January Meal Plan

I have seen this meme shared so many times since the beginning of the year honestly, I sent it to my sister in law after she sent out a cry for help one day for an idea for supper. Seriously though figuring out what in the Sam heck to cook each and every night, night after night after night is exhausting. I adore cooking and I have said to The Hubs multiple times if he would just tell me what to cook for an entire week, I would be so happy. Well that was never, I repeat NEVER going to happen, this is when my need to meal plan was born.  Several people say that they really enjoyed my meal plan posts so here go nothing. I am not promising to be a better blogger, but here is what I am promising a monthly meal plan shared with you guys.  I am also promising links to some of the recipes in the meal plan, as well as meals that are good to make double of so that you can have one to freeze or share.

What would you like to see in the meal plans? Weekly grocery lists? Please please please let me know. Also, I’m getting ready to record a session I am doing for a conference, my session is on having your freezer ready for your busy seasons…I’m hoping once I have it complete, I can get a post together on all thing’s freezer meals/freezing food in general.

1-4- Broccoli Chicken with Rice Link (the linked recipe is served with noodles this month I did rice)

1-5- Roast with noodles and Green Beans

1-6- Smoked Sausage and Roasted Veggies Sheet Pan Supper

1-7- Stuffed Pepper Skillet and Salad Link

1-8-Shrimp Tacos Link

1-11- Everything Chicken with Cream Cheese Sauce and Salad

1-12-Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Slaw (Double and Freeze)

1-13-Cheeseburger Salad

1-14- Round Steak with Rice and Tomatoes and Green Beans

1-15- Shrimp and snow pea stir fry

1-18-Parmesan Pork Chops broccoli and couscous

1-19-Shrimp Boil and Ice Cream Cake

1-20-Spaghetti and Garlic Bread

1-21-Nacho Soup Link

1-22-Leftovers

1-25-Breakfast

1-26-Lettuce Wraps Link

1-27-Chicken green bean and mushroom skillet

1-28-Chicken Tortilla Soup (Double and Freeze) Link

1-29-Steak potatoes and salad

I hope this makes a few of your nights a little easier!

15 Go to Ground Beef Meals for the Slow Cooker

Hey friends and I do say friends because you are and because friends give one another some grace especially when it comes to the frequency or infrequency (cough, cough) of their blogs. That's ok I know you all will forgive me especially after you read this post. It could possibly change your life, well probably not but hey you can't say I didn't try. 

What in the world prompted me to finally post a blog again, ha! Well dears it was you guys! I saw several people over the past few weeks asking on their Facebook what some favorite crock pot meals were, especially those with ground beef. I kept commenting and then others would ask for recipes and finally light bulb!!! I needed to do a blog post, hahaha! 

So I will admit I wasn't all that in love with slow cooker cooking for very many dishes outside of roast and soup because so many things ended up mushy, is that a word??? Then I discovered programmable slow cookers, HOLY MOLY!!! If you don't have one and you are serious about adding more crock pot meals to your life add one to your life, Christmas is coming. Yes I ask for kitchen appliances for holiday presents, don't judge me. Here is a link to one I love. The thing about these is that you can select the cooking time then the machine goes to keep warm once that cooking time is over. Say what!!! I know! 

Another problem I had is even with the programmable pot I still felt like many recipes were mushy, still is this a word? Most people who know me know I am a HUGE texture person (hence my aversion to coconut), this didn't bode well for most slow cooking. Then I read a recipe that suggested throwing raw pasta into the cooker...I was nervous but man alive did it help! Most of the recipes I have included have instructions on what to do with the rice or pasta. 

Lastly it drove me crazy to read this delicious recipe that then required me to break out a skillet to cook the meat up ahead of time. Listen lady I really want to make this but for real I am putting this together before 6 am, remembering that I need to brown the meat then drain it is wayyy too much for that time of the morning. This all changed one day when I bought twenty plus pounds of ground beef in the store because it was a good deal, I roll like that. The thing was even though it was a good deal it still was a chunk of change, I was determined to not let this precious meat go to waste in my freezer. I went home and chopped up like 10 onions and began browning hamburger with some onions and salt and pepper. I drained it and cooled it then placed it in quart freezer bags. At this point was thought it would be ready for me to use for tacos, spaghetti sauce, soups whatever I was making for supper that night...then one fateful morning before 6 am I was mad because I forgot to get burger browned for a crock pot recipe I wanted to make. The heavens seemed to open and my deep freezer called my name reminding me of all that glorious burger meat that was pre-browned and waiting for me. 

