Menu Plan Monday: the clean out the freezer edition

I knew that I had a jam packed freezer. I think that's just another way that God will provide for us over the next few weeks (I'm hoping it's just a few). I caught some good sales on whole chickens recently (59 cents/lb) and then there was just the buying of bread because the 2 loaf bundle was on sale and I didn't see the other loaves of bread hidden behind something else. So, yesterday I organized my freezer. I was blown away by how much food was hidden in there. I've planned 4 weeks of meals! I'll only need to shop for eggs, milk, and veggies. I've planned 6 meals/week with one night of planned left-overs.

Week 1

1. Stromboli (bridgeford dough in the freezer!)
2. tacos
3. whole crock pot chicken
4. turkey braid (cooked turkey diced in the freezer!)
5. hot dogs
6. lentil soup

Week 2

1. spaghetti
2. mexican lasagna
3. Tigger chicken
4. chicken pot pie (filling and pie crust in the freezer!)
5. roast (cooked and left-over from another week)
6. black bean chili and corn bread

Week 3

1. pasta & peas (Youtube link)
2. tacos
3. whole crock pot chicken
4. meatloaf (cooked and left over 2 weeks ago)
5. hot dogs
6. vegetable beef soup (use fajita meat because that's what's in the freezer)

Week 4

1. spaghetti
2. fajitas
3. mustard chicken
4. chicken kisses
5. roast (cooked and left-over from another week)
6. tortilla soup

And...because of a pancake making frenzy on Friday (if you're on FB you know why), I have enough pancakes to serve them once a week for breakfast for the next 6 weeks! I also have a dozen frozen biscuits from 'B' week. And 6 loaves of bread for sandwiches. And 6 packages of english muffins. I guess I'm I bit like a squirrel storing up for a rainy day. I'm SO THANKFUL! And a little overwhelmed. I don't know what we'll do in 6 weeks...but I KNOW God will provide. And if it seems crazy that M is enjoying lobster and shrimp while unemployed...well, that's in the freezer too. Because of my allergy he can't eat it when I'm around, and so it's sat in the freezer waiting for a celebration. Maybe he'll pull that out to celebrate an interview.

For more menu plans, check out the Organizing Junkie

It's Monday alright.

Contestwise: no one is 100% right yet. I'll go with a random drawing if there is no better answer tomorrow.

Kidwise: Took 4 into the Urgent Care yesterday after she was up all night Saturday night with an earache. They said it's not infected yet. She did sleep better last night, but the cough is worse. Hopefully she'll clear out of this in time for art.

Momwise: My house is the cleanest it's been in a long time. We're redoing our loan, and the appraiser is taking photos today. You can bet that snapped us into a 'fall cleaning' mode. There's still work to do, but for today I'm happy. I'll probably take some photos for myself as proof it can be this clean. The kids are instructed not to take anything out before she comes at noon today. And, lunches are packed for the kids so I can shoo them into the backyard to eat at the picnic table while the appraiser works.

Knitwise: Ishbel it is. I looked a bit more around ravelry to see if I could find something where I would use more of the yardage...but Ysolda's design won. I am having problems with the YO's matching on both sides so I read in the Ishbel Forum a link to this post that explains why I had the problem I did...and how to fix it. I'll frog back my 20 rows and fix that after the appraiser today...I'll deserve a break by then.

Menu Plan Monday (my first time linking)

Monday

B: bagles

L: lunchbox

D: roast & red potatoes

Tuesday

B: French Toast (F-week)

L: Muffin Tin Monday...since we were busy on Monday

D: Crock Pot Lasagna (first time I'm trying this...so I'll let you know if it's good)

Wednesday:

B: English Muffins

L: freezer burritos (I made these...I might just write about it later)

D: Chicken Kisses

Thursday

B: French Toast

L: Turkey Sandwiches

D: Tortilla Soup

Friday...it's a big day...it's our 10th anniversary.

