Menu Plan Monday- with recipes

Monday- Dirty Rice, Green Beans, and Cornbread

No recipe here. I buy the Zatarain's box mix.

Tuesday- Chicken Fajitas, Mexican Rice, Black Beans

Ingredients:
2 pds. chicken
1 bell pepper
1/2 red onion
1 1/2 tblsp. chili powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1/2 c. olive oil

1. Slice chicken into 3-in. strips approximately 3/4 inch wide.
2. Slice bell pepper lengthwise, approximately 1/2 inch wide.
3. Slice onion into 1/2 inch wide strips.
4. Mix all spices together in a small bowl.
5. Pour olive oil into large bowl; add spices and mix well.
6. Marinate meat, pepper, onion, in olive oil- spice mix for 10 minutes. Be sure meat and vegetables are coated well.
7. Heat a large skillet on medium high heat. Add meat and veggies. Cook until chicken is cooked through.

Wednesday- Breakfast for dinner

Bacon, eggs, and Cinnamon Rolls

Thursday- Parmesan Chicken, buttered noodles, salad, garlic bread

From Kraft Foods.com

4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
1/4 cup KRAFT Light Zesty Italian Dressing
1/4 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

PLACE all ingredients in large resealable plastic bag; seal bag. Turn bag over several times to evenly coat chicken with dressing and cheese.

REFRIGERATE 30 min. to marinate, laying bag flat so chicken pieces do not overlap in bag.

PREHEAT oven to 425ºF. Remove chicken from marinade; discard bag and marinade. Arrange chicken on foil-covered baking sheet. Bake 20 min. or until cooked through (165ºF).

Make Ahead
Freeze bagged chicken and dressing up to 3 months. Remove chicken from bag; discard bag and marinade. Place frozen chicken in single layer on foil-covered baking sheet. Bake at 350ºF for 1 hour or until chicken is cooked through (165ºF).

Variation - Asian Sesame Chicken
Prepare as directed, using KRAFT Asian Toasted Sesame Dressing and substituting 1 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds for the 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.

Friday- Homemade Pizza, Salad

Saturday- Stir fry veggies & chicken, fried rice, egg drop soup
I'm using the stir fry sauce I talked about a few weeks back. Easy and yummy!

Sunday- Crock pot Chicken, Green Beans, Chicken Rice, Rolls

3 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 (12 ounce) jar turkey gravy

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon salt-free herb seasoning blend

1 teaspoon soy sauce

Directions

1. Place chicken and gravy into a slow cooker. Season with paprika, seasoning blend and soy sauce. Cook on high for 4 hours or for 6 to 8 hours on medium. Tear chicken into pieces. Serve over rice, noodles or potatoes.

Enjoy! Have a good week!

Drugstore Deals 9/14-9/20

I don't normally shop Walgreens. The whole rebate thing seems like a lot of work to me. If I didn't get so much at CVS I might feel differently, but I enjoy the instant gratification of CVS. However, the last couple of weeks Walgreens has had some great Register Reward deals (these will be referred to as RR). I totally missed the Robitussin deal from last week but I will be paying more attention from now on!! Here are the best deals I see for the week at both stores.

CVS

Excedrin Express Gel Tablets 20 ct 3.99 get 3.99 ecb= FREE (limit 1)
-$2 7/13 SS
$2 printable http://www.excedrin.com/index.shtml

Purex detergent 2.99 get 1 ecb (limit 5)
-.50 8/10 SS

$3.00 ECB wyb $10.00 worth of Covergirl Limit 1 (eyeshadow 2.99, lashblast 6.49, wetslicks 3.99, aquasmoothers line 5.49)
Cover Girl Lip Product B1G1F (9-30-08) P & G 8/31/08
Cover Girl Product, any $1 (9-30-08) P & G 8/31/08

$5.00 ECB wyb $10.00 St Ives products Limit 1
Buy One Elements Product Get One Free (expires 10/31/08) SS 8/10
$1/1 St. Ives bodywash or lotion (expires 10/31/08) SS 8/10

$3.00 ECB wyb Aleve D Sinus & Cold or Sinus Headache @ $3.99 Limit 1
Aleve, any 20 ct.+ .75 (10-31-08) V 7/27/08
$1.00 off Aleve D printable FREE after ECB
http://www.aleved.com/

Walgreens
Colgate 2-n-1 4.6 oz, or Max Fresh Original 6 oz ($2.99, or 99c after Super q)
$1/1 Any Colgate Max Fresh, All You September
$.75/1 Any Colgate 4 oz.+, 8/24/08 SS
$1.50/1 All You magazine June, July,and August
1.50/1 printable at www.colgate.com

