Menu Plan Monday - March 30th

Short 'n sweet this week, peeps!  

I just got back in town Saturday afternoon and realized I hadn't started a menu for this week.  It's normally a work-in-progress with a piece of paper lying on the island for a few days until I'm ready to make a final decision and plan a grocery list.  And Saturday's are my normal shopping days for groceries, but I think my family missed me over night and insisted that I spend some time with them, which did NOT include a trip to the grocery store!

Here's our menu this week:

Sunday - Crawfish Etouffee (my recipe) & garlic bread

Monday - Pioneer Woman's Southern Comfort Meatballs & Cheesy Rice

Tuesday - Taco Tuesday!

Wednesday - Spaghetti (my recipe) & green beans

Thursday - YOYO

Friday - Spaghetti Boats

Saturday - Jump Lump Crab Cakes & Baked Potato Bar

If you're looking for a great and easy dessert for Easter, check out my post from last week for Weight Watcher Lemonade Pie.  It is SO good!  

You can visit OrgJunkie for more menu and recipe ideas!

Mingle Monday

Y'all!  The Louisiana Crawfish Casserole was WONDERFUL last week!  It makes alot, so I took leftovers to work the next day!  Even if you're not a crawfish person, you can easily substitute shrimp instead.  DE-lish!

Our menu kinda took a turn at the end of last week, so I moved some things to this week.  I don't know about you, but I'm finding it harder to find things to cook lately.  It's like Spring is here and I'm really craving salads and lighter, grilled fare instead of the winter soups and pastas {Being a carb girl, I can't believe I said that!}.  Anyhoo! Here's our menu this week:

Sunday -  Crockpot Pork tenderloin, cheesy rice, and green bean bundles

Monday - Smothered Salisbury Steak, mashed potatoes, & corn

Tuesday - Chicken fajita quesadillas with salsa & sour cream

Wednesday - Dirty Rice

Thursday - YOYO

Friday - Daddy cooks!

Saturday - Three Cheese Ranch Chicken with sides

Strawberry season is nearly here and if I'm tired of comfort food, well, let me just say that I could NEVER be tired of dessert!  I've got fresh strawberry cake on the brain and I plan on baking one sometime within the next few weeks. I'll be sure to share the recipe, too, so check back!

For menu plan ideas, you can visit Laura at Orgjunkie.com.

In other non-menu news, I am so tired of this dreary weather we've been having here in Louisiana!  It rained all weekend!  For the entire month of March, we've maybe seen the sun three times and that's not three entire days! Thank goodness for some much needed sunny weather the first part of this week!  

So what's a girl to do on another wet, rainy weekend?  Well, I cleaned out my closet, of course, and said good-bye to fall and winter, and moved in the Spring clothes! Friday night, I ate a hamburger on a jalapeno bun to reward myself for walking 15 miles last week.  I took Alise to tumbling on Saturday and then bought groceries at our new Neighborhood Walmart. That night, Wayne and I had a spur-of-the-moment date night when Alise decided to spend the night at my parent's because her cousins are in town for the week. On Sunday, I picked Alise up and we went shopping for Spring and summer clothes for her.  We shopped for three hours and by the time I got home, I felt like I needed a stiff drink!  Shopping with a nine year old is definitely not my favorite way to spend a Sunday afternoon and I'm afraid that it's only going to get worse the older she gets!

Have a fun week!

I'm linking up with these blogs today!
      

Menu Plan Monday - March 16th

If you remember last week, I had Broccoli & Beef on the menu for Sunday. And even if you don't remember, that's okay, too, but I'm reminding you that's what was on the menu. So I was kinda worried about this recipe because sometimes pictures on Pinterest can be deceiving and Pinterest and I seem to be in a lover's funk right now.

So anyway.

I made Broccoli & Beef last Sunday and it was WONDERFUL.  Bottom line. That's what I was trying to say all along.

