Cupcakes Kisses 'n' Crumbs: Meal Planning

Showing posts with label Meal Planning. Show all posts

04 August 2021

Back to School Prep - Freezer Meals

This isn’t the first thing I work on because it’s not cool enough to be cooking so much. But I’m bringing it up now because I will be watching for ingredients to be on sale.

I just want to share what a LIFESAVER having prepped breakfasts, lunches and dinners is. We all have those times we oversleep and grabbing a lunch from the freezer, instead of making one, will save us from being late. Or those times we forgot some crucial ingredient for breakfast, or nights when life is pulling your family in 5 different directions at dinner time. These are the times we take advantage of the freezer instead of takeout.

There is no shortage of blogs, YouTube, and Instagram accounts that have big lists of freezer meals to prep ahead.

Don’t skip on basic proteins though. Shredded plain chicken breast can be used with so many other things, same with browned hamburger. I try to have multiple meals worth ready to go.

These are some of my go to meals.

Sliders (easy for lunches) we do ham and cheese, Turkey and cheese, burgers

Breakfast sandwiches

Spicy chicken roll ups (just bake from frozen)

Pulled pork roasts-I put a few on the smoker at once, then freeze them. To reheat I just throw them in instant pot or slow cooker and with some liquid (water or stock) and BBQ sauce.

Grilled chicken breast-there is always a use for these. Teriyaki chicken on rice, Alfredo, stir fry, tacos, chicken bacon ranch salad, Mac n cheese. So many! We make 1-2 packages of chicken breast almost every week, the kids can fix them up easily too.

I’ll be working on filling the freezer up with these this month.

I've got a list of a lot of our regulars, I'm hoping to make some of each of these!

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26 August 2019

Meal Planning

It’s one of THE hardest things for me to stick with. It’s not fun or exciting and you can’t really SEE any progress. The only reason I do it is for my sanity and budget!

There’s gotta be over 2 million pins about meal planning so if my way doesn’t work for ya, don’t give up! Try another way, alter one or many until it works for your family.

I *try* to plan 2 weeks out because that’s the pay day schedule hubby was on. Sometimes it’s 1 week and others are 3 if I am feeling it!

I use my planner to check how ridiculous our schedule is, and honestly every week is pretty ridiculous. Some days are just too busy to have anything besides a slow cook meal that requires nothing to be done the 2 hours before we need to eat. Sometimes we are all eating at different times and it needs to be something that will stay warm for hours.

I feel like meal planning can be so hard because there are too many options! So to eleviate that, I try to stick to a RYTHM more than a schedule. We don’t eat the exact same thing every week but we have a theme kind of, for each day.

Monday we have something with chicken because there are SO many fast, inexpensive options and Monday needs to be easy.

Tuesday we typically have tacos or some kind, or nachos, enchiladas etc.

Wednesday we do something pasta based because it’s easy and I feel like Wednesday is my most likely day to bail and get take out!

Thursday is a toss up! Sometimes it’s soup and sandwiches or soup and salad or loaded potatoes with leftovers. Baked potatoes are affordable, quick and easy in the instant pot and the perfect boat to carry leftovers into something new.

Friday is almost always Pizza. In the summer months we have been cooking them on the pellet grill, that’s my favorite! I’m going to try and remember to make our own dough like my friend Brettan does! Girl makes it every Friday and it seems pretty simple!

Weekends we do more elaborate meals, stuff that needs more attention. Trying new recipes, hopefully getting these big kids to make dinner start to finish too. We tend to eat together more on the weekends, instead of in spurts while running out the door.

I have started keeping my meal plans from previous weeks because there will be a time, soon, when I don’t have the energy or willingness to do it!

I also have a page in my planner, broken down by category, of most of the meals we eat. I use that when nothing sounds good or I need to fill in gaps.

But my biggest tip is JUST DO IT!

I hate myself on days it’s 4 and I have to walk out the door at 5:15 and there was nothing done to make feeding these people easier.

How do you meal plan? Use the grocery flyer? Do once a month cooking and call it good? Everyone fend for themselves?

15 December 2017

Meal Plan January

Meal planning has me like 🙄😜 It's been a year plus since we have had a real plan. Maybe by starting in mid December it will help me out in January? I really have to do this though. Budgeting and working on debt are still priorities, and winging it just doesn't work well into that.

Knowing that January is full of basketball, and basketball and Cheer coaching. I've added "make 4 freezer meals" to my to do list and making plans for 2 weeks at a time. I can do my big grocery shop and then add produce and whatever I forgot in a couple smaller trips.

