week 4 menus

Going into our 4th week of recipes, remember to not let the "cooking days" put you in bondage. If you have leftovers, warm them up for your meal instead of making something new that day. These are just ideas. Run with them, change up some of the recipes and create something that your family enjoys.  Warm up fish sticks, canned soup or corn dogs on days that are particularly hectic when you haven't got leftovers. Or use a meal you put in the freezer for days like this! It's ok. These are just tips, not laws.

Recipes for the week of January 24-30

Day 1- BBQ meatballs -freezable

Mix 1½ lb ground beef,  2/3 C. milk, 1 C. oatmeal, 1 egg, 1 onion finely chopped, 1 tsp. garlic powder,  ¼ tsp. black pepper and 1 tsp. seasoned salt in large bowl, using hands until combined thoroughly. Form into uniform balls and place in 9x13 pan. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 uncovered, remove from oven and drain grease. Make sauce in a mixing bowl: 1 C. Ketsup,   ¾ C. brown sugar, 1 T. liquid smoke, ¼ tsp. garlic powder. Stir together and Pour sauce over the top of the meatballs and return to the oven. Bake an additional 45 minutes. Serve hot. Wonderful with some whipped potatoes!

Day 2- Italian Soup- freezable, before pasta is added, Can easily be adapted to crock pot or instapot

Ingredients:  1 lb Italian sausage,  1/2 C finely chopped green pepper, ½ C finely chopped onion, 2- 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes, 4- 8 oz cans tomato sauce, 6 C water, 6 chicken bullion cubes, ½ t garlic,  ¾ C small pasta shells, Shredded cheese

In a dutch oven brown sausage, peppers and onion. Drain. Add remaining ingredients, except pasta and cheese. Cover and simmer for 30 min. Add pasta. Simmer another 10-12 minutes or until pasta is tender. Serve hot, topped with cheese. Great with breadsticks!

Day 3- Curry Chicken- crock pot friendly!

1 cut up chicken parts (I use bone-in breasts), 1 T white vinegar, 5 cloves, 3 T garlic salt, 2 T. ketsup, 1 ½ T curry powder, 1 med. Onion chopped, Red pepper flakes, ¼ C. oil, 1 T. salt, 1 1/2 c water, Gold variety Potatoes and shredded cabbage

 Cook chicken in spices in crock pot on high about 6 hours. Remove bones and set aside meat. Cook potatoes and cabbage in broth/spices until potatoes on high 2 hours until potatoes are tender. Chop chicken. Add chicken back to broth when ready to serve.

Serve with flour tortillas or roti (Indian bread) and toppings, such as Green onion, Green peppers, Coconut, Peanuts, Raisins, Pineapple

Day 4- Christmas morning Hashbrown casserole-freezable

Ingredients: 1 bag frozen shredded hash browns, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 1 stick salted butter- melted, 8 oz sour cream,  8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1 lb cubed smoked sausage, 1 lb browned chopped bacon, 1 lb browned pork sausage.

Mix all ingredients well. Put in greased 9x13 pan. Cover with foil. Bake at 375* for 45 min-1 hour or until bubbly in the middle.

Day 5- Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Quick and easy, for a fast supper when you forgot to prepare in advance. Butter outside of bread slices, put a slice of cheese (any kind will work) in the middle. You can use lunchmeat if you have any. In a skillet or griddle on med high heat, toast both sides until golden brown. You can serve with canned soup, or serve with chips.

Day 6- Pan fried steak with garlic butter from Natasha's kitchen and Oven roasted ranch potatoes

• 2 lbs New York Strip Steaks (2 steaks) or Ribeye or Top Sirloin Steaks (1 lb each steak, 1 1/4” thick) or whatever you have
• 1/2 Tbsp vegetable oil or any high heat cooking oil like canola or extra light olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp black pepper freshly ground
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 cloves garlic peeled and quartered
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary

1. Thoroughly pat steak dry with paper towels. Just before cooking, generously season with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper

2. 
   

   Heat the cast iron pan until hot then add 1/2 Tbsp oil over medium-high heat, swirling to coat. Once the oil is very hot, add steaks to the skillet. Sear the steaks on the first side for 4 minutes until a brown crust has formed then flip and cook another 3-4 minutes. Using tongs, turn the steak on its sides to render the white fat and sear the edges (1-minute per edge).

