Weekly Menu Plan – 25.0

Hi MincedReviewers!

Below is my weekly meal plan for this week for you to use next week. Let me know if you try any of these, if you loved them, loathed them or changed them.  **note-there are two templates at the bottom of this blog for you to use as well.  A weekly menu chart that you can print out and stick on your fridge and a grocery store template that you can print and check off what you need.

Sunday-Lemon Herb and Parmesan Crusted Fish

Monday-Crockpot Chicken Tacos

Tuesday-Tuna Pasta Salad with Dill

Wednesday-Turkey and Quinoa Meatloaf

Thursday-Zesty Slow Cooker Barbeque

Friday- No cooking for you!

Saturday night-Grill Night!

Sunday –Lemon, Herb & Parmesan Crusted Fish – Delicious recipe from BBC’s goodfood.  Here is a handy conversion site to change the metrics to US standards.  Serving with Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Quinoa Salad.

Monday – 4-Ingredient Crockpot Chicken Tacos:  Excellent recipe that I found on Cooking Light’s website.  I do, however, make a few adjustments to make it a bit more kid friendly (i.e. not scream inducing spicy).  I increase the salsa 1/2 cup and reduce the chili sauce by 1/2 cup.  I also squeeze juice from 1/2 a lime and add 1Tbs of Adobo Seasoning. (click for the recipe that I use to make a big batch of adobo seasoning). Serve with corn/flour tortillas and black beans.  

Tuesday–Tuna Pasta Salad with Dill & Peas.  This wonderful recipe is from Lauren’s Latest.  The thing that I love most about this recipe is that it is just as good hot as it is cold. I must point out that you have to love dill in order to truly appreciate the deliciousness of this recipe. 

Wednesday–Turkey and Quinoa Meatloaf.  This AllRecipes recipe is a healthier version of the classic comfort food, meatloaf. A few changes:  I substitute BBQ sauce for the hot sauce for the kiddos.  I used 1/2 the brown sugar (too sweet-yikes).  I like to use a muffin pan vs. a loaf pan. Helps portion it out and prevent crumbling.  Serve with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and steamed fresh green beans.

Thursday–Zesty Slow Cooker Chicken Barbecue.  This is our favorite Slow Cooker BBQ and perfect for night when we have evening baseball games.  The best scenario is to serve with cole slow on top but tonight we will keep it simple.  Serving on bakery rolls and sweet potatoes fries on the side (frozen Trader Joe’s).

Friday– Take a break, will ya?!

Saturday– Grillin’ and Chillin’ night.  Steaks on the grill.  Corn on the cob.  Grilled sweet peppers.  Summer Shandy.  Most importantly… S’mores for dessert.  P.S. I say chill, because I don’t grill. 🙂 

Grocery List Template

and as always, here is your menu planning template to print out, write your menu and stick on your fridge.  It is super cute!!

Menu Planning Template

Weekly Menu Plan 23.0

Hi MincedReviewers!  I have dropped the huge giant roasting pan .. um.. I mean ball…on my menu planning posts.  I will not lie and say that I am back on track BUT I am going to post a menu plan for this week. For those of you that are new to MincedReviews, the menu plan is a week full of recipes that I love, that will help you get ready for your upcoming week and ahead of upcoming grocery shopping trips. Happy cooking everyone!

Sunday- Fire Roasted Tomato and Feta Pasta w/Shrimp.

Monday-Trader Joe’s Kung Pao Chicken.

Tuesday-Santa Fe Chicken

Wednesday-Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff.

Thursday – Cauliflower, Tomato and Chicken Sausage Quinoa Gratin.

Friday-Lemon, Herb and Parmesan Crusted Fish.

Friday- No cooking for you!

Sunday –  Fire Roasted Tomato and Feta Pasta w/Shrimp– Wow that’s a long name for such an easy recipe.  This actually makes a great mid-week meal but I can’t wait, so Sunday it is. 

Monday– My ‘I’m not actually cooking’ night.  Making Trader Joe’s Kung Pao Chicken. Throw it over rice.  Done and Done.

Tuesday–  Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken– A healthy, clean recipe that you can make in advance and throw in the slow cooker.  So fantastic and I just love how the delicious the house smells when we get home.

