Menu Plan Monday

Normally when preparing my menu, I try to be really organized. Planning everything down to the last bite. I don't always follow it but I try!

This week I have a few things going on and so dinners will be kind of...fly by the seat of my pants. So I am making a menu-ish for this week!

If this fails miserably, I will be back to full blown organized meals!

Monday: hamburgers, potato salad, applesauce

Tuesday: chicken stir fry, rolls

Wednesday: pizza, fruit, breadsticks

Thursday: busy night!! Soup and sandwiches w/ some fruit

Friday: shopping all day for freezer cooking on Saturday! breakfast for dinner (making extras for the freezer)

Saturday: I will share the menu I am making for my freezer cooking meals later on, but I will probably let my kids have a "happy meal". The definiton of Happy meal at our house is, "whatever you can find at home that makes you happy...that's your meal!"

Sunday: roast, potatoes & carrots, rolls
Rice Krispie treats for dessert

For hundreds of menus, head on over to Organizing Junkie!

Head to toe

Every morning, before my kids are even allowed to put a toe into the play room, I ask them, "Are you HEAD TO TOE READY TO GO?" They know this means that starting with their heads....

Is my hair brushed?
Face washed?
Teeth brushed?
Clean shirt?
Clean underwear?
Clean pants/shorts?
Do I have my socks on?
Do I have my shoes on?
Are my shoes tied tightly?

I think it really helps them to have that visual. Instead of Mom just saying, "are you ready to go?!"

That's what works for me! You can head over to We are THAT family, to get more ideas and tips on just about every subject on the planet! (:

Woo hoo!!

So I was going to try to avoid the stores this week, except for my freezer cooking. BUT I have some sweet sales going on at my stores. And it has been awhile since I did some SERIOUS coupon shopping.

I can't wait. I can skip next week right? I guess it all depends on what is on sale! (:

******MAKE SURE YOU GET EXTRA PAPERS TOMORROW. THERE WILL BE 4 INSERTS. 2 SMART SOURCE, 1 RED PLUM AND 1 GENERAL MILLS. GREAT WEEKEND FOR COUPONS!*********

Freezer Cooking

Oh the shame...I have a confession. This week my family consumed two, count them, two "McDinners". Ugh! I can't believe how much it cost me,and I make my kids eat off the dollar menu!!

After throwing away my weight in uneaten french fries, I knew something must be done.

So I headed to the freezer. I pulled out a bag of marinated chicken thighs (teriyaki), and some brocoli. I did end up grabbing some pasta roni, teriyaki flavored out of the pantry. And some yummy french bread. And guess what?

****I didn't throw anything away!! The meal was dEvOuREd!****

I felt so much better giving my kids good, healthy (somewhat!!) food and it didn't take any more time than it did to stop at a drive thru. So guess what?

This week I am taking the plunge. A 2 week plan. Oh gracious. I am excited but a little nervous. I will keep you all posted!

For more info on freezer cooking, head over to Life As Mom!

Awesome Deal!!

I was looking at some of my favorite blogs and spotted this GREAT deal!! I absolutely LOVE the website Deals to Meals

She gives you lists of the best deals at your stores. Then from there, gives you a week worths of menu's based on those sales!

You get great deals, and you also help build up your food storage/stockpiles. You will just gush over her food storage pictures!

This deal actually started yesterday but make sure to get in on it now. You can go now to get a free week subscription. It is a very good deal anyway (only $4.95 a month). But I highly suggest you try it out!

Just go to Deals to Meals to check it all out!

Cooking Thursday

(picture taken from Kraft's website.)

OK, big confession. I did not do any cooking today...or yesterday!

I feel a **bit** behind the times but...I just started reading The Hunger Games. No not Mockingjay (the last in the series) but the first one. I read a chapter here and a chapter there...

...and then I spent my whole kid free morning reading. I am not done yet so no spoiling the ending!

Because of my just sitting around I don't have a recipe to share! :( But, I did get one of my favorite food magazines in the mail today! I love the Kraft Food & Family magazine. I loved it better when it was free, but what are you gonna do?!

So I am going to share a recipe that I WANT to make. Maybe tomorrow?

**Also, as a lover of recipes, I have started a new meme. Nobody joined last week :( So I am hoping to get some more people to come and link up! Every Sunday I will be posting a recipe that will make for a "Sweet Sunday" Please share your favorite treat recipe and link up!

Beef & Cheese Foldover
1 lb ground beef
1 onion chopped
1 cup frozen corn
1/4 cup ketchup
2 Tbsp A1 steak sauce
1/2 cup hot water
2 cups all purpose baking mix
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
1/2 tsp parsley flakes

***TIP*** If you wan to make it a little healthier, you can have lean ground beef, reduced fat baking mix, and a reduced fat cheese blend!

Heat oven to 375

Brown meat with onions in large skillet, drain. Stir in corn, ketchup and steak sauce. Set aside.

Add hot water to baking mix. Stir until it forms a dough. Shape into a ball. Place on lightly floured surface, knead 5 times or until smooth and no longer sticky. Roll into a 12 in. circle, transfer to baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.

Spoon meat mixture onto center of dough. Spread to within 2 in. of edge. Fold edge of dough over meat, leaving center uncovered.

Bake for 20 min. Top filling with cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley.

**Recipe taken from Kraft**

I think it would also be yummy to top with sour cream and pico de gallo! Yum!

If you want to make this to go into the freezer...

Make double amount of meat mixture. Once it has cooled, put it in a labeled bag. Put desired amount of cheese into a smaller bag. Place the bag of cheese inside the bag with meat mixture. Freeze. Then when it comes time to making it, pull the bag of cheese out and let the meat mixture thaw in the fridge. At dinner time, all you have to do is make the dough!

Dinner idea:add a green salad, carrot sticks w/ dip, spanish rice, and tortilla chips.

For more cooking inspiration, head over to Diary of a Stay at Home Mom!

WFMW-after school routines

(One of the boys who was part of the problem!)

My house this morning:

"It is time to head out the door boys!"

" Mom, I have two papers for you to sign."

"Mom did you put my homework in my backpack? I can't find it."

Me: " did you boys do your after school routine yesterday?"

boys: " uhmmm..."

Kids thrive on routine. Knowing what comes next. When they go to school, they know that they get in their line, walk to their class, put their backpack on the hook, put their lunch bag in their cubby...etc. They always know what to expect.

Our afternoon routine looks like this:

***put your backpack on your hook

***take your lunch bag out and put it on the kitchen counter

***eat a MOM APPROVED snack

*** give Mom your folder

***homework

**put everything back in your bag that needs to go in there

Of course, once after school clubs start, life will get busier and we may have to adjust. But for now, that's what works for me!

***For more great ideas, go check out We are THAT family!