Yes, I will still be cooking, but this is the last week I will post our menu for the week. Next week I will be rolling out the first of our Menu Masterlists and a Menu and Shopping Printable to help you with your planning. With these tools, I hope menu planning will be made easier and maybe even a bit more enjoyable for you!
So here goes-
Monday- Out to eat
Tuesday- Hamburgers
Wednesday- Ham and Scallop Casserole
Thursday- Orange and Balsamic Chicken
Friday- Shortcut Chicken Manicotti
Saturday- Southwest Chicken Chowder
Sunday- Easter Meal
What does your Easter meal look like? We will be having ham, mashed potato casserole. green bean casserole. deviled eggs and rolls.
Happy Monday and welcome back to Monday Menu! If all goes according to plan, I will have two more weeks of menus for you before I unveil my Menu Masterlists! I have been busy compiling complete lists of meals for you so that with a quick glace at a category (beef, chicken, pork, soups, etc.) you can very quickly put together a menu plan to suit YOU!
I also hope to be able to share with you a printable of my new Menu/shopping list to help you out with that planning!
Until then, and after a crazy busy Spring Break week, it is back to normal- well, as normal as this house gets.
Welcome! Can I just tell you that I am pooped?! Seriously!
My college daughter was supposed to arrive home on a plane yesterday at 6:00, just in time for dinner. As I currently write this (Sunday night) she is still not home- plane was delayed three times and she missed her connecting flight. She may or may not get on the late flight and arrive at 11:30 ish. PM. (update- nope, she didn't get home. So now she is home- Monday morning, a day late)
I am not a happy momma.
On top of that stress our other daughter was returning from her birthday trip and ran into questionable icy roads. That another friend spun off of the day prior. The same ones that Ashton and Salem wrecked on two years ago in the middle of our move.
She is home safely after 6 1/2 hours of white knuckle driving.
All of this to say in case you think my, or any other bloggers' life, is perfect think again. We have stressors just the same as everyone else out there. And sometimes we even decide to share them with the world.
Just keeping it real, folks.
So this week, you get my menu, tailored just for Riley as she claims she hasn't had "real" food in the past 8 weeks, but NO recipe.
If you feel so inclined, feel free to share a recipe with me. This mentally spent momma is going to bed!
It's Monday! Again! Why do Mondays always seem to sneak up on me? I do not think we made weekends long enough and really should revisit that! Anyone with me?
In the meantime, here is our week's menu- we have to eat after all!
Monday- Chicken on the grill
Tuesday- Meatball Parmesan casserole
Wednesday- Chicken quesadillas
Thursday- Pancakes and bacon
Friday- Chicken Divan
Saturday- Pizza
Sunday- Creamy Chicken Wild Rice soup
This week's recipe is a favorite from a friend of a friend! Simple but yummy- the best kind of recipe in my opinion. If you do not want to use canned soup, you can make your own base to add. I have done it both ways and been happy either way!
Author: Michele Pleasants
Easy Pork Chop Casserole
ingredients:
6 pork chops
1/2 tsp. salt
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 1/2 C water
3 TBSP flour
dash paper
instructions:
Dredge pork chops in flour, salt and pepper
Brown pork chops on both sides in 2 TBSP. butter
Place pork chops in casserole dish.
Pour soup into skillet, add water and heat. Add to pork chops.
Good Monday morning! I pray this finds you well and ready to tackle a new week! Several of my peeps have been out of town and will be returning today so we are excited around here.
I am working on some new menu master lists coming soon to help in meal planning, but until then, here is this week's menu at the Pleasants house. Enjoy-
You all know how much I love my Crock Pot, and no I have not jumped on the insta-pot bandwagon, so I thought I would share a recipe from last week. I have been using this SIMPLE recipe for probably over 20 years now and unfortunately cannot tell you where it came from, but it is always a crowd pleaser. I can fix it for my family and use left overs for lunches or even as a topping for baked potatoes the next night, or it can feed a crowd. Either way it is yummy!
Author: Michele Pleasants
Crockpot French Dip
Can be used for sandwiches or topping for stuffed potatoes!
Sometimes I am so proud of myself and feel such a sense of accomplishment when I put a dinner on the table. (everyone needs a YAY ME, self -cheering section!) Other days I cannot believe I am standing in the kitchen AGAIN fixing ANOTHER meal!
This last week has been on of the later kind of weeks. I just felt plain tired. And uninspired. And so tired of food!
Good news- some of my peeps are headed out of town (that is not the good news) and for a few days it is just Colby and me. (that is the good news as far as cooking goes.)