Wednesday–  Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff– Okay, so two nights in a row of crock pot meals may seem a bit excessive but with baseball season starting, it’s a must do.  This recipe is basically the anthesis of Tuesday night in terms of healthy BUT you gotta slip once in a while.  I add button mushrooms to this recipe and try to keep it organic.

Thursday– Cauliflower, Tomato and Chicken Sausage Quinoa Gratin – Wow.  Wow. Wow. Wow.  Love love love this recipe. Wonderful right out of the oven and even better reheated.

Friday – Lemon, Herb & Parmesan Crusted Fish. – An easy, healthy way to end the week.  Serve with rice or orzo and a veggie that you love. 

Saturday–  No cooking for you (or me in this case)  Have an easy night tonight.

Don’t forget to click on the link below to use the printable grocery list!  This will help keep you on track as you shop.  Hope this helps streamline your grocery store trips! The goal is for you to go to the store ONCE this week. Save time. Save $$.

Grocery List Template

and as always, here is your menu planning template to print out, write your menu and stick on your fridge.  It is super cute!!

Menu Planning Template

Weekly Menu Plan – 23.0

Hi MincedReviewers!   Back by popular demand…a weekly menu plan.   For you new MincedReviewers, the menu plan is basically what I plan on cooking for the week, with a few tips and tricks thrown in.   Happy cooking everyone!

 

Sunday – Bayou Catfish

Monday – Pasta with Feta and Basil

Tuesday – Chicken Tamale Casserole

Wednesday- Potato, Red Pepper and Feta Frittata

Thursday- Zesty Slow Cooker Chicken BBQ w/ Sandwich Slaw

Friday – Take a break!

Saturday- Chinese Chicken Salad

Sunday –  Bayou Catfish.   This recipe by AllRecipes was easy, light and delicious.  I love this recipe because it is easy AND healthy.  A great combo.  I have made this a few times, once as directed with corn meal and another time with Panko.  Both versions were wonderful but the panko coating had slightly more crunch.  Serve with Corn on the Cob and Sweet Potato Wedges/Fries.

Monday– Pasta with Basil, Tomatoes and Feta.  This is a great Summer pasta dish.  A fantastic way to enjoy some of the ripe garden veggies.  The boys pick the tomatoes and basil while I start cooking.   Serve with a yummy side salad and garlic bread.  Did I mention FETA??  You really can’t go wrong with a recipe that has the word feta in the title.  Can’t wait!!  

Tuesday–  Chicken Tamale Casserole.   This is a new recipe from Cooking Light that I am trying this week.  Not 100% sure about the creamed corn (not a fan) BUT I am a fan of tamales and this appears to be an easy way to make something similar.  I am going to serve with black beans and rice.   

Wednesday–  Potato, Red Pepper and Feta Frittata – I know.  I know.  Another Feta recipe.  I just can’t resist.  This recipe is yum, yum and yum.  Don’t be intimidated by the word frittata like I was.  After making this once, I realize that the ingredient possibilities are endless.   I saw this recipe on another blog, The Kitchn and followed this to the teaspoon.

Thursday– Zesty Slow Cooker Chicken BBQ  w/ Sandwich Slaw– My BIL and SIL made this over the Summer on vacation.  I immediately asked for the recipe (s).  It is almost unbelievably easy and full of flavor.   The BBQ has only five ingredients AND you throw it in the slow cooker!  The slaw recipe adds a fantastic crunch.  Serve without the roll for a gluten-free option,  Serve with chips/fries/sweet potato tots.  Keep the sides simple.  

Friday –  No cooking for you (or me in this case)!  Have an easy night tonight.

Saturday–  Chinese Chicken Salad.   This recipe by Ina Garten is such a wonderful, versatile meal.  You can eat it hot or cold.  You can eat alone or on your favorite bakery bread.  PLUS if you really want to save time, pick up an already roasted chicken from your local grocery store.   

Don’t forget to click on the link below to use the printable grocery list!  This will help keep you on track as you shop.  Hope this helps streamline your grocery store trips! The goal is for you to go to the store ONCE this week. Save time. Save $$.

Grocery List Template

and as always, here is your menu planning template to print out, write your menu and stick on your fridge.  It is super cute!!

