[mealplan : Lunchbox Ideas.]

It's halfway through the year ... and even with a break during Christmas, it doesn't take long to feel like I'm completely trapped with lunch-creativity LOL.

My children have no wheat, gluten or dairy sensitivities.  

Here are a few ideas that I do for lunches:

Pizza Pinwheels
Chocolate Zucchini Mini Muffins
Ham+cheese buns
Honey/Jam Rolls (tortillas spread with honey or jam, rolled and cut in two)
Crackers+cheese
Macaroni+cheese (thermos)
Soft Tacos (thermos for meat), small containers for tomatoes, cheese and avocado
Eggdrop soup
Leftovers from dinner *grin*

Cubed kiwi fruit
Apple slices
Cubed cantaloupe
Applesauce
Fruit snacks
Rice Krispie squares
Cucumber slices
Mini carrots
Dill pickles
Mandarin (cutie) oranges
Sticks and Stones (mini marshmallows + pretzel sticks)
Grapes
Berries (in season)
Popcorn twists

Ok ... that's all.

Got any ideas?  Would love to hear them!

Have a great one ...

[mealplan: Back At It.]

It's been a while ... I've been busy.

But one way to make my life simpler, is to meal plan.  It just takes the angst out of my daily duties as the "chef" in our home.    Our school is "nut-free" - completely.  So, I try my best to be creative ... although now that I've been doing meal plans for the last year or so, I definitely rotate the same things over and over.  

Like, Wednesdays are ALWAYS "wrap" night ... with jello.  Then, the lunch the next day - is left overs.  Easy peasy.

Maybe this will help you - or if YOU have any great ideas, I'd LOVE to know!!

MONDAY

B ::  crescent rolls with nutella

L ::  leftover pasta, ricotta, cheese string, apple sauce, fruit snack

D ::  Baseball - OUT (tim hortons)        

TUESDAY

B :: pancakes with maple syrup

L ::  ham and cheese buns, cucumber slices, cut melon

D :: crockpot chickencordon-bleu, steamed brown rice, peas    Dessert: fruit salad

WEDNESDAY

B ::  toast with butter, scrambled eggs

L ::  jam or ricotta buns, sticks+stones, apple sauce

D ::  ground turkey wraps with cheese, avocado and tomatoes                            Dessert: jello

THURSDAY

B :: toast with nutella

L :: ground turkey wraps with cheese, avocado and tomatoes

D :: cheese pizzas, veggies+dip

Dessert: pizelle cookies

FRIDAY

B :: Land Of Nod Cinnamon Buns

L :: quesadilla, carrots&ranch dip, pizelle cookies,

D ::  out

Have a great one!

[mealplan: Week Whatever-It-Is.]

Well.  I'm pretty wiped after an emotional Sunday ... involved in both the morning and evening services.  So thankful for sunshine - and some schedule.  Although Spring Break was so good ...

Today?

A mealplan for the week.  That's all-I-got-for-you.

*smile*

Have a great one!

MONDAY

B ::  hardboiled eggs, toast with butter

L ::  ham and cheese buns, cheese ritz crackers, cucumber&dip

D :: French Country crockpot chicken, egg noodles, brocolli

Dessert :: grape jello

TUESDAY

B :: toast with nutella

L  :: macaroni&cheese, blueberry applesauce; cucumber&dip

D ::  thai peanut chicken stirfry with rice noodles

Dessert :: gluten free brownies.

WEDNESDAY

B :: pancakes with maple syrup

L ::  pizza pinwheels, fruit snacks, apple slices

D ::  ground turkey wraps w/cheese, avocado& tomatoes, lettuce                            

Dessert :: ice cream

THURSDAY

B :: pancakes with maple syrup

L :: ground turkey wraps with cheese, avocado and tomatoes; pizelle cookies

D :: crockpot garlicky pork tenderloin, brown rice, salad

Dessert ::watermelon

FRIDAY

B :: Land Of Nod Cinnamon Buns

L :: quesadillas, carrots & dip, pretzels

D :: make your own pizzas, cut veggies

[meal planning: Another Week.]