So I am planning a few EASY days and I am treating him, Ok, me, to a date night. Don't get too excited- right now his request is KFC! I know, I know, don't even go there. Sometimes you just smile and say ok, right?
Monday- Baked Chicken
Tuesday- Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Wednesday- Tacos
Thursday- Crock Pot French Dip
Friday- Care Group Meets- Making Ham sliders
Saturday- Date Night with my Boy
Sunday- Potato Soup and Grilled Cheese
No recipe for you all this week. Go ahead and take a cheat week as well, you have my permission! ;)
Welcome back to another Monday Menu! In line with the current cold weather we are having, there are TWO crock pot meals planned. We pray you have a beautiful week- stay warm!
Monday- Lasagna
Tuesday- Creamy Chicken Marsala
Wednesday- Slow Cooker Beef Tips and Gravy
Thursday- Slow Cooker Chicken BBQ
Friday- Baked Ham
Saturday- Bacon, Eggs and Biscuits
Sunday- Cheeseburger Soup
And one of our favorite ground beef recipes-
Author: Michele Pleasants
Salisbury Steaks in Wine Sauce
ingredients:
2 lbs. ground beef
1/4 C. chopped onion
1 C. rolled oats
2 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
1 C. Milk
3 TSP flour
1 cup water
1/2 C red cooking wine
1 beef bouillon cube
1 (4oz) can mushrooms
instructions:
Combine the beef, onions, oats, Worcestershire sauce and milk. Mix well
Make 8 patties. Heat 2 TBSP oil an brown patties. Remove from heat
Stir flour into pan. Add water and bouillon cube, cook until smooth and thick.
Stir in wine and mushrooms.
Return patties to pan, cover and simmer until meat is done.
Welcome back to Monday Menu, friends! Why does it seem like my weeks just keep speeding by? Anyone else feel the same?
This week is a slower one for me and I am excited to have some down time. Per my goals for 2018, I am trying to enjoy each moment and not get caught up in the craziness of life.
So for this week- SIMPLE is the plan. OK, most weeks simple is my plan, but this week you might even say boring! ;)
Monday- Hamburgers
Tuesday- Turkey Breast in the Crockpot
Wednesday- Turkey Enchiladas
Thursday- Apricot French Toast
Friday- Care Group (taking something, but not sure what yet! Maybe taco ring!)
Saturday- Nachos
Sunday- Ham and Cheese Sliders (I know this veers away from my Sunday Soup plan, but my boys asked for "fun food" for the football game, so I am trying to please.)
Here is this week's recipe- one I have had forever, but is still a favorite in our house. Very easy to make!
Author: Michele Pleasants
Chicken in White Wine Sauce
prep time: 5 MINScook time: 30 MINStotal time: 35 mins
ingredients:
3 TBSP Flour
1/4 tsp. each- salt, pepper, paprika
6 chicken breasts
2 tsp. olive oil
3/4 cup chicken broth
3/4 cup white cooking wine
5 tsp. Parmesan cheese
instructions:
In plastic bag, mix flour, salt, pepper, paprika- add chicken and shake to coat
How is it already Monday again? Seriously, do you ever feel like all you do is fix food for people who won't stop eating? I told my hubby this week that when it is just the two of us (it will come someday I tell you) I am fixing one big meal and we are eating it all week. Check back in 10 years and see what is on our plates! ;)
Until then, I have people that need to be fed so here is another week of our menu, keeping in mind we plan simple to save time, money, and let's face it, my sanity!
Monday- Honey Teriyaki Chicken (thanks Beth!)
Tuesday- Salisbury Steak
Wednesday- Turkey Taco Cups
Thursday- Chicken Curry
Friday- Dinner out
Saturday- Mini Ham and Cheese Frittatas
Sunday- Southwestern Chicken Chowder
There happens to be no crock pot meals this week, but you know I love my crock pot and use it often. I love the ease and the feeling of accomplishment so early in the day, and I love the smell of a home cooked meal filling the house, especially on cold days.
Because of that and because I know some of you are buried under snow again, here is a crock pot favorite we got from a friend.
Author: Michele Pleasants
Creamy Scalloped Ham and Potatoes
prep time: 15 MINScook time: 6 hourtotal time: 6 hours and 15 mins
ingredients:
2 lbs. potatoes (about 6)
2-3 cups cubed ham
1/2 small onion, sliced
1/4 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 TBSP butter, melted
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/4 tsp cream of tarter
instructions:
Wash and thinly slice potatoes
Toss potatoes in 1 cup water and cream of tarter, drain
Layer potatoes, ham, and onions in crock pot
Sprinkle with flour, salt, and pepper
Repeat layers!
