Menu Plan Monday

This week I tried to choose low-carb recipes that are heart-healthy. I think I shared in my last post that my hubby recently found out he has high blood pressure and high cholesterol, so we are trying to develop a healthy lifestyle. Also, I only have 3 weeks of school left and then it's summer time! A couple of weekends ago I tried on a swimsuit while shopping with a very thin girlfriend...there's nothing like seeing myself in a swimsuit for the first time in months to motivate me to eat healthier! So here's what we'll be having this week...I realize that the burgers are not the healthiest but we had buns that needed to be used and at least they're whole wheat. :)

Check out all the great menus at orgjunkie.

Monday - Mexiburgers w/sliced avocado on whole wheat buns and baked sweet potato fries

Tuesday - Chicken fajita taco salad

Wednesday - Spicy chicken with peppers and olives (Crockpot meal...recipe below)

Thursday - Eggplant lasagna

Friday - Leftovers 

Saturday - Date Night

Sunday - Steaks on the grill, salads, mixed veggies

Spicy Chicken with Peppers and Olives

-2 to 3 pounds meaty chicken pieces skinned (We'll be using boneless, skinless breasts since that's what I have frozen)

-1 small yellow sweet pepper, coarsely chopped

-1/2 cup sliced, pitted ripe olives and/or pimiento-stuffed green olives

-1 26 ounce jar spicy red pepper pasta sauce (or your favorite pasta sauce)

-hot cooked whole wheat pasta (optional)

-salt and pepper

Place the chicken in slow cooker. Sprinkle lightly with salt and black pepper. 

Add sweet pepper and olives to crock pot. Pour pasta sauce over chicken.

Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 6 to 7 hours or on high-heat for 3 to 3 1/2 hours. 

If desired, serve chicken and sauce over hot pasta.

Menu Plan Monday with recipes

I am attempting to make our meals much healthier and still very affordable. We recently learned that my hubby has high cholesterol and high blood pressure. These conditions run in his family and also in mine, so we really need to take care of ourselves. Here is our menu for the week.

Check out all the other great menus at orgjunkie.

Monday - Grilled chicken, sweet potatoes, green beans

Tuesday -  Chicken salad and fresh fruit 

Wednesday - Baked salmon, asparagus

Thursday - Dinner at a friend's house

Friday - Mozzarella Mushroom Chicken, broccoli

Saturday - Taco salad

Sunday - Chili and salads

Menu Plan Monday with recipes

Here's what we're having for dinner this week. What's cooking at your house? Feel free to share with us! Check out all the wonderful menu plans at orgjunkie.

Monday - Leftovers

Tuesday - Hubby's birthday dinner out

Wednesday - Black beans & rice

Thursday - Orzo stuffed peppers with feta and mint 

Friday - Dinner at a friend's house

Saturday - Garlic lime chicken with asparagus casserole (recipe below...this is one of my hubby's favorites that his mom made...I called her for the recipe so we'll see how it turns out when I make it)

Sunday - Penne Goat (Recipe will be added later this week. We had this delicious pasta dish on our anniversary trip in December at Trio Restaurant in Greenville, SC. We are going to attempt to make our own version this week for 2 very special friends.)

Asparagus Casserole

-2 cans asparagus

-1 can petite English peas

-1 can cream of mushroom soup

-a little milk to thin soup (I'll be experimenting with quantities on this recipe since my mom-in-law doesn't need to measure...she's a great cook!)

-shredded cheese

-sliced boiled eggs

Layer asparagus, peas, and boiled eggs. Pour soup mixture over casserole. Cover with shredded cheese.

Happy Easter...thank you Jesus!

Thank you precious Jesus for coming to Earth to live and die on the cross to save me. You have given me life like I have never known. All praise and honor and glory be to your holy name! I am overwhelmed by your unfailing love. I love you my savior, my king, my friend!