But let's talk about what kind of meat you need to use for this recipe {I don't know why I think I've turned into the Betty Crocker of what kind of meat to use, but here's to two weeks of being sure you select the right meat for your meal. Ahem!}.  Now, this recipe calls for chuck roast or chuck steak.  I am totally against that.  When I went to the grocery, I had planned to buy flank steak, which is the more tender part of a steak and usually comes in thin flat pieces. I would ask the meat man {because really, is anyone ever called a "butcher" anymore?} to cut it in thin strips for me so all I'd have to do is throw it in the crockpot.  Y'all!  I found the perfect kind of meat, but I have no idea what it's called because I forgot to take a picture of the package to show y'all.  It wasn't flank steak, but it was very similar piece of beef and it worked PERFECT for this meal.  I highly suggest buying thin meat for this.  Ours ended up being so tender you could cut it with a fork!

One more thing about this recipe.  My gravy, sauce, whatever you want to call it, never really got thick - at least not as thick as we like it.  So next time, I will add more cornstarch and play around with the sauce a little bit more.

If you try it, let me know if you like it!

Here's our menu this week!

Sunday - Miranda Lamberts Mom's Meatloaf & scalloped potatoes, vegetable

Monday - Louisiana Crawfish Casserole & Garlic Bread

Tuesday - Taco Tuesday

Wednesday - Breakfast Buffet

Thursday - YOYO

Friday - Pork tenderloin and sides

Saturday - Daddy grills (if the weather cooperates!)

I know y'all are tired of seeing Miranda Lambert's name show up on my weekly menu, but Baby Girl is requesting meatloaf yet again!  This will probably the last time I make it for a while, because it's such a winter, comfort food to me.  Just sounds too heavy for spring and summer.

Since Tuesday is St. Patrick's Day, I really felt like I should've planned a nice beef stew or a shepherd's pie, but my bunch wouldn't eat it.  So we're staying true to our roots and going with tacos on Tuesday.

For more menu ideas and recipes, stop by Laura's blog at OrgJunkie.com.

Menu Plan Monday - March 9th

I'm baaaack!

Here's our yummy menu for the week!

Sunday - Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli with rice

Monday - Coca Cola Pork chops & Cheesy Rice

Tuesday - Fiesta Chicken Casserole

Wednesday - Lasagna & Garlic Bread

Thursday - YOYO

Friday - Pizza cupcakes for the win!

Saturday - Jump Lump Crab cakes on Hawaiian Rolls

Lots of carbs and hearty meals this week, but it is what it is!  Just a few things I want to share with you as we try to get back into our routine after being on Spring Break last week!

I actually DID try a new recipe last week, even though I did not plan a menu.  I came across Mississippi Roast on a blog I was reading and decided that I was really in the mood for some comfort food.  So I stopped by the store on the way home, grabbed a mock tender roast and headed home to put it in the crock pot. And let me just say that it was THE EASIEST assembly ever!  The roast was DE-vine and just perfect!  I added some small whole potatoes and carrots and towards the end of the cook time, I added some cornstarch to the gravy to thicken it a little more.  I served it with baked potatoes and although Wayne and Alise ate theirs seperately, I added the meat and gravy over my potato and it tasted just like McAllister's Pot Roast Potato!  Yummy!!  I carried leftovers to work the next day, and I think it was better even then!  By far, my favorite roast recipe! However, I would like to point out that this recipe is more for a shredded roast and not sliced.  I also think the recipe outcome is based on the type of roast you choose (the thicker the roast, the harder it is to shred).  So keep those two things in mind if you decide to make this. You can find the recipe by clicking on the link above or by visiting our family favorite Pinterest board HERE.  You'll see I've added some new recipes to that board as well.

Secondly, I hosted a brunch this past weekend for some friends of mine that were crazy enough to run a 5K in - what I call, sub zero temps - and I plan to post about it later this week, so make sure you come back for all the details and my menu.

What's on your menu this week?  Check out more menu plans and ideas at OrgJunkie.

I'm also linking up my menu this week for Mingle Monday!

