Menu Plan Monday! Part Two....

I meant to include our breakfast plan too as part of my Breakfast Challenge. Great plans this week but so far, not a whole lot of action. Here's what's on the menu:

Monday: Cranberry Macadamia Nut Cereal (from Costco)/Strawberry Special K cereal; yogurt, "green juice"
Tuesday: Cereal and yogurt, skim milk
Wednesday: Whole Wheat mini-bagels with cream cheese or peanut butter; sliced banana "coins", skim milk
Thursday: Buttermilk Apple Muffins (will make these night before and just reheat); skim milk or juice
Friday: Strawberry Banana Smoothie (have bananas to use up); whole grain toast with jelly or peanut butter

For now I'm just focusing on our weekdays as that seems to be the biggest challenge for me. Weekends are easier because I usually have more time to make something more elaborate (so to speak!)

Menu Plan Monday!

Here's what's happening this week for meals in our house:

Monday: Fish Tacos (we use broccoli slaw in ours intsead--yep, the kids will eat it and lots of Vitamin C in there! Shhh!)
Tuesday: Spinach Torta, garden salad (never had this last week as planned--part of my New Year's Resolution to eat more vegegatarian meals!)
Wednesday: Chicken Quesadillas with all the fixins (guacamole, chopped tomatoes, sour cream, etc.)--requested by the kids
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday-Sunday: TBA on some meals and we will be celebrating Easter weekend with family which means I usually don't have to cook the main meals so I'm not posting a plan for that!

Have a good week and happy cooking!

Breakfast Challenge-Revisited!

So, March is nearly over and I kind of dropped the ball on the Breakfast Challenge. I had great intentions and lots of ideas but didn't implement (or blog!) about many of them at all!

But since I'm a big believer in starting our day with a healthy breakfast, I'm determined to make it work so I am extending the challenge indefinitely. I'm planning for my next freezer cooking session and will include some breakfast items as well as some dishes made in the slow-cooker. Yep, how great will that be to wake up to a hot breakfast that cooked while I was sleeping? I can't wait to get started!

I think it would be great if we had LOTS of participants and I promise to try and be more regular about posting our own progress (successes and failures!) I know many of you are interested because you've emailed or told me directly, so lets share our ideas by joining in together here!

Ready to join? Just add a comment or link your own blog below and hopefully by the end of this month we'll all have a great new variety of breakfast options for our families and we can feel good knowing we're providing a healthy, nutritious start to our family's day while saving time in the kitchen too!

I hope you'll join me today!
P.S. If you don't have a blog to link to using the form below, just add a comment to share that you want to participate!
P.P.S. If you want to see who signed up in the original post, just go to the link shown at the start of this post!

Giveaway! Erasable Food Labels!

When I posted about U.F.O's (Unidentified Frozen Objects that is) and gave you the Freezer Inventory Form to use as a tool, I forgot to mention one key thing! You need to label the items that go into the freezer otherwise you'll still have U.F.O.s! Enter these awesome Erasable Freezer Labels from LabelOnce. I first discovered them at The Container Store a couple of years ago and I love, love, love(!) them!

Seriously, I totally had this idea several years ago and tried to research how to make them because I was tired of masking tape that I had to peel off of container lids and then get the sticky residue off the lid. Or sometimes, if I didn't choose a quality masking tape, the freezer would make it brittle and it would fall of and I'd be left with U.F.O.s! So when I discovered these labels, I snatched them up and I've been using them ever since. Guess someone else is making my million dollars off this idea! :-) They're a little pricey at around $10 for the starter pack but since you can reuse them over and over again, you can just think of them as an environmentally friendly investment too!

But here's the bonus for YOU! Thanks to the folks at LabelOnce, I'm giving away a Reusable Food Label Starter pack and Refill Pack!

This contest ends at midnight on Thursday, April 1, 2010 (no fooling, I promise!) How to enter? Post a comment below about anything meal planning related (tips, challenges, kudos, etc.) and you're entered. I will used Random.org to choose the winner and you're labels will be on their way to you later next week!

Want to increase your chances? Post a comment on your Facebook page, blog or Twitter account, then come back here and let me know you did that by leaving another comment and you've just increased your chances! Do all of those and you've upped your chances to four different entries! Sorry, this is just for my U.S. readers only!

Good luck and happy labeling!

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED--THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!

I'm A Featured Blogger on Mamapedia!

Hey y'all!  I'm so excited to share with you that I am a featured blogger on Mamapedia.com!  Check out my article on Kids in the Kitchen.  If it seems familiar, that's because it is!  I posted it on my own blog here last month.  In it you'll find lots of tips for getting your children...even your toddlers...cooking in the kitchen with you and learning to try new foods.  What a fun way to spend time together!  And the lessons they'll learn will be more than just learning to cook.  Be sure to search the cookbook reviews I've done for family and kid-friendly ideas too.  Have fun and I hope you like it!

