Meal Plan # 2

Well I fell off the wagon on week 2 and made a meal plan and did not post it! The whole purpose of me even doing this is so in the future I'll have something to refer to so I won't have to do so much leg work! This week is a good one and I am looking forward to these meals! Enjoy and leave me any ideas you may have for some tasty family dinners.

Monday
Crock Pot Fajitas

This has got to be one of my favorite meals because it is most importantly easy and secondly it tastes amaing. I adapted my own recipe from this recipe here...http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/01/baked-chicken-fajitas-recipe.html
I will post my version of things I do a bit differently so you can really use either but I just love my crockpot and any recipe I can convert to a crockpot and not compromise taste I am game for it!

Crockpot Chicken Fajitas Recipe:

(Serves 4-6)

Ingredients:
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
2  (4 ounce) can diced green chilies
1 medium onion, sliced
 3 large bell pepper
(one of each color), seeded and sliced
2 Tablespoon vegetable oil
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
 1/4 teaspoon salt
12 flour tortillas, warmed to serve

Directions:
 Chop chicken into strips, chop onions and peppers into strips. Add it all into a crockpot you have sprayed with cooking spray. Add all the other ingredients listed and then stir well. Put on 8 hours for low. The meat is SO tender!! You can do with fewer hours if you cook on a higher speed. I serve it with a can of black beans and corn that have been drained and rinsed with the juice of one lemon sprinkled over them for a side. I serve with cheese, tortillas, sour cream and guacamole!

Tuesday
Pioneer Woman Fettuccini Alfredo
All I can say is that she rocks and so does this recipe. I do not make any adjustments to this one. Recipe is linked. I serve with salad and garlic bread.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/07/fettuccine-alfredo/

Wednesday
Crockpot Steak Tips with Smashed Potatoes and Corn on the Cob

I need to put up a disclaimer that I have not actually ever done this recipe in the crockpot before so when I try it tomorrow I will come back and make any adjustments as needed.

One Package Beef Round Chunks (Mine was about 1.34 lbs)
1/2 Cup A1 Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 pack onion soup mix
1 can mushroom soup mix
 Put it all in the crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours

For the smashed potatoes I buy the small yellow gold. I grease a cookie sheet. I put the potatoes on there and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and drizzle with olive oil. Bake for about 15-20 minutes till tender. Then take out of the oven and use the bottom of a glass to smash the potato down. Let bake for another 10 minutes or so until the potatoes are crispy around the edges.

For the corn I just buy frozen and boil on the stovetop. Top with butter, salt and pepper when it comes out of the boiling water.

Thursday
Grilled Pork chops with Crockpot Macaroni & Cheese and Honey Glazed Carrots
For Dessert Apple Dumplings...YUMMMM

There is no better marinade that I have found than the Webber brand that they have come out with. I chose a Chipotle and  a Lime marinade for big thick pork chops!  I just make sure that I have time to marinate my meat for at least 4 hours for the best flavor but you can do last minute if needed it just won't be as strong of a flavoring.

Crockpot Mac n Cheese
2 Cups elbow macaroni
4 tbsp. butter
2 1/2 Cups grated cheddar cheese (I use 3 cups usually but use your own judgment)
3 beaten eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp black pepper

In a saucepan melt butter and cheese. In another pot boil macaroni till its al dente. Then dump it all into a sprayed down crockpot to prevent sticking and mix all the remaining ingredients. Stir well! Then set it on 4 hours low setting and go back to stir occasionally.

Honey Roasted Carrots
1 pk baby carrots
4 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoon honey
1 pk candied pecans like ones used for salads

I bake in oven on 350 for one hour. Give it plenty of time to carmelize!! The longer it cooks the better it is. So, this is a good set it and forget it meal. The sides can cook for a long time and the meat can marinate till right at time to grill. Its low stress and a hit!!

Apple Dumplings

Ingredients

• 5 Green Apples
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 10-18 canned buttermilk biscuits
• 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1 8 oz pack cream cheese

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Peel, core and slice the apples vertically into slices. Cream together 1/4 cup sugar and cream cheese and set aside.