Menu Planning Template

Weekly Menu Plan – 22.0

Hi MincedReviewers!   I was starting to slip, going to the grocery store 3-4 times a week, spending more $ than I should be.  I needed to rewind and go back to you where I started.  I planned my menu for the week, printed my grocery store template off to check off what I needed and off to the grocery store I went.  I bought a TON but I feel better prepared and certainly will save money.  You never really end up leaving with just the one thing you went in for.  The below is what I am planning on preparing this week.  Happy cooking everyone!

Sunday – Cod with Italian Crumbs

Monday – Chicken Breasts with Avocado, Tomato and Cucumber Salsa.

Tuesday – Pasta with Tomatoes and Mozzarella.

Wednesday – Healthy Breakfast Night

Thursday – Spice Rubbed Salmon with Lemon Garlic Spinach.

Friday- No cooking for you!

Saturday – Chicken Souvlaki Gyro Style.

Sunday –  Cod with Italian Crumb Topping.   This recipe by AllRecipes was shockingly delicious.  I am not sure why I had lower hopes for this but I was surprised.   The only thing I changed in this recipe is that I brushed the fillets with olive oil instead of egg whites.  Served with Jasmine rice and green beans. 

Monday– Chicken Breasts with Avocado, Tomato and Cucumber Salsa.  I am making this tonight and am crazy excited for this.    I found this on Cooking Light and really it couldn’t be any more perfect for this time of year.  

Tuesday–  Pasta with Tomatoes and Mozzarella.  I am making this Epicurious recipe for the first time.  I’ve made similar dishes though.  I am thinking I may add pancetta (or super crispy turkey bacon) to this for a little more flavor.   I am going to serve this with salad and fresh bread.  

Wednesday–  Breakfast night!  I am soo hungry for a spinach feta omelet!   The boys love breakfast for dinner so we try to do this every couple of weeks.  Please see the blog link below on how to make the perfect omelet.

The Omelet Blog.

Thursday– Spice Rubbed Salmon with Lemon Garlic Spinach.  This is  a new recipe for me.  I found it on Cooking Light. I’ll let you know how it goes and if I make any changes after Thursday. 

Friday –  No cooking for you (or me in this case)!  Have an easy night tonight.

Saturday–  Chicken Souvlaki Gyro Style.  My SIL and BIL made this recipe from AllRecipes while we were on vacay together this summer.  AmaZing!  The big change on this recipe is to purchase the tzatziki sauce vs. making homemade.  I am all for homemade, in fact I usually prefer it, but the return on investment. The $ to buy all the ingredients, the time to make just does not outweigh buying a small tub of ready made tzatziki sauce.  Trader Joe’s makes an excellent one! **note** the pic above is a pic of my plate on vacation.  Yum! 

Don’t forget to click on the link below to use the printable grocery list!  This will help keep you on track as you shop.  Hope this helps streamline your grocery store trips! The goal is for you to go to the store ONCE this week. Save time. Save $$.

Grocery List Template

and as always, here is your menu planning template to print out, write your menu and stick on your fridge.  It is super cute!!

Menu Planning Template

Menu Plan – 19.0

 Menu 19:

Sunday – Nacho Chicken

Monday – Sausage Stuffed Manicotti

Tuesday – Goat Cheese, Caramelized Onion and Spinach Quesadillas.

Thursday – Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice

Friday – Salt and Vinegar Fish Sticks

Friday- No cooking for you!

Sunday –  Nacho Chicken.  I found this recipe in last month’s Food Network Magazine.  It is actually called Nacho Chicken Drumsticks.  If you know me at all, you know that I don’t ‘do’ chicken on bones.  Therefore I prepare this with chicken breasts or chicken tenderloin.   Such a yummy, creative way to do a breaded chicken.  

Monday– Sausage-Stuffed Manicotti,  This recipe from Cooking Light is one of my faves.  I love it because it freezes well.  I like to double the recipe, freeze one of the casseroles and have it again in a couple of weeks.  Or you can make this on the weekend, freeze and bake during the week. Anything to save time.  Sidenote:  I cannot stand green peppers, so I either omit or replace with red peppers.  

Tuesday– Goat Cheese, Caramelized Onion and Spinach Quesadilla.  Um. Yeah.  This recipe (from Fitness Magazine) had me at goat cheese!  Flippin’ fantastic and so easy.  Plus, you can just make plain quesadillas for the kiddos.  Serve with black beans and Spanish rice.  Yum!!

