Menu Plan Monday Week 30 (2013)

I know I'm getting the menu up for this week a little later than I usually do but I think I'm still feeling "car-lag" (if there is such a thing) from our week-long vacation we just got home from.  We went to Seattle and had an absolute blast!!  We were treated to some delicious seafood from the famous Etta's, seriously good pizza from Serious Pie and the most amazing ice cream from Mora I have ever eaten.  I can't wait to recreate that one at home...hopefully soon.

I got a bountiful basket on Saturday because I knew my fridge would be EMPTY after we got home and I wanted at least something in there we could eat off of for  a few days until I could get a little more grocery shopping done.  I came home with a boat load of blueberries (yum! for smoothies), a ton of kale and not 1 but 2 heads of cabbage.  As if 1 head didn't make a mountain by itself.  Soooo, I hope I can use all the cabbage before it goes bad.  Luckily it keeps well for a while.

Dinner Menu 
Monday
Ham and Gruyere Stuffed Potatoes
Sweet Kale Salad
Steamed broccoli (from the garden yay!!)

Tuesday
Crispy Lemon-Basil and Parmesan Crusted Chicken
peas
leftover salad

Wednesday
Asian Slaw with Roasted Peanuts and Ginger Lime Salad Dressing
Easy Sesame Peanut Noodles

Thursday
Penne Pasta in Roasted Beet Sauce
Italian Salad

Friday
Cashew Chicken & Rice
fresh veggies

Saturday
Pizza/leftovers

Sunday
Family dinner at my parents

August 2011 Menu

Oops, I just typed in July menu in the title! I can't believe it's already August. The summer is flying by. Although it's been hot, I was thinking yesterday how enjoyable this summer has actually been, pregnant and all. We've spent lots of time at the park and at the pool, enjoying the outdoors as much as we can.

Last month we tried two new amazing recipes, Chicken Milano and Chicken Parmesan. If you haven't checked out chicken Parmesan, you've got to try it! The chicken Milano will be up tomorrow morning so you'll have to remember to stop by and check it out as well. AMAZING I tell you!

This month I think I have some pretty good meals lined up as well that I can't wait to try and some others that are old favorites. For those of you that are new, recipes that are linked are recipes already on the blog, that we've made before, and the rest I will post as I go.


Dinners
Spaghetti, fresh green beans and Cheesy Garlic Rolls
Black Bean Burgers with Homemade Burger Buns, Jicama and Apple Slaw, steak fries
Roasted Red Pepper, Spinach & Feta Quinoa Salad, with fresh fruit
Chipotle Chicken Taco Salad, corn on the cob

Mini Lasagna Cups, veggie/salad, leftover Cheesy Garlic Rolls
Lemon Linguine with Grilled Chicken
Jambalaya, Spicy Cucumber Salad
Fire Roasted Panzanella, Sweet Potato Fries
Souvlaki Chicken Salad with Roasted Red Peppers and Feta, Greek Salad

Corn and Basil Cakes with fresh salsa, fresh fruit
Chicken Enchiladas, salad/veggie
Bacon and Wild Mushroom Risotto w/ Baby Spinach, fruit
Asian Turkey Meatballs w/ Lime Sesame Dipping Sauce, brown rice & Asian Slaw
Homemade Pizza

Shrimp, Feta & Fresh Herb Mac and Cheese, fresh fruit
Pork tacos w/ Chile Verde, corn on the cob
Lemon Zucchini Fettuccine w/ Corn, Asparagus and Basil, Grilled Caesar Salad
Asian Pork Salad, rice and beans, fresh fruit

Other Stuff
Oatmeal Pancake Mix
English Muffins
Coconut & White Chocolate Pancakes
Peach Pancakes w/ Ginger Syrup

July Menu

Oh my goodness, I should really be in bed rather than typing this, but I'm heading out of town for the holiday weekend and wanted to get it up before I left. After taking a two month hiatus from menu planning I am ready to get back to a little more organization (and variety) in the kitchen. At almost 22 weeks pregnant, I'm finally over all the sickness that made me want to eat nothing half the time and cheese and crackers or cereal the rest of the time.

I tried to keep July's menu pretty light and fresh, minimizing time spent over a hot stove or with the oven on, and maximizing the bounty of summer produce. I didn't do sides this time because I'm planning on using whatever I get in my CSA produce box from the current week to supplement the meals.

Have a wonderful and safe holiday!