Menu Plan Monday - February 23rd

So I wanted to update you on two recipes I tried last week.  If you remember, I planned to try two new recipes from Kimm's blog.  The Creamy Ranch Potatoes were WONDERFUL!  SO darn good!  My only suggestion would be to use a crock pot liner with this one.  Long story short, I had to make this recipe in my crackpot that cooks a little faster and I didn't have a liner, which made for a messy clean up.  I was worried about the potatoes scorching and after a few hours, I just dumped them in a regular casserole dish and finished baking them in the oven.  I added some grated cheddar cheese on top and they. were. awesome!

Her second recipe, Nacho Chicken and Rice Wraps were unbelievably awesome! Who needed a tortilla to wrap up this goodness?  I simply at it like a chicken and rice bowl!  Alise had it rolled up and ate one and a half!!  SO excited to have another option for Taco Tuesdays!!

Here's our menu for this week!

Sunday - Slow Cooker Smothered Pork Chops {It better be worth it!}

Monday - French Toast (my recipe) & Bacon

Tuesday - Taco Crescent Pie (scroll down for recipe)

Wednesday - Pioneer Woman's Comfort Meatballs & Cheese Grits

Thursday - Gumbo & Garlic Bread

Friday - Chili (one last time for ol' times sake)

Saturday - Jump Lump Crab cakes on Hawaiian Rolls 

Notice my Southern Diva comment regarding the pork chops.  That's more work than frying up "regular" chops, so yea!  It better be worth it!  I'll let you know next week.

Now about the crab cakes...Wayne and I LOVE to go to Mr. B's Bistro when we're in New Orleans and ever since I had a crab cake-on-a-bun back in November at Mistletoe Market, I've been wanting to try making these babies. I'm thinking of getting Mr. Horton in the kitchen with me and letting this be a meal that we do together.  You know, some wine, some music, just some good conversation.  

Sounds like the perfect Louisiana Saturday night to me!

Visit Orgjunkie for more menu and recipe ideas.

Happy Eating!

Menu Plan Monday - February 16th

Hello everyone!  Welcome to Menu Plan Monday!  Join us!  It's super easy!  Just post your meal plan for the week and link back to Laura at Orgjunkie!  If you need help with recipes or ideas, check out some of the other bloggers who've linked up!  It's fun!  And one of the best ways to get ideas for meal planning and make new blog friends, too!

I have to tell you this!  Last Thursday night, I was in a baking mood.  I poured myself a glass of chardonnay, and whipped up these AH-MAZE-ing cookies! They were perfect for a Valentine treat! Wayne and Alise LOVED them and the house smelled like strawberries.  They were SO easy!  Pinterest for the win!!  I've moved the pin to our Horton Family Favorites board.

Alise has been BEGGING ME to fix meatloaf again.  The last time I made it, which was about three weeks ago, the family INHALED it!  I always half the recipe, so we finished it off in one sitting.  Y'all know how I feel about this meat loaf recipe!  It's the best!  The addition of sausage and the ketchup and brown sugar topping just make me wanna slap my mama!  I'm changing up the potato recipe that I normally make with it and going with a new recipe from a blog I found recently.  You'll notice I'm using TWO of Kimm's recipes this week.

Sunday - Miranda Lambert's Mom's Meatloaf & Creamy Ranch Potatoes

Monday - Pulled pork (left over from last week) sandwiches & oven baked fries

Tuesday - Nacho Chicken & Rice Wraps

Wednesday - Lasagna (my recipe), Ceasar salad, & garlic bread

Thursday - YOYO

Friday - School Auction

Saturday - Cajun Jambalaya in foil packets

Have you ever cooked in foil?  Like, put your meat in foil with some other stuff and baked or grilled it?  When Wayne and I first got married and I was doing WW, I found this GREAT recipe that called for cooking chicken in foil with a little BBQ sauce, onions and bellpeppers and it was really, really good.  When I saw the Cajun Jambalaya recipe, it reminded me of that, so I decided I wanted to try it again.  And since the fam loves some shrimp, I decided on this recipe.

And how about a little Monday humor?

What's on your menu this week!?  Have a super Monday!

