Good Eats - Menu Plan

Oh how a menu plan can save my life!  It's not just knowing what is for dinner and having a schedule, it's the money I save when I know what's for dinner and what is coming next!

With that said, here's what is on the menu for this coming week, complete with links to recipes:

Sunday:  Sausage and Cabbage
Monday:  Mini Meatloaf
Tuesday:  Spaghetti Carbonara
Wednesday:  Out to Eat
Thursday:  Roast, Potatoes and Carrots in the crock pot
Friday:  Cheese Enchiladas
Saturday:  Create Your Own Pizza

I promise to get better about taking photos for you guys!  Dinner always seems to be a bit of a rush - so I always forget!

Let me know what recipes you try and what you like - and if you have any good recipes for me to try, leave them in the comments!

Gluten Free Chicken Spaghetti

The chicken spaghetti I grew up on was full of Velveeta and canned soup. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not one to shy away from a Velveeta indulgence, but I like to save that splurge for queso - thank you very much. 

This chicken spaghetti has none of that. It's completely homemade, and simple. We make ours gluten free by changing out the pasta and the flour, but you could always do it with "regular" ingredients as well. 

First, it's time to chop the veggies!

Anna has been in the kitchen with me since the start of forever, so I let her handle some pretty heavy lifting in the kitchen. She chops with a real knife and works at the stove. I understand this is not appropriate for all 6 year-olds. In fact, I wouldn't let my 8-year-old man a stove. It all depends on the child's interest and their ability to stay on task. 

Back to cooking...

Start by boiling your pasta. In a separate pan, begin sautéing your veggies in butter. We used mushrooms, celery, onions and yellow peppers. Once they have softened, add about a tablespoon of flour. Stir, then pour in about a cup-and-a-half of whole milk. Continue to stir to form a thick sauce. 

By now your pasta should be ready to go! Drain, and then stir together the pasta and sauce and add your shredded chicken. Place mixture into a Pyrex dish and, since it is against the law to now top a casserole with cheese in the south, throw some cheese on top!

Ingredients:

1.5 cups cooked, shredded chicken1 bag of gluten-free pasta1tbs gluten-free flour blend1 tsp salt1/2 cup celery2 mini bell peppers1 cup mushrooms1/4 cup onions4 tbs butterCheese for topping 

Good Eats Thursday

We're still working our way through this list of meals and, thankfully, we're loving the new recipes. Other than a bananas, bread and cheese run I've also been able to stay away from the store... Saving a ton of money!

One of our new favorites that I added into the rotation was chicken pot pie. Seriously, yum!


The kids gobbled it... Not a lot of left-overs!


But, it was so super-easy that we don't need left-overs, we can just make it again! And you can too!

Here's what 'cha do:

1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 t. salt, 1/2 t. pepper, 1 t. dried parsley (I never use parsley)
3 cups frozen mixed veggies (cooked and drained)
1 large potato (peeled, diced and cooked)
1 package chicken breast cooked and shredded
4 DEEP DISH pie shells
1 cup shredded sharp cheese (I always add more)

Mix all ingredients except cheese. Spoon into two pie shells. Sprinkle cheese on top of veggie/meat mixture. Use second pie shells to cover the pies. Cook 45 minutes @350. Makes 2, so you can freeze one if you want!

Good Eats Thursday

It's the end of the month here at the Chambers' house, which means it's time to get creative with meals!  I budget all of our spending from the first of the month and, using the envelope system, pull out all the cash we need to make end meet.  Most of the time, I actually come out with a bit of a surplus, which allows me to stockpile if I come across a good sale, but this month, I'm just barely making it.

Now, before you start sending me cash in the mail (although, please feel free to do so (kidding, kidding)), know that we are not really scrounging around for cash.  I just like to stick to my budget and not dip into our surplus unless it's a stockpile situation. This month things didn't go particularly according to plan, so I only have $10 left in my grocery envelope to make it to the end of the month.  Think I can do it?  You'd be surprised!