Dinner
Greek Panzanella
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Bean Burritos
Lemon Linguine
Pesto Paninis

Chopped Barbecue Chicken Salad
Black Bean Burgers
Chicken Enchiladas
Dirty Risotto
Coconut Curry Noodles with Veggies

Asian Slaw w/ Roasted Peanuts
Greek Lettuce Wraps
Chicken Milano
Creamy Caprese Pasta
Spaghetti

Mushroom, Wild Rice and Spinach Fritatta
Chinese Chicken Salad
Coconut Curry Noodles with Veggies
Parmesan Chicken
Pizza


Other things I'll be making...
Kale Almond Pesto
English Muffins
Fresh Homemade Ricotta
Garlic Basil Cheese Spread

May Menu

Happy days it's May! I'm so glad it's May, not only because I get to celebrate both Mother's day as well as my birthday, but we get to welcome in warmer weather and sunshine!!! After being cooped up inside with two young children all winter, I'm looking forward to spending half our days in the sun at the park with the kids running wild with their friends.

I'm also excited about Cinco de Mayo. We're getting together with some of my extended family to enjoy some good eats and smack down a pinata. On the menu so far we have fajitas, rice and beans, chips, salsa & guacamole. I'm bringing a traditional Tres Leches cake and some horchata, which is a traditional rice milk drink that I absolutely adore!

Last year we had just moved in to our new house around this time so I combined our Cinco de Mayo fiesta with my birthday party and had a great bash. My girls helped my make these Crockpot Tamales, and for dessert I made these Chocolate Chipotle Cupcakes with Chili Chocolate Ganache and Honey Cinnamon Ice Cream.

I have yet to decide what I will make for my birthday celebration. I have just passed my first trimester of pregnancy and am still feeling ill most of the time. I wanted to wait until it passed so I could really enjoy a wonderful meal, especially dessert. Dessert will most likely be something chocolate. I've had my eye on this Chocolate Malt Cake from Bon Appetit for a while, as well as the famous Sweet and Salty Cake from Baked cookbook. We'll just have to see what it comes down to.

And one last thing. Although I didn't make a menu last month and only cooked dinner a handful of times, I'm going to make an effort to do better this month. Yesterday, after looking at an empty fridge, not seeing a fresh fruit or vegetable in sight, I decided to make a menu and go shopping. I only made a menu for 2 weeks, I hope we can get through it, so here it goes....

White Chicken Chili
Lemon Garlic Shrimp w/ orzo and broccoli
Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce over Spaghetti, green beans and garlic bread
Spicy Dr. Pepper Shredded Pork Tacos with Spanish rice and beans

Chicken Divan
Mashed potatoes and broccoli
Sesame Noodles w/ snow peas and peppers
Coconut Crusted Tilapia w/ wild rice and green beans
Pizza
Apple Cheddar Meatballs, egg noodles and veggie

March Menu

Yeah, it's March! It's already getting warmer and I'm so excited. I'm so done with being sick and ready to get outside for some sunlight and fresh air. This month I'm trying to use up what I can in my freezer and my pantry, as well as plan for the produce I get in my weekly CSA basket. I don't have a plan for anything too indulgent because I want to get outside for lots of walks with my girls and shed that "winter coat," if you know what I mean. I do, however, have my 7 year wedding anniversary coming up in a couple of weeks so I'll probably make an exception that day, but I don't know what yet.

For those of you who are new, I'll link the recipes I've made before and posted. The other recipes I'll post as I make them. Last month I wasn't able to post several dishes I made and I was totally bummed about it. I hope I can get through them all this month.


Dinners
Chicken Burgers on Homemade Burger Buns, green beans and Herbed Potato Salad
Cold Sesame Noodles
Spring Risotto and Mango Chicken Salad
Cauliflower Soup
Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Roasted Garlic Pumpkinseed Pesto, Salad

Baked Penne w/ Broccoli and Smoked Mozzarella
Parsley-Feta Pesto, Roasted Garlic Hummus & Pita chips w/ raw veggies
Spinach Orzo Ensalata w/ Grilled Chicken
Pretzel Pizza Bites
Zuppa Toscana and Breadsticks
Chipotle Bean Tostadas, corn
Fiesta Chicken Salad w/ Cilantro-lime Rice

Pistachio Chicken w/ brown rice and veggie
Black Bean and Jicama Salad w/ Roasted Red Pepper Fritatta
BLT Pasta w/ Salad
Greek Tostadas w/ Chopped Greek Salad (this is an old recipe, I plan on re-writing it this month after I make it)
Thai Shrimp Soup

Orzo Stuffed Peppers
Spaghetti w/ Breadsticks
Shrimp Fried Rice w/ veggies
Chicken Barley Soup w/ Walnut Pesto

Other
Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars
Breakfast Cookies
Movie Theater Cookies
White Chocolate Coconut Brownies
Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Strawberry Shortcake Pancakes
Fig, Date and Almond Granola Bars


Linked to...
Menu Plan Monthly @ Mommy's Kitchen

February 2011 Menu

Happy February everyone, it's the month of LOVE! Well, first things first. As you may have noticed to the right, I have created a Sweet Luvin' In The Kitchen Facebook page. If you're not a fan yet, make sure you are one when you leave and spread the love to others. I'll have to admit, it took me longer than I would have liked to create and it still may need to do some tweaking. So, if you know of any tricks or have suggestions to help a girl out, PLEASE, send them my way.

