Ahem...I interrupt this pregnancy series to bring you "Menu Plan Monday". I've been meaning to do this, as I pretty much do a menu every week. Here is what we're eating for dinner this week:
Sunday: Pasta Seashell Casserole- yes, I made dinner on a Sunday. I usually don't, but this is so quick and easy. I use a pound of ground turkey and brown it with half an onion, diced, and three cloves of garlic, minced. I mix it with 8 oz of cooked sea shell pasta (I use rice pasta- which by the way is really good...I can't really tell much of a difference between it and regular pasta) and a jar of Newman's Own Sockarooni. Yum.
Monday: Red Beans and Rice- I just came across this recipe when I was menu-planning. I hope this one is a keeper...I haven't quite been able to find a recipe I really like for this. We ate this all the time growing up. Apparently Red Beans and Rice is the official Monday supper in Louisiana. I never knew that, but I saw it on two different websites the other day.
Tuesday and Wednesday will be leftovers.
Thursday: Cajun chicken and collard greens- are you sensing a theme? Yes, I am part Cajun. A small part, but still. I just take a whole chicken, cut up, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and a good Cajun seasoning mix (I use "The Spice Hunter" brand) and bake it in the oven at 350 until it's done (maybe like 30 minutes or so). The greens, I used to make with frozen collard greens, but they have been out at my local Wal-Mart for several weeks, so I ended up with fresh the last time, and I don't think I'll ever use frozen ones again. My method is inspired by my husband's Auntie...that's the one dish that I've learned from his family- the funny thing is, I think I like them more than my husband does...it's a taste I acquired when I was pregnant with my daughter. Let me know if you want to try my recipe, I'll put it up this week (It's Auntie and mother-in-law approved :D).
Friday: Tacos and Mexican Rice- here's a really good way to make tacos that I posted on my other blog.
Saturday: Lentil, Kale and Bacon Soup- We had this last week, but it was so good, I thought we'd have it again. Apparently nobody in my house cares that our highs are still in the triple digits. Yummy food knows no season. At least not in my house. :)
The other thing I'm making on Monday is chicken stock. I'm going to be busy! This will be the third time I am making my own stock. It is so good! I'm using the recipe from Nourishing Traditions. It's also listed in The Maker's Diet- that's where I got it. I used to use Rachael Ray's chicken stock...homemade is way better!
By the way, all of these meals are allergen-free and gluten free. Enjoy!
If you want to get more menu-planning inspiration, click here!
I LOVE the Maker's Diet book! I just wish it wasn't so expensive to follow (and that the Hubs would actually TRY a vegetable here and there).
ReplyDeleteI'm actually re-reading the book in light the food allergies my family has been experiencing, and I don't follow it exactly- but I've been getting into some of it in hopes of getting our bodies restored to the way they're supposed to be!
ReplyDeleteTo the expense, I say take it one step at a time. If eating better is something you really want or need to do, there could be other areas you could cut back. I really like the recipe for the chicken stock; it makes a gallon! That lasts us a few weeks, plus it keeps me from having to buy the store bought stuff. Plus there's all that chicken to use for enchiladas or some other dish.
Does your husband eat veggies in soups/stew? Maybe you could be a "veggie ninja" and hide it in meatballs or something.