3. Reduce heat to medium and immediately add 2 Tbsp butter, quartered garlic cloves and rosemary to the pan. Spoon the butter sauce over the steak, tilting the pan to get butter on your spoon. Continue spooning the sauce over the steak for a minute or until the steak is about 5-10 degrees from your desired doneness (the temperature will continue to rise another 5-10 degrees while steaks rest).

4. Transfer steak to a cutting board, loosely cover and rest 10 minutes before slicing into 1/2" strips to serve. Spoon extra butter sauce over sliced steak to serve.

This is good with roasted potatoes- scrub red skinned potatoes, cut into 1inch cube (approx. Spread 1/4 C oil on baking sheet with sides. Set oven at 450*. Place diced potatoes on baking sheet. stir around in the oil. Sprinkle kosher salt and pepper. Bake approx. 25 min, turning every 10 minutes or so until starting to brown. Be sure to scrape anything sticking- this is the good stuff!!! Remove from oven and sprinkle with Ranch dressing mix. (if desired)

Day 7- Saucy beef and cheese Enchiladas- freezable

Brown 2 lbs of hamburger with 1 onion, finely chopped, drain, add 2 cans (4 oz) of chopped green chilies, salt and pepper. Set aside. Pour 1- 24 oz can of red enchilada sauce in 9x13 (or larger) baking dish. Heat 1/2 C oil in skillet. place corn tortillas in hot oil to soften, not to crisp. (10-14 tortillas) Remove and drain on paper towel. Dip both sides of tortilla in red sauce, fill with beef down the center, add about 2T of shredded cheddar down the middle, roll and place seam side down in the same baking dish. repeat to fill pan. Pour another can of red enchilada sauce over the top, and use any remaining cheddar over the top. Cover and bake at 350* for 20 minutes or until bubbly.  Serve with sour cream, chopped green onion, guacamole, chopped tomatoes, olives...or not. 

Bread of the week: Red Lobster cheddar bay biscuits

Mix 2 cups Bisquick, 2/3 C milk, and 1/2 C shredded cheddar cheese. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 450 for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown. Melt 1/2 C butter and stir in 1/4 tsp garlic powder. Brush over the top of the hot biscuits.

Dessert of the week:  Frosted butter cookies Cream 2 C softened butter with 1 3/4 C sugar. Beat in 1 egg yolk, and gradually add 4 C flour. Roll into 1 inch balls and flatten with a flat-bottom glass dipped in flour. Bake at 375* for 8-10 min until lightly brown. Place on wire rack to cool. Frost with frosting of various colors.

BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN TO ME AS A YOUNG MOM:

Encourage your kids- Always let them hear you praising others, building up your husband, acknowledging your children's achievements, praising the times they show good character. Shaming them in front of others makes them want to give up. Always make reproofs private. Yes kids, I know I didn't always do this, and I'm sorry. They get enough "toughening up" in the real outside world. Make home a place of love and acceptance for them. Proverbs 14:1  Every wise woman builds her house; But the foolish plucks it down with her own hands. 

Week 3 Menu Plans

Day 1- Pulled Pork Sandwiches- inspired by Ree Drummond  (freezable)

This dish is made from a pork butt (otherwise known as a Pork Shoulder Roast) It freezes so well, you will be able to have at least two or more freezer meals for later. It is a perfect inexpensive meal when you need to feed a larger crowd. Especially if you raised your own pigs!

Rub the Pork Roast with the following dry rub:

1/4 C Brown sugar, 1 T chili powder, 1 T paprika, 2 t garlic powder, 2 t kosher salt, 1 t ground black pepper, 1 t cayenne pepper.  

Rub all over the roast, then wrap in plastic wrap and set overnight in the refrigerator. In the morning, place 2 large halved onions in deep roasting pan, and unwrapped roast and set it on top. Cover with foil Cook at 300 * for 7 hours. (ready by supper!) Or use a large crock pot on low for 8 hours. Remove from oven, remove from pan and rest to cool on a cutting board. chop up the cooked onion halves. Pour juice into a saucepan, add 1 C of good barbecue sauce, and heat. Remove the layer of fat on the top of the roast, and pull the pork (shred), using 2 forks. It should be falling apart tender. Put the pork back into the pan, mix in the chopped onions, and pour the sauce over the top. Serve as a meat dish, or put it on buns with bbq sauce. 

