The first full week of summer break. The focus for this week is  preserve food and eat at home. The kids are all on a busy schedule so I am trying to have some left-overs in order to have something for their lunch/dinner as needed.

Breakfast- Saturday-Bacon and Biscuits  Sunday- Left-overs for everyone  Monday, Tuesday=-blueberry and strawberry muffins, Wednesday, Thursday Friday– find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk ,sausage, pop-tarts, and eggs. I may also make some baked oatmeal this week.

Lunch- Saturday-Grilled chicken and zucchini bake.  Sunday-Hawaiian chicken and rice. Left-overs or what ever you find most days.

Dinner- Saturday-Beef Lo Mein   Sunday-Chicken sausage and penne pasta, Monday- KFC bowls .  Tuesday- Pasta Salad at the swim meet. Wednesday-  Totachos  Thursday-Beef and broccoli,  Friday- Broccoli/Chicken/Rice with extra in the freezer

Summer is here at  or at least so close I can taste it! I have to work on Monday and Tuesday of this week but then I am free!  The focus of meals will change to summer as well as to things that I can cook once and have for at least 3 if not 4 other meals. My thought is that if I am cooking then I have to make it worth my while. 

Breakfast- Saturday-We ended up eating at Rick’s in Denton as Bojangles was closed.   Sunday- Breakfast bowls  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Friday– find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk ,sausage, pop-tarts, and eggs.  I am planning to make banana bread at some point and also a baked oatmeal one day but we shall see. 

Lunch- Saturday-Snacks as we were at the swim meet.  Sunday-Outback for Father’s Day. The kids are not responsible for finding their own lunch. 

Dinner- Saturday-Matt and I had a date night with Sushi   Sunday- Chicken tortellini on the Blackstone ,Monday- Baked potatoes and Cucumber appetizers.  Tuesday- Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad. Wednesday-  Baked Ziti with lots to spare Thursday- Hot ham and cheese sliders with veggie tray  Friday- Tacos (I am hoping to make and can  some meat as well. 

Let the fun begin!

The days are numbered 6 to be exact until I can begin Summer break. Our food is starting to look a little different as I am going to be focusing on two things. First cooking once and storing some for later. This is usually straight forward and simple, make 2 of most things.  Next is using up the fresh fruits and vegetables that we have. This can look like making extra zucchini bread or using a different than normal side with a meal.  The kids schedules have gotten a lot busier with football practice for Zach, a new class for Lily and hopefully our pool opening up which means both Zach and Kendall will be working every day.  One confusion I have to make is that last Tuesday, I ordered pizza for the first time since October.

Breakfast- Saturday-I made a 3 egg omelet     Sunday- Muffins from Costco. Tuesday- Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal  Monday, Wednesday, Thursday Friday– find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts, and eggs.

Lunch- Saturday-Matt and I ate at Costco Sunday-Mexican
The kids are not responsible for finding their own lunch.  Monday- McDonalds ( between schools) Tuesday- leftovers, Wednesday- Lunch meeting for end of school, Thursday- Leftovers and Friday eat out.

Dinner- Saturday-Rotisserie Chicken, potato salad and veggie tray.   Sunday- Steak fried rice  on the Blackstone  Monday-  Hamburgers on pretzel buns and fruit tray.(from last week) Tuesday-Salsa chicken and Mexican rice (left-overs will be made into 2 batches of chicken enchiladas.  Wednesday- Grilled Chicken Salad Thursday-  Breakfast for Dinner  Friday- Chicken Pot pie pasta

Summer is just around the corner. So that means that we are eating lots of fresh fruit and veggies. I am also trying to cook once and use it for different things. For example, on Thursday, I made 5 pounds of potatoes into mashed potatoes.  I froze 1/3 of that, used 1/3 for dinner and the last 1/3 will be used for dinner on Tuesday.   I will be making a squash casserole and freezing the remainder for future meals.

Breakfast- Saturday-Matt’s breakfast casserole.    Sunday- Leftovers or eggs. Monday-  Zucchini Bread, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Friday– find it (breakfast burritos, oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts, and eggs.

Lunch- Saturday-Hibachi on the black stone    Sunday-Christo’s    Monday- salad Tuesday,-left-overs   Wednesday- eat out  Thursday- left-overs.  Friday- eat out.

Dinner- Saturday-Left-overs  Sunday- Chicken sausage and torllia on the Blackstone  Monday-  Chicken sandwiches and FF Tuesday-Cube steak, mashed potatoes and squash casserole   Wednesday- Sweet and sour chicken and rice.  Thursday- Cheeseburger on Pretzel buns with FF, Friday- Pork chops, mac and cheese and applesauce

Full Steam Ahead, Summer is almost here. The next couple of weeks are going to move slowly just because I am counting!

Breakfast- Saturday-Pancakes and Bacon   Sunday- Breakfast casserole. Monday- , Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday Friday– find it (breakfast burritos,oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk,sausage, pop-tarts, and eggs.

