Hi all! I hope everyone had a sunny weekend, I’m happy to report my legs are no longer pasty white! Here we are in June (my birthday month, yay!) and many of you have kids finished school and home for the summer already, wow! Around here the kids aren’t done until the end of June.
Thanks to each and every one of you that participate in Menu Plan Monday each week and are enjoying the benefits that weekly menu planning provides. I do know that some of you are still on the fence about the whole thing. Believe me when I say that I do not know how I ever got by WITHOUT menu planning and if I can do it anyone can. Really, truly. It’s that easy! For a step by step guide on menu planning basics I’d like to recommend to you the FREE Menu Planning Basics report put out by Menu Planning Central. If you are still trying to decide if menu planning is for you then this e-book will walk you through the benefits and process. Simply go to this page and provide your email address. In return they’ll email you a copy of their 13 page Menu Planning Basics e-book FREE. The best part is you get to keep the e-book as a valuable resource even if you chose not to buy their service. I am an affliate of this resource but the report is free and it’s great and there is no obligation to purchase anything else.
From last week’s menu our household really enjoyed the Ham ‘n’ Cheese Pasta (I also enjoyed how easy it was to make!) and Joy’s Yogurt Glazed Chicken was really yummy as well. I would definitely make them both again.
Okay so this week, hmmmm, let’s see:
Monday: Baked Deli Focaccia Sandwich served with tossed salad
Tuesday: Crispy Baked Chicken served with corn on the cob
Wednesday: Easy Italian Pasta Bake (I’ll add in some zucchini as well)
Thursday: Leftover buffet
Friday: Sizzling Beef and Vegetable Kabobs served with Basil Garlic Bread (bread machine)
Saturday: Taco Salad Bowls (these are soooo good!)
Sunday: If you can find it, you can eat it!
WHAT’S ON YOUR MENU?
Menu Plan Monday guidelines and banner selection can be found here.
PlanningQueen says
I think the hardest step with menu planning is getting started. Once you do, the benefits make life so much easier, that it needs to become part of you routine. Linking in to your MPM is always great motivation as well! Thanks for hosting.
Michelle says
Hi Laura.the meals look wonderful especially the Baked Deli focaccia Baked Sandwich..yum-oh… Have a great week and thanks for hosting 😉
Candi says
Yum–it all sounds great. Truly, I thought all people planned out their menu before going shopping. I’m not sure why–as I don’t think my dad ever did (I lived with him growing up), but I moved out when I was 18 and HAD to menu plan. I didn’t have much money so I had to make sure that what I bought I could make meals with!!
Sheila Gregoire says
Hi Laura! Thanks for starting our week off right!
This week I’m talking about what to make when you have no time and you don’t want to spend money on take out.
That’s my life with track meets these days!
Have a good week!
Visit To Love, Honor and Vacuum today!
Erin says
The taco bowl looks good. I noticed it’s from Kraft Canada website. Is the Miracle Whip Calorie-Wise dressing something that can be found in the US? Is it just regular Miracle Whip?
Laura says
Hi Erin, I’m pretty sure you should be able to find it in the US. It’s basically Miracle Whip Light. So good!
Allie says
Wow! Your menu looks so delicious! I love focaccia bread. The crispy baked chicken looks great as well.
I noticed that you plan to add zucchini to your Italian pasta bake. Knowing that I need to prepare dinners the night before, I made spaghetti with turkey pasta, adding onions, carrots, 2 small zucchini, and mushrooms. It was so fantastic, my husband and I ended up having 3 bowls between the two of us, even though we had already had dinner! Anyways, I’d never added zucchini to pasta before and it worked out fabulously!
Allie
http://www.learningtobefrugal.wordpress.com
Tamy says
Sounds like a super summer kick off week!
JJ - Lady Di says
It’s my birthday month too! I was born on the longest day of the year, and during a hurricane. My mom said it sure felt like it was the longest day of the year. 😉
I had a bit of trouble coming up with the menu at the end of the week this week. I’ve got some outpatient surgery, and I realized that hubby can’t cook. Years ago, I once bought some Hamburger Helper thinking he could handle that and I came home to a hunk of raw ground beef sitting in the water/spices and noodles. Yeah, he didn’t read the directions. Good thing I had bought the really lean beef (and that they were just coming out with that!). I realized that I REALLY need to teach him how to cook or even just to realize that he needs to learn. That’s the big problem, he doesn’t want to learn. Anyone have any ideas?
annie says
Happy (almost) Monday!
I’m going to check out your recipes now!
Susanne says
Yummy. Everything looks really good. We had a lovely weekend although it did cloud over and rain again this afternoon. And rain forecast for most of the next week too. :v(
Julieann says
Your Sunday Menu made me giggle!! Happy menu planning Everyone!!!
Julieann
Sarah says
Looks like a great menu and a great week!
Best,
Sarah
Nellbe says
I agree that you having Menu Plan Monday is an inspiration to get one done. One it is done, it makes the week so easy.I think that it saves money also, as you can go to the supermarket (grocery store?) and know what you exactly need.
Thanks for hosting again.
Neek says
I love your site! I visit pretty much every day! And MPM is a great idea.
tonya says
Thanks for motivating me to do this. I need to come up with something for Saturday still.