It feels a little weird to make a meal plan for so far from now, but I'm going to try. And there are always sides of veggies and fruits too. I just don't list them.

1. Pizza (from home)

2. Tacos

3. Tomato Ravioli Soup

4. Grilled cheese

5. Chinese (from home)

6. Loaded potatoes (leftovers too)

7. Pot Roast

8. Chicken spaghetti

9. Tacos

10. Chicken tortilla soup

11. PB bacon sandwiches

12. Spaghetti

13. Meatballs/potatoes

14. BBQ pork sandwiches

I actually have very little faith that I would be able to keep up so I am just going to do the whole month, maybe by February I can have that month done too!

15. Wild rice/Turkey/veggie bake

16. Chicken enchilada casserole

17. Mac N Cheese

18. Ham and potato soup

19. Homemade pizza

20. Stroganoff

21. Chicken spaghetti

22. Chinese

23. Tacos

24. Grilled cheese/pesto/soup

25. Leftovers/Mac n Cheese

26. Breakfast

27. Meatballs/potatoes

28. Pot Roast

I love that January 1st is a Monday! I love Mondays and I love new beginnings, or the idea of them, fresh starts and all that.

I've got my big list of meals in my planner, I can use my freezer and pantry stock to make our plan and our grocery bill fit.

02 May 2016

What We Eat

Yeah, after years of different meal plans and so many links to recipes, well here I am with the big list of the meals we actually eat. I also realize that while many of these have been on my Meal Plans I haven't shared all the recipes! I have been really really struggling to try new things, or cook anything outside of our common 4-6 things. Having this big list here, easily accessible should help me! Still plan on making meals with intentional leftovers. Either ingredients for the next meal or lunch for hubby and the kids. *We switch out what type of meat we use for these.

Chicken Dishes
Grilled Chicken Salad
Teriyaki Chicken Bowls
Cashew Chicken
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Chicken Stroganoff
Rice and Chicken w/ Sauce
Tacos*
Chicken Spaghetti
Grilled Chicken
Chicken Parmesan
Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup
Spicy Chicken Roll Ups
Wild Rice, Chicken Bacon Soup

Pork Dishes
Pork Roast
Green Enchilada Pork
Ham
BBQ Pulled Pork

Beef Dishes
Steak Salad
Meatballs*
Stroganoff
Chili*
Pot Roast
Meatloaf
Sheppard's Pie
Tater-tot Casserole
Goulash
Steak
Cowboy Stew

Pasta Dishes
Ravioli "cheater" lasagna
Lasagna
Lasagna Soup
Spaghetti
Pesto Ravioli
Mac 'n' Cheese (variations)

Random

Spanakopita Burgers

Burgers*

Mini Pizza

Grilled Cheese

Salmon Fillets

Loaded Potatoes

Enchiladas*

PB & Bacon Toasted Sandwiches

Potato Soup

Pot Pie Soup

Meatball Subs

24 April 2016

Sports Night Meal Plan Round 3

Another week of sports EVERY NIGHT, this last week I didn't really stick to our plan. We had leftovers and no one seemed super hungry at dinner time. Going to have some repeats we didn't have last week.

Monday

Teriyaki Chicken Bowls

Easy to eat on the go! Chicken, veggies and sauce over rice.

Tuesday

Greek Turkey Burgers

Ground Turkey, feta and spinach

Wednesday

1 Pan Cheater Lasagna

Uses ravioli instead

Thursday

Steak Salads

To go!

Friday

Pizza

Likely will be an easy dinner night!

I have a couple recipe ideas to try, but I need to wait until we have leftovers, just in case the kids are not a fan!

18 April 2016

Sports Night Meal Plan Round 2

Well last week was our first week of games, I was not very well prepared! This week though I have some meal ideas ready and am really hoping for no surprises this week! All of this weeks meals will be dished up into disposable cups, not my favorite but for 6-8 weeks it's just what works! Sometimes it's only 1 that has to eat on the way, for those nights that most of us can eat outside of the car, I am loving this picnic basket. Collapsible so it doesn't take a ton of room and insulated!

Monday

Shepard's pie

I'm making 2, 1 for the freezer! I just layer, ground turkey that is mixed with corn and a little gravy then mashed potatoes and cheese on top. Took us a while to find a combo the kids would eat.

Tuesday

Burritos

Leftover ground turkey, rice and seasoning with cheese.