Obviously a life changing day. HA! But seriously it does make life easier and I save a ton of money when I buy ground beef and can buy it on sale. 

Yes you read that, I am married to a man who raises not only hogs but cattle too and I buy meat but that is another story for another day! 

Below are some of my favorite recipes with links for both pre-cooked burger and using raw burger. If you have any questions please feel free to check in with me. 

 One last question...Do you guys actually enjoy my rambles??? Should the blog continue???

Using Pre-Cooked Burger 

Asian Lettuce Wraps- Below! (I just mix all ingredient in the crock pot and cook all day) 

Stuffed Pepper Skillet-Recipe Link (follow the directions except omit the rice until you get home, then stir in the rice and cook for 30-45 minutes)
Taco Lasagna- Recipe Link
Nacho Soup-Recipe Link
French Onion Beefy Noodles- Recipe Link
Pizza Pasta- Recipe Link (I do not pre-make this, I throw all in ingredients, minus the cheese and pasta and let it cook all day on low, then stir in pasta and let it cook for 30 more minutes, top with cheese.)
Tater Tot Casserole- Recipe Link
Shepard's Pie- Recipe Link
Cheeseburger Soup- Recipe Link (I skip the whole making a thickner in the skillet step and I put my hamburger in first thing in the morning.)
Stroganoff- Recipe Link
Pasta Fagiola- Recipe Link
Cheesy Tortellini- Recipe Link

Using Raw Burger
Mozzarella Stuffed Meatball Subs- Recipe Link (I just place a little cheese in the center of each Meatball as I am rolling them up and also add about 1 cup of water to the sauce)
Barbecue Meatballs- Recipe Link (I take these to the just past the browning step and use the crock pot to cook them in the sauce. 6 hours on low)
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls- Recipe Link (I omit the Rosemary because well I'm not a fan)

Copy Cat PF Chang Lettuce Wraps

Makes 6-8 servings

Ingredients

1 TBSP Olive Oil

1 lb Ground Beef

1 Onion diced

2 Cloves Garlic minced

¼ cup Hoisin Sauce

2 TBSP Soy Sauce

1 TBSP Rice Wine Vinegar

1 TSP Ginger

1 TBSP Asian Chili Paste (or Sriracha) 

1 TSP Teriyaki Sauce

1 TSP Sesame Oil

1 (8 oz) Can Water Chestnuts drained and diced

2 Green Onion Thinly Sliced

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 Head Lettuce (Butter, Ice Berg, Romaine)

Heat olive oil in a skillet. Add in beef, onion, and garlic cook until meat is browned. Make sure to break up the meat as you cook it. Drain off any excess fat.

In a small bowl mix Hoisin, Soy, Rice Wine Vinegar, Ginger, Chili Pasta, Teriyaki, and Sesame Oil. Return meat mixture to the skillet and add in the water chestnuts heat on medium. Pour sauce over the mixture and stir to combine, cook until heated through and sauce has reduced a bit. Add in green onion.

This mixture can now be served in lettuce cups or froze. To freeze allow mixture to cool slightly. Place in a gallon freezer bag.

Serving Day-

Thaw bag in fridge or a warm water bath (if your forgetful like me). Pour mixture into a skillet to warm through. Serve with lettuce. 

February Meal Plan Revealed!!!

Tomorrow is a new month!!! How in the world is it already February…well a new month means big things right here!!! A new monthly meal plan guide!!! Hooray! Someone asked me where I get all my ideas for meals, for me it really isn’t anything spectacular. Once I have a month’s meal plans set I start thinking about the next month. I just keep a note pad on my desk and if I think of a meal or come across a recipe I want to try I jot it down then as I am putting my meal plan together for the month I include those recipes.

If you are new to the meal planning world it may seem a bit overwhelming at first but once you start you will get the hang of it really quick! For me I break my month down into weeks for the plan then on Sunday night I get all the meat I need for the week out of the freezer and put it in the fridge for the five night’s meals. Then each morning I check the plan and make certain I have everything I need. Once I get home I cannot stand to leave.

