Menu Plan - week of March 2-7

Here it is:

This week DH has a busy week at work with a project that may mean he isn't home for dinner alot, so it may actually change nightly.. but for now, here it is:

I rarely plan meals for Sunday night since it's usually just DH and myself and the youngest of the kids -- the older kids all go to their dad's house on that day -- so we just wing it or eat from the stash of leftovers in the fridge/freezer.

Monday -
Salmon Potato Cakes -- (yeah, I get to try adding salmon to my diet) - my normal recipe won't work cause it uses cracker crumbs so I will be trying the recipe below. We'll make a double batch since one would never be enough with our crew.
Brown Rice Pilaf
Chopped Cantaloupe

Salmon Potato Cakes
makes 4 large cakes (or 6-8 small ones)
1 can salmon (about 14 oz.)
1/2 cup mashed potato flakes
2 eggs
2 green onions, chopped
tobasco, to taste

Drain the canned salmon and flake with a fork into a large mixing bowl, add the remaining ingredients and stir to mix. Start with slightly less mashed potato flakes and add more as necessary to acheive the right texture. You want the mixture to be moist, but to hold together well enough to form patties. Form into patties. Heat a pan to medium high and add a bit of oil or cooking spray. Add the salmon patties to the hot pan. Allow to cook undisturbed for about 4 minutes, and then flip over and cook on the other side for about 3 minutes. The fish is fully cooked, so it doesn’t take too long.

Tuesday -
Black Bean Chicken Chili -- will plan to make a double batch of this since it's hubby's fav and I can eat it for leftovers too.
Cornbread
Carrots and Ranch

Wednesday-
Turkey & Gravy - full sized will make for lots of good leftovers ( I get to try turkey too this week)
mashed potatoes-- some with rice milk for me!
Veggies of choice

Thursday -
French Toast (buckwheat pancakes for me from the freezer)
Eggs & Bacon or Sausage
Cantaloupe

Friday -
Deer Steaks (last package --yumm) & homemade gravy
Baked Potatoes
Veggies of choice & Fruit

Sat -
Colin's Favorite Sesame Chicken
Fried Rice (from freezer stash)

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.

Eatin Big for Little $

Planning weekly meals is just one way I stay on budget!

Here's my tentative plan for meals this week:

Monday:
Homemade deer andoullie sausage with roasted garlic, onions and yellow summer squash
Dinner Rolls ( from the bread outlet)
Fresh watermelon wedges
Sliced garden tomatoes
Spinach Salad with orange bell peppers

Tuesday:
Roasted Chicken
Roasted Corn
Fresh Green Beans or broccoli-steamed with cheddar cheese
Baked Potatoes or sweet potatoes for me
Canned Fruit or watermelon wedges

Wednesday:
Salmon Patties
Wild Rice
Broccoli
Canned Fruit
Possibly bisquits


Thursday:
Ham and Cheese Pie
Green Salad w spinach
Fresh Fruit -- probably watermelon since we have two big ones from LH this week

Friday:
Chicken Pasta Pesto Salad or Chicken and Noodles -using leftover roast chicken from Tuesday
Fresh made french bread or green salad
Fruit of some sort
Plum Gallete or Chocolate chip cookies

Saturday:
Bacon Lettuce and Tomato Sandwiches
Soup-- canned or from the freezer