Baseball season is here and those twice a week practices and weekly games really put my schedule into high gear. Making sure the kids still go to their other after school activities, get fed something decent (sometimes not!) along with all the other demand's of a mom's life can be daunting at times. I know, I am one among millions with this daily juggle. My husband is in full speed at our new start up company, Heat Armor http://www.heat-armor.com/ and he is gone 24/7. So, it's up to me to keep it all together and on a tight budget. One way to keep me sane and to feel a teensy bit in control is to meal plan each week. This way, I know what's for dinner each night, I can plan ahead a little bit the night before, the grocery bill is more manageable and there is less food waste. Easier said than done at times, when I am tired or out of ideas. Overall, though, it works very well. Some of my friends have glimpsed my weekly "menus" and have asked for me to share them, so I thought I'd give it a go and see what you all think. PLEASE provide your comments, as I have no way of knowing, otherwise.... I will provide the menu, recipes and grocery list. Our house is dairy free, so I'll provide the dairy and non dairy options where needed.
Week of May 9th
SUNDAY: It's Mother's Day! If your spouse or kids don't make or take you to dinner, go on STRIKE!
MONDAY: Baked Chicken w/ Honey Mustard Sauce
Broccoli
Applesauce
Brownies
TUESDAY: Good Old Fashioned Burgers
French Fries
Baked Beans
Sliced Apples
WEDNESDAY: Chinese Night! Chicken Fried Rice
Potstickers
Edemame
Fortune Cookies
THURSDAY: Emeril's Chicken Patty Pita Pockets
Strawberries
Pudding Parfaits
FRIDAY: Roast Pork Wraps
Chips
Bananas
Cookies
SATURDAY: Grilled Morrocan Chicken
Couscous salad with dates
Pineapple
Zucchini Cupcakes with Chocolate Chips
Monday: The baked chicken recipe comes from Lucinda Scala Quinn's new book, Mad Hungry http://www.amazon.com/Mad-Hungry-Feeding-Men-Boys/dp/1579653561/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273329724&sr=8-1 It's on page 122. This cookbook is the BEST!
Here's the recipe:
Ingredients:
8 chicken thighs
1/2 C olive oil
1 lemon, juiced
Salt & pepper to taste
Some fresh herbs, if you have them
Glaze:
1T whole grain mustard ( plus maple mustard & dijon)
1 or 2 T honey
a little olive oil
a little salt & pepper
Marinate the chicken in olive oil, lemon juice, salt pepper and herbs, for at least one hour and up to a day. preheat oven to 375degrees. Rub big baking pan with olive oil or butter, place thighs, skin side down.
Bake fr 20-25 minutes and turn skin side up. Bake for 10 minutes more. To make glaze, add mustard, honey and oil in a blow in that order, whicsk, add salt and pepper, wisk some more. Apply glaze with brush and broil for 5 min.
Take out and let rest for a second and make sure you save all those delicious, lemony chickeny juices that collected in the pan. This chicken rocks!
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For dessert, make or buy some brownies. I like the Fudge brownie mix from Trader Joe's.....yum!
Tuesdays are super busy after school, so I need to make a quick easy dinner. Omaha Steaks have great premade burgers, but use what you like. I dress 'em up with a little Montreal Steak Seasoning and warm up the buns, slice some apples, and throw some frozen french fries into the oven. My baked beans are easy:
Mix one can of your favorite pork and beans, 3 T of catsup, 1 T of mustard, 1/4 tsp of Liquid Smoke, 1/8 C of brown sugar, a few shakes of dried onion, salt and pepper. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
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Wednesday will be Chinese Night, aka, Thank God for Trader Joes! I buy the frozen chicken fried rice, the frozen potstickers and the frozen edamame and cook them all according to their directions. If I have some leftover roasted chicken and an egg or two, I add them to the rice, too. So easy and tasty!!! Toss the kids a couple of fortune cookies after the meal and it's a done deal!
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Thursday...heading to the home stretch! Emeril's chicken patty pita pockets are easy and really good. My husband likes most of the meals I make, but he raved over this one. Here is the link to the recipe: http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/emerils-chicken-patty-pockets
Slice some lovely juicy red strawberries and make a little puddin' for dessert. We like Dr. Oetker's, since it's dairy free, but good old Jello brand is great. I sprinkle a few chocolate chips on top and chill in the fridge until dessert is served.
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TGIF! Thursday night I'll toss a pork roast in the oven. You can use any type you like, pre-marinated or marinated on your own. Once it's baked and in the fridge overnight then you can slice or shred it for a quick easy meal on the go. Friday night means baseball practice at our house, so we are eating in the car or on the baseball field. The food's gotta be portable! In the wraps I add julienned carrots, thinly sliced lettuce and a little dairy free ranch dressing. Voila! Toss in a bag of chips, a banana and a couple of cookies you like. Friday's done, except for the post game Budweiser at home......
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Saturday we don't do date nights these days, given Tom's crazy work life and our general destitute condition. So, we might as well eat like kings at home! This Morrocan chicken and couscous recipe is good enough for entertaining. See the link for the recipes: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Couscous-Salad-with-Dates-and-Almonds-108233
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Grilled-Chicken-Moroccan-Style-108244
Slice up a pineapple, and if you want to gild the lily, make these scrumptious cupcakes...
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chocolate-Chip-Zucchini-Cupcakes-355032
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Whew! So here is your grocery list for the week:
(Amounts are for 2 adults, 2 kids) I am going to, maybe wrongly, assume you have some staples in your pantry such as olive oil, flour, sugar, eggs, etc. If not, check the recipes to make sure you have everything.)
broccoli (1 lg)
apples(3)
pineapple (1)
strawberries
zucchini (1)
lemon (2)
lime (1)
mint
fresh dates (5)
cilantro
green onions
flat leaf parsley
cucumber (1)
lettuce
tomatoes (1)
carrots (1)
chicken thighs (8)
ground chicken or turkey (1lb)
hamburger patties (5)
1 roast pork tenderloin
1/2 cut up chicken
applesauce
1 can baked beans
pita pockets
hamburger buns
frozen french fries
frozen chicken fried rice
frozen edamame
frozen potstickers
pudding mix
whole grain mustard
honey
red wine vinegar
milk
plain yogurt
slivered almonds
ground cardamom
1 box couscous
tortillas
chips
cookies
chocolate chips
cocoa powder
Ok, so this is what the Herlihy's are having next week for dinner, barring any unforseen changes to the schedule or whatever the fates throw at us! If you give all or a portion of my plan a try, let me know how it goes! Have a happy, tasty and healthy week!!
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