Menu Plan Monday - February 2nd

Hello Meal Planners!  If you're stopping by from the link up from Orgjunkie, WELCOME!

So is everyone recovering from yesterday?  Too much Super Bowl yumminess yesterday, huh?  There ain't nothing like the pits of having to go back to work on a Monday after a food bender.  Bleh, bleh, bleh!

This weeks menu at our house is short and sweet: LEFTOVERS.

And I may throw in some sandwiches and cereal to make it stretch until next week.

You see, we had so much food yesterday at our Super Bowl party that we'll have plenty to last us for the week!  

Check out our Cajun Super Bowl Menu HERE for ideas!

I'm still taking blog questions for an upcoming post where YOU ask the questions and I answer them.  Anything is fair game.  Just leave me a question in the comments.

See ya next week!

Menu Plan Monday - January 26th

Happy Monday!

I'm feeling REALLY good about my menu this week!  Not too much pasta..., not too much ground beef...A few new recipes that I've been wanting to try for a while...It's all good!

Sunday - Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta with Salad 

Monday - Stuffed French Bread & Fries

Tuesday - Breakfast Buffet since we haven't been able to work it in the last two weeks!  Maybe this week is the charm!!

Wednesday - YOYO

Thursday - Chicken Fried Rice

Friday - Hamburger Sliders with all the trimmings

Saturday - Date Night!

Dessert for the week: Sparkling Cider Pound Cake

What's on your menu this week?  Join us at Orgjunkie.com for more menu planning and recipe ideas!

Menu Plan Monday - January 19th

Our menu was cut short last week because of a death in our family, so we headed out late Thursday evening to Alabama.  In other words, four out of seven days aren't bad for last weeks menu plan.  I managed to make all the new recipes I wanted to, except for the BBQ chicken sandwiches, so I moved them to today.  Yay!  Supper will be ready when I get home tonight - except for throwing the fries in the oven! 

And let me just say that I am SO happy to finally have an alternative to Taco Tuesday!  Everyone liked the Enchilada Casserole last week!  Yay!  Their only request is that I use taco seasoning instead of what the original recipe called for.  I can do that!  So I moved that pin to our favorites on Pinterest!

Here's our menu for the week!

Sunday - Miranda Lambert's Mom's Meatloaf, Scallop Potatoes, & vegetable

Monday -  Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sandwiches & Fries

Tuesday - It's MY BIRTHDAY!!  I'm sure we'll go out to eat!

Wednesday - YOYO

Thursday - Wayne has been craving chili, so Chili it is!

Friday -  Breakfast Buffet & A Movie

Saturday - Birthday party for a friend!

Dessert of the Week:  Oreo Trifle

Extra this week:  Cresent Cinnamon Rolls

Join me and many others as we link up with Laura each week for Menu Plan Monday by visiting OrgJunkie.

Menu Plan Monday - January 12th

Hello everyone and Hello Monday!  At least it's not LAST Monday, right? Remember? The dreaded Monday back to school, work, and most of all ROUTINE right after the holidays?  The one you thought you'd never make it through?  Well guess what!  You did it! I did it!  We all did it!

Now let's have some M&Ms!!

How do you like my new graphic design?

You're probably wondering why I chose M&Ms for a backdrop to a menu planning design.  Whelp.  It goes like this.  Chocolate is a basic food group in our house and we always have a bag of M&Ms lying around on the island. Wayne knows my love language because when we're running low on the candies, he always picks me up a new bag.  Now, it doesn't help with the whole weight loss thing, but sometimes just a handful of M&Ms can make this Mama very JOYFUL {pun intended for those of you that read my blog every day and know what the heck I'm talking about!}!!

Since last weeks menu was easy peasy to get us over the hump of getting back into a routine, I decided to add a few NEW recipes this week.  These recipes are much heartier and hit the spot for the cold weather we've been having lately. And what also helps is that the prep time can be done ahead of time {which is usually how I spend my Sunday afternoons} or fairly quickly the same night. Here's our menu:

Sunday - Stuffed Pepper Soup - I've seen this all over the internet and I really, really want to try it even though Wayne doesn't like soup.  Don't ask.