B: eggs & biscuits

L: Peanut Butter Sandwiches

D: Brisket & Oven Fries & Gravenstein Apple Pie (M's been wanting to smoke something again since the ribs he made on Labor Day. I bought him a brisket. It's 10#. I figure that's a good 10th anniversary gift since we're 'not really' buying each other gifts...we bought new bedding together at the end of summer...that's our gift to each other.)

Menu Plan Monday

Breakfast

Monday: Bagels
Tuesday: Freezer Scones (these aren't from my freezer this time...you make the dough the night before and freeze them to bake in the morning. YUM! And this time I'm going to try to double the recipe, it can be frozen for up to a month.)
Wednesday: Dry Cereal and Yogurt
Thursday: Waffles with blueberry jam and whipped cream (Birthday boy's request)
Friday: Oatmeal

Lunch

Monday: Muffin Tin Monday (X foods are hard to find. We did buy
Tuesday: Turkey Sandwiches
Wednesday: PB&J
Thursday: Bean & Cheese Burritos
Friday: Grilled Cheese

Dinner

Monday: BBQ Beef and Carrots (from last week left-over...I work)
Tuesday: Spaghetti and Zucchini
Wednesday: IKEA Meatballs & Mashed Potatoes & Green Beans
Thursday: T's birthday dinner. He requested Tigger Chicken and Mac-n-Cheese. Tossed Salad
Friday: Left-overs again.

To supplement my lunches so I'm not eating kid food, I'm hoping to make some Vegetable Soup and maybe Potato Soup. Our forecast calls for rain...I'm looking forward to soup.

Menu Plan Monday

Breakfast

Monday: Waffles
Tuesday: French Toast (I pulled it out from the freezer for Sunday...there's still enough for another breakfast)
Wednesday: Bagels
Thursday: Pancakes from freezer
Friday: Oatmeal

Lunch

Monday: White Castle Cheeseburgers (W-week)
Tuesday: Turkey Sandwiches
Wednesday: PB&J
Thursday: Bean & Cheese Burritos
Friday: Grilled Cheese

Dinner

Monday: Chinese (fried rice from left over rice, frozen egg rolls, frozen dumplings)
Tuesday: Meatloaf & Mashed Potatoes
Wednesday: BBQ Beef
Thursday: Tacos
Friday: hoping for left-overs again

***edited already. Switched Tues & Wed dinners. I'm getting a haircut in the afternoon, and my mom is watching the kids. I'll leave her with the BBQ Beef. It's one that cooks 2 days in the crock pot. I cooked the chuck roast all day Mon. with tomatoes and onions. Then you cool and shred the meat. Add a bottle of BBQ sauce and some of the reserved liquid with the tomatoes and onions. Cook a 2nd day. Melts in your mouth.

Menu Plan Monday

Breakfast

Monday: French Toast
Tuesday: Oatmeal
Wednesday: Bagels
Thursday: Pancakes from freezer
Friday: Oatmeal

Lunch

Monday: Muffin Tin Monday This is our 'V' week. I bought Vitamin Water, V-8, Vivant Vegetable Crackers, and some Vanilla Cream Soda.
Tuesday: Turkey Sandwiches
Wednesday: PB&J
Thursday: Bean & Cheese Burritos
Friday: Grilled Cheese (EF*meeting)

Dinner

Monday: Vegetable Beef Soup & foccia
Tuesday: Mexican Lasagna from freezer
Wednesday: Chicken Kisses & Green Bean
Thursday: Tri-tip from last week**
Friday: hoping for left-overs again

**Again...Thursday's dinner was left overs. I'll try that dinner again. I like that I have meals planned that can postpone.

Menu Plan Monday

Last week we ended up not using the BBQ on Thursday so I have that dinner left to use another time. We were able to have left overs on Thursday and Friday.

