February Meal Plan!

 

Here I am with your February Meal Plan, hahaha I’m so catchy! Regardless of my awesome way with words I am here again this month with your layout for your week of evening meals.

The above picture has nothing to do with meal planning but who can resist a cute kid and a cute pig! I’m trying out a few new recipes this month and sticking with some classics. Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.

 2-1- Steak Fajitas

2-2- Crockpot Cube Steaks and Gravy with Rice and Green Beans

2-3-Grilled Pork Chops Asparagus and Cheesy Rice

2-4- Thai Chicken Peanut Wraps (NEW) 

2-5-Leftovers

2-8-Taco Pasta

2-9-Chicken, Broccoli, Potato Sheet pan Bake

2-10-Ham and Cheese Sliders with Veggies and Chips

2-11-Smoked Pork Loin, White Cheddar Mac, Salad

2-12-Chicken Noodle Soup

2-15-Pork Verde Enchiladas

2-16- Shrimp Creole

2-17- Pizza Link

2-18-Hawaiian Fried Rice

2-19-Eggplant Parmesan Boats (NEW) with Grilled Chicken and Salad (double your chicken to have it ready for next weeks meal) 

2-22-Honey Garlic Baked Pork Chops, Roasted Potatoes, and Broccoli

2-23-Olive Garden Grilled Chicken Salad Link

2-24-Cheeseburgers, Tots and Fresh Veggies

2-25- Chicken Tacos Link

2-26- Cajun Shrimp Pasta

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!

Broccoli Chicken Lo Mein

I posted a photo of my supper Saturday night and several of my Facebook friends asked for the recipe so hence the blog post...because let's get honest I am a terrible blogger. I wanted to say that this recipe is super freezer friendly as a meal kit something I do regularly. I have included the instructions for the freezer method in the recipe as well. The recipe is also great to switch up vegetables and even meats with, plus in my home anything with noodles is consumed very well. I hope you all enjoy! 

I wanted to take a second and say that I really want to get back to blogging on the regular, I really do just with two little ones and two busy jobs my poor blog keeps finding it's way to the back burner. So if you are reading this thanks for sticking with me. I hope all of you are having a blessed Monday. 

Broccoli Chicken Lo Mein 

Makes 6-8 servings

Ingredients

1.5 lbs. Chicken Breast Diced

4 Broccoli Crowns

¼  cup Soy Sauce

¼ cup Teriyaki Sauce

¼ cup Hoisin Sauce

1 TSP Minced Garlic

1 TSP Rice Vinegar

1 TSP Sesame Oil

1 Can Bamboo Shoots drained

1 Can Water Chestnuts drained

1-2 tsp Cornstarch mixed with water (if needed to thicken) 

½ lb Linguini Pasta Cooked until just al dente  

In a medium size bowl mix Soy Sauce, Teriyaki Sauce, Hoisin Sauce, Vinegar and Oil pour over chicken and marinate for at least 30 minutes. Steam broccoli for 5-6 minutes to soften. Heat EVOO in a large nonstick skillet add in the chicken and sauce cook through. Add in broccoli and cook until desired tenderness stir in bamboo shoots and water chestnuts. If the sauce is too thin you may need to thicken with cornstarch. Just before serving stir in noodles to coat with sauce and mix in the vegetable through.

Freezer Ready Directions-In a medium size bowl mix Soy Sauce, Teriyaki Sauce, Hoisin Sauce, Vinegar and Oil Place Chicken in a quart Ziploc bag pour sauce mixture over it and seal. Place broccoli in a quart Ziploc bag. Take a gallon Ziploc bag and add each quart bag to it.

Cooking day! Thaw bag in the refrigerator all day. When you get home pour chicken into a nonstick skillet and cook through add broccoli and cook until desired tenderness. Serve over rice, or ramen.

Morning Madness and Mom Guilt...I need a Moment

Today I was sitting with a coworker and she was beginning to lose her patience during lunch, I could see it and frankly I was kind of laughing at her, she knew it and expected it from me. She then says I don’t know what it is about today but my patience is running thin. I quickly reply oh heck I lost mine before I ever left my house this morning (which looking back after reading an article, I was a conservation narcissist, in that situation, more on that another time). Back to the losing the patience before leaving the house. As soon as I said it out loud today I felt sad, like deep down sad. What in the world am I doing losing my patience long before the day really starts. Why am I starting my day this way and why am I starting my kid’s day this way!