Next are the shopping lists as you can see they are quite extensive, I wrote down practically everything you would need to make these meals. I do this for myself as well then I shop at home and cross off the items I already have. I realize that the first list is huge, I like to do all the shopping I possibly can the first shopping trip of the month. I get all the meat need plus anything else that will keep for the duration of the month. This will be a long grocery trip but the next three weeks will be short and sweet! I have included some items on the weekly list that I purchase each week regardless of the meal plan please feel free to adjust these to your needs. 

I spend a good deal of time on these meal plans because they make my life easier please let me know if they help you and if you have any ideas for improvement. I included recipe links for several of the meals. Just click the link and it will bring you to the recipe post. I am still working on getting these into a PDF printable format (I know that would help), but currently can’t. If you could help me with that I would owe you big time! If you would like the meal plan/grocery lists e-mailed to you please feel free to contact me and I will be more than glad to do so! Please ENJOY!

February Meal Plan

Week 1- 2/6-2/10

Monday –Bacon Cheddar Quiche with tossed salad Recipe Link

Tuesday-Chili (Crockpot)

Wednesday-Chicken Portobello Stacks with rice Recipe Link

Thursday- Hawaiian Fried Rice

Friday –Shrimp and Spinach Pasta

Week 2- 2/13-2/17

Monday- Chicken and Pineapple Quesadilla Recipe Link

Tuesday- Tomato Soup (crockpot) and Heart shaped grilled cheese

Wednesday-Jambalaya with Smoked Sausage Recipe Link

Thursday-Steak Tacos (crockpot)

Friday- Baked Honey Garlic Chicken with Rice and Steamed Broccoli

Week 3 2/20-2/24

Monday-Pork Chops, Green Beans, Stuffing

Tuesday-Crockpot Mushroom Beef Tips with Mashed Potatoes Recipe Link

Wednesday- Shrimp and Spinach Salad 

Thursday-Creamy Sundried Tomato Chicken with Pasta

Friday- Pizza

Week 4 2/27-3/3

Monday- Breakfast- Pancakes, Bacon, Eggs

Tuesday- Nacho Soup (crockpot) Recipe Link

Wednesday- Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, Tossed Salad

Thursday- Chicken Teriyaki Bowls with Broccoli

Friday- Ranch Pork Chops and Potatoes with Green Beans

Grocery List (monthly-this includes fresh products for the first week)

Meat-

Bacon- 2lbs

Hamburger-3lbs

Chicken Breasts (3 of the large packages)

Diced Ham

Shrimp-2lbs

Smoked Sausage

Sirloin Steak

Pork chops (2 four chop packages)

Stew Meat 

Dairy and Eggs- 

Cheddar Cheese (2 bricks)

Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Refrigerated Pie Crust

Sliced Cheese

Milk

Sour Cream  

Eggs (2 dozen)

Frozen-

Peas and Carrots

Canned Goods-

Canned Pineapple Rings (2)

Crushed Tomatoes (1 28oz)

Chili Beans (1) 

Chili Tomatoes (1)

Diced Tomatoes (2)

Black Beans (1)

Nacho Cheese (1)

Corn (1)

Green Beans (4)

Cream of Mushroom Soup (1)

Spaghetti Sauce (1) 

Salsa (1)

Honey (1) 

Sun dried tomatoes (1)

Box of Chicken Broth (3)

Box of Beef Broth (1) 

Dry Goods-

Rice

Teriyaki Sauce

Soy Sauce

Tortillas 

Bread

Pasta (spaghetti)

Stuffing 

Taco Shells

Cajun Seasoning

Taco Seasoning 

Ranch Seasoning  

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables-

Romaine Lettuce

Cucumbers 

Portobello Mushrooms 

Avocado-2

Roma Tomatoes – 4

Spinach 

Onions (1 bag)

 Potatoes

Bananas 

Apples 

Berries (if on sale) 

Grocery List (week 2)

Dairy-

Milk 

Cream 

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables-

Basil

Celery 

Bell Peppers

Shredded lettuce

Roma Tomatoes (2) 

Avocado (2) 

Broccoli

Bananas 

Apples 

Berries (if on sale) 

Grocery List (week 3)

Dairy-

Cream

Milk

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables-

Mushrooms

Spinach

Basil (if you don’t have any left from last week)

Bananas

Apples

Berries (if on sale)

  

Grocery List (week 4)

Dairy-

Milk

Other-

Garlic Bread

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables-

Avocado (2)

Romaine Lettuce

Roma Tomatoes (2)

Cucumber

Broccoli

Bananas

Apples

Berries (if on sale)

Nacho Soup!!!