Now, on to the menu for this month. I've been dragging my feet the past couple of days to get it done because I have had sick kids! If any of you have kids you know how rough it can be, especially trying to get a good night's sleep. Well, I finally sat down this afternoon and wrote it out while my girls were watching a movie. The menu is going to be a little shorter this month because I'm a few days late and it's a shorter month. Also, as I've mentioned previously on a few posts, I get a CSA produce basket about every other week and I like to leave room on my menu to allow me to fit in what produce I get.

My husband and I don't have any Valentine's Day dinner plans yet so I don't have anything special on the menu, but I'm sure when the time comes it will involve either steak or shrimp if he has anything to do with it. I am, however going to make a few treats with my girls and for our preschool co-op group.

Breakfast
Peppery Bacon Cheddar Scones
Carrot Cake Pancakes
Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Breakfast Cookies

Dinner
Thai Meatballs w/ Ginger Sauce, Coconut Rice and steamed Brussels Sprouts
Chinese Chicken Salad
Butternut Squash Gnocchi and roasted asparagus

Ham Fried Rice & veggies
Fettuccine with Cashew Cream & peas, Orange Edamame Salad
Beans & cornbread

Tortilla Soup
Cold Sesame Noodles
Chipotle Beef Taquitos, Spanish Rice, salad
Pasta with Kale Pesto, Butternut Squash Gratin with Gruyere

Spicy Thai Shrimp Soup
Spaghetti Bolognese, garlic bread sticks & Salad
Grandma's Chili w/ fresh pico de gallo and guacamole
Pistachio Chicken w/ Coconut Rice

Other things I'll be making
Roasted Garlic Hummus and Whole Wheat Pita Chips
Chewy Pretzel Bites
Homemade Italian Sausage
Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars
Peanut Butter Pretzel Truffles
Flourless Chocolate Cake

January Menu

I totally caved this whole holiday season. I pretty much just threw in the towel with exercising after my 5k in October. And as for indulging in holiday sweets, I didn't even TRY to restrain myself. Ok, maybe there was that one time...oh, who am I kidding? It's like a complete food fest from Thanksgiving to New Years, and it doesn't help that both my daughters' birthdays are in December and early January. I guess it's good that it's only one time of year and we can get it all done and over with and move on. As much as I love fudge and caramel and egg nog, I think I've had enough. I'm sure I'll be craving it come next holiday season though.

Well, my waist is not getting any smaller, so onto some lighter fare this month with lots of veggies, salads and soups. You know the drill, what's highlighted is linked back to previous recipes, the others I will post as I go. Got any suggestions for me, just leave them in the comments.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! HERE'S TO GOOD EATING-BON APPETIT!

Breakfast
Banana Pancakes w/Peanut Butter and Maple Syrup
Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes
Peppery Bacon Cheddar Scones
Peanut Butter Granola
Banana Chocolate Chip Granola

Dinner
Chicken Parm Meatball Subs & Tuscan Panzanella
Roast Acorn Squash w/ Maple Cornbread Stuffing, Spinach & White Bean Salad with Maple-Mustard Dressing
Bean Curry w/ Thai Coconut Rice
Garlic Rosemary Roast Chicken w/ peas and Caesar Potato Salad

Chinese Chicken Salad
Broccoli & Cheddar Rolls w/ Oven Fries & Salad
Portabello & Black Bean Enchiladas w/ Roasted Poblano Sauce & Corn
Posole
Ham Beans & Homemade Bread

Pasta w/ Kale Pesto & Salad
Chipotle Bean Tostadas & corn
Butternut Squash Gnocchi w/ Roasted Veggies
Grandma's Chili & Mexican Cornbread
Italian Wedding Soup w/ Romano-Black Pepper Biscotti

Fettuccine w/ Cashew Cream & Peas
Black Bean Burgers & Mango Chicken Salad
Cauliflower Soup
Chicken Wraps w/ Creamy Asian Peanut Sauce & Asian Slaw w/ Ginger Lime Dressing
Spicy Thai Shrimp Soup

Goodies
Strawberry Cupcakes
Cake Batter Ice Cream

December Menu

Oh, where has the time gone? First it was oh, it's the end of the summer, now it's oh, it's the end of the year. End of the year! Holy cow, how did that happen? This month is a little crazy for me because not only am I trying to get ready for Christmas and actually enjoy the holiday season with my family but I'm also trying to get 2 birthday parties ready for my girls. My baby is turning 2 next week and my oldest is turning 4 the beginning of January.

I'm not really going to worry too much about a menu this month because I know I have stuff in my freezer and pantry that I can use and it's about time to clean those out anyway. Other things that I've thought about making will be easy meals (lots of beans) so I don't stress out too much and make myself more crazy than I already am!