Wednesday–  Cheater Chicken Parm – This is my easy go-t0 mid-week recipe (from the kitchen of MincedReviews :)).  Cook frozen breaded chicken patties according to package instructions.  Make spaghetti noodles as directed while the chicken cooks.  Warm a jar of your favorite sauce then layer as follows:  spaghetti (tossed w/a little olive oil and garlic salt)/chicken patty/slice of mozzarella cheese/ladle sauce over/sprinkle with a little parmesan cheese.  Not the healthiest of recipes but sooo good and sooo easy.  Serve with a salad and garlic bread.  The whole family loves this recipe.

Thursday– Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice.  Sigh.  I love the slow cooker.  I love red beans and rice.  So excited about this recipe (minus the green pepper of course).  This will be a new one for me.  I found this on Cooking Light when I was looking up the Monday recipe that I love.  I am going to serve this over jasmine rice.   

Friday –  Salt and Vinegar Fish Sticks.  So, now that we are in Lent, Fridays will become meatless Friday.  I am all about using creative choices for coatings (i.e. not just boring old bread crumbs all the time) so I was immediately drawn to this recipe by the Food Network.  Seriously.  Doesn’t this sound amazing!  It is!  Serve with The Pioneer Woman’s Crash Hot Potatoes. (i.e. my latest obsession).  

Saturday–    Dinner and a movie night?! 

Don’t forget to click on the link below to use the printable grocery list!  This will help keep you on track as you shop.  Hope this helps streamline your grocery store trips! The goal is for you to go to the store ONCE this week. Save time. Save $$.

Grocery List Template

and as always, here is your menu planning template to print out, write your menu and stick on your fridge.  It is super cute!!

Menu Planning Template

Happy cooking and have a great week!

Menu Plan 18.0

 Menu 18:

Sunday – Salmon w/Herb Mustard Glaze

Monday – Melt in Your Mouth Chicken

Tuesday – Slow Cooker BBQ Pork

Wednesday – Healthy Breakfast Night

Thursday – Szechwan Shrimp

Friday – Chicken Tortilla Pie

Saturday – Bolognese Sauce

Sunday –  Salmon w/Herb Mustard Glaze.  This dish, by Giada de Laurentiis, is incredibly healthy for you and tastes great.  Sometimes a difficult combo to find.  This does call for fresh herbs but I use whatever I have in the spice cabinet.  Love fresh herbs but sometimes it’s just easier to go with dry spices.  The punch of the mustard with the salmon is fantastic!  Serve with rice and a leafy salad for a great Sunday dinner. 

Monday– Melt in Your Mouth Chicken Breasts.  With only 6 ingredients, ingredients you typically keep on hand at any given moment, this recipe, by Food.com is a definite mid-week meal winner!  How’s that for a run-on sentence.  🙂  Serve with noodles coated in olive oil and garlic salt and a veggie and you’re all set.  This is even kid-friendly!

Tuesday– Slow Cooker BBQ Pork.  This recipe from AllRecipes has only three ingredients!  Serve on wheat rolls and sweet potato fries on the side for the ultimate in comfort food night!!

Wednesday–  Breakfast for Dinner night!!

Thursday– Szechwan Shrimp. This is such an easy mid-week meal that tastes like you spent hours.  Serve with rice and edamame.  Yum!

Friday – Chicken Tortilla Pie.  Love this recipe from Myrecipes.com!  A few notes on this recipe:  For a mid-week time saver, buy a rotisserie chicken already cooked and I always buy jarred salsa (the recipe calls for fresh…maybe in the Summer that makes sense).  It also calls for a spring-form pan.  I do have one but if you don’t, don’t sweat it, just layer in a glass baking dish.  It won’t look as pretty and will be a bit harder to get out of the pan, but really… who cares?  It all tastes the same.  Delicious!  Serve with Zatarains Spanish Rice.

Saturday–   Bolognese Sauce.  (Slow Cooker Recipe by Myrecipes.com!) This takes a bit of prep work, but then you can sit back and let it cook all day in the slow cooker.  You will feel like a culinary genius when you sit down to eat this over your favorite pasta.  It tastes fresh, authentic and makes your house smell amazing all day.  

Don’t forget to click on the link below to use the printable grocery list!  This will help keep you on track as you shop.  Hope this helps streamline your grocery store trips! The goal is for you to go to the store ONCE this week. Save time. Save $$.

