Welcome to another week! Have you heard the exciting news yet? The famous Pioneer Woman has started a new recipe/community site called Tasty Kitchen! I’ve been hanging out there for the past couple of days drooling over all the delicious recipes and trying to decide which ones I wanted to add to my menu plan. So great, be sure to check it out!
This week I’d like to make a freezer meal for a friend that is just getting out of the hospital and would love your help figuring out what to make. I have a number of recipes that are your standard spaghetti sauce/mozza cheese pasta type dish but I’d prefer to do something a little different. Do you have a favorite go to freezer meal recipe that you make for a family in need? Please share the link in the comments if you can. Thanks!
Our recipe highlight of last week was the Tortellini Marinara recipe. Such a quick and simple meal to throw together and it was yummy. Next time I’d probably throw in some peppers as well just to add some veggies. Did you have a favorite recipe from last week?
Here’s what we’ll be eating this coming week:
Monday: Enchilada Casserole
Tuesday: Heather’s Chicken Bruschetta Pasta
Wednesday: Teriyaki Tenderloin served with perogies and broccoli
Thursday: Leftover buffet
Friday: Mexican-Style Ravioli
Saturday: Company’s coming over ~ Steak and Vegetable Kabobs served with Sundried Tomato Pasta Salad and Ooey Gooey Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies for dessert (the last two are new recipes for me)
Simple Supper Sunday
Need some more dinner ideas?
Check out my Family Favorite Recipe Index.
WHAT’S ON YOUR MENU THIS WEEK?
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{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds good…especially the steak kabobs!
What I love about Menu Plan Mondays is that, when I get tapped out for menu ideas, I can come here for inspiration. Such was it tonight before my visit. Thanks for hosting this!
Here are my favorite pasta dishes. The sauce uses Cesar salad dressing and these are delicious.
http://savinitup.blogspot.com/2009/06/red-and-white-pasta.html
http://savinitup.blogspot.com/2009/03/bowtie-pasta-bake.html
Mmmmmm!
I’ll definitely have to try Heather’s Chicken Bruschetta Pasta!
As far as freezer meals I tend to stick to casseroles, chili, lasagna or soups.
One of my favorite soup recipes is:
http://www.simplysara.ca/2009/05/rice-vegetable-beef-soup.html
:)
Your meal plans sound wonderful this week! I haven’t been keeping up with pioneer woman lately, guess I better get over there and check things out!
One of my favorites for the freezer is slow cooker pulled pork. I just posted it at the Krazy Kitchen this weekend –
http://thekrazykitchen.blogspot.com/2009/07/simple-supper-saturday-slow-cooker.html
It’s so easy to make, cheap for huge batches if you buy in bulk and freezes just fine! :-)
Can’t wait to check out the new pioneer woman website! Thanks!
I’m a rebel. :) I like to take a breakfast casserole with fruit and muffins or cinnamon rolls to a family in need. (Then they can eat it for a big breakfast or lighter supper.) I’m always thanked for bringing something DIFFERENT! We were even told once, “Oh, thank you for not bringing enchiladas.” :)
Here are some recipes:
Breakfast Casserole – http://amysfinerthings.com/menu-plan-monday-family-favorites
Chocolate Pudding Zucchini Muffins –
http://amysfinerthings.com/chocolate-pudding-zucchini-muffins
Lots of other muffins on my recipes page – http://amysfinerthings.com/recipes
I love chicken rolls. They’re a nice change up from the standard pasta dishes, and I make them in bulk for my family quite often!
http://recipesofacheapskate.blogspot.com/2008/10/chicken-rolls-my-way.html
YAY! This was my first time linking to MPM and the menu looks yummy! I post recipes, and pictures throughout the week so be sure to check it out I also have a recipe contest going on right now that needs more contestants!!!! Have a Great week!
Magen
http://www.garagebandfan.wordpress.com
Everything sounds wonderful! I usually do the standard spaghetti casserole, but I am definitely interested in hearing everyone else’s ideas for freezer dishes.
