The end of October as we know it...

This week promises to be an eventful and emotional week.

My baby boy turns ten. TEN.

My Marine son will be home for a week with his brothers. (That has not happened in several months.)

My Airman son comes home for a visit, then deploys for six months.

Sigh.

And the troops have to eat, so here's the plan.

Sunday~ family cookout to celebrate son #3's birthday. His request: steak on the grill, baked potatoes, tossed salad, rolls, and cupcakes for dessert.

Monday~ Jambalaya (recipe below), salad, rolls

Tuesday~ Beef tips & gravy, egg noodles

Wednesday~ another family cookout to see all THREE boys at the same time: burgers & dogs on the grill, mac'n'cheese, baked beans.

Thursday~ FFYS. Boys going to an out-of-town ballgame; son #2 flies back to base; Mom has a late rehearsal.

Friday~ either spaghetti or pancakes :)

Saturday~ probably a trip to our local fair, so lots of fattening fair food!

Jambalaya:

(A friend gave me this recipe years ago - I'm sorry that I don't know where she got it, but I can tell you it's super easy and tasty!)

Make this mix ahead and store it (or gift it) in jars, or assemble ingredients when you decide to make the dish.

*1 cup uncooked rice

*1 Tbsp onion (you can use powder but I like to used diced onion. If making a mix, use dried onion flakes.)

*1 Tbsp green pepper flakes (you can also use fresh if you're not making the mix)

*1 Tbsp dried parsley

*1 Bay leaf

*2 tsp beef bouillon

*1/2 tsp garlic powder

*1/2 tsp pepper

*1/4 tsp thyme (I like thyme, so I use a little more)

*1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Combine all dry ingredients and store.

To prepare:

Bring mix along 3 cups water and 8 ounces tomato sauce to boil in dutch oven. Stir in 1 cup chopped cooked chicken and 1 cup chopped cooked ham (or whatever meats your family likes - I like to use turkey kielbasa). Cover and reduce heat. Simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Remove bay leaf and serve.

If you use dry ingredients, this is a nice gift with a can of tomato sauce attached; the recipient just adds water and meats of choice. Call it "Dinner In A Hurry". Add a roll mix in a basket with the jambalaya for the whole package!

Share your menus at Menu Plan Monday.

October Menu, week two

Last week's menu went almost according to plan:

we did NOT have spaghetti on Wednesday, so everything got bumped up a night, and hubby decided we should eat out on Friday, which we did.

Now, on to this week:

Sunday~ Ds#1's birthday. He will not be home, but we'll think of him as we have eggplant parmesan (eggplant is from the garden earlier in the summer; I prepped & froze it), spaghetti noodles, french bread rolls.

ACTUALLY... that was my plan, but hubby announced he didn't feel like eating eggplant parm - couldn't we have some leftover roast with mashed potatoes (which, of course, I had already put in the freezer)? So... that's what we had.

Monday~ Ball game @ 5:30. Snack, then spaghetti after the game

Tuesday~ Dinner out with a friend

Wednesday~ Pancakes & sausage. We love breakfast for dinner!

Plan amended again... Chicken Enchilada Suiza casserole, courtesy of Rachael Ray.

Thursday~ First concert of the year at school, and a ball game at 7:15. It's every man for himself.

Friday~ Chicken Enchilada Suiza casserole, courtesy of Rachael Ray. This is new for us, so I'm anxious to see how it turns out.

Another amendment: our city's annual Greek Festival is this weekend and we'll be savoring the food there!!!

Saturday~ TBA - perhaps a big family dinner.

What are you cookin'? Share at Menu Plan Monday!

And here's.... October!

WOW... hard to believe that it's already October.

Two of my boys have birthdays this month. The other will deploy at the end of this month. We're still playing fall baseball, and my chorus will present its first concert of the school year.

Yep, life is busy, but we gotta eat.

Sunday~ Pasta, homemade bread with dipping spices

Monday~ Cashew chicken (I have not made this in all the weeks I planned it on the menu), rice, broccoli, mandarin oranges. Might do some egg rolls if I get to the store.

