Menu Plan: Week of 10/4/10

Why do I find such joy in menu planning? I love sitting down in the early-morning hours on a Saturday or Sunday with a hot cup of coffee and planning the coming week’s menu. I take the time to take stock of what we already have in the house, think back to any requests my husband may have made throughout the week, and plan accordingly. It is a simple (and nerdy) pleasure of mine.

Here’s what’s in store this week: (and yes, there are lots of apples splattered throughout this week's menu, as the kids and I visited an apple orchard twice last week!)

Breakfasts:
Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins (from the freezer – recipe to come soon!)
Oatmeal with bananas and raisins
Cold cereal and toast
Apple Cinnamon French Toast (for the weekend when mother-in-law is here)

Lunches:
Creamy Mac and Cheese, turkey dogs, apple slices
Poor Man’s Pizza (made with Flat-Out wraps I found at Costco – wow, these make a great easy pizza!), orange slices
Tomato soup, grilled turkey and cheese sandwiches, carrot sticks with ranch dressing
Bento Box day – cheese and crackers, raisins, apple slices, animal crackers

Suppers:
Monday: Slow Cooker Turkey Chili (a hubby request), served Cincinnati-style over whole wheat spaghetti noodles, fresh pineapple

Tuesday: BBQ Chicken Drumsticks (carryover from last week), pasta salad, mixed vegetables, apple slices with maple whipped cream

Wednesday: Mongolian Beef and Broccoli (new recipe – one of my husband’s favorite dishes so I hope it turns out!), pineapple

Thursday: Hubby working late - Clean out the fridge night for me and the kids

Friday: Slow Cooker Barbeques (we'll have these ready to go when mother-in-law arrives later at night), chips, baked beans

Saturday: CrockPot Angel Chicken, broccoli, fruit

Sunday: Hubby's choice or out to eat!

Baking and Extras:
Apple Pie (daughter's request to make with mommy)
Croutons
French Bread (for the Apple Cinnamon French Toast and Croutons)