Mix melted butter with soup and pour over the top.
Cook on low 6-8 hours, adding cheese the last 30 minutes.
Yes, I took off last week from posting, but I assure you, I did feed the family! ;)
Now that we are back to a regular schedule and starting school back today, I am ready to post our menus again.
Enjoy!
Monday- Chicken Stir Fry
Tuesday- Scalloped Potatoes, Ham and Cheese
Wednesday- Meatloaf
Thursday- Chicken and Dressing Casserole
Friday- Pizza Night
Saturday- Out to eat for Indian food (college daughter's request before she heads back to school!)
Sunday- Veggie, Beef and Noodle Soup
Here is a recipe we like to make and share with others!
Christmas is almost here, folks! Can you even believe it? While it may fall on the same date each year, for some reason it still seems to come earlier and earlier.
Now that our college gal is home and my mom arrived on Saturday, we are ready for the holidays to officially begin at our house. While it doesn't mean a ton of baking here anymore, there are a few special meals to be planned and activities to attend. Trying to keep this week's menu simple to take the pressure off.
Here is what the Pleasants are eating this week-
Monday- Lasagna
Tuesday- B-B-Q Chicken
Wednesday- Hamburgers
Thursday- Chicken and Rice Burritos
Friday- Breakfast for dinner! Chipped beef, Fruit and Pancakes
Saturday- Parmesan Chicken
Sunday- Appetizers It has been our tradition for many years now to have "fun food" for our Christmas Eve meal. It began when we would return home late from Christmas Eve services and did not want to sit down to a big meal. We allowed each person to choose their favorite appetizer and then we just ate a fun, light dinner. We often invite friends to drop by and bring their favorite to share as well, and it is just a fun time of fellowship.
Here is Clarke's choice EVERY year!
Author: Michele Pleasants
Crab Dip
ingredients:
1 Package Crab
1- 8 oz. cream cheese
2 TBSP onion, minced
2 TBSP milk
1/2 tsp. horseradish
1/4 tsp. salt
dash of pepper
instructions:
Mix all ingredients well and spread in 8x8 baking dish or pie plate
Yep, call me lazy, but there is no magical recipe today. So sorry for that, but life happens and this past week has been a crazy one and quite honestly, it is a miracle that this week's menu got planned.
I have managed however to put up two Christmas trees, though the tree skirts have not been unboxed yet so they look a little stark. A wreath is on the front door, but other than that my house is sadly lacking much festivity. Busy and unmotivated is my excuse. That on top of the fact that apparently when you work so hard to simplify and declutter all of a sudden filling ones house with more stuff seems not so magical.
I will let you know if I find a happy medium!
Anyway, on to the menu! Many nights will just be four of us, so we are keeping in simple this week.
Monday- Breakfast Burritos
Tuesday- Chicken Stir Fry
Wednesday- Leftovers from the freezer
Thursday- Chicken Nachos (crock pot)
Friday- Homemade Pizza
Saturday- Hamburgers on the grill Sunday- Potato Soup
Have you noticed our Sundays have turned into Soup Sundays? It is simple, and homey and I love it! You may start seeing the same soups over and over again, as there are only so many my family likes, but we are fine with that. If you have a tried and true recipe I would love for you to share it with us! After a busy week and usually an equally busy weekend and lunch out on most Sundays, it is nice to cozy up as a family with a warm bowl of soup in the evening.
I pray this post finds you cozying up with your family and enjoying a beautiful Advent season!
Welcome to a holiday week! Thanksgiving is upon us and we are taking the week off of school to relax and reboot our family. Sometimes parents and kids all need a break. We will be minus Riley this year again, but she is joyfully flying to her grandparents' house this week to also enjoy some down time. We are looking forward to having her home in December, right before her birthday! She will be 20, oh my! That is a separate post altogether!
So on to our menu for the week- notice there will be turkey! Gobble gobble. You will see its reappearance in a few meals next week as well, since I buy large and freeze in handy 2 cup portions to use for other meals. Saves time and money!
Monday- Orange honey Glazed chicken (yes, I know this was from last week, but we ended up going out and it never got cooked so I am trying again this week. If you are looking for something different, pop some chicken breasts in the crock pot and add your favorite sauce. Serve over rice!