It's a lazy Saturday afternoon as I type this - the day I meal plan for the week.  I'm actually baking in the kitchen, with my laptop screaming recipes at me - all while the kiddies and hubby are playing Monopoly about 2 steps away.  I am overwhelmed with gratefulness for a warm house (our furnace was fixed this week), sunshine streaming through the windows, the smell of caramel squares baking in the oven, and the screaming of "you're CHEATIING" followed by squeals of laughter.

My last couple of posts have been pretty heavy ... "Miracle Maker" and "Having a Heart of Encouragement".  Both have sparked some wonderful conversations with those who were impacted by my words, and those who offered teachable thoughts to me as well.  I look forward to sharing, to learning, to growing, to so many good things ... all because of this silly Homemakingirl Blog.  So thank you ... even if you're silent *smile*.

Today's post?  Next week's meal plan.  It's a simple week ... and I'll admit, we're in a bit of a rut.  The kids INSIST on Wednesday night meals as wraps and jello - with Thursday lunch being leftovers.  Friday mornings are ALWAYS Land of Nod and Monday night has to be something that can be put in the oven before school pick-up,  as we come home late from piano lessons ... 

I suggested Chili (I'm having a bit of an obsession with it ...).  My family said, "no".  BOO.  I wanted to try a new lettuce wraps recipe ... maybe next Tuesday we will.  I'll post it on my MAKE blog if it's successful.  I posted yesterday's Chicken and Rice Soup creation, as well as the BEST caramel squares you'll darn-well-ever-eat. 

Ok.  Enough ... the house is loud with, "hey KATIA - stop STEALING MY MONEY!!" and those caramel squares?  They're ready.  Mmmmmm.

MONDAY

B ::  crescent rolls with nutella

L ::  ham and cheese buns, cheese ritz, cucumber&dip

D :: baked cannelloni with spinach and ricotta, salad

Dessert: creamy orange jello parfaits

TUESDAY

B :: hard boiled eggs and buttered toast

L :: hot dogs, buns, ketchup/relish, apple slices, fruit snacks

D :: quesadilla, veggies&dip (no hubby)  

Dessert: choc pudding

WEDNESDAY

B :: pancakes with maple syrup

L ::  pizza pinwheels, fruit snacks, cucumber&dip

D ::  ground turkey wraps w/cheese, avocado& tomatoes                            

Dessert: lime jello

THURSDAY

B :: toast with nutella

L :: ground turkey wraps with cheese, avocado and tomatoes; pizelle cookies

D :: panko chicken strips, yam fries, veggies&dip

Dessert: ice cream sundaes

FRIDAY

B :: Land Of Nod Cinnamon Buns

L :: quesadilla, carrots&ranch dip, pizelle cookies,

D ::  out

Have a great one!

[meal planning: Week5.]

Yup.  Here we go again ...

MONDAY

B ::  cereal&milk, orange juice

L ::  Mac N Cheese, apple sauce, cucumbers&dip

D ::  cauliflower soup, open faced grilled cheese, salad.

TUESDAY

B :: toast with jam or honey

L :: Ham&Cheese buns, popcorn twists, grapes

D ::  oven baked roast beef, baked yams, maple carrots

WEDNESDAY

B :: cinnamon toast

L ::  cheese quesadilla, apple sauce, snicker doodle cookies

D ::  Chicken fried rice w/ brown rice, eggs, red peppers & peas.

THURSDAY

B :: pancakes and maple syrup

L :: pizza pinwheels, apple slices, carrots and dip, pretzels

D :: panko&parmesan chicken strips, yam fries, caesar salad

FRIDAY

B :: Land Of Nod Cinnamon Buns

L :: Applesauce muffins, cucumbers&dip, fruit snacks

D :: spaghetti and salad

Shortest post ever.

Have a great one!

[mealplan: Week4.]