Monday - General TSO Chicken - Since it didn't happen last week!

Tuesday - Enchilada Casserole & Mexi-Corn

Wednesday - YOYO

Thursday - Chicken Parm Casserole & Garlic Bread

Friday - Breakfast Buffet & A Movie

Saturday - Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sandwiches & Fries

Dessert of the Week:  Cream Cheese Brownie Cupcakes  Enough said.

I halved this Apple Crisp recipe last week for a mid-week pick me up!  It was gone by Friday!  Just sayin.

Join me and many others as we link up with Laura each week for Menu Plan Monday by visiting OrgJunkie.

Menu Plan Monday - January 5th

It's back to reality for us today.  Unfortunately.  Yes, the holidays are over. No more late nights, late mornings or being off schedule for us.  It's back to the daily grind.

And with that, I'm back to menu planning.  If you've never tried menu planning, I highly recommend it.  Planning nightly menus ahead of time is SO beneficial!  It cuts down on the number of times you have to go to the store AND it saves you money!  I really didn't think it could, but it really does!  Two things I never do now when I go to the grocery: 1) I never go hungry, and 2) I always have a list. I may change up the menu nightly, but we pretty much stick to the plan and it makes coming home in the evening so much nicer when I don't have to scrounge around for something in the pantry or freezer. 

To help ease us back into routine, I've planned family favorites this week! Most of these recipes can be found on my Horton Family Favorites Pinterest Board.  So here we go:

Sunday - Beef Tips & Rice, green bean bundles

Monday - General TSO Chicken

Tuesday - Shrimp Jambalaya, corn

Wednesday - YOYO

Thursday - Spaghetti & Meatballs with garlic bread

Friday - Pork chops with loaded mashed potatoes

Saturday - Date Night 

For more menu planning ideas, you can visit Laura's blog at Orgjunkie.com.

What's on your menu this week?

Menu Plan Monday - October 20, 2014

Happy Monday!  We're one week closer to Halloween, Folks!



Here's our menu for the week:

Monday - YOYO

Tuesday - Breakfast Enchiladas (NEW)

Wednesday - Meatball Sub Casserole (NEW)

Thursday - Popcorn Chicken & French Fries

Friday - Slow Cooker Hobo Packets (NEW)

Saturday - Grilled Hamburger Sliders with all the fixin's 

Sunday - Italian Minute Steaks, Scalloped Potatoes, and Green Bean Bundles

Lots of new recipes these week and I've got my fingers crossed that I can pull this off!!

I'm getting my Taco Tuesday in one way or another and since we never saw the 'Breakfast Bar' from a few weeks back, I'm putting something similar back on the menu for this week!

Something I'm learning about Friday nights.  If I can put something in the crockpot, it makes us stay home for dinner.  Now, I know it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out, but Friday nights are our normal family nights to eat out, so having supper ready when we get home is a plus because we don't spend money by eating out.  However, with the astronomical price of groceries these days, I'm beginning to wonder!  Food is outrageous anywhere you go!

I'm excited about Sunday's menu!!  Italian Minute Steaks (or you can call them Italian Salisbury Steak) was a recipe that I found right after Wayne and I got married.  The recipe came from a Bell South Pioneer Cookbook that I eventually threw away (stupid me!), but the recipe was so easy-peasy that I can still remember it even nearly twenty years later!  I even served it with green bean bundles way back then (before green bean bundles were cool!).  I'll try to remember to share the recipe next week (When I searched for the recipe on Pinterest, I couldn't find one similar).

For more menu ideas and recipes, go to OrgJunkie's blog.

Have a TASTY week!!

Menu Plan Monday - October 13, 2014

In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue!

Don't even get me started about why schools don't teach Christopher Columbus anymore. We have a national holiday for something our kids don't even know about.

So anyway.  