Tuesday- Salisbury Steak with wine sauce
Wednesday- Egg Roll in a bowl
Thursday- Thanksgiving Meal- Just for fun here is what we eat:
turkey
mashed potato casserole (recipe below)
green bean casserole
cranberry sauce
rolls
gravy
stuffing
and of course, pies! Can't forget the pies!
It is simple but we love it! Family time needs to be more about the family and less about the food! Do what your family loves and don't worry about the rest.
Friday- Thanksgiving leftovers
Saturday- Sloppy Joes
Sunday- Turkey and rice soup
So funny story- I LOVE mashed potatoes. Like REALLY love them. As in often ate them for a meal in college. Just them. (hey, it's what poor starving college students do, right? Except I was never starving!) Anyway, I always loved to use Thanksgiving as an excuse to make them in large amounts. One year we needed to make for a crowd so my mom and I made them quite ahead of time and set them aside. By the time we got around to serving them, they had turned into a bowl of starchy mess. Absolutely horrible, though it did provide a good laugh later. Since that time, because sometimes we feed larger crowds and I prefer to be in the kitchen before people come, not while they are with us, I started making the mashed potato casserole, recipe below. I make it (or two or three) the day before and pop it in the oven an hour before we eat. Saves time, and is just as yummy!
I pray your family has a beautiful Thanksgiving! I am grateful for many things, including YOU!
Blessings,
Author: Michele Pleasants
Mashed Potato Casserole
ingredients:
5 lbs. potatoes, peeled and diced
1- 8 oz block cream cheese
1 C sour cream
1-2 tsp garlic salt
butter
instructions:
Peel and cook potatoes until done
Beat potatoes, adding the cream cheese and sour cream until smooth
Add garlic salt and mix well
Pour into a 9x13 pan and dot with butter. You can sprinkle with paprika if desired
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes
notes
This can be made a day ahead and refrigerated until ready to cook. You may need to add 15 minutes of baking time.
It's Monday AGAIN! Why does it always seem to come out of the blue? This weekend has been busy and I feel like a need a rest from my weekend! Like that will happen, right?
So here ya go, friends! Enjoy!
Monday- Parmesan Crusted Chicken in Cream Sauce (this is new to us- I will let you know!)
Tuesday- Turkey Meatloaf (a family favorite!)
Wednesday- Roast and Potatoes
Thursday- Out to eat with out of town friends!
Friday- Hamburgers
Saturday- B-B-Q Chicken
Sunday-Beef Noodle Soup
Pretty simple, as always!
So let me tell you about the soup! When we lived in North Dakota one of my dearest friends and I got the idea to have "Fun Fridays" together. I have shared this before. Each Friday one of us would make muffins for both families for breakfast and one would make soup for lunch for both families. We had soup together after we did school with the kids. Then the following week we would swap who made what. It was about a year of blessings and beautiful memories and still brings a smile to my face whenever I think about it.
There is just something about soup that warms your soul. Maybe it was just that it was shared with beloved friends.
Anyway, we tried a lot of soups that year, this just being one that the kids liked best so we kept it in our rotation. Simple and yet yummy!
Enjoy!
Author: Michele Pleasants
Beef Noodle Soup
ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 can (46 oz) V8 juice
1 envelope onion soup mix (we use our homemade mix)
1 pkg. beef ramen noodles
1- 16 oz. bag frozen mixed veggies
instructions:
Cook beef, drain.
Stir in V8 juice, soup mix, seasoning pack, and veggies.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 6 minutes.
Return to boil, stir in noodles and cook for 3 minutes.
Welcome back to another Monday Menu! We are glad you are here.
Remember, this is what my family is actually eating for the week and are planned with kids in mind. Simplicity is the key, you will not find many fancy things here. For years I tried to keep up with the Joneses and then I realized there was no reason to try to impress anyone, especially my own family, with dinner. It is more about sustenance and family time, and less about fancy ingredients and meals no one likes.
So this week, here is what we have cooking-
Monday- Orange- honey Teriyaki Chicken
Tuesday- Scalloped ham and potatoes (slow cooker)
Wednesday- Chicken Lo Mein
Thursday- Chicken in Wine sauce- (slow cooker)
Friday- Out to eat
Saturday- Farmer's casserole
Sunday- Cheeseburger Soup
Let's talk savings for a minutes before I give you a recipe from last week's meal plan.
You may notice that often we plan chicken meals twice a week. (I know, this week is three) The reason for this is simple. I buy a large package of chicken from the commissary (you can find them at Sam's Club as well) and then immediately bring it home and slice each breast in half and then freeze those in portions that fit our family. One, it saves money and two, it gives you a more reasonable sized chicken breast that is also faster and easier to cook. So in theory, each large pack of chicken I buy feeds us for four meals.
