Meals to Start off 2016!

First of all, I am not a blogger.  And I'm not trying to be.  I just like to be organized.  And I like to cook.  And this blog helps me stay organized so I can cook  :)

So like 3 or 4 years ago, a friend of mine started a Facebook group called "30 Days on a Plate."  The idea was that we would feed our families only real food for 30 days.  (Well, we would do the best we could.)  We shared recipes, ideas, frustrations, fails, accomplishments, etc.  But, after 30 days, it stuck.  Most of us couldn't go back.  Once you've opened up that box... once you've jumped down that rabbit hole... once you've started reading and researching...and learning about the foods that you are feeding your children... it's hard to just go back to buying "the other stuff."  Yes, sometimes life gets crazy.  Money becomes an issue... time becomes an issue.  Holiday food becomes an issue.  Children that become random picky eaters become an issue.  However, for the most, we have stuck with it.  Yes, my pantry probably has more "snacks" than it did 4 years ago when we started.  Yes, I just ate a candy cane Hershey's Kiss (when that bag is gone, those things won't be back for another year!!).  Anyhow... my point is... I want to go back to those first 30 days. When I was trying really, really hard to only eat real food.  Because isn't that what we're supposed to do when the new year rolls around?  Try to eat healthier?!

So... here is my plan before school starts:
(P.S.  You can make any meal or recipe a "real" food recipe just by choosing the right ingredients.  Buying local, organic beef.  Organic beans, corn, etc. It's not that hard. Except chicken.  Chicken is hard to find.. and, when you do, it's expensive.  And cheese.  Cheese is also expensive.. and I can only find it in Pawleys Island at The Fresh Market.  Anyhow.  Check out www.100daysofrealfood.com if you need some help getting started!)

Meals:
Beef stroganoff

Taco Chili

Chicken Philly Sandwiches

Sloppy Joes

Honey Sesame Chicken

Quinoa Tex Mex

• This isn't a freezer meal so in order to make it one, I'm going to dump everything in a bag, except for the quinoa, and freeze it together.  I will measure the quinoa out, label it, and put it aside in the pantry.  I will add it to the crock pot the morning I cook it.
• This is also a meatless meal--which will save a little money! :)  But this also means, I might have to put it in a wrap for the kids.  Just because they will probably eat it better that way. 

Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

Teriyaki Pork Chops

Snacks and other things to help us get through the next few weeks:

Uncrustables

No-Bake Energy Bites

Taco Seasoning

No-Bake Candy Bars (a "healthier" alternative to junk food)

Coconut Oil Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars (I've never made these before, but Carter needs something for his snack at school.  I will use dark chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet or milk chocolate).

When I go to the store, I will also buy sides to go with each meal:
Organic frozen corn (Lowes Foods has the best brand, in my opinion)
Organic black beans
Frozen broccoli
Organic frozen string beans
Fresh vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, and peppers (green, red, orange, and yellow)
Fresh fruit (whatever is on sale and in season)
Quinoa
Rice
Rainbow Roasted Vegetables is one of my favorites to make on a Monday or Tuesday night and use the leftovers again later in the week.

Ok!  That's all I've got for now!  My Lifetime movie is over :)  Now, it's time to use this post to make my grocery list.  Let me know if you have any questions AND if you decide to jump down that rabbit hole!! :)

Menu for Nov. 15-21

Sunday, November 15-- Baked Ham and Cheese sandwiches (Hawaiian rolls, ham and cheese--bake them until the cheese melts.  OMG.  Adam's fav), and whatever fruits and veggies we have that need to be eaten before going bad :)

Monday, November 16-- Slow Cooker Teriyaki Venison (our neighbor went hunting and brought us back a prize), couscous, Rainbow veggies (I've started making a big batch of veggies early in the week, and using the leftovers again the next few nights.  Easy and so good.)

Tuesday, November 17-- "Fried" Baked Chicken wings (Harp's fav), Mac and Cheese, leftover Rainbow veggies (instead of baking the leftover veggies, I will heat them up in a pot with coconut oil)

Wednesday, November 18-- Waffles, eggs, and bacon (We never had this last week, even though it was on the menu.)

