Menu Plan Monday

Happy Monday everyone! I do have some updates and such but since it's Menu Plan Monday I'll wait and post them tomorrow.

I seem to do okay on my menu planning for the start of the week, then it seems things come up the second half of the week and I mix it up a bit. I use what I have on hand, but seem to change what we eat.

I guess the main thing is I'm using what I already have to make a meal. Like last week, I made a stir fry on Friday night instead of fajitas, and I made Salmon Tikka on Saturday (it was really good and details on this are below). A lot of the changes depend on what vegetables we get in the farmers market baskets on Thursday.

This week I'm trying to maximize food I already have in the house. Of course I need to go shopping for a few things, but I want to use the meats and fish that we already have in the freezer. And I want to use up the vegetables in the fridge too.

So I'm sure there will be some changes as the week progresses, but at the moment, this is what we have on the menu this week....

Monday - Left over Salmon Tikka, roasted cauliflower and curried chickpeas.

On Saturday I marinaded some salmon (cut into cubes) in some organic fat free yogurt mixed with some tikka spices and lemon juice. Then I stuck the cubes on skewers and broiled them for a few minutes. YUM! I served them with some roasted cauliflower (which is one of my new favorite things) and some curried chickpeas. For the chickpeas I just sauteed some diced onion - about 1/2 a small onion - in olive oil until they were soft. Then I added a can of chickpeas and stirred to coat - about a minute or so. Then I added a spoonful of Patak's Mild Curry Paste and added about 1/2 can of chopped tomatoes and simmered for about 20 minutes. Then I added a handfull of chopped baby spinach, covered and let simmer until the spinach was wilted and we were ready to eat. It was SOOOOO GOOD! Anyway, I'm having the left over's today.

Tuesday - Chicken with Green Olives & Prunes, broccoli and brown rice

This is something I really don't think Rich will eat so I'll be having it on a day he won't be home for dinner. I love chicken and green olives together and the picture just looks so yummy!

Wednesday - Something with turkey cutlets.

I have them in the freezer and they're quick and easy to cook up. Josh really loves baked potatoes so I'll probably serve them with a salad, baked potatoes. I really love cold roasted beets in vinegar. So if I have time to roast up some beets this week I'll do that and we can have them with the salad as well.

Thursday - Salmon, vegetables from my farmer's market basket and potatoes.

This is sort of a "Thursday staple" and you'll see it over and over again. We love salmon and I try to have fish a few times a week.

Friday - Baked Penne

Josh has his last baseball game on Friday night and who knows how long it will last. So I'll make this. It's from CleanEating and basically, brown up some ground white meat turkey breast, boil whole wheat penne, add some broccoli, mix the penne & meat with some tomato sauce (I like the Muir Glen Organic the best but use what you like). Throw the mixture into a casserole dish - top with a bit of low-fat mozzerella and bake at 350 for 20ish minutes. Easypeasylemonsqueezy - and delicious!

Saturday - Chili-Rubbed Tilapia with Asparagus & Lemon and potaotes.

You've seen this one before. It was really good so I'm doing it again.

Sunday - I have no idea. If the weather is nice, I'd love to do a barbecue. And since next Monday is Memorial Day, we've been thinking about trying to go camping that night... but who knows. We'll just have to wait and see.

As usual, I'm taking part in two menu planning blogrolls. For more ideas and menu plans, visit Menu Plan Monday at "I'm an Organization Junkie" and Chive Talkin's Menu Plan Blogroll (she had some really yummy looking things last week!)

I have heaps of oranges that I don't really know what to do with. In my search, I found this recipe for Cranberry - Orange Biscotti. I made them this week. They are really good and so easy to make! I used orange juice in lieu of the orange liqueur because that's what I had on hand. They were very good and would make an excellent teacher gift!

Menu Plan Monday

It's Monday and that means time to plan the weekly menu!

We had a few changes last week due to car issues, spontaneous trips to the pool, and a last minute parent-student night at the school Josh will be going to next year.

So, I didn't have the fajita salad and last night, since it was Mother's Day, we ordered pizza. I know, pizza is not "on my diet" but it was Mother's Day and I felt like having pizza! And it was good!