Tuesday~ 5:30 ball game. Snack before the game, soup & twice-baked potatoes after.

Wednesday~ Spaghetti, stuffed peppers (from our garden - our bell pepper plants have been PROLIFIC this year).

Thursday~ 5:30 ball game. Snack, then leftover roast w/mashed potatoes & gravy after.

Friday~ Chili in the crockpot.

Saturday~ Tailgate menu! Hot dogs (with leftover chili for topping), nachos

What's your plan? Share at Menu Plan Monday.

Fall Ball and the end of September as we know it

Last week was a pretty good week as far as following the menu goes. On Friday, we ended up having loaded baked potatoes and saved the tenderloin for Saturday. It will reappear on this week's menu also, as leftovers! Speaking of this week, it won't be glamorous, but it'll get the job done.

Sunday~ Chicken with mushroom gravy in the crock pot, served over egg noodles, with field peas from the garden

Monday~ Ball game @ 5:30. Fast snack before the game. Leftovers later.

Tuesday~ Breakfast for dinner

Wednesday~ Tacos

Thursday ~ Ball game @ 5:30. Snack before, dinner later.

Friday~ Roast cooked in the crock pot with potatoes, mushrooms, onions and assorted veggies. Serve with rice.

Saturday~ To be decided/announced/etc.

Share your menu marvels at Menu Plan Monday!

September Menu #3... and Fall Ball

We are playing Fall Baseball this year.

The last time we played Fall Baseball, ds#3 wasn't even a twinkle in his daddy's eye.

Son #1 was 10.

That would be.... oh.... 15 years ago.

So here we go again- the circle of life and all that stuff!!

And our menu:

Sunday~ Tomato soup & grilled cheese sandwiches

Monday~ Mom has a meeting after school and ds#3 has a ball game at 7:15. We're looking at a Fend For YourSelf night (FFYS).

Tuesday~ Sticky Chicken (this works great with bone-in, skin-on breasts cooked in the crock pot; I just remove the skin and bones when it's time to serve), mashed potatoes, broccoli

Wednesday~ Spaghetti sauce in the crock pot, boil noodles when I get home. Fast & easy spaghetti.

Thursday~ Snack before a 5:30 ball game, then mom goes to Open House at 6:30. Leftovers when we all get home.

Friday~ Beef tenderloin, baked potatoes, green salad.

Saturday~ TBA. Expecting some guests this weekend, so we'll leave it open for the possibilities.

Share your menu at Menu Plan Monday!

September's here.... but where is Fall??

It's still blazing hot here so even though the calendar says it should be fall, it still feels like the dead of summer!

We've begun "Fall Ball" so we'll have practices and games sprinkled in our schedule once again. Can I just say that I love my crockpot for helping me survive those crazy days??

Sunday~ Dutch baby, grits, bacon

Monday~ Aussie chicken, rice, sauteed spinach

Tuesday~ Lasagna (from the freezer), tossed salad, garlic bread

Wednesday~ Soup & Sandwiches

Thursday~ Open House at school. Out to eat.

Friday~ Cashew chicken, rice, mandarin oranges, broccoli

Saturday~ I have no idea yet! :)

Labor Day - Menu Plan Monday!

I am so thankful that we've got a day off. It's been a hectic start to the school year, to put it mildly, and we are all grateful for a long weekend.

As for what we're eating, here it is!

Sunday~ Cock of the Walk restaurant to celebrate my b-day

Monday~ out to the beach with ds#3, then back home - probably Chicken Pesto Pasta for dinner

Tuesday~ FFYS - I have a meeting after school and into the evening

Wednesday~ Crockpot roast, mashed potatoes (leftover from Saturday), broccoli, crescent rolls

Thursday~ Sandwiches & salad

Friday~ Breakfast for dinner

Saturday~ Pasta toss with lots of veggies OR something on the grill

Share your ideas or get some inspiration at Menu Plan Monday!