Monday, September 24, 2007

MY SECOND MENU PLAN MONDAY!

Previous Entry: Something For Sunday

Well, my first week of actual blogging was not as painful as I had feared! It's actually quite fun, and I have so thoroughly enjoyed making my first friends in Blogland! Thank you to all of you that were so warm and welcoming. I appreciate the kind words and support!

And now for the featured item:

Thanks again to Laura at I'm An Organizing Junkie
for hosting Menu Plan Monday each week!

Our schedule has not really changed in the last week and will not be changing for at least five more weeks before the first change occurs and then another six weeks before the next change. Ahhh...such is life!

As far as last week goes, we did have sandwiches on Monday night. On Tuesday night, we had pizza, but we just bought frozen pizza from the grocery store instead. YUM! Wednesday night, I got a horrible migraine headache, so I slept through dinner and church, while Mr. Brownstone and the whirlwinds ate from the $1 menu at McDonald's. To be honest, Thursday and Friday just sort of fell apart for me because the reality of the news we received on Monday was hitting me pretty hard, leaving me a bit disorganized and finding myself retreating to this blog or a book. Sadly, we brought in take-out (burritos and tacos) on Thursday night. Friday, Mr. Brownstone and the whirlwinds had a pizza buffet, and they brought me a hot sandwich and some chips. On Saturday, we got back on schedule - sort of - and had Taco Salad with friends. It was fun and relaxed to combine our food and just be at the home of great friends. Sunday went absolutely as scheduled with dining with our tween youth group for lunch and dinner with friends that night.

This week, we really do hope to dine in more...the kids, Mr. Brownstone, and myself are happiest when we can just chill out around the kitchen table. We also find that it is where our kids open up the most (next to bedtime) about what is going on in their lives.

MONDAY - For the next eleven weeks, Mr. Brownstone and I have a weekly obligation that falls in an awkward time frame. It's too early to eat a big meal before we leave and too late to eat a big meal when we get home. We will be having sandwich night until this commitment is completed.

TUESDAY - This is also an awkward night for us for the same reasons as Monday...we leave too early, and we get home too late. Tuesday nights will have to be $5 pizza night for now until this particular season of kids' sports is finished, which is five more weeks.

WEDNESDAY - We normally eat at church for only $10! The menu for this night is Spaghetti and Peanut Butter Bars. We love getting to dine with our church family on this night, but this week we decided to forgo the meal. There are some things that are harder to eat when somebody else is cooking them, and spaghetti is one of them! We will probably eat at Whataburger on this night because it's close to church, and I am gone all day long. It's also the day of my grandmother's surgery - I think I might be a mess that day.
****If you are a praying person, please keep her in your prayers.****

Bringing us to my three cooking nights...last week's planned Italian Pork Chops and Vegetables, though very tasty, are not calling out to me this week. Neither is the Spaghetti and Homemade Meat Sauce, or the Build-Your-Own Fiesta Salad. Those will all be wonderful for another time...just not this week!

THURSDAY - I have a
Club 56 planning session for most of the day, so it will be nice to have a one-dish-clean-up! We will be having Mexican Soup. (See recipe below!)

FRIDAY - We are having Fiesta Pork Bake and broccoli. (See recipe below!)

SATURDAY - We will have brisket, along with corn-on-the-cob (my FAVORITE!) and green beans, as well as King's Hawaiian Bread.

SUNDAY - We almost always dine out with all of our friends for Sunday Lunch AND Sunday Supper, and I suspect that is what we will do on this particular Sunday. What a wonderful blessing to have close friendships ~ we are making so many fond memories during these special times with friends!

That about wraps up our week. I hope you enjoy the following recipes, courtesy of my mom's recipe box!

Mexican Soup

pounds ground beef, browned
1 can hominy
3 can beans, any kind, mix 1 of each (I use pinto, black, and kidney.)
2 cans Ro-tel, or stewed tomatoes, any combination (I use one of each.)
2-4 cups water
1 package taco seasoning
1 package ranch dressing mix

Mix all ingredients together. Bring to a boil; simmer over medium-low heat for 30 minutes. Serve over corn chips (I use Tostitos), and top with grated cheddar cheese.

Fiesta Pork Bake

6 pork chops
salt and pepper to taste
1 package dry onion soup mix
1 large green pepper, diced
1 cup uncooked rice (I use long grain Comet, white.)
½ cup ketchup
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 cups boiling water
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Spray 2-quart casserole with cooking spray, or coat with 2 tablespoons melted butter. Sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper. Arrange in casserole. Top with soup mix, green pepper, and rice. Mix ketchup and water, then pour over top. Cover, and bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes, or until done. (Additional ½ cup water can be added if rice becomes too dry.) Remove from the oven, and top with cheese. Cover, and allow dish to stand for 10 minutes.


