Menu Plan Monday - Week of 1/2/12

 Oh, how I love to create my MPMs. I love the search for new recipes, both online and as I dig through all my old cookbooks. I love finding just the right balance of veggies and meats for the week. Most of all, I absolutely LOVE not having to stress each night wondering what I'm going to throw together for dinner. The work is already done for me and I get to simply enjoy the art and fun of cooking. It's wonderful. As you'll see, most of this week is dedicated to recipes from Eating Well.


Monday - Provencal Chicken, Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks, and Brown Rice

Tuesday - Horseradish-Crusted Beef Tenderloin and Baked Parmesan Tomatoes

Wednesday - Chicken Breasts with Roasted Lemons and Steamed Broccoli.


Thursday - Hamburgers with Warm Potato Salad with Bacon-Mustard Dressing

Friday - Leftovers, naturally!;)


Saturday - Baked Tilapia with Dill Sauce and Balsamic & Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower


Sunday - Fend for Yourself Day!

Menu Plan THURSDAY?! - Week of 12/26/11

So, although this week is pretty much spent, I thought I'd go ahead and post what's cooking this week. We spend Monday in St. Augustine with my stepmom's family and our combined 5 rottweilers walking around downtown St. George Street. We had a blast! Ate lunch out on the patio at Harry's, so by the time we got home that evening, we were too full for a real dinner. Trey left Tuesday morning to go hunting for a few days, so with it being just me in the house, no menu needed. I just roughed it. I was pretty sick all week, so I didn't have too much of an appetite Tuesday night. Had delicious chili last night, however, thanks to my dad, who took pity on his poor, pathetic, sick daughter. ;) Back on the cooking track tonight, however, now that I've actually got a little energy and Trey is home.

Thursday - Red Pepper Corn Chowder (filled with yummy potatoes and shrimp)

Friday - Tuscan Pork Loin, Oven Roasted Veggies, and Parmesan Couscous

Saturday - New Years' Eve! We'll be celebrating with friends, so it will be potluck. Not sure what I'll take just yet...

Sunday - Leftover pork and veggies

Whew! Where has the time gone?!

Hi everyone! Yes, I am still alive and kicking! What can I say? There is really no good excuse for my long absence from my blog...time just got away from me and actually logging in to write posts became low on the totem pole. Maybe if I could do it from my phone....hmmm....

It has been an incredibly insane year. School started with a bang, bringing with it an extra class period to teach (which means no planning period), another gifted endorsement class that lasted 12 weeks, and tons of grading. Trey's schedule was just as hectic this past Fall...along with work, he decided to coach the boys' middle school football team, which occupied most of his evenings and Saturdays. Luckily that's over now and we can enjoy our lazy evenings.

Trey and I just celebrated our 2nd Christmas together as a married couple and it was just as fabulous as last year. We got to spend a lot of quality time with each other and our families. We are certainly looking forward to New Year's and to see what exciting things God has in store for us in the next year. We do not typically make resolutions, but I do have a couple this go around. For starters, we are both going to dedicate ourselves to a healthier diet and to get in shape. We have quite a few "happy pounds" to shed, so we'll be calorie counting estimating for a while. Another of mine is to get back to blogging, especially my MPMs. The holiday season got me off track with my menus, but it is time to get it together again.

So, with all of that being said, I'll sign off for now, but know that I'll see you again soon. :)

Menu Plan Monday - Week of 3/14/11

The name of the game this week is convenience and leftover availability. I am taking the next class in my Gifted Endorsement and it begins this week. The problem is that it is every Tuesday and Thursday evenings, from 4:30 to 8:30! That means I have to run straight from work to class, then I don't get home until around 9:00....can you picture me silently weeping right now? Because of this, I have been trying to plan meals that stretch well and reheat nicely for Trey to enjoy while I'm in class. As for my dinners, I'm probably going to be brown-bagging it for a while until I get into a routine and figure out what the instructor has planned for our dinner breaks. Until then, I'll just do the best I can. I have the fridge stock piled with yummy fruits and veggies to much on throughout class, and I hit up the deli at Publix, so there's plenty of Spanish pork and turkey breast for sandwiches. Maybe I can actually lose some weight since I'll be eating a little differently?! There's always a silver lining, right?! :)

Monday - Roast Pork Loin and Mixed Veggies

Tuesday - Roast Pork and Black Bean Chili (I'm going to cook this on Monday night using the leftover pork, so it will only need to be reheated and topped with some chopped onions and cheese)