Of course I'm paying for it today... the scale showed me at the same weight this morning as I was last Monday. I know it's mostly water because mid-week I'd lost a pound. So, I'll weigh myself tomorrow after a day of clean living and see how we go.

Everything new that I tried last week was really yummy. The Portobello Cheesesteak Sandwiches were really good as was the Chili-rubbed Tilapia. They are definitely making the cut! I have to say, everything I've made from the Eating Well Book has been really good. I highly recommend it for the recipes if not the diet!

So, here's this week's Menu...

Monday - Lebanese Turkey Meatball/Kebabs with salad and yogurt (fat free plain organic yogurt and I'll throw in some cilantro, onion, lemon and cuke)

This is from Prevention Magazine's "Fit Over 40" I made them a few weeks ago and they were delicious. I have a few in the freezer that I'm pulling out for dinner tonight. The kids have an "End of Year" party at a local indoor play place so they'll have pizza or whatever is there. If you want the recipe for this, leave a comment with your email address and I'll send it to you. I don't want to post it because of copy write issues. I found it in a magazine and I'm not sure if I can just post it or not. They are yummy and easy!

Tuesday - Almond Crusted Chicken Fingers , roasted zucchini & yellow squash and oven sweet potato fries.

Wednesday - Grilled turkey cutlets with Salad and baked potato.

Nothing fancy here. I'll just season up the cutlets with whatever I have around, then grill them on the George Foreman and serve with a salad and baked potatoes.

Thursday - Potato Horseradish Crusted Mahi-Mahi , vegetables from my Farmer's Market basket.

We had this a few weeks ago and it was really good! I can't wait to have it again.

Friday - Fajita's - trying this one again.

Saturday - Salmon, spinach and potatoes.

Sunday - Hopefully Chicken on the grill and grilled veggies.


For more Menu Planning fun, I'm participating in Menu Plan Monday at Orgjunkie.com and Chive Talkin's Menu Plan Blogroll. For more inspiration head over to both places and have a look around!

I'm also in the midst of a huge clear out of my house. I'm sick of all the junk so I've begun to organize and purge. Last week's project was the kitchen. More on that tomorrow...

Menu Plan Monday

As part of my 12-Week Mission I'm planning out meals for the family and me. I do it anyway, but I'm getting much stricter about it and not just planning dinners but breakfasts, snacks and lunches as well.

When the boys break up from school I'm going to need something to help keep us on track so I'm not in the kitchen playing guessing games with their meals all summer.

And since I already plan my menus, but I'm giving them a face-lift, I thought I'd join the "Menu Plan Monday" crew over at orgjunkie.com. I'll only be posting dinners here. I won't post all the recipes this week. If I try something and I love it, I'll post the recipes next Monday - or forward them to those that ask.

Monday: Peanut-Ginger Tofu & Veggies*.

I actually had this last week and have tofu left over so I'm having it again. It was quite good and is sort of like a tofu Satay. But since I'm the only one that will eat tofu the boys will have grilled chicken, broccoli (or spinach) and potatoes.

Tuesday: Lemon Chicken Artichoke** & roasted zucchini & summer squash and potatoes.

Wednesday: Portobello "Philly Cheesesteak" Sandwiches* & a salad. Boys get Turkey Burgers and "Oven" fries.

Thursday: Salmon grilled on the George Foreman, veggies from my farmers market basket & potatoes (either regular or sweet depending on what's in the basket.)

Friday: Chicken Fajita Salad. The boys will have Fajitas.

Saturday: Chili Rubbed Tilapia with Asparagus & Lemon*, Brown rice

Sunday: Chicken, veggies and potatoes on the Barbecue.

Items marked "*" are from the Eating Well Diet cookbook, those with "**" are from CleanEating Magazine. The rest are just made up as I go.

And to update you all -- I had a good week on my Mission. I'm down 2 lbs from this time last week. I know quite a bit is water from not drinking wine in the week. I did manage to get out and walk around our "circle" once last week - that's 3 miles door to door. I hope to do the same this week.

I'm aiming to do some form of exercise 3-4 times a week. Whether it's the Wii, Treadmill or walking outside.

Also posted on Chive Talkin's Menu Plan Blogroll. She has some yummy looking fresh meals on her meal plan too!