Menu Plan Monday

We are working on a new budget for the year. Food is always a big part of our spending and we are considering ways to cut this area even more in the new year. I'll let you know more as we figure things out.

This week my hubby and I are going out to dinner alone together for the first time since we moved to Aberdeen almost five months ago. I am so excited about a quiet dinner without competing with the kids for attention.

And to this week's food plan...

Menu for this week:

• Monday -- Crock Pot Rotisserie Style Chicken

• Tuesday -- Salmon with asparagus - rolled over from Valentine's Day; my hubby and I were both sick and didn't want to waste our special dinner on lesser appetites.

• Wednesday -- Out for dinner alone with hubby (the kids will get to eat leftovers)
  

• Thursday -- Chicken Tortilla Soup

• Friday -- Tikka Masala or Korma
  

• Saturday -- Turkey Tacos and Refried Beans
  


• Sunday -- Homemade Pizza

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

Another week begins! This week we celebrate my hubby's birthday and Valentine's Day, so I have a few special meals planned. Hopefully, next week we will have the opportunity to go out alone together to celebrate.

Menu for this week:

• Monday -- Bee Rocks with veggies or salad - This new recipe is a roll over from last week.

• Tuesday -- Chicken Enchiladas

• Wednesday -- Yellow Thai Curry

• Thursday -- Jacket Potatoes (with cheese and broccoli)

• Friday -- Meatloaf, oven roasted potatoes & broccoli
  

• Saturday -- Teriyaki Chicken and Rice
  


• Sunday -- Salmon, asparagus
  

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

Can it be Monday already? This has been a hard week for our family. My two-year-old has been running a scary high fever for days and no one seems to know what is causing it. All we can do is treat the fever and wait for new symptoms to reveal what this is, or for her to feel better. I'm hoping for the latter.

I have some food related posts floating around in my head, but no time to get them "down on paper." Hopefully this week will be a little less stressful.

Menu for this week:

• Monday -- Crock Pot Rotisserie Style Chicken
  

• Tuesday -- Chinese Chicken & Cabbage

• Wednesday -- Red Thai Curry

• Thursday -- Chicken Enchiladas

• Friday -- Bee Rocks with veggies or salad - This new recipe is a roll over from last week.
  

• Saturday -- Teriyaki Chicken and Rice
  


• Sunday -- Beef Roast in crock pot
  

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

Yes, another week has passed and I have still not managed to post anything but the weekly menu. After being away for a month, I am finding it very challenging to start posting again. But slowly I am beginning to think "I could post about that" during my daily life, so that must be a good sign. Maybe this week I will find my muse.

Until then, the family must eat, so I will create a meal plan to being peace and food to my household. On the topic of food, we loved the Refried Beans from last week. I messed with the recipe a little and have a few more tweaks that I'd like to try, but this is one of our new favorites. I'll have to post my version of this recipe soon.

Menu for this week:

• Monday -- Crock Pot Rotisserie Style Chicken
  

• Tuesday -- Chili and Cornbread - rolled over from last week. I never got this made. I can hardly wait to make the cornbread.
  

• Wednesday -- Chicken Lentil Soup
  

• Thursday -- Macaroni Beef

• Friday -- Bee Rocks with veggies or salad - I just found this recipe this week and wanted to try it.
  

• Saturday -- Red Thai Curry
  


• Sunday -- Sausage and Mushroom Pasta
  

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

This is the first time in my married life that we really don't have the option of eating out or just grabbing a bite somewhere. First, we don't have the money in our budget right now. Second, we don't have a car to go grab something. Third, there is nothing "fast" near us.

I have to come to terms with the fact that I have to cook every night. I find I'm not very excited about this idea. Menu planning is so important in our current life situation where we no longer have access to the convenience of grabbing a burger (or more often, a sub sandwich) or stopping by the store on the way home from work. Everything has to be planned and food has to be prepared every night.