Grocery List Template

and as always, here is your menu planning template to print out, write your menu and stick on your fridge.  It is super cute!!

Menu Planning Template

Happy cooking and have a great week!

Menu Plan 17.0

 Menu 17:

Sunday – Baked Chicken w/Parmesan Crust.

Monday – Quesadilla Night!

Tuesday – Crock Pot Black Bean Chili

Wednesday – Spaghetti w/Sun-dried Tomatoes and Spinach

Thursday – Buffalo Chicken Salad!

Friday- No cooking for you!

Saturday – Grilled Salmon

Sunday –  Baked Chicken w/Parmesan Crust.  This recipe by Ted Allen is featured in this month’s Food Network Magazine (my favorite magazine).  It looks so good that I must try it!  I am going to serve with Baked Kale Chips (thanks Kristen for the recipe).  You will see over the next few weeks that I am sort over doing it on the kale.  Whenever I discover a new food, I tend to obsess focus on it too much.  I apologize in advance.  This meal is an easy meal that can be done on the weekend or even during the week.  Lots of protein and vitamins! 

Monday–  Quesadilla Night! If you click on the ‘quesadilla night’ on your left it will take you to one of my favorite recipes for quesadillas, but really this night is about making your own quesadilla.  The boys love just plain cheese.  I love black beans and Eric pretty much requires meat in everything he eats.  Serve with black beans and rice.  Such a simple night but everyone has fun deciding what to put on their own quesadilla.  

Tuesday–  Slow Cooker Black Bean Chili. This recipe (by AllRecipes) is technically not a slow cooker recipe but you can make it one.  Just brown the meat with the olive oil and onion, throw it all into the crock-pot and cook on low for 4-6 hours.  Serve with cornbread.  Delicious!

Wednesday–Spaghetti with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Spinach.  This recipe is from a really cute website/blog called two peas & their pod.   It is ridiculously easy,  healthy and delicious.  What more could you want, really? Serve with a good salad and maybe garlic bread (if you have the calories to spare).

Thursday– Buffalo Chicken Salad- This is just a copy-cat recipe of a salad that I used to eat ALL the time at my last employer’s cafeteria.  I had worked there off and on for 12 years and it was always my go-to salad.  Chop romaine lettuce into bite sized pieces, add tomatoes, cucumbers and breaded chicken breasts soaked in buffalo sauce (to save time, we use heated chicken patties dipped in Frank’s Red Hot Sauce).  Top with a little shredded cheddar and a few fried onions (like the kind you put on green bean casserole).  Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing.  Fantastic!!!  

Friday –  No Cook Friday!

Saturday–   Grilled Salmon.  This recipe from AllRecipes is one of my favorite go-to Salmon recipes.  It is easy and full of flavor!  I do use olive oil in place of the vegetable oil.  I just can’t do vegetable oil.  This recipe also points you in the direction of the grill.  No can do right now, so I just throw in a glass dish and bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees.  I like to serve with thin spaghetti (w/olive oil and garlic) and frozen green beans (they taste fresher to me than the can).   

Don’t forget to click on the link below to use the printable grocery list!  This will help keep you on track as you shop.  Hope this helps streamline your grocery store trips! The goal is for you to go to the store ONCE this week. Save time. Save $$.

Grocery List Template

and as always, here is your menu planning template to print out, write your menu and stick on your fridge.  It is super cute!!

Menu Planning Template

Happy cooking and have a great week!

Menu Plan 16.0

Week 16:

Sunday – Mexican Casserole

Monday – Barbecue Roasted Salmon

Tuesday – Herbed Chicken Nuggets

Wednesday – Healthy Breakfast Night

Thursday – Fish Tacos with Chipotle Cream

Saturday- Rest and Relaxation Night

Saturday – Hearty Chicken and Vegetable Soup

Sunday – Mexican Casserole. For those of you familiar with weight watchers-this recipe from Food.com is only 6.5 points!   The only changes I make are omitting the cilantro (not a fan) and I use plain Greek yogurt in place of the nonfat sour cream (yuck.  No offense to those that dig it).  The portions are big so you are definitely feeling full after this dinner!

Monday–  Barbecue Roasted Salmon.  I am forever looking for new ways to prepare salmon.  We love salmon and love to have it once a week but I get tired of the same recipes over and over.  This recipe by Cooking Light was full of flavor!  I didn’t change one thing.  Serve with Easy Zucchini Parmesan.   Perfect.

