Howdy! What’s going on with you? Did you find menu planning for this week a breeze or a little more difficult? I definitely find some weeks are easier than others especially trying to come up with a menu plan that my whole family will enjoy.
I shared last week on Facebook that one of the recipes I tried out, the Autumn Sausage Casserole, was a total bust. I have never had my family revolt so much over a meal. The funny thing is I absolutely loved it and I really dislike rice. Go figure that one! I just thought the flavors were really different and fallish 🙂 You win some and you lose some I guess. Did anyone else give it a try?
Some of you might remember that last week I also had Spaghetti Ham Bake on the menu…the recipe makes two casseroles and we made one for us and one to share. Who did we end up sharing with? Well October is Pastor appreciation month so it was a surprise for our Pastor. The youth of our church also gave some free nights of babysitting. I found the cutest free babysitting coupons online that I simply printed off on card stock and had the kids sign their names to. Click on the picture below to download and print your own. Love it!!
Also here are a couple of menu planning resources you may be interested in:
Free Holiday Menu Planner Printable ~ @ The Project Girl (time to start thinking about getting organized for the holidays!)
Meal Planner Freebie ~ @ Taylor Gray
My Weekly Menu:
Monday: Corny Chili (family favorite) served with Garlic Parmesan Bread (bread machine)
Tuesday: Mandarin Pork and Wild Rice
Wednesday: Sticky Chicken in Crockpot (I don’t mind whole chicken in the slow cooker)
Thursday: Leftover buffet
Friday: Bacon Mushroom Pizzeria Pizza
Saturday: Sausage & Peppers with Rotini
Sunday: Picking night/YOYO (you’re on your own!)
WHAT’S ON YOUR MENU THIS WEEK?
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The Happy Housewife says
I just started using Ziplist and I love it! Seeing it on your site encouraged me to try it out.
Sorry your sausage bake was a bust. I’ve had a few of those lately, but thankfully my husband eats everything so he usually ends up taking it to work!
Have a great week.
Toni
Laura says
Yes thankfully even if my husband isn’t crazy about something he still eats it which I’m so grateful for. I know many husband’s who would refuse and that’s got to be so frustrating.
Liz@PocketChangeGourmet says
Love the babysitting idea! I would have loved that when my boys were young.
Thanks for hosting another yummy MPM!
~Liz@Pocket Change Gourmet & HoosierHomemade
Miz Helen says
Hi Laura,
Hope you have a wonderful week and thanks for hosting!
Miz Helen
Jenna @ Newlyweds says
I hate when my family doesn’t like a meal I really love, such a bummer. I hope you guys enjoy the sticky chicken, we just love it!
Tiffany says
Autumn Sausage Casserole sounds really good. You just never know what’s going to be a hit and what’s going to bomb. Hope your next new recipe turns out to be a hit!
Elizabeth@ReadySetSimplify says
Oh no! I’m so sorry your family didn’t go for the Autumn Sausage Casserole! Our whole family loves it!
Lucky @ Making My Own Luck says
Those baby sitting vouchers are adorable! It makes me actually want to baby sit!
This week was easy for me because I have more time to cook. It’s not such a puzzle when I don’t have to have dinner on the table within 15 minutes of getting home.
Have a good week and thanks for hosting!
Queen of the House says
Your sticky chicken looks fabulous! …and you actually “stuffed” it…wow, I am impressed! 🙂 Maybe I would dare fix one too! Thanks for the inspiration and making it look easy!
Judi @ Frugal Frolic says
Your Autumn Casserole sounds very similar to the Harvest Stew I planned for this week. I have not made this particular recipe before but others like it, always to good reviews. Depending on how this one goes, I may try your recipe. It does sound very similar to another sausage and rice casserole I’ve made… though I’d probably pump up the veggies to make it a one-pot meal.
Love the coupon.. very cute and appreciated by the receivers, I’m sure!
Mindi says
I had the crock pot ham dish you posted last week on my menu for this week, but when I got to the store I couldn’t find a bone in ham. The rest of the hams were way to big or precooked so I had to think quickly and plan again. I ended up picking up a pot roast so we shall see how that goes. Do you have any good crock pot pot roast recipes? I found a few but hate to go in blindly.
Laura says
I just use a boneless fully cooked ham myself, works great!!
Jami @ An Oregon Cottage says
I have had quite a number of family revolts at some recipes. Mostly the ones that contain lots of veggies. 😉 My family seems to like their veggies separate, thank you very much!
Barb@A Life in Balance says
I love the babysitting coupon! It’s so cute. I don’t know anyone who is ready to become a new mom, but I’ll keep it in mind.
