Welcome to another planned week and thank goodness for a plan because I’ve got a crazy hectic week ahead of me. School is winding up for us here (our last day of school is on June 29th) and with that comes many activities including my daughter’s grade 7 commencement. I know many of you finished up school quite some time ago but here in Canada our school calendar year is a little bit different.
Two recipe highlights this week. Homemade Macaroni and Cheese is so easy to make and so much healthier as well. I use whole wheat pasta and light cheddar cheese. I made mine slightly different from the recipe above in that I melted all the cheese into the white sauce and then added some cornflakes crumbs to the top. I also halved the recipe and it fit perfectly in my Foldtuk dish. Delicious!
The other recipe I really enjoyed (even though I had a little panic attack while making them) was the Pepperoni Pizza Wheels. I’m the type of gal that needs very detailed instructions so when it came time to roll the pizza dough up I didn’t know if I was suppose to roll up the long end or the short end. So I finally decided on the long end and then proceeded to make a huge mess trying to roll it. I had flashbacks to my Pizza Braid disaster. Sauce and pepperonis were falling out all over the place. The good news is though that this recipe is very forgiving and by the time they were cooked you couldn’t even tell my goof ups. These made for a terrific potluck dish because I made them up ahead of time and served them cold and they were still good! They went so fast I didn’t even get a picture 🙂
Okay so before I jump into my menu plan, I just want to take a moment to welcome you if you are new to menu planning and offer you a great resource for getting started. It’s a post written by Annie of Annie’s Eat called Menu Planning – Tips & Tricks and it has a lot of helpful information in it.
Here’s what we’ll be eating this week:
Monday: Black Bean Quesadillas
Tuesday: Fresh Broccoli & Chicken Pasta Toss
Wednesday: Picking up hubby from the airport ~ dinner out!
Thursday: My birthday! Teriyaki Sirloin Steak served with baked potatoes and grilled peppers
Friday: Dinner at friends
Saturday: Garlic Pork Tenderloin with BBQ Sauce served with baby potatoes and corn on the cob
Sunday: Church Potluck ~ Tater Tot Casserole
WHAT’S ON YOUR MENU THIS WEEK?
Menu Plan Monday guidelines and banner selections are here.
Need more recipe ideas? Check out my Family Favorites Recipe Index.
Christi says
I LOVE homemade macaroni and cheese! I’ve tried the kind you bake and the kind you just do on the stovetop, and I have to admit I’m a stovetop kind of gal. The kids, however, prefer Kraft. Sigh. 🙂
Tiffany says
I can relate to your pizza rolls incident. I’ve had my fair share of messes putting together such things. The results are always worth it though.
Barbie says
Have a happy birthday!
Laura says
Thanks Barbie!
Alicia's Homemaking says
When it comes to mac and cheese, Pioneer Woman has a killer recipe. 😀
Thanks for hosting this!
Laura says
I will have to check it out, thanks!
FoodontheTable says
The mac and cheese looks great. Have a happy birthday!
Laura says
Thanks so much!
Liz@HoosierHomemade says
I hope you have a GREAT Birthday! Looks like you have a wonderful dinner planned!
Thanks so much for hosting!
~Liz
Laura says
Thanks Liz 🙂
Kerri says
Have a fantastic birthday! I sure hope someone else is making the birthday meal for you….;o)
Have a great week.
Laura says
I hope so too 🙂
Amanda @ A Few Short Cuts says
Hope you have a fabulous birthday!
Laura says
I’m really looking forward to it!
Veggiemomof2 says
I have that mac & cheese recipe on my menu for this week. I’m going to add some chicken (i can’t serve it as a meal w/o meat.) I printed out the black bean quesadilla recipe for next week & we are having tater tot casserole this week too.
browneyes_24b @ The White Blue Sky says
I love the idea of HEALTHY homemade macaroni & cheese. I made a batch of Martha Stewart’s homemade macaroni & cheese but it was on the opposite end of the spectrum in nutritional value. Thank’s for sharing, I can’t wait to try it!
Thank you for hosting! 🙂
http://thewhitebluesky.com/2010/06/culinary-evolution-week-6-new-gadgets.html
Susie's Homemade says
Yummo!!
Melissa says
My husband LOVES Tator Tot Casserole! It was the first thing he ever made for me. 🙂
Thanks for hosting Menu Plan Monday! I linked up!
Laura says
It’s a great potluck dish too!
Chele' says
Hope you have a fantastic birthday week!
Thank you for hosting this every week.
<3<3
Laura says
Thanks for the birthday wishes!
Shawnee H says
Birthday? Enjoy!! Finally back to posting a menu. And, testing the water for Mamavation support. Would love to hear comments/support at http://shawneett.blogspot.com
Lots of my meals this week are from my supper swapping group, http://chillmamas.blogspot.com
Laura says
I love birthdays, especially mine…woohoo! 🙂
Robin says
Happy Birthday!
Laura says
Thanks Robin!
Sherry says
Tater Tot Casserole and homemade healthier mac & cheese are family fave around here! 😀 I put those pepperoni pizza wheels on our menu for this week. I can’t wait to try them.
Sherry says
Happy, happy birthday! 😀
Thank you so much for hosting this each week!!
Laura says
Thanks Sherry!!
Sheena says
Pepperoni Pizza Wheels sound yummy!
Laura says
They were really good!
Amy says
Thanks for the linky! Have a great week!
Laura says
You too Amy!
Foodie Mama says
Mac & Cheese….yum!!!
Laura says
That’s what we thought too 🙂
Emily/Miss Mommy says
Happy birthday!
