J.T. nor I have ever been before.  Although I did buy a few things, I wasn’t overly impressed.   Most items (especially furniture) seemed cheaply made and I am indifferent about a second trip.  J.T. spotted this cute door hanger and I couldn’t help but spend $3.00 for Otis. 

     We spent the majority of the afternoon at IKEA, so we decided to go check in our hotel and rest up before dinner.  A few weeks ago, J.T. and I had looked over different restaurant menus and selected Einstein’s.  We were so excited to eat at this restaurant and made reservations.  Needless to say, we will NEVER be returning.  The food was mediocre, the environment was extremely uncomfortable, and the service was slow.  One day we will look back and laugh J.  Sunday morning was spent lying around the hotel room watching my favorite Food Network shows before heading off to Turner Field.  

     The Braves faced the Cincinnati Reds, a team J.T. and I had never seen in-person before.  The game was slow, but the Braves won in the 10^th inning. 

 

We drove back to Tuscaloosa after the game and our boy was so excited to see his parents!  

Sunday

• Chicken Pot Pie
• Veggies
• Leftover Carrot Sheet Cake

Monday

• Sweet Potato & Black Bean Veggie Burgers
• Roasted Plantains

Tuesday

• Ham Pizza
• Roasted Carrots

Wednesday

• Hummus Sandwiches
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Thursday

• Ham (last batch!)
• Green Bean & Potato Salad (new recipe)

Friday

• Peanut Butter Waffle Sandwiches
• Eggs

Saturday

• Leftovers

Menu Plan, April 27 - May 3

     The Easter Bunny was very good to me last weekend and he sure knows what I like. Some food gifts included a bottle of olive oil and 4 new herb plants.  We also took home one of my dad’s tasty smoked hams.  He did one for both me and my brother and I know we are all thankful for the free food!  The menu plan was altered for the upcoming weeks to include this ham.  During Easter lunch we feasted on another ham my dad had made specifically for Easter.  Since spiral hams tend to dry out, my dad normally buys regular hams that you must slice yourself.  This became quite the ordeal on Sunday.  My dad cut himself pretty badly on two fingers, when the knife slipped during his first cut.  I, of course, took over with an electric knife and ended up cutting into my index finger.  Ouch.  My cut isn’t too terrible, but it is in a very inconvenient location and is still quite sore.  My brother saved the day by slicing the rest of the ham without hurting himself – thank goodness J

     Tomorrow, J.T. and I will celebrate our second wedding anniversary.  While we are going on a little getaway, we will be enjoying dinner in our own kitchen on our actual anniversary.  I consulted Ina Garten for this meal, because her recipes are always so foolproof.  We can’t normally afford to eat seafood or more expensive vegetables, but we are making an exception.  Our anniversary meal is not included in my normal grocery budget and we are very grateful to the Easter Bunny for funding this rare treat!

     Below is a picture of the homemade vegetable chicken stock I threw in the crock pot one morning.  The broth turned a dark brown color because it was made from roasted chicken bones.  I always keep bones (from raw meat or roasted meat) in the freezer until I have enough accumulated to make stock.  I want to clarify that I do not save bones that people have eaten off.  Any roasted bones that are saved have had the meat shredded off by hand and not someone's mouth!  I also save carrot tops and celery leaves.  Once I have enough vegetables and bones, I place them in the crock pot, along with garlic, peppercorns, and a bay leaf, on low for 12 hours.  The stock turns out rich every time and it is quite inexpensive to make.    

Sunday

• Atlanta

Monday (Anniversary Dinner)

• Salmon with Melting Cherry Tomatoes (new recipe)
• Green Beans Gremolata (new recipe)

Tuesday

• Mini Ham Sandwiches
• Sautéed Peas, Carrots & Onions

Wednesday

• Hummus Sandwiches
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Thursday

• Falafel Burgers
• Vegetable Millet Pilaf

Friday

• Peanut Butter Waffle Sandwiches
• Eggs

Saturday

• Leftovers

Menu Plan, April 20 - 27

     One of my favorite holiday meals to cook for is Easter.  Ham, casseroles, and deviled eggs are all beloved favorites in our family.  Although we are all adults, the Easter bunny still comes to visit all the children - me, J.T., Christopher, and Gill.  Of course, I am not complaining because the Easter bunny that comes to my parent's house always leaves money in the eggs and a few other goodies in our baskets.  

