Menu Plan Week 106 - Using What We Have

Is any one else distressed that it's already the 3rd week of January? Geesh Louise ... time is just flying by lately!

I'm still trying to plug away on the Pantry Challenge and very happy to report that I could probably put some ice cream in the garage freezer if the opportunity was to arise ... but I don't think that will be happening any time soon ;-) I have goals and am trying to show some willpower!!

I was doing so very well with the Pantry Challenge up until last Tuesday .... when I had to run to Costco to get some stuff for my dad ... honestly, I really wanted to stay out of the store but he needed more Depends, and well, Costco has the BEST price for those darn things...so off I went. Ahem. I haven't shared the trip yet, but it was over from what I wanted to spend (and I even walked away from some stuff I had on my list) ... more than anything, it was the protein shakes, bottle of aleve, and a few other things that put me over what I wanted to spend.  Being that I've done fairly well for the month so far, I'm not going to beat myself up too badly, BUT do plan on staying away from the stores this week!

I am hoping to do a little advance food prep on Sunday and Monday and maybe even get some meals completely together to make my life a little easier this week, just in case I get the urge to go to the gym (hello!? I do have a gym membership, why am I NOT using it??)

Here's what we are looking to have this week:

Sunday - Gourmet Hot Dogs (freezer) ... sent Hubby to the store to get buns yesterday so we are good on that ... will serve fries (freezer) along with a small garden salad. Serving 6 (GO COLTS!)

Monday - I'm off and hoping to get quite a bit of food prep in place for the week ahead today. I have an asian chicken recipe I want to try and since I will have time during the day, will prepare and see if it's worthy of sharing with the family! Chicken from freezer, rice from pantry, balance of ingredients from pantry too ... feeding 4 (didn't make this last week so it's on again!)

Tuesday - Black Bean Soup (pantry ingredients) along with Cubanos (cooked pork loin from freezer on Saturday in the crockpot) using ham from freezer, cheese from fridge and one of the never ending italian loaves from the freezer. I'm actually excited for this dinner! The soup will be made on Monday. Feeding 4 to 6


Wednesday - Crockpot Ranch Chicken. Chicken from freezer, balance of ingredients from pantry... most likely will serve rice (pantry) alongside as I don't think I have any potatoes left. Will also make some steamed broccoli from the fridge (Costco). Feeding 6


Thursday - Flatbread Pizzas ... using some flatbread from the freezer along with pepperoni and cheese from freezer. I might open up a can of mushrooms and black olives to garnish with also ... will use some jarred marinara sauce for the sauce ... feeding 6

Friday - Thinking along the lines of spaghetti and meatballs or meatball subs since I have the marinara sauce opened from Thursday and I do have a bag of meatballs in the freezer ... IF I do the spaghetti version, will try to do zoodles so I can use the zucchini I have and give the spiralizer a whirl!

Saturday - 50th Birthday party for a friend this evening ... I'm sure there will be some yummy eats to be had ... I will probably buy stuff to make the bite size caprese since it's always such a huge hit wherever we go! Ugh, does that mean COSTCO again? :-) If so, I will certainly have a list in hand and CASH only as I know that's the only way I can do a trip there!



What are YOU making this week??

Linking up with Organized Junkie's Menu Plan Monday ... go check it out!

Comments

  1. JeanSunday, January 18, 2015

    I can't believe how fast January is flying by us! I'm actually making hot dogs this week as well for my kids. I'm making us chicken sausage and cabbage.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jewlz280Monday, January 19, 2015

    Ah! Here is the update! Costco is a killer for sure. I love going... but I hate paying! I've been strong the last two trips and I'm pretty happy with how I've handled it. It helps that I have been going when the hubbs is at work and kiddos at school. MUCH easier then. I don't really 'menu plan', though. I've tried to in the past and it always was a big ol' flunk out. But I like coming to your blog because your food ideas look good. I already tried the chocolate chip vanilla cake and it was a HUGE hit at my house. I'm going to make it again -- but with chocolate cake so I'm hoping it will be like those chocolate chocolate chunk cookies from gourmet shops!

    ReplyDelete
  3. DontSayHurryMonday, January 19, 2015

    Yes, I love using up what we have first, it makes the grocery budget go down. except this week hubby is cooking cus i've been bed ridden :( So he's been going to the grocery store almost everyday! It sucks. I'm going to show him the crockpot chicken to see if he can make that :)
    Cinella @ TMB
    visiting from MPM linky, we're linky sisters, so i thought i'd check ya out. Glad i did!

    ReplyDelete

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