Changing The Way America Eats

My kids only buy their lunch at school once a week.  The rest of the days I pack a healthier lunch for them to take from home.  I never really thought their school lunches were all that bad.  And on days like today when I was gone ALL day and was too tired to clean up the dinner dishes much less think about making lunches for tomorrow at school, I could definitely be sweet talked into letting them buy an extra lunch that week.  And all in all, I think our school district is on the right track for at least thinking about what they serve our kids.  A few years ago, they adopted the Go, Slow, Whoa approach to meal options.  And they post nutrition facts for each menu item on their district website.   Both are tools that help students and parents be better informed about the foods that are being served.

But last Sunday, I watched the preview of a Jamie Oliver's new television program, Food Revolution. In it, Jamie vows to blow the roof off of school lunch programs across the nation and help families realize the poor food choices they are making and how they really affect their health.  Wow.  I had such mixed emotions after watching it.  Without giving too much away, Jamie is not really interested in making friends.  I suppose that's where my mixed emotions came from.  He's just interested in helping American's learn how to eat and live healthier and live longer.  But I haven't been able let go the thoughts about the nutrition value of our nation's school lunch offerings.  Obviously there are probably lots of school districts that lead the way in preparing healthy food for their students but sadly, the majority lag behind.  Since the program aired, I haven't been able to shake the idea that maybe I should look a little closer at the food options in our local schools.  I've always wondered why ice cream and chips are sold as "extras" at school.  Because when I have had lunch with my kids I've seen many of their fellow students go for the extras and barely touch the food on the main tray.

In the last two years since I started my blog, I've learned A LOT more than just how to get organized for meal preparation.  I've learned so much more about nutrition and how being organized can help me make healthier food choices for my family.  I hope you'll try to catch the program's official season start on Friday, March 26th at 7c/8e p.m. on ABC (and the Oprah Winfrey Show will also have Jamie Oliver on the show the same Friday).   I hope you'll consider signing the petition Jamie has on his site supporting changes to the national school lunch program.

And together, through my blog, we'll continue to share ways to feed our families healthy foods and learn how to do it easily and quickly and of course with tools to help get better organized to do it so you can stick with it!  Let me know your thoughts.....

Menu Plan Monday!

Due to some recent entertaining, somehow my freezer filled back up even without a big Freezer Cooking session--ack!  That means I need to plan to use up some more of the things that are in there so I can be ready for my session.  I'm planning a "How-to" series on Freezer Cooking so you can plan along with me, so be sure to look for that in the coming week or two.  Here's what's on our menu this week:

Monday: special activity--out to eat!
Tuesday:  Teriyaki Beef Broccoli and Mushrooms; steamed rice (using up leftover steak from the weekend--we had sweet potato fries that day too!)
Wednesday: Dijon Chicken with Panko Crust; Balsamic Roasted Fingerling Potato Wedges (got a great deal on these--they are a seasonal offering!)
Thursday: Classic Reuben Panini (we're having corned beef--an St. Patty's Day extra we bought for a great price--made in the slowcooker); carrot sticks
Friday: Spinach Torta (from the Martha Stewart Living Today radio program Weekend Challenge); garden salad (part of my New Year's Resolution to have at least one vegetarian meal per week)
Saturday: leftovers
Sunday: leftovers

What's on your menu this week?  Happy cooking!

A Healthy Food Adventure

Have y'all missed me? :-) It's been awhile since I've posted much.  Between helping to coordinate a big part of the kids' spring school fundraising event, seasonal allergies bringing me down, getting one of my two Etsy shops up and running and Spring Break here in Texas I've been crazy busy lately!

Since the kids were out of school this week we met up with some friends and took a trip to The Health Museum in Houston.  We learned about bugs, big and small (and how they live in and help the world around us) and of course about how our bodies work!  What I really found great was the whole section that highligted the Food Pyramid and how different foods help our bodies.  What a fun way for kids to learn about healthy eating habits! 

If you haven't checked out the MyPyramid website, take some time and go there today.  I'll be highlighting some of the features that I love about it but for now I want to tell you about the cool Food-a-Pedia calculator.  You can enter any type of food (healthy or junk food) and calculate the number of calories and fiber for it.  You can even compare two different foods (especially interesting when you're comparing a good-for-you and a junk food) to help you make a healthy food choices that are right for you and your family!  The website offers custom meal planning tools, games and worksheets for kids and so much more.

Together we can all learn to eat healthier and find ways to make it more fun for our families and easy for us to get those good foods on the table.  I hope you'll join me!