This meal is actually 3 or more meals in one, because you will have some "quick, defrost in the microwave" meals for those days with unexpected events, and no time to cook. 

Day 2-  Pasta alfredo

You can use any pasta for this dish. I love cheese ravioli, Rigatoni or fettuccini. Cook according to the directions. 

The sauce is easy and delicious.  3T butter,  8 ounces heavy whipping cream, pinch of ground nutmeg, 1/4 C of each grated parmesan and romano cheeses,  1 egg yolk, salt to taste. Melt butter, add cream, then spices, then cheeses. Once smooth then mix in egg yolk. simmer on low about 5 minutes. Serve hot. 

I love to use some of my rotisserie chicken breast with this meal. However, grilled chicken, steak, shrimp or meatballs are good too. 

I use this alfredo recipe to top a baked or grilled fish as well. Delicious!

Day 3- Curly Ramen Noodle Dinner

1 pound hamburger, browned,  1 pkg beef Ramen, 1 can corn (can use frozen) 1 can stewed tomatoes. (if you brown your hamburger, just use the same pan- one pan meals are easy cleanup) Add all ingredients to your pan, including seasoning in the Ramen, bring to a boil, simmer covered on med low about 10 minutes until noodles are tender. 

Day 4- Creamy chicken enchiladas- (freezable) A Taste of Home recipe

In a large bowl, beat 8 oz cream cheese, 2T water, 2T onion powder, 2t cumin, 1/2t salt, 1/4t pepper until smooth. Mix in 4 C or so of cooked diced chicken. Place 1/4 C mixture down the center of 6 inch flour tortillas (will make approximately 20- 6 inch tortillas)  Place seam side down in 9x13 baking dishes (either do 2 pans, or freeze half on a cookie sheet, then put in a freezer container or bag for a freezer meal later) Combine 2 cans cream of chicken soup, 2 C sour cream (16 oz) 2 cans chopped green chilis.  Bake uncovered at 350 for 30-40 min. Sprinkle with 2 C shredded cheddar, bake 5 minutes longer. This recipe feeds 10 (or 2 meals for 5) 

Day 5- Speedy sausage breakfast pizza

spread out 1 can of croissant roll dough in 9x13 pan, pressing seams together and bake for 6 minutes at 375.  Brown 1 pound of sausage with 1/4c chopped onion. In a bowl, mix 6 eggs, 3/4 C milk 1/2t dried oregano, 1/2t pepper 1/4t garlic salt. Pour over crust, top with sausage mix. Bake for 15-20 min. Sprinkle with 1 C shredded Mozzarella cheese, bake 5 min. longer until cheese melts.  

Day 6- Broccoli and Wild Rice Soup

1 pkg chicken and wild rice mix, 5 C water, 3 C frozen chopped broccoli (thawed) 1 shredded carrot, 2t minced onion, 1 can condensed chicken soup, 1-8oz pkg cream cheese

Another great 1 pot meal, and it goes together quick. In a large saucepan, mix rice, season packet and water. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in broccoli, carrots and onion. Cover and simmer 5 minutes. Stir in soup and cream cheese until melted. 

Day 7- Crock pot baked potato night-use with leftovers

Scrub potatoes, poke holes with a fork, and rub skins with olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic salt generously. Wrap in foil, and put in crockpot all day. Once potatoes are soft, split potatoes and add toppings of choice... canned chili (or make your own) cheddar, sour cream, broccoli and cheese package, or any leftover cooked meat you have in the freezer- pork, roast, hamburger, chicken, bacon... Just use anything you need to get rid of. The potato is a great base for any meal. 

Bread recipe of the week:

Mom’s best banana bread, ½ C shortening, 1 C Sugar, 2 eggs,  3 or 4 very ripe bananas mashed,  2 C flour, 1 tsp baking soda 

·        cream shortening and sugar: add eggs and banana, then combine dry ingredients. Spray 2 small or 1 large loaf pans with cooking spray. The pans should be ½ full. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes, or until middle of loaf is set, and doesn’t look wet.  If you like, you can make them into muffins. They cook in approx. 15-20 minutes.