I also am struggling with energy right now. By the time dinner time rolls around, I have no desire to make anything. But I am learning that if I plan ahead we all survive the evenings a little better. If I prep for dinner in the morning when I have a little more energy, or throw something in the crock pot, we get a nice dinner and I have very little work required in the tired evening hours.

Menu for this week:

• Monday -- Chicken Enchiladas
  

• Tuesday -- Jacket Potatoes with cheese and broccoli

• Wednesday -- Crock Pot Rotisserie Style Chicken - this has become one of my husband's favorites; he also loves having leftover chicken for great wraps or sandwiches the next day.

• Thursday -- Refried Bean and Beef Burritos - this will be my first time trying this refried bean recipe. I hope the family likes it ... refried beans are really expensive here.

• Friday -- Beef Roast with oven roasted potatoes
  

• Saturday -- Chicken Lentil Soup
  


• Sunday -- Chili and Cornbread - I am excited about having corn bread again. A friend here told me where I could find something resembling "corn meal" (as we call it in the States); it should make good corn bread.

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

We are ready to celebrate this week leading up to Christmas. We have no family coming, and we are not traveling, so things are pretty quiet for us this year.

We are planning a special breakfast for Christmas morning: Stuffed Scrambled Eggs (my hubby is not fond of omelets, but loves scrabbled eggs with mushrooms, onions, and cheese), Scottish Sausage, Hash Browns and Muffins (English Muffins, as we call them in the states. I guess they don't feel it necessary to put the "English" in the title).

And I am going to try some new recipes: Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins, Cinnamon Carrot Bread, Sugar Cookies.


Now to our menu for this week...

Menu for this week:

• Monday -- Beef Enchiladas
  


• Tuesday -- Chinese Chicken & Cabbage


• Wednesday -- Macaroni Beef


• Thursday -- Chicken Tortilla Soup


• Friday -- Dinner with Friends


• Saturday -- Homemade Pizza


• Sunday -- Jacket Potatoes with broccoli and cheese
  

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday! And Merry Christmas!

Menu Plan Monday

I was quite excited this week to find dried pinto and black beans in a grocery store. It really makes a difference in my attitude toward cooking when I can't find the things I enjoy using. I also found canned artichoke hearts, which are a favorite in my family. I may have to walk the extra few miles once or twice a month to visit this terrific grocery store.

Now to our menu for this week...

Menu for this week:

• Monday -- Beef and Broccoli


• Tuesday -- Chicken Fajitas


• Wednesday -- Crockpot Chili


• Thursday -- Chicken Tortilla Soup


• Friday -- Homemade Pizza


• Saturday -- Mediterranean Chicken Pasta
  


• Sunday -- leftovers

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

Last week our menu fell apart, much to my frustration. When we got our groceries, they did not have the roast that was advertised. Three of my meals last week were dependent on that roast. And I never made it back to the store to pick up a replacement. So, most of our meals for this week are repeated from last week and hopefully the roast will be available.

Menu for this week:

• Monday -- Teriyaki Chicken and Rice


• Tuesday -- French Dip - I am trying a new recipe in the crock pot.


• Wednesday -- Chicken Fajitas


• Thursday -- Beef and Broccoli


• Friday -- Homemade Pizza


• Saturday -- Roast Beef
  


• Sunday -- Chicken Tortilla Soup

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

What a wonderful Thanksgiving week. We celebrated Thanksgiving in Scotland with several American (and a few Canadian) families. The stuffing was a little different (no StoveTop here). With no canned pumpkin, I was not about to tackle a pumpkin pie, but some of our friends were more skilled so we enjoyed pie as well.

Menu for this week:

• Monday -- Al Forno Pasta Bake


• Tuesday -- Teriyaki Chicken and Rice


• Wednesday -- French Dip - I am trying a new recipe in the crock pot.


• Thursday -- Beef and Broccoli


• Friday -- Homemade Pizza


• Saturday -- Chicken Tortilla Soup
  


• Sunday -- leftovers
  

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

Last week was our first time trying the Crock Pot Rotisserie Style Chicken from A Year of Slow Cooking and it was wonderful. I am thinking about following Keeper of the Home's lead and making broth with the left-overs next time.

