Menu Plan Monday ~ Week of January 10, 2011

Menu Plan MondayI’m calling menu planning and execution for the first week of 2011 a success. While I did forget my lunch one morning and gave in to Chick-Fil-A for lunch on Saturday because I couldn’t quite get errands run fast enough, in general the week’s cooking and eating went as I planned. This week I won’t be trying to negotiate quite as many work-related eating situations, but I do need to accommodate a few blog-related eating events, so I’ve balanced my at home menus against those. I guess in the end it’s all about balance isn’t it. Looking at the big picture, if I can reach a 70%/30% eating at home to eating out ratio, I think I can call any week a success.

Successes and Lessons from Last Week

I tried out quite a few new recipes last week and three really stood out as winners.

  • The Quinoa Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes from Bon Appetite came together quickly on Monday night and was very tasty. I only had ½ of a serving and it was very filling for a weeknight dinner. I’ll be making it again, particularly when tomatoes and spinach are in season here in Texas.
  • I tried Whole Grain Blackberry Spice Muffins as a new addition to my treasured freezer muffin stash to add a little variety in both flavor and texture to my mix. The rolled oats in the muffins make them very hearty and the blackberries burst with juicy flavor in almost every bite. I’m looking forward to enjoying them for breakfast over the next few weeks.
  • Chinese-Chicken Lettuce Wraps from my newly-acquired Cuisine at Home Slow Cooker Menus were popular with the whole family and I’m glad I doubled the recipe to have for a quick lunch or dinner in the next couple of weeks. I enjoyed the chicken filling as intended wrapped in fresh lettuce leaves, but my daughter (not a lettuce fan) tried it over steamed rice and pronounced it great.

Already in the Bag for This Week

This week I’m intent on making a dent in my freezer stash so almost every main dish on my menu is designed with that in mind. I’m happy to report I didn’t have to buy any protein at the grocery store today and I left the grocery store with a heavier wallet than is typical. This will be an ongoing theme in the coming weeks as I work to take advantage of grocery dollars I’ve already spent before I spend new ones.

In addition, I have the following carryovers from last week’s menu to use this week:

I’m really excited that much of the work I did last week is carrying over into this week to make is simply more realistic that I’ll skip the take-out or restaurant because I’m too tired to cook. Momentum – I have it!

Monday

Mondays continue to be busy days with various lessons after school that requires the kidlet to eat on the go. Last week I experimented with a new dish, but this week I’ll make good ol’ fried rice because it’s fast and makes for great leftovers.

  • Breakfast
    • Oatmeal with walnuts and dried fruit
  • Lunch
    • Leftover Chinese Chicken Lettuce Wraps
  • Dinner

Making Extra for Lunch

  • The pork fried rice not only takes advantage of leftovers, it stores well in the fridge for several days, so I’ll make a couple of extra servings to have around for the week.

Prep Ahead

  • Put the smoothie ingredients into the blender just before bed.
  • Marinate the flank steak for the fajitas.

Tuesday

I’m excited that we’ll have a family dinner so early in the week, particularly after last week’s days of dinner madness. Everyone enjoys making their own fajita creation, and I can even solicit help with fajita fixing preparation so everyone gets into the dinner game before we sit down at the table.

Raiding the Freezer

  • The flank steak for this dinner is in my freezer stash so I’ll be able to reduce my hoard by one item early in the week.
  • I was really good last fall about making smoothie’s for breakfast so I have a collection of bags of various frozen fruits. I’m determined to get back into my smoothie habit because it’s another healthy breakfast option and to help with the clean the freezer campaign.

Making Extra for Lunch

  • Fajitas are a great lunch option because the components are easy to pack and reheat. I’ll be the envy of everyone reheating frozen bricks they call lunch.

Wednesday

So last week’s plan for dad and the kidlet to make pigs in a blanket failed when they opted for BBQ instead. So, we’ll be taking another pass at them this week. I’ll round out dinner with the green beans I made last weekend.

Raiding the Freezer

  • I’ll have three different kinds of muffins to choose from on Wednesday morning. Decisions, decisions.

Thursday

I’m taking a “Mom’s Night Out” this week to visit a new restaurant in town for the Austin Food Lovers’ Companion (and for a bit of me time). Learning from last week’s experience I will leave it up to the kidlet and her dad to find their own dinner. I will be enjoying leftover fajitas for lunch though so only one of my meals is out.

  • Breakfast
    • Oatmeal with walnuts and dried fruit
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
    • Daddy and daughter night out
    • Mom’s blogging night out

Prep Ahead

  • Put the smoothie ingredients into the blender just before bed.