Hint: I have an “ongoing” bag of bananas that I keep in the freezer. When I have more, I peel them and add more to the bag. When the bag is full, it is banana bread day. It freezes well!

Time saving tip of the week: - in your freezer, start a section, shelf, basket of frozen prepared meals. Let the family know where they are so you can delegate heating up dinner if you are unexpectedly detained. As time goes on, you will build a small stash of these dinners. I will try to include "freezeable" labels on some meals, so that as you prep the meals, you can double the recipes and freeze one. This takes very little extra effort but is a lifesaver in a crunch!

Dessert of the week- Crock Pot Chocolate Cake

Mix together 1 chocolate cake mix, 8 oz sour cream, 1 pkg instant chocolate pudding mix, 1 C chocolate chips, 3/4 C oil, 4 eggs, 1 C water. Spray crock pot with cooking spray, Pour mix into crock pot, and cook on low 6-8 hours, or high 3-4 hours.  

Week 2 Menu Plans

Week 2 Menu Plans

Ready for another week? Need to get shopping done for your menu plans? Here we go....

Day 1- Crockpot hash

This is probably the simplest of recipes.  All you need is a bag or frozen Southern style hashbrowns (with or without the peppers added-whatever you prefer) 1 pkg onion soup mix, 1 can beef broth, 1 lb browned hamburger seasoned with onions, 1 bag of frozen corn, dash of pepper and throw it in a crockpot for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally, until bubbly hot.  That's it! This is another recipe that would be quicker if you had pre-browned hamburger in freezer bags. Comfort food at its finest! This is Charity's favorite meal.

Day 2- French toast Casserole

Another breakfast for supper. This recipe is great when you notice that your bread is going stale. (before the mold forms!) French bread, sandwich bread, uneaten rolls, or even that bread recipe that flopped and no one wants to eat it! it really doesn't matter. Cut it into cubes and leave it out overnight. Set out a cube of cream cheese to soften as well.  The next morning, mix up a dozen eggs (cheap protein source...especially if you raise your own chickens or your nephew sells them to you at a great price) with 1/2 C milk, 1 T cinnamon and 1/2 C brown sugar. Mix egg mixture with bread. Put half in a 9x13 pan add berries- any you might have on hand. (blueberries or strawberries are amazing) Frozen will work as well. spread the softened cream cheese around as much as possible. (I smash it flat) Add the other half of the bread mixture on top, and top with berries. Pat 1/2 stick butter over the top. Bake uncovered at 350 for 45 minutes. Serve hot with pancake syrup. If you like, this pairs well with sausage or bacon. If money is tights, the berries and cream cheese can be optional making this a very economical yet filling protein rich meal.  This is your breakfast dinner of the week!

Day 3- crock pot roasted chicken (freezable)

Chicken, yep that bone in chicken.  Make a spice mix- Paprika, salt, pepper, onion, thyme and garlic powder. Put rinsed chicken in crock pot breast side up, blot dry, rub a little oil over the whole bird, then spread and pat the spices all over. Cook on low for 8 hours. Falling apart juicy! (You can pull out the bones before serving, and use the method below to make a bone broth- makes the best soup in the world!)

Day 4-Tortilla Soup (freezable)

Use a bag of  "already browned ground beef with onions". (see how handy this is???) In your trusty crockpot- add your hamburger, 2 cans black beans, 1 can enchilada sauce, 3 Cups beef stock, 2 tsp chili powder, 2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp cilantro,  garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, 1 bag frozen corn (or 1 can drained corn), and jalapenos (optional) If your jalapenos are in a jar, this is a great place to use some of the liquid. This enhances the flavor! Cook all day. Add more water to soup consistency. Serve with tortilla chips crumbled on top, sour cream, green onion, fresh cilantro and shredded cheese, chopped avocado, chopped tomatoes- or any other toppings you have on hand... Great on a cold or rainy day.

