Don’t ask me how it happened, because I’m still trying to figure it out.
January is O-V-E-R. We are 1/12 of the way done with 2015.
That also means it’s time for another monthly meal plan.
As you know, I do my meal planning on a quarterly basis. I have a meal plan for each season, and I use it for three months in a row. We’re headed into the last month of the winter meal plan, which is good because that means spring is on the way! Who’s ready for spring?
I think I mentioned in my January post that I try to get as much into my freezer as I can at the beginning of each season. (Actually I do it just before the new season begins.) It takes a few afternoons to get it done, but then for three months in a row I have at least part of almost every meal in the freezer. It’s amazing how much stress that relieves during the week and how many times we avoid eating out on those busy days.
Well I’ve talked enough, let’s see what’s for dinner this month!
I’m sure I’ll add in a nice Valentine’s Day dinner but I haven’t decided what yet. Watch for a post with some ideas for romantic dinners.
Week One Meal Plan
Roast Beef, Potatoes, Carrots
Vegetable Beef Soup, Grilled Cheese
Sweet & Sour Mini Meatloaves, Loaded Potato Bake, Lima Beans w/ Bacon
Week Two Meal Plan
BBQ Beef, White Beans, Apple-Cranberry Cole Slaw
Pizza burgers, French Fries (Cook a burger, add pizza sauce and provolone cheese, bake long enough to melt the cheese. Done and yum!)
Salmon Patties, Crock Pot Sweet Potatoes, Broccoli & Cheese
Week Three Meal Plan
Pepper Steak, Baked Potatoes
Easy Southwest Chicken Soup, Cornbread Muffins
Chicken& Peppers, Rice–recipe coming tomorrow
Clam Chowder, Corn Chowder, Crackers
Week Four Meal Plan
Kielbasa & Potatoes, Green Beans, Cooked Apples
Bean & Pasta Soup, Corn Muffins
Spaghetti, Salad, Garlic Bread (This was lasagna last month but I got lazy and switched it to spaghetti.)
BBQ Baked Chicken, Baked Beans, Dinner Rolls
What about dessert?
As you know, I try to make only one dessert a week. I’m not big on sugarless desserts, so I’d rather eat dessert less often and have something I really enjoy. So around here we allow ourselves some good old fashioned sugar. Occasionally.
I still try to stay away from recipes that call for a mix or store bought candy. I mean really, what’s the point? If I wanted to pay $8.00 for a bite of sugar I’d just buy the candy and forget slaving over a hot stove to make dessert. Nope, it’s homemade desserts for us.
OK one exception: brownies. I still haven’t found a brownie recipe I like. If you have one that your family loves, be a doll and share it with us in the comments?
So what’s for dessert?
I don’t know for sure but here are a few options I’m considering:
Peanut Butter Pie I love that this recipe doesn’t use Cool Whip. I know I said we’re OK with some sugar but Cool Whip is where I draw the line!
And then there’s this Easy White Chocolate Mousse calling my name!
White Velvet Layer Cake with Strawberry-Raspberry Mascarpone Buttercream First of all, what a gorgeous dessert! Mine won’t be anywhere near that pretty but I bet it will taste amazing! And second, with a name like “Wicked Good Kitchen”, this website has to be good. (If you’re from Maine like I am, you’ll get that.)
What else?
Hmmm….
I think chocolate is in order. What’s your favorite chocolate dessert for Valentine’s Day?
Linking up with:
kitchendreaming.com orgjunkie.com
Gosh, where to start? Can I just eat dinner with you this month? Also – I have the same brownie problem. The from-scratch recipes are always just too floury.
Just pick s a few that look like something your family will eat and have fun!
I wonder if we just used one of those brownie recipes and cut the flour? How about you try it and let me know! 😉
These brownies are pretty fabulous. Pretty rich, but pretty fabulous, so I don’t make them often. I cut back on the sugar by 1/3 in all recipes and it hasn’t hurt yet 🙂 If anything, these might have too little flour for you! http://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2009/02/12/serious-brownie-points/ I think this is the one that was on the back of the flour bag, but I don’t use espresso powder, and heat the butter/sugar stovetop. They seem to have changed the name.
Thanks for sharing this! I can’t wait to try them. It would be so cool to finally have a brownie recipe I like. I wouldn’t have expresso powder so I’m glad you mentioned that you don’t use it. Now I want some!