Wednesday - Pizza Bake and Tossed Salad

Thursday - Leftovers :)

Friday - Taco Salad

Saturday - Grilled Burgers and Dogs with Potato Salad and Fruit

Sunday - Fend for Yourself Day! :)

Menu Plan Monday - Week of 2/28/11 

Simple meals for the week was my main goal in menu planning yesterday. I just wanted easy to make, yummy meals. I think I've accomplished that below.  I think I'm most excited about the Cuban Chicken Salad - it sounds so delicious and fresh. Can't wait to try out the homemade dressing. I also bought a new raspberry vinaigrette dressing that I can't wait to try out with some salads at lunch and some rainbow salad. :)

Monday - BLTs 

Tuesday - Boudain Sausage & Scalloped Cauliflower
 
Wednesday - Cuban Chicken Salad

Thursday - Fried Rice

Friday - Southwest Chicken Quesadillas

Saturday - Leftovers

Sunday - Fend for Yourself Day! :)

Menu Plan Monday - Week of 2/21/11


Hey y'all!  Hope everyone had a fantastic extended 3-day weekend (and for those that had to work Monday, don't worry - I enjoyed the beautiful day for you!).  We had a busy, yet productive weekend in the Whiddon household.  As I mentioned in the last post, Trey and I spent the Saturday at the races and then sightseeing a bit.  I spent Sunday cleaning and organizing the office, trying to get things ready to bring over my scrapbooking supplies from Mom's. I have the room kinda like I want it and have the first load over already; only about two more truck loads to go! Jeez!

We celebrated President's Day by heading to the Webster Flea Market with Vivian (Trey's mom). We had a lovely day: the weather was perfect and the place was packed with all kinds of neat treasures. We didn't buy much, but had a great time walking around and looking at everything. My buy of the day was an absolutely gorgeous 1878 printing of Aesop's Fables!

Love the cover!

It has some awesome illustrations! Can't wait to read some of these to my kids in the future!

Monday evening, Trey cooked some backstrap (awesome, by the way). We used the leftovers to make venison fajitas for supper tonight (double awesome).  So, here's the menu for the rest of the week:


Tuesday - Venison Fajitas

Wednesday - Rotisserie Chicken and veggies

Thursday - Slow Cooker Meatball Subs

Friday - Fried Rice

Saturday - Pasta with leftover meatballs

Sunday - Fend for Yourself Day! :)

I really love my life!

Trey and I had a great day today. After sleeping late (which was really needed after such a long, stressful week), we headed to the Gainesville Raceway to watch the 2011 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series qualifying. We had a blast looking at all the cars, watching the races, and enjoying the sound of the engines and the smell of rubber burning. Since 1970, Gainesville has been home to one of the fastest tracks in the NHRA. It's kind of amazing that we have such a famous and important raceway in our own backyard. Anyway, the weather was gorgeous and sunny. It was so nice to be able to wear shorts and a t-shirt and feel the sun beating down on us. It was certainly a great day for the races. 

After we left the raceway, we headed over to Paynes Prairie to enjoy the lovely afternoon. On our way there, Trey made a quick detour to Boulware Springs Park and Historic Waterworks.  You know, I've lived in the area my whole life and had never even heard of Boulware Springs. It was so neat to see the historic building and learn the history behind the waterworks. I had no idea that it was the city's offer of free water forever that convinced the University of Florida to settle in Gainesville instead of Lake City.

Did you know that UF still receives free water, even though the springs have long since been closed as the city's water source. Crazy, huh?!

After the quick stop at the waterworks, we headed to La Chua Trail at Paynes Prairie. The weather was perfect to walk the trail and see all the wildlife there. There were alligators everywhere, much to our delight. It is a truly amazing sight to just walk around and see gators of all sizes banked and enjoying their sunbath. Along with gators, we saw all kinds of birds, cranes, and a bison. Apparently there are somewhere around 70 wild bison roaming the prairie. It was awesome to see one up close and personal!

We really had an amazing day! It's days like today that make me realize how very lucky I am. I am blessed to spend my life with my very best friend, and it doesn't matter what we do or where we go, whether it's the races or just a state park, we are going to have a blast spending time together. It's days like today that remind me just how much I really love my life!

Aaahhhhh.....finally some warmth has made it's way to Florida and I may be able to actually thaw out some soon. I am definitely not a cold weather person, so I am very happy to be able to introduce short-sleeve shirts back into my wardrobe. I'm ready to spend some time outside, plant some flowers and vegetables, and open the windows in the house to let the fresh air inside.

