Menu Plan 4/16/12

I am very much the bad blogger lately.  Have you ever had the feeling that you just don't want to do something?  Yeah, me too, hence the no blogging the last couple of weeks.  It's been crazy busy around here lately.  My 7 year old son has epilepsy (and ADHD), and his neurologist is out of Burlington, VT, which is a 4 hour drive.  He had an appointment this past week, so we made a trip of it.  We stayed two nights, and even went to the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory and went on a tour.  The kids loved it. :)

So, needless to say, there was no menu plan this past week.  What I had wrote down totally went out the window.  Then I decided I didn't care for what I had planned out for the rest of the month, so I completely redid the rest of my April menu!

I am going to try to start including breakfast and lunch in my menu plans.  I have a big food problem (major food addict and compulsive over-eater), and thought that if I planned all my meals, there would be less roaming the kitchen and eating whatever I see.  So, I am really hoping this works, as nothing else seems to work.  I will be meeting with a dietician soon, and I hope to learn a lot from that as well.   I am home alone for breakfast and lunch on Monday-Friday.  Weekends we all get to eat together.

Friday, my 12 year old daughter meets with an orthodontist for the first time, so we will be gone all day.  Due to insurance issues, the nearest orthodontist is 4 hours away, so we will be eating on the road that day.  That's what we get for living in the middle of nowhere!!

So, onto the Menu Plan for this week!

Monday -

• Breakfast- Flax & Cranberry Oatmeal, Peach Yogurt, Grape Juice
• Lunch- Roast Beef Sandwich, Progresso Garden Vegetable Soup
• Dinner-Cheese Chicken & Rice Casserole, Broccoli, Bread & Butter

Tuesday - 

• Breakfast- Glutino Strawberry Bright Beginnings Cereal, Apple Slices, Grape Juice
• Lunch- Egg Salad Sandwich, Tossed Salad
• Dinner- Nachos, Spanish Rice, Corn

Wednesday -

• Breakfast- 1 Egg, over-easy, 1 slice of toast, 1 Banana, Grape Juice
• Lunch- Butter Stuffed Shrimp, Rice, Tossed Salad
• Dinner- Garlic Tomato Soup, Grilled Cheese sandwiches, Tossed Salad

Thursday -

• Breakfast- Raisin Spice Oatmeal, Yogurt, Grape Juice
• Lunch- Roast Beef Sandwich, Tossed Salad
• Dinner- Oven Baked Chicken, Mushroom Rice, Vegetables

Friday - 

• Breakfast- 1 Slice of toast with PB & J, Yogurt, Grape Juice
• Lunch- OUT (most likely packing sandwiches and fruit)
• Dinner- OUT (the kids are looking forward to the Golden Corral, but I have a hard time finding things I can eat that don't have gluten in them!)

Saturday -

• Breakfast- Pancakes, Sausage links, Bananas, Orange Juice
• Lunch- Turkey Sandwiches, Kids choice of soup
• Dinner- Cheesy Chicken Chowder, Cornbread Muffins

Sunday -

• Breakfast- Breakfast Sandwiches (over easy egg, sausage patty on English muffins), Orange Juice
• Lunch- Leftover Cheesy Chicken Chowder and Cornbread Muffins
• Dinner- Smothered Pork Chops, Seasoned Rice, Vegetables or Tossed Salad

Menu Plan Monday 3/26/12

Last week went well.  We veered off track a little, but not too much.  Everything was a big hit.  We did change it up, and on Wednesday, instead of trying the Tempura batter, my husband made cheeseburgers on the grill and french fries.  I wasn't feeling too well, so I said go for it!

For this week, I am trying a new recipe, and am looking forward to it.  I just love trying new recipes (though I do admit, my family gets a little scared sometimes!).

Sunday - Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
I love Chicken Cordon Bleu!  When I saw this recipe, I was like, YES!  Chicken Cordon Bleu, as a casserole!! Heaven!  If you haven't guessed by now, I love casseroles! :)  I might be slightly addicted to casseroles.  So for this one, I am going to be boiling a small chicken, and will also make some homemade chicken stock (which I have never done before!).  This does call for panko bread crumbs, so I will be using some store bought Gluten Free breadcrumbs instead.