Oh, the brownies sound so good!
If other people will also be bringing meals I like to find out what they are planning on bringing. If others are going to bring a lot of Italian food or chicken, I can bring something with a different flavor. (I hope that make sense.)
Some of my standard freezer meals include:
Beerocks
Lasagna
White Chili and Corn Bread
Chicken Pot Pie
Enchiladas
I have my menu up on my blog. My favourite freezer meals include any form of pie and slow cooker meals. In fact I test drive anything for freezing once I have made it fresh.
I just have to say that MPM here at Org Junkie has made a HUGE difference in our life at the Geroux Home.
Please take a moment to read my post about how Meal Plan Monday has helped me get my son with autism to eat new foods after 6 years of eating the same old things!
http://arizonagerouxcrew.blogspot.com/2009/07/praise-lord-our-kids-ate-zucchini.html
The above post is also about my favorite meal from last week Cheesy Kielbasa Bake which when you make it as the recipe calls for makes 2 batches (1 for now 1 to freeze) White it is “italiany” I think it is different enough to stand out among the old lasagna so I would highly recommend it for a friend as a freezer meal!
Chicken Spaghetti is a great one. I like this one: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1741,128184-254193,00.html
I also like the suggestion of breakfast for dinner. You could easily make waffles or pancakes and freeze. Or you could make my favorite brunch offering – French Toast Casserole: http://www.30daygourmet.com/Members/Download_Recipes/Frenchtoast_Casserole.pdf
Pot Roast w/ veggies would also be yummy…and something they could eat for dinner as is or put as sandwiches for lunch. Good luck!!!
Gosh…everything looks so good!! I don’t know which I will try first:-)
I have a bunch of oamc recipes on my blog, in this post is a different one, and it’s very good (Tuscan Rosemary Chicken and White Beans). There are a few other recipes in this post, too.
http://lovinghomeof4babies.blogspot.com/2008/11/november-2008-oamc.html
I love perogies! Potato and onion are my favorite!!
Thanks for letting me post! This is my 2nd time posting, knowing I have to come post makes me more accountable! LOL
I make this casserole for things like a new baby or coming home from the hospital. It is easy to make and so far I have not found anyone that has not liked it. I do vary it; I leave out the chicken and add more vegetables for those that don’t eat meat. I get those aluminum roasting pans when I make it for someone else so there is no worry about getting my pans back. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chicken-Tetrazzini-for-a-Crowd/Detail.aspx
A different freezer dinner for a friend would be pot roast! As long as there are no potatoes, these reheat fine and are just as delicious.
Also, the freezer meal does not have to be cooked completely. You could assemble the meal and your friend would just pop in the oven to cook.
I like http://www.cookofthemonth.com
because you can choose the freezer recipe for a half batch (for 2-4 servings). And you can print a custom shopping list based on the recipes you choose!
I’ll have to try the teriyaki tenderloin. Thanks for the great recipes.
Thanks for the update on Pioneer Woman, I haven’t had time to get to her site in awhile. And the Enchilada Cass. sounds great.
Thanks for hosting!
~Liz
One of my favorites to take is chicken parmigiana. Of course, my website has lots to choose from so it is sometimes hard to pick. Chicken Parmigiana is my standby though. . .
http://onceamonthmom.com/chicken-parmigiana/
I find a good homemade chicken soup is always so soothing & freezes well
I’m new to linking here, though i’ve read menu plan monday several times. you all are inspirational!!
laura
I like simple stuff, so chicken and rice bakes or this easy pork chop and rice bake:
http://www.recipezaar.com/-Its-Too-Easy-Pork-Chops-Rice-Casserole-259693
One would not necessarily think that a recipe that contains sour cream and potatoes would freeze well, but I have had fairly good results freezing this one:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Heavenly-Potatoes-and-Ham/Detail.aspx
It definitely needs some extra stirring during or after the baking process when made from the freezer, but the taste and texture is still pleasing after being in the freezer.
what time should we be there for ooey-gooey brownies on Saturday ;-)
Great menu! And for your friend, maybe a summer minestrone, with all the squash and tomatoes available? Freezes well, and they can add Parmesan right before serving.