Day 5- Broccoli Ham roll ups

Here's an unexpectedly delicious meal. We got this one from a chef who worked at the Hyatt. Easy, healthy and fast! You will need a boneless ham (such as farmland). Take it to the butcher (Leekers still does this) and ask them to slice it in thick sandwich slices. (I actually would buy a whole boneless ham on sale, and ask the butcher to slice half, and "shave" half very thin. I could freeze half of the slices, and half of the shaved sandwich meat, and use these portions for sandwiches or to add to scrambled eggs or casseroles) . Roll a broccoli spear (fresh or frozen) and shredded cheddar inside the ham slice, and secure it with a toothpick. Place in ungreased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle more cheddar on top. Cover with foil and Bake at 375* for 20 minutes. Great with a baked potato, or roasted red skin potatoes. You already have the veggie! If you don't like broccoli, use whole green beans or asparagus. (This ham is much cheaper by the pound than lunchmeat)

 Day 6- Company Chicken and Rice

Here is a great time to use that chicken bone broth, and either the frozen breasts or thighs! Pre-preparation pays off big time!

Steam 1 1/2 Cups of rice in 3 Cups of water with a pinch of salt. (instructions below) Pour rice into deep 9x13 pan.  Put 2 C chicken bone broth or 2 cans of chicken broth in 5 quart saucepan with 4 T. butter and bring to a boil. In a bowl, combine 1/2 C flour with 2 C water. Whisk together until combined. Slowly whisk flour mixture into boiling broth until thickened. reduce heat to med low. Add 1/2 Velveeta cheese loaf, cubed, stir until melted. Add 1 C cream (You can use milk). Stir in Cooked cubed chicken. Pour over rice, cover with foil and bake at 350* for 20 minutes, or until bubbly. Now this is key to this casserole- 1 sleeve Ritz-type crackers crushed, mixed with 4 T melted butter- mix. Spread over the top of your bubbly casserole, return to oven for about 7 or 8 minutes, until the crackers are browned. Serve Hot.

Day 7- Taco pizza

a twist on an old favorite. If using ready made pizza dough, fit the dough on the pizza pan crimping the edges. Brush with oil. spread refried beans generously over crust. Add taco meat.(seasoned ground beef, sausage or chicken with taco seasoning mix- see recipe below if making your own) spread salsa over the meat. Bake at 500* until crust is golden brown- about 10 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes. Top with lettuce, tomato and shredded cheddar cheese. cut into pizza wedges, and serve with salsa and sour cream.

Seasoned taco meat- brown hamburger with chopped onions. When meat is partially browned, add taco seasoning packet and  1/2 Cup of water. Cook down to desired consistency...

 or make your own taco seasoning.  Recipe on this post.

or make your own pizza crust. Recipe on this post- bread of the week.

Cooking tip of the week steaming rice: I didn't know how to properly cook rice until later in my adult life, so here it is! If you can find a rice steamer on Marketplace, do it. Especially if your family loves rice like mine does. My steamer goes in the microwave. Basically, rice is a 2 to 1 ratio of 2 Cups water to 1 cup rice.  (I like Basmati or Jasmine best- it doesn't get sticky) Add a pinch of salt, Cook rice and water to a rolling boil on stovetop, or in a covered microwave rice cooker 12-15 minutes.   Keep lid on pan and remove from heat for 20 minutes. be sure not to open the lid. The steam cooks the rice. Remove lid and fluff with a fork.

Taco seasoning mix- in an airtight container mix 2t chili powder, 1½ t paprika, 1 t onion powder, ½ t sea salt, ½ t garlic powder, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon oregano, ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 pinch cayenne pepper, 1 pinch red pepper flakes

Bread recipe of the week:

 Here is an all purpose pizza crust recipe. I've made it "bread machine" friendly to save time, but you can just mix this together into a ball, then put it on a floured surface, knead for 5-10 minutes, rest and raise for about an hour in a greased bowl. Punch down, and fit into pizza pans, or freeze.

  2 cups warm water, but not hot, 2 T dry yeast, 2t sugar, 2t salt, 4T oil, 5 C flour 1T basil, 1t oregano in this order.