Irish Spring 8 pack bar soap or 18 oz body wash ($3.99, or $1.99 after Super q)

Twin Pack Speed Stick Ladies or Mens ($3.99, or $1.99 after Super q)
$1/1 Men's Speed Stick Printable
http://www.colgate.com/app/Speedstick/US/EN/Products/Man-In-Motion.cwsp

Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap 12 oz ($2.99, or 99c after Super q)
$.35/1 Softsoap Liquid Handsoap, any 7.5 oz or 12 oz. 8/24/08 SS


There is also some Glade coupons out there for a Glade deal. I have tried to read and read other forums about this deal but I gotta tell ya, I am too confused to explain it. If I figure it out, I will edit this post. If any of you know how to do it, please post it in the comments section.

30 days of meals- September

OK here it is. For all that have asked for my 30 days of dinners, here we go. It's actually 28 because the last Monday is on the 29th. That's when I'll start October. I am not going to post the recipes now. Just know that I will post them each Monday, with Menu Plan Monday.

1. Chicken and Veggie Stir fry, Chicken Fried Rice, Egg Drop Soup*
2. French Dip Sandwiches, corn, buttered pasta
3. Chicken quesadillas, Mexican rice, black beans
4. Broccoli & Chicken Casserole, salad, garlic bread
5. Jambalaya & cornbread
6. Pizza & Salad*
7. Grilled pork steaks, (hot dogs for the kids) grilled corn, twice baked potatoes
8. Chili and cornbread
9. Breakfast casserole & biscuits
10. Lemon Garlic Chicken, green beans, rice, rolls
11. Tostadas, Mexican rice, black beans
12. Sandwiches & salad
13. Spaghetti, salad, & garlic bread
14. Beef Stroganoff, peas, rolls
15. Dirty rice, green beans, cornbread
16. Chicken fajitas, rice, black beans
17. Bacon, eggs, hash browns, cinnamon rolls
18. Parmesan chicken, salad, buttered pasta, garlic bread
19. pizza, salad*
20. Chicken and veggie stir fry, fried rice, egg drop soup*
21. Crock pot chicken (quick chick), green beans, rice, rolls
22. spaghetti pie, salad, garlic bread
23. boneless pork ribs, baked beans, corn, & rolls
24. pepper beef & veggies, beef rice, egg drop soup
25. chicken flautas, rice, guacamole
26. Pork tenderloin, broccoli and cheese rice, salad, rolls
27. sesame chicken, steamed broccoli
28. crock pot roasted chicken, mixed veggies, garlic red potatoes
29. This is the last Monday of the month so I will make my new plan, starting today, for October.
* These items repeat.

Menu Plan Monday- with recipes

Sorry I am late in the day posting this. I had to work this morning and we are attempting to re-paint our master bedroom. I always forget how much I dislike painting until it's time to do it. Without furthur ado...

Monday- Crockpot chili and cornbread

No real recipe here. I just make the chili on the back of the McCormick package and let it simmer in the crockpot. It makes the meat so tender! When you use canned beans, make sure you put them in about an hour before your meal time so they aren't mush. Jiffy cornbread. It's the best!

Tuesday- Breakfast casserole, biscuits

I haven't made this but I got the recipe from one of the many posters on orgjunkie.com. I also have a roll of sausage I got for free, so that helps.

Breakfast Casserole

7 eggs
2 c. milk
8-12 slices of bread (whatever you have on hand)
8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
1 lb. of sausage
Seasoning of your choice (italian, sage, etc)
Salt to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 8x11 or 9x13 pan with oil.

Slice crusts of bread and cube. Place in pan.

Beat eggs and milk. Pour over bread. Using fork, lightly mix bread untill all cubes are soaked.

Brown sausage while bread cubes are soaking. Drain grease. Layer sausage on top of bread mixture. Layer cheese on top of sausage. Sprinkle seasoning on cheese.

Bake for 45 min. Serves 6-8.

Wednesday- Lemon Garlic Chicken, green beans, rice, rolls

This is the same recipe I posted a couple of weeks back. I make this in the crockpot and it's a family favorite.

Thursday- Tostadas, mexican rice, black beans

These are just flat tacos. You can find the tostada shells with the crispy taco shells. Cover with lettuce, cheese and tomatoes.

Friday- Bagel sandwiches, salad

Hubby's late night at work.

Saturday- Spaghetti, salad, garlic bread

Hubby usually gets home late this night as well. The longer the sauce cooks, the better it is so I can feed the kids early and keep it hot for him.

