Eat at Home 3!

[#1hoosierfan]

Sat - lasagna soup, garlic bread
Sun - chicken broccoli rice casserole
Mon - spaghetti pie
Tues - paprika pork chops, rice, broccoli
Wed - chili
Thurs - baked fish, homemade mac and cheese
Fri - a friend and I are going to see the traveling Broadway series of Frozen. We will go out to eat before the show.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

Sunday: Roast beef and mashed potatoes
Monday: Cheese ravioli and vodka sauce
Tuesday: Sloppy Joes w/ fries and onion rings
Wednesday: Grilled cheese and soup (tomato for me, chicken & rice for DH)
Thursday: BBQ turkey meatballs over egg noodles
Friday: Local play with mom (rescheduled from last week due to snow) so probably the diner

Leftovers generally for lunches. Usually at least one dinner gets pushed to the following week, but it helps to me to have a plan in place even if I deviate from it.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Finished the week's shopping today after a trip to Aldi's for fruit (after Safeway on Thursday for veg) - here's the full planned menu...

Sunday - Aldi's fresh burgers (50% off made them cheaper than the frozen ones) with cheese (except for me), onions, pickles, and the sauces with Aldi's frozen fries, cucumber/avocado/scallion salad, and blackberries and red grapes
Monday - TBD marinaded baked chicken breast with roasted balsamic brussel sprouts, homemade double blueberry muffins, and kiwi and cherries
Tuesday - Aldi's shaved steak steak sandwiches with caramelized onion, portobello mushrooms, and bell pepper (and cheese for the willing), Aldi's kale salad bag (the only without dairy and nuts), blackberries and clementines
Wednesday - Butternut squash and black bean chili with avocado chunks, cheese, and crumbled bacon topping (for those who NEED meat, like my spouse - the chili is vegan), homemade cornbread and/or tortilla chips, kiwi and red grapes
Thursday - Shrimp tacos (or ground beef ones - I want shrimp, but sometimes I let myself get outvoted) with bell peppers, onions, and maybe zucchini with the normal toppings (lettuce, avocado, salsa, sour cream and cheese for the willing), black beans, cherries and apple slices
Friday - (Kid's Cooking Day - Italy) - 3 cheese ravioli from scratch - we'll make some tomato sauce with added veg - I'll probably make gnocchi for me and everyone uses the same sauce, "use it up" veg salad and/or fruit salad, "use it up" garlic bread (I use hamburger buns, hot dog buns, etc - whatever doesn't get used up - olive oil, garlic, and salt with a little vegan butter and it's amazing after a 4-5 minute broil)
Saturday - it will have been 2 weeks since we've gone out - my oldest 2 are going out with friends and buying their own dinner, so I'll be taking my younger 2 out for their choice - I expect Red Robin or Five Guys, but they've surprised me before by wanting Vietnamese or Chinese...whatever it is will be meat forward, b/c the 3 boys will probably want it after a lighter meat end to the week...

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

Friday - (Kid's Cooking Day - Italy) - 3 cheese ravioli from scratch - we'll make some tomato sauce with added veg - I'll probably make gnocchi for me and everyone uses the same sauce, "use it up" veg salad and/or fruit salad, "use it up" garlic bread (I use hamburger buns, hot dog buns, etc - whatever doesn't get used up - olive oil, garlic, and salt with a little vegan butter and it's amazing after a 4-5 minute broil)

Round of applause for your kids! I am impressed! My ravioli will be right out of the bag this week, but it's better than eating out I suppose. We are on month 2 of our self-imposed "no eating out" challenge and going strong. It's really starting to become a habit to find something at home rather than go out. We even bailed on planned Chinese take out last week to eat leftovers! It's a big change for us and while it won't last forever we are finding it really is making a big difference in the budget.

***We don't count the occasional dinner out with my mom since it's usually her treat and she likes to eat out as a social activity (and usually just once a month).

 

[TwoMisfits]

Round of applause for your kids! I am impressed! My ravioli will be right out of the bag this week, but it's better than eating out I suppose. We are on month 2 of our self-imposed "no eating out" challenge and going strong. It's really starting to become a habit to find something at home rather than go out. We even bailed on planned Chinese take out last week to eat leftovers! It's a big change for us and while it won't last forever we are finding it really is making a big difference in the budget.

***We don't count the occasional dinner out with my mom since it's usually her treat and she likes to eat out as a social activity (and usually just once a month).