Turn bread machine to 'dough" setting. It will mix, knead and raise and punch down in the machine. Remove the dough onto a floured surface, then cut it in half. You can freeze this dough if you'd like, putting it in airtight freezer bags for 4-6 weeks. or make 2 pizza's- Roll out the crust and fit it into your pizza pan.  This works for any other kind of pizza.

Dessert recipe of the week:

GRANDPAPA’S FAVORITE BANANA PUDDING

Ingredients: 4-6 bananas,   Vanilla wafers, 2 – 4 oz boxes vanilla pudding mix,  3 C cold milk, 1 8 oz carton Cool Whip.

In a 9x13 pan, layer vanilla wafers then sliced bananas.  In mixing bowl, add pudding mix and milk. Mix for 2 minutes. Pour over bananas. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Top with Cool Whip. Cover and refrigerate.  Quick and easy. 

Time/money saving tip of the week:

Sam's sells large rotisserie chickens and sometimes pkgs of 4 bone-in breast or thigh portions in the refrigerated case. I love to purchase these for a time-saver and freeze it in portions. Remove the breasts and thighs from the bone. Freeze breast portions in ziploc bags for a quick meat in casseroles, stir fry's and soups. Same with the thighs. Take the legs and meaty portion of the wings, leaving the bone in, and freeze together in a ziploc bag (makes great bbq wings). (be sure to mark each package so you know what they are) Take the bones and skin from carcass, put them in the crock pot with: A bay leaf, salt, pepper 1 T white vinegar, thyme, parsley, onion and garlic powder, and any spice that "strikes your fancy". (a phrase from the olden days!) Add about 8 Cups of water. Cook on low for 24 hours, more or less. (add water if needed) Strain broth into a freezer container and VOILA! Healthy bone broth! Now you have 3 pkgs of meats for meals and a delicious broth for soup, from 1 chicken, ready to use at a moment's notice!  For larger families, it might be a good idea to get 2 rotisserie chickens. They are $4.98 at Sam's. 4 breast quarters or thigh quarters are only $3.98.

Week 1 Dinner Menus

Here is a week's worth of recipes and ideas. I endeavored to include a variety of protein sources, ethnic flavors, styles and difficulties. I want to include one soup per week, and a homemade bread and dessert. Let me know if you have any thoughts about how to improve the format or variety. I encourage you to add to the recipes, change days, use them as you wish, and leave comments- what you did or didn't like, or even recipes that you prefer. If nothing else, I hope this sparks ideas. 

When it is cold outside, nothing, and I mean NOTHING is more satisfying than a hot soup.  I Watch the weather report- snowy and icy days call for warm comfort foods.  Feel free to switch the days as needed.

• Day 1- Vegetable beef soup with barley- brown 1 lb of hamburger with chopped onion, celery(if desired) garlic, salt and pepper. (This can be a package of ground beef that was precooked and frozen). Add potatoes-skin on is fine, carrots, and any of the following: corn, green beans, peas, kidney beans (I prefer fresh or frozen, but canned works as well) Add 1/2 C barley (rice works as well) about 4 C beef broth (can use bullion) 1 pkg onion soup mix, seasonings (I like bay leaf, thyme, seasoned salt (or Natures seasoning) pepper and parsley) Add water as needed. For more beef flavor, you can add bullion cubes or use the stock from a soup bone. Cook in crockpot until vegetables are tender.  

If you have extra time, this would be good with Rachel's quick biscuits. (recipe at bottom)

Since eggs are plentiful in this family, and inexpensive during the off-season, and our family loves brunch... so make eggs for supper on occasion! 

• Day 2- Southwestern Omelets -diced potatoes fried in large skillet with oil, onion, salt and pepper on high. Add diced ham or browned sausage or crumbled bacon. turn to medium low heat. Wisk 6-8 eggs with 1/4 C milk, and pour into skillet. Add diced tomatoes, spinach, diced green onion, diced avocado, and 1 C shredded Monterey jack cheese. Stir together and serve on tortillas with some salsa and sour cream.

again, if your meat is precooked, this meal goes together very quickly. 

Once a week, a pasta meal will stretch the budget...it is filling and goes a long way. 