Tuesday–  Herbed Chicken Nuggets – I am not sure why it took so long for me to try this recipe (from AllRecipes).  I ALWAYS buy frozen nuggets for the boys and they always seem questionable at best (if you know what I mean).  These are fantastic!  They are easy, you can control the level of seasoning, you control the type of chicken you use AND they are baked not fried.  I am going to make these again next week and test making extra, freezing and reheating.  I’ll keep you posted.  Serve with sweet potato fries.  

Wednesday– Healthy breakfast night.  Omelets with 3 egg whites/1 yolk, turkey bacon and whole wheat toast!  Delicious.  Click on the link below to see my blog on how to make the perfect omelet.

How to make a perfect omelet.

Thursday– Fish Tacos with Chipotle Cream – In keeping with my New Year/New Healthier Recipes theme, I sought out a fish taco recipe that would come close to replacing my unhealthier but delicious breaded fish/avocado tacos that we have come to love on a semi-weekly basis.  This recipe by Ellie Krieger tastes light, fresh and definitely a step in the right direction.  Serve with black beans and rice (if you really want to get crazy healthy, go for brown rice instead of white).

Friday – Rest and relaxation night.  Yeah right.  Just don’t cook!

Saturday–   Hearty Italian Chicken and Vegetable Soup – Aaah.  Who needs a warm, comforting soup night?? Me, that’s who! So excited to make this again next week!    This soup recipe from The Food Network is one of my faves.  If you make a big enough batch, you can freeze in smaller portions for lunch during the week.

Don’t forget to click on the link below to use the printable grocery list!  This will help keep you on track as you shop.  Hope this helps streamline your grocery store trips! The goal is for you to go to the store ONCE this week. Save time. Save $$.

Grocery List Template

and as always, here is your menu planning template to print out, write your menu and stick on your fridge.  It is super cute!!

Menu Planning Template

Happy cooking!

Menu Plan 15.0

Week 15:

Okay, I admit it… I have failed all of you, my faithful followers.  I had BIG plans to help you as you approached the Holiday season (cookie recipes/holiday dinner recipes/desserts) but life became crazy busy and something had to give.  The blog was the first to go BUT I am back on track.  As we approach the New Year, I wish you all a year filled with peace, happiness, health, love and of course good food. 🙂

(For my new followers, click on the name of the recipe (not the pic) to get to the recipe details.)

Sunday – Beef Carnitas Tacos

Monday – Crab Legs

Happy New Year from Minced Reviews!

Wednesday – Black Beans and Chicken

Thursday – Chip Crusted Fish Fillets

Friday – Take a break night

Saturday – French Onion Soup

Sunday – Beef Carnitas Tacos. This recipe by Cooking Light is soooooo fantastic.  It is a little more complicated.  Good for a Sunday meal.  You do have to make the Beef Carnitas first to use for this recipe.  You can buy beef carnitas already prepared at the store if you need/want to save time.  I have bought the beef from Trader Joes and it is really good.

Monday–  Happy New Year’s Eve!!   Hopefully, you are going to spend the evening with loved ones.  If you are going out for dinner… enjoy!!  If you are staying in… I highly recommend a decadent night of king crab legs w/real melted butter, scallops (sautéed in garlic/butter) and shrimp cocktail.  (my mouth is watering)  Click on the link below for more info on how to buy/cook crab legs.

How to cook crab legs??

Tuesday–   Happy New Year!!  I am going to be adding healthier recipes to the weekly menu blog so that we can have a better balance in our diets.  I have been guilty of adding ‘not so healthy’ recipes that we love to the blog and I still will but I am striving to create healthier dishes.  This may mean that I will alter a recipe to make it healthy and will give you the tips/changes or I will post healthy recipes that I have tested as is.  

Wednesday– Black beans and Chicken Breasts – This AllRecipes dish is actually for pork chops but I am recommending that you substitute chicken breasts for the pork chops for an even healthier twist.  This is such an incredibly easy, healthy one pot meal that I keep coming back to again and again.  

Thursday– Chip-Crusted Fish Fillets.   This is a crazy easy but delicious mid-week meal by Cooking Light.  It is only 5 ingredients!  It calls for Canola mayonnaise.  I had olive oil mayo and it worked just fine.  I also don’t do light Ranch.  A 1/2 cup of ranch is crazy bad for you so I just used a tiny bit to dip the fish in.  The fish has so much flavor as is.  I personally love salt and vinegar chips so I loved that crunchy taste on my fish but if that flavor is too strong for you, try another flavor chip!  