Cookbook Review: Super Foods for Babies and Children

Another offering in the sometimes very confusing world of what to feed your baby or young child that they will actually WANT to eat. Karmel, who has written several books on the subject, lays out the facts first with a basic nutrition lesson. For those just starting out, she provides a sample meal planning chart for each age group--six to nine months, nine to 12 months, one to two years, etc. It provides an at-a-glance look of how to create a healthy variety of meals for your baby or toddler. She also touches on how to introduce new foods to picky eaters.

Filled with "Did You Know" and "Healthy Eating" tips, Karel lays out the basics of nutrition without being overwhelming. And an extra bonus: each recipe has a symbol that indicates whether the recipe is Freezable (more than two-thirds are!) or vegetarian or vegan.

Kid-appealing recipes like Blueberry & Pear puree for beginning eaters, pasta risotto for a little older babies or delicious chicken burgers for toddlers are sure to be big on both flavor and appeal.  Well organized and lots of variety--both in terms of the recipes and tips--make this book a must-have for new parents (or even some seasoned parents looking for some new options for their children!)

Cookbook Review: Healthy Foods- An Irreverent Guide to Understanding Nutrition and Feeding Your Family Well

I actually first came across this book several years ago and found it to be a great resource on learning more about feeding my family healthy, nutritious meals that also had great kid appeal. From the author of Saving Dinner, Ely's conversational style make it an easy read. Ely touches on basic nutrtion needs for families, addresses allergy concerns and even includes a chapter on Manners for the not so Mannerly (great tips on how to help your kids learn some mealtime manners!). The next section is Mealtime Mechanics...she breaks down how to get it done and what basics tools and ingredients every kitchen should have.

The recipe section is chock-full of delicious, family-tested (and easy!) recipes like Leanne's Lazy Lasagna, Not Your Mother's Tuna Casserole, Un-Fried Chicken or Manic Meatloaf. Snacks and dessert ideas are also included like the Ultimate Tortilla Roll-Up, Presto Pretzels or Apple Cake.

I have made several recipes from this cookbook and they delivered on ease of preparation, flavor and kid-appeal...the ingredients in my book for a successful meal!

Menu Plan Monday!

Still working on that Pantry and Freezer Challenge to get ready for a new Freezer Gold cooking session!  Spring sports season is just starting here in Texas and this will be our first year to have to try and split ourselves in two to be in different places at the same time for practices and games!  Who wants to cook after crazy days like that?  Not me!  But my budget and our diets don't want all the fast food either.  Look for my new series coming up on Freezer Cooking 101--coming soon!

Here's what's on our menu this week:

Monday: Manic Meatloaf, garden salad

Tuesday: Cube steak and gravy, garden salad, parmesan noodles

Wednesday: Greek Tacos

Thursday: leftovers

Friday: Santa Fe Taco Soup (in the slowcooker)

Saturday: out to eat/leftovers

Sunday: Fajitas & fixins

And this is what I'm using up with this weekly menu!

--Meatloaf (from freezer session)

--Cube steak (from freezer)

--Ritz crackers (instead of the saltines called for in the cube steak)

--Gyro bread (from freezer)
--Falafel mix (from pantry)
--Shredded cheddar cheese (from freezer)

Have you joined the challenge yet?  I have to say that my shopping has been a bit tougher as I've had to use some real willpower not to buy things that are not on the menu.  I am guiltyof being overly ambitious cooking-wise to think that I might be able to cook more than my schedule actually alllows.

What's on your menu?

Cookbook Review: The Family Kitchen Garden

This book is just what it sounds like--part gardening, part cookbook. As you may have heard before, if children are involved in growing fruits and vegetables, they are more likely to try them (and hopefully learn to love them)! The authors have organized this book by month and give you step-by-step instructions for planting, harvesting and preparing the foods you grow. A recipe (or more) is included for each month like Carrot & Ginger Soup (in November), Fruit Ice Pops for kids (in June) or Homemade Ketchup (in September) and are sure to appeal to just about everyone. A basic primer on gardening is included in the beginning of the book to help you figure out what supplies and tools you will need.

The last section of the book provides much more detail for both vegetables and fruits. Step-by-step strategies to start you off right. They also include tips for planting companion plants that lead you to success...for example, if you're planting onions you should also plant carrots (because the onion smell distracts the carrot flies) and parsley (to destract the onion flies). Who knew?

Adults and kids alike will find this book to be a great start to get you growing your own food, learning to love eating it and best of all, spending time together!

Check with your local Agricultural Extension Service to find out what your area's growing season is for the fruits and vegetables highlighted in this book.

A Breakfast Bacon Burrito Panini? Of course!