Friday

Last week’s meatball sandwiches were easy enough that I was able to get past the “I’m exhausted, let’s go out” mind game I play with myself most Fridays. Along those lines this week I’m going to grill some chicken and apple sausages along with some peppers and onions. The fries are effortless and the green beans are already made, so bet I can have this dinner on the table in 20 minutes flat.

  • Breakfast
    • Berry and Fage yogurt smoothie
  • Lunch
    • Blogging lunch out
  • Dinner

Raiding the Freezer

  • I used the chicken and apple sausage as an ingredient at a party in December and because I always overbuy for parties (maybe I can work on that in 2012), I have extra in the freezer.
  • I also have a random bag of fries in the freezer and they’ll go nicely with the sausages.

Prep Ahead

  • Make the French toast muffins to bake on Saturday morning.

Saturday

I’m continuing to test an idea I had for making French toast muffins so I’ll test my latest version this Saturday morning. Also, I’ll be attending a lunch potluck, but after looking at my schedule this week, I’m not sure I’m going to have time to whip up something extra special. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t bring a great dish that everyone will enjoy. I’ll put together a tray of high-quality charcuterie and bread from artisan producers that will look pretty and go well with the variety of dishes sure to be found at a potluck. For dinner I’ll try a light and easy dinner from the January 2011 Bon Appetite.

Raiding the Freezer

  • Also left over from my holiday parties is a bag of chicken thighs (perfect for fillings for tamales and empanadas) that will take the place of chicken breasts called for in kebab recipe.

Sunday

Sunday is a bit of a day of rest for me in the kitchen. We’ll have breakfast tacos that use up the left over fajita fixin’s plus some odds and ends of breakfast meats. We’ll continue the “using up” theme with a lunch of leftovers, and for dinner we’ll celebrate the kidlet’s straight-A report card with dinner out.

  • Breakfast
    • Breakfast tacos
  • Lunch
    • Leftovers to clean out the fridge
  • Dinner
    • Dinner out to celebrate a great report card

11 Comments

  1. I’m amazed your leftovers last for so many meals. Ours get gobbled up for lunches and almost never can be used for another dinner.
    I used to try and create a freezer stash, but now I’ve realized I need to work on cutting back on the food hoarding. I have so many different jars, cans, and frozen meats that I don’t really need to shop (aside from produce and dairy) for quite a while. I think this helps me with planning – I have to deal with what I have rather than my whims. It keeps things very simple!

    • Natanya /

      I have to hide things I want for future meals in the back of the fridge so they are hard to find or else they’ll be gone when it’s time to make the next meal. I’m generally pretty good about keeping hoarding in my pantry to a minimum because I clean it out every month, so I catch the stray jars and bags of things. My freezer is an entirely different story right now though, which is why I’m trying to use everything in it over the next few weeks before I buy more. I’ve also created a freezer inventory on my meal planning sheet so I can remember what I’ve got – I think it’s helping.

  2. Your menu looks delicous! My family loved it when I made lettuce wraps. The recipe I used was from PF Changs. They tasted identical. I need to run that around again. Also, we have smoothies almost everyday for breakfast. Generally, I make my son Sausage Balls or Pig in a Blankets and a smoothie for breakfast. It’s quick and he loves it. I enjoy reading your blog. Have a great week!
    Melinda

    • Natanya /

      I’m going to have to investigate the idea of sausage balls, I bet my daughter would love them.

  3. I absolutely love your organized approach to weekly meals. I am gleaning some of your ideas as I finish my weekly menus now. Thanks.

    • Natanya /

      That means so much coming from you Kristina. Did you know your Unorthodoxed Empanadas are still talked about among my party guests?

  4. Your Pork Tenderloin and your menu for the week look so good. I would like to invite you to bring a dish to my Full Plate Thursday. Thank you for sharing and you have a great week!

    • Natanya /

      I love the idea of Full Plate Thursday – it’s a wonderful way to extend a tradition to the virtual world. Thank you so much for asking me to participate and I will do so!

  5. Glad that Applegate could be a part of your Wednesday! I love the uncured beef hot dog too because it is lower in fat than most conventional beef franks! Pairing it up with country green beans sounds good too! Take care, Renee and the Applegate Crew! http://goo.gl/5vYPW

    • Natanya /

      Thank you for making such great products. I love that I can give my family the food they enjoy and not worry about the ingredients or processes used to make them.

  6. Wow! LOVE your blog and your detailed plans!!!!