Weekly Menu Plan

Freshly-made Orange Carrot Juice

I’m back to posting regular menus here again, after taking four weeks off. Here’s what we’re planning to eat this week:

Breakfasts

Cereal
Fresh Carrot/orange juice, toasted bagels
Waffles, oranges
Oatmeal
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, fruit
Raw Veggie Cereal (this sounds so intriguing that I just have to try it!)
Toasted bagels, eggs, fruit

Lunches

Tossed salad with sliced chicken
Macaroni & cheese, peas
PB&J, carrot sticks, apple slices
Refried beans with cheese, carrot sticks
Cheese quesadillas, carrot sticks, fruit
Leftovers x 2

Snacks

Chocolate Granola Bars
Healthy Chocolate Mousse
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Dinners

Steak, potatoes, broccoli, fruit
Black Bean & Taco Bake, tossed salad
Hamburgers, tater tots, steamed veggies
Cheesy Chicken & Rice Bake, tossed salad, grapefruit
Build Your Own Haystacks, fruit, brown rice
Dinner out
Dinner with extended family

Freezer Cooking

Beef and Black Bean Taco Bake
Chocolate Peanut Granola
Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

What’s on your menu this week? Share details and/or your link to your menu plan in the comments.

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{Chocolate No Bake Energy Bites–these were SO good. I doubled the recipe and they only lasted two days!}

Breakfasts

Out to McDonald’s
Scrambled eggs with cheese, apple slices
Toast with peanut butter and bananas
Waffles, scrambled eggs
Oatmeal
Cereal
Glazed Cinnamon Scones, scrambled eggs, fruit salad

Lunches

Macaroni & cheese with baked chopped chicken, green beans
PB&J, carrot sticks, apple slices
Egg salad sandwiches, peas, pears
Refried Beans with cheese, carrot sticks, pear slices
Tossed salad with hard-boiled eggs, feta cheese, and dried cranberries
Leftovers x 2

Snacks

Fruit/veggies
Cheese/crackers
Granola Bars

Dinners

Baked chicken, twice-baked potatoes, mixed greens salad, fruit salad
Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake, fruit salad, steamed veggies
Jesse’s Office Christmas Dinner
Homemade Pizza in Less Than 30 Minutes, carrot sticks, pear slices
Black Bean and Beef Taco Bake, steamed veggies, fruit
PB&J, carrots, pears (Jesse’s going to be gone this night, so I’m keeping it simple!)
Hamburgers, tater tots, steamed veggies, fruit

What’s on your menu this week? Share details and/or your link to your menu plan in the comments.

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Breakfasts

Hard-boiled eggs, bananas
Scrambled eggs with cheese, apple slices
Bagels with peanut butter and bananas
Cookie Dough Baked Oatmeal
Waffles, scrambled eggs
Oatmeal
Chocolate Banana Bread, scrambled eggs, fruit salad

Lunches

Macaroni & cheese with baked chopped chicken, green beans
PB&J, carrot sticks, apple slices
Egg salad sandwiches, peas, pears
Black beans and rice, carrot sticks, pear slices
Tossed salad with hard-boiled eggs, feta cheese, and dried cranberries
Leftovers x 2

Snacks

Fruit/veggies
Cheese/crackers
Granola Bars
Chocolate No-Bake Energy Bites

Dinners

Baked fish, twice-baked potatoes, steamed broccoli
Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake, fruit salad, steamed veggies
Frito Chili Pie, fruit salad, steamed veggies
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Homemade Pizza in Less Than 30 Minutes, carrot sticks, pear slices
Dinner with friends
Dinner at church Christmas dinner

Freezer Cooking

Chocolate Banana Bread
Chocolate No-Bake Energy Bites
Homemade Pizza dough
Sugar cookie dough

What’s on your menu this week? Share details and/or your link to your menu plan in the comments.

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Whole-Wheat Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

So, my ambitious plans to do a lot of freezer cooking last week pretty well fell flat on their face. I did make the scone mixes, but that was it. A number of unexpected things came up last week and I was just doing good to get dinner on the table each night.

So, I’m going to try again this week and see how much process I make. I guess that’s one advantage to starting early with my Christmas baking!

I’m planning to make one to two items every night while I’m cooking dinner each night. Hopefully, I’ll make it through my list by the end of the week. We’ll see!

