Imagine my surprise last week when I realized I’d completely forgotten to plan a menu of my son’s liking for his 12th birthday this past Saturday…oops! So out went the chicken recipe I had originally planned and in came hot dogs on the BBQ, baked potatoes and corn on the cob…all of his favorites!!
For dessert we of course had his favorite Gluten, Dairy & Egg-Free Chocolate Cake…yum!
Not sure if any of you noticed last week or not but I had made the MPM links bigger…four across instead of the usual six. Just wondering if you had a preference either way? Four is nice because you can read the links better but it does take longer to scroll through them all. I’ll use six across again today so you can compare if you’d like. Let me know!
Giveaway:
Ziplist, a menu planning and grocery shopping resource, is our Menu Plan Monday sponsor this month (many of you will remember this video I shared recently about them) and as a introductory kick off to a great month of menu planning is going to giveaway a $75.00 gift card (to a grocery store of your choosing) to one lucky MPM participant this week. A winner will be selected at random from the menu plan links added to this post. You’ll need to link up by Friday, October 7th at 2:00 pm PST to be entered. No comment required.
Food bloggers, let your readers save your recipes to an online recipe box and shopping list with one click. Explore ZipList’s free WordPress recipe plugin and more ways to make your recipes more findable.
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So as you know this week I’m off to New York!! Thank you to everyone who left me tips in the comments…very much appreciated! As you can see, I’m still doing a menu plan up for the rest of the family though just to keep things easy for them.
Here’s what they’ll be eating:
Monday: Kielbasa Tortellini Alfredo
Tuesday: Roasted Chicken with Rosemary (hubby’s request)
Wednesday: Chicken Caesar Wraps (using up leftover chicken)
Thursday: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
Friday: Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
Saturday: Bread Machine Homemade Pizza
Sunday: Picking night!
PS: If you are looking for a fabulous fall dessert, check out my friends recipe for Apple Brownies. We made it last week and it was so good!!
WHAT’S ON YOUR MENU PLAN THIS WEEK?
Menu Plan Monday guidelines and banner selections are here.
Want to save any of your Menu Plan Monday recipe favorites? Just drag this link for the ZipList Recipe ClipperZipList Recipe Clipper to your browser toolbar. Click through to a favorite recipe, then click the ZipList Recipe Clipper in your toolbar to save it to your online recipe box and shopping list. (Note: for food sites not in the hRecipe format, you may need to copy/paste the title and ingredients to save the recipe).
Well for what it’s worth I like the four across better. My eyes are getting old, lol! A belated happy birthday to your son and have fun in New York!
Toni
I much prefer the 4 across than 6
When I saw the picture of the chocolate cake I thought, “Looks so delicious but I can’t eat it.” Then I looked again and saw that it’s gluten-free! I’m going to make that thing! Have a wonderful day.
Thanks for hosting Laura! I like 4 across better, because it’s easier to read, but that might just be my “old” eyes! 🙂
~Liz@HoosierHomemade & Pocket Change Gourmet
I can’t decide which one I like better. Four is easier to read and you can see more detail, but 6 is also good for visiting blogs – I would open each row and visit one row in a sitting. So if visiting blogs, you may feel like you visit more blogs at one time. Decisions, decisions. Thanks for hosting!
I did the SAME thing this year to two of the five children… forgot to plan their favorite meals on their special days… Ahhh. ENJOY NEW YORK!
Have a great time in NYC!
Off to check out those Apple Brownies – YUM! Happy Birthday to your little one!! 🙂
I like the new layout.
I had to smile when I saw your post. I seem to often replace my planned meal with something else – as much because I want something different as the weather (I hate barbecuing in the rain). Still, with a well stocked pantry — the menu plan comes in handy.
Hmmmm….4 or 6? I kind of like seeing 6 at at time, but do agree that the larger pictures are nice too. Sorry, if that isn’t being too helpful! LOL!
Thanks for the opportunity to win a $75 gift card! That certainly would come in handy. 🙂
I like the larger photos, and I LOVE that apple brownie recipe. Yummy!
I’m another that likes 4 across better! My 43 year old eyes can’t handle the smaller photos so well.
Thanks for the gluten-free cake & frosting recipe! My mil is gluten-free and so is my bil who lives in Nebraska. Now I have something easy to make whenever I need to. Can I freeze the GF flour blend to keep it fresh?
Yes for sure…I keep mine in the fridge for freshness.
Hope you have a great time in NY!!! Does your hubby do the cooking for the menu you prepared? I would think that mine would opt out of that and just go for easy take out! 🙂
Yep but he told me what he felt like cooking 🙂
Hope you have a great trip to NY- so many things to see… but you know the memory I have most? Just walking the streets, riding the subway and soaking up the NY vibe! And that doesn’t cost a thing. 🙂
Oh, and I like the four across, too- no need to get my glasses out to read. 😉
I prefer 6 across!
Have a fabulous time in NYC! 🙂
That cake looks so good! Oh, now I need to find some chocolate. 😉
Happy Birthday to your little boy!
Can I enter the giveaway, too?
Oct. 2nd – Easy week
Salad & crudités available
Sun. – Grilled chicken, green beans, peaches
Mon. – Spaghetti (cooked meat in fridge), cheese bread
Tues. – Meatloaf with mushrooms (from freezer), peas & carrots, rolls
Wed. – BBQ & burgoo (from freezer), cream corn
Thurs. – takeout – Chinese
Fri. – Chorizo & cheese in crescent rolls or Pizza
Sat. – Grilled bbq ribs, twice baked potatoes, coleslaw, rolls
Sack Lunches
M – Leftover chicken, raspberries, crackers, fruit strip, string cheese, snack
T – Pizza, grapes, snack
W – Leftover spaghetti, cottage cheese, fruit strip
Th – Leftover bbq, bread, grapes, string cheese
F – Tofurkey, crackers, carrots, string cheese
My mom has that same plate! We always had our birthday meals on it growing up! So cool!
Thanks for hosting!
I know I am probably just overlooking something, but how/where do I find the MPM links so that I can browse the MPM’s for ideas?
Hi Jennifer, the links appear at the bottom of every Menu Plan Monday post. You might have to refresh your browser to see them as well.
Hi, Laura. You have lots of great ideas here again! I am sharing my grandmother’s chow-chow recipe today. This is a tasty recipe for vegetables that are in season now. Thank you for hosting us again this week!
Hello, Laura. I just shared a recipe for chocolate cake with buttercream icing. Thank you for hosting such a great party!
I like the 6 across. It’s too much scrolling otherwise!
The cake looks delicious!
Have a wonderful time in NYC Laura and as always thanks for hosting. Doesn’t matter to me what size you make the links by the way 🙂
October is a month full of birthdays in our family. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity too!
Just added my link! Better late than never 🙂
Aww! Thank you so much for posting a link to my brownie recipe! I am so glad that you are sharing a recipe for the gluten free choc cake since my friend is recently diagnosed with celiac and this is a dessert I can make for her when she comes over! I hope you have a wonderful tip to NYC. I can’t wait to see your posts when you get back and I hope you get your dream wish of a ticket to Kelly & Regis! Angie xo
Thanks for the chance.
Mary
I hope you have a safe trip and a great time! Thanks for hosting and the gluten free chocolate cake looks amazing!
I always love giveaways! I just posted my link, Monday was crazy so I did not get around to it till today.
Hi, Laura. I shared a rustic beef stew recipe today. Thank you for hosting us at your link party again this week!
I just found your site and love it already! I, too have a thing for storage solutions and your menu plan will be great to check back on as a source for great recipes!!! I’ll be checking back soon!!!