Meal Plan 26!

Little late but that's ok - with the holidays things got kind of crazy =/ Ooops. Better late than never! :)
I did horrible last week... didn't make it to two of my recipes. The Onion Soup - because Adam wasn't feeling it. I didn't think ahead that it's probably not the best "dinner" recipe for us. I should probably just make a small batch if I want to try it. And the Taquitos - the recipe seemed complicated and after the holidays I was so over cooking. With all the leftovers we sure as heck didn't notice us not cooking a few nights!!!

On to week 26!

January 2nd - 8th

Chicken Cordon Bleu
Guacamole Bacon Burger - I don't really need a recipe but the idea came while searching on this blog. Doesn't that look ah-mazing????Orange Chicken... I know, I make this too much but it's oh so good!
Steak over sauteed onions with red potatoes - no recipe. Hubby says he's craving steak so that's what he's getting :)
Chicken Spaghetti 

January 9th - 15th

Homemade Hamburger Helper - cause the box stuf is SO gross!!!! Brown beef with onion and seasonings, boil pasta, top with favorite sauce - done.
Lonestar Chicken Enchiladas
Cheesy Chicken Lasagne
Braised Pork Chops
Pizza - I know... it's become a weekly tradition :)

The Grocery List
4 Chicken Breasts
Mozzarella Cheese
Ham Slices
Orange
Scallion
1 medium ripe avocado (ripe = soft to the touch)
1 medium tomato
2 lbs ground beef
4 or so slices bacon
4 hamburger buns
Steak - hopefully I can find a good cut
Montreal Steak seasoning
Red Potatoes
Spaghetti
Cream Of Mushroom Soup
Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Green Pepper
2 1/2 Onions
Diced Pimentos
Sauce
Pasta - something fun Landon will like
1 whole chicken {for Chicken Lasagne & Chicken Enchiladas)

1 can diced tomatoes

3/4 cup salsa verde

2 cans chopped green chilies

1 can sliced ripe olives

2-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

12 corn tortillas (6 inches)

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded pepper Jack cheese

2 cans evaporated milk
1 (1 oz) pkg. dry Ranch dressing mix
1 (16oz) lasagna noodles 1 1/2 to 2 C mozzarella cheese2 Pork Chops
Flour
Pizza fixins..... :)

Meal Plan 24!

I took a little break from meal planning over the Thanksgiving holiday {and the week prior}. I'm such a horrible blogger. I do really well for a few weeks and then I slack off - I always find my way back though. :)

I'm going to try a little something just for this week and next - meal planning two weeks at a time? Just to see if it works. We've been doing this new budget {that's A LOT harder than I ever imagined} and to make our gas budget work I need to make less trips to the grocery store.. or anywhere. I'd prefer to shop once a week but if I can cut out that extra trip maybe I can find myself with something left over in my "gas" envelope?! =/

I hate budgeting.
If anyone has any tips/suggestions for making a budget work I'd be happy thrilled to hear them in the comments!

Anyway.

December 5th - 11th

• Orange Chicken - I'm pretty sure this is one of my all-time favs!
• Cheesy Meat Loaf
• Buca Di Beppo Chicken with Lemons - we went to Buca Di Beppo today for the first time and had this chicken... I'm drooling thinking about it again. I'm SO glad that I googled and found the copycat recipe!
• Pizza - As always, I'll be making the crust :) Adam likes this white sauce, sauteed onions, mushrooms, bacon and either chicken or steak. You're welcome! :)
• Chicken Divan - I was looking for a broccoli casserole... this one made me drool - dang Paula Deen! At least the butter is minimal?!

December 12th - 18th

• Crispy Cheddar Chicken
• Easy BBQ'd Ribs
• Ranch House Crock Pot Pork Chops - one of my new favorite blogs!
• French Dips - do you really need a recipe? :)
• Chicken Pad Thai - this was a good one from a few weeks ago but Adam was out of town or something. Since I can't get Adam to eat Thai or Chinese food out, if I make it home he at the very least has to try right??? :)

The Grocery List {this is really jumbled... usually I try to put them in order by recipe?!}
Bean Sprouts
Sriracha
Rice Noodles
Swiss Cheese slices
Roast Beef
Au Jus
Sandwich Buns
Ranch Dressing packet
Pork Chops {2 or 4}
2 cans Cream of Chicken
2 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Parley {bulk}
Ritz Crackers
Whole Chicken {I'll cook for another nights meal - not included above - and used leftovers on the pizza and Chicken Divan}
Bread Crumbs
Cayenne {bulk}
Curry Powder {bulk}
Sour Cream
Broccoli {calls for frozen, I'm buying fresh}
Chicken Breasts {I need 5 for the two weeks}
Mushrooms
Bacon
Parmesan
Butter
Lemons - 4
White Wine
Velveeta
Ground Beef - 2lbs
Green Onion
Orange
Oil {vegetable and peanut if the container isn't huge}

I think that's it?! Weird... because my list isn't much longer than normal, however my cupboards are so bare that I need almost everything on the list?! Stay tuned for how this goes!!! I'll try to update next week to see where I'm at...

Meal Plan 16!

July 22nd - July 28th

This might be a little off since it's only Thursday and I haven't done a meal plan since early July {and I didn't follow it all that well?!} Anyway - this meal plan will be for an odd week {Fri - Thur} because I am hitting the grocery store tonight for the first time in a long time aaaand because we'll be leaving next Fri for Tonasket.

