Menu Plan Monday Sept. 21st

As I'm being more diligent about this meal planning thing, I'm realizing I don't need to cook nearly as often as I thought I did. We had leftovers three times this week. And, there are still some in the fridge. This especially happens if David has several lunch meetings in a week or I don't go to the office. I take leftovers to the office. At home, I'll eat cereal for lunch.

So, I'm rethinking even now what I've planned for this week and think I'll do leftovers on Sunday night as well. Hmmmmmm....

Monday: Small Group - We're splitting up - guys and girls - for a few weeks. The guys are going to be at our house so I said I'd cook and leave something for them each week. Easier than someone sending food with their husband with explicit instructions on what to do to set it up once they get here. They guys will be having:

Taco Soup and Brownies

Tuesday: Sloppy Joes - from the freezer - I made them during my Big Cook a couple weeks ago.

Wednesday: Chicken Macaroni Bake - I'll be using chicken I cooked in the crockpot, chopped, and then froze in 2 cup increments - huge time saver. New to me recipe.

Thursday: Crispy Baked Chicken - New to me recipe.

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: HUGE GARAGE SALE DAY - Pizza for dinner

Sunday: Leftovers

I'm excited to try the two new recipes. Both of them were found through org.junkie's Menu Plan Monday. Head over to her site to find lots more menu ideas!

What are you cooking this week?

Works For Me Wed: Parchment Paper

I was making cookies for a PTA function at school, but was super lazy and didn't want to do actual cookies because then you have to cook each batch, there are more stones (I ONLY bake on Pampered Chef stoneware) to clean, etc. So, I decided to make bar cookies.

Then I remembered that if I put parchment paper in the pan, it would be easier to get out and of course easier to clean the stoneware (um, you just wipe it out). AWESOME!

So, the cookies cooled - I just pulled the whole chunk of cookie out of the pan and let it cool completely on a wire rack. Then, I thought, hmmm... I can just transfer this chunk, parchment paper and all, onto my cutting board and cut them right on the parchment paper. I used my handy-dandy Pampered Chef pizza cutter and sliced those cookies right up.

Guess what - no mess on the cutting board either. Then - my most brilliant thought - I can just lift this parchment paper chunk of cookies right into the container.

Look at that! It fit right in! Well, actually I had to do a tad of adjusting with one row, but it was so quick and easy. And guess what - minimal mess in the container!!

I have decided that parchment paper is my new best friend in baking!

So that's what works for me. For more ideas go to We Are That Family.

What works for you?

Oh! I almost forgot. The cookies I made? One batch was regular chocolate chip - I just made bar instead of drop cookies. The other were Snickerdoodle Blondies. They were a new recipe and delish!!!

Menu Plan Monday Sept. 14th

So, last week's meal plan was a TOTAL bust. My BFF is still in the hospital, so lots of time was spent in the actual building at the beginning of the week and later in the week on the computer communicating things about her health.

My father-in-law's quadruple bypass got postponed to until Friday (from Tuesday) so my sweet hubby was gone ALL WEEK. With just me and the girl to cook for, it became a let's eat what's there and easy kind of week.

Then, a friend emailed that they had read the blog and would like to make my BBQ for me for Sunday (it was on my menu). How sweet was that!? It was super yummy and we have leftovers. I've had lots of good friends dropping notes, little gifts. It's awesome to be surrounded by the Body of Christ. Thank you so much for loving me this week.

So, with things hopefully returning to somewhat normal, here's the menu.

Monday: Small Group Night - not my night to cook. Wahoo....

Tuesday: Leftovers - the yummy BBQ mentioned above plus a few other things hanging out.

Wednesday: Chicken Quesadillas (from last week)

Thursday: Meatloaf (see below), Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

Friday: Beef Stew

Saturday: Leftovers (did I mention there is only 3 of us - we never finish anything)

Sunday: Stufffed Shells (already in freezer from a "Big Cook" I did last week)

Meatloaf

This if from a Kraft mini-cookbook I bought YEARS ago.

2 pounds ground beef/turkey

1 pkg (6 ounces) Stove Top Stuffing Mix (any variety)

1 cup water

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup ketchup/Barbecue Sauce (divided)

Preheat oven to 375

Mix all ingredients except 1/4 cup of ketchup.

Shape meat mixture into oval loaf in 13x9 inch baking dish; top with remaining ketchup.

Bake at 375 for 1 hour or until center is no longer pink.

For TONS more recipes and meal plans, go to orgjunkie.com.