• Day 3- Chicken Tetrazzini- (freezable)16 oz linguini, cooked, ½ cup butter softened, 4 chicken breasts, cooked, diced, (If money is tight, use less chicken, or use less expensive deboned chicken)  2 cans cream of chicken soup, 2 cups sour cream, salt and pepper,, ½ cup chicken broth, 2 TB parmesan cheese, 2 cup shredded mozzarella

Instructions- Cook noodles according to box instructions. Set aside.. In a medium bowl, combine ½ cup butter, cooked chicken, soup, sour cream, salt, pepper and chicken broth. Mix well and then add in cooked noodles. Spray a 9x13 pan and pour in noodle mixture. Sprinkle cheeses on top. Bake uncovered at 350 for 40-45 minutes. 

Here's a crockpot recipe that makes dinner easy. Put this together in the morning, and it is ready and hot when it's time for dinner.

• Day 4-Haystacks- (meat is freezable) Make crockpot chili in the morning before you get too busy- browned hamburger with onions, garlic, (easy to do with precooked frozen hamburger) Add 2 cans crushed tomatoes, 3 cans chili beans, 1 can beef broth, 1 C water, 2 T chili powder, 1 T Worcestershire sauce, 1t basil, 1 t cumin 1 T. steak sauce, 1 t garlic powder, salt and pepper...you can add any leftover salsa or picante to this recipe. Just put this in crockpot on low, stirring occasionally until time to eat. Just put this over corn chips (or rice if you have time to make it) Cover with shredded cheddar cheese...can add sour cream, green onions, tomatoes, guac... if desired

This is a personal preference, but since fish is so healthy, I try to add a fish recipe once a week. 

• Day 5- BBQ salmon- This is a grill recipe, but you can use your skillet if you're out of propane! haha Salt and pepper both sides of salmon. Brush grill or skillet with oil. Heat to medium high. grill 4 minutes on each side. Then brush generously with BBQ mixture then grill 2-4 min. on each side, continue applying BBQ mixture turning occasionally or until flaky.  BBQ mixture- 1/2 C bbq sauce, 2 T brown sugar, chopped green onion, 1 T. liquid smoke

This skillet is so versitile...think Silver Dollar City. Change it up using potatoes and veggies with chicken and smoked sausage in oil, and leave out the Asian flair (teriyaki and cabbage). I've added Silver Dollar City copy-cat recipes at the end... Just use your big skillet, and fry- 

• Day 6- Smoked sausage asian skillet-  Cut up a 1 pound smoked sausage, (or browned pork sausage, or ground pork) potatoes, carrots, onions, broccoli, green beans, into bite sized pieces. 2 T oil in a deep skillet. Add carrots and onions, salt and pepper, fry until firm/tender. Add other chopped veggies, shredded cabbage (optional) broccoli, green beans, corn or any other stir fry veggies.  Stir until hot and cooked through. Add 1/4 C teriyaki sauce to taste, stir until coated well. Serve over rice or fettuccini noodles. 

Silver Dollar City Potato Skillet- option 1

·    2 T bacon drippings  1 onion chopped, ¼ C. Green bell pepper finely chopped, 2 lb russet potatoes scrubbed and sliced, 1 large sweet potatoes peeled and sliced ,   2 T. water, 1 tsp seasoned salt (can use Cajun seasoning) 1 lb smoked sausage, sliced  Adjust amounts as needed to feed your family. By the way, potatoes are cheap! This is an economical meal. Great use for leftovers- can use other meat if desired.

      Silver Dollar City Potato Skillet- option 2

bb 2cups skin-on red potatoes, thinly sliced, 2cups whole baby carrots, fresh or frozen, 2 cups whole green beans, frozen, 1 sliced onion, 1 thickly sliced zucchini, 1 thickly sliced squash, 2 cups (1 pound) cooked, diced ham or cooked smoked sausage, thinly sliced, teaspoon Kosher salt, lard or your favorite cooking oil, Paprika, garlic, and pepper to taste

      This is a great recipe when having company. It is delicious every time. choose a side or 2, and it's a perfect company dinner.

