Monday, January 30, 2012

What? A Menu Plan?!

Last week was a doozy. I was just beginning to return to a somewhat "normal" state/routine after my c-section when it hit. My husband had to work mostly night shifts for a week, the baby got circumcised on Monday (read loss-of-routine and temporarily-fussy-baby), and I came down with a yucky case of mastitis. On top of it all, Andrew had his monthly end of rotation exam on Friday. The poor guy was trying to study, take care of me (incapacitated on the couch with fevers and extremely achy joints), and take care of the boys.

My new menu board, inspired by @sadiewindham!

So the weekend was regrouping time for us. Time to pick up the strewn house and dirty laundry and get our game face on for the coming week. For me, that included putting together the 1st menu plan since baby arrived.
Day 29: inside my fridge. Not very organized! We have a small fridge and I'm about do some freezer cooking...
The fridge, a little extra full with freezer cooking supplies
We exhausted our stock of freezer meals after Baby E. arrived, so it's time to start squeezing some freezer cooking into my routine, if possible. This week's menu plan is mainly comprised of meals that can be doubled (or quadrupled) and frozen.

Dinners for the Week:

Monday--Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings
Tuesday--Veggie Cheddar Soup and biscuits
Wednesday--Bourbon Chicken with veggies
Thursday--Burritos with lettuce, tomatoes, guac...the works!
Friday--Date Night.
Saturday--Pizza Night with salad
Sunday--Leftovers.

And now.....drumroll..................it's time to start posting my goals for the week again! I'm excited to get back on the bandwagon.

Here are my goals for this week:
Having just had a baby 4 weeks ago, my list of goals looks kind of daunting to me. Especially all the cooking. But hey, we gotta eat. I'm going to give it a shot! I'll let you know how it goes...



Linked to Money Saving Mom and Menu Plan Monday.
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20 comments:

  1. You forgot the most important goal; take care of yourself! You are still recovering. Lots of love Amelie (trust me, I know what I'm talking about; 2 times c-section ;-) )

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    1. Aw, thanks Amelie! I'm trying to remember! One of my goals is to take a nap everyday...I just forgot to list it! :D Just woke up from a nap now...

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  2. I'm glad you had a weekend to catch up and get back in the game, that was quite a week you had there! I love how you are planning to start freezer cooking again, and even have a menu plan already!! I want to check out your crockpot chicken and dumplings, we love chicken and dumplings and that would be a great freezer meal to make and freeze now for after the baby comes. I hope you have a wonderful, less-crazy week!! Happy Monday!

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    1. Yes, I'm experimenting with freezing that meal...because to freeze it I need to blanch the carrots and potatoes and kind of assemble a "kit" with the broth/veggies in one bag, peas in another bag, and dry dumpling ingredients in a final bag. Make sense?

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    2. That does make sense, but I'd probably be lazy and just cook it all up and the freeze it :P Haha!! One thing I do like to do (and you probably do this) when I make meal kits is stick all the little bags of stuff into one big Ziploc so you only have to pull one thing from the freezer.

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    3. And btw, since you're right in the throes of things, I'll take any "transitioning from one to two" advice or ideas you have (when and if you feel like sharing :) ).

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    4. Ok! I have a what-our-"typical"-day-looks-like post mulling around in my head...with some tips. :D

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  3. That's sooooo ambitious for having such a new baby and trying to recover. You go girl! :)

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  4. Great list and glad you're feeling better! Give yourself lots of grace too.

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  5. Take it one item at a time. I know when I look at the my list, it gets overwhelming to see everything ahead of me. But when I just concentrate on one thing, get it done, and then check it off, the goals all seem a little more attainable. Have a great week. Take care!

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  6. Take care of your self...mastitis is not fun at all, pace your self and 4 weeks is still not that much time your body is still healing! I love your menu I may have to try some of your recipes :)

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  7. Wow! Just looking at your goals for this week makes me tired! A word of unsolicited advice-be flexible! I have a 3 year old son and 8 month old girl and those first weeks were very chaotic! Have a great week!

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  8. I'm sorry you've been sick, Alicia. Feel better soon!

    We've had quite the week ourselves--I didn't have surgery, but our newborn daughter did.

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    1. Julia, I just saw your blog post about that. Praying for you guys. I hope your recovery goes smoothly, as well!

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  9. Life can be overwhelming at times and you may want to punch the next person that says "and this too shall pass" but do be encouraged :)
    May I pass on one of our favorite quick week-night meals?
    MomaD's Baked Ham & Cheese Sandwiches: 1 package regular size, no-see burger buns; 1 lb. delli ham (you won't use it all but you can save the rest for another time); 1 package deli cheese, your favorite kind (but not processed cheese slices--this needs to be the real deal); 1 stick butter (or 1/2 stick butter & 1/4 cup olive oil, blended); 1 T. W-shire sauce; 3 T. yellow mustard, 1/4 tsp. onion powder; poppy seeds.
    Preheat oven to 325. Combine butter (or butter & olive oil) with W-shire, mustard, and onion powder in a microwave proof bowl and heat until melted. Whisk to blend. Spray baking pan (larger than 9 x 13) with cooking spray; lay all of the bun bottoms on pan, brush with about 2/3 T. of the butter sauce. Top with ham slice (fold to fit), 1 slice cheese and burger bun tops. Brush bun top with butter sauce, sprinkle with poppy seeds. Cover with foil (spray foil top with cooking spray to prevent sticking) and bake in preheated oven for 20 min. Serve and enjoy. Any favorite deli meat can be substituted.

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    Replies
    1. Wow, thank you NanaDenise! :D Sounds delicious!

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