Have a great week!
Nicole says
Oh, the Crispy Chicken sounds wonderful! I want to try this one: French’s Fried Onions Crispy Chicken: http://www.frenchs.com/recipe/frenchs/ffo/?utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=french's%2Bonion&utm_campaign=coc_branded&fc=1
Stephanie @ KOTH says
Laura, I’m so glad that you do this carnival every week. I’ve been a meal planner for a while now, but this gives me that extra bit of motivation to make sure that my meal plan is done each and every week! Thanks for all your hard work!
And thanks for the comment about me switching back to Typepad- I know that you, of all people, understand! I hope you’re still glad you made the switch, though, and that it’s going better for you than it was for me!
Cathy | Gluten Free says
thanks for the linky!
Miss Jocelyn says
Thanks for hosting this! I”m going to try to do it every week, but we usually have one menu for every four weeks of the month and they are repeated! LOL Maybe I can just add some good recipes that we love to use in our menus!
Blessings!
Miss Jocelyn
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/HomesteadingCarnival
Chrissy says
I love the Taco Salad Bowls! Great idea!!
Heather says
We’re also having beef and vegetable kabobs this week. My kids love them and it is such a great use for an otherwise tough cut of beef (sirloin tip steak in our case).
Char says
Taco cups are a huge hit in our hit. I think the kids ask for them every week.
I’ve missed MPM for the past week and things have felt very disorganized. Glad to be back on schedule.
Marcia, Org Queen says
Hey Laura
Well done to you on baking especially since I know you don’t enjoy it that much – your cookies (we say “biscuits”) look gorgeous and my stomach is growling as it’s just about lunch time here 🙂
I cooked yesterday – enough for 3 meals so one this week and two for the freezer 😉
Have a great week!
Mandi says
Yummy menu! That baked foccacia sandwich looks so good. The taco cups sound great, too, as my family will eat anything with taco in the name. Thanks for hosting MPM.
Heather B says
The italian pasta bake is GOOD! we have made that one before. Looks like a yummy week at your house!
Colleen says
I just saw a similar recipe for a Focaccia Sandwich. Yum, yum! Your taco salad bowls sound great too. Thanks!
orneryswife says
Hey, Laura!
I sorta missed last week’s MPM altogether. With the holiday weekend and stuff, it completely slipped my mind. I think we ate ok, but you couldn’t prove it by my blog! 🙂 I’m up this week with a totally yummy granola recipe that makes A LOT of healthy, tasty, sugar free (sweetened naturally), low fat granola. If made with GF oats, even the gluten free cooks would like it!
Hope you have a great week. Your menu looks yummy, and as always, I appreciate you hosting!
TM
mjpuzzlemom says
Looks like a good week. Thanks for hosting MPM!
MJ
LouAnne says
Your menu sounds GREAT! Mine is VERY toned down this week. Still trying to beat down my grocery budget because of gas prices!!
*HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONTH!*
Beverly says
This sound yummy. I am trying to get more organized when it comes to planning my weekly menu.
Twisted Cinderella says
Great menu plan. Mine is up for this week too!
http://everaftermyway.wordpress.com/2008/06/02/menu-plan-6/
Shani says
Thanks for sponsoring this; I look forward to finding some good bean recipes from the wonderful ladies here! If you have any to share, I would love to see them!
Have a wonderful week~
Shani
Courtney says
Several of those sound yummy! I’ve been slacking off badly the last couple months, so I’m jumping back in to MPM this week.
Jamie says
This is my first posting for Menu Plan Monday, thanks!!
Mom24 says
Thanks for hosting. A lot of people I know think it’s too time consuming to do a weekly meal plan, but I think it takes a lot more of my time to go to the grocery store 2 and 3 times a week and “wing” it every night about what we’re going to eat. I love the way meal planning online makes it soooo easy. I just add my recipes, or do my links, and dinner is easy-peasy!
Laura says
Yum! Looks good this week! I slacked last week and regretted it all week. I am looking forward to easy meals now! THanks so much!
Jenn says
My first time participating in Menu Plan Monday! Maybe this week I won’t be standing in the kitchen with a blank look on my face 30 min before dinner should be on the table… lol
Sandi says
Yay! I made it on a Monday! You are so right about how easy this makes life. I love not having to think about it anymore after Monday! Just check another thing off my to-do list!
Jen D. says
My hubby would love to have dinner at your house every night. It sounds tasty.
millicent says
I participated for the first time!
Angela says
Thanks for hosting! We are done with school this week. Whew!
We are having taco salad, too (gluten and dairy free). Great minds think alike!
Have a great week!
BecauseImTheMommy says
I’m so late this week, but I posted it nonetheless!
Laura says
Better late then never. At least it’s done. Using I think 3 crock pot meals because of my hectic schedule this week.
Sheri says
I haven’t played in a couple weeks, but I’m getting back on track now!
design says
Really good work. I found a lot of profound information which can help me to go on.
Nicole says
The June issue of bon appétit has 15 YUMMY summer dishes that can be made in 15 minutes!
Traci says
Ok, I’m trying to do this right…first time. I’ve used the logo twice now and want to figure this thing out…lol. I’ve done a weekly menu for years now…and just started blogging…so, the two have met! Thanks for the help.