    Schedules will finally slow down around our house this week.  No more Easter rehearsals and I get my evenings back with my husband.  We have several things to look forward to over the next few weeks.  Our second anniversary is approaching (April 28) and we are taking in quick trip to Atlanta to see our favorite baseball team play.  The school year for J.T. is coming to a close and I know he is excited about a break.  Plus, I have a few furniture projects lined up for him to start.  However, J.T. and I are most excited about July.  Why?  After 14 months of hard-core budgetary discipline, we will finally make our last student loan payment.  Since May of 2013, we have consistently put a minimum of $3,000.00 a month on our student loan.  Traveling more, saving for a house, and increasing our grocery budget are in the near future!!!  

    I always like to include a least one picture in my menu plan post.  My brother and sister-in-law gave me a tortilla press for Christmas and I have been using it frequently in the kitchen.  Homemade corn tortillas are so easy to make and they worked as a good "bun" for my hotdogs wraps.  Recipe development still in process...

Sunday

• Dad's Smoked Ham
• Mama's Macaroni & Cheese
• Sweet Potato Casserole
• Mama's Green Beans
• Deviled Eggs
• Carrot Sheet Cake

Monday

• Crockpot Sweet Potato Lentils (new recipe)
• Polenta Wedges

Tuesday

• Sausage Pizza
• Green Peas

Wednesday

• Hummus Sandwiches
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Thursday

• Sloppy Joes on Whole Grain Corn Muffins
• Leftover Lima Beans

Friday

• Peanut Butter Waffle Sandwiches
• Eggs

Saturday

• Leftovers

Menu Plan, April 13 - 19

     This is our last week of extra Easter rehearsal’s at church, which means I don’t have to have both Wednesday and Thursday night meals cooked in advance.  What a relief.  Although, J.T.’s spring band concerts will be gearing up soon, they will only consume one night a week and they are not occurring in the same week.  J.T. and I both really hate having anything planned after work and we value our evenings spent together.  Dinner together every night gives us time to communicate, which is very important in our marriage.  The television is always turned off and we have time to catch up on each other’s day.  Sometimes I think that people are so attached to technology – smartphones, televisions, etc. – that they forget how to have a real conversation.  We don’t eat at restaurants often, but it is heartbreaking to see a couple having dinner while both people are starring at a cell phone.  It can be quite difficult to listen and read text messages at the same time.  Sometimes, I am guilty of being on my phone, while J.T. is talking and then having no clue about what he just said.  Maybe we should all slow down, put our cell phones aside, and share a meal over genuine conversation.  It is amazing what you can learn about the other person - off soap box J.  I am obsessed with granola lately.  Over the past several years, I have eaten I big bowl of creamy oatmeal for breakfast but I have been on a granola kick for several weeks.  I think granola with almond milk is a lighter breakfast, which is better for my stomach since I work out about 30 minutes after eating.  Below I experimented with a play on my original granola cereal recipe.  Two containers are oatmeal raisin granola and the other two are maple raisin granola.  I would love to try a maple date granola, but only had raisins on hand.  Both turned out really well and I am excited to experiment more.  

Sunday

• Buttermilk Roast Chicken
• Sautéed Vegetables

Monday

• Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burritos 
• Roasted Carrot Coins

Tuesday

• Breakfast Fried Rice (new recipe from Whole grain Mornings)
• Baked Lima Beans

Wednesday

• Hummus Sandwiches
• Sweet Potato Fries

Thursday

• Hot Dog Wraps (new recipe)
• Julia's Boston Baked Beans

Friday

• Peanut Butter Waffle Sandwiches
• Eggs

Saturday

• Leftovers

Menu Plan, March 16 - 22

  

     Another week has been spent RICEing my knees (rest, ice, compress, elevate) and they are both slowly getting better.  I can tell a big improvement when descending staircases and I am very relieved both knees are healing.  The right knee is slightly more tender than the left, but I will be back on the treadmill soon.  I checked a major item off my to-do list this week, when I filed our taxes.  Hallelujah! I was planning on doing them over Spring Break but was able to get them done early.  Speaking of Spring Break, it is approaching very quickly and J.T. and I both cannot wait!  Last year we went to Washington but this year we are home bound.  I am really looking forward to simply spending time at home.  The majority of our life is spent at work, so I love lazy days spent doing little projects around our apartment.  I already have my Spring Break to-do list going and our menu plan mapped out. I am looking forward to trying many new recipes that I am not brave enough to attempt during the week.  