We had a great weekend! Casey & I went to Jacksonville to visit my family and to paint a house for a friend of my mom. Even though we were painting most of the weekend, I really love every second I get to spend with my wonderful hubby. We had a delicious Easter dinner last night and today made by my grandmother. We spent the weekend at her house, which is always very relaxing. She even did all my laundry for me...I was spoiled by her as usual and loved it! She is an amazing godly woman and has taught me so much. Mom and I dyed Easter eggs together, which is a tradition we love to do together. My mom came back with me today for church tonight, and I was so excited that she got to come with me. This was the first time she'd been to Highlands since we moved into the new building. Church was awesome as usual. John and the worship team did an incredible job, and Pastor Chris brought the truth of the word of God...wow! What a beautiful message of how God sees the world. He sees us all as His children, not as "sinners" and "righteous." We are all sinners and only are saved by the grace of God, through his son Jesus Christ! It was a great reminder of Jesus's purpose and what is now our purpose on Earth...to seek and save the lost! "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." -Luke 19:10

I know I needed that reminder. If that's what Jesus made His life about, then I certainly want to make mine about that too. I'm thankful that He came so that I might be saved and to know him intimately. How easy it is to get caught up in my blessed life, with my family and friends, and forget what my purpose truly is! Thank you Lord that you have given me salvation and a purpose in this life! 

"Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea!" - Micah 7:18-19

This week's grocery shopping w/coupons

I had another successful grocery trip this week at Publix, which is my absolute favorite place to coupon. I got all of this for under $40...

-24 boxes of Duncan Hines cake mix for less than $.30 each (which doesn't expire until 2010...and we will be hosting small group at our house this summer so dessert is taken care of already!)

-2 boxes of ziti noodles ($1.38 for 2 - BOGO)

-2 large cartons of ricotta cheese ($2 each)

-3 kraft shredded cheeses ($5 for 3)

-4 campbell's cream soups  ($.50 each - BOGO plus coupons)

-2 Emerald nuts...cashews & almonds ($1.90 each - BOGO plus coupons)

-large McCormick vanilla extract ($2.95 - BOGO plus coupons)

-All Small & Mighty detergent ($5)

-Palmolive (less than $1...can't remember exact price)

-Fresh express baby spinach ($1)

-onions ($2)

-Del Monte canned tomatoes (FREE - BOGO plus coupons)

Menu Plan Monday

Here is our menu for this week with recipes linked or listed below. Check out lots of meal plans here.

Monday - Burritos on whole wheat tortillas

Tuesday - Baked ziti with salad 

Wednesday - Chicken tender salad 

Thursday - Cashew chicken   & broccoli...I plan to add celery & water chestnuts to the recipe.

Friday - Out of town... dinner at grandmother's all weekend long! Yea!!

Burritos

-1 lb. ground beef

-1/2 onion, diced

-Whole wheat tortillas

-black beans

-brown rice

-salsa

-sour cream

-black olives

-shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese

Brown ground beef w/onion. Warm tortillas, and fill with desired ingredients. 

Baked Ziti

-1 package whole wheat ziti noodles cooked according to directions on package

-1 lb. ground beef

-1 jar spaghetti sauce (sometimes 2 jars depending on how saucy you want it)

-1 onion, diced

-1 16 oz. container ricotta cheese

-shredded mozzarella cheese

Brown ground beef with onion. Spread thin layer of sauce on bottom of baking dish. Then layer the ingredients in this order: cooked ziti noodles, sauce w/ meat, ricotta, and mozzarella. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. 

Mylie & Me

Last night Casey and I watched Marley & Me for the 1st time. We had planned to see it in the theater and never got around to it. It was great, and I cried a lot! It was such a good, family-friendly movie. It really made me realize how much I love our dogs, Turk and Mylie, even though they drive me crazy. This morning they were playing on our new deck, and we thought Mylie would no longer be able to climb our back wall with the small gap between the deck and the wall. Somehow she climbed up the rails on the deck and then climbed the wall. She's quite mischievous. It has been almost a week since the deck was finished, and she had not yet escaped. Until today...as I was drying my hair, I heard Turk barking frantically. When I walked out the back door, Mylie was running on top of the wall. I couldn't help but laugh...Turk was putting his paws up on the railing trying to get to her except that he's way too scared of everything and way too fat, and she was pacing back and forth. I stood on a chair to help her down. Every time this happens, she is very hesitant to get down, but then she puts her paws on top of my head and then throws herself into my arms...which leads to her falling on the ground. Here are some pics of her on the wall from a few months ago.

This is what Mylie does when she get to the top. Now what??