There are a few meals we didn't get to last week, so I am leaving them on the menu for next week -- Minestrone and Enchilada Casserole.

Menu for this week:

• Monday -- Jacket Potatoes (with cheese and broccoli)


• Tuesday -- Minestrone Soup
  


• Wednesday -- Tikka Masala
  


• Thursday -- Turkey, Stuffing, etc - American Thanksgiving in Scotland
  


• Friday -- Enchilada Casserole
  


• Saturday -- Thanksgiving with other Expats from US and Canada (even though they celebrated a few weeks ago...)
  


• Sunday -- Leftovers
  

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

Last week we added a new favorite to our family's favorite meals. We tried the Macaroni Beef from Mumma's Place and it was wonderful. Thank you, Ruby, for this great new recipe.


Menu for this week:

• Monday -- Chicken Fajitas


• Tuesday -- Hash Brown Quiche
  


• Wednesday -- Tikka Masala or Yellow Thai Curry
  


• Thursday -- Crock Pot Rotisserie Style Chicken - we are trying this for the first time.


• Friday -- Enchilada Casserole
  


• Saturday -- Minestrone Soup - I'm going to try this in the crock pot.
  


• Sunday -- Leftovers
  

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

Last week was hard for my family. I was out of commission with several migraines, followed by some virus infection (from which I am still recovering). Several of our meals for this week are simply carry-overs from last week's unused menu.


Menu for this week:

• Monday -- Meatloaf


• Tuesday -- Jacket Potatoes (with cheese and broccoli)


• Wednesday -- Enchilada Casserole
  


• Thursday -- Macaroni Beef - I spotted this at Mumma's Place tonight; it looks so yummy that I had to try it.


• Friday -- Beef & Noodle Bowl
  


• Saturday -- Chicken Fajitas
  


• Sunday -- Leftovers
  

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

Last week, I finally decided I needed a crock pot. Because the power requirements and plugs are completely different here in Scotland, we did not even consider bringing ours from the states.

I was hoping to find one at a charity shop or freecycle, but after looking for several weeks, I couldn't wait any longer. We have officially entered Crock Pot season. Now I have to use it at least once a week to justify the money spent.

Here is what I am going to try for this week:

Menu for this week:

• Monday -- Cabbage Bean Soup (Crockpot)
  


• Tuesday -- Jacket Potatoes (with cheese and broccoli)


• Wednesday -- Enchilada Casserole
  


• Thursday -- Meatloaf


• Friday -- Beef & Noodle Bowl
  


• Saturday -- Ham & Cheese Melts
  


• Sunday -- Leftovers
  

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

We finally have our new refrigerator and we are thrilled. We have had salad several times this week and our shopping trip today stuffed the fridge full of wonderful, fresh fruits and veggies!

Here is what I am going to try for this week:

Menu for this week:

• Monday --Jacket Potatoes
  


• Tuesday -- Chicken Chili (Crockpot) - I am adapting a few recipes and substituting some ingredients with what I can find here. I'll post the recipe if it turns out well.
  


• Wednesday -- Enchilada Casserole
  


• Thursday -- Sausage Potato Soup


• Friday -- Homemade Pizza
  


• Saturday -- Ham & Cheese Melts
  


• Sunday -- Tikka Masala - this is definitely a new family favorite.
  

Question of the week: What foods would you try if you were in Scotland / UK for three years?

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

Our first week back on menu planning went fairly well. We found some good substitutes for a few items in our favorite recipes. I'm looking forward to exploring the grocery stores here in Scotland for all the interesting new things we can add to our meals.

We still don't have our new refrigerator yet (the one in our flat is broken). They are now telling us it will be here by Thursday. This tiny icebox just doesn't hold very much. And with the grocery store about a mile away (walking with two toddlers), I can't go shopping every day for refrigerated ingredients.

