Meal Plan Monday - When the #*!! is that oven going to be delivered edition

This weeks menu plan is totally up in the air. I don't know when our new stove will get her so I can't really plan meals that rely on any sort of oveny goodness. Add to that the fact that is is starting to feel more like fall and I'd really like to engage in some therapeutic baking. The fates can be cruel.

After much soul searching I've decided to plan for the best (plan for the best hope for the worst...that's how is goes right??) and assume that the oven will be delivered by Tuesday. Seriously....what could go wrong? <---famous last words



Sunday - Indian-Style Curry with Potatoes, Cauliflower, Peas, and Chickpeas (this is a special request from my oldest son...how can I deny this?)

Tuesday - Maple-Orange Glazed Chicken

Thursday - Charcoal-Grilled Bratwurst with Sauerkraut and Apples

Saturday - Take out from Preet Palace

This weekend we are going out to the commissary for a big time shopping trip.  This is one of those every three week trips I talked about here.  So, I'm going to give you a preview of what's coming up over the next three weeks....in no particular order:


    Chicken Paprikash
    Chicken Tikka Masala
    Hungarian Beef Stew
    Ricotta Calzones
    Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Spinach and Goat Cheese
    Easy Tortilla Casserole
    Honey-Sesame Pork Tenderloin with Spicy Scallion Salad
    Turkey Tetrazzini Pasta
    Chicken Nuggets
    Skillet Meatballs and Noodles in Creamy Herb Sauce

Menu Plan Monday

Well, it's Monday again and you know what that means....you get to be the first to know what my family will be eating this week (or in the case of my 4-year-old will be begged to eat).  whoo hooo!!


Tuesday -- Chicken Tikka Masala

Thursday -- Thick-Cut Pork Tenderloin Medallions with Hoisin-Sesame Sauce

Saturday -- Southeast Asian-Style Spring Rolls and Thai Pork Lettuce Wraps

Sunday -- saurbraten and spaetzel (oktoberfest baby!!!)

Menu Plan Monday

Every Friday I try to plan my menu for the week.  For me, menu planning is a three step process.

Step 1 - The long view - About once a month we load the kids into the minivan and drive to the commissary.  While there we get the boys haircuts and do a BIG shopping trip.  This is generally where we buy out meat and spices and pantry goods.  For this trip we make a very general menu.  Usually this menu consists of about 10 main dishes.  We don't plan to make any particular dish on any particular day...it's just a rough draft.

Step 2 - The short view - Generally on Friday I will make a more detailed list of what we are going to eat for the following week.  I have some general criteria.  I do not cook on Monday, Wednesday or Friday.  These are leftover days.  On Saturday we make a one night meal - something that either doesn't taste good the next day or something that is just to small to make leftovers.  Sunday is out BIG cooking day.  On Sundays we try to make something that not only will provide leftovers for Monday, but will make enough to store in the freezer for another day or something that is exceptionally complex.  Tuesday and Thursday are just regular cooking nights where I will make something that isn't too complex but will make enough for left-overs.  On Saturday someone will go to Wegmans and get the veggies and other random things that we need for the weekly menu.

Step 3 - The microscopic view - Fact is, I can never totally get it together so that we make one shopping trip per week.  Part of the problem is that we just don't have enough refrigerator space for the vast quantities of milk that three boys consume in a week.  The other part of the problem is that I am woefully unorganized.  Finally, something just don't store well.  Things like fish and beansprouts really need to be eaten the day that they are purchased.

After writing all this out...I realized that it might seem a little complicated, but it keeps me (relatively) sane so I'm sticking with it.

So without further ado, here is my Menu Plan for this week.


Tuesday -- Stuffed shells with meat sauce

Thursday --Pork Stir-Fry with Noodles (Lo Mein)

Saturday -- Grilled Salmon with Mango and black bean salas

Sunday -- Grilled Pork Loin with Apple-Cherry Filling with Caraway on a Gas Grill