My neighbor made this casserole for me when I had my daughter in April. It’s not a pasta dish, but it’s DELISH and pretty easy to make and great to freeze. It’s a swiss cheese chicken broccoli stuffing bake. Here’s the recipe http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Swiss-Chicken-Casserole-I/Detail.aspx
I added 1/2 C to 1 full C of broccoli to make it a full meal. Very easy and very good.
I like trying to do something other than the standard pasta or casserole. My go to recipe is Tamales. You can make so many different kinds (pork, chicken, beef, shrip, etc.) and they freeze very well. I actually made some this weekend: http://copingwithfrugality.blogspot.com/2009/07/tamales.html
Polenta Tamale Pie is so easy and delicious (also Crock Pot friendly). Don’t let the polenta scare you off (just slices of the premade stuff). The recipe easy and lots of variations possible.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Polenta-Tamale-Pie-102202
The steak kabobs sound delicious!!
I’m new, but this is a great resource!
The Chicken Bruschetta Pasta sounds yummy!
I can’t wait to check out Tasty Kitchen! Thanks for the recommendation!
Thanks for all the wonderful menus from everyone. I can always find something new here for me to make for my family
Yum, can I come to your house Saturday for dessert. How could Ooey Gooey Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies be anything but awesome?
Right now I have cheesy biscuits and bbq chicken in the oven. An old favorite of ours. Probably serve it with fresh blueberries I bought today. Tomorrow I’ll have crockpot pork roast and bread and veggies. Wed–something with shrimp cuz it was on sale for $2.99 lb–fresh from the NW!! That’s all I’ve got planned so far. I’ve had a busy weekend but have been keeping up with my house, laundry and kitchen wise. You can read more about the weekend on my blogspot soon. Come on by!! Take care!! http://grandmabeckyl.blogspot.com
I almost always eat either cheese or chicken enchiladas. This beef casserole sounds delicious, I’ve bookmarked it.
Well, I don’t have a recipe for you per se. . . but enchiladas freeze well, lasagne too (but that’s saucy noodles with cheese.) How about quiche?
Looks like folks took most of mine, I love bring a breakfast casserole and muffins – especially for new baby when they might be staying up all night! I also love making shredded pork in the crockpot and sending that, sometimes with freezer coleslaw and buns, sometimes with taco fixings. My meatballs have been a big hit with folks as well.
http://southdakotadealseekers.blogspot.com/2009/07/5-dinner-challenge-my-meatball-recipe.html
Sorry I’m late for this week!
My favorite lasagnas both freeze well! For Spring:
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/freeze-ahead-lasagna-primavera
(Be careful if you double it; the white sauce burns easily. You might find it easier to do in two batches or two pots)
For Fall, when the butternut squash and kales are everywhere:
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1704059
They’re both a bit putzy, but so worth it! You could make one for your freezer and one for your friend’s using two 8×8’s for either of these.
An easier option might be a soup. Everyday Food had a simple orzo soup last summer:
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/late-summer-vegetable-soup?autonomy_kw=orzo%20soup&rsc=header_4
My favorite meal from last week’s plan (or unplan–I went spontaneous) was a blueberry buckle. I hit the farmer’s market during the last hour and they were practically giving them away! I used Martha’s recipe, subbing white wheat flour and blueberries…it was yummy! http://tinyurl.com/blubuckl
Oops, I just have one link, and it’s the same as last week – lentil brown rice casserole. It’s a good one though!
-Pamela
I’ve been too busy to plan a menu for a while now, but so glad I checked in here today!
Come see what I’ve been up to….
I’m a first timer! It’s highly likely that I did this wrong, too. :( Thanks for the great ideas!