While February is a month that I want to pass quickly so I can be that much closer to Spring, there are some really great things about this month.  For instance, I got to share my first Valentine's Day as a married woman with Trey. Very exciting to open up that greeting card to see "My Wife" written inside. Also, February 20th is National Love Your Pet Day. It may be kinda corny, but I plan on spoiling my babies rotten and showering them with all kinds of love! Lots of extra tummy rubs, ear scratching, and special treats will be enjoyed by all! And they certainly deserve it - because, let's face it, they love us unconditionally, always greet us with a smile and a kiss (or in Nitschke's case, tons of kisses), and keep us laughing all the time!

My Baby Girl, Charli <3

Cuddling with my handsome fella, Nitschke <3

Snips, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails....we all know that's what little boys are made of and I know for a fact that my future nephew, Hunter, will be no exception to the old nursery rhyme! So with that thought in mind, there was no way I could plan a Baby Shower for my sister-in-law, Kristi and Baby Bump Hunter with any other theme! After months of planning, I got to throw one heck of a party. It was adorable. I found several sites online with all kinds of inspiration (my favorite being Bug Party at Nounces Design) and had a blast creating my own twists to go along with such a cute theme.

The table was set up with a variety of snack, all bug or puppy related. One of Trey's favorite kid's books is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, so I had to incorporate that idea somehow. I decided the best way was to poke holes through all the fruit with a straw so that the guests could see that the caterpillar had been there. :)

The veggie bouquet was time consuming, but I love how it turned out! The only problem is that nobody ate any of the skewered veggies....I guess they were too cute to eat!

My favorite pasta salad is actually a Weight Watchers recipe called BLT Pasta Salad. It is DELICIOUS!!! I usually make a double batch, even if it's just for me and Trey. If you haven't tried it, then you must...so, SO good!

Snails....get it?!

My mom had a great idea when it came to the chips and hummus. I was having a hard time coming up with puppy food ideas. My wonderful, creative mother suggested making homemade tortilla chips in the shape of dog bones. Voila! So easy and super yummy! :)

 

The punch was delicious, lemme tell ya!

The party favors: homemade dog-bone shaped almond-sugar cookies! Yum!

Instead of cake, we had individual portions of Dirt Cake.  You know that boy's gonna get good and muddy one day! Everyone loved the pudding cups and felt like kids themselves as they ate their gummy worms. :)

Found the Uh-dorable snail and grasshopper from Heaven On Earth aka Hobby Lobby. The others are Eric Carle stuffed animals from Kohl's.

We had an iron-on station instead of games at the shower. The guests loved being able to make their own onesie! They all turned out so cute! :)

Kristi with Hunter's future "I Like Hanging With My Aunt" onesie! He'd better wear it ALOT! ;-)

Me and Kristi, the new Mom-to-Be :)

Menu Plan Monday Tuesday - Week of 2/14/11

So it's been a seriously crazy last couple of weeks. My sister-in-law, Kristi, is preggers and I got to throw her baby shower for the Whiddon side of the family. Very exciting for me, since this was really the first time I've hosted anything for the family. I desperately wanted to impress and shower Kristi with TONS of attention and a party she'll never forget. I'll be posting more on the shower later....

Unfortunately, I spent so much time and effort on the shower, that I kinda let my MPM slide a bit. I hate that! So, to try to make up for lost time, I will at least post the hasty menu I threw together last night after a quick trip to Hitchcock's.

Monday, Valentine's Day - Leftover London Broil and Roasted Mixed Veggies

Tuesday - Mini-Meatloaf Muffins, Leftover Roasted Veggies, and Baked Acorn Squash

Wednesday -Loaded Baked Potatoes

Thursday - Bacon-Wrapped Pork Loin, Scalloped Cauliflower and Greens

Friday -Maybe going to the UF Baseball game, so hopefully a hot dog and peanuts! :)

Saturday - Backstrap? Trey wants to do something with it, but I don't know if that means fry, grill, etc. It's up to him.  Either way, I ain't cookin'!

Sunday - Fend for Yourself Day! :)

Menu Plan Monday - Week of 1/31/11

Had a great weekend up at Trey's family friend, Jack. I spent my first time out in the woods with Trey and lemme tell ya - hunting is not for me! Too boring just sitting there waiting for something to move. I think I will be quite content to be left at home, waiting for my man to bring home the bacon! We didn't get lucky while I was out there, but Trey was able to shoot a doe the next morning. It wasn't a huge buck like we all hoped for, but it is definitely meat on the table and is certainly going to be enjoyed. :)

I am desperately looking forward to a quiet week, so the recipes coming up are quick, easy, and comforting.