Thursday, November 19-- Nachos (another one we never got around to eating last week)

Friday, November 20-- Mamma's Lasagna (the one that I froze last week.  Only because I'm not a fan of cooking on Friday nights.  I mean really.  Sometimes, the mom needs a break.  Believe it or not.)

Saturday, November 21-- Softball/ Baseball fundraiser.  We won't be home for dinner.

Menu for November 8-14

It's been a while... but here's my plan for the week!

Sunday, November 8-- Mama's Lasagna, salad

Monday, November 9-- Bacon Cheeseburger Soup (This is one of our favs.  So excited that it might possibly be cold enough to enjoy it again!)

Tuesday, November 10-- Waffles, bacon, and eggs

Wednesday, November 11-- One Pot Chicken Lo Mein

Thursday, November 12-- Crock Pot Chicken Philly Sandwiches, broccoli, fries

Friday, November 13-- Nachos 

Saturday, November 14-- CCU game... don't really know what the plan will be

Back to School Organization

In addition to making freezer meals today, I also got the rest of my house ready for school...

There are a lot of cool Pinterest ideas for how to organize book bags and lunchboxes.  However, I don't have the wall space for any of those super cute ideas.  Last year I bought these Command hooks and hung them on the end of the kitchen counter.  Their book bags and lunchboxes both fit.  However, their lunchboxes are usually on the counter getting ready for the next day.  (This is Harp's new book bag, lunchbox, and her Mini Starz bag.  Carter's new book bag and lunchbox haven't come in yet.)

I don't like to use Ziploc bags in their lunch...just because... I don't know... it's one more thing I would have to buy, I guess.  We have plastic containers and these reusable zipper pouches that we use.  I keep them on the counter in a basket.  (In the summer, I move the basket into the pantry because I don't really use them any other time of the year.)

  This Thirty-One organizer keeps all of our papers and school notes.  I have a folder for each kiddo so I can put notes and info specific to them inside.  I also clip important school notes on one of the outside pockets so I can remember upcoming events and deadlines.  (The bottom is for Adam's magazines.)  I also keep crayons in case they need some for homework.  We don't have room in our house for like a cute Pinterest homework area.  Harp does hers at the kitchen table;  Carter has a desk in his room, but he ends up at the table after Harp is done. So, in our pantry I have a section for school stuff.  It annoys me to no end when they have to go searching for a pencil... and then it's not sharpened... and then they (he, mostly Carter!) can't find paper... and then crayons... and... and... This keeps everything accessible and right where they need it.


The last thing I did today was organize their clothes for the week.  (They will be with my Mother-in-Law until Tuesday night so those clothes are in their bags.)  The best thing I ever did was buy these closet organizers.  We pick out their clothes on Sunday night and don't have to worry about it the rest of the week!



I hope this helped you out!  Maybe gave you some ideas to get your house ready for school.  Survival.  It's all about survival :)

Back to School Meals!

OK Friends!  Back to school means back to reality!  And that means back to freezer meals!

In the past, I have relied on Freezer Meals/ Crock Pot Meals because of our schedule.  With Adam coaching and the kids' after school activities, there literally wasn't anybody at the house to cook dinner.  But!  Adam resigned from football!  He is still the Head Varsity Softball coach, but that doesn't start until February.  He will be home earlier after school and be around to help me take the kids to dance and gymnastics and all that jazz.  However, I am still planning to cook some meals ahead of time and plan some crock pot dinners because it makes life so much easier. 

If you have some questions about Freezer Meals, go here, here, or here.  

So... here are the meals I'm starting off with!

Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas

Baked Spaghetti (I cooked noodles, sauce, and meat and dumped it all in a freezer bag.  I just need to add cheese the day I want to bake it.)

Cheeseburger Wraps (Just make the meat and freeze it.  Assemble everything the day you plan to eat it.)

