Menu Plan

Menu Planning is just one way I stay on track budget wise-- so here is the menu for this week for the family. Dinners only. Most nights I will eat something else of my own devising since my diet is awfully restrictive to subject the entire family to it. (chicken, elk, garbanzo and black beans, veggies, fruits, brown rice, buckwheat and some other gluten free flours and grains, olive oil and spices,vinegars, almonds, sunflower and sesame seeds and hopefully eggs after this week, no dairy, wheat or soy)
**My menu plan is much more flexible this week than usual because my daughters will be doing the bulk of the cooking and much of it depends on how much time I have during the day to get things done and how much time they will have since I remain on partial bed rest.

Sunday --
Homemade meatballs (from freezer stash) -made lots cause we had guests
Spaghetti and Marinara Sauce
Green Salad
Garlic Bread
Dessert -- Chocolate Cake (from the bread store)

Monday --
Sloppy Turkey Joes (we''ll be frying up 5 # of meat and packaging the leftover meat in 2 cup baggies for easy meals for later)
Broccoli Coleslaw with homemade dressing - I'll make this during the day if it's any good I'll post the recipe.
Homemade French Fries
Cantaloupe Chunks mixed with whatever grapes are still left in the fridge

Tuesday--
Mimi's Sticky Chicken (or crock pot chicken) -see recipe below
Baked Potatoes or Parslied Potatoes
Vegetable of choice from freezer or pantry
Any leftover fruit or other salads
*** yeah I can eat this dinner and won't have to have soup!

Wednesday --
Meatball Sandwiches (using leftover thawed meatballs from Sun night), hoagie buns from freezer, mozz cheese and sauce)
Roasted potatoes (if we have enough potatoes-- if not we'll have a green salad)
Canned Fruit -- peaches (home canned)

Thursday --
Chicken or turkey pot pie (gluten free biscuits on top for me --regular biscuits for the rest of the crew) -- or -- baked fish
and whatever veggies and fruits need to be used from Loving Hands
If we have fish -- we'll do some sort of rice dish too.
**should be ready to try a new meat so I will either add fish or turkey this week!

Friday --
Homemade Chicken Soup
Apple and Orange salad (cut up oranges and apples-- maybe bananas?)
Rolls or Biscuits
*** Yeah I can eat this again as long as I make some gluten free biscuits for myself!
We have our home visit with our midwife this night so I planned something that is easily expandable depending on who comes early for dinner!

Saturday --
Leftovers
Clean out the fridge night!!
************************************************************************

Mimi's Sticky Chicken Recipe
(my modified version)

Mix all of this together:

2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon paprika
3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon onion powder (generous-- I make mine heaped)
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Rub the mix onto the chicken -- I use a whole chicken that's been cut up with skin removed, and add in some more drumsticks since those are so popular in our house.

If you were to do a whole chicken you could also add a chopped onion to the cavity-- and bake according to regular roasting instructions. I find the cut up chicken cooks more quickly on a foil lined cookie sheet in the oven-- at 400 degrees for about 45-60 min depending on how well thawed it is and how big the pieces are. Then there is very little cleanup! Leftovers of this make great lunches, etc...

**Freezer tip -- this is a terrific one to do in big batches, just triple or double the spices when whole cut up chickens are on sale and rub all the chickens down and package them in freezer bags laid flat -- then you have easy meals to pull out and bake! Breasts can be used too -- just cook for less time if they are boneless-- like 30-45 min.