I'm a freak about pancakes and still have a few more up my sleeve for this month. I also love holiday treats so I'm sure I'll be making plenty of those (as husband sighs and rolls his eyes) as well. I'm sure I'll need a work out plan after this month is over, so it's a good thing I have a half marathon looming over my head for June to get ready for.

If you have any must-have holiday food/treats, feel free to share the link in the comments. Happy holidays and good eats!

Breakfast
Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes
Banana Pancakes
Gingerbread Pancakes
Egg Nog Cranberry Muffins
Egg Nog Pancakes
Cranberry Spice Granola
Peanut Butter Granola

Dinner
Cannellini Beans with Kale
Cauliflower Soup
Veggie Fajitas
Pesto Pizza w/ butternut squash
Chipotle Bean Tostadas
Grandma's Chili
Chicken Parm Meatball Subs
Bruschetta
White Chicken Chili
Penne Pasta w/ Smoked Ham and Pepper Cream Sauce
Beans & Cornbread
Creamless Tomato Soup
Lentil and Mushroom Pot Pies
Butternut Squash Gnocchi w/ Sage Butter
Chickpea Chicken Soup
Butternut Squash Soup

Birthday Menu
Ham and Cheese Sliders
Mini Grilled Apple and Cheddar Sammies
Asian Slaw
Spinach Salad
Fruit & Veggie Plate

Holiday Treats
Gingerbread Trifle
Peppermint Bark Magic Brownies
Christmas Crunch
White Chocolate Egg Nog Fudge
Egg Nog Mini Bundt Cakes
Orange Cranberry Biscotti with White Chocolate Chips and Orange Glaze

November Menu

Wohoo, it's November. Before we know it Thanksgiving will be upon us. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do for Thanksgiving this year. I would like to host it but since we live in such a small place, I'm not sure that will work out. I may have a few options though, so I'm crossing my fingers something comes through.

Keeping my hopes high, I went ahead and planned a Thanksgiving menu. I found some fabulous recipes in this month's Bon Appetit magazine that I think will make a great addition. I tried to include more veggies to keep the meal well-balanced and I'm keeping dessert more traditional and simple.

For the rest of the month I tried to keep it simple as well, focusing on things my girls are pretty good at eating.

The first part of this month's menu is a little carry over from what I didn't get to last month. Linked recipes are ones I have made previously and are on my blog. For the rest of the menu items, I will be posting as I make them.

Dinner Menu
Brown Sugar Bourbon Pork, Mashed Sweet potatoes with Orange Glaze and Walnuts, steamed green beans
Chinese Chicken Salad & Pumpkin Seed Pesto
Chicken w/ Tarragon & leeks, Pecan apple salad (w/o chicken)
Smashed Pinto Beans w/ rice and cornbread
Thai Veggie Lettuce Wraps, Mango Jicama & Cucumber Salad

Macaroni Grill's Chicken Cannelloni w/ Chopped Greek Salad
Cheesey Broccoli Bake & Jicama Apple Slaw
Zucchini Spaghetti w/ garlic bread and green beans
Pumpkin Sweet Potato and Coconut Milk Soup
Honey Curry Chicken w/ Coconut Rice, steamed peas

Pasta w/ Pumpkin & Sausage, Spinach & Pear Salad
Tacos & corn
Moroccan Carrot Salad & Butternut Squash Gnocchi w/ Sage Butter
Mushroom & Lentil Pot Pies

Ham Beans & cornbread
Acorn squash w/ cornbread stuffing
Philly Cheese steak Pizza & Salad
Split Pea Soup w/ Smoked Sausage & Greens
Spinach Fettuccine w/ fresh fruit & veggies

Thanksgiving Menu (tentative)
Cider Roasted Turkey
Sweet Potato Biscuits
Green beans w/ toasted walnuts & dried cherry vinaigrette
Sauteed shredded brussels sprouts w/ smoked ham and toasted pecans
Sweet Potato Pudding w/ pecans & gingersnap topping
Cranberry sauce
Stuffing

Sour Lemon Pie
Apple Pie
Pumpkin Pie

Other things I'll be making this month:
Apple Cider Syrup & Whole Wheat Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
Oatmeal Raspberry Pancakes w/ berry coulis
Vanilla Spiced Caramel & Pear Tart
Cranberry Spice Granola
Peanut Butter Granola

October Menu

Where has the time gone? Is it really October already? I'm actually very thrilled. I love the fall, the many colored leaves, the cooler weather and all the yummy food that comes with it. I have been chomping at the bit to start baking with pumpkin, one of my most favorite flavors of fall. I picked up a couple of sugar pumpkins at the store the other day to make my own puree, which I'll be using in a couple of yummy recipes.

Another thing I love about fall is making a big pot of soup and serving it with homemade bread. Last month I didn't make any new soups, but I have 2 new ones to try this month as well as a couple old favorites.

Here's a rundown of what I've planned for the month. I've linked the dishes that are repeats and that I have already posted. I'll be posting the others as I make them.