Crock Pot Asian Chicken Lettuce Wrap

Chicken Philly

Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken

Taco Meat using this for the seasoning 

Sloppy Joes

Pulled Pork 

Uncrustables

Good luck with your meals!  Let me know if you have any questions! :)

How to Make Your Own Uncrustables

One of the things that I do save money and make life a little easier, is make my own uncrustable sandwiches.  It's so much cheaper and it's nice to already have some sandwiches pre-made.  This is a very "Duh" How-To process, but several people have asked me about it, so here's what I do:

First, I lay out the bread on my cutting board.  Harper doesn't like peanut butter, so I have to do 3 with just jelly.  Keep the peanut butter and/ or jelly in the middle of the bread.  Don't judge my bread, people.  I have found that the "healthy" bread is too small for the Pampered Chef cutter that I use.  So, it is what it is.  (Even though the picture makes it look like it's regular white bread, it's not--it's whole wheat.)  Anyhow!

After you've put the PB&J on, put the other slice of bread on top just like you normally would.  I have a Pampered Chef uncrustable maker thing that I use.  The outside circle cuts the crusts off.  The inside one seals it.

Then, I put each sandwich in a small Ziploc bag.  I have to label "C" and "H" since Harp's sandwiches don't have peanut butter on them.  (Weirdest child ever.)

Then I put each bag in a bigger Ziploc bag and stick it in the freezer! I bought an entire loaf of bread just make uncrustables with.  I usually get 10-12 sandwiches from one loaf.  They don't have a sandwich every day, but it's the perfect option for busy nights when I don't have a lot of time to make their lunches.  It's all about survival, friends! :)

April 4-10

Saturday-- Crock Pot Chicken Philly Sandwich, mac and cheese, broccoli salad

Easter Sunday-- Ham, organic corn, carrots and zucchini in coconut oil and Pink Himalayan salt, roasted sweet potatoes, fruit salad (strawberries, pineapple, cantaloupe, grapes)

Monday-- Roast with Saffron and Tomato (Adam bought an African cookbook at Disney.  Should be interesting.) I'm not sure what I will add with it.  Rice? Some kind of veggie?!

Tuesday (Harp's Birthday)-- She has requested "Wegular Wed Spaghetti," red peppers, and a salad

Wednesday-- Hawaiian Chicken, couscous, green beans

Thursday-- One Pot Wonder Southwest Pasta

Friday-- No clue right now.... motivation is gone.

Saturday--  Ditto.

March 22-28

Sunday--

Monday--One Pot Chicken Lo Mein

Tuesday-- Stromboli, raw veggies, fruit

Wednesday-- Subway (dance night, plus a home softball game)

Thursday-- Pulled pork, couscous, green beans

Friday-- IDK

Saturday-- IDK

Menu for Feb. 2-15

Softball officially starts this week.  So, no more help with dinners!  Since it's my first week back in "Single-Mom" mode, I want everything to be easy and quick! 

February 2-8

Monday-- One Pot Chicken Lo Mein

Tuesday-- Slow Cooker Quinoa Tex Mex (This is a vegetarian dish, but I'm gonna add ground turkey)

Wednesday-- Sloppy Joe's, veggies (peppers, carrots, cucumbers), salad

Thursday--Pulled Pork, Broccoli and Carrots (in coconut oil and pink Himalayan salt)

Friday-- ?!  I don't like to cook on Fridays, if possible

Saturday-- Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

Sunday-- Sweet and Sour Meatballs, green beans, couscous

February 9-15

Monday-- Waffles, Bacon, Eggs

Tuesday-- Spaghetti, salad

Wednesday-- Chicken Tacos, Spanish rice

Thursday-- Marinara Chicken and Veggies (cook noodles the day you eat it)

Friday-- Sunday--Talent Show will consume this entire weekend... My parents will be in town... I won't need to cook! :)

"Easy" Recipes

Crock Pot Freezer Meals

These meals are super easy and don't require any cooking ahead of time.  Just get all the ingredients together, dump them in a bag, and freeze everything together.  The night before you want to eat it, put the frozen bag in the fridge.  In the morning, dump everything in the crock pot.  (Sometimes mine is still slightly frozen--it's ok!)

Chicken Tacos

Chicken Broccoli Alfredo (cook noodles the day you are going to eat it)

Pulled Pork 

Taco Chili

Sweet Garlic Chicken

Sweet and Sour Meatballs (Make sure this isn't one you leave in the crock pot all day.  This is one we use on the weekends so I can turn it off after 4-5 hours.  But this is really, really good.)