We're out of school today.  I'm off to take Baby Girl to the dentist for a teeth cleaning and to have three teeth pulled to begin the early phases of what will become: braces. Yea, so say a little prayer for me because Alise has never had any type of dental work done before except for cleaning.  I'm not sure how this is going to go.



For more ideas and recipes, visit Orgjunkie's blog by clicking here.

This is our menu for the week:

Monday - Crockpot Chicken Parmesan (NEW) & Garlic Bread

Tuesday - Dirty Rice

Wednesday - Asian Lettuce Wraps (NEW)

Thursday - Louisiana Gumbo

Friday - Family Night Out!

Saturday - Natchitoches Meat Pies & other game day food

Sunday - Miranda Lambert's Mom's Meatloaf, PW's Smashed Potatoes & vegetable

Last week's Southwestern quiche was out-of-this-world wonderful!!  But I had no idea it needed to cook for an hour!  We were starving and practically salivating as we counted down the final seconds.  A very good breakfast addition to our menu.  The Hobo Stew was so, so good and perfect for a cooler day!  I loved it, Wayne doesn't eat soup so he wouldn't try it, and Alise - who is usually a soup eater like me - decided to become a soup connoisseur and said the "seasoning was off."  She didn't finish eating hers.  It makes a TON!  I made some slight variations to the recipe and froze nearly half of it for later this Fall or winter.

Have a tasty week!!

Menu Plan Monday - October 6, 2014

Here comes the comfort food!

The temperature has dropped - a little - and I'm ready for soups and pastas and stick-to-your-ribs home cooking!  Sometimes comfort food takes a little "extra work" to prepare so I begin preparing on Sundays (usually) for the week.  Our evenings run alot smoother when I'm not slicing and dicing and trying to call out spelling words at the same time!  Know what I mean?



Monday -  YOYO

Tuesday -  Lasagna & Garlic Bread

Wednesday - Shrimp Jambalya & Corn

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Dad cooks: Breakfast Bar

Saturday - Slow Cooker Ground Beef HoBo Stew

Sunday - Coca Cola Pork chops, Scalloped Potatoes, Fried Okra & Green Beans

Here's a dessert recipe that I've been dying to try since I saw it on Facebook.  Two of my favorite things to bake with in the fall are apples and pecans.  I decided to wait a while before using some pecans, but this recipe, just wouldn't wait!  Click HERE for the link!

I wanted to comment about the Beef Enchilada Casserole that was on our menu last week. The results were just so-so.  I halved the recipe, actually made it on a Sunday, refrigerated it,  and we ate it on Tuesday.  Wayne said it was too much corn for him and I thought the recipe just tasted bland.  It needed something extra.  I probably won't be making it again.  So I'm back to square one as to looking for another Mexican go-to recipe for Taco Tuesdays!

Lastly, I like to try a new breakfast recipe on Saturday morning. Our family favorite is still Sausage Bread, but we've kinda gotten burned out on it.  My bunch prefers something that uses crescent rolls and no eggs.  Sounds easy enough, right?  This is what I plan to try this weekend!  They can live with just two eggs, right?

For more menu planning ideas, visit OrgJunkie.com.

Have a tasty week!

Menu Plan Monday - September 29, 2014

Helloooooo, October!

Well, technically it's not October yet...but can you feel how excited I am about it!?  Alise beat me by wearing her boots first this year!  The temps dipped into the high 50's one night last week and the next morning, she was breaking out the leggings and boots!  I taught her well. She told me, "Moma, I'm over summer!"  Me too, Baby Girl.  Me too!!  So whether we have weather in the 50's or 90's this week, CHILI is on our menu!!

It's Fall, y'all!! 



Monday - YOYO

Tuesday -  General TSO Chicken with brown rice

Wednesday - Beef Enchilada Casserole & Green Beans

Thursday - Ham & Cheese Crescent Rollups & chips

Friday - Chili

Saturday - Swamp Bowl!  Eat at the game!

Sunday - Chicken & Dumplings

Ok, so I'm all over the world map this week with menu choices, but hey!  It happens.  Wayne is going to gag on Sunday.  But hey!  It happens.  For more ideas, visit Orgjunkie.com.  

