Queen Mother Blog

I haven't figured out the WW points for my recipes this week, but everything is very WW-friendly.  If you have read this blog for a while, you might remember a little series I did on pantry/freezer organization.  I've been wanting to re-do that, as I have reached a place again where I have no idea what I have.  I haven't had the time to set aside to do this, but I do want to use up some cans that have been bouncing around for some time (salmon & chicken...I'm not a fan of either in canned form, but I want to just use them up).  So I just put this together really quick using a couple of "stand-by" favorites:

Monday- This recipe for WW Beef Goulash

Tuesday- Salmon casserole from Fix-it and Forget It Lightly cookbook (I found a linked up copy of this recipe on this page, it is near the bottom)

Wednesday- My stand-by Chicken & Orzo

Thursday- Homemade pizza

Friday- Another standy-by, Chicken Tortilla Soup

Saturday- Out!

Sunday- Leftovers

If you need a little inspiration, check out the other menu plans over at Orgjunkie.com!

I did pretty well at my weigh-in last week (down 1.8 lbs) but I'm not so sure I'm going to be so successful this week ;o)  I had dinner out with a friend, a cookie-swap & an impromptu dinner at Don Pablo's Saturday night.  Why is it so hard to order 'healthy' Mexican food??  Also, I have to say, from my menu plan last week the Chicken & Macaroni crock-pot recipe for Friday was a bummer.  I learned that if you leave elbow noodles in a crockpot for 6 hours they will completely disintegrate into a pastey goo.  Who knew?!

So this week I'm trying some new stuff.  If the magazine recipe turns out well, maybe I'll post it up =) Here goes:

Monday- The new January issue of Family Circle has a recipe for Unstuffed Cabbage and I figured the points out to be 5 pts. per serving without counting sides.  I also just found the recipe online for you, here.

Tuesday- Another FC recipe for the month is Oriental Glazed Chicken, also 5 pts. not counting rice but including the cabbage slaw.

Wednesday- Healthified Mexican Pasta Skillet (7 pts.)

Thursday- Leftovers

Friday- Linguine with Red Clam Sauce (this is just the canned kind; its only 2 pts. per serving for the sauce)

Saturday- Out!

Sunday- I have shrimp in the freezer that I don't know what to do with, but I've been wanting to make a "different" pizza (maybe shrimp and spinach?).  I found this recipe for Whole Wheat Pizza Dough that you can make up and keep in the freezer; I think I'm going to make the two the recipe yields, only use one and then freeze the other crust for another time.  I put the recipe into the WW Recipe Builder and the points (using 2 cups of whole wheat flour, not 3) makes 2 crusts at 11 pts. each.  Then you can figure out how much of the crust you are going to eat and divide the points.

Be sure to check out the other menus over at Menu Plan Monday!

Monday- Thin sliced porkchops with shake & bake - 3 pts. for 4oz.

Tuesday- My old standby Springtime Pasta (I really do eat this almost every other week I think) It makes 6 servings at 6-7 points each (depending on which garlic & herb cheese spread you use)

Wednesday- The first Meatloaf recipe mentioned here except I use half ground turkey and half beef, eliminate the brown sugar and it's only 3 pts. per serving (6 servings)

Thursday- I'm going out to dinner with a friend (woohoo!) so Marc will be eating Springtime Pasta leftovers =)

Friday- Creamy Chicken & Mushrooms Macaroni casserole (While you are there, there are tons of great recipes on her site) 5 pts. per 1 cup serving

Saturday- Leftovers

Sunday- Bruschetta Chicken Bake (another old standby ;o) 6 pts.

Be sure to check out the other menu plans over at Menu Plan Monday!

It's a little late (seeing as we already ate our Monday night meal, lol) & not too exciting, but I wanted to go ahead and get a MPM post up this week, since I am determined to be back on track this week :D

Monday- Grilled chicken teriyaki

Tuesday- Bringing a freezer meal to my sister's place (remember, she just had a baby!) - We'll eat it together

Wednesday- My old stand-by, Springtime Pasta (here is the link to an old MPM where I list this, the easiest recipe ever)

Thursday- Pork Chops with apple stuffing (I can't find this online to link up, it's in the Pillsbury Pot Pies & Casseroles book that is in stores now)

Friday- Beef enchilada stack (also in the Pillsbury book; if these recipes are worthwhile I'll take pics and blog about them)

Saturday- Out!

Sunday- Burgers/dogs on the grill

Check out the other menu plans over at Menu Plan Monday!