Another week of planning ... last week - wow - this was a LIFESAVER.  This week?  We'll be eating together as a family ... and for that, I am very grateful.

I'm working on a few other posts - but truly - haven't had the time to finish them.  

So.  For now ... I'm staying organized and feeling like I'm gettin' into the grove of things.  Plus, I'm always trying to expand my meal-plan repertoire - although I love having things that I fall back on when I don't want to actually think *smile*.  

Something new for us this week - bagels and cream cheese.  My boys are addicted to Nutella (can you blame them) - thus the reason I meal plan for breakfast too ... trying to limit Nutella to once, maybe twice, a week.  I bought the bagels and purchased two kinds of spreadable cream cheese ... chocolate and strawberry.  I know, I know ... Nutella vs chocolate cream cheese ... hey - I read the ingredients.  The cream cheese is a MUCH better choice - and, SCORE - they LOVED it this morning ... boom.

Here's this week's plan ... have a great one!!

MONDAY

B ::  baked crescent rolls with nutella

L ::  ham and cheese buns, pretzels, grapes

D ::  crock pot orange chicken, brown rice, steamed broccoli

TUESDAY

B :: hard boiled eggs (do eggs the night before), bagels and cream cheese (chocolate/strawberry)

L :: Mac N Cheese (made the night before), cucumbers&ranch dip, apple sauce

D :: Perogies, sausage, salad

WEDNESDAY

B :: cinnamon toast

L ::  pizza pinwheels, apple slices, carrots and dip, pretzels

D ::  Tex-Mex Wraps (ground turkey, black beans, avocado, tomatoes, cheese)

THURSDAY

B :: pancakes and maple syrup

L :: cheese quesadilla, apple sauce, snicker doodle cookies

D ::  Skinny Italian Creamy chicken, egg noodles, salad, jello for dessert *smile*

FRIDAY

B :: Land Of Nod Cinnamon Buns

L :: Applesauce muffins, carrots and dip, fruit snacks

D :: out for dinner

[meal planning: Week Three.]

Although it may not seem like it, I assure you my entire life isn't revolved around meal planning.  In fact - meal planning is the smallest part of my life - but so incredibly necessary for my sanity.  So, here I am - at 11:47pm on Sunday evening ... planning.  Printing out the list.  Putting it on the fridge ... and the kids are already used to running and checking out their meals for the day ... so crazy.  So fun.  Well ... not fun.  Just crazy.

Meal planning helps me for the unexpected ... like when my son went to emergency on Friday night from 1am-630am with croup.  I don't meal plan for Saturday - but even just seeing some ideas helped me for Saturday when we were all grumpy and wiped.  Turkey Wraps worked just fine for Saturday night's dinner ... 

But please ignore the lack of spunk in these meals.  My hubby won't be around for dinner for 4 nights this week - and with piano lessons, swimming lessons, baseball practice, kids church activities and Recovery Church special meetings ... well.  One night of McDonald's is going to allow me to actually be on time ... no guilt.  We all do a Micky D's run every now and then, right??

Ok.  Enough.  I'm tired ... here's the list *yawn*.

MONDAY

B ::  toast with peanut butter

L ::  penne with tomato sauce&ricotta, apple sauce, 1cup popcorn

D ::  panko and parmesan chicken strips, yam fries, salad

TUESDAY

B :: hard boiled eggs and buttered toast (do eggs the night before)

L :: ham&cheese buns, carrots&ranch dip, grapes

D :: McDonalds

WEDNESDAY

B :: pancakes with maple syrup

L ::  applesauce muffins, cucumbers&dip, pretzels

D ::  do-it-yourself pita pizzas (ham&pineapple, cheese)

THURSDAY

B :: cereal

L :: cheese quesadilla, apple sauce, carrots&dip

D :: lasagna, caesar salad

FRIDAY

B :: Land Of Nod CinnamonBuns

L :: crackers&cheese, fruit snacks

D :: shredded chicken casserole, baked yams, peas.

