Meal Planning #2

It is still monstrously hot here, but with the start of cross-country practice, I have to up the calorie and carb content to keep up DS's weight and energy.  The real trick is for DH and I to avoid gaining any weight.

Monday - Dinner at Grandma's - Paneed pork chops, mashed potatoes*, peas and corn
Tuesday - Dinner at Grandma's - Coconut shrimp, garlic spaghetti and steamed broccoli
Wednesday - Butternut squash risotto and green salad
Thursday - Grilled chicken, boiled mini potatoes and steamed broccoli and green salad
Friday - Dinner and a Movie - Killer Shrimp Pasta and green salad with Free Willy Parfaits
Saturday - Roast beef, mashed potatoes, sauteed spinach and steamed broccoli
Sunday - Chicken Cacciatore over pasta green salad and garlic bread

Found a new quick and easy idea I will be trying breakfast tomorrow-- DS loves oatmeal, this sounds like it beats the instant stuff - 50's Housewife Baked Oatmeal.

*Have you ever tried Ore Ida Steam-n-Mash?  I am sure I laughed at this when I first saw the commercial (frozen chunky cut potatoes steam in the bag, then you mash and add milk and butter.)  If I am going to do the work of real mashed potatoes, I might as well use fresh not frozen mashed potatoes.  I assumed you would end up with a gluey, tasteless, watery textured poor substitute (frozen dinner mashed potatoes anyone?).  I WAS WRONG. 

These are WAY BETTER than instant mashed potatoes, and dare I say, come very close to homemade.  The only thing missing was the lumps.

Meal Planning Week 1 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Week 1 Goal:  I love baking, but hate heating up the house with the oven during the summer.  My goal is to double up on my baking to utilize an already hot oven for multiple items and to use the toaster oven and bbq grill when possible.

I will update this entry with my notes during the week

 and hope to share a couple of recipes in another post.

Monday

• Oatmeal - gotta love a kid that still loves oatmeal
• Meatball Sandwiches - a real hit with my guys and really delicious on toasted Italian bread
• Dinner out at our favorite Mexican restaurant - shared fajitas with DH and still had leftovers

Tuesday

• Whole Grain Blueberry and Orange Cranberry Muffins - blueberry was a hit, but the OC flopped
• Picnic - Sandwiches, Carrot and Celery Sticks and Grapes - picnic rained out, but still enjoyed yummy super sweet grapes
• Grilled Honey Lime Chicken, Grilled Zucchini and Squash, and Grilled Corn on the Cob and Apple Spice Minicakes - Accepted a dinner invitation instead - yummy homemade lasagna

Wednesday

• Eggs, Bacon and Biscuits - woke up my guys with a surprise breakfast in bed
• Selection of cheese, crackers, bread. and fruit - a great break from house cleaning & DS discovered he likes brie!
• Grilled Kibbeh Patties, Roasted Eggplant Dip (Baba Ghannouj), Hummus with Za'atar-Spiced Grilled Pita Bread, and Feta Salad

Thursday

• Oatmeal
• Salad Nicoise with Grilled Tuna
• BBQ Chicken Thighs, Baked Beans, and Grilled Corn on the Cob

Friday

• Oatmeal
• Selection of cheese, crackers and fruit
• Taco Taters (loaded tex-me potatoes (I will "bake" them on the grill with Thursday's chicken)

Saturday

• Grits
• Quesadillas
• Red Beans and Rice, Sausage and Jalapeno Cornbread
• Bob's Mill Five Grain Cookies

Sunday

• Pancakes
• Sandwiches and Fruit
• Wood Grilled Salmon, Wilted Spinach, and Sweet Potato Fries