Friday–  Take a break from all this cooking night!!!  Eat leftovers, go to dinner, make someone else cook, something, anything!!  🙂

Saturday–   French Three Onion Soup.   This soup from Food Network takes a bit of work but is well worth it.  It is a far healthier version than my original post for French Onion Soup a couple of months ago.  Per serving, this soup has 317 calories, 10.5 g of fat and  357 mg of sodium.  As a crazy point of reference, my original recipe packed 618 calories per serving, 36 g of fat and 3433 mg of sodium.  Yikes.  Double yikes.  Try this one for a MUCH healthier version.  

Don’t forget to click on the link below to use the printable grocery list!  This will help keep you on track as you shop.  Hope this helps streamline your grocery store trips! The goal is for you to go to the store ONCE this week. Save time. Save $$.

Grocery List Template

and as always, here is your menu planning template to print out, write your menu and stick on your fridge.  It is super cute!!

Menu Planning Template

Happy New Year and happy cooking!

Menu Plan 14.0

Week 14:

Sunday – Fettuccine with Sausage and Kale.

Monday – Fish Cakes

Tuesday – Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Wednesday – Breakfast Night

Thursday – Mexican Chicken Casserole.

Saturday – Risotto with Pesto and Peas.

Sunday – fettuccine with Sausage and Kale.   Lately I have been obsessed with Kale.  This recipe was too easy not to try.  Loved the combo of noodles, sausage and kale.  Especially as an alternative to spinach.  Note that on this link to Rachel Ray’s recipe, it calls for 12 cups of water.  This is a TYPO!  It should be 1/2 cup.  Also, it is a little vague how small to chop the kale.  Err on the side of smaller pieces.   I recommend adding a little olive to the fettuccine noodles after you drain them to prevent sticking.

Monday–  Fish Cakes. Yikes… okay, I admit it, the name of the recipe sounds a little ick.  This is a simple Kraft recipe that I love because you can tailor the taste by using your fish of choice.  I personally like to use crab meat. I also love to make a spicy Thai chili sauce to serve on top of the crab cakes.  I don’t have an exact recipe but basically I use about a cup of mayo, a couple of tablespoons of Thai chili sauce and I squeeze the juice out of a 1/2 a lemon.  I recommend that you make the sauce before you make the fish cakes so that the flavors have a little time to meld.  

Tuesday–  Slow Cooker Beef Stew.  This is a great mid-week slow cooker recipe.  If you really need to cut corners, you can by the beef stew kit in the produce section of your grocery store, buy the beef stew slow cooker packet in the spice aisle and call it a day.  If you have a little more time on your hands, the link above is to an easy recipe on AllRecipes that I have used for quite some time.  I serve with biscuits.  Aah, comfort food.  Easy and it smells wonderful when you get home.  

Wednesday– Breakfast night!!!  We haven’t had one in awhile.  Such a fun, family dinner kind of night.  Pancakes, eggs, toast, bacon.  Yum!!

Thursday– Mexican Chicken. This recipe from Paula Deen is not healthy.  I repeat.. not healthy.  At all.  BUT…delish. Once in a while that just has to be a priority, right???  **Recipe Notes** I use Rotel in place of tomatoes.  I cut down the soup to two cans of cream soup instead of three.  It was a little soupy the first time I made this with all three cans.

Friday– Fun family night?  Date night?  Whatev.  Just DON’T cook!  

Saturday–   Risotto with Pesto and Peas.  This recipe.  Wow.  This recipe.  At a loss for words.  After making this once, this has already become one of my most favorite recipes.  You definitely need to be a fan of pesto to dig the this recipe.  It does dominate.  BUT I am fan AND I do love it.   Really, the picture should say it all.  🙂 

Don’t forget to click on the link below to use the printable grocery list!  This will help keep you on track as you shop.  Hope this helps streamline your grocery store trips! The goal is for you to go to the store ONCE this week. Save time. Save $$.

Grocery List Template

and as always, here is your menu planning template to print out, write your menu and stick on your fridge.  It is super cute!!

Menu Planning Template

Happy cooking!