Separate each biscuit into 2 layers. Once flattened put a layer of the cream cheese mixture down. Then a slice or two or apple depending on the size.  Wrap a biscuit layer around a slice of apple, stretching the biscuit slightly to overlap, and seal on the bottom. Place the wrapped slices, sealed-side down, in a 9- by 12- by 2-inch casserole dish that has been greased.. Then pour melted butter all over the top of the dumplings. Then sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon mix 1/2 cup sugar and 4 tablespoons of cinnamon over the top. Bake until biscuits are firm. About 15-20 minutes depending on your oven.

Friday
Leftovers!! Take a break because you have earned it with all this good cooking this week!  

Meal Plan #1

First week is about to be in the books. It's much easier to write it down than actually do this but I'm giving it a whirl. Enjoy and use these recipes or give me feedback on your own version of this. I love input and ideas. After all...we are in this together ;-) Best of luck this week!


Monday
Zucchini, Black Bean & Chicken over Rice

In a skillet sauté 3 zucchini chopped finely along with a few tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper. About 5 minutes or so....then add a can of black beans that have been rinsed and washed and a can of diced tomatoes which I prefer to drain but you take it how you like it. Also add 2-3 shredded chicken breast (depending on how many you are cooking for) which you cooked in the crockpot all day so they shred up easy and you can throw it in your recipe. Then add 1 cup water and 1 cup rice. Bring to a boil and once it is all stirred and boiling well remove from the heat and leave covered for around 20 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed. Once completed spoon into bowls and sprinkle with cheese (i like sargento six cheese italian blend) and serve with some bread or a salad and enjoy.

Tuesday
Parmesan Manicotti

Boil manicotti for about half the time allotted on the package. I am making this with no meat but sub whatever you want and brown it and drain it and add it to your sauce...beef, chicken ground turkey etc... Meanwhile, mix 1 tub of shaved parmesean cheese, 2 eggs, 1 tsp of Italian Seasoning, 8 oz of part skim ricotta and 1 cup shredded mozzarella as your filling. Once manicotti have cooled stuff with mixture and place in a baking pan. Spoon any kind of spaghetti sauce you prefer over the top and sprinkle with another cup of mozzarella or Italian cheese blend. Serve with bread or salad. In case you haven't picked up on my theme I don't mess with a whole lot of side dishes but you know what you like.

Wednesday
BBQ Potatoes

I use this six sisters recipe for the idea to give credit where due but make it in the crockpot instead of doing it as listed. because I like to simplify anything I can into a crockpot meal. http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/02/baked-bbq-chicken-taquitos-recipe.html

1 finely diced red onion, 1 bottle of any BBQ sauce you like, 3 chicken breast, 2 tablespoons of cilantro, 1 tablespoon olive oil then I set it and forget it! Crockpot on low for 6 hours. At some point during cooking I take the chicken breast out and shred it then throw it back in to cook and get fully coated in sauce. I cook my potatoes in the microwave on the setting we have for it and they come out perfectly. Usually takes about 30 minutes or less depending on their size. Serve with sour cream, chives, cheese or any other toppings you like. I just prefer Sour cream and cheese but I'm simple. You can get creative.

Thursday
Leftover Day

I think it is important to have a day of the week where you just set out your leftovers and divvy up what's left for the next days lunch and that nights dinner. That way no food geos to waste and you get a night off for all of your effort and planning ;-)

Friday
Breakfast for Dinner or Brinner

On nights where we have breakfast for dinner I like to always include hasbrowns. I typically buy the brand in the refrigerator section in the green bag. They run them on sale 2 for $4 fairly often and I like to put them in the freezer so I have some on hand. I also like to make sausage bisquick casserole as listed below. You will not be able to eat just one bite and please note I do not claim for all my recipes to be the healthiest so this is one of those you don't want to eat all the time ;-)

3 cups bisquick
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1 cup water
1 lb sausage (I like mild but pick your fancy)
2 1/2 cups of shredded sharp cheddar
Mix it all together well and spread out in a 9 x 13 pan you have sprayed with Pam. I bake for 30-45 minutes at 375.