Have a TASTY week!!

Menu Plan Monday - September 22, 2014

I'm thanking the Good Lord above for a much less chaotic week this week!

Here's our family menu:



Monday - YOYO

Tuesday - Hamburgers and fries with all the fixings (including bacon!)

Wednesday - Chicken Fried Rice

Thursday - Spaghetti & Meatballs

Friday - Family Night Out! (No football game!)

Saturday - Louisiana Gumbo & cornbread

Sunday - Coca-Cola Pot Roast with vegetables, mashed potatoes, and green beans

Dessert of the Week -  Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

I made the brownies yesterday and they were a hit!  Wayne thought they were a tad too chocolatey - SAY WHAT?! - so I added a few more PB chips to the topping.  Like I said when I posted a pic of them on IG yesterday: you just can't go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter!

For more recipes, visit Orgjunkie's blog!  You can also follow our family favorites board on Pinterest by clicking HERE.

Have a TASTY week!

Menu Plan Monday - August 25, 2014

I don't know about you, but I'm beginning to crave some Fall dishes!  And I'm not talking about cooking everything with a can of pumpkin, either.  I'm referring to hearty soups, warm apple crisps, chilis, and just about anything made with pecans.  Southern comfort food at its finest!  If only the weather would cooperate.  It's still a little early, but I've got Fall on the brain!  

This week's menu is filled with a few family favorites and a new side dish in which I plan to use instant potatoes {insert gasp!}.  I'll let you know how that goes next week.  Also, looks like I'll be getting not one, but TWO nights off this week!  Benefits of the "carb" planner, I say.  Just look at our menu!



Monday -  Crockpot Spaghetti (my recipe) & green beans

Tuesday - Baked BBQ Chicken, Loaded Mashed Potato Cups, vegetable

Wednesday -  Breakfast Bar (Dad cooks)

Thursday - Spaghetti Boats (using leftovers)

Friday - Mom's Free Night!

Saturday - Pulled pork sandwiches with Paula Dean's Homemade Mac n Cheese

Sunday -  New Orleans Style White Beans & Rice with cornbread

Carb planner indeed!  What can I say?  It is what it is, peeps!

What's on your menu this week?  For more ideas, visit Laura at OrgJunkie's blog and join the link up!

Have a tasty week!

Menu Plan Monday - August 18, 2014

It's that time of year again and school has started.  Back to a routine for us.  Back to menu planning for me.

It's been a while since I've joined OrgJunkie's link up and I've REALLY slacked off this summer in the menu planning category!  Entertaining around the pool this summer on the weekends with friends has been about the extent of my cooking.  During the week, it's been BLTs or frozen pizza for Wayne and Alise.  And of course, we've been eating out more.

Time to remedy the situation.



Monday - I see football games and cheer in our future for Monday nights, which probably means future crock pot meals for this day of the week!  Until then, it's smothered deer meat, rice & gravy, and green beans this week.

Tuesday - Taco Soup

Wednesday - What's another BLT?

Thursday - Dirty Rice and corn

Friday -  Hamburger sliders and fries

Saturday - Steak, baked potatoes, salad & garlic bread

Sunday - Make your own pizza and salad

With this menu, I'm able to use some things that I already have in the freezer and pantry. I spent $105 at the grocery store for this week's menu.

What's on your menu this week?  For more ideas, visit OrgJunkie's blog and join the link up!

Have a tasty week!

Menu Plan Monday ~ January 13th

So let's check out how I did last week:
Monday

Shrimp Jambalaya   {Check}

Tuesday

Tostadas    {Check}
Refried Beans

Wednesday

Sesame Chicken   {Check}
Brown Rice

Thursday

Sloppy Joes   Pizza
French Fries

Friday

Dinner Out!  {Check}

Saturday

One Pot Baked Ziti   {Didn't happen}
Green Bean Bundles
Garlic Bread

Sunday
Miranda Lambert's Mom's Meatloaf{Smothered Steak, rice & gravy}
Pioneer Woman's Smashed Potatoes
Corn
Crescent Rolls

And here's this week's menu:

Monday

Leftovers

Tuesday

Chicken Enchiladas

Wednesday

Lasagna
Garlic Bread

Thursday

Venison Chili

Friday

Dinner Out!