Here is what I am going to try for this week:

Menu for this week:

• Monday -- Baked Potatoes - or jacket potatoes, as they call them here. They love to put all sorts of things inside a baked potato; meat, cheese, veggies, etc.
  


• Tuesday -- Mediterranean Chicken Pasta


• Wednesday -- BBQ Pork Sandwiches
  


• Thursday -- Shepherd's Pie


• Friday -- Homemade Pizza
  


• Saturday -- Taco Bar


• Sunday -- Yellow Thai Curry
  

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

We have been in our new flat in Aberdeen, Scotland for just over a week. I am desperate to establish routine and order in our lives, and decided meal planning was a good place to start.

There are a few challenges to my menu planning this week. We are in a foreign country where things are just different enough that I am not sure what products I can still find.

We also don't have our new refrigerator yet; instead we have a tiny little "icebox" that have very little room for anything.

Lastly, we have no car (and two toddlers), so every trip to the store I can only buy what I can carry back in our double stroller. I am amazed at how warm I stay, even in the wind, when I am pushing 130+ pounds up a hill in a stroller (oops, "buggy", I should say, or "push chair" or "pram").

Here is what I am going to try for this week:

Menu for this week:

• Monday -- Beef and Broccoli - we are going to try a new Oyster and Onion sauce we found here.
  


• Tuesday -- Josh Rogan - they have so much great Indian food here. This is an Indian curry that we have not tried yet.
  


• Wednesday -- Chinese Chicken & Cabbage - I have not yet confirmed that all these ingredients are available here. I wonder what substitutes I can find?
  


• Thursday -- Spaghetti


• Friday -- Nachos
  


• Saturday -- Baked Potato Bar


• Sunday -- Turkey Lentil Soup
  

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

Two weeks left to empty our refrigerator, freezer and pantry. I don't know if we can use everything. But here is another week of planning from our cupboards.

Menu for this week:

• Monday -- Chicken Fajitas
  


• Tuesday -- Grilled Shish-Kabobs
  


• Wednesday -- Sausage and Mushroom Calzones
  


• Thursday -- BBQ Pork Sandwiches


• Friday -- Red Curry with Potstickers
  


• Saturday -- Baked Potato Bar


• Sunday -- Pasta Primavera
  

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

Another week of meal planning from our freezer and pantry. Last week was not very successful. And you will notice that we have some of the same items on the menu again this week. The family is pretty resistant to eating the rejects at the back of the freezer, but I'll try again this week.

Menu for this week:

• Monday -- Chicken Fajitas
  


• Tuesday -- Grilled Chicken Breasts
  


• Wednesday -- 15 Bean Soup
  


• Thursday -- Calzones


• Friday -- Turkey Tacos


• Saturday -- Baked Potato Bar


• Sunday -- Seafood Ravioli, green salad

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

For the next few weeks, meal planning is all about emptying our freezer and pantry - we are moving in just over four weeks. My hubby is not excited about that. The stuff that is still in the back of the cupboard or freezer is most likely still there because I bought it for a new recipe and no one liked the sound of it. This could be a big challenge...

Menu for this week:

• Monday --Seafood Ravioli, green salad
  


• Tuesday -- Grilled Chicken Breasts
  


• Wednesday -- Chicken Curry, rice
  


• Thursday -- Calzones


• Friday -- Turkey Tacos


• Saturday -- Baked Potato Bar


• Sunday -- Chicken Fajitas
  

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

I had no time this week to find new meal ideas. But the meals from last week were a nice change from the norm. Things are becoming increasingly busy around here, and meal planning has saved us from starvation several times this week.

Menu for this week:

• Monday --Seafood Ravioli, green salad
  


• Tuesday -- Turkey Tacos


• Wednesday -- Chicken Alfredo with Artichokes
  


• Thursday -- Calzones


• Friday -- Dinner with Friends
  


• Saturday -- Baked Potato Bar


• Sunday -- Chicken Picatta

Check out more menu plan's at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Monday!