Meal Planning Monday 3/12-3/17

Well, Sunday is here again and time for my meal plan for the week. I am always thinking of new and fun recipes to get my family to eat. But still try to keep some of their favorites in there. It can sometimes be a struggle with picky little ones, but I do my best.

Monday


Breakfast- Cereal or Bagel with Jam
Lunch- Tuna on Whole Wheat and Fruit
Dinner- Chicken Pot Pie with Salad

Tuesday


Breakfast- French Toast Sticks with Sausage
Lunch- Chicken Nuggets with Baked Fries and Fruit
Dinner- Leftover Chicken Pot Pie and Salad

Wednesday


Breakfast- Cereal or Oatmeal
Lunch- Chicken Sandwich and Chips
Dinner- Roasted Chicken Breast with Green Beans and Potatoes

Thursday


Breakfast- Cereal or Oatmeal
Lunch- Chicken Salad on Whole Wheat and Fruit
Dinner- Spaghetti with Salad and Garlic Bread

Friday


Breakfast- Banana Muffin with Fruit Smoothie
Lunch-Take-out (prepping for an event)
Dinner- Leftover Spaghetti with Salad and Garlic Bread

Saturday


Breakfast- French Toast Sticks with Sausage
Lunch-Chicken Salad on Whole Wheat
Dinner-Church Banquet (a night out)


I will share a recipe or two during the week. So what are you planning to eat this week? Be blessed and enjoy!

Turkey and Black Bean Chili

It is September and fall is upon us, my favorite time of year. It’s full of warm comfort food, sweaters, apples, pumpkin and chili. During the chilly autumn days there is nothing like curling up on the couch with a big comfy sweater with a big bowl of chili and a good movie (that is a perfect Saturday to me). I love chili, it’s so warm and inviting; meat, beans tomatoes and just a little spicy. Now I know there is a big debate over beans in chili; in Texas I know it’s a big no-no, but I like so I use beans. Cooking is your personal preference, so do what you like.

I normally use ground beef for my chili, but since I have been eating a lot of beef and steak over the summer I decided to use ground turkey. You know lighten it up a little bit, and we normally always have it in the freezer. And I used black beans, which are better for you then some of the other beans. Plus they work nicely with the turkey.

Turkey and Black Bean Chili

1lb ground turkey

1 package of Chili Seasoning (with 1lb of meat use only half the pack)

1tsp chili powder

1tsp garlic powder

1tsp onion powder

1tsp ground cumin

½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1 can of black beans (do not drain)

1 can of diced fire roasted tomatoes

½c water

In a large pot or dutch oven brown off your ground turkey over medium heat.

Add spices and cook off some of the rawness of the spices.

Then add the black beans, tomatoes and water.

Bring to a boil and then turn to low and let it simmer for about ten minutes.

When I made chili I have to have corn bread. I love the Honey Cornbread Recipe from FoodNetwork.com.

This chili recipe is such a great meal to have as the weather starts to cool off to warm you up. Be blessed and enjoy.

Chicken Scampi Pasta

Like every other mom out there I love it when I find quick, easy dishes to prepare for the family. And this is one of my family's favorites, Chicken Scampi Pasta. We are a pasta loving family around here; we have it at least once a week in some form.

This Scampi is really simple to make and full of flavor too; you can easily swap out the chicken for shrimp and make it a date night meal. I have even thrown in some spinach to sneak some veggies into the kids. That's one of the things I love about pasta dishes, you can throw pretty much anything together with it and will be good.


 

 
Chicken Scampi Pasta


 
1lb chicken tenderloin (you can also use breast, but tenderloins are usually less expensive)

1 tsp italian seasoning

1tsp dried oregano

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp lemon pepper

½ tsp red pepper flakes

1 tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

1 stick of butter, divided in half

2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil

4 cloves of garlic, minced

1 large or 2 small lemons

2tbsp parsley fresh or dried

1lb of your favorite pasta (I used spaghetti)


 
Cook pasta according to package instructions.



While pasta is cooking dice chicken tenderloins into small chunks, and season with spices.



Place butter and olive oil in a pan over medium high heat. When butter has melted add chicken and sauté until brown.



Add the remaining butter and garlic and cook until fragrant. Slice the lemons and squeeze cut side up in the pan.



Drain pasta reserving about ½ cup of pasta liquid. Add some of the pasta water to loosen sauce.



Place drained pasta in serving bowl and add chicken. Sprinkle with parsley and cheese (if you like).

 


I hope you enjoy my version of chicken scampi as much as my family does. Be blessed and enjoy.