Teriyaki Pork Chops (one of our favorites!)

Hawaiian Chicken

Not Crock Pot Meals

These meals require cooking ahead of time, cooling, and then freezing.  They are still easy, just don't involve a crock pot.

Sloppy Joes

Cheeseburger Wraps (one of our favorites!)

Pizza Bake

Tacos (use this for the seasoning)  Or whatever taco seasoning you want to use!

One Pot Chicken Lo Mein (This isn't a freezer meal---but... it's super easy to make and so, so good!)

Menu for January 18-31.... Kinda

If you need some help with the whole freezer meal thing, here are few posts I did with some tips:
Tips and Tricks for Freezing Meals, My Prep for the Week, Meal Plan and My Process

Sunday, January 18-- ??  Adam will be gone all day at a softball clinic... the kids and I will just eat whatever I can find! :)

Monday, January 19-- Quick Skillet Steak, Mushrooms, and Onions, zucchini and carrots

Tuesday, January 20--Chicken Stir Fry (Chicken, rice, broccoli and carrots-- using this recipe for the Teriyaki sauce)

Wednesday, January 21-- Hawaiian Chicken (made it like 2 weeks ago.  Still haven't eaten it! haha), couscous, organic corn

Thursday, January 22-- Taco Chili (I have a meeting after school, so another crock pot meal will have to do!)

Friday, January 23-- Homemade pizza.  (I buy whole wheat pizza crusts, organic pizza sauce, cheese, and pepperoni.  I also cook some peppers and add those.  Super good.  Super easy.)

Saturday, January 24--

Sunday, January 25--

Monday, January 26-- Lasagna, salad

Tuesday, January 27-- Southwest Chicken Bake, organic corn, Spanish rice

Wednesday, January 28-- Sweet Garlic Chicken, couscous, green beans

Thursday, January 29--

Friday, January 30--

Saturday, January 31--

Sometimes I can't do two complete weeks worth.  Why?  Because my brain can't handle it.  Because I am so OCD.. and the next thing I know it's been 2 hours and I still have like 5 days to figure out.  So then I'm over it.  I try to do one "Mexican" dish and one pasta dish a week.  Sometimes, I feel like every freezer meal is some kind of taco thing, or something involving pasta.  So I  start obsessing over finding new recipes.  But, after you've looked at as many recipes as I have, they all are basically the same.  Give or take an ingredient or two.  And then I think I have found a new recipe and it uses "Cream of" something soup.  And I'm too lazy to figure out a substitute.  So... I don't have a complete two week menu for you today.  So sorry.  And they aren't all freezer meals.  Again, so sorry.  I'm over it.  :)

Menu for January 11-16

Last week didn't go as planned, so I have some meals leftover.  Which will make tomorrow's prep day a lot easier.  :)

Sunday-- White Chicken Chili 

Monday-- Chicken Parmesan Casserole, salad

Tuesday-- Sloppy joes, sweet potato fries, veggies (My kids eat a lot of peppers, cucumbers, and carrots.  Raw.  So, I like to keep some cut up and ready to go in the fridge.  Makes snacking easier. And very easy to add to dinners!) 

Wednesday-- Tacos (using this for the seasoning), Spanish rice, corn

Thursday-- Hawaiian Chicken, couscous, peas

Friday-- Pizza Bake

Have a good week, friends! 

Menu for December 31- January 10

Wednesday, December 31-- Sweet and Sour Meatballs, Couscous, green beans

Thursday, January 1-- Lunch at Adam's Mom's house

Friday, January 2-- One Pot Paleo Chicken Curry Stir Fry

Saturday, January 3-- Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

Sunday, January 4-- Red Spaghetti, salad

Monday, January 5-- Tacos (using this for the seasoning), Spanish rice, corn

Tuesday, January 6--

Wednesday, January 7-- Hawaiian Chicken, rice, peas

Thursday, January 8-- Chicken Parmesan Casserole, salad,

Friday, January 10--