I mean I am being completely raw with you guys my heart is hurt about how I was. This morning was rough like from the get go. Conrad was in a constant screaming tirade about well everything, he didn’t like the shirt I picked out, he didn’t want to poop, he didn’t want his diaper changed, he didn’t want to go to Lissa’s (daycare), he wanted to take his drawing board but it was too heavy, he wanted M&M’s (really kid), he didn’t want his coat zipped but he as cold, the list literally continues on and on. Charlot was trying to help but it just seemed that whatever she did just fired her brother up more.

Then I asked the fateful words are you good with the country steak at school for lunch, “I guess because you don’t have time to make lunch for me.” Cut me to the core. Now before I even hear this yes, she is old enough to pack her own lunch but this is kind of my thing I make homemade treats each week for her lunch box, I leave little notes I take pride in sending a piece of myself with her to school. More than anything it helps me with my mom guilt, selfish yes. Any way back on task here. I packed the lunch but probably not with the love and care I normally do. Why because I didn’t realize she wanted to pack her lunch, her brother was crying about his tanks not hooking up right, and frankly I was stressed.

I read those things all the time about a dirty kitchen means I have food to eat, laundry means I have clothes to wear, you know the things I’m talking about…and frankly yes, I know I am very blessed in my life. But at the same time just because I am aware of the blessing can I not be less than grateful from time to time? I think you can I think it is ok sometimes to need a moment, a pause a minute to not help anyone else to just breathe and be. I don’t really know what the intention of this post was other than I hope some mom out there is needing to hear she isn’t alone. That I fear each day that I am screwing up my kids and that I am not loving them enough but each night when they lay down I just try to remind myself that tomorrow is another day that I can try to be better. So here’s to tomorrow morning! Lord help me. No seriously I pray…a lot!  

Sheet Pan Omelete

If you have read my blog for very long you may realize that I love meal planning and freezer foods. I especially LOVE a make ahead breakfast recipe and the fact that it is healthy makes it even better! I have been slowly tip toeing into the world of low carb, I am not fully going low carb just trying to cut some cruddy stuff from my diet. Plus eliminate some of the bread I intake, man I love bread. I was doing well at just eating eggs for breakfast, they were fast and easy that I could make at work. The only problem was that after a bit I was hungry, and when hungry I reach for the easiest available food. Usually not the greatest of choice…crackers they are kind of a drug for me too. Now you have learned how to take me out quickly offer me a bread basket laced with some Triscuits. 

Wow way off track, the point is the recipe was born to provide me with a heartier yet healthy breakfast. I had time to do some recipe testing earlier this week, the weather got yucky so I left work early grabbed my kids, built them a tent in the living room, and got to work. Man, alive I am excited how this turned out. YUM is all I must say. Plus, the fact that I now have a few weeks’ worth of breakfast in my freezer, makes me do a little booty shake. Well my booty isn’t exactly small but the shake I’m doing isn’t a big one oh gosh you guys totally don’t need to read these things. 

I love so much about this recipe I feel it is the perfect combination of veggies and meat but if you prefer to switch it up to suit your like feel free! 

Sheet Pan Omelet

12 Eggs 

½ cup Milk (we use whole in our home) 

1 Bell Pepper Diced

 1 Bunch of Broccoli Chopped

4 oz Fresh Mushrooms Chopped 

2 handfuls Baby Spinach Chopped (I know accurate measurement) 

4 Strips of Bacon Cooked and Crumbled 

½ Parmesan Cheese Shredded 

2 tsp Hot Sauce

Salt and Pepper to taste

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil, put bell pepper, broccoli and mushroom on the sheet pan. Roast in the oven for 15 minutes. While veggies roast crack eggs in a large bowl add milk, hot sauce, salt and pepper whisk until well combined. Once veggies come out of the oven allow them to cool for a few minutes and add to eggs, stir in spinach and cheese. Now spray the lined pan that you roasted the veggies on with cooking spray. Pour egg mixture on to pan and spread out top with bacon. Bake at 350 for another 15-20 minutes until eggs are set. Remove from oven and allow to cool prior to cutting. Once cool cut into 12 large squares. Freeze flat in Ziploc bags. To reheat thaw and warm for 30 to 45 seconds.