Breakfast

Monday: Uncle Dan Egg Sandwich
Tuesday: Pancakes from freezer
Wednesday: Oatmeal
Thursday: Waffles from freezer
Friday: Oatmeal

Lunch

Monday: Muffin Tin Monday This is our 'U' week. Food probably won't reflect our alphabet.  My mom did have a good idea...I could let the kids eat UNDER the table.  This is the kind of stuff they love.  
Tuesday: Turkey Sandwiches
Wednesday: Valentine Party (horse riding make-up lesson)
Thursday: PB&J take with to the library
Friday: Grilled Cheese

Dinner

Monday: Ikea Meatballs & Mashed Potatoes & Cooked Carrots and a special Upside Down Dessert.  I've got the last batch of peaches from my Gramp's tree last summer.  
Tuesday: Spaghetti with Green Beans
Wednesday: Treeclimbers Potluck (bring Chicken & Pasta Salad)
Thursday: Tri-tip from last week
Friday: hoping for left-overs again

Menu Plan Monday

Breakfast

Monday: Tomato Basil Bagles (from Brugers)
Tuesday: Toast & Eggs
Wednesday: Oatmeal
Thursday: Waffles from freezer
Friday: Egg Burritos (M's day off)

Lunch

Monday: Muffin Tin Monday with a 'T' theme

I planned Triscuits, Turkey, Tillamoock cheese, with Toothpicks to pick up the turkey & cheese, and Teddy Grahams.  But, this is the first time I've splurged on things that aren't essentials since M. was out of work.  I bought Twinkies.  I don't think my kids have ever even had one.  And then I made a trip to our new Fresh & Easy to pick up  some sale meat and found a single piece of Tiramisu (a today's special for $1.07) and a individual bowl of Tapioca pudding for 49 cents.  The further we work into the alphabet, the more excited the kids get...and this is a fun way to get them to try new things.

Tuesday: Turkey Sandwiches
Wednesday: PB&J for the kids
Thursday: Grilled Cheese 
Friday: ???

Dinner

Monday: Tacos and Tomato Rice (spanish rice plus a can of diced tomatoes)
Tuesday: Crock-pot Chicken with Tri-colored Pasta
Wednesday: Turkey Cobbler (from a Pampered Chef cookbook)
Thursday: Tri-Tip and Noodles
Friday: ???

I have a hard time with Fridays.  This should be M's day home, but he has to take time off earlier in the week for a funeral.  I can't go with him because someone has to still take the kids to their classes.  We have CBS in the morning, and then our E.F. is visiting, and then I work at 5pm.  I hope there are leftovers for easy meals.

Menu Plan Monday

Breakfast

Monday:  Apple French Toast

Tuesday: from yesterday

Wednesday:  Oatmeal

Thursday:  Waffles from freezer

Friday:  Oatmeal

Lunch

Monday:  Sandwich Sampler & Soup (for S-week)

Tuesday: Vegetable Beef Soup (Monday's dinner)

Wednesday:  PB&J for the kids, More soup for me.

Thursday:  Grilled Cheese & Soup

Friday:  Hot Dogs & Chips (a treat while my freezer is being filled)

Dinner

Monday:  Vegetable Beef Soup

Tuesday:  Turkey Cranberry Braid with Green Beans and Salad

Wednesday:  Spaghetti with Zucchini (more for S-week)

Thursday:  Crock-pot Chicken with Rice-a-Roni

Friday:  Tortilla Soup and quesadillas

***There's a lot of soup this week.  It works well with our alphabet study...and we've all got this monster cold/flu/cough/sore throat.  I do love soup though.***

Menu Plan Monday

If I do this enough...will I be able to visit my archive and use an old menu? Or is life so varied that it wouldn't make a good substitute? Just thinking...