Dinners
Brown Sugar Bourbon Pork (freeze half) with Mexican Cornbread and Smashed Pinto Beans
Asian Slaw with Ginger Lime Dressing and Eggplant Penne Pasta
Squash Ravioli & Broccoli
Grilled Chicken with Lemon Basil Pasta & Peas
West African Veggie Stew

Manicotti Rolls w/ garlic bread and broccoli
Zucchini Spaghetti & Fresh Green Beans w/ Roasted Onions and Red Peppers
Pecan Apple Chicken Salad w/ brown rice
Chicken w/ Tarragon & Leeks
Mushroom Barley Soup

Fiesta Salad w/ brown rice
Butternut Squash Gnocchi w/ Sage Brown Butter & Peas
Leftover Brown Sugar Bourbon Pork, Mashed Sweet Potatoes w/ Orange Glaze & Walnuts, green beans
Honey Curry Chicken w/ Thai Coconut Rice
White Chicken Chili

Barbecue Chicken Bacon Pizza w/ Caramelized Onions, salad
Jambalaya & Broccoli
Chinese Chicken Salad & Pizza Puffs
Macaroni Grill’s Chicken Cannelloni
Split Pea Soup with Smoked Sausage and Greens

Other Goodies
Pumpkin Granola
Pumpkin Apple Butter Muffins
Pumpkin Pancakes w/ Pumpkin Maple Syrup
Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Coconut Cream Topped Brownies

September Menu

Fall is in the air, I can feel it. We've had some teasers here and there over the past 2 weeks with some cool weather and it has totally thrown me into fall mode. It has me thinking soup and everything pumpkin! Before summer started I started doing Sunday Soup every week and I think this is the month to bring it back! I think I'll try doing a little link party so you can link up your favorite soups too. So, be thinking of something to share this month. I love seeing what other people come up with.

I'm excited about my menu this month. I still have a lot of fresh things because I will still be receiving my CSA produce and hitting up the farmer's market but I'm transitioning into some fall-friendly foods as well.

Dinners
Mango Chicken Salad
Chopped Barbecue Chicken Salad
Garlic Ranch Pizza
Orzo with Roasted Veggies
Creamless Tomato Soup w/ grilled cheese sandwiches
Bean Curry w/ Coconut Rice

Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese w/ cauliflower
Corn and Basil Cakes w/ sliced garden tomatoes
Thai Steak Salad
Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup w/ breadsticks
Couscous salad with Feta and Chickpeas

Brown Sugar Bourbon pork, Mexican Cornbread & Smashed Pinto Beans
Asian Lettuce Wraps
Orzo w/ Spinach and Pine nuts, Corn on the Cob
Red Curry Coconut Noodles & peas
White Chicken Chili w/ corn tortillas

Pretzel-Crusted Chicken Strips w/ salad & Oven-Roasted Corn in Chili Coconut Milk
Garden Spaghetti w/ garlic bread
Curried Lentil & Couscous Salad
Savory Crepes (filling to be determined) & Veggie
Split Pea Soup w/ Smoked Sausage and greens

Other things I'll be making:
Homemade Yogurt
Carrot Spice Muffins
Pumpkin Pancakes w/ Pumpkin Maple Syrup
Pumpkin Apple Butter Muffins
Bittersweet Chocolate and Pear Cake w/ Buttermilk Ice Cream
Maple-Almond Granola

August Monthly Menu

Oops! I mean to get this up a couple of days ago but then we went on a little overnight up the canyon and I forgot. I don't know why, but planning August's menu took me a little bit longer than usual. If I'm really efficient, I can whip up a menu in a day or 2 (that's with normal interruptions from every day life with kids), but this time it took me twice that.

Since the local produce stands are going to be booming here pretty soon, I wanted to take advantage of all the fresh fruits and vegetables I'm sure I will be hoarding. I tried to find recipes with a lot of fresh ingredients, or ones that would also help me clean some things out of the freezer. I'm expecting my menu may change near the end of the month, depending on my farmer's market finds, but I have some swap-outs that I've also tentatively planned just in case.

If you're new here, I have linked the recipes that I have made before and posted. The other recipes I will post throughout the month as I make them. If you see something that catches your eye, don't forget to stop back and check out the recipe later on.

