Monday, October 15, 2007

GETCHA HEAD IN THE GAME

Wow! I never really thought about how much menu planning helps until I neglected it for a week!!! Last weekend we went to the lake with friends; and then on Monday, we spent the whole day with my parents and my grandma. I never quite got around to the whole menu planning thing. Sadly, it showed. All week long we just ate a bunch of junk. Even on the nights we could have had a home-cooked meal, we ate junk. Everyone felt sluggish and yucky ~ not to mention grumpy ~ because we just ate junk.
Every.
Single.
Night.
Junk!

This week I made a vow to make a plan...to be more organized...to get my head in the game! I decided the best way to do this would be to participate in
Menu Plan Monday. Even if we don't know each other, it's still got "accountability" stamped all over it! So...if you feel the urge to come here and call me out in the comments to ask whether or not I am following through with the plan, PLEASE DO! After the big fall off the proverbial wagon last week, I might need some help climbing back onto it.

As always, thanks to
Laura at I'm An Organizing Junkie
for hosting
each and every week!

MONDAY - There is still no way around this being either sandwiches or the drive-thru. That will change in about seven more weeks, but for now...Monday night may be the designated "Junk Food Night".

TUESDAY - We will be away from home for the evening for a special event! Dinner will be at a restaurant or a concession stand. And while I love a big ole plastic tub of nachos as much as the next person...for my kids' sakes, I'm hoping for a restaurant!

WEDNESDAY - Wednesday night is dinner at church for a grand total of $10 for our family. The menu this week is Pork Tenderloin and Noodles and Chocolate Chip Pound Cake.

THURSDAY - We will be having Two Cheese Turkey Pie and steamed spinach.
The turkey pie is a new recipe we will be trying courtesy of my friend Steph. (See turkey pie recipe below!)

FRIDAY - BOTH of our children have nighttime birthday parties on this night, so Mr. Brownstone and I will have a date night! I am pushing for Uncle Julio's!!! YUM!! My mouth is watering just thinking of the fajitas now!

SATURDAY - We have a family costume party with some friends from church. We are supposed to bring a "Scary Snack", which translates into an hors d'oeuvre.
***At some point this week, we have to come up with costumes, so if you have any great costume ideas, PLEASE let me know!!! AND...if you have any great "scary snack" ideas, please direct me to your blog if it's posted, or feel free to share it here in the comments section!

SUNDAY - Sunday is usually always lunch and dinner with friends. It's never a fancy place because there are nineteen kids between the seven couples, and an additional three when the preacher's family is able to join us. We also have two couples that join us whose kids are now in college. They might be gluttons for punishment, considering they could have a very nice child-free dining experience...but they are so wonderful with all of our kids and with us, too! I am so thankful for our friends!

Two Cheese Turkey Pie

1 pound ground turkey
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 ounces cream cheese, cubed
1 4½-ounce jar sliced mushrooms, drained
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 can refrigerated biscuits
1 egg
1 cup cottage cheese
1 teaspoon flour
1 tomato, chopped (optional)

Brown turkey and onion; drain. Stir in cream cheese until melted. Stir in mushrooms and pepper. Press biscuits into a greased pie dish to form a crust. Spoon in the turkey mixture. Blend the egg, cottage cheese, and flour until smooth. Spread over the turkey mixture. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Garnish with tomato, if desired. You may substitute ground beef for turkey if you wish, but you might changed the name from "Two Cheese Turkey Pie" to "Two Cheese Hamburger Pie"!



2 comments:

Candi said...

I had not heard of Uncle Julio's...there just so happens to be one close to us. I bookmarked it so maybe we can try it after this month (still no eating out!!).

The turkey pie sounds good!!

Candi said...

Here is a cute Halloween appetizer...

http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/showRecipe.aspx?rID=16015

And here is a website with lots of ideas....
http://www.perfectentertaining.com/halloween/hrappetizers.htm