Breakfasts

Granola bars
Toasted bagels, scrambled eggs
Steel cut oats with dried cranberries
Cookie Dough Baked Oatmeal
Waffles, scrambled eggs
Oatmeal
Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls, scrambled eggs, fruit salad

Lunches

Lunch at Subway
PB&J, carrot sticks, apple slices
Annie’s macaroni & cheese, peas, pears
Black beans and rice, carrot sticks, pear slices
Tossed salad with hard-boiled eggs, feta cheese, and dried cranberries
Leftovers x 2

Snacks

Fruit/veggies
Cheese/crackers

Homemade Pizza in Less Than 30 Minutes

Dinners

Baked fish, twice-baked potatoes, steamed broccoli
Hamburgers, tater tots, green beans, pear slices
Broccoli & Cheddar Quiche with Brown Rice Crust, fruit salad, Bread Machine Buttery Rolls
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Chicken and Black Bean Enchilada Casserole, steamed veggies
Homemade Pizza in Less Than 30 Minutes, carrot sticks, pear slices
Dinner with extended family

Freezer Cooking

Broccoli & Cheddar Quiche with Brown Rice Crust
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Slow Cooker Black Beans
Biscuit Dough for Brown Sugar Biscuit Twists
Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls
Whole-Wheat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

What’s on your menu this week? Share details and/or your link to your menu plan in the comments.

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Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls

Breakfasts

Granola bars
Toasted bagels, scrambled eggs
Steel cut oats with dried cranberries
Cookie Dough Baked Oatmeal
Waffles, scrambled eggs
Oatmeal
Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls, scrambled eggs, fruit salad

Lunches

Lunch at Sonic
PB&J, carrot sticks, apple slices
Annie’s macaroni & cheese, peas, pears
Hamburgers, sweet potatoes, fruit salad
Tossed salad with hard-boiled eggs, feta cheese, and dried cranberries
Leftovers x 2

Snacks

Homemade Salted Caramel Mocha
Fruit/veggies
Cheese/crackers

Dinners

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake, tossed salad
Baked Tilapia, sweet potatoes, steamed broccoli
Cheesy Vegetable Chowder, Bread Machine Buttery Rolls, apple slices
Broccoli & Cheddar Quiche with Brown Rice Crust, fruit salad, Bread Machine Buttery Rolls
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Chicken and Black Bean Enchilada Casserole, steamed veggies
Dinner with extended family

Glazed Cinnamon Scones

Freezer Cooking

Broccoli & Cheddar Quiche with Brown Rice Crust
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Slow Cooker Black Beans

Freezer Cooking for the Holidays:

Glazed Cinnamon Scone Mix
Biscuit Dough for Brown Sugar Biscuit Twists
Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls

What’s on your menu this week? Share details and/or your link to your menu plan in the comments.

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Breakfasts

Granola bars
Toasted bagels, scrambled eggs
Steel Cut Oats with dried cranberries
Cookie Dough Baked Oatmeal
Granola
Carrot Cake Waffles, scrambled eggs
Oatmeal

Lunches

Lunch out at Cracker Barrel
Cheese quesadillas, apples
PB&J, carrot sticks, apple slices
Annie’s macaroni & cheese, peas
Tossed salad with hard-boiled eggs, feta cheese, and dried cranberries
Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake, tossed salad
Burritos, corn, apple slices
Cheesy Vegetable Chowder, Bread Machine Buttery Rolls, apple slices
Baked tilapia, sweet potatoes, steamed broccoli
Lime Chicken Tacos, Mexican Rice, steamed veggies
Dinner with extended family x 2

Snacks

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Fruit/veggies
Cheese/crackers

What’s on your menu this week? Share details and/or your link to your menu plan in the comments.

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In the middle of our chaotic and messy freezer cooking session last week!

Breakfasts

Bananas (grabbed on the way to church as we were rushing out the door; yes, aren’t we so organized?!)
Carrot Cake Waffles with Vanilla Whipped Cream (recipe coming later this week; I concocted it this past week using this recipe as inspiration and we all decided it was very yummy.)
Toasted bagels, scrambled eggs
Steel Cut Oats with dried cranberries
Cookie Dough Baked Oatmeal
Granola
Cinnamon Roll Biscuits, scrambled eggs, fruit

Lunches

Hamburgers, twice-baked potatoes, fruit salad
Hard-boiled eggs, pasta, peas
PB&J, carrot sticks, apple slices
Annie’s macaroni & cheese, peas
Tossed salad hard-boiled eggs, feta cheese, and dried cranberries
Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake, tossed salad
Southwest Roll-ups, Mexican Rice, tossed salad
Corn & Cheese Chowder in Bread Machine Bread Bowls, sliced apples
Lime Chicken Tacos, Mexican Rice, steamed veggies
Dinner out
Dinner with extended family x 2

Snacks

Chocolate Bottom Banana Squares
Fruit/veggies
Cheese/crackers

15-Minute Freezer Cooking

(I’m trying something new this week and am devoting 15 minutes on Monday through Thursday afternoons to making one item for the freezer. I’ll be blogging about these mini freezer cooking sessions so you can see how it goes for me!)
Chocolate Bottom Banana Squares — Monday
Cookie Dough Baked Oatmeal — Tuesday
Lime Chicken Tacos — Wednesday
Homemade Baking Mix — Thursday

What’s on your menu this week? Share details and/or your link to your menu plan in the comments.

