Menu Plan Monday ~ Week of January 31, 2011

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Menu Plan MondayI’m happy to report that I’m back into the swing of things after my post-Vegas recovery week. I was more tired than I expected so by the time Thursday and Friday rolled around I abandoned my plan all together and we ate out. I’m not thrilled with the outcome, but I’ll treat it as a learning opportunity and think of strategies for having some ready-to-go dishes in the freezer. Next week should be a status quo week though, so I’ve put together a more typical plan complete with prep all meals and other useful info.

How as the first month of the year treated you? Are you sticking with resolutions or changes you made at the start of the year? I’d love to know more in the comments.

Monday

I’m thrilled to report that this Monday will be nice and normal. I’ll start with a muffin from my freezer collection, have leftovers from this past weekend’s dinners for lunch, and raid the freezer for dinner. I won’t have to cook per se but I’ll have healthy homemade meals each day nonetheless.

Raiding the Freezer

  • Every fall I make two big batches of chili, one a traditional Texas chili and the other a favorite I acquired during my college days, Cincinnati Chili. I’m working my way through the stash I have in the freezer while the weather is still cool. It will also make my Monday night a breeze (no pun intended).

Tuesday

I’ll actually make my way into the kitchen for one meal on Tuesday: dinner. I’m trying out a recipe from my long list of “to try” that clip (digitally) from my magazines each month. I think the family will enjoy the fried chicken taste without all of the grease and calories.

Prep Ahead

  • We’re having slow cooked southern green beans (recipe to come) on Thursday but they need four hours on the stove that I won’t have Thursday evening. The great thing about them is they’ll hold beautifully for up to a week, and in fact they taste better after sitting in the fridge for a day or so. I’ll make the batch Tuesday night and reheat them on Thursday.

Wednesday

I’m getting together with a few of my fellow Austin food bloggers mid-week, so dad and daughter will get to have their night out while I’m enjoying my blogging friends. I’ll keep up the leftover theme for lunch and its back to the muffin stash for breakfast.

Prep Ahead

  • Chicken and apple sausage from the freezer

Thursday

As the week goes by, I’m more easily tempted by a trip to happy hour at our local sushi restaurant or a quick stop at takeout. To help keep that at bay, I’m planning a silly-easy dinner to help counteract that temptation. I’ll start the day with scrambled eggs in the microwave, a recipe courtesy of a fellow Austin food blogger, and for lunch I’m trying a new lunch spot as research for the Austin Food Lovers’ Companion portion of the blog.

Prep Ahead

  • Meatballs from the freezer

Eating Local

  • My friend Stephanie of Confituras makes the most amazing jams and preserves, and I picked up a fun new jar to try at the market this past Saturday morning. I can’t wait to try it with the muffin. I also bought eggs at the market while I was there, so my breakfast will be mostly local.

Friday

We didn’t get to the Mexican Meatball Soup last week and I really want to try it, so back on the menu for this week it goes. Friday is breakfast taco day, which I really look forward to each week, and lunch is all about the leftovers again. I think it’s the theme of the week.

  • Breakfast
    • Breakfast tacos
  • Lunch
    • Leftover sausage and green beans
  • Dinner

Prep Ahead

  • Chinese chicken from freezer

Saturday

Every year I volunteer to help with our regional Destination ImagiNation tournament. It’s a great reminder of the possibilities the next generation have and I’m always reenergized afterwards. Saturday is training day for the tournament so I’ll be gone most of the day. Reheating the Chinese Chicken for lettuce wraps got lost in last week’s fray so I’ll migrate them to this week’s menu. All I’ll have to do is reheat and serve, the perfect ending to a long day.

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
    • Everyone on their own
  • Dinner
    • Chinese chicken lettuce wraps

Prep Ahead

  • Make German pancake batter

Sunday

It’s Super Bowl Sunday! I’m looking forward to enjoying a relaxing breakfast and lunch at home and then we’ll head over to enjoy the game with friends. I’ll bring along some bread and wine and I think I’ll try out the brownies on the cover of the February issue of Bon Appetite.

Eating Local

  • At the market on Saturday I also picked up some fantastic sausage from a local butcher. It’s not only made locally but it’s made from local ingredients. It will be a great companion to the family-favorite German pancake.


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