G'night.  

... have a good one *yawnnnnnn*.

[meal planning :: Week Two.]

So - last week went off without a hitch.  MAN - for me??  Having a planned meal schedule gave me the gift of time.  No panicking.  And - the kids loved going to the fridge and see what they were getting in their lunchbox or what was for supper that night.

Worked like a charm.

How do I do it?  Well ... on Saturday night, I start the plan.  After church on Sunday, I go over it with my hubby and then I head off to do the grocery shop.   By 1pm on Sunday, I'm all done and if I need to do an additional produce shop, I do it right by my children's school.  So great.

This week?  Well - a little less adventurous in the kitchen, unfortunately.  My hubby will be away on business two nights this week, and next week - four.  That makes meal planning tricky, because he's the "eater" in the family ... not my 4yr old little girl *grin*.

Ah well ... maybe the week after that I can try Homemade Ricotta Gnochhi ... a recipe I can't WAIT to surprise him with ...  

On a side note - I set the alarm early this morning (before anyone in the house was up ... ) and went for a 3.5km run.  Showered.  So after I dropped the kids off at school, I could actually DO something ... instead of just using that time to get ready ... brilliant.  My plan is to do that Mon/Wed/Fri ... three runs a week so I can use the time while Katia's at preschool to actually get something accomplished.

That's manageable, no?

Well.  Until it rains LOL.

And I also wanted to say that I've had a "lightbulb" moment this weekend ... I realized how much RHP I do, and it needs to be balanced.  I work, literally, 7 days a week late into the night - and that's just plain wrong.  So.  I've decided to protect two days a week where I do NOT work, and be IN BED by 11pm every week night ... so I can get up and be healthy in the morning.  I actually feel a sense of relief from this epiphany.   Again - just trying to do better and be wise with the time God has given me. 

Ok - enough ... here's this week's meal plan.

MONDAY

B ::  baked crescent rolls with nutella (don't judge me ... LOL)
L ::  ham and cheese buns, pretzels, grapes
D :: sticky baked chicken, baked yams, steamed broccoli

TUESDAY

B :: hard boiled eggs and buttered toast (I do the eggs the night before)
L :: Mac N Cheese (made the night before), cucumbers and ranch dip, apple sauce
D :: spaghetti and sauce, caesar salad, ice cream for dessert

WEDNESDAY

B :: cinnamon toast
L ::  pizza pinwheels, apple slices, carrots and dip, pretzels
D ::  Tex-Mex Wraps (hamburger, black beans, avocado, tomatoes, cheese)

THURSDAY

B :: pancakes and maple syrup
L :: cheese quesadilla, apple sauce, snicker doodle cookies
D ::  Thai Peanut Noodles,  jello for dessert *smile*

FRIDAY

B :: Land Of Nod Cinnamon Buns
L :: Applesauce muffins, carrots and dip, fruit snacks
D :: Chicken and egg-drop soup

Have a great one!

[meal planning :: Week One.]

I always start September with a BANG ... and then it fades by week three - can anyone relate??  But I DO know this about myself - if I take a few minutes and organize, than I can accomplish pretty much whatever I set my mind to.  If I get overwhelmed and DON'T do it?  CHAOS ... and I usually gain about 5lbs in two days from emotional eating.

*grin*

So ... this is for ME.  I do this for ME.  For MY sanity and for MY calm.  If it helps you, then that blesses me ... but please do not think that this is normal.  It's September ... let's see how many weeks it takes for me to fall of the wagon *wink* ... 

My plan, for those who are interested, is to connect links to my "Make By Homemakingirl" site - where the recipes will be located.  Again - this is for ME.  So, instead of losing the list of meal-planning-paper that my children have inevitably turned into a robot somewhere, I can come here and find EVERYTHING.  This works ... again.  For week one, anyways *grin*.

Here's this week ... 