Sunday- Beef Stroganoff, peas, rolls

I love this recipe. It's SO, SO good, and way easy!

Beef Stroganoff

1-2 lbs stew meat
1 package lipton onion soup
1/2 can sprite
1 can cream of mushroom soup
*8 oz sour cream, for after cooking
*white rice, for after cooking

Place first four ingredients in crockpot. Cook on low for 8 hours, or high for 6 hours.

1 hour before cook time is over, remove sour cream from refrigerator. When cook time is finished, add room temperature sour cream, and stir. Serve over white rice.

I have received a few requests for my 30 day dinner plan so I am going to post it asap. I will still post each week on Monday, with the recipes. WHat are having at your house this week? Please post your comments!

New Kraft magazine

The very nice people at Kraft must have read my post about making a 30 day meal plan because they sent me a magazine full of recipes- for free! No, seriously, I have been receiving the Kraft Food & Family magazine for a few years now and it is awesome! I have gotten many a recipes from their publications and I still have every issue! It is a bright, colorful, helpful magazine with lots of quick and easy meals. They send it out every quarter, or season, for free! What's better than that? To sign up, just copy and paste the link. There are even a few coupons in this issue.
http://www.kraftfoods.com/promo/ffmag/registration.aspx?promo_id=2910

Task complete...

After reading the orgjunkie.com's Menu Plan Monday posts for the past two evenings, my 30 day dinner plan is finished! Thirty meals with no repeats is A LOT! (I don't know how Rachael Ray wrote the 365 -no repeats book. Aye, yi, yi!) OK I shouldn't say no repeats because we are having pizza 3 times, but I'm still pleased with the plan. Actually I am feeling VERY ORGANIZED today. I printed a blank calendar and (in pencil) I wrote in all my dinners, important school dates (progress reports, school pics, P/T conferences), when my step-daughter will be here, any evenings that I have to work (few and far between, but I am getting into my busier time of year at work), etc. Now I can glance at the day and know what it will hold instead of digging for the 5 million notes to realize that I already missed something because I remembered the date wrong. I only did this for September, as to not get overwhelmed, but I am already finding it helpful. I showed it, and explained it, to hubby. I'm hoping we can all be on the same track this month. Is there something easy you do to help keep your family more organized? Please share!

Menu Plan Monday- with recipes

I finally did it. I spent 39.67 at the store today. Under $40! But then I remembered I had to get milk and eggs. And butter. Darn it! So, my goal of a $40 a week grocery budget is still in the distance. Sigh. Here's the plan for this week.

Monday- Chicken and Veggie Stir-fry, Chicken Fried Rice, Egg Drop Soup

I found a recipe on Allrecipes.com for stirfry, but I forgot that I had found it. So I bought some stir fry sauce at the store. I'll stick with the sauce, and let you know how it turns out. If you've never made egg drop soup, it is ridiculously easy. Basically, you boil chicken broth, beat an egg and drop in forkfuls into the boiling broth. I know, too easy right?

Tuesday- French Dip Sandwiches, grilled corn, butter and garlic pasta

I am using the leftover roast from Sunday for these. Broil some hoagie rolls, add provolone and use the juice from the roast to dip. Yummy!

Wednesday- Chicken quesadillas, rice, and black beans

I made extra chicken when we had fajitas last week for these. Add some fresh grilled onions to the chicken and cheese. I make these like a grilled cheese sandwich, only with tortillas. Put a little olive oil in the pan, and wait for the cheese to melt. Then cut into quarters.

Thursday- Broccoli and Chicken Casserole, Garlic Bread, Salad

I posted this recipe a few weeks back. (Click on recipe link.) I really like this one because I can keep the ingredients on hand all the time. Everything is in the freezer, or pantry.

Friday- Sandwiches, Soup and Salad

Saturday- Homemade pizza, salad

I know I am going against all the other ladies here but I have a secret. I use Jiffy pizza crust mix. SHHHHHHHHHH! It's only .48 a box, and I don't have to measure anything. If I had a lot of time on my hands I would pre-measure these into ziploc bags but I have kids. And a job. And pets. And a hubby. Maybe one of these days when I get a day to myself, this will be one of the things I will do. Until then, I will spend .48!

I do not have Sunday planned because this week is the end of my first attempt at a 1 month menu plan. I really enjoyed not having to think of a plan each week. I just looked at my week at the beginning of the week, and got the things I needed. This seriously cut down on the thinking time. It only took me about an hour one afternoon to write the plan for the month. I think I will do it again for September!

Please link us to your menu plan on the comments page. I have 30 meals to write. I know I need some inspiration!