Monday - Hearty Pork Stew
This is a recipe out of a Taste of Home cookbook - Casseroles, Slow Cooker & Soup.   (See, my love of casseroles is showing again!  This is actually a slow cooker stew, it will be served over gluten free pasta.  I have made it before, and my husband loved it.

Tuesday - Nachos
Oh yes, you read right.  Nachos, again!  The kids have told me they want nachos every night, forever, lol.  I told them we can have nachos until I run out of nacho cheese sauce in the freezer!  I am missing my taco salads, lol. :)

Wednesday - Buffalo Chicken Casserole
 Another week with the Buffalo Chicken Casserole.  My husband is truely addicted to buffalo chicken.  He would have this every night (he's like the kids are with their nachos!).  He's lucky it is really good, and it's a casserole!!

Thursday - Chili & Garlic Bread
 Another meal that my husband requested for this week.  The temperatures have dropped back down to seasonal normals from the 80F weather we had last week, the furnace is running again, so Chili is a great comfort meal on a cold day.

Friday - Cheddar Brats & Grandma's Mashed Potatoes
 Even if it's cold, we will be grilling some Brats.  And probably hot dogs for the kids because they don't care for Brats.  Grandma's Mashed Potatoes is a recipe that my husband's grandmother gave to me years ago.  My husband loves them, and now that Grandma is no longer with us, he is always telling me he is so glad I can carry on making these wonderful potatoes.

Saturday - Pizza & Wings
If I didn't have pizza on the menu this week, I would have one upset little boy.  He is so much like his mama, lol.  I could eat pizza all day long, and so could he. :)


Don't forget to check out the Gluten Free Menu Swap, hosted by Heather at Celiac Family this week for some great gluten free menu ideas. 

The theme this weeks is artichokes, yummy!!  I didn't have any artichoke recipes this week, but I do love artichokes!  Next week's theme is Easter!  Also stop over to OrgJunkie and see the Menu Plan Monday line-up!!  I always seem to find some great ideas between these two places!!

Menu Plan Monday 3/12/12

Sunday - Seafood Alfredo over Tinkyada GF Fettuccine noodles
This is going to a fun experiment!  I found some imitation crab meat and lobster meat that has no gluten in it!  So, this Alfredo will be full of crab and lobster meat, as well as some bay scallops.  I really hope this is one the kids will love.  If it is successful, I will try to keep track of the ingredients and post the recipe.

Monday - Herbed Pork Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans
Since I didn't get to make this on the 3rd like I had planned, we are going to try it this week!  I will be sure to post the recipe soon.  I want to get a photo first.  The gravy that I make from this one is amazing!  DH said it is the best gravy ever!

Tuesday - Tacos or Nachos
Tuesday is always "Taco Tuesday" here.  I think the kids (and DH too!) would really go crazy if we did not have tacos on Tuesday.  But, they decided they like Nachos as well.  So, it will depend on what the kids want for this night.

Wednesday - Cheeseburgers (on GF Chebe rolls), Potato Salad
I have made these rolls....oh my, I have no idea how many times, let's just say I love them!!  I have tried Udi's Hotdog and Hamburger buns, not impressed.  So, instead of wrapping my burger in a big piece of lettuce (which is good by the way), I will be making the Chebe rolls for this one.  My potato salad is just a throw together thing, I have no recipe for it.  DH says I use too much mustard.  I tell DH that I love mustard, lol.

Thursday - Fire Grilled Italian Cod, Rice, Broccoli

Fire Grilled Italian Cod.  Photo from Schwans.com

A new thing from Schwans!  I love cod, so am very excited to try this.  DH and the kids love fish as well, so I have high hopes for this one!  This one also meets their "LiveSmart" guidelines.  I am working on incorporating fish into our meals more often, and eating less red meat.  So far the idea actually got smiles from the family.

