Saturday, March 8, 2008

Meal Planning


In an effort to save money and time I have decided to start meal planning again. I find that I spend so much more money when I don't and waste so much food. The only problem with this is I feel like we are in a food rut. We eat the same thing over and over and I just don't know what to make especially when I have picky eaters. On a side note, I do think that I solved that problem with the help of my good friend Amber. The solution was: If they don't like meat give them beans as their protein. Although they still do not favor the black beans they now have a choice of their own. So if any of you out there have some meal planning menus send them my way.....
Here is our freezer stock:
Ground Hamburger
Pork Tenderlion
Chicken

6 comments:

  1. do you guys like Mexican or Thai? I have a bunch of really quick semi healthy recipes. Let me know!

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  2. You can also make grilled cheese sandwiches with soy cheese. Still (soy) beans, and TONS of protein!

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  3. So once you get a meal plan do you mind sending it my way??!! :) Making dinner is not my favorite.

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  4. Amber,

    Here are a couple that freeze well too. I'm copying and pasting from excel so hopefully this works!

    TERIYAKI CHICKEN
    1 C soy sauce
    .5 C sugar
    0.5 C wine
    1 orange zest
    1 tsp ginger, grated, fresh
    1 tsp garlic, minced
    .25 tsp ceyenne pepper
    Assemble in bag.

    For the teriyaki chicken, I cook it in the crockpot but you could put it in the oven too. It's best with dark meat.

    SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN TACO BAKE
    4 Cups rice, cooked
    3 Cups cooked, shredded turkey or chicken
    20 oz. tomato sauce
    1 pkg taco seasoning
    28 oz. refried beans
    2 Cups cheese, grated
    Layer in a 9x13 baking dish the cooked rice. In another bowl, mix taco
    seasoning and tomato sauce. Add shredded chicken and coat it well with
    tomato mixture. Layer this chicken mixture on the rice in pan. "Frost"
    the chicken layer with the refried beans. It may take up to 2 cans for
    that, especially if you want a good thick layer. Top off with grated
    cheese.
    Wrap for freezing and pop it into the freezer.  When ready to bake, thaw
    and bake uncovered for 30 to 45 minutes or until hot all the way through
    and the cheese is nice and bubbly. Enjoy!
    The SW chicken taco bake is a huge favorite in my freezer meal group. Not my favorite though, because I don't like refried beans!

    CHICKEN TETRAZZINI
    1.5 C cheddar cheese, shredded
    1.5 C monterey jack cheese, shredded
    1.5 C onion, diced
    1.5 C cream of chicken soup (1 can)
    1.5 C cream of mushroom soup (1 can)
    10 oz milk
    3 C chicken, cooked and shredded or chopped
    Assemble in bag. Thaw and pour in baking dish. Bake uncovered in
    350 degree oven until bubbly, about 30-40 minutes
    Can top with bread crumbs and more cheese. Serve over cooked spagetti
    noodles
    The tetrazzini is yummy but fattening!

    ** TACO SOUP
    1 lb ground meat, browned w/garlic & onion
    3 C tomatoes (1 1/2 cans)
    1 C tomatoe sauce
    4 oz. green chiles, canned
    2 C salsa
    1.5 C Pinto Beans
    1.5 C Pinto Beans with chile Sauce
    1.5 C Kidney Beans
    3 C water
    1 pkg. Taco Seasoning Mix
    Brown ground beef with onion and garlic. Add remainingingredients. Simmer.
    Garnish with grated cheddar cheese, Tortilla chips, and sour cream if desired.
    The taco soup is well liked but can be spicy depending on the type of salsa used and the taco seasoning. Some kids love it (like Alex) and others don't (like Nate) so it's a hit or miss. LOL

    Amber, you inspired me to start a blog. We'll see how long it lasts though. LOL http://savedbygrace-rachel.blogspot.com/

    Rachel (from church)

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  5. All right...I'll join you in your efforts. I also tried this a while back, but it fizzled. I feel so much more "together" when I don't start thinking about what to have for dinner at 4:45!

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Norah

Norah

Ava

Ava

Dallas

Dallas

Reese

Reese

husband and wife

husband and wife
Okay Dallas when you hit the ball you need to run to 1st base, 2nd base, and then home.....no mom! I don't want to go home!Reese was outside singing today while she was on the swing. And she says to me. "Mom, the sun is coming out because I am singing....I am wakin it up!" Keep singing girl, keep singing!Dallas: Look mom his doesn't have twin wheels! (translation:training wheels)Dallas: When I am a daddy....I want one of those baby Norahs.So sweet!Reese: Mom I like these things...What things? Reese: These Rat-tat-too-ies Do you mean Tattoos?Reese: Yah! TattoosDallas was holding Norah and this is what he said....Norah pooped. She pooped 3 times....Oooo....she pooped 10 times mom!!Reese was going to the bathroom and when she was done she looked (as all kids do) and said "oooo, look mom. I ate carrots!"Reese has been wanting her ears pierced. She spent that night at Ambers house and asked her if she could do it. Amber told her that it would hurt and after she did one ear she would have to do the second ear. She said "how bout you do the second ear first"We been telling the kids that Norah can't have anything to eat because she is to little. Dallas walks in the hospital and get up to look at Norah and says: "I want to see if she has a mouth"In the morning when the kids wake up they come and crawl in bed with us. I was laying on my side talking with Reese. She looked at me and said "Mom...your boobs are hugging" I just laughed. She then said "they love each other" The thoughts of a 5 ....and just in case you were wondering. I was wearing a tank top ;)Mom....when I am a mom I will have two kids and then we will have lots of kids at our house!!(And what do we have now...I am thinking)Dallas looked at my blog and the picture of the "barefoot and pregnant""mommy that's you!"Boy do I love that kid ;)My room is usually a mess. Of course I have all the "good" excuses as to why :) Well my surprise when I got home from work was a nice clean room with a made bed.When Reese came and got me this morning she said "Mom your room is Amazing!"

the things they say...

Reese: Hey mom look! She walks just fine and doesn't even need a cane! (we were at costco and she said this about an elderly lady...nice!)

About Me

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I am a wife, mother of 4,a friend, and a child of God....I am addicted to coupons. Hopefully these confessions will help you save money for your family. Blessings