Um…I accidentally copied my website in twice (I’m #14) Is there a way to fix it? Here it is in case you can fix it. I’m so sorry!!
http://www.theadventuresofmissmommy.com/menu-plan-monday-5/
Laura says
No problem Emily, all fixed for you. And thanks for the birthday wishes!
Emily/Miss Mommy says
Thank you, Laura! So speedy!
Heather says
Loving the chicken and broccoli pasta. My 4 year old LOVES broccoli and it’s nice to break up the monotonous and unhealthy pasta with something so good with so many vitamins. Great recipe!
Amy says
The mac & Cheese looks so good!!! Love great comfort foods 🙂
Jenna says
Mmm…that fresh broccoli and chicken pasta dish looks good! I will have to try that sometime. We are big pasta eaters around here. Last week we tried a new recipe, Lemon Caper Chicken with Fettuccine, which was great! I tried a whole bunch of new recipes last week and posted recipe reviews of them this week. Thanks for hosting – I LOVE menu planning. It’s my favourite “chore”!
Laura says
So awesome, I’d be lost without menu planning now. Don’t know how I ever managed without it 🙂
Alana says
Hope you have a nice birthday!
Laura says
I hope so too Alana, thanks!
Tina says
That mac & cheese looks delicious!
Char says
Mac and Cheese is one of my husband’s favorites! Have a great birthday.
Laura says
Thanks Char, I’m really looking forward to it.
Tina says
Oh-duh-Happy Birthday!!
Laura says
Thanks Tina! 🙂
MomsManyProjects says
Happy Birthday!!!!
Crystal & Co says
Happy Birthday! The steak dinner looks and sounds yummy!
Laura says
Thanks Crystal! It’s not the steak I’m looking forward to but the teriyaki LOL
Kristen says
Have a very Happy Birthday!!!
Thank you so much for hosting this, and for the whole menu-planning idea! I had never thought about doing this until I read your blog, and last week went wonderfully! I’m really excited about continuing to menu plan!
Laura says
That’s what I love to hear, woohoo!!
Rachel says
We’ve got tater tot casserole on our menu this week too! Great minds think alike 😉
Greta @ Mom Living Healthy says
Happy Birthday! Love tator tot hotdish…my favorite childhood meal 🙂
Laura says
Thanks Greta!
Ashley @ Just Another Mom of 2 says
Ooh, yum, that macaroni and cheese sounds delicious! It may have to make it to my rotation sometime soon :). I’m so glad you have this linkup, it forces me to stay organized and actually stay focused on meal planning since I also have them scheduled for my blog posting! A win/win 🙂 Have a great birthday!
Laura says
Love that! Thanks for the birthday wishes!!
Laura Aridgides says
Starting the Clean elimination diet today – thank goodness for Menu Planning!
Racquel says
Yum! Everything looks so good this week!
Queen of the House says
Yum! The mac and cheese looks delicious! 🙂
Karissa says
This version of Tator Tot Caserole looks FABULOUS! Can’t wait to try it!!
Laura says
It really is delicious, I highly recommend it!
Mary Ann says
That mac and cheese looks really good! Thanks so much for hosting again this week!
Heather says
That mac and cheese looks rad!
I played along last Monday, but failed in execution. Sigh. This week is the week of lazies-be-gone!
Kimie says
Menu planning Monday is great. Although I’ve been reading it for awhile I just put my first one up. 🙂
Also, I love mac and cheese… it’s one of the those comfort foods that you can never go wrong with! Looks delish.
Hope you have a wonderful birthday! 🙂
Laura says
Thanks Kimie, so glad you’ve joined us!!
Nathalie St-Pierre Roths says
Who would think to mix Corn Flakes with a main dish? It may sounds bizarre but it works! I tried it before with other recipes. Corn Flakes has actually published a small recipe book using their product and many of the listed recipes are main dishes.
Enjoy your week and have a nice birthday! 🙂
Laura says
They work really well for a crunchy topping. I usually mix them with a bit of melted butter first to keep them from burning. Yum!!
Meredith from Penelope Loves Lists says
Ohhh, Tater Tot casserole looks goooood.
M @ Betty Crapper says
Happy Birthday to you!
Laura says
Yay, birthdays are so much fun!
Pamela says
Have a wonderful birthday!
I have one recipe link and a recipe written out in my post this week. Thanks for inspiring me to menu plan!
Laura says
Thanks Pamela!
Denise says
I think I may have made a mistake and posted the link twice. #271. Once with only part of the name, I think. Sorry about that. and I hope you have a Great Birthday!
Laura says
All fixed! And thanks for the birthday wishes 🙂
Mom's Menu Planner says
Your menu looks great this week! Have a very Happy Birthday 🙂
Laura says
Thank you, so excited about it!
Amy says
Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great day and wonderful coming year (with a problem free move!)! Thanks so much for hosting the Menu Plan Mondays and for all your other posts as well. You are a wonderful (and much appreciated) inspiration!
Laura says
Ahh so nice, thank you for that!
Laurel says
Thanks so much for your menu-planning ideas and efforts, Laura! This is really helping me stretch our food dollar and cut down on stress.
Shirley says
I might have added myself twice as I put the wrong blog address in – Sorry!
LisaC says
My mother-in-law gave me the tater tot casserole recipe years ago, but calls it “Presbyterian Casserole” because it is “meant” for church suppers. 🙂
Jessica says
Wow ~ I think I can plan my menus for the next 2 years reading this linky list!! Heck it might take me a year just to get through it all lol. Looking forward to getting some new ideas! The kids and I are starting to get bored of my same old ideas week after week.