Dinners:
Brown Sugar Bourbon Pork with Tomatillo Brown Rice and steamed broccoli
Zucchini Parmesan with Pesto Pasta
Tacos & fresh salsa
Parmesan Ranch Crispy Fingers & Fresh Mozzarella & Tomato Salad w/ Marinated Raisins

Greek Panzanella and corn on the cob
Penne Pasta w/ Smoked Ham and Pepper Cream Sauce & veggie
Hamburgers w/ steak fries and Spinach salad
Pineapple Chicken Fajitas and fresh fruit

Asian Slaw with Roasted Peanuts and Crispy Honey-Ginger Chicken
Pizza Rolls and fresh fruit
Quesadillas, Stuffed Poblanos and fresh salsa
Quick Chicken Jambalaya & Salad

Chicken Parm Meatball Subs w/ steamed green beans
Shrimp and Penne Pasta w/ steamed broccoli
Zucchini basil lasagna
White corn soup w/ Poblano cream sauce and quesadillas


Other things I'll be making:
Whole Wheat Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Muffins
Browned Butter Blueberry Muffins
Whole Wheat Blueberry Banana Muffins
Oatmeal Cookie Granola
David Lebovitz's Top Granola
Peanut Butter Granola
Homemade Burger Buns
Nectarine and Gingersnap Tart
Chocolate Coconut Ice Cream

July Monthly Menu

Another month has come and gone. Just the other day I was realizing that we're halfway through the year already. Wow! As I was gearing up for this month's menu, I wanted to go back through my recipes and try some old favorites that we haven't had in a while. I like to try new things a lot but it's sad when something is so good and it only gets made once then forgotten about. So you'll see many links this month to those previous recipes that I've already blogged about (well, I can't say I really blogged about some of them because they were from the very early days of Sweet Luvin' In the Kitchen and back then it was basically a recipe box).

I tried to keep about half of my recipes meatless and include a lot of fresh veggies and whole foods. I'll be making a few extra things this month, meals for mom's with babies and the 4th of July, but I haven't quite figured it all out yet so there may be a few surprises here and there.

Here's what's for dinner:
Honey-lime Chicken and Orzo with Spinach and Pine Nuts
Greek Chickpea Salad, eggplant foccocia and fresh oranges
Hamburgers w/ steak fries and green salad
Veggie Pasta Salad and fresh fruit
Orange Cashew Chicken with Broccoli and Ginger Noodles

Barbecue Chicken Bacon Pizza with Caramelized Onions
Pecan Apple Chicken Salad with Peanut Sauce
Mexican Rice Bake
Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta w/Fresh Mozzarella and zucchini
Spicy Mango Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Spanish Rice

Asian Slaw with roasted peanuts and Whole Wheat Bread
Pecan-Crusted Chicken Tenders with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce and steak fries
Basil Chicken Burgers and steamed green beans
Bean Curry and Thai Coconut Rice
Pizza Rolls and fresh fruit

Lemon Linguini
Brown Sugar Bourbon Pork with Tomatillo Brown Rice and steamed veggie
Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Apricot Sauce, homemade bread and zucchini
quesadillas and sauteed fresh corn
Stuffed Poblanos and pico de gallo


Other things I'll be making:
Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake
Quinoa Granola
David Lebovitz's Top Granola
Cracked Wheat Blender Pancakes
Homemade Burger Buns

June Monthly Menu

Well, it's a new beginning. The start of a new month and a new menu. I don't have school age kids yet so I haven't been anticipating the end of the school year, but I sure have been anticipating the warmer weather. It has been so strange here. It's June 1st and it's in the low 60's, cloudy and rainy. I don't think we've had a really hot day yet this year. Well, I guess I shouldn't complain because I'm sure the days of summer will bring plenty of sunshine and heat. I'm so excited to have a pool where we live now so I can take my girls often. When I was growing up I was a "pool rat" and hung out at the pool all summer.

On to my menu for this month. I am excited to have so many fresh foods and a lot of variety. I'm trying to cut down on how much meat we eat and make lots of different salads. My menu will be shorter than usual because we're going on a week long vacation to Oregon for my husband's family reunion. I'm really excited, I've never been there and I hear the Redwoods are amazing!

Most of my recipes this month came from my Cooking Light Cookbooks. I know I've said it many times, but I LOVE those books. They have some great recipes. If you see something that sounds yummy make sure to check back for the recipe later in the month when I post.

Lunch Salads
Apple-Pecan Salad w/ Peanut Sauce (Making this w/o the chicken)
Orange Edamame Salad
Strawberry Mango Jicama Salad

Dinners
Sticky coconut chicken with rice and roasted cauliflower
Mexican Rice Bake
Bourbon steak w/ mashed potatoes and Strawberry Spinach Salad
Spaghetti Pie with green salad and whole wheat baguette
Pad Thai w/ tofu

Chopped BBQ Chicken Salad
Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad with Fresh Mozzarella
Baked Penne w/Caesar salad
Creamy Taco Mac
Pizza Rolls

Grilled portabellos, wild rice & Sugar Snap Pea Salad w/ Ginger-soy dressing
Pecan-Crusted chicken with honey-mustard dipping sauce, mashed potatoes & green beans
Greek Chickpea Salad w/ homemade whole wheat pitas and Feta Spinach Tarts
Honey-Lime grilled chicken w/ Creamy Parmesan Orzo
Stuffed Poblanos w/ Chipotle bacon cornbread

Other Things I will be making
Coconut French Toast
Apple Pancakes w/ Butter Cream Syrup
Ricotta-honey Mousse w/ berries
Apple-Walnut Flax Seed Bread

May Monthly Menu

Because we've been in transition the past couple of weeks, trying to move, I completely spaced making a menu and didn't even think of it until today. Usually I think about it the month before and write it down as I go so I pretty much know what to plan when the next month rolls around. This time I had to cram and do it all in one day.