Ok, so you know I've posted several times about Panini Happy--one of my favorite blogs that features delicious, original panini's created by blog owner, Kathy.  So when I decided to start the Stop Boring Breakfasts Challenge, I asked Kathy if she'd be interested in creating one to help inspire MY readers to try something new and tasty too!  Enter the Bacon Egg Breakfast Burrito Panini.  Sounds good huh?  What wouldn't be good about scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes and melted cheese all squished together in a burrito?  I think that's something my family can get excited about--I hope you do too! 

Here's Kathy's guest post about her yummy creation just for us--thanks Kathy!

Bacon Breakfast Burritos
by Kathy of PaniniHappy.com

The Smurfs, soccer games and “real breakfast” defined the Saturday mornings of my childhood. I looked forward to each of these events every weekend , but especially the food. I would wake up to the inviting aromas of pancakes, French toast or bacon and eggs wafting from the kitchen. It was usually one of those three dishes, but once in a while my mom would surprise my dad, sisters and me with muffins too. It was my favorite time of the week, when life slowed down and my family could ease into the day together. Until it was time to hit the fields for soccer.

These days I enjoy making “real breakfast” on Saturday mornings for my own family. On last weekend’s menu: breakfast burritos. There’s a taqueria near us that makes excellent ones, full of scrambled eggs, potatoes and smoky bacon. When I made my own version at home I decided to sneak some cheddar cheese inside as well and grill it on the panini press to get the outside nice and crisp. With a little chipotle salsa spooned onto each bite for a kick of heat, these breakfast burritos were a wonderfully satisfying way to start our weekend.

Bacon Breakfast Burritos
Serves 4

INGREDIENTS:

4 slices bacon
2 cups frozen diced potatoes with peppers and onions (sometimes labeled as “Potatoes O’Brien”)*
8 eggs
Salt and pepper
4 flour tortillas, 10-inch “burrito size”
4 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Salsa and sour cream for serving

DIRECTIONS:

Place bacon in a skillet and turn stove on to medium heat. Cook, turning often, until bacon is cooked through and crisp. Remove bacon to drain on a paper towel.

Pour off all but about 2 teaspoons of bacon drippings. Carefully add potato mixture to the skillet (especially if using frozen potatoes it may spatter). Cook about 7-8 minutes until vegetables are cooked through, stirring occasionally. Add eggs. Continue cooking and stirring until eggs are set. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Preheat the panini grill to medium heat.**

For each burrito: Place a tortilla in the microwave on High for 10 seconds to make it fold easily. Place ¼ of the egg mixture in the center of the tortilla. Sprinkle cheese on top. Fold burrito by folding in the left and right sides and then rolling it up from the bottom.

Place the burrito onto the panini grill, seam side down. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes until tortilla is toasted and golden grill marks appear.

* Alternatively, you can dice your own red potatoes, red and green bell peppers and onions

** If you don’t have a panini grill, you can also bake the burritos in an oven or toaster oven at 350° until the tortillas are browned and toasted.

Menu Plan Monday!

Here's what's on the menu for this week!

Monday: Chicken Alfredo (from freeezer gold), sliced avocados (they were on sale)  By the way, we never had this a couple of weeks ago when I had it planned.
Tuesday:  All-American Chili (from freezer gold!), garden salad
Wednesday: Pork Chops and Rice, steamed veggie
Thursday: Slowcooker Minestrone (part of my New Year's Resolution to eat a vegetarian meal a week), garlic bread
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: special event--no cooking for me!
Sunday: Leftovers

Keeping up with the Pantry and Freezer Challenge here's what's getting used up!
--Chicken Alfredo sauce
--Chicken tenders
--All-American Chili
--Pork chops
--Parmesan rinds (using in the soup to add cheesy flavor!)

Stop Boring Breakfasts--It's Time for a Challenge!

I'm not sure about you but our breakfasts have hit a real slump. When school first started I was all gung-ho about making a balanced breakfast for myself and my kids each morning. I made muffins, pancakes or waffles on the weekends to put in the freezer to pull out on busy mornings. Sure I had the Breakast Meal Plan that helped us have a little variety, but as the year has gotten busier, we've gotten a lot simpler and having just a bowl of cereal morning after morning. That's ok but now the kids are starting to complain! So, it's time to kick things back into gear and I want you to join me!

So I'm starting a Breakfast Challenge for the month of March. I'll be planning a big freezer session (and walking you through it so you can do it to!), a guest post with a yummy breakfast option created just for Meal Planning Magic, a giveaway or two and more fun for this month. So if you're ready to join me, just add a comment or link your own blog below and hopefully by the end of this month we'll all have a great new variety of breakfast options for our families and we can feel good knowing we're providing a healthy, nutritious start to our family's day while saving time in the kitchen too!

I hope you'll join me today!
P.S. If you don't have a blog to link to using the form below, just add a comment to share that you want to participate!