Here's the menu plan for next week. I will be taking a break from menu planning for a few weeks, as we have some family events coming up that will get us out of our routine for a few weeks. I will resume posting these towards the end of October or beginning of November. Enjoy!
Small Box
1 Artichoke
1 French Morning Melon
1 Cherokee Tomato
2 Jalapenos
1 bunch Yellow Carrots
1 pound Yellow Wax Beans
1 bunch French Radish
6 Bi-color Corn
1 Romaine Lettuce
1 pound Summer Squash
*Melon will be balled & prepared to eat with breakfasts & lunch. Lettuce, carrots, corn & Tomato used for lunch salads & sandwiches.
Tuesday, September 27
Artichoke
I have never cooked an artichoke before. Luckily I found this:
http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_cook_and_eat_an_artichoke/
Baked Fish
Wednesday, September 28
Fish Tacos (Made with some leftover fish from Tues.)
Black Bean & Corn relish (I'll throw in a tiny bit of Jalepeno)
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=4839.0
Salad
Thursday, September 29
Burger Night!
Make it whatever kind of burger you want - we're trying to eat less meat, so we'll be opting for some Morningstar Farms burgers.
Corn on the cob
Sweet Potato Fries
Friday, September 30
Yellow Beans & Potatoes
I'll be doing the crock pot version of this:
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=31949.0
Grilled Lemon Chicken
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/grilled-lemon-chicken/detail.aspx
Saturday, October 1
Eat Out!
Sunday, October 2
Gyros with Radish Tzatziki
Yes, I know this is a repeat from last week but we loved it! I'll be using vegetarian sausages instead of lamb meat.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/gyros-with-radish-tzatziki-recipe/index.html
Monday, October 3
Summer Squash Casserole
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/summer-squash-casserole-recipe/index.html
Corn Bread with Jalepenos - I will just use a corn bread mix & add the jalepenos
Monday, September 26, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Greek Night! Opa! Plus a great way to disguise radishes!
Happy Sunday! Tonight I fixed Bobby Flay's recipe Gyros with Radish Tzatziki. This was highlighted on my menu plan as Thursday's dinner, but we ended up doing it tonight. It turned out wonderful! I absolutely hate radishes. I just cannot stand the taste. When I throw them in a salad, I end up picking them all out. They are a beautiful vegetable though & we've gotten them a few times in our CSA box. I figure we are bound to get more, so I really was on the hunt for some way to incorporate them into our meals in a tasty way. The radish tzatziki was so delicious! So much so that I think I may fix this every time we get radishes. The greek yogurt, onions, garlic, lemon zest & other spices really work together to add a certain zip to the rest of the dish. Instead of lamb meat, I fixed a Tofurkey Italian Sausage & just cut up fresh pineapple tomatoes with a tiny dash of salt to serve on the side. Lesson learned: if there is a produce item you do not like, keep hunting for a recipe that will transform it into something delectable. You may be pleasantly surprised.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/gyros-with-radish-tzatziki-recipe/index.html
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/gyros-with-radish-tzatziki-recipe/index.html
Friday, September 23, 2011
Fall is in the Air! Fall Traditions, Savings & Tips
Happy first day of Fall! I love Fall. Although we do not get a "real" fall here in California, the winds do kick up, days get a little more overcast, & there's definitely a fall feeling in the air. This is my favorite season. It means there are only 3 months left in the year to celebrate, and the holidays are right around the corner. I'd like to share some things I've done to make fall fun, frugal & a little simpler in my household.
Fall Tree
First, I consider the first day of Fall in my house September 1st. Our new family tradition is to put up our Christmas tree on that day. Yes, I said Christmas tree! It's a small fake tree I purchased back in my single days about 10 years ago probably for around $50. It has definitely gotten some great use! We decorate it with orange lights, spiders, jack-o-lanterns, gourds, and some garland of autumn leaves. When November hits, I take off the spiders and turn around the jack-o-lanterns so they look like plain pumpkins for Thanksgiving. Then, the weekend after Thanksgiving all we have to do is swap out the decorations. Being a small tree it's a fairly easy task for our busy family. It's also super frugal since we do not have to spend money on a tree & it lasts a lot longer than a real one. It's a really green option too. We may decide to one day opt for a bigger or even real tree (hopefully a live one that can be replanted), but for now this fits our budget wonderfully and is fun! If you are considering starting a Fall Tree tradition, you might want to mark the day after Halloween on your calendars to hit the craft stores & score some great deals on decorations. Don't forget your coupons! Joann's usually has some wonderful coupons in the Sunday paper.
