Weekly Dinner Menu

Today is the day that I plan out my weekly dinner menu. Starting with Monday, and ending with Saturday. I don't typically cook on Sunday's because we have what my kids refer to as "Family Tradition". My wonderful Mother-in-law cooks dinner for the family every Sunday. Dinner is usually a pot roast with potatoes, carrots, and gravy with a dinner salad, and rolls. It is very traditional, and a great way to feed your family a healthy and hearty meal. She uses her crock pot for this perticular meal. It is nice to use your crock pot because you can just cook and go! If you do not have a crock pot, I suggest you buy one. Every working mommy should own one! A lot of my weekly recipes will require a crock pot!

Monday: White Chicken Chili (made in crock pot is great!)

Ingredients
1 medium onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 cups chicken broth
2 (15.5 ounce) cans great northern beans, rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water
2 cups cubed, cooked chicken
Directions
1.In a large saucepan, cook onion, and garlic in oil until tender. Place in crock pot and stir in broth, beans, parsley, lime juice and cumin. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into chili. Add chicken. Set cook time on crock pot to 6 hrs and cover. Stir occasionally. Garnish with cilantro and sour cream for a southwest fell. ENJOY!!

Tuesday: Traditional Spaghetti with dinner salad
(I suggest cooking your noodles on Sunday, and storing the cooked noodles in a freezer bag for Tuesday's spaghetti!) It is fast, and tastes the same as if you had cooked them right then :)

Wednesday: Ground Beef Tacos

Thursday: Beef Stew (in your crock pot!)

Ingredients
Beef Stew Meat (comes packaged at the store, and is already minced)
1 med onion minced
4 large carrots cleaned and cubed
4 celery stalkes cleaned and cubed
3 large potatoes peeled and cubed
1 pkg frozen peas
2 packages Lowry's beef stew seasoning packet

In a skillet brown beef stew meat. Place browned meat, carrots, onion, celery, and potatoes in your crock pot. Mix 2 packets of Lowry's seasoning with 5 cups of water. Set your cook time to 6 hrs, cover pot; stirring occasionally. With 40 minutes left to cook add your frozen peas, cover pot; let cook until crock pot is done. Serve, and ENJOY!!

Friday: Pizza and Salad
(Found a great coupon for pizza from Safeway) Thru March 23rd Safeway Select pizza's are $3.49 each with your club card. 2 pizzas could feed my family of 5 with no leftovers. That is a great value per serving! (Check your local Safeway to see if weekly ad applies to your area)

Saturday: Salmon Patties with rice and vegi medley
(Costco sells Wild Alaskan Salmon Patties for $13.99.) I can get 2 meals out of one package. My kids really love them, and they are loaded with Omega 3's which are great for everyone!

Now that we have the menu put together, make a grocery list! I always shop my cupboards first to see what I have for my menu, and what I need from the store. I put all my needed items on my grocery list. I browse the two major grocery store ads online before I venture out. I need to find a deal wherever I can! Once I have my game plan ready, I go to the 1st store on my list and begin to shop for my needed items only. Then I head over to the 2nd store if I still have sale items to get there. Use your club cards, and coupons for great savings. Use them in conjunction with eachother for an even better deal! Happy Shopping, and Happy Eating this week!