Every week something comes up where I don't make one or two of the meals that I've planned. This week was no different! From last week's menu plan we had the chicken tortilla soup (yummy as usual), the cheesy chicken manicotti which was pretty good (it would have been better if I didn't use canned chicken, but hey I wanted to use it up!), and the salmon filets. I have to say that the star of the week was the salmon. I just put olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper, and some fish seasoning crumbs on them and they came out great. I had enough for my Mom to eat dinner at my house, and she said they were like something from a restaurant. Seriously, I can never make fish and those turned out so well, I'm thinking I'm going to make them again this week. They're still on sale ;)

On a side note, I had to make a breakfast casserole for a ladies' group I went to, and I made this recipe for Amish Breakfast Casserole, and I think it was really yummy. I guess a lot of cheese and potatoes will do that to a meal, but really I wanted to recommend it in case you ever need to make something for a breakfast/brunch gathering. The cottage cheese is totally hidden and keeps the eggs really moist and soft.

Monday- Last week I had bought everything I needed for the Rachael Ray Drunken Tuscan Pasta recipe (and I have to say it was so ridiculously expensive. Once I try it I will need to substitute some things, because I seriously must have paid close to $20 for this one meal, um, Yikes!!) and I never had the chance to make it yet, so this is first on my list.

Tuesday- I have some ham and some canned asparagus (which my husband will not eat, unless it is cooked in something) so I am going to try this recipe for Asparagus and Ham Casserole. I also have a bunch of rice, so this uses all things I already have tons of.

Wednesday- The baked salmon again! It was a winner and it's still on sale at Acme this week.

Thursday- I had reviewed the Bruschetta Chicken Bake recipe before here. It's another one of our "tried and true" favorites.

Friday- Leftovers

Saturday- Out! For my brother's birthday, happy birthday Eric!! :)

Sunday- Italian Pasta Bake from Kraft food and family. It wouldn't be me if I didn't use one of their recipes, right?

Check out the other menu plans at Menu Plan Monday!

In my last week's menu plan I have to say that the vegetable lasagna and the chili mac both turned out nicely. I never got a chance to make the chicken tortilla soup, so you will see that yet again this week!

Monday- I have a half block of random leftover Velveeta (from a cheese dip recipe) and I happened upon this recipe in an old issue of Kraft food and family magazine (and by the way, did they stop making that in print form?). It is great because it uses a random box of manicotti that I have had for a while and that half block of Velveeta. Yay! Here is the recipe for Shortcut Chicken Manicotti.

Tuesday- The good ol' Chicken Tortilla Soup again :)

Wednesday- Salmon filets are on sale at Acme this week and I'm really craving salmon for some reason. I'll make that with broccoli and rice.

Thursday- Leftovers! There will already be a'plenty.

Friday- I just got Rachael Ray's Express Lane Meals cookbook and I can't wait to try some of the recipes, as they mostly use pantry items and I love that :) She has one called Drunken Tuscan pasta which uses greens, pancetta and spaghetti that was cooked in red wine. I will definitely not be cooking my spaghetti in a whole bottle of red wine, but I will still try the recipe as I love no-sauce pastas.

Saturday- Out!

Sunday- We really love chili in our house, and this is the recipe that I have made for years. It is so easy and it is also easy to freeze a batch. Here is the recipe for Spicy Freezer Chili (but it's really not that spicy!)

Check out the other menu plans over at Menu Plan Monday!

Phew! Last week I was super-light on posts, and missed Menu Plan Monday AND Works for me Wednesday, both! But I'm happy to say that I am back on track this week. We have a couple of nights out this week, but here is what I have for the week:

Monday- I have had a zucchini lasagna in mind for a couple of weeks now and I still haven't made it. I found this recipe on AllRecipes and the reviews look great, and since it still has a meat sauce my husband shouldn't complain about veggies in lieu of noodles.

Tuesday- This weekend we had Valentine's Day dinner at home, and my husband was sent to pick up our take-out order. He somehow misunderstood me (really?) and picked up the cooked asparagus from the take-out store and also from the supermarket, a bunch of raw asparagus. There is a pasta dish I make that is one of his favorites, which was originally entitled "springtime pasta" so that is what we call it. It is a box of pasta boiled with cut, fresh asparagus then drained, add halved grape tomatoes and one container of Boursin or Alouette garlic and herb cheese. It's that easy and we like it (it also makes a ton of leftovers for us). You may want to save some pasta water to water down the cheese a bit.

Wednesday- A few weeks ago I made this recipe for Chicken Tortilla Soup that I found on someone's blog. It was a hit and very easy to make in the crockpot, so we are having that again.

Thursday- We have different things going on and will eat some leftovers.

Friday- Kraft foods has this really easy recipe for Chili Mac, which I'm going to make since my mom gave me a value size box of Velveeta shells and cheese and I'm at a loss with how to use it all!

Saturday- Going out for our wedding anniversary, yay!

Sunday- Polishing up all of our leftovers.

Be sure to check out the other menu plans over at Menu Plan Monday! And while you are here, throw a quick entry in my giveaway for three Yoplait price packs! Just click here to check it out.