Thanks - after in person cooking classes, he now takes a (very inexpensive) cooking around the world geography class online, so he spends the hour making that country's recipe with his class on Friday afternoons. Last week was Peru - this week is Italy. We've done it since September, and b/c it's a Friday class, we now never think of going out Friday, so it's served its purpose. Sometimes they make main dishes (like this week, and last week's Lomo Saltado/Peruvian Beef Stir Fry), sometimes they make 1-2 side dishes, and sometimes they bake - whatever works best as a "country specialty" and "in an hour"...I try to always adapt the planned recipe to make it dairy and nut free if I can...but ravioli is just a touch too hard to do that and follow along with class, so I'm letting this one be this week's "dairy bomb" recipe b/c I have the only allergies, so I try to make sure everyone else gets a chance to really enjoy dairy as the star once a week. They don't mind the missing meat if there's dairy b/c I never make dairy...the kids are now all experts in making homemade mac and cheese, pizza (with homemade crust), grilled cheese...and hopefully now ravioli...and I let them make the dairy part of the dinner if it's not just a bag or slices on the side...

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

Thanks - after in person cooking classes, he now takes a (very inexpensive) cooking around the world geography class online, so he spends the hour making that country's recipe with his class on Friday afternoons. Last week was Peru - this week is Italy. We've done it since September, and b/c it's a Friday class, we now never think of going out Friday, so it's served its purpose. Sometimes they make main dishes (like this week, and last week's Lomo Saltado/Peruvian Beef Stir Fry), sometimes they make 1-2 side dishes, and sometimes they bake - whatever works best as a "country specialty" and "in an hour"...I try to always adapt the planned recipe to make it dairy and nut free if I can...but ravioli is just a touch too hard to do that and follow along with class, so I'm letting this one be this week's "dairy bomb" recipe b/c I have the only allergies, so I try to make sure everyone else gets a chance to really enjoy dairy as the star once a week. They don't mind the missing meat if there's dairy b/c I never make dairy...the kids are now all experts in making homemade mac and cheese, pizza (with homemade crust), grilled cheese...and hopefully now ravioli...and I let them make the dairy part of the dinner if it's not just a bag or slices on the side...

That's just awesome. Kudos to you!

 

[LoveDaisy]

Meal planning last week worked so I’m back for week 2.

Sunday - football snacks at a friends (I brought pigs in a blanket and Brie bites)
Monday - pulled chicken sandwiches with fries
Tuesday- dinner with coworkers
Wednesday- baked tortellini with Alfredo sauce
Thursday- tacos
Friday - chicken fingers (homemade, I do a large batch and freeze them) with salad

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

For the first time, we didn't do a grocery shopping trip this weekend. Will make my lists tomorrow at work and go shopping after work. No cluse what's on the menu.

Sunday
We got taken to lunch today after church by an older couple that have kind of adopted us as their own since we joined. So that was nice. Tonight we split a pizza that we'll eat for either lunch or supper tomorrow (along with our leftovers from lunch). From there, we've got to decide, lol.

 

[VinniePeluso]

Does anyone have a Disney trip checklist for food items to bring/pack to save money when staying on property? Food there is so expensive!

 

[LilyWDW]

This weeks meals are:

Breakfast: Hard boiled eggs
Lunch: Ham or Turkey sandwiches and fruit
Dinner:
1) Burgers and 3 bean salad
2) Veggie pizza and side salad
3) Aldi's Hawaiian Chicken, rice, and frozen stir fried veggies

I only cook for 1 so I eat a lot of leftovers. Usually only have around 3 different dinners a week.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Does anyone have a Disney trip checklist for food items to bring/pack to save money when staying on property? Food there is so expensive!

Usually, it's easiest to bring supplies and buy food and drink and pick it up/get it delivered. So, I would bring a knife, cutting board, and disposable eating supplies (cups, plates, bowls, silverware, napkins) and storage (ziplocs, bag clips, and a few ziploc containers). As for eating, it's what your family likes and if you're DVC or not (so, have a cooking ability), and have a fridge or not (cooling boxes not being fridges). If you have the worst set up...

Shelf-stable fruit - apples, bananas, clementines, oranges, pears, applesauce
Shelf-stable veg - cherry/grape tomatoes, onions, lettuce (for a cooling box), avocado - carrots if you want them, but Disney has carrots
Shelf-stable proteins - chicken packets, tuna packets, peanut butter, other nut butter or sunflower butter, nuts, shelf-stable yogurt, shelf-stable hummus, beef jerky
Shelf-stable grains - cereal, oatmeal, bread, bagels, crackers, single serve quinoa cups (if they are around)
Shelf stable sweetener - honey, sugar
Shelf-stable snacks - chips, donuts, cookies, candy, individual salsa cups, whatever
Shelf-stable beverages - milk boxes, juice boxes, bottled water, coffee cans/bottles, tea bags (b/c you can make tea "cold"), soda bottles, wine or other alcohol you want

If you eat cold soups or cold pastas, you can buy some of those single serve products, too.

The above list gets you a good start towards 2 meals and snacks/day with the "hot" meal coming sometime in the park in a room with no cooking or fridging ability. And it's WAY too much food. You should pick and choose what you want based on what you like and what you'll eat (and what's seasonal and on sale).