MONDAY

Dinner ::   Egg-Drop-Chicken-Noodle soup with veggies and dip

TUESDAY

Breakfast :: hard boiled eggs and toast
School lunches ::  pizza pinwheels, sliced apples, snicker-doodle cookies
Dinner ::  Crock pot Chicken Cordon Bleu, steamed broccoli, brown rice

WEDNESDAY

Breakfast ::  pancakes with maple syrup
School lunches ::  ham and cheese buns, carrots and ranch dip, fruit snacks
Dinner ::  Crock pot Garlicky Pork Tenderloin, oven baked yams, peas, salad

THURSDAY

Breakfast ::  cereal and milk
School lunches :: macaroni and cheese (thermos), apple sauce, cucumbers and dip
Dinner :: Wraps with Ground Turkey

FRIDAY

Breakfast ::  Land of Nod Cinnamon rolls
School lunches ::  pizza rolls, pretzels, grapes
Dinner ::  OUT

Have a great one!

[meal planning: January 21.2013.]

It's January-something-or-other ... and I need to get back into things.  I am embarrassed at how lame I've been - procrastinating, time-wasting, yada yada yada.  One thing, I've been slacking on my "homemaking" job in that our meals have been ... well, poor - to say the least.  So, yesterday I meal planned.  Today I grocery shopped.  This week, my hubby's going to be proud.

I should also say, that I was inspired by three books I bought on Amazon.  I bought "Everything Gluten-Free Slow Cooker" cook book, the "Healthy Gluten-Free Life" Cookbook (um - this one is AH-MAY-ZING), and "Paleo Indulgences" for treats.  So inspired ... and I'm going to try and have at least 3 gluten-free meals a week.  We are not a gluten-free family, but I think even taking it out 50% of the time, is better than not.

Here's my meal plan:

Monday:  Crock Pot Orange Chicken, brown rice, steamed brocolli, cantaloupe (dessert)

Tuesday: Garlicky Crock-Pot Pork Tenderlion Roast, quinoa, salad, ice-cream (dessert)

Wednesday:   Curried Coconut Chicken, red peppers, rice noodles.  Jello parfaits. (dessert)

Thursday:  Ginger Lime Chicken Bites, roasted yams, salad.  ice-cream (dessert)

Friday: company

So.  Those are all, actually, gluten-free.  So.  We shall see how it goes.

Amazing how when I do this, I feel such a load lifted ... ahhhh.  Feels good.

On a side note - we're in the middle of building a "circular drive way" out front ... kinda exciting, even though it will not be where the final driveway will be built.   It's being done because of mud and such ... Plus, my hubby has put up shelves in the kid's bedrooms and the clutter is SORTED.  Honestly - I feel like I could lose 10lbs this week, just because of that.  When things are chaotic, I eat.  And it is TOO COLD to run ... I refuse.  So - instead of exercise, I need to watch what I put in my mouth, which means my life needs to be organized.  Make sense??

Ok - gotta run out the door - have a great one!

[make: Meal Planning with Pinterest.]

OOPS.  Forgot to share this with you!  A couple days late ...

***

My life is made simpler when I take just a few minutes to do this.  Why oh why I took a break from it, I'll never know.  When I don't plan, I'm panicked - and more importantly, BORED.  I love to cook, I love to create ... and I love to plan.

So it just makes sense.

This week, I've decided to broaden my "little-black-box" (that's what I call my recipe box, which has actually turning into an online-box where I can access it from anywhere ... ) with some new recipes I've pinned on my Pinterest boards

Here's what our week's going to look like:

Monday:  dinner @ in-laws.

Tuesday: shredded chicken casserole, brown-rice penne pasta, salad w/avocado and goat cheese.

Wednesday:  Chicken Vegetable Soup (made from rotisserie chicken) and Open Faced Grilled Cheese

Thursday: mongolian beef, brown rice, green beans and peppers (haven't tried this yet - if it gets the thumbs up, onto my recipe-box blog it shall go)

Friday:  company (haven't thought this one out yet ...)

Boom.

Cross that one off my list ...

Have a great one!