We’re trying eight new recipes this week! Can you believe it?? That might be a record!
And it makes me happy because it’s a sign of how much I’m loving being adventuresome in the kitchen again! (If you missed my post on why I’m back to menu-planning and grocery shopping again, read it here.)
Breakfasts
Breakfasts are a big deal at our house. Not necessarily because of what we eat, but because this is the one meal we’ve committed to eat together around the table pretty much every single day. Dinners are often somewhat grab and go or brown bagged — especially if the girls have swim team or skating. But breakfast, it’s a given. We eat, we talk, we read together, we pray together, and we linger around the table. It’s been a beautiful addition to our schedule + a great way to start the day!
- Overnight Oats
- Pumpkin Pie Smoothies
- Oatmeal x 2
- Blueberry/Banana Smoothies
- Bacon/Eggs x 2
Lunches & Snacks
During the summer, we’ve been doing Make Your Own lunches. I have some assortment of the following items on hand and the kids and Jesse and I are responsible for choosing from the list of items to make our own lunches. It’s worked well this summer — especially because the kids are getting better and better at cleaning up after themselves, too!
Make your own:
- PB&J
- scrambled eggs
- hard-boiled eggs
- leftovers
- fruit
- veggies
- refried beans & cheese
- chips & salsa
- yogurt
- smoothies
Snacks to have on hand: Energy Bites, Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins
Dinners
Jesse and I splitting up the cooking responsibilities for dinner this week. He’s in charge of the first two nights (since I have busier work days on Monday and Tuesday this week). I’m in charge of everything else.
- Grilled Chicken, broccoli, rice, fruit
- Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos, fruit
- Easy Baked Chicken Nuggets, Homemade Biscuits, green beans, fruit
- Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl with avocado & sour cream, fruit
- Breakfast for dinner: Whole Wheat Carrot Cake Waffles, eggs, fruit
- Crockpot Baked Potatoes with broccoli, cheese, bacon, & sour cream, fruit
- Dinner out
Freezer Cooking
I’m doing a Freezer Cooking session on Wednesday where I’m combining dinner prep with freezer cooking. This means that I’ll really only have to bake/cook one day this week. I’ll be making Energy Bites, Homemade Biscuits, Whole Wheat Carrot Cake Waffles, Easy Baked Chicken Nuggets, and Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins. Look for more details on how that goes later this week!
Related Menu-Planning Posts:
3 Recipes I Made Recently Using What We Had on Hand
Our Menu Plan From Two Weeks Ago
Why I’m Back to Menu-Planning, Grocery Shopping, and Freezer Cooking
Why We Stopped Making Family Dinners a Priority
YEARS of Past Menu Plans We’ve Shared Here
6 Ways We’re Keeping Our Grocery Budget Low
Why We More Than Doubled Our Grocery Bill
What’s on YOUR menu this week? Tell us in the comments!
Savannah says
I’m a few days late, but here’s ours:
M – pierogis, peas, fruit
Tu – Pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes and grilled zucchini
W – Hamburgers, chips & salsa, fruit
Th – Breakfast for dinner: pancakes, eggs, bacon
F – Pasta bake with salad
Sa – I’m out of town for a bachelorette party, so my husband and daughter will probably have mac & cheese 🙂
Su – We use this day to clean up the fridge and have a hodge podge meal
A. Beringer says
How is the consistency of the overnight oats? It sounds like it’d be a soggy mush…..love the flavor ideas!
B. says
I was wondering the same thing! 🙂 The flavors sound yummy, but I’m wondering about the consistency.
Rachel says
I am also very excited to see your weekly meal plan posts again. Thank you so much for sharing!
Crystal Paine says
You are so welcome!
Carrie says
Ooh we love Burrito Bowls around here and have them almost weekly. Great for gluten-free people.
My mom gave me Pioneer Woman’s Dinnertime cookbook, so I decided to make our menu from that this week. Last night we had the Taco Chicken Salad, and it was SO GOOD. It’s going in the rotation for sure. I love trying new recipes.
Crystal Paine says
Taco Chicken Salad sounds so yummy!
Renee says
I’m so glad to see the menu plan again, and the grocery store deals that you are posting. When I first started reading your blog almost 3 years ago, that is what I really enjoyed. I’m glad you are going back to some of your old postings. Thank you.
Crystal Paine says
Yay! Thanks so much!
Luba @ Healthywithluba.com says
We eat simple and healthy meals consisting of pasta, salads, and chicken. It has been a beautiful journey of eating healthier and being healthier overall.
Crystal Paine says
I love it! Thanks so much for sharing!
Ashley says
I am so happy to see these meal posts again! I started following your blog back in 2010 (when I was on a rice-and-beans budget). Your frugal meal plans were so helpful to me then, and they still are now 🙂
Crystal Paine says
Yay! I’m so glad!
Asheritah says
I’m so glad you’ve brought these posts back Crystal! I need to check out the power balls recipe. I’ve been looking for s good one for some time now.
Crystal Paine says
They are SO yummy and adaptable!
Uma @ Centsible India says
My menu planning is up as well. I’m from India and most of my meals are Indian recipes.
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much for sharing! And yum!
Stacy says
Those chicken nuggets are super yummy. I’ve made them several times and they earned a coveted spot in my Favorite Recipes binder. 🙂
Those carrot cake waffles look great! Pinned for later.
Crystal Paine says
Yay! I’m SO happy to know they are Stacy-approved!
Meghan | Fox and Briar says
Yay, I am so glad you are making my Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos! They are a family favorite here, I hope you love them!
Crystal Paine says
They look SO good! I can’t wait to make them!
Amy says
Please let us know how all your new recipes turn out!
Crystal Paine says
I will definitely try to do so!
Shauna says
This is the money saving mom stuff that I love and why I started following you a long time ago. I am so glad you are getting back to it.
Crystal Paine says
Yay!
Kristina says
I’m trying out two new recipes for dinner this week… French dip sandwiches in the crockpot and my first try at a catfish dinner. I’m not much of a fish eater but my husband loves fried catfish and someone gave us a big bag of it fresh so I found a recipe and I’m giving it a try 🙂 Should be interesting… I’m making it with brown beans, coleslaw, and hush puppies, since that’s what I usually see at a catfish dinner. We will be starting our homeschool year next week and it’s super hot right now so I have a lot of crockpot meals on the menu this month.
Crystal Paine says
Yum!!!