Wednesday

Spaghetti

Ground turkey in hubby's but the kids are not a fan.

Thursday

Steak salad roll ups

I just use some thin cut steaks and roll them up with the salad fixens in romaine!

Friday

Teriyaki chicken ~~bowls~~ cups

Our kids just like rice, chicken, edamame and pineapple with teriyaki sauce.

Going to prep all the meat today to save time later in the week because I know I have a few busy mornings this week. I need to try some new recipes too, just a little worried our picky eaters will be starving at their games if it's a no go.

26 October 2015

Meal Plan October {Week 4}

I can't believe we are so close to Halloween! It has sure crept up fast!

This week is a lot more mellow than previous weeks, and I could not be more excited about it!

Monday~Family Birthday Dinner

Not sure exactly what the plan is yet.

Tuesday~Mac N Cheese

This super easy meal has become a staple here, everyone eats it and it's not super spendy to make!

Wednesday~Chicken Taco's

Thursday~ Chicken Spaghetti

Another easy, cheap and family pleaser! Those always become staples.

Friday~Lasagna Casserole

I don't have lasagna noodles, I doubt I will grab any. Going to use what we have in our cupboards and fridge and see what I can put together. I have an idea.

Do you do any special meals on Halloween?

19 October 2015

Meal Plan October {Week 3}

I just cannot keep avoiding fall food! I love fall and those Halloween specials are on TV! It's time for fall food!

Monday~Pot Roast

Because nothing is as cozy as Pot Roast!

Loved this recipe!

Tuesday~Cowboy Lasagna

New recipe I am trying/tweaking

Or maybe not? It's our anniversary and I have no idea what we are going to do

Wednesday~Chicken Spaghetti

A favorite here!!

Thursday~Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Making enough for leftovers!

Friday~Nachos

Going to put that leftover pork to good use!!

Weekend Meals

Have to be easy and quick! Probably baked potatoes and mac n cheese!

16 October 2015

12 Weeks of Christmas {Week 3}

Week 3 I am focusing on MEAL PLANNING AND RECIPES!

It might seem a little crazy to start that 2 months ahead of time, trust me, you don't want to be doing huge grocery trips when everyone else is, missing out on Elf!

So start now, take a few minutes and save hours later!

1. Write down, or pin or save on your phone, ALL the recipes you know you will use!

this is adorable!

2. Break down those recipes so you know how much butter, flour, seasoning, chicken stock, etc. That you need.

3. Check the ads and sales flyers for the place you are going anyway. When something on your list is on SALE, get it now!

4. I keep a brown bag in the bottom of our pantry for non perishable items I need for the Holidays, that way they don't get used.

5. As you get a collection of stuff going it can be easy to lose track of what you need for which recipe. If you have the space, try something like this! Even on a smaller scale would be helpful.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/68729336107/

If they are small, you can rubber band them together, or separate into smaller bags.

You will have 8 weeks to prep before the insane crowds for Christmas and 5 weeks for Thanksgiving!

Let's not make grocery shopping something we are dreading!

05 October 2015

Meal Plan {October Week 1}

This is our last super busy week before we get a small break! Lot's of pressure cooker and slow cooker meals!!

Monday~Baked Potatoes

Pressure cooker, because they cook in such a little amount of time!

We just load ours up with leftovers!

Tuesday~Pork Burritos

I just toss a roast in with some enchilada sauce in the pressure cooker and then shred it all together once it's done!

Wednesday~Lasagna Soup

Have some leftover marinara in the freezer should make this a quick prep.

Thursday~Mac 'n' cheese

Pressure Cooker style!

Friday~Chicken Taco's

On the fly before the football game!

30 September 2015

Quick and Easy Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup

I love this soup for a couple reasons.

1. It's super easy, fast and doesn't ruin the clean kitchen

2. It's not expensive and makes enough for us, but easy to add more and have leftovers!

What you need

1-2 Tbs Butter

1 Good Sized Carrot~Diced

1 Celery Rib~Diced

2~14.5 Oz Cans Chicken Stock

1/2 C Uncooked Rice

1/2 Tsp. Dried Basil

1/2 Tsp. Dried Sage

1/2 Tsp. Thyme

1/4 Tsp. Black Pepper

1C Water

4Tbs Flour

1 Can Evaporated Milk

2 C. Cooked Chicken Shredded, diced, pulled you choose

*You can also add

1/2 C chopped onion with veggies
More stock if you want a thinner soup. It gets pretty thick!