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You know how I ran a guest post all about the benefits of menu-planning last week? Well, I totally dropped the ball on menu-planning for the first two days of this week.

I had all these great visions of maybe doing an Eat From the Pantry Week and blogging about it. But I didn’t make it very far with that idea–especially after I opened my fridge and freezer and found no motivation whatsoever to pull together meals.

In fact, for the sake of complete honesty here, I’ll tell you I’ve not showered in two days nor have I made it out of my pajamas. (You will be very happy to know that I did change into another set of pajamas, so at least I had clean pajamas on, if that counts for something! )

There were some delays with our flights coming back from Relevant and we didn’t end up making it home until after 9 p.m. on Sunday evening. So my plans for getting things unpacked, laundry started, and a to-do list made for Monday morning went straight out the window.

I slept in on Monday in an attempt to catch up on multiple nights of little sleep, got up late, and then Monday was a blur of playing catch-up and homeschooling. I had an idea for dinner, but 5 p.m. came and went without me pulling anything out of the freezer to thaw.

So guess what I did? Oh yes, I know it goes against everything I’ve preached here again and again… but I called Jesse and asked if he could pick up Subway.

I know, you probably just fell out of your chair. But it’s true.

And I decided I wasn’t even going to feel guilty about it. Instead, I enjoyed the yummy sub and decided to switch Friday night’s usual dinner out for Monday and call it even. Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do and give yourself grace for doing it, instead of feeling like a failure.

However, I did make myself pull together a last-minute menu plan for the rest of the week this afternoon so that I actually had a plan at 5 p.m. tonight! Here’s my very simple menu plan for this week:

Breakfasts

Granola bars
Cereal x 2
Steel Cut Oats with dried cranberries
Pumpkin Ginger Waffles
Toasted bagels, scrambled eggs
Granola

Lunches

Hard-boiled eggs, pasta, peas
Carrots, hard-boiled eggs, granola bars
PB&J, carrot sticks, apple slices
Macaroni & Cheese, applesauce
Tossed salad hard-boiled eggs, feta cheese, and dried cranberries
Leftovers x 2

Snacks

Fruit/veggies
Chocolate Banana Bread
Cheese & Crackers

Dinners

Subway
Barbecue Chicken, potatoes, steamed veggies
Chicken Parmesan Casserole, Easy Italian Breadsticks in the Bread Machine, fruit salad
Cheesy Chicken & Rice Bake, steamed veggies, fruit
Cheese Ravioli, leftover breadsticks, fruit salad
Dinner at extended family’s house
Dinner with friends (we’re bringing a fruit salad)

Freezer Cooking

Pumpkin Ginger Waffles
Homemade Applesauce
Cheesy Chicken & Rice Bake

What’s on your menu this week? Share details and/or your link to your menu plan in the comments.

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Oatmeal with chocolate chips and raw sugar–yum!

Breakfasts

Granola bars
Oatmeal
Hasty Pudding (we’re memorizing Yankee Doodle in school this week, so we’re making this!)
Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Muffins (from the freezer), fried eggs
Steel Cut Oats, fruit
Morning Glory Muffins (from the freezer), scrambled eggs
Homemade Biscuits with Homemade Apple Butter, turkey sausage, scrambled eggs

Lunches

Macaroni & Cheese with Beef
Rice and beans, carrot sticks, apple slices
Tossed salad with feta cheese and dried cranberries
Egg salad sandwiches, carrot sticks, apples
Cheese quesadillas, grapes
Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Parmesan Chicken, Twice Baked Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli
Frito Chili Pie, tossed salad, fruit salad
Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup, Soft Italian Breadsticks, apples, carrot sticks
Cheesy Beans and Rice, fruit salad
Dinner with Extended Family x 2
Dinner out

Freezer Cooking Session (I’ll share more details and pictures on how this goes on Thursday.)

Chocolate Banana Bread
Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup
Soft Italian Breadsticks (recipe emailed in from reader Amy, if it turns out well, I’ll post it)

What’s on your menu this week? Share details and/or your link to your menu plan in the comments.

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