What's for Dinner?

I really enjoy cooking and about this time last year I started planning a weekly menu and making my grocery list according to that menu. This may not sound like rocket science, but it has revolutionized my world... Now I only go to the grocery store once a week because I actually have all the food that we need. I use this grocery shopping checklist from Real Simple and it is the most wonderful thing in the world. There was a brief period when I lost mine AND Target wasn't carrying them, so I had to make my lists from scratch and that took forever. Most weeks it takes me about 30 minutes to plan out our meals for the week, go through the recipes and make my shopping lists. I've stopped buying unnecessary food and I've cut our monthly grocery bills by about 50% (which I find impressive).

I get asked frequently what I am making for dinner, so I decided to post my weekly menus here, along with where to find the recipes.

Abby is 5 and she eats what Nick and I eat. On extremely rare occasions (if I'm making something really weird) I will make an alternative, like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, available to her. There are nights where she doesn't like what we're having, so she eats rice or fruit or whatever our side item is. I am mean and she won't starve. For the most part, she eats a good and varied diet and I want her to grow up enjoying a lot of different food and with a willingness to try new things. She wanted Brussels Sprouts for dinner on her birthday, so I think that we're doing a good job.

So, here's the menu for this week. It's a short week because we are going out of town for the weekend.

Sunday:

Trader Joes Frozen Chicken Pot Stickers

Brown Rice

Fruit Salad with Yogurt
This was my lazy night, as it was just Abby and me for dinner--Nick had a meeting

Monday:

Bacon & Chicken Quesadillas with Guacamole and Sour Cream

(from Weeknight Kitchen with Lynne Rossetto Kasper http://www.elabs7.com/functions/message_view.html?mid=789897&mlid=499&siteid=20130&uid=e8e70320a5)

Green Salad or Fruit

I am a huge fan of The Splendid Table and I recommend signing up for the "Weeknight Kitchen" emails--you'll get one new recipe a week. These quesadillas took A LOT longer to make than other quesadillas that I've made, however they were that much better. Give yourself 45 minutes to make them so you won't be frustrated.

Tuesday:

"PF Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps" http://www.recipezaar.com/P-F-Changs-Chicken-Lettuce-Wraps-15865

Brown Rice

Fruit Salad

I think that this recipe from Recipe Zaar tastes almost identical to the Lettuce Wraps at PF Chang's. We don't like water chestnuts, so I add extra mushrooms to make up for those. I also only make half of the two sauces, as I think that it makes too much. I recommend reading through the comments first, as there's some good ideas for adjustments that you might like.

Wednesday:

Crispy Tortilla Eggs with Avocado and Lime

This recipe is from the cookbook "The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper" by Lynne Rossetto Kasper and Sally Swift. Right now this is my favorite cookbook.

Green Salad

Thursday:

Dinner Spanakopitas

This recipe is from the cookbook "Back to Basics" by Ina Garten (who is the Barefoot Contessa)

Fruit Salad

Greek Yogurt with Honey

I just got this cookbook from the library and am excited about trying some new things out. I'm taking it in the car to read on the way to New Jersey. Yes, I read cookbooks. I think it's fun.