Let them eat chicken! (Menu planning)

Usually during Tax Season I order in too much and just feed the kids easy stuff. But this year, since I am not eating as much myself, I am even less motivated. Resulting in lots of nights of being unprepared and the kids eating random things that aren't even good for them. So, this week I am making a plan.

Right now, at 8am on a Sunday, I am roasting a chicken.

http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/honey_glazed_lemon_roast_chicken/

This is my favorite roast chicken. It always comes out good. We are going to a super bowl party tonight so I will make this....

Buffalo Chicken Dip

From-
http://bunsinmyoven.com/2010/01/25/buffalo-chicken-dip/

1/2 of the chicken, meat shredded with a fork
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup ranch salad dressing
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup Hot sauce

Mix together all ingredients until well combined. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Serve with crackers, chips, or sliced bread. I think I will make a loaf of french bread (From the can this time) and slice it thin to serve with it. I can also bring some crackers.

It was hard to find one without blue cheese, and I don't have any blue cheese. I suppose I could go to the store.... nah.

On to the menu planning:

Monday night I am going to make the kids, the Mother in law, and I, meatballs. I will make the meatballs on Monday when I get home from the store. These are my "Not a whole day meatballs"

http://cookiesandcarpools.blogspot.com/2009/11/meatballs-and-mayhem.html Though, I think we will eat them with Rice, not pasta. and some steamed broccoli.

Tuesday night I am going to use the chicken to try this recipe....

http://stolenmomentscooking.com/buffalo-chicken-spaghetti/

I will use fettuccine though, since I have some on hand that is calling to me. Now, I doubt the kids will eat this, and interestingly, they don't usually like fettuccine. But I will leave them each a drum stick. and they can eat the leftover rice and broccoli. I wont even cook until we get home at 6:30 from Karate, so Paul and I will probably eat this one after the kids go to bed.

Wednesday night, Paul works late and my mom is here. We will probably go out to eat.

Thursday, London broil, roasted potatoes, asparagus. And probably some turkey hot dogs for Nathan who really cant seem to chew steak of any kind.

Friday...

Ok, honestly, I can't think that far ahead. But maybe some fish? I have been in the mood for Salmon, so maybe a maple glazed salmon. I will add Maple Syrup to my shopping list.

Saturday.... now I am pushing my luck. Maybe we can have spaghetti and meatballs with some home baked bread. I can use the meatballs from Monday. That sounds yummy. Now I am hungry.

Do you plan your weekly menus? I need to do more of this.

Learning to plan

We are tightening our bootstraps around here. We are trying to save some money. Or rather, spend less, as the case may be. As many of you are too I expect. So I have taken to clipping coupons and comparing them to the store circular. Stocking up when things are on sale and hopefully avoiding buying too much at full price. Obviously the more you stock up, the eaisier this is. I spent the last few days planning our Thanksgiving menu, clipping coupons, checking circulars, and trying to be sure the scale of our meal is scaled down to our smaller group. The smaller group... well that is another post in and of itself.

With Thanksgiving, and actually any big meal I am cooking, I like to plan it well in advance, know when things move in and out of the oven, when I am to be doing what. I like to be on a schedule. It helps me to feel in control and relax and enjoy the cooking.

The Menu

I will have cheese and crackers, and my dad is making Lobster Rolls as an appetizer.

"Mom's Roast Turkey" from Elise at Simply Recipes.
http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/000037moms_roast_turkey.php

Gravy from that same recipe.

Stuffing- this I make myself, I use a mix, some sauteed onions and celery, some chicken broth and my slow cooker. It's not a science. I add enough broth to moisten (Apologies to Kelly who doesn't like descriptive food words.), and add more broth every hour or so when I stir it if the stuffing needs it. I like having it in the slow cooker, frees up valuable oven time.

Mashed Potatoes- Again, no recipe to speak of. I use Yukon Golds, peel, cut in small chunks, put in a pot of cold water and boil till soft. I mash them up with some roasted garlic, melted butter, heavy cream, salt and pepper to taste. Wa-La! Yum. One day I will have to write up these recipes but I am too busy planning now. ;)

Roasted Asparagus- I chop off the ends, put in a ziplock with olive oil and kosher salt and toss. Lay them out on a baking sheet and roast at 400 till done. Usually somewhere around the 10 minute mark.

Corn Bread- I am trying a new recipe this year, it looks good.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Grandmothers-Buttermilk-Cornbread/Detail.aspx

My Dad is making a port wine cranberry sauce.

For dessert, two pies. One I have made before and it is amazing and one new one I chose to help me not waste some ingredients....

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Grandma-Oples-Apple-Pie/Detail.aspx
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Buttermilk-Pie-IV/Detail.aspx

So here is my plan-

Monday-

Move Turkey to fridge

Thursday-

Move Turkey to counter at 11
11:30 Roast Garlic
12:30pm Make Turkey (4 hours?) eat at 5, so start cooking at 12:30
12:40pm Stuffing in crock pot
prep ingredients for corn bread
Prep Pies
3pm Serve cheese and crackers and lobster rolls at 3.
4:00 prepare corn bread
prepare potatoes
4:30ish Take Turkey Out
bake corn bread
make mashed potatoes
make gravy
carve turkey
corn bread out
Roast Asparagus
bake two pies
eat dinner while pies bake
take pies out and serve

Could I do more in advance? Yes, I could. And some years I have. This year I am looking forward to spending the day cooking and eating things fresh and hot. I am having a small group this year, of people I see all the time, and I dont feel as much need to socialize. Plus, people will gather in the kitchen and cook with me. It seems like the right plan for this year. I will let you know how it goes.