The first week of August we'll get back on track... promise. :)

Uno: Grilled Chicken with Rosemary & Bacon
Due: Panda Express Orange Chicken
Tre: Beef w/Snow Peas
Quattro: Pioneer Woman - My Favorite Meatloaf
Cinque: Pad Thai... I'm a little nervous about this?!?!

The Grocery List:
6 Boneless skinless chicken breast
Fresh rosemary
Bacon
Scallions
Oranges
Flank steak
Snow peas
Ground Beef
Rice noodles
Fish sauce
Bean sprouts
Lemon

Panda Express Orange Chicken

I don't think I've ever come across a copycat recipe that was as close to the original as this one... OMG it was almost better I think! And look how pretty this is!!!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. chicken breast meat
• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 4 cups vegetable oil to be used for frying
• 1 cup cornstarch

Orange Sauce

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/8 cup vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 4 teaspoons cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon grated orange peel
• 2 tablespoons chopped scallion

Directions:

1. Cut chicken breast into 1/2-inch cubes, set aside.
2. To make marinade – combine egg white, salt and sugar in a bowl and stir vigorously until ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Add chicken cubes to marinade and stir to coat well.
3. To make orange sauce – combine water, ketchup, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, 4 teaspoons cornstarch and sesame oil; stir and set aside. Place a pot over high heat. When pot is hot, add the 2tablespoons vegetable oil and heat. Add orange peel and scallion and stir for about 20 seconds, taking care not to burn the orange peel.
4. Pour combined sauce ingredients into the pot and cook, stirring frequently, until sauce has thickened, about 12-15 minutes.
5. Preheat 4 cups oil to 350-375°F. Meanwhile, put marinated chicken in the plastic baggie drain well and set aside. Add fried chicken to pot with heated orange sauce, stir for about 30 seconds, and then serve immediately. containing the cornstarch. Shake chicken well for about 20 seconds or until chicken is covered with cornstarch. Shake off all excess cornstarch and fry chicken in hot oil until golden brown, approximately 2 1/2 minutes. Remove chicken from oil with a slotted spoon,
6. Serve with steamed rice.

It's a little bit of a time consuming recipe but it turned out excellent! The only thing I would change for next time is that I like mine a little more spicy so I think I'd throw in some red pepper flakes or something to give it a little kick - otherwise, it's absolutely perfect!

 

Meal Plan #6! And then some :)

April 10th - 16th

Well, week 5 was a bust! Other than the French's Onion chicken the rest of the week just went to... well... shit. That chicken is always good and the tweaks I make were just mouth watering. Yum. The only other day I kind of followed the meal plan was Wednesday - word to the wise - don't follow that link or try the enchiladas. Bleck. After spending a pretty penny on that cut of meat, following the directions to a T and spending the better half of my afternoon in the kitchen prepping things... it wouldn't shred and was SO dry. I ended up thawing out a pound of ground venison real quick and frying that up for the filling. They were pretty good but dinner was over an hour later than I had anticipated. 

Thursday though we went to Northern Lights Brewery for dinner. Here's a little restaurant review for anyone who's thought about trying them out... DO IT! O.M.G - so good. 

I knew they had good beer cause we've been a few times but I'd never eaten dinner there. We started out with some drinks; Adam got the Solar Winds - it's a seasonal beer there and while it's pretty hoppy, boy was it good. 

We got the Sesame Seared Ahi and the Manila Clams for appetizers - I was a little skeptical of the Ahi cause I've never had sushi before but it was SO good and the little crusted cheese thing that comes with it was to die for :) The clams were really good too - they were in a buttery sauce that was FULL of whole cloves of roasted garlic, YUM!

We were all over the pallet for our entree's - from a burger to the Fish Taco's, a Reuben and the Cod Fish and Chips - everything was so good. I have to say... I make a mean fish taco, but this thing had the best peach mango salsa on top that my mouth is watering thinking about it! 

OK - so on to the meal plan...

Sunday: Kalua Pig

Monday: Panda Express Orange Chicken w/stir fried vegetables

Tuesday: Wet Burritos

Wednesday: Pasta Primavera with Smoked Gouda

Thursday: Aussie Chicken --> Have I done this? I feel like I have but it sounds so yummy!

Friday: Homemade Pizza (I'm listing my preferred toppings in the grocery list)

Saturday: TBD :)

The Grocery List:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Bacon

Mushrooms

Colby Jack Cheese

1lb ground beef

Onion

Diced green chilies

Refried beans

Chili w/out beans

Tomato soup

Enchilada Sauce

12 inch flour tortillas

Lettuce

Tomato

Mexican cheese blend shredded cheese

Green onion

Whole wheat penne pasta

Zucchini

Green Pepper

Carrots

Stewed Tomatoes

Parmesan Cheese

Smoked Gouda Cheese

Chicken Broth

Soy Sauce

Sesame Oil

Scallion

Frozen stir fried vegetables

Pork Butt :) 

Hawaiian sea salt

Liquid Smoke

Dry Active Yeast

Pepperoni

Italian Sausage

Black Olives

Aaaaaaand... For your viewing pleasure - we had our last session with Moxie Images right before Landon's birthday. Here's a few of my fav's!!!

Cheers!