Halloween Costume Savings
Some people are just now starting to think about what Halloween costumes their kids, or even themselves are going to wear. I want to encourage you to think differently & plan way ahead next year. You could try to estimate what size your kids will be next year, and shop the stores & online for deals after Halloween. I found my kids costumes on www.thredup.com a few months ago. Each box listed is only $5 plus shipping, usually totaling $15. They may still have a deal going where your first box is free. I was able to score 3 Halloween costumes for a total of $25. One box had 2 costumes. So, I sold one costume at a local consignment sale (www.BabyGreenResale.com) for, if memory serves me correctly around $8. I also sold another costume we used from last year there. It does take a little estimating to figure out what size growing kids will be. Estimate on the generous side! If you're lucky enough to have hand-me-downs from family & friends that can be a great way to save too! Last year we borrowed a costume from a friend. I also received a costume as a hand-me-down which will most likely fit my daughter next year. I will also be saving my son's costume in hopes that it will fit my daughter the following year. Goodwill is also an excellent place to shop for costumes. Also, if you are handy with the sewing machine, you will have a lot more variety at your fingertips for not too much cash!
Slow Cooker & Freezer Meals
I'd like to highlight 2 websites I recently discovered and absolutely love!
With the cool & busy days upon us, I would like to implement more Crock Pot Meals.
http://crockpotgirls.com/
Also, I know a lot of people in colder climates do freezer cooking for the winter. I hope to do some of that too. Passionate Homemaking has what they are calling their "Nutritious Freezer Meal Carnival": http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/01/nutritious-freezer-meal-carnival.html
This is where I will be turning to stock my freezer soon!
Pumpkin Spice Lattes
Ahh yes, it's that time of year where you can once again enjoy Pumpkin Spice Lattes (PSL's) at Starbuck's again. I have successfully not bought a Starbuck's Latte in a long, long time! Instead, I have been turning in Starbuck's coffee grounds packages for free cups of regular coffee (You can get it iced too). But, I got to thinking, what if I could create my own at home & stumbled upon this at home recipe. Enjoy!
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/beverage/diy-pumpkin-spice-latte-096277
Fall Tree
First, I consider the first day of Fall in my house September 1st. Our new family tradition is to put up our Christmas tree on that day. Yes, I said Christmas tree! It's a small fake tree I purchased back in my single days about 10 years ago probably for around $50. It has definitely gotten some great use! We decorate it with orange lights, spiders, jack-o-lanterns, gourds, and some garland of autumn leaves. When November hits, I take off the spiders and turn around the jack-o-lanterns so they look like plain pumpkins for Thanksgiving. Then, the weekend after Thanksgiving all we have to do is swap out the decorations. Being a small tree it's a fairly easy task for our busy family. It's also super frugal since we do not have to spend money on a tree & it lasts a lot longer than a real one. It's a really green option too. We may decide to one day opt for a bigger or even real tree (hopefully a live one that can be replanted), but for now this fits our budget wonderfully and is fun! If you are considering starting a Fall Tree tradition, you might want to mark the day after Halloween on your calendars to hit the craft stores & score some great deals on decorations. Don't forget your coupons! Joann's usually has some wonderful coupons in the Sunday paper.
Halloween Costume Savings
Some people are just now starting to think about what Halloween costumes their kids, or even themselves are going to wear. I want to encourage you to think differently & plan way ahead next year. You could try to estimate what size your kids will be next year, and shop the stores & online for deals after Halloween. I found my kids costumes on www.thredup.com a few months ago. Each box listed is only $5 plus shipping, usually totaling $15. They may still have a deal going where your first box is free. I was able to score 3 Halloween costumes for a total of $25. One box had 2 costumes. So, I sold one costume at a local consignment sale (www.BabyGreenResale.com) for, if memory serves me correctly around $8. I also sold another costume we used from last year there. It does take a little estimating to figure out what size growing kids will be. Estimate on the generous side! If you're lucky enough to have hand-me-downs from family & friends that can be a great way to save too! Last year we borrowed a costume from a friend. I also received a costume as a hand-me-down which will most likely fit my daughter next year. I will also be saving my son's costume in hopes that it will fit my daughter the following year. Goodwill is also an excellent place to shop for costumes. Also, if you are handy with the sewing machine, you will have a lot more variety at your fingertips for not too much cash!
Slow Cooker & Freezer Meals
I'd like to highlight 2 websites I recently discovered and absolutely love!
With the cool & busy days upon us, I would like to implement more Crock Pot Meals.
http://crockpotgirls.com/
Also, I know a lot of people in colder climates do freezer cooking for the winter. I hope to do some of that too. Passionate Homemaking has what they are calling their "Nutritious Freezer Meal Carnival": http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/01/nutritious-freezer-meal-carnival.html
This is where I will be turning to stock my freezer soon!
Pumpkin Spice Lattes
Ahh yes, it's that time of year where you can once again enjoy Pumpkin Spice Lattes (PSL's) at Starbuck's again. I have successfully not bought a Starbuck's Latte in a long, long time! Instead, I have been turning in Starbuck's coffee grounds packages for free cups of regular coffee (You can get it iced too). But, I got to thinking, what if I could create my own at home & stumbled upon this at home recipe. Enjoy!
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/beverage/diy-pumpkin-spice-latte-096277
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