I also found THE deal of the year recently when I bought an entire 10 pound bag of diced ham for $10. (Notice the scalloped ham and potatoes and the framers casserole in the menu!) I freeze the ham in two cup servings and then use in simple casseroles, for breakfast meals, and even in fried rice! It will last us for a long time and saves a HUGE amount of money as well!
Be on the lookout for your local sales and stock up on meat when you see it at good prices. Then plan your menu around what you have in the freezer. Make sure you freeze things in family-sized portions to make it easier to pull out and use.
You will also notice that we have started doing soups or sandwiches for most Sundays. Easy for me who needs a break, and cost effective because let's face it, most soups are pretty inexpensive to make. It's a win win, especially in the fall and winter seasons.
Ok, so there are my helpful hints for the week. You are welcome! ;) And here is your recipe for the week- better get out there soon before it is too cold to grill out!
Blessings,
Author: Michele Pleasants
Honey Chicken Skewers
ingredients:
1/2 Cup Ketchup
3 TBSP honey
1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 lbs. chicken breasts, cubed
salt and pepper to taste
instructions
Combine ketchup, honey, Worcestershire sauce, and salt and pepper.
Marinate chicken in sauce.
Put chicken on skewers and cook on grill 6-8 minutes, basting with sauce.
Happy Monday, my friends! We are back in town and ready to cook again! And yes, thanks to the encouragement of a new friend, Lanie, and the help of an old blogging friend Kemi, I have finally managed to put a recipe in a printable form for YOU!! My plan is to feature one recipe each week- first one up is from last week- pulled pork.
You also might notice that things get pretty simple by the end of this week, as my hero husband will be out of town and well, when he is not around to feed, the kids and I go simple. Welcome to my real life and true confessions! ;)
So this week's plan is-
Monday- Honey glazed chicken thighs (grill)
Tuesday- OUT TO EAT
Wednesday- Breakfast! ( pancakes, bacon and fruit)
Thursday- Spaghetti
Friday- Nachos
Saturday- Ham
Sunday- Potato soup
YES! We are going out to eat on Tuesday! We don't typically do that during the week, but this is a yearly tradition. We do not participate in Halloween, so each year the family tradition to go out to eat Chinese food instead. It gets us out of the house so we do not feel like we are hiding, and it is just a fun thing we have come to look forward to as a family.
Hey, it's the silly things you do together that your kids will remember! Ask me how I know!!
Have a blessed week- make it a great one!
Blessings,
Author: Michele Pleasants
Pulled Pork
INGREDIENTS:
1 3-4 lb. pork roast
1 can French onion soup
1 Cup ketchup
1/2 Cup cider vinegar
3 TBSP brown sugar
INSTRUCTIONS:
Place roast in slow cooker.
Combine remaining ingredients and our over roast.
Cover and cook 4-5 hours on high, or 8-10 hours on low.
Shred pork and cook an additional 10-20 minutes.
notes
We serve this on buns, plain, or even on baked potatoes!
Enjoy!
Happy Monday, friends! Can you believe another Monday is here? As you read this, I am still on the road, headed home from Mississippi after visiting our daughter in college. (look for pictures and an update on her on Friday!)
Luckily for us, the dear girl who watched our house and dogs for us while we were gone is also putting our dinner in the crockpot for us so when we walk through the door the house will smell good and we won't resort to more fast food.
Gotta love a crock pot! How often do you use yours? On the plan for this week-
Monday- Pulled Pork Sandwiches (crockpot) *recipe coming next week for you! So easy and yummy!
Tuesday- Soy Glazed Fish and Bok Choy
Wednesday- Butter Chicken
Thursday- Smothered Pork Chops (crockpot)
Friday- Chicken Divan
Saturday- Stuffed Shells
Sunday- Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
You may have noticed that I tend to do soup or sandwiches for Sunday. We usually eat out with friends after church and by the time we get back, mom is full and done! ;) So we typically eat light and late in the evenings. I consider it my "day off."
Hope this inspires you! Feel free to leave your menu for us, we would love to be inspired by YOU!
Welcome! Follow our family of 6 on our military moving, God loving, homeschool adventure! We are honored you have joined us and look forward to hearing from you.
Welcome! Follow our family of 6 on our military moving, God loving, homeschool adventure! We are honored you have joined us and look forward to hearing from you.