Saturday

Out of town

Sunday
Out of town

This week is easy peasy and oh-so cheap!  I planned a stress free week because I can tell that I just don't have it in me to cook this week.  I decided to continue to use things in our pantry and freezer to save time and money. And being out of town this weekend helps on the grocery bill, too!

Sorry to disappoint {ahem}, but I'll be taking next Monday off!!  It's my BIRTHDAY so I feel I deserve a day all to myself!  Besides, being two states away will make it hard for me to try and plan a menu!

Be sure to visit Orgjunkie's blog to link up your weekly menu and get more delicious ideas for family suppers!

Have a TASTY week!

Monday Meal Plan ~ October 28th

Happy Halloween!!

Y'all!

I had the BEST cooking week last week!  THE BEST!

Every single new recipe I tried is now a Horton Family Favorite {HFF}!!  Yes, all of them!



They were DELISH!  They were HEARTY!  They were "Mama, I really like this!" kind of meals!  They all made my heart smile because my family was happy.  
I was happy.

That's all that really matters, right?

So let me just tell you a little bit about them.  Easy Pepper Steak {Click on link below for recipe}.  I've been wanting to try this recipe for a while and when I showed it to Mr. Horton, he agreed, but thought we should use venison instead of beef.  Alrighty, then.  And guess what?  HE MADE IT HIMSELF!!  It was so nice to come home Monday night to a hot meal prepared by the Hubs!  It was so, so good.  Definitely on the list to make again.  Spaghetti Boats.  Y'all!  This will rock your world!! I know you don't think so because you probably eat your spaghetti and garlic bread separately {like I do!  Or did!}, but I promise you!  Hint:  By the five cheese garlic bread in the frozen section of your grocery store and use leftover spaghetti.  So easy-peasy!  And lastly, the Disney Potato Soup.  This was the only thing Mr. Horton wouldn't try because y'all know how he feels about soup.  Disney or no Disney. I think I may have gotten it a tad too thick, but at 7:30 at night, Alise and I were starving and we didn't care!  We both took leftovers the next day! 

Try these recipes!!

Here's last week's menu:

Monday

Spaghetti Boats     Easy Pepper Steak

Tuesday

Mexican Pizza      Spaghetti Boats

Wednesday

Disneyland Loaded Baked Potato Soup   {CHECK}
Corn Muffins

Thursday

Pork Tenderloin    {DIDN"T HAPPEN}

Ruth Chris Sweet Potato Casserole

Steamed Broccoli

Friday

Last school football game  {CHECK}

Saturday

New Orleans Style Cajun Beans & Rice    Unexpected date night!  Woohoo!
Corn Bread

Sunday

Miranda Lambert's Mom's Meatloaf  New Orleans Style Cajun Beans & Rice
Smashed Potatoes
Vegetable
Rolls

Desserts for the Week:

Snicker Caramel Apple Pie   {DIDN"T HAPPEN}


Don't judge, but I'm kinda taking the week off.  I'm anticipating a heavy school week and with Halloween and parties thrown in the mix, it just works better with our schedule.

Here's this week's menu:

Monday

Leftovers

Tuesday

Pumpkins on Parade @ school

Wednesday

Tomato Basil Soup  or
Chicken Poppers & Fries

Thursday

Happy Halloween!!
Click HERE for my Halloween Menu!

Friday

Church college group at our house 
for bonfire and hot chocolate

Saturday

Date Night!

Sunday

Miranda Lambert's Mom's Meatloaf  
Smashed Potatoes
Vegetable
Rolls

Desserts for the Week:

Snicker Caramel Apple Pie

Don't forget to visit Orgjunkie for more menu plan ideas!

Have a TASTY HALLOWEEN week!!