• Day 7- Pan Fried Chicken- Mix a bag of crushed pork rinds (this is the only use I've ever found for these that is acceptable! haha) with 1 C parmesan cheese, 2 pkgs. Ranch dressing mix on a large plate. Pound out boneless skinless chicken (breasts or thighs) to flatten. lightly salt and pepper both sides.  Dip in melted butter and press in the pork rind mixture. Place in 9x13 pan (or larger if making more than 4 pieces). Any extra mixture, pat on the top of the chicken. Bake uncovered at 350 for 45 minutes.  This recipe is a little unusual, but you are in for a treat! It makes the best, juiciest chicken you've ever eaten. 

Here are 3 features I thought you'd enjoy: 

Bread of the week: 

Farm Meal Biscuits:   Rachel Chaney Busenitz                                     

·      2 cups self rising flour

·         1/4 cold butter

·         3/4 cup cold milk or buttermilk ( I usually just add it until it forms a dough. It ends up about 1 cup )

·         2 T. melted butter

Cut butter into flour until crumbly textured using a pastry cutter. Add milk a little at a time until it forms a dough. Turn onto floured surface and pat to about 1 inch thick. Cut out biscuits and place in a greased pie plate with sides touching (or any glass pan with sides. Metal tends to make it crunchy) Bake at 425 until just beginning to brown on top. Brush with melted butter and enjoy.

Dessert of the week:  

Kaiti's German Chocolate caramel delight cake!!!  Kaiti Chaney

Make 1 german chocolate cake in 9x13 pan as directed. poke holes, pour 1 can sweetened condensed milk over the top. Pour a jar of caramel topping over the whole cake. Top with whipped cream and crushed Heath candy bar. Cover and refrigerate. Serve cold

Time saving tip of the week: You guessed it! Get out the crock pot and put 10 pounds of hamburger with seasoned salt, salt, pepper and a diced onion. Cook for several hours, crumbling and stirring occasionally. Once cooked, drain the meat and bag into 1 pound ziploc bags, or for a more economical alternative, find some old tupperware storage containers on marketplace or a garage sale that are reusable and freeze meat in those. This is one of the best cooking tips I ever learned as a young mom with kids. It saved my life more than once!!! 

using ground beef!!!

 Today one of my daughters asked for ideas using ground beef. Recently, our family shared in the butchering of 2 very large steers, raised by our son-in-law and daughter. Hence, the need for ground beef dinners. I thought this might be helpful for mom's trying to find a variety of ideas using hamburger! Here was the list provided:

Soups:

• cheeseburger soup
• vegetable beef soup
• chili

Italian:

• spaghetti
• lasagna
• pizza

Mexican

• tacos
• burritos
• chimichangas
• nachos
• mexican rice with beans
• enchiladas
• taco salad

American

• hamburgers (cheeseburgers, bacon cheeseburgers, guacamole burgers...)
• hobo dinners
• beef noodles
• crockpot hash
• shepherds pie
• bbq meatballs
• meatloaf
• calzones
• ground beef Wellington
• pot pie
• tater tot casserole
• sloppy joes

Other Ethnic dishes

goulash

Broccoli and beef stir fry

beef stroganoff

Hungarian meatballs

This list is not all-inclusive, but it should be good for a variety of dinners.

Time saving tip:

Ground beef-  Brown 10 pounds or more of ground beef, seasoned, with onions (if desired) and freeze them in serving sized bags for a quick supper prep time.

She looks well to the needs of her household

I love to cook, especially for my family. Organizing my menus, shopping list and then executing the dishes effectively and efficiently with maximum flavor is actually fun! 

Menu planning for young families can be a harrowing experience. Sometimes we have ample time to plan and prepare food, other times it is a matter of finding something quick, because the troops are hungry NOW! 

On this blog, I want to give menu plans in a methodical way with a variety of flavors, and a challenging menu once a week to try for fun, and as an experiment, as time permits. I want to have things prepared and frozen for those days where things don't go as planned.  I want to share tips together for those who find shortcuts or recipes that have gone over well. 

Most of all, I want to encourage young moms that caring for your family isn't just a chore, but a gift from God. It is satisfying to know our families are eating healthy, their needs are provided for, and they have balance in their lives- in this case, a balanced diet.  At times, I may share a time-saving or organizational tip. But all is to the glory of God.

So here we go! This isn't for the masses, but for those mom's who need a boost among a household of hungry children and/or husband. I hope you find food planning and preparation as satisfying as I do.