Directions

In a pot big enough to hold everything add butter, and veggies on medium high heat. Saute until veggies are softened.

Add Chicken Broth, rice and spices. Bring to a boil

Reduce heat to low and cover until rice is cooked. About 15 minutes here.

In a cup or bowl, combine the water and flour. Stir into soup

Add Evaporated Milk

Bring to a boil, 2 minutes. Stirring continually.

Add chicken and stir until chicken is heated through.

That's it! So maybe a half hour of time! Even less if you have carrots and celery chopped in the freezer! I think you could also do wild rice, but the time would be a little longer.

Make a triple batch, throw some in the freezer and have dinner made for another time!

27 September 2015

Chicken Spaghetti

This is a favorite around here! For all the right reasons. Good to make ahead and toss in the fridge or freezer, sneaky way to add some extra protein, warm and cheesy. Reheats SO well!

There are lots of versions of this, I tried a few but we try to avoid the cream
based soups and processed cheese.

This is what we ended up with!

2C Shredded Chicken~ whatever kind you have/like

1lb Spaghetti~ Broken up

1 Can Diced Tomatoes and Green Chile's

1C Cottage Cheese

1tsp+Cumin

1tsp+ Oregano

Salt and Pepper

1-2C Shredded cheese~Cheddar, Cheddar-Jack whatever you have/like

Cook Spaghetti, Drain, then I just put it back in the pot.

Add everything but the shredded cheese and stir together well.

Transfer to a casserole dish, either sprayed with cooking spray or lined with foil if you are freezing.

Spread cheese to cover

Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes until the cheese is melty and bubbling.

21 September 2015

Meal Plan September {Week 4}

It's going to be nice weather here all week! We have 2 birthday boys and 1 birthday party.

So pretty much it's going to be a fun busy week and interesting meals.

Monday~Pot Roast

Just been sounding super good lately!

I am going to try THIS recipe from The Organic Kitchen. It's a little different but looks SO pretty and tasty!

http://www.theorganickitchen.org/blog-tutorials/slow-cooker-pot-roast-with-shallots-and-carrots/

Tuesday~Pressure Cooker Mac N Cheese

It's Hawkins first birthday and double practice day's.

I need something everyone will eat without complaint so we can celebrate our big 1 year old.

And who can say no to 10 minutes TOTAL time to homemade Mac N Cheese?! Total Mom Saver!

Wednesday~ No idea!

It's Finn's Birthday and he is old enough to choose what he wants to have for dinner.

This sweet faced baby will probably ask for Starbucks banana bread and ice cream!

Thursday~ Ravioli and Salad

I am picking up some ravioli at Trader Joe's and making some sauce at home. Making extra sauce to freeze and thicken up for Pizza's next week.

Friday~Chicken Enchiladas

Everyone loves them!

14 September 2015

September {Week 3} Meal Plan

We are about to enter a crazy time in our lives with multiple sports going on at the same time!

Chances of us eating all together are going to be slim for a while, will be taking advantage of crock pot, pressure cooking and grab and go meals. Don't have a pressure cooker? I would say they are a busy moms best friend! This is the one I have, and love. Has paid for itself already, in just a few months.

Monday~Chicken Tortilla Soup

No canned soup in this recipe!

Tuesday~Tacos

Just throwing some ground beef in the pressure cooker, saute for a few minutes, then adding some seasoning and a little beef stock. Pressure cook for 20 min and leave it on warm until we get around to eating!

Wednesday~Perfect Fall Chili

I promise the couple surprise ingredients make it extra tasty and very fall like!

Thursday~Pressure Cooker Potatoes

Easy to use up leftovers!

Friday~Pressure Cooker Mac 'n' Cheese

Our first day this week with no sports! Can't wait to just sit and be with everyone at the same time!

I made this recipe a few times, it's SO good but goodness I don't have time to make it often. Changed it up a bit and now I do it in the pressure cooker then under the broiler for a few minutes. In the pressure cooker 1 lb of pasta, 4 C of water, salt and nutmeg. Pressure cook for 4 minutes, release pressure, add the rest of the ingredients besides topping, stir it up a few minutes and spread in a baking pan, top with crackers and stick it under the broiler for a few.

24 November 2014

Meal Plan Monday

It's Thanksgiving week, and I can't wait to hang with family and do some shopping on Friday! The kids are home from school and we have no big plans.

This is my favorite type of week, more family time.