I went through my pantry, freezer and fridge and took everything that I had into account.  I actually had what I needed for every dinner meal until month's end!  Score for having a stocked (and organized) food storage system!  I will need to run to the store for some fresh fruit and veggies, but other than that we're set until Oct.1.  I think we'll just make it...here's the plan:

Fri, 24:  We're having friends over, so I'll be making Thai Chicken and rice
Sat, 25:  Hamburgers on the patio
Sun, 26: Spaghetti Carbonara
Mon, 27: Breakfast for dinner
Tues, 28: Neighbor dinner - no cooking!
Wed, 29: Leftover night
Thurs, 30: Mini meatloafs and mashed potatoes

It's not exciting, but it works!  What do you cook when you need to use up your pantry staples?

Good Eats Thursday

School is about to start and this mommy HAS to get her act together!  We got a little off kilter with celebrating birthdays and anniversaries this last week (I forgot to take that into account in my menu planning), so you'll see some repeats from last week... i.e. things we need to make and eat up before the ingredients that I've already purchased go bad!

Monday:  Parmesan Pasta Skillet
Tuesday: Neighbor dinner
Wednesday: Left-over surprise
Thursday: Kid food night
Friday: Beth's chicken poppyseed with rice
Saturday: Spinach lasagna
Sunday: Leftovers or out-to-eat


I'm so excited about the spinach lasagna!  I got the recipe after we devoured a pan at neighbor dinner.  Super yum!


Here's the down-low on my recipes.  Enjoy!


*** EDITED:  The original recipe link reverted to last weeks menu... I've fixed it!

Good Eats Thursday

I've got my list all ready to go for once we return.  A quick trip to CostCo and I'll be all set for the week.  In the meantime, we're eating a lot of fresh East Texas produce.  I love a full produce bowl!

Peaches, tomatoes, squash...yum!

And a super juicy watermellon, by special request from one Stone Chambers.

Last week, I shared my mastermined meal plan for the school year.  So, following that format, here's the plan for the week:

Monday:  Jellied meatballs with rice
Tuesday: Neighbor dinner
Wednesday: Left-over surprise
Thursday: Kid food night
Friday: Beth's chicken poppyseed with rice
Saturday: Hamburgers
Sunday: Leftovers or out-to-eat

Want a copy of the recipes and shopping lists for all of my cooking?  Just click here!

Good Eats Thursday

This is my fridge, and it's driving me crazy!  You know me (What?  You don't?  Then you need to head here!), I'm super organized and super frugal and, to me, this fridge is fighting me on both fronts.

You see, my fridge means well. It has labels...

It's just that, right now, none of the things that actually match the labels are on those shelves.  For the organizer in me, this is a problem because it makes my blood pressure rise.  For the frugal side of me, this is a disaster because something in there isn't going to get used before it goes bad, and that's just not allowed!

Maybe, if I drank all of rest of the wine on the right-hand side of that top shelf I could tackle it, OR we could make some left-over surprise.  What would you do?  A little of both?  Yeah, me too!

We're headed away for a week of fun in the sun next week, so I don't have a specific menu planned, but I did sit down and come up with a plan for fall according to our schedule.  Here's the way it stands for now, with a few left-over surprise days built in.... just so this craziness doesn't happen again!

Monday:  Cook a meal from scratch
Tuesday:  Neighbor dinner (which is perfect because this is Cash's speech therapy day, I often don't get a consecutive nap time to cook)
Wednesday:  Left-over surprise (this is my Teen MOPS night, so I'm often not home to re-heat and serve.  This makes it easier for Heath)
Thursday: Kid food night - kids choice!  Usually homemade pizza, hot dogs, mac n' cheese.
Friday:  Cook a meal from scratch
Saturday:  Cook a meal from scratch
Sunday: Left-over surprise/out to eat

Good Eats Thursday

I have a little secret.... I like to hoard money.  I say hoard, that's probably not really the right word... we tithe, we give to others.  Maybe save? I like to save money.  I'm not talking about saving money at the grocery store, although that is fun too, but saving money in the bank.  Having a "pad" so to speak.

