Meal Planner Monday

Happy April everyone! This year is just whizzing by...or maybe life is just happening fast. Hmmm.... Anyway I have six recipes that are pretty darn fast and easy for you busy folks; economical too, if you ask me.

Also, as a side note, this is the first time I used my Ziplist to meal plan and then go grocery shopping and I can't tell you how great it is! Please if you haven't already, check this site out. It makes life a little easier and isn't that what this blog is supposed to be about?

Here's your April week one line up. Enjoy!

Carrot Mac and Cheese

Chicken with Feta

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

Maccheroni with Lemons and Cream Sauce

Marsala Chicken and Pears

Pan Seared Pork Chops with Cider Sauce

Okay this weeks grand total is $72.34. Pat yourself on the back, you can afford a date night!

Meal Planner Monday

Happy Valentines Day! I hope you're going out tonight with someone you love and not even having to think of cooking!!

I'm not going to be so lucky. I will be cooking, but I'll be spending the evening with Chris and my OBGYN, so it will be somewhat enjoyable. That is, as long as Chris remembers to tell me I look pretty and the Doc tells me "It won't be long now Mrs. Izzo!"

I'm shifting to an easy routine this week. I'm entering week 38 of pregnancy and I'm finding myself very tired and run down, not to mention barely able to walk up right like a Homo sapien. Yes, I somewhat resemble an ape these days, slightly hunched over and holding my belly for extra support.

So, this week we're going to take it down a notch. I'm planning easier, faster meals (that require less standing) compared to the more adventurous meals I tend to make for the family. I'm going to TRY to take it easy this week. I'm selecting for you six fast and easy recipes to help you through your week.

Have a very romantic day and if you hate Valentine's Day, look forward to next Monday...it's Presidents Day...killer sales!!

 1. Honey Mustard BBQ Chicken

2. Slow Cooker Taco Soup (You have to wait a long time for it to cook, but it is super fast  and easy to prepare!!)

3. Spaghetti and Meatballs -consider making your own meat balls instead of buying those salty processed balls at the store! It's fun and they taste like real meat, but if you're really not up for it buy a bag of balls...go ahead, no one's looking!

4. Greek Pasta with Tomatoes and Beans

5. Grilled Chicken Panini

6. Bow Ties in Beef Blush Sauce

Meal Planner Monday

 Here's your January 10th through 15th line up. Sorry about all the meat! I realize that usually I try to plan at least one meal a week that is meatless, but this week every meal has meat in it! Even so,I did try to have two meals roll over, so maybe that will put your minds at ease...didn't care did you? I see how it is. Here you go friends!

Recipe for Pork Roast
Roll over the left over pork from this meal into the next meal

Recipe for Honey Glazed Chicken

Roll over the left over chicken for the next meal. Don't be afraid to really pick that chicken apart and get those little pieces. I like to pick all of the chicken off the bones and then boil that carcass to make chicken stock. (stayed tuned for that post! I'll teach you how to use every part of that bird so that nothing goes to waste!)

Recipe for Chicken Egg Rolls

 Recipe for Chicken Taco Bake

 

Recipe for Beef Stroganoff
*this recipe calls for fresh mushrooms, but I omitted because of the picky eaters!

Grand total for this week $59.42! Once again this leaves a lot of options for meal seven. To help you, I thought I'd leave you with a wonderful website I love- Cooking with Ann. I absolutely love Ann's recipes and if you enjoyed the chicken egg rolls from this weeks recipe planner, then I think you'll love her too!

Happy Cooking!