Last week I missed Menu Plan Monday with all the Bloggy Giveaway madness, but I'm back! I did a huge grocery and produce run today, so we are stocked. There are some good recipes that I want to try, and I will post them as I make them. Here is my plan:

Monday- Beef stew in the crockpot

Tuesday- Green chicken enchiladas using homemade tomatillo sauce (I got a huge bag of tomatillos at Produce Junction for $2, enough to make this sauce and freeze a couple batches)

Wednesday- Portabella mushroom soup (I love mushrooms and I have big hopes for this one, lol)

Thursday- Zucchini "lasagna"

Friday- Leftovers

Saturday- Out!

Sunday- Pizza or sandwiches...something fast

No fun links this week, but I'll post some pics and recipes of the good ones. Check out all of the other menu plans over at OrgJunkie!

Last week's dinners were pretty uneventful. Marc was not looking forward to the frozen chicken and rice dish, but it defrosted well and was pretty tasty. Still have no idea where that recipe came from! Also, somehow last week I never ended up making the spaghetti and I can't even remember why? But you'll see it again this week...

Monday- ...ta-da! Spaghetti :)

Tuesday- Tilapia filets with breadcrumbs, capers and lemon juice

Wednesday- I'm going to try some variation of this potato dish. I like it because I have TONS of potatoes right now so I will just shred some and use them instead of frozen. It also looks like I could throw in a bunch of extra veggies.

Thursday- I have two roasting-type chickens in my freezer that I have no idea what to do with. I think I'm going to try the recipe Laura at orgjunkie was making last week for Lemon and Garlic Roast Chicken.

Friday- There is a random box of frozen kale in my freezer, too. I really have no idea why I bought it, but I think I can sneak it into this lasagna instead of the box of frozen spinach. Using jarred sauce will save some time, and I think the strong flavor from Italian sausage will make us not notice that it's kale instead of spinach.

Saturday- Out!

Sunday- Leftover extravaganza =)

Be sure to check out the other menus at Menu Plan Monday!

First I have to say that participating in Menu Plan Monday over at orgjunkie.com really worked well for me last week. In my ongoing quest to organize my pantry and freezers, I am also trying to be more mindful of using what I have on hand. Since I already knew what I was making, it saved time and saved me money by not really buying anything extra.

On Monday we had the Chicken Tortilla Soup and I have to say that we really enjoyed it, even as leftovers. Marc thought that it was "spicy, but not too spicy" because I have accidentally made some outrageously overly-spicy (to the point of being inedible) meals before and this one was perfect. I didn't have a can of tomato sauce so I used a can of condensed tomato soup and half a can of water and it came out great. It was also a good way to use up those bottom of the bag nacho chips.

So for this week, which is pretty busy, my meal plan is not too exciting at all:

Monday- Out for dinner!

Tuesday- Both going our separate ways, so we will polish off leftovers...I have tons.

Wednesday- Pepper and onion steak over rice - I have some "eye of round" steaks in my freezer that I have had no idea what to do with. For this recipe I'll just cut them into strips.

Thursday- I have a pan in the freezer of rice with stuffed chicken breasts that I made a while ago, when I guess I had extra time or energy (when the heck was that?) and I'm going to cook it up and eat them. I can't find the recipe, but it definitely came from About.com's freezer recipes somewhere.

Friday- Spaghetti

Saturday- Finishing off the leftovers from these couple meals (oh, the joys of cooking for two, when every recipe is for four)

Sunday- Football! And a family birthday party, so I'm off the hook for cooking :)

Check out the other (and probably way more interesting) menu plans over at Menu Plan Monday!

Part of the series that I am just starting about pantry/freezer organization is to use what you have on hand. Through my cabinet cleanout I found tons of stuff that I didn't know I had, and then annoying things like two opened canisters of bread crumbs. I am going to start participating in Orgjunkie's Menu Plan Monday, which is where tons of bloggers put up what they are making for the week. One so it helps you be more organized by being a bit accountable to stick to a menu plan, and two because you can pick up a bunch of new ideas and recipes from other people.
So here is my plan for the week:

Monday- Chicken Tortilla Soup in the crockpot - found the recipe here

Tuesday- Penne with jarred vodka sauce, and I'll add some cooked bacon (I have just a few strips left), peas and parmesan

Wednesday- I have a frozen meatloaf from when I made one and made an extra to freeze. I used this recipe from Paula Deen, but used turkey instead of beef and eliminated the green pepper. It turned out great.

Thursday- I bought some pesto to make this Tuscan Chicken Simmer from Kraft food and family. For some reason I always really like their recipes, lol.

Friday- Turkey Tetrazzini from an old Family Circle magazine. If it turns out good, I'll post the recipe here. ;)

Saturday- Going out!

Sunday- Clean out leftovers/eat whatever the football friends bring over!

So we'll see how these go! Check out the other menu plans at Menu Plan Monday!