Like, I would do an oatmeal or raisin bran with coffee every morning...and then for either lunch or late night, depending, I'd make a chicken or tuna sandwich with lettuce, tomato, onion, and avocado with a piece of fruit and potato chips and tea. So, I'd concentrate on buying those items, along with PB and honey (which is my "just need to chill" food on fruit) and bottled water, b/c I drink a ton...you might choose differently...

 

[FQLover]

@TwoMisfits just a quick question: when you say a "ton," I am wondering how much water do you drink per day? I am told by two of my doctors that I must consume 80-100 ounces a day, not counting coffee, tea, pop, or juice. I am finding it almost impossible to do--in this cold winter. In a nice hot summer, when I am outside much more, i think that I could manage that. I just got told this in December and jeez--I am falling way short!

 

[TwoMisfits]

@TwoMisfits just a quick question: when you say a "ton," I am wondering how much water do you drink per day? I am told by two of my doctors that I must consume 80-100 ounces a day, not counting coffee, tea, pop, or juice. I am finding it almost impossible to do--in this cold winter. In a nice hot summer, when I am outside much more, i think that I could manage that. I just got told this in December and jeez--I am falling way short!

I drink 3-4 bottles, 1 cup of 10oz coffee, and 3 10oz bagged teas (1 green, 2 black) - so, water that gets used by me (b/c I put it in the coffee and tea) is 88-104 oz/day. That's just drinking and nothing from food...I sip on fluid almost all day.

I don't know why they said no coffee or tea - if it's decaf and unsweetened, it's pretty much practically calorie free water...

 

[FQLover]

I get into periods of severe dehydration, and I guess coffee, tea, etc. even when they are decaf are diuretics and can dehydrate someone. I am on chemo which requires a person to drink much more than the average person. I also have A-Fib which is negatively impacted by dehydration.

I am just not thirsty enough to remember to drink that much. I probably need to set alarms on my phone.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I get into periods of severe dehydration, and I guess coffee, tea, etc. even when they are decaf are diuretics and can dehydrate someone. I am on chemo which requires a person to drink much more than the average person. I also have A-Fib which is negatively impacted by dehydration.

I am just not thirsty enough to remember to drink that much. I probably need to set alarms on my phone.

I'd either get 6 16oz bottles to count for the morning...or 3 huge size perma-cup (32oz) - put them in the place you always walk by/are sitting and just start them - check at noon and 5pm to see if you need to speed up the process...

 

[FQLover]

Yes, my NP told me to get an 80 oz water bottle that keeps things cold all day (I like cold water much more than room temperature) but I could only find them online holding 40 oz which I would need to re-fill once. Checking on myself a couple times a day is a good idea, so that I don't get to bedtime and realize how far behind I am. Thanks!

 

[focusondisney]

We’ve got Covid so not a lot of meal planning this week.
omelettes, tea and toast and soup have pretty much been it!
Living vicariously through you guys !

Sorry you were sick. Hope you’re much better by now.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

Sat - shrimp scampi over linguine, jalepeno cheddar biscuits

Sun - grilled smoked sausage, black eyed peas (making these from dry beans), rice

Mon - pork tenderloin sandwiches, fries, deviled eggs

Ties - crockpot tomato soup, grilled cheese

Wed - Greek chicken orzo bowls

Thurs - fettuccine Alfredo

 

[5kidsmommy]

Sat - shrimp scampi over linguine, jalepeno cheddar biscuits

Sun - grilled smoked sausage, black eyed peas (making these from dry beans), rice

Mon - pork tenderloin sandwiches, fries, deviled eggs

Ties - crockpot tomato soup, grilled cheese

Wed - Greek chicken orzo bowls

Thurs - fettuccine Alfredo

Can you tell me about these greek chicken orzo bowls?

We've had covid for nearly two weeks and I am finally thinking of cooking this week.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

Can you tell me about these greek chicken orzo bowls?

We've had covid for nearly two weeks and I am finally thinking of cooking this week.

• 4 cups prepared orzo pasta
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 pieces boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp dried basil
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• 1 cucumber sliced and quartered
• 2 large shallots diced
• 12 cherry tomatoes halved or diced
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 cup Tzatziki sauce
• ½ cup feta cheese crumbled
• 1 bunch Fresh mint for garnish if desired

US Customary - Metric

Instructions​

• Prepare orzo in advance according to package directions. Set aside.
• In a large skillet or non-stick pan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
• Place chicken in pan and sprinkle half of your oregano, basil, salt and pepper over top. Cook for about 6 to 8 minutes. Flip chicken over and sprinkle with remaining oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Cook for another 6 to 8 minutes, or until juices run clear and chicken is golden brown. Remove from pan and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Slice thinly.
• Cut up cucumbers, shallots and tomatoes. Mix in bowl and drizzle with lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
• Place orzo in bottom of each bowl. Place sliced chicken in bowl. Add veggie mixture in bowl. Add dollops of Tzatziki sauce randomly around bowl.
• Sprinkle with feta cheese and mint (optional)

This will be the first time I have made this recipe, but it sounds good.