Breakfast
Monday: Plain Old Oatmeal
Tuesday: Egg Burritos
Wednesday: Sweet Potato Waffles (from the freezer)
Thursday: Becky Pancakes (left over from Sunday)
Friday: Plain Old Oatmeal
Saturday: Eggs, Sausage, and Biscuits (from the freezer)


Lunch
Monday: Muffin-Tin Monday


This photo is the first MTM I did. I just happen to have 3 mini muffin tins so this worked out great for us. I used the opportunity to clean out my cupboard of the small bits of crackers that wouldn't have been enough for a snack for 3 kids. From the top left: peach puffs, organic goldfish, peanut butter filled pretzles, craisins, a butter cookie, cream cheese, grapes, peanut butter, jello, dried apricots, apple slices, and celery. My little 2 were stuffed, and 7 asked for more celery, apple, and peanut butter pretzles. I'm excited to see what my cupboard brings today.
Tuesday: English Muffin Pizza
Wednesday: Mac-n-Cheese @ the park in Travel Thermos. =0) They've been dying to use these for a hot lunch to go.
Thursday: Burritos after the library
Friday: Grilled Ham& Cheese Sandwiches after CBS
Saturday: I'll probably let M order pizza while I'm at work

Dinner
Monday: Mexican Lasagna (from the freezer, I work tonight)
Tuesday: Turkey Cranberry Braid (this is an old Pampered Chef recipe, but I couldn't find it on their website...great way to use left-over holiday turkey)
Wednesday: Minestrone Soup and Homemade Bread
Thursday: Crock Pot (roast or whole chicken...I'll decide later...both are in the freezer)
Friday: Hot Dogs & Baked Beans (I work)
Saturday: Something from the Freezer on the BBQ (I don't think it's supposed to rain?)

Menu Plan Monday

I started planning my menu this completely in August. It really helped me to cut back on my food budget. Early in the summer, when I clicked over on a linky from Works for Me Wednesday :: Rocks In My Dryer, I found The Grocery Cart Challenge. I love the tips I'm learning. And, with the tough economy, some of you might be wondering how to cut back a bit. Head over to Gayle's blog, and then consider a menu plan. I usually plan my menu on Friday or Saturday and get the groceries Saturday or Sunday. Right now that depends on my work schedule. I like to get the groceries on Saturday so that Sunday can be a day of Sabbath at our house. I've pretty much lost that for this season of life, but I'm hoping to cut back at work after Christmas. Anyways, on to the menu....

Breakfast
Monday: Cold Cereal and sliced bananas.
Tuesday: Egg Burritos
Wednesday: Sweet Potato Waffles (from the freezer)
Thursday: English Muffins
Friday: Plain Old Oatmeal
Saturday: Eggs, Sausage, and Biscuits (from the freezer)
Sunday: ???

Lunch
Monday: Muffin-Tin Monday ( I saw this on a blog somewhere...fill each muffin cup with something different and the kids can eat together...I may have to use mini muffin tins as mine don't share food well. We'll start with celery with a PB dip in another cup, Craisins, Goldfish, Pretzels, Cream Cheese Dip, Dried Apricots, and some M & M's for dessert. I'll have to see if we need all 12 cups full or if this is enough. I could add grapes, cheese cubes, crackers, and a small cookie if we're still hungry. This is a great way to empty the cupboard of things that otherwise wouldn't be enough for everyone.)
Tuesday: Lunchables
Wednesday: Mac-n-Cheese @ the park in Travel Thermos. =0) They've been dying to use these for a hot lunch to go.
Thursday: Burritos after the library
Friday: Ham Sandwiches after CBS

Dinner
Monday: Mexican Lasagna (doubled for the freezer)
Tuesday: Chicken Spaghetti (doubled to trade with Jen)
Wednesday: Stromboli
Thursday: Potato Soup (from freezer)
Friday: Enchiladas from Jen
Saturday: I'll probably let M order pizza while I'm at work
Sunday: ???

***I have a large freezer in my garage. This SAVES me many days. I'm more than happy to double a recipe when I know that some busy day I'll have a frozen dinner ready to go. This is also how I do pancakes and waffles. I'm NOT a morning person. But my kids LOVE breakfast. Not just cereal. I'll make up a big batch of pancakes and freeze most for future use. We're not so much about the white flour, especially before school. My kids are wiggly enough without white flour and syrup. I make these and we have them with honey or fruit spread. I Heart My Freezer!