     A little project that J.T. and I did last weekend was work on hanging my new spice rack.  This wooden shelf was made by my grandfather.  About a month ago, we were cleaning out his attic and stumbled upon it.  I immediately envisioned all my spices fitting on it perfectly.  They are alphabetical (of course!) and so easy to access.  The blue willow tea cups on the top shelf belonged to my grandmother.  I love having a piece of Mama Jean and Granddaddy Ed in my kitchen.   Please ignore the terrible phone picture.  

Sunday

• Chicken Pot Pie
• Green Beans
• Jam Cake

Monday

• Quinoa Pea Soup
• Cornbread Muffins

Tuesday

• Homemade Hamburger Helper
• Peas

Wednesday

• Hummus Sandwiches
• Roasted Carrots

Thursday

• Spinach Sausage Polenta Squares (new recipe from Whole Grain Mornings)
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Friday

• Peanut Butter Waffle Sandwiches
• Eggs

Saturday

• Leftovers

Menu Plan, December 15 - 21

     Yesterday, I was off work for my birthday leave and it was a wonderful day.  As usual, I was little Miss Susie Homemaker and filled my day with baking, cleaning, laundry, and sewing.  In general, I spent my time doing things that I never have time to do during a normal week.  I  left time for a little relaxation, which included watching The Rachael Ray Show at 10:00 and my favorite Christmas movie of all time, Home Alone.  I managed to work in a small nap (accidentally) and enjoyed one of my favorite lunches - a toasted peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  All in all it was a great day and the first day I have had for myself since February 25.  Christmas break begins in 4 days!

Sunday

• Shepherd's Pie
• Green Beans

Monday

• Black Bean Pizza
• Green Peas

Tuesday

• Potato Soup
• Cornbread Muffins

Wednesday

• Veggie Burgers on Cornmeal Waffles Cakes
• Roasted Potato Fries

Thursday

• Beef Vegetable Casserole (using up vegetables & sauces from the freezer)
• Roasted Carrots

Friday

• Peanut Butter Waffle Sandwiches
• Eggs

Saturday

• Leftovers

Menu Plan, December 8 - 14

     We are gearing up for another busy week in our house.  Our church has their annual Christmas Program this weekend, which includes three performances.  This year is a little unusual for me, because I am not participating for the first time in over ten years.  J.T., however, will still be there for every rehearsal and performance.  I planned our menu around his rehearsal/performance schedule.  On his busier nights, I picked meals that were very quick to prepare or already partially done.  We are looking forward to Christmas break and are ready to get these hectic weeks behind us!  

Sunday

• Turkey & Rice Casserole
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Squash, & Zucchini
• Green Beans
• Cherry Pie

Monday

• Tuna Croquettes
• Roasted Brussels and Potatoes

Tuesday

• Leftover Butternut Squash Soup & Green Pea Soup
• Cornbread Muffins

Wednesday

• Veggie Burgers on Cornmeal Waffles Cakes
• Sweet Potato Fries

Thursday

• Homemade Hamburger Helper

Friday

• Peanut Butter Waffle Sandwiches
• Eggs

Saturday

• Leftovers

Menu Plan, December 1 - 7

     I am a week behind posting our menu plan, but Thanksgiving weekend was very busy.  We had seven people at my parents house for our annual Thanksgiving lunch.  Over the course of five days, I learned to become very flexible with my meal plan and found out quickly it could not be set in stone.  Lists and spreadsheets keep my life organized and I do not care to deviate much from "the plan."  As the holidays approach, I know plans will change over and over again, but having a rough idea always makes things a little smoother :) 

Sunday

• Thanksgiving Leftovers

Monday

• Sweet Potato Lentil Shepherd's Pie
• Roasted Carrots

Tuesday

• Slow Cooker Pot Roast
• Roasted Potatoes
• Green beans

Wednesday

• Veggie Burgers on Cornmeal Waffles Cakes
• Sweet Potato Fries

Thursday

• Butternut Squash Soup
• Cornbread Muffins

Friday

• Peanut Butter Waffle Sandwiches
• Eggs

Saturday

• Leftovers

Menu Plan, November 24 - 30

     The weekend always flies by and time seems to disappear.  I loved every moment I spent in the kitchen this weekend and had fun creating a few of my favorite classic dishes.  I will admit I was quite nervous about making the pop tarts, since I was attempting to make them gluten and dairy free.  Surprisingly, they turned out great and I couldn't have been happier.  They were especially fun to eat!  I hope to have the recipe on the blog soon. With this being Thanksgiving week, my feast preparation has begun.  I am looking forward to my favorite food day!