Friday -Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
This one is going to be another experiment.  I have never made homemade Chicken Noodle soup before.  I am still debating on which kind of noodles to use.  I really wish I could find GF egg noddles!!

Saturday - Breakfast for Dinner
My 7 year old son, Hunter, requested this one.  He was so excited when I made pancakes for dinner a few weeks ago.  He's been asking for them ever since!!  I use Pamela's Baking Mix for my pancakes, delicious!  So, I am thinking we will be having pancakes and sausage links or bacon, maybe some eggs.  Time will tell!

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Be sure to check out the Gluten Free Menu Swap for more Gluten Free menu ideas!

Also, check out the Menu Plan Monday blog over at Organizing Junkie, not all the menus are gluten free, but there are some.  And, if you see something you like, convert it to gluten free!! :)

Menu Plan Monday - 10/24/11

Last week went perfectly!!!  Everything on the menu was made and eaten with great enthusiasm except for Saturday.  Saturday the kids went to their grandparent's to spend the night, and DH went out hunting.  Soooo, I had ice cream for dinner, hehehe.

The theme for the Gluten Free Menu Swap is Spooky Delights.  I really don't have anything spooky to meet the theme, but I am planning to experiment this week.  I am going to try to convert a recipe I got in my email the other day for Spider Cookies.  Peanut Butter Cookies with a Mini Reese's peanut butter cup, Reese's Pieces eyes and licorice legs.  I hope I can find gluten free licorice, if not I will have to think of something else.  If they are successful, I will send them in for my 6 year old's Halloween party at school, since it's his turn for snack day. :)  Once I get it figured out, I will post the recipe for it.

This week is pretty simple, not too involved.

Monday - Pork Chops, Mashed potatoes & Gravy, Broccoli and tossed salad

Tuesday - Tacos, corn

Wednesday - We were supposed to be going to the city so I didn't plan on anything.  Now we will be home, so I need to think of something.  Time to raid the cupboards!

Thursday - Baked Potato Soup,  BLTs

Friday - Pizza (I used Bob's Red Mill crust mix), Tossed Salad

Saturday - Hot Dogs, French Fries, Potato Salad (longing for summer BBQs!)

Sunday - Chicken Stroganoff, Tossed Salad

Another case of the "I can't remember where to find it" on the Baked Potato Soup.  I thought I got it out of the Taste of Home book I have, but it's not in there, I double checked.  I will post the recipe, and if anyone recognizes it, let me know! :)

***Edited - I found the recipe.  It is Stephanie O'Dea's, (from A Year of Slow Cooking), recipe.  I linked it to her recipe. :)***

My month long menu is finished, so sometime this week I will be preparing next months menus.  And I WILL remember to note sources!! :)

Menu Plan Monday - 10/17/11

Clicking on either of the pictures above will take you to other wonderful Menu plans you can read about.  They are both great places for helping to revamp your weekly menus!!

Last week was pretty spot on, and saved me a lot of head aches in the kitchen!  Hoping for the same this week!

So, without further ado and blathering, here is the plan for this week:

Monday - Eating with friends

Tuesday - Tacos & All the fixings

Wednesday - Cheesy Chicken Casserole, Tossed Salad

Thursday - Cheesy Sausage Penne, Tossed Salad, Garlic Bread

Friday - Cheeseburgers, French Fries

Saturday - Chicken Stroganoff

Sunday - Homemade GF Tomato Soup, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Tossed Salad

A little note about the recipes:

The Cheesy Chicken Casserole is a recipe I got from GlutenFreely.com (a Betty Crocker run webiste). I have made it before and it was really good.  I can not remember where I got the Cheesy Sausage Penne recipe to be completely honest. **Edit - I found the recipe! It's from Taste of Home!  I will be using Sam Mills Corn Penne** This was one of those "I forgot to note where it came from and I have learned my lesson".  Since this menu was planned up for a month at a time, I didn't write the sources down.  Starting on the 30th, when I start the next month's menu plan, I will make a point to notate where the recipe came from!  The tomato soup recipe is from the same Taste of Home slow cooker recipe book I got the pork stew recipe from last week (which was yumm!).