Monday - Black Beans and Rice

Tuesday - Mexican Lasagna

Wednesday - Cheeseburger Sliders and Potato Salad

Thursday - Stuffed Tomatoes and Strawberry Spinach Salad

Friday - Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breast (with leftover potato salad)

Saturday - Date Night <3

Sunday - Fend for Yourself Day! :)

Menu Plan Monday - Week of 1/24/11

Can you believe it's already the last week of January?! Boy, this new year is flying by!  We've had a busy month, and I don't see things slowing down at all in February.  This week, however, will be relatively calm. Other than our normal after-school obligations, we have our evenings free. Hallelujah!

Because it's still chilly outside, I am pretty much planning on warm, comfort foods for dinner. On the menu for this week:

Monday - Shrimp & Sausage Jambalaya

Tuesday - Pork Loin, Baked Potatoes & Salad

Wednesday - Balsamic Chicken, Spinach & Tomato Pasta Salad

Thursday - BBQ Chopped Pork (leftovers from Tuesday) & Dressed Up Baked Beans

Friday - Black Beans & Rice with Cornbread

Saturday - Date Night <3

Sunday -Fend for Yourself Day! :)

Menu Plan Monday - Week of 1/17/11

Trey and I had a great, although quick, trip to Lakeland this past weekend. I got to meet some of Trey's family members for the first time and had a wonderful time getting to know them.  We came back Saturday night so that we could spend Sunday taking down Christmas decorations (I know, I know...we're slackers for not having done it already).  Then we will be spending Monday, blessed day off that it is, tackling a few projects around the house. We got a new deep, kitchen sink for Christmas (thanks Mom) and need to get a new faucet to go along with it. I'm so excited! Anywho....back to MPM....week #3 awaits!

Monday - Grilled Tuna Steaks with Asparagus and Spinach Salad

Tuesday - Baked Potato Bar - lots of possible toppings: salsa, broccoli, cheese, bacon bits, olives, peppers, etc....any combination we feel like! Did you know there are 101 ways to dress a potato???!!!

Wednesday - Flank Steak Pinwheels with Parmesan Zucchini

Thursday - Baked Chicken Breasts with tomatoes, rice, and skillet fried okra. 

Friday - Herb, Onion, and Tomato Omelettes (from last week's menu)

Saturday - Leftover Day

Sunday -Fend for Yourself Day! :)

Menu Plan Monday - Week of 1/10/11

A little late posting, but right on schedule during the week...Week #1 was a great success with our MPM! Trey loved all the meals and I feel very good about my meal selections. Although I didn't get a chance to plug it in online, I did manage to create and follow (almost) a solid menu for week #2.  Struggled with a busted water pipe on Wednesday, so dinner was scratched and we went out for pizza...bad for us? Yes. Easy when the water is turned off? Absolutely! Thankfully, Trey got it fixed Thursday afternoon. :)

Monday - BLT Pasta Salad (Thanks, Jeanne - this is one of our absolute favorites!)

Tuesday - Crab Cakes, Salad and Sliced Peaches (I canned the peaches myself this summer!)

Wednesday - Herb, Onion, and Tomato Omelettes

Thursday - Roast Chicken and Veggies with Cinnamon Oranges

Friday - Headed to Lakeland to visit family

Saturday - Back late from Lakeland

Sunday - Chicken Quesadillas (using the leftover chicken from Thursday)

Menu Plan Monday - Week of 1/3/11

Menu Plan Monday - 1/3/11

Well, the holidays are over and, if you are anything like me, you have eaten way to much and don't ever want to see another cookie again (or at least not for a really long time)! Plus, while I don't want to think of it as a resolution, I am resolved to try to shed a few pounds.  Between "happy marriage weight" and the holidays, I have a few lbs to lose.  So, my mission is to plan healthy meals for the year.  We've agreed to plan a meatless meal one night a week, as well as a no/low carb day.  Well, here we go - week #1 begins!

Monday - BBQ Pork Chops & Scalloped Cauliflower

Tuesday - Southwest Slow-Cooker Chicken Burritos

Wednesday - Eggplant Casserole

Thursday - Stuffed Bell Peppers

Friday - Leftover Night

Saturday - Date Night

Sunday - Fend For Yourself Night! :)