Menu Plan Monday: 11/7 - 11/13

Quick post today because I'm really tired. I spent the better part of the day about an hour away, shopping with my mom & aunt. We had a great time and a yummy lunch at Noodles & Co. It was my first time there and you bet your bottom dollar I'll be going back!
Our meals are pretty plain & simple this week. Tomorrow, I'm starting a 10-day herbal cleanse program. It's not a liquid fast (heaven knows I need to chew), but there are a few dietary restrictions I'll be following to help the process. Honestly, most of the "restrictions" are really common sense things I should be applying to my eating habits on a normal basis so it's not that bad.

Monday: Chili (DH volunteered to cook!)

Tuesday: Turkey Piccata (as seen on Biggest Loser)

Wednesday: Flat Iron Steaks, Baked Potato, Steamed Broccoli

Thursday:  Mexican Black Bean Soup with Sausage (we use turkey kielbasa)

Friday: Super Saver Sloppy Joes for my husband, Grilled Chicken Salad for me

Saturday: leftovers

Sunday: Breakfast for Dinner: omelettes, hash browns and pancakes for Peanut


I hope everyone's November is off to a great start!

Menu Plan Monday: 10/31 - 11/6

Happy Halloween, everyone! Our Trick or Treat was last Thursday. The first year we lived here I bought 5 bags of candy...and had 4 trick or treaters. The sidewalk doesn't extend out to our house and I didn't realize how that would influence the foot traffic. Since then, the tradition has been to go to my sister-in-law's house for the festivities. Peanut is still a little backwards around new people so we decided to help pass out candy there again this year rather than go door-to-door. My husband did take her to 3 of my sister-in-law's neighbors' houses, but they had to bring the candy out to her because she refused to go any further than the sidewalk.

Peanut was Minnie Mouse...minus ears, shoe covers & bow. So basically, she wore a red polka-dot dress (made by my mom), black leggins & a black long-sleeved shirt. Oh well. She was the cutest little earless mouse you've ever seen. :)

I've missed the last few Menu Plan Mondays. Life happened and things just got too hectic for me to be able to sit down and type up a post. I'm excited to be back with this week's plan, though!

Monday: Sausage & Vegetable Calzones

Tuesday: Chicken Noodle Soup Casserole

Wednesday: Flat Iron Steaks, Baked Potato

Thursday: The Most Amazing Pork Chops Ever, brown rice

Friday: Pizza Night!

Saturday: leftovers

Sunday: Cookout for sister-in-law's birthday

I hope everyone has a fun (and safe) Halloween. My only remaining festivity is a special Zumba party tonight. It's sure to be frightfully fun!

Menu Plan Monday: 10/10 - 10/16

It's another week of just Peanut & I for dinner. I've raided my list of 'want to make, but husband wouldn't like' recipes for our menu this week. I also threw in  Here's what it looks like:

Monday: Linguini with Sun-dried Tomato Pesto (Weight Watchers)

Tuesday: Parmesan Crusted Tilapia, Steamped Broccoli

Wednesday: Chickpeas & Dumplings

Thursday: Sesame Chicken

Friday: Grilled Cheese & Soup

Saturday: Cookout @ Camp - Hamburgers, Brats, Pasta Salad, Baked Beans, Crudites

Sunday: Homemade Pizza

Hope everyone's week is off to a great start!

Menu Plan Monday: 10/3 - 10/9

Yesterday we celebrated my grandmother's 96th Birthday! She's one of the most inspirational people I know. She still teaches needleart at the local senior center 2 days per week. If you ask her, she "teaches crafts to old people." :) Anyone who has ever asked where I get my spitfire need look no further than my grandma. <3

Next Sunday we're celebrating Peanut's 2nd birthday! I have a LOT to get done this week, but I'm enjoying every second of the planning process. I'll be sure to share pictures of the event.

Monday: Beef & Noodles (w/ leftover roast), Grean Beans

Tuesday: Spicy Beef Noodles, Salad

Wednesday: Parchment Packet Tilapia, Seasoned Rice, Mixed Vegetables

Thursday: Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Flank Steak (Weight Watchers), Brown Rice, Steamed Broccoli

Friday: Peanut's 2nd Birthday! - going out to her favorite restaurant: Chipotle

Saturday: Pizza

Sunday: Peanut's Birthday Party: Chili bar, Hot Dogs (for the kiddos), Salad, Cupcakes

What I'm Loving Wednesday 9/28/11

It's the last What I'm Loving Wednesday of September 2011. Hard to believe, isn't it?

I'm loving my crock pot. Maybe it's a silly thing to love, but I find myself using it more and more as the weather cools off.

I'm loving this pumpkin dress from Gymboree. I'm really considering getting it for Peanut.

I'm loving this coat from Anthropologie.

I'm loving the CrossFit games on ESPN. I saw them for the first time last week and was instantly hooked. I've DVR'd every showing since then. I can't decide if these people are insane or totally awesome. Or both.

I'm loving this Grinch-inspired subway art. How early is too early to put out Christmas decor?

Okay. Back to fall. I'm loving these placemats from Crate & Barrel.

I'm loving the new show Pan Am. The 1960s fashion makes me swoon, the acting is great and the plot is much deeper than I'd expected. My husband loved it too so definitely not just a chick flick.

Again I'm (current) pictureless, but I'm loving my husband and our little Peanut more than words can begin to express.

Menu Plan Monday: 9/26 - 10/2

Hard to believe it's the last week of September, isn't it? We have a less-busy-than-usual week because this is the off week for the church small groups we host. With the extra time, I'm hoping to get caught up on a few crafts and organizing projects.

Here's the meal plan for this week:

Monday: Tuna Salad Wraps, Chicken Noodle Soup

Tuesday: Chicken Primavera with Pasta

Wednesday: Crock Pot Chicken Taco Soup

Thursday: Slow Cooker Pot Roast (adding potatoes and carrots)

Friday: leftovers

Saturday: Homemade Pizza

Sunday: Subway (on the way home from a birthday party)

Chicken Meatballs

This has been a favorite dish in our house since we were newlyweds. Now, even Peanut likes them! They're quick, easy, healthy and full of flavor. The leftovers reheat very well so sometimes I'll make a double batch. They're also great for the freezer.

Chicken meatballs are on regular rotation in our household so we switch up the way they're served to keep from getting bored. Put them on sub rolls with pizza or BBQ sauce. Toss them into your favorite spaghetti sauce (I usually make the meatballs smaller or cut them into fourths for this.) and serve over pasta.  Put them atop a salad. They're even great as an appetizer for parties. Football, anyone? :)

Ingredients:

3/4 cup plain, dry breadcrumbs
1 pound lean ground chicken
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
3 large egg whites
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (I use reduced fat.)
1 Tablespoon onion powder
1 Tablespoon garlic powder

 Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly spray a medium baking sheet with non-stick spray.

2. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Let stand until the milk softens the crumbs, 2 to 3 minutes. With your hands, mix well.

3. Split the mixture into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball.

4. Place the meatballs at least 1/4 inch apart on the baking sheet. Bake until no longer pink inside, about 12 to 15 minutes.

I'm linking this post up at the following parties: