Gotta Eat

That's right, it's Menu Plan Monday!

Thanks to this new amusement I no longer think of Mondays as the day I wrestle with all manner of linens, but instead as the day I get to post my menu (still have no idea why this delights me so)!

This week was a tough one to plan: we're extra short on funds because of Halloween and having to fix the tailgate of the Volvo so it stays up and spares me the serious risk of being concussed each and every time I pack or unpack groceries, hockey gear, 20-ton backpacks and the like.

Also? I'm putting myself back on a low-carb diet. I can't even tolerate looking at myself anymore, let's just leave it at that.

A-hem! This week's menu:

FRIDAY: Beef Stew. As ever, it was heavenly to return from trick-or-treating to the mouth-watering aroma of a crock-pot full of beefy, beefy stew! Heavens, did you notice how many hyphens were in that sentence? That was crazy! Hyper-hyphenation! Okay, enough.

SATURDAY: Weenies, Chips, and S'mores. One of The Viking's new co-workers (he switched departments) has a family farm and hosts a hayride and bonfire each year. We roasted weenies and marshmallows while the kids ran feral through the cornfield. I don't think Man-Cub has ever had as much fun in his life as he did in that field. It was spooky! And the dads all took turns sneaking into the field and scaring the living daylights out of the kids! Man-Cub rode home exhausted, hoarse and scratched up, but completely thrilled.

SUNDAY: Fried rice. Yup, that's it. We had nothing else so this was a desperation meal. Funny thing is, Man-Cub loved, loved, loved it! I'm adding it to the regular rotation.

MONDAY: Greek-style Chicken with Cucumber Salad. This is a new recipe, but I like Greek-style stuff so I'm optimistic. Don't tell my family, but it's low-carb! They won't eat it willingly if they know it's "diet" food.

TUESDAY: Hoagies. For those of you outside of the Philly area, those are subs or grinders or heros or whatever else you may call them. Our school's PTA is having an Election Day hoagie/bake sale so I decided to do my part to support the school, the election and me not having to cook! Besides, they always get really great hoagies! I'm veering slightly off the diet this day.

WEDNESDAY: Baked Chicken with Roasted Veg. A family favorite and super easy. Man-Cub always makes ecstatic noises while he's eating this, funny boy. It's from the pastor's wife of a church we visited for a while a couple years back. I'll include it below*

THURSDAY: Bangers and Mash. Redheaded Snippet hates the Bangers and Man-Cub hates the Mash, but I can't help but make this every month or two. It's one of my faves!

*HERBED BAKED CHICKEN CUTLETS

1 large Reynolds baking bag
8-10 pieces chicken
2 T chicken seasoning mix (like Lawry's or McCormick's)
1 t garlic and herb seasoning mix
1 T olive oil
1 packet onion soup mix
1 T white wine

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In bag, mix soup mix and seasonings. Add chicken, wine and oil and shake until chicken is coated. Cut slits in bag as per package directions, place bag in shallow 9x13 dish and bake 1 hour. Easy peasy!

Okay, now that that's over, I must get on with my linen wrestling.