Lunch- Saturday- Pasta Salad   Sunday-Gregg’s   Monday- left over pasta salad Tuesday,-left-overs   Wednesday- eat out  Thursday- left-overs.  Friday- eat out.

Dinner- Saturday- Sandwiches or chips and salsa Sunday- Cube steak, rice, creamed corn and sauteed squash Monday-  Spaghetti and meatballs  Tuesday-Spinach Ravioli   Wednesday-Crockpot Hamburger Helper  Thursday- Left-overs or you find it  Friday- Chicken sandwiches and French fries

I can see the end of the school year but it feels especially today like I have to just hang on and survive one day at a time. We have a fairly busy schedule this week with multiple people going to different events although looking ahead it is much busier next week. Anyway I am going basic and easy for the next couple of weeks!

Breakfast- Saturday-Gregg’s (a local place for Matt and I)  Sunday-Omelet    Monday- Pear Sauce bread, Tuesday,, Thursday Friday– find it (breakfast burritos,oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk,sausage, pop-tarts, and eggs. Wednesday-Apple cinnamon baked oatmeal. 

Lunch- Saturday- Rotisserie chicken, stuffing and cranberry sauce.  Sunday-Steaks for Mothers Day   Monday- left over spaghetti salad Tuesday,-salads  Wednesday- eat out  Thursday- left-overs.  Friday- eat out.

Dinner- Saturday-  Rotisserie chicken, stuffing and cranberry sauce.(yeap we made this two full meals)  Sunday- Steak sandwich or other left-overs.  Monday-  Spaghetti and meatballs  Tuesday-Taco Pasta  Wednesday-  Chicken pot pie (using home canned base), Thursday- Matt  is in charge   Friday- Chicken enchiladas

In theory this is the slowest week between now and the end of the school year. I am hoping to finish up some planting, keep things on an even ground and plan for summer!

Breakfast- Saturday-Left over French toast or pancakes..  Sunday-Pioneer Woman breakfast casserole.  Monday- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Friday– find it (breakfast burritos, oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts, and eggs.

Lunch- Saturday-sandwiches  Sunday-Applebee’s   Monday, Tuesday,- I made myself salads  Wednesday, Thursday- left-overs.  Friday- eat out.

Dinner- Saturday- Pork fried rice   Sunday- left-overs or sandwiches  Monday- Zach and I had a dinner date at Mexican.  Tuesday-Frozen pizza Wednesday-  Cheeseburger and French fries. Thursday- Fish sticks  Friday- Chicken enchilada.

We have 32 school days left! This week, Zach finishes up baseball and starts football practice. Braxton has games I think for the next two or three weeks. As you can see things are staying rather busy. I am so appreciative of my break last week as I am ready to finish this school year strong. We are working on saving money so you will notice less eating out (hopefully for the next month).

Breakfast- Saturday-French toast.  Sunday-Cereal   Monday- Banana nut bread, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Friday– find it (breakfast burritos,oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk,sausage, pop-tarts, and eggs.

Lunch- Saturday-Flat bread pizzas Sunday-Time Square Pizza   Monday,Tuesday,- I made myself salads  Wednesday, Thursday- left-overs.  Friday- eat out.

Dinner- Saturday- Hibachi on the Blackstone  Sunday- Sushi rice bowls  Monday-  Meatball subs after the game  Tuesday-Spinach Ravioli  Wednesday-  Chicken tacos, Thursday- Lily is in charge   Friday- Cheeseburger and french fries.

As I put up our weekly calendar, I realized that this may be the slowest and easiest week this Spring. I don’t have any meetings after work, and we only have 3 games to attend this week!  I have two weeks until Spring Break!

Breakfast- Saturday-Bacon and eggs.   Sunday-fresh sourdough bread!   Monday Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Friday– find it (breakfast burritos, bagel thins (previously purchased on sale) oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk,, sausage, pop-tarts, and eggs.  I would like to make a fruit bread this week or baked oatmeal, but we shall see if that happens.

Lunch- Saturday-Beef enchiladas made with Taco rice. (not a hit) Sunday-Longhorn   Monday-, Wednesday, Thursday- left-overs.  Friday- eat out.

Dinner- Saturday- Zach and Lily fixed steak and fettuccine alfredo, it was awesome! Sunday- Sandwiches including egg salad and chicken salad I made. Monday- Creamy basil chicken pasta (new recipe)  Tuesday- Cheeseburger pizza, Wednesday- Sloppy Joes on homemade buns Thursday- Hamburger helper in instapot   Friday- Eat after the game.

Pantry Challenge
1. Use at least one “meal/meat portion of the meal” from the stand-up freezer each week. (This is where most of the meals are)   chicken thighs for Monday.

2. Use at least 3 jars a week from the canning pantry. 1.Spaghetti sauce for Monday, 1-2 jars of sloppy joe mix, 1 jar of ground beef for Hamburger helper.
3. Use one item a week from the connivence freezer in my room.  Not this week…
4. Each Monday after menu planning provide a list of how I followed the guidelines for the week.  Done!