My goal for last month was to eat from our pantry and freezer as much as possible, supplementing with a few trips to the grocery store for fresh produce and dairy products. If my stuffed freezer is any indication, I didn't do so hot. So this month I am going to cut my grocery budget in half ($200) to force myself to get creative with what I already have on hand. I am determined to find those strawberries at the bottom of my chest freezer by the end of February. Here's what's for dinner at my house this week: Monday -- Taco Soup, grilled cheese sandwiches Tuesday -- Mushroom & Spinach Lasagna, No-Knead Bread, Raw Tuscan Kale Salad Wednesday Keep Reading

Menu Plan by Brittany I had a baby in December and have recently been fighting a losing battle against thrush. A sugar-free, wheat-free diet is supposed to help, so my diet has been restrictive, to say the least. Luckily, there are a few edible items out there that I can still eat. Here's what's for dinner at my house this week: Monday -- Acorn Squash Soup Tuesday -- Crock Pot Whole Chicken, brown rice, some sort of vegetable. (I tried to find a simple recipe to link to but they all call for so many spices. All I do is plunk that thing into the crock pot on high for about 3 hours and use a meat thermometer to be sure it is done) Wednesday -- Keep Reading

During the month of January, I've been trying to create meals based on ingredients from my pantry and freezer as much as possible. I, along with my wallet and bathroom scale, am still recovering from December's crazy rush of shopping-cooking-eating. I normally hate the blahs of January, but I am loving this month so far. I think it just feels good to slow down and simplify our routine a bit. My husband helped me create this menu plan as we watched Downton Abbey last night. He asked for scallops to be added. You know, just in case I happened to pick some up when I was at the fish market this week. Needless to say, they didn't make the final Keep Reading

As I am sitting here, the wind is whipping around and it is pouring down rain outside. Perfect comfort food weather. As long as we don't lose power. In which case, it would be perfect Thai take-out weather. Either scenario would be fine by me. Here's what's for dinner at my house this week: Monday -- Leftovers (starting off with a bang, I know) Tuesday -- Mexican Black Bean Chili, Cornbread, oranges Wednesday -- Dinner Out Thursday -- Kale & Carrot Frittata (While you're at Orangette, click around. Molly Wizenberg's writing is so lovely.), Buttermilk Biscuits Friday -- Buffalo Chicken Chili, tortilla chips Saturday -- Minestrone Soup, Keep Reading

Menu Plan by Laurie, new mom to an adorable baby boy! So, the baby arrived a few weeks back, making our little family of four into a little family of five.  My husband's FMLA time is over & he is back to work full time, and the wonderful meals brought over by family and friends are coming to an end.  What does all of this mean?  It means it's time for me to step it up again & start getting back into the rhythm of actually having dinner on the table for my family every night.  As with most weeks of meal planning that I do, this menu attempts to utilize some basics and stretch them into multiple options throughout the week, and (of course) Keep Reading

Menu Plan by Krista At least half of my meals this week will be from my freezer dinner  session last month. I planned ahead for our family's move, knowing I would  not have a full kitchen to cook in, but did not want to have pizza every night this week! The majority of those meals are chicken-based since Zaycon also came last month. Here's what's for dinner at my house this week: Monday -- Cilantro Lime Chicken with Corn and Black Beans over rice Tuesday -- Nachos with leftover chicken from Monday (I add sliced avocado, shredded cheese, salsa and diced tomatoes.) Wednesday -- Easy Chili and Basic Corn Muffins Thursday -- Omelets, Canned Keep Reading

Menu planning before and after Thanksgiving is not easy for me. I always have a hard time mustering the motivation to think of anything but stuffing and pumpkin pie. Then I'm surprised when my family is hungry on... Tuesday? Wait, guys, don't you know Thanksgiving is on Thursday? Can't we all just wait until then? Ah well, I'm going to be a step ahead of my little family this year and have dinner plans in place before and after our huge Thanksgiving spread. Here's what's for dinner at my house this week: Monday -- Sweet Potato Pancakes, scrambled eggs, Freezer Applesauce Tuesday -- Quinoa Patties, Kale Market Salad, Roasted Butternut Keep Reading