Sunday

• Chicken Pot Pie
• Sauteed Broccoli and Carrots
• Homemade Strawberry Poptarts

Monday

• Pea Soup
• Whole Grain Corn Muffins

Tuesday

• Veggie Burgers on Cornmeal Waffles Cakes
• Sweet Potato Fries

Wednesday

• Julia's Boston Baked Beans
• Johnny Cakes

Thursday

• Smoked Turkey with Gravy
• Dressing
• Sweet Potatoes with Apples
• Green Beans
• Cranberry Sauce
• Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp

Friday

• Peanut Butter Waffle Sandwiches
• Eggs

Saturday

• Leftovers

Menu Plan, November 17 - 23

You may begin noticing a trend with my weekly menu plans.   Trends such as:

1. I normally serve soup on Monday night during the fall/winter. 
2. We always have veggie burgers on cornmeal waffle cakes with some form of vegetable "fry" on Wednesday night.  We have to eat by 5:45 on Wednesday nights, because J.T. has to leave for church at 6:15.  I do not arrive home from work until 5:15, so most of this meal must be done in advance.  About once a month, I make the veggie burgers in large batches of 16, which provides each of us with 4 lunches and 4 suppers.  I freeze the burgers in batches of 4 and defrost them overnight in the refrigerator, the night before I plan to serve them.  The cornmeal waffle cakes, which serve as our bread, are made in advance too and I always have a batch of these in the freezer.  The vegetable fries are prepared by my wonderful husband.  I lay out all the ingredients, the utensils, and the recipe before I go to work.  J.T. prepares the recipe and pops the fries into the oven, since he gets home from work earlier than me.  When I arrive home, I put the veggie burgers and waffle cakes onto a sheet pan and they go into the oven for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. We always have waffles and eggs on Friday night.  After a full week at work, I am pooped and love having something easy and fun for supper.  I make the waffles in advance and freeze them.  When I arrive home from work, I pull the waffles out of the freezer, slather them with peanut butter, and pop them into the oven for 10 minutes.  J.T. fixes the eggs and dinner is served.  This by far our favorite meal of the week. 

Sunday

• Shepherd's Pie
• French Lentils
• Popovers

Monday

• Potato Soup
• Cornbread Muffins & Popovers

Tuesday

• Tuna Croquettes
• Roasted Potatoes & Carrots

Wednesday

• Veggie Burgers on Cornmeal Waffle Cakes
• Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Thursday

• Mini Meatloaves
• Rosemary White Beans

Friday

• Peanut Butter Waffle Sandwiches
• Fried Eggs

Saturday 

• Leftovers

Menu Plan, November 10 - 16

     Since I do not post my weekly grocery store trips anymore, I thought it would be helpful to post my weekly menu plan instead.  Many bloggers have a weekly post titled "Menu Plan Monday."  My weekly plan always begins on Sunday, because this is technically the first day of the week.  While this may be a bore for some readers, it will be helpful when I am in a pinch to come up with a meal.   Personally, I think it is interesting to see what other people eat on a daily basis.  I am the girl starring at everyone else's grocery cart wondering what they people feed their family.  Although it is a few days late, here is the plan for the week:

Sunday

• Herb Roasted Chicken
• Stuffing Muffins
• Sauteed Cabbage

Monday

• Peanut Butternut Squash Soup
• Popovers and Cornbread Muffins

Tuesday

• Falafel Burgers
• Pea Risotto

Wednesday

• Veggie Burgers on Cornmeal Waffle Cakes
• Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Thursday

• Mini Meatloaves
• Slow Cooker Lima Beans

Friday

• Peanut Butter Waffle Sandwiches
• Egg Strata Muffins

Saturday

• Leftovers from the week

What are you having for dinner this week?