It all started with Dave Ramsey.  If you don't know who he is, I suggest you go here now.  Through the program we were tasked to come up with emergency savings and long-term savings, which we did.  The program also teaches you to budget with cash in certain categories.  I hate taking money out of those envelopes!  The food one doesn't bother me as much, since you know, we have to eat.  But the others... car care, home maintenance, health care, etc.  I like to keep that money in there!

So, when at all possible, I steal from my food category to cover expenses.  That brings me to why this little rant is located in a Good Eats Thursday post... ahem.  You see, Cash's recent surgery caused us some extra expense in the health care area.  I have plenty of money in the health care envelope, but wouldn't it be more fun to try to eat out of the pantry and save and see if I could cover it that way?  I know, Heath thinks I have a sick sense of fun as well.

I did a quick trip this morning to Target and spent $50.  I needed some fruits and breakfast items mostly, but also got some grated cheese and sides.  Other than that, I think we can eat for the next two weeks for free.  Yes, free!

So, here's what we're cooking:  Tacos (2), quiche (2), hamburgers, PB chicken (2), tamales (2), baked pasta,  spaghetti carbonara, roast (2), baked potatoes, Steamfresh pasta steamers, sweet and sour chicken.

The ones with (2) after means I have enough for two "meals".  Each "meal" usually provides us with left-overs as well.  I know it's not super exciting, but it's a fun challenge!  I did sock an extra $50 away to restock on fruits and other filler items we may need through the month.  Other than that, the rest of my grocery budget pays Cash's surgery bill and they medical money can continue to build for another rainy day!  Score!

Good Eats Thursday

Wait, it's Friday?  Hmmm...

So here's what's on the menu this week:

Monday:  Meatloaf with asparagus
Tuesday:  Neighbor Dinner
Wednesday:  Spinach Pizza Dinner with Daddy while Mommy is at a Teen MOPS meeting
Thursday:  Spaghetti Carbonara with broccoli
Friday: Parent's Night Out at church
Saturday: Goulash with salad
Sunday:  Chicken Poppy Seed with corn

You can find your shopping list for the week here and a list of recipes here.

There will be no Freebie Friday post this week.  The deals weren't super-great, so I've opted to hold my vouchers until next week.  We'll see if it was worth the gamble!

Good Eats Thursday

I did some thinking and realized that posting my menu plan on Thursdays (as opposed to Monday) worked better for me, and if you are planning on using the menu and lists it might work better for you too!  It gives you the weekend to shop and prepare, while helping me match coupons and find the best deals.

So, here's the big unveiling. I'd love your feedback!

Monday - Spinach and Feta Quesadillas with chips, hot sauce and corn
Tuesday - Our neighbor dinner night... I don't have to cook on Tuesdays!
Wednesday - Baked Pasta with broccoli and garlic bread
Thursday - Thai Chicken with rice and asparagus
Friday - Mini Fritatas with fruit salad and garlic bread
Saturday - Ground Beef and Potatoes with salad
Sunday - Parents night out!

Baked pasta, Thai chicken and Ground beef and potatoes recipes can be found here.  Want a shopping list for the entire week's meals sorted by department?  Just click here.

I really hope that this menu plan and shopping list is useful to you.  This is something that I do every week, and love posting it for you guys in the hopes that it might save you some time and money.  I'll post them each week as long as interest holds, but there are a few caveats.

-     I reserve the right to repeat recipes and meals - there are things that we love that you will see pop up frequently.
-     We attend neighbor dinner each Tuesday.  It is rare that I cook on Tuesdays and when I do, it's for a crowd!
-     I try to shop and meal plan using the sales from the week prior.  My stores are Kroger, Costco and, recently, Aldi.
-     I try to keep my meals stocked with nutrition, but I will not claim that we eat low fat meals.

Let me know if you use this week's meal plan and shopping list and how it worked for you.  I can't wait to hear!