Monday~Ham and Potatoes

Starting off the week with a meal made to have leftovers!

Tuesday~Chicken Tacos

If I remember in the morning I am going to do crock pot shredded chicken for tacos.

Wednesday~Leftovers

Then I don't plan on cooking much. Between leftovers and activities I don't think I want to attempt to grocery shop so we will see what we can come up with for meals using what we have in the pantry and freezer.

20 October 2014

Meal Plan Monday

A little different this week, using this food we don't want to move twice!

We sold our home again (so far so good) and close next week, our rental isn't quite ready yet so we are staying with family until it is. Going to be an interesting few days!

Trying to use up open boxes of stuff like hot cereal and everything in our fridge! That should make for some interesting meals this week!

Monday~Meatball Subs

We have meatballs in the freezer that need to be used and marinara sauce I prepped before baby.

Tuesday~BBQ pork sandwiches

Using the rest of the buns and some already made bbq pork from the freezer. We also have a small package of fries that are open.

Wednesday~Stroganoff

Have sauce and shredded beef in freezer and a package of noodles already open.

Thursday~Chicken and pasta

We have an open box if pasta and some cooked chicken. Lots of frozen veggies too!

Friday~Leftovers!

I know we will have a bit if those. I hate to waste it. Kids like to call it "a little bit of everything" we just give them a little of everything left and some extra fruit and veggies!

Lunches are going to be fun, hoping to use up most of our open sauces and fridge stuff.
Thankfully, when we did this thing in August I used a lot of stuff up instead of buying, then we had the baby so I was really specific about what we brought in the house because I had a whole month of meals made. We still haven't used all of those but it's frozen stuff and we have a deep freezer.

Have you had to move a pantry full of food? Any tips?

13 October 2014

Meal Plan Monday

It's that time again! I swear the weeks are flying by since our little guy was born. I am not ready for it to go by so fast! Our kids have a lot of this week off of school so we are not as rushed for time.

Monday~Enchilada Tater-tot Bake

This is the recipe we use, altered a little for our family

Since we need ground beef for this meal, I am thawing and browning enough for 2 meals. Save me a step in the next couple of days.

Tuesday~Chicken and Pasta

I already have some baked shredded chicken in the freezer, going to thaw that, toss it with some veggies and pasta in some white sauce with herbs. Easy and everyone will eat it.

Wednesday~Taco's

Using up the other part of the ground beef!

Thursday~Meatballs and Potatoes

We all like the Trader Joe's Turkey Meatballs, Thursday is a busy soccer day for us. This is easy to toss together and doesn't require an extended time over the stove. I usually do mashed potatoes but on busy days I "bake" the potatoes in the crock pot during the day.

Just wash, poke and wrap in foil. In the crock pot for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.

Friday~Chicken Spaghetti
I started making this recipe just a few months ago. Everyone here will eat it without complaining or bribery. I do alter the recipe a little, no canned soup here and we use a bit less sour cream.

09 June 2014

Meal Plan Monday~Week 24

Because we are hoping to sell our house I have been planning easier meals,

easier to prep, easier to clean up, a whole lot of chicken! I am baking a few chicken breast this morning so it's ready to go for the week. Excited for us all to eat together, no more baseball!

Monday~Chicken Parmesan

Tuesday~Chicken Tacos

Wednesday~Baked Potatoes

Thursday~Chicken and Pasta

With some veggies and whatever kind of sauce I can throw together

Friday~Sub Sandwiches

02 June 2014

Meal Plan Monday~ Week 23

Having an easy, as little mess as possible, eat outside as much as possible dinner plan this week!

We are attempting to sell our house and I know as soon as I make a messy dinner we will get a phone call for a showing. Isn't that how it works usually?!

Monday~Taco's

Tuesday~BBQ Chicken

I will throw together a side depending on what we have in the pantry

Wednesday~Tortellini and Pesto

Easy and everyone will eat it!

Thursday~Loaded Potato Soup

Friday~Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes

We had dinner with family last night so having this tonight!

Saturday~ We have plans out

Sunday~Breakfast

Bacon, eggs and pancakes

19 May 2014

Meal Plan Monday~Week 21

We are ready for a long weekend coming up! I am hoping to use up as much of what we have before the weekend without having to get anything else!

Monday~Chicken and Veggies

Tuesday~Taco's

Wednesday~Loaded Potatoes

Easy way to use use leftovers

Thursday~Chicken Enchilada's

We are out for the weekend!