For more recipes from my mom's box, visit here, here, OR here!

Enjoy!

19 comments:

Michelle said...

I'm glad that you don't find blogging to be scary!!!!We're really a friendly bunch!!!I'm posting the recipes on the blog.;=)
The recipe for Mexican Soup sounds wonderful!!thanks for the blog visit!Hugs

Anonymous said...

what a delicious meal plan! Glad you survived your first week--welcome :) Have a wonderful week.

Anonymous said...

Blogging is so fun... just watch out as it is quite addictive :) Hope your week goes well.

TrainingHearts said...

Great week! How neat to feed your family at church for only $10 :)

Have a blessed week!
~Tamara
www.TrainingHearts.com

Candi said...

Everything sounds great!! I make a Mexican soup like yours, but I use corn instead of hominy. We love it and often serve it over Fritos and top it with cheese.
Praying for your grandma.

Kathryn said...

Looks delicious! I think I may have to try your Mexican Soup.

Have a great second week. :)

Karen said...

Welcome to Blogville! Thanks for stopping by my blog:-) You've got a great plan for the week, hope it all goes well! Happy Monday.

Mommy of Three

Bella @ Lil Daisies said...

Welcome to blogland! It is fun and addicting! You have a busy week ahead? A great plan set-up though. That is great that you can have dinner at your church for only $10! Wow! Thanks for the comment BTW!

Bella @ Lil Daisies said...

Oh, and yes....my husband is a Financial Planner! So, he for sure has Dave Ramsey principles too! Cash system works great for me...because I can too easily spend way tooo much money for things I really don't need with a credit card. :-)

The Frugal Apprentice said...

Looks like you have a very busy week planned!

I make a Mexican soup that is very similar to the one you are making and I just love it!

I read that you had a migraine, i get them too and so does my 8-year-old son. There is nothing worse!

Have a blessed week,

Sherry

Anonymous said...

Looks like a good week. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

MJ

lori said...

Thanks for the visit...the pumpkin dip is posted on the side of my blog...SO good and SOOOO easy!!:)

I will post the soups too! Your Mexican Soup sounds delish too!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
Welcome to blogland!!
:)

Anonymous said...

You are a commenting rock star, Xbox Wife!! You are everywhere!

The meals sound very yummy. I am also glad to finally learn what Hawaiian bread is (I'm from Canada, guess we don't have it here)!

What a busy life you and your family have. Hope your week goes well.

Sea said...

Hi! I'm a PC Game Wife myself. ;) *sigh*

Thanks for visiting my little site! I like your MPM logo.

-sea
(of the book of yum)

Denise B said...

I wish we had a Whataburger near us, we have In-N-Out instead (which is pretty good too)!

Mrs. Brownstone @ XBOX Wife said...

Wow! Thank you so much to ALL of you for stopping by and for commenting! I CANNOT WAIT to try all of your different recipes - there were SO MANY good ones!

Thanks for all of the support as far as being a new blogger goes. It's not so scary anymore - it is fun and it is addictive!

Candi - thanks for the prayers for my grandma. We appreciate all the prayer support we can get!

Sherry - any great tips for those migraines? I've had one every day for over a week. I guess it's time for a doctor visit.

Mamasutra - I LOVE commenting on the blogs. I figure that if I'm there reading it, I can surely take a second to comment and support the blogger!

Sea - it sounds like you can feel my gaming pain!

Again to all of you - thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. Have a wonderful week! And...happy eating!

alisonwonderland said...

King's Hawaiian Bread is my hubby's fav! You and your grandma are in my prayers!

Jenn said...

17 comments!!! Girl, you have arrived fully into the blogging community!! It's fun, isn't it? I could never post my dinner plans the week before because I'm a cooker on the fly...last night we had an amazing pork roast though, if I'm allowed to brag. We have a club 56 meeting this week? Let me know what we are doing...I'll see you on Wed. for sure...I'm off to get the kids ready for school. Call me later. We will become offical x-box widows tonight!!

Mrs. Brownstone @ XBOX Wife said...

Alisonwonderland, thank you so much for your prayers. We appreciate it!

Jenn, I think the idea was to discuss on Wednesday night what we had seen on Sunday. You are, OF COURSE, allowed to brag here! Pork Roast sounds yummy. The last one we had to FOREVER to cook. I think I will be here in the morning. Mom said that she will be fine, and we need to just focus on the kids, etc. I think she may need us more AFTER the surgery. I will try to call later - we've been in activities all day and have one more tonight. Mr. Brownstone has not picked up his copy yet. I hope they'll have it for him today, or he may be at YOUR house with Lurch tonight!