It’s the middle of May, and my furnace just kicked on.  Although the flowers and tender asparagus shoots assure me that winter is over, I’m  not planning meals that go from grill to patio table yet!   But, I did grab the grocery circular and plan great dinners that fit into our budget, and a few that can be grilled if the weather changes.

Angel Hair Pasta with Italian Sausage and Herbs, Caesar salad.    I like to use crimini mushrooms because we like their more intense flavor, but will buy whatever is on sale! 

Nachos Supreme and fresh pineapple.  Sometimes I give everyone a pie plate and have them assemble their own nachos; everyone likes to get into the act on nacho night!  The real magic is getting them to help clean…

Barbecue Bacon Cheese Burgers, Baked Garlic Fries, and apples.  The beef is on sale, so I’ll buy extra, season it, and shape it into patties for future grilling.  Although the fries call for a package of seasoning, I’ll replace that with garlic powder, salt, and dried parsley from the spice rack.

Stuffed Pork Chops, buttered noodles, steamed broccoli.  I can’t remember the last time I made stuffed chops, so I’ll try this new recipe and see how the family likes them!

Tuscan Roast Chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, and whatever fresh fruits and vegetables look good.  I’ll butterfly the chicken and rub in the seasonings early in the day so they have a chance to really flavor the meat. 

The boys have various things going on so I know we’ll have plenty of leftovers if they’re even home to eat this weekend.

Now that I’ve planned meals that fit my time, diet, and budget I have more time to tackle other things.

Happy Monday!   I hope everyone had a memorable Mother’s Day.  It’s back to work though…  This week I’ve pulled our dinners right out of my favorites.  When there is a recipe that my family has particularly enjoyed I make sure to add it to my favorites so that I can very easily create meals that everyone loves.  Some weeks I just need to get ‘er done!

Parmesan Sage Pork Chops, Buttery Red Potatoes with Chives, Carrot Coins.  My herb garden is already full of fresh herbs!  I will purchase whatever pork is on sale to use for this recipe, along with enough for later in the week.

Chicken Limone and Parmesan Orzo Primavera.  The boys do NOT like the vegetables mixed into their orzo, so I’ll sauté them separately. 

Lemony Marinated Flank Steak, Stuffed Baked Potatoes, Tossed Salad.  Definitely a meal for the guys.  I should probably check the level of gas in the grill’s tank.

Pork Dumplings Deconstructed, vegetable and fruit trays.   This is the recipe that will use the rest of the pork.  I have a meat grinder which I prefer to use over the food processor for this recipe.

Coney dogs, chips, and leftover fruit/veg from above.  This was a request.   In my humble opinion, the hot dog takes up too much space in the bun, so I cut it in half.  Just because a hot dog is high in quality does not mean it is low in fat – so this also counts as I diet tip…

The weekend has us out one day, and the other I’ll just pull out any leftovers and let everyone graze. 

Get your meal plan done, then go out and have a great week

Time is just flying by!   Our Sunday dinner conversation started out with the boys counting down the weeks left of school, and then to spring break.   They, of course, think this is wonderful.  This morning I re-adjusted my diet settings  (new and improved!) on the meal planner and am going to sit down every night and enter exercise and any extras that found their way past my lips…

Here’s what’s for dinner this week – all well within my diet to keep me on track!

Lemon Caper Pork Medallions with Angel Hair Pasta and steamed broccoli.  I’ll probably slice a few apples, too, as the guys like fruit with dinner.

Beef Steaks with Red Wine Pan Sauce, steamed cauliflower, and buttermilk bread.  The beef is a recipe I haven’t made before.  I will not be adding the cream, but I’m sure no one will notice.  The trickiest part of this meal will be to keep the guys away from the freshly baked bread!

Chicken Tagine with Lemon and Olives, couscous, and peas and carrots.  The chicken is a favorite in our house – big in flavor but low impact on the diet!

Thai Chicken Tenders, garlic rice, and mandarin oranges.  This has been on my plan for weeks and I never get to it for some reason.  Last week I got as far as marinating the chicken before something came up – so it’s in the freezer. 

Taco Night!  I’ve edited the recipe for Pacos Soft Tacos because half of the family likes hard shell tacos.  Editing the recipes for personal tastes and nutritional needs is essential if you’re keeping an eye on diet and nutrition.

Graze night.  Somehow this is more appealing to the kids than “leftover night.”   Whatever it’s called – it gets me a clean ‘fridge!

Spaghetti and Meatballs and salad.  I’m still in search of the perfect meatball and am testing yet another recipe.  I may whip out a loaf of Rosemary Garlic Focaccia Bread for the guys if the mood strikes.

Have a great week – Spring is coming!