Lisa says
In addition to my normal Menu Plan Monday post, this week I’m doing a series on using your PROCESS, ideas from your blog & elsewhere and tackling those awful parts of my house. I never quite keep up with your Challenges like I want to, so this is like a “year-end edition” of what i meant to get done during your Challenges!!
Lisa from Wee Wonderings says
Mandarin Pork sounds so tasty!
Tammy @ Skinny Mom's Kitchen says
Bummer about the casserole. I hate when my family hates meals I make.
I have been really struggling with creating a weekly menu plan. I am going to attempt a monthly plan for November then break it down week by week for my blog. We shall see 🙂
MrsD05 says
Monday: Sirloin Steak with Mushroom Marsala Sauce, Rosemary Roasted Potatoes and Granny’s Green Beans
Tuesday: Fall Pork Bake (Pork chops browned in a skillet and then placed in the bottom of a 9X13 casserole dish, covered with peeled, cored, sliced apples and topped with cinnamon/brown sugar/nutmeg topping) with stuffing and roasted carrots
Wednesday: Hamburgers with oven fries and sliced apples & pears
Thursday: Family dinner at my parents
Friday: Parmesan Chicken, rice pilaf and spinach
Saturday: Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy and green beans
Sunday: Chicken Croquettes, stuffing & gravy and corn
laura @ no more spending says
Thanks for hosting Laura! Have a great week 🙂
Christy @ Tools for Kitchens says
Hi, Laura. I shared my chicken piccata recipe today. Thank you for hosting us again this week!
Kelly says
I’ve had plenty of revolts in my house too – because I want to cook American food, but my Peruvian husband and kids like their Peruvian food. I compromise and try to do a bit of both each week.
Tishia Lee (I'm a Newbie) says
I’m a newbie…kind of. I participated once or twice many many moons ago! I’m back now and looking forward to getting my weekly meals planned out and participating with all you guys 🙂
Ryder says
Last week was CRAZY and the menu went right out the window. I am confident that I can do much better this week!
Sunday: Pulled pork BBQ (crockpot), roasted herbed potatoes, turnip greens
Monday: Leftover pulled pork, leftover turnips, corn on the cob
Tuesday: Red beans and rice with Kielbasa
Wednesday: something with chicken as yet TBD
Thursday: Quick chicken noodle soup (with leftover chicken from Wednesday’s mystery meal)
Friday: leftovers
Saturday: leftovers or out to eat
Gretchen says
We are having sticky chicken too – it is a bi-monthly tradition.
Tammy says
Oct. 23rd – Salad & crudités served
Sun. – D – out (HOD deal)
Mon. – Leftover grilled happy face cheeseburgers, etc. from Sat.
Tues. – Homemade sloppy joes, macaroni and cheese, green beans
Wed. – Cheese tortellini and marinara sauce
Thurs. – Fish sticks or tuna cakes (Martha Stewart), corn, peas
Fri. – BBQ grilled chicken (freezer) wrapped with crescent rolls, deviled eggs
Sat. – Knife-and-fork Chili turkey burgers, pickles, lettuce, etc.
Evie Kumar says
I like how you call it picking night or YOYO. Sounds better than my leftover night. 😉
Christy @ Tools for Kitchens says
Hi, Laura. I shared my basil pesto recipe today. Thank you for hosting us this week!
kp says
Yes, I’m late again. Thank you so much for hosting this, though! If I didn’t have you all to keep me accountable, I’d never know what I was gonna cook until meal time.
Tammy says
Hi, again. After seeing Pillsbury’s mummy dogs today, I think that I’ll cut my chicken (Fri. menu) into strips, add bbq sauce, wrap as “mummies” with crescent rolls and cheese, and use black olives or something for the eyes.
Kelly @ Dysfunctionally Functional says
Yep…I’m WAY late to the game! Still, better late than never, right?
I’m Kelly, and I’m new! I’m about to spend a ridiculous amount of time searching this site and its myriad of happy links in order to broaden my recipe stash for future menu planning, and I cannot wait!
I also can’t wait to participate in a timely fashion next week, LOL!
Four Boys and a Girl says
For some Reason I totally miss the link it widget! LOL!
I need inspiration. I have been making ho-hum meals for awhile now. I need to break out of the rut and get some new recipes in the rotation!
Crystal G. says
Hi, I wanted to share a recipe with you to use that you may like better than your Autumn Sausage casserole. http://www.ivillage.com/pumpkin-white-bean-and-sausage-stew-0/3-r-60823
I found it on Pinterest and made it earlier this week. Other than nearly stabbing myself while trying to cut up and peel the pumpkin, the soup was easy to make and very tasty. It definitely had an Autumn feel to it. All of us liked it, including my four young kiddos.
Scott says
Hi Laura, I found your website, from a link from Easy Frugal. I’m a stay at home Dad and I’m going to try your “plan” next week. I’m looking forward to it!