I created this little pot of wonderfulness on a whim a few weeks ago on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Then I remade it last night because it was cold the the perfect evening for SOUP!!! This soup was born out of my necessity to number one use up some leftovers from taco night and two find a taco soup substitute. The hubs is not a fan of the traditional taco soup recipe that most love including me!
But then I started creating this soup with him in mind and the little bit in our house. I knew two things it needed to be soupy(lots of broth), the hubs isn't a huge fan of thick soups, and it needed to be cheesy to please Charlot. Who loves tacos and nachos...and is becoming a fast fan of this soup! Feel free to use leftover taco meat and leftover Spanish rice that is what I did the first time and it was perfect!

Nacho Soup

1/2 Lb hamburger (browned and drained)
1 packet taco season
1 can diced tomatoes (I use the Mexican flavored ones)
1 can corn
1 can green chillies
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can Nacho cheese (found near the Velveeta)
1 box chicken Stock
1 cup cooked rice

In a large soup pot, mix Hamburger with taco seasoning and allow to heat through and seasoning to come together with meat. Add all remaining ingredients except rice, stir well to combine! Allow mixture to simmer for 30 minutes then stir in rice just before serving. Top with additional cheese or avocado that's what I like at least! Serve with corn chips!

Shrimp Tacos with Lime and Jalapeno Slaw

So I read that today is National Taco Day!!! Why didn't I know of this glorious holiday before? And why oh why do I have to work on this day! On top of it being National Taco Day...it is TACO TUESDAY!!! I am finally bringing you a new recipe! But if you take a close look at this picture that is grass in the back ground yes green green grass. Not exactly October grass that is more like spring grass May 24th grass to be exact. You have got it right I have had this recipe ready for a post since May. But it just hasn't happened apparently having a baby, going on maternity leave, managing our house, getting my kid ready for school, starting kindergarten, starting daycare, and going back to work prohibited me from actually achieving this being blogged. 

But trust me it is worth the wait! Especially since it is on this all important holiday! These have quickly become a favorite in our family! Charlot especially LOVES them a requests them pretty much weekly. That kid loves shrimp and when you throw it into a taco it can't get much better. I actually made these for my Daddy-o and the Hubs for Father's Day and they both were quite pleased with their delicious dinner. 

Any who here is the recipe make these tonight to celebrate! We won't be having tacos tonight in celebration we had tacos Saturday night, nacho soup Sunday night, and taco bowls Last night. I feel it is time for a change although if I put tacos on the table tonight the other two solid food eaters in my home would rejoice. They are sure to turn into a taco! 

Shrimp Tacos with Lime and Jalapeno Slaw

1 lb Large Raw Shrimp (Peeled and Deveined) 

1 Can Mango Nectar (can be found in the Hispanic Section of your store) 

1 TSP Chipolte Powder

1 TSP Cumin

1 Garlic Clove (Minced)

1 TSP Salt

1 Lime (Juice and Zest)

Charred Tortillas 

1 bag of Slaw Mix

1 Jalapeno diced (seeds and membrane removed)

1/2 Plain Greek Yogurt

1/4 Mayo (use the real stuff)

1 lime (Juice and Zest)

1 TSP Apple Cider Vinegar

Splash of milk to thin

Salt and Pepper to taste 

Mix Shrimp, Nectar, Chipolte Powder, Cumin, Garlic, Salt, and Lime in a large zip top bag and marinate for at least 1/2 an hour and up to a hour. In the meantime mix slaw dressing of yogurt, mayo, lime, vinegar, milk, salt and pepper stick it in the fridge for flavors to combine. Don't Dress the slaw until ready to serve you want the cabbage to still have some crunch. Heat a large skillet with EVOO. Remove shirmp from marinade, sear off the shrimp careful to not over cook. Char some tortillas either over your gas flames or with your broiler. Dress the slaw. Place 4-5 shrimp in a tortilla top with some slaw and serve!