We have a lot of celebrating this month, I'm so excited. I've been waiting for Cinco de Mayo to get here so I can have a little party and kind of a house warming. I'm going to attempt making tamales. I'd never really eaten them in my life until recently. Whenever they're the special at Cafe Rio I always get them, but I wanted the challenge of making them myself. If you don't see a recipe pop up for tamales this month then you'll know it was a flop.

I was so excited about making tamales that I forgot it was also my birthday this month. I haven't decided on a cake yet but I'm leaning towards this Cherry Chocolate Cake. I think it's my all-time favorite and I haven't made it in a while.

Last, but certainly not least, we, as I'm sure many of you, will be celebrating Mother's Day. My husband was very thoughtful last year and gave me a wonderful book on Mothering. This year I want to make a point to be thoughtful about the special women in my life and do something for them. Not sure what yet...any ideas? I also don't know what we'll be having for dessert. I'm leaning towards something light and springy and maybe fruity.

Dinners:
Corn chowder with Sweet Potatoes
Beef and Broccoli with Rice
Basil Chicken Burgers with coleslaw
Pecan Chicken with Apple Salad and Peanut Butter Dressing (Maybe I'll actually get to make it this time; it's been on my menu for 3 months!)
Golden Curry with Thai Coconut Rice

Roast Turkey Breast with Whipped Sweet Potatoes & Corn
Crockpot Tamales with Cafe Rio Pork, rice and beans
Bourbon Steak with Steak Fries and Peas
Coconut Chicken with Rice and Broccoli

Poblano Chicken Chowder
Pizza Rolls and Salad
Cranberry Pork with Mashed Potatoes and Peas
Spaghetti & Green Beans

Meatloaf(recipe to be determined)
Taco Pasta
Stuffed Poblanos
Stir Fry

Other goodies:
S'mores Brownies
Chocolate Chipotle Cupcakes
Homemade Hamburger Buns
French Bread

April Monthly Menu

Wow, I can't believe it's already April. I can't wait for Spring to officially be here. It's been teasing us for the past couple of weeks and it's killing me! The other day it was in the mid 60's and today it snowed. Crazy weather here. My girls are so anxious to be outside. We've started taking walks to the park every relatively warm day we've had lately and I'll look forward to walks every day.

On to my monthly menu for April. I am STILL trying to clean out my freezer, well mostly my deep freeze now, because we just found out we're going to be moving at the end of the month. After 5 long months, we will finally get to close on our condo! Yeah, I'm pretty excited. So, in cleaning out my freezer I think I'm going to be making a lot of smoothies. I did a little inventory the other day and still found a bunch of apricots and raspberries! That's ok though, we've had smoothies for the past 3 days and love them.

I'm trying a few new things this month that will help me use up some of my frozen meat and I've also got some recipes that will help use up that holiday Easter ham.

Lunches
Pineapple Ham Pockets
Ham, Pear and Cheddar Panini
Chicken Meatball Subs

Dinners
Pecan Encrusted Chicken w/ Apple Salad and Peanut Butter dressing
Honey Curry Chicken w/coconut rice & sugar snap peas
Cranberry Chicken w/rice & broccoli
Lemon Poppy Chicken with Sweet Pea Couscous
Garlic Rosemary Roast Turkey Breast w/garlic mashed potatoes & green beans
Basil Chicken Burgers w/salad

Sweet and Sour Meatballs w/rice &
Fajitas and homemade refried beans
Spaghetti w/ salad
Homemade Pizza
Penne Pasta with Smoked Ham and Pepper Cream Sauce & sugar snap peas
Spring Risotto

Lentil Soup
White Bean Chili Verde w/ corn tortillas
Sweet Potato Corn Chowder
Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Soup

Other Goodies
Sour Cream Pound Cake with Lemon curd and fresh berries (hubby's b-day)
Blueberry Cheesecake Bread
Apple Walnut Bread

Monthly Menu-March

Woohoo! I'm so excited for March. Warmer weather is on it's way and that means spring is too. I'm looking forward to more outdoor exercising and trips to the park. We're getting more sunshine in the morning now, which I love; it just starts my day off better when the sun is smiling down, you just can't help but smile back. Well, I'm also looking forward to this month's menu. I'm going to try to continue my "Operation Defrost" from last month. Although I got through a lot of what was in my freezer (and fridge), I still have a little ways to go. This month has several of my old favorites as well as some new recipes I'm dying to try. I only had to carry over one recipe from last month, the southwest chicken cordon bleu, and it uses the raspberry-chipotle sauce I already made. I can't believe I put it off this long, it sounds too good, but I know I'll get to it soon. Here's the rundown:

Dinners
Italian Wedding Soup
Butternut Squash Casserole
Chicken Pot Pie
Chili Verde with rice
Feta and Sun-Dried Tomato Turkey Sliders

Grandma Noodles
Baked Penne with Chicken and Sun-dried tomatoes
Pineaple Chicken fajitas
Quick Chicken Jambalaya
Southwest Chicken Cordon Bleu

Quick Creamy Tomato Soup with grilled Cheese
Orecchiette with sausage and peppers
Red beans and rice
Beef Taquitos
Ranch Chicken

Lentil Soup
Meatballs and rice
Manicotti Rolls
Pecan Encrusted Chicken with Apple Salad and Peanut Butter Maple Dressing

Other goodies
Peanut Butter Stuffed French Toast
Hot Fudge Sauce

Monthly Menu-February 2010

For the month of February, I've decided to have an "Operation Defrost" in my kitchen. It's time to use up or get rid of most, if not all of what is lurking and hiding out. This shouldn't be too bad because my upstairs freezer is pretty organized and I mostly know what's in there. However, in my basement, if you could call it a basement-it's really like a large cold storage area, I have another freezer. It's a chest freezer. I would not buy a chest freezer again. First of all, I can't even reach the bottom of the inside of it, but that's only because I'm short. Secondly, You forget what's on the bottom and you have to take everything out to get to it. Anyways, I'm pretty sure it's mostly apricots and raspberries we picked either this summer or last. I've got a few things in mind for the raspberries, but having a hard time figuring out what to do with my apricots. If you have any suggestions, leave me a comment.

I've really enjoyed my Sunday Soups. It really works out for us on Sundays to have something simple with meat and veggies all in one pot. I've had my eye on some of the soups this month for a couple of weeks and can't wait to try them. I'm also really excited for all the Greek food I have planned.

Not everything is new. Recipes already posted will just have a link. Otherwise, I'll be posting as I make them.

Dinner Menu
Chicken Parm Meatball Subs
Herb-Rubbed Chicken with Orzo

Bean with Bacon Soup
Mini Strombolis with sausage, onions and peppers
Southwest Chicken Cordon Bleu with Sauteed Corn

Cauliflower Soup
Spiced Lamb Meatballs with Tomato and Yogurt
Homemade Pizza
Sliced Steak with Roasted Poblano Gravy, Chipotle-Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Green Onion Green Beans (This is a recipe I posted about a year ago, so I'll be going back to add photos and editing where needed.)

White Bean Chicken Chili
Spanikopita Meatballs with pitas and Chopped Greek Salad(Recipe is at the bottom of the post)
Tangerine Beef
Apricot Chicken

Other Goodies
Apricot-Papaya Smoothie
Raspberry Chocolate Scones
Raspberry Almond Bread
Raspberry-Chipotle Sauce

Monthly Menu-January 2010

Wow, I can't believe it's already 2010! I'm so excited to start sharing some new things on my blog; like my monthly menu. I just started planning my meals by month a little while back and it has totally saved me time and energy. I only have to set aside time once a month to get my menu and main grocery list together so I don't have to wonder on a daily or even weekly basis, "what's for dinner?" I always know what I'm cooking or what's on my grocery list. I do my major shopping at the beginning of the month, then I make (ideally) once weekly trips for the fresh stuff.

For January's menu, I've decided to revisit some recipes I've made that our family has really enjoyed, as well as incorporate some new recipes. I tried to find things that are very flavorful as well as healthful. Although I've made many of these recipes, I haven't posted about any of them! So, I'll be posting as I make them.

Dinner Menu
Butternut Squash Lasagna
Cashew Chicken w/ rice & broccoli
Italian Meatloaf w/ oven fries & green beans
Cider Roasted Chicken w/ Hamilton's Whipped Sweet Potatoes

Lentil Soup (Sunday Soup)
Orange Beef w/ rice & broccoli
Shrimp Scampi w/ linguini & peas
BBQ Smoked Cheddar Mac n' Cheese & Coleslaw

Chicken, Barley & Mushroom Soup w/ garlic knots (Sunday Soup)
Sliced Steak w/ Poblano Gravy, Chipotle Sweet Potatoes & Green Beans
Jerk Chicken w/ Island Rice & Broccoli
Ham Fried Rice

Baked Potato Soup (Sunday Soup)
Lemon Chicken w/ Roasted Red Pepper Hummus & pitas, & peas
Polenta Parmesan w/ Orange Edamame Salad

Other Goodies
Chocolate Cupcakes w/ Peanut Butter Icing
Apple Dippin' Peanut Butter Cookies
Cinnamon Raisin Bagels
Strawberry Yogurt Scones