MpM

I am running, running fast & furious back to a PLAN,
a menu plan that is.
With school back in session & an infant, I need to be able to know what's for dinner before I wake up. We have been blessed with amazing friends & family who have provided meals for us. I have a few more freezer meals coming,
{yes}!
The freezer meals won't will be added in to my schedule. Instead, I will use them when my day doesn't go as planned or we have an appointment.

Have you heard of the Crock Pot Girls? Look them up on FB and LIKE them. They post Crock-Pot recipes for every dish from appetizers to desserts. I don't use prepared foods, so I will be making subsitions for many of their dishes, but I still think I will be able to find some winning recipes.

MONDAY:
From the Crock Pot Girls

Crockpot Fettucine:
2-3 chicken breasts, cut into pieces
1 pkg. dry Italian salad dressing mix
2 T. olive oil
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz. cream cheese
1 c. chicken broth

Place chicken in crock-pot and sprinkle Italian seasoning over chicken. Sprinkle with olive oil. Cook on low for 4-6 hrs. Mix soup, cream cheese, and broth until smooth. Add this mixture to crock-pot and cook on low for 1 more hour. Serve over hot, cooked noodles.

TUESDAY:
Cowboy Beans


WEDNESDAY:
Mexican Skillet


THURSDAY:
Pizza Casserole
I use 1# browned hamburger & add 1 pkg Hormel Nitrate Free Pepperoni.

FRIDAY:
Leftovers or Grill Steaks

SATURDAY:
Taco Pizza

**I serve a green salad, fresh veggies & fruit at each meal

What will you be eating this week?

MPM

Mothers Day is just around the corner, this year, I'm planning a head.

How, you ask? It's called brainwashing.
No, I don't see anything wrong with it. *grin* All of my children know what I would like. The only problem is, my oldest child is 12. He can't drive, well he can drive, just not legally.
We cut out a magazine picture so they {my children} could ALL show the man of my life, just what mom would like.
Pathetic? No, I call it using my resources *grin*
It's all in good fun.
I really don't expect what I'm suggesting.
Although, I would be thrilled with it!

.SpRInG.
Has it arrived in your corner of the country?
It has came & promptly left several times here.
It needs to warm up so these beauties can start popping up at road side stands, in my garden and at farmers markets.

I will be using the grill a lot this week {again}

Main Dishes:
*Hamburgers
stuffed with onion, cheese and nitrate free bacon
*Bacon (nitrate free) Wrapped Sirloins
*Pork Loins
rubbed with salt, pepper, rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano
*Whole Wheat Pizza
*Chicken Breasts
marinated in olive oil, white wine, Italian seasonings, garlic and onions
*BBQ Whole Chicken

Grilled Sides:
*French Bread
*Mixed Veggies
*Banana's

Off the grill:
Taco Salads, homemade salsa, chips

Other Sides:
Sauteed Green Beans
Apple Berry Sauce
Home canned Pickles
Oven Baked Fries
slice potatoes, toss in olive oil, salt, pepper, & garlic. Bake at 415* for 25-30 minutes or until crisp to your liking
Freezer Corn

**I serve a green salad, fresh veggies & fruit at each meal.

What is your favorite thing to grill?

MPM & a Yummy Lunch

Yummy, Healthy, Easy,

Chicken Stir-fry

You will need:

1 - 1/2 # chicken breasts
Italian Seasoning Spices
2 T fresh garlic
Olive Oil

1 bag frozen stir fry veggies with noodles (I found mine @ HyVee) - thawed

Better than Broth Chicken Paste
1/2 - 3/4 cup water
1 - 2 T Thickener, I used Clear Gel, cornstarch would work as well

*Cut uncooked chicken breasts into bite sized pieces, toss with Italian seasoning. Saute in a few T olive oil & 2 T fresh garlic. Add stirfry mixture and broth, already made using chicken paste, water and thickener. Stir-fry until hot and sauce has thickened.
Eat!

This week we will be grilling again!
Have I ever mention how much I love to grill ;)

On my grill you will find...

Main Dishes Dinner:
Salmon
T-bone Steaks
Chicken Breasts
Beef Kabobs
Pizza
BBQ Chicken

Sides Dinner:
Veggies
French Bread
Garlic Red Skinned Potato Chunks
**We will also be eating a fresh green salad and raw veggies & fruit at each meal.

Lunches
Will be quick!

Chicken Stir-fry
Black Bean & Chicken burritos
Nitrate Free Ham Sandwiches
Grilled Banana's & PB or Nutella
Leftovers
**We will also be eating raw veggies & fruit at lunch.


Have a great week!

MPM

I didn't make a single thing from my menu list last week. Instead we ate; toast, dry o's, dry plain waffles, banana's, oatmeal & crackers with diluted electrolyte drinks & warm tea with lemon & honey, plus a healthy dose of probiotics for all.
Yes, we had the stomach bug at our house last week. It didn't last long for each individual child, but by the time each child and myself experienced it, a week had passed.
However, I really can't complain, we haven't had any sickness at our since my baby had ear infection last July.

With that being said, my menu list is the same as last weeks.

• Baked Salmon Fillets ~ I steam bake with a little olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, dill and salt/pepper
  
• Chicken Beasts & Black Beans on Spinach ~ learn to make your own black beans here
• Sesame Chicken & Barley
• Grilled Hamburgers- maybe twice! ~ I am using up the last few packages of our grass fed hamburger, we are butchering in a week, yippee!I am tired of the bad rap beef gets. Did you know beef, GRASS FED beef, is not terrible for you? It is better for you, the cows, the land, and tastes DELICIOUS. When you purchase grass fed beef, you are supporting small, local farmers of America.
  
• Baked Rigatoni ~ I personally am not a big fan of pork, however, when we eat it, we eat Beelers
  
• Indoor Grilled Pizza, recipe from Cooks Illustrated

**All meals will be served with raw or cooked veggies, raw fruits & a salad, plus a whole grain if it isn't included in the main dish.

What will you be eating this week?

MPM

It works better for me to have a list of meal options instead of planning each day.

So, here it is, another week of options, with a few new recipes thrown in. Hopefully the new recipes will be keepers at our house!

• Baked Salmon Fillets ~ I steam bake with a little olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, dill and salt/pepper
  
• Chicken Beasts & Black Beans on Spinach ~ learn to make your own black beans here
• Sesame Chicken & Barley
• Grilled Hamburgers- maybe twice! ~ I am using up the last few packages of our grass fed hamburger, we are butchering in a week, yippee!I am tired of the bad rap beef gets. Did you know beef, GRASS FED beef, is not terrible for you? It is better for you, the cows, the land, and tastes DELICIOUS. When you purchase grass fed beef, you are supporting small, local farmers of America.
  
• Baked Rigatoni ~ I personally am not a big fan of pork, however, when we eat it, we eat Beelers
  
• Indoor Grilled Pizza, recipe from Cooks Illustrated

**All meals will be served with raw or cooked veggies, raw fruits & a salad, plus a whole grain if it isn't included in the main dish.

Dad is gone for work, so that should get us through the week.
If am am lucky, we'll have leftovers and I won't have to cook lunch for my crew.
I might even get lazy one night or need a few extra 'mommy of the year points', if that happens, I'll whip up whole wheat waffles & let the kids top with mixed berries from the feezer, and fresh whipped cream, Always a hit.

What will you be eating this week?

MPM

I've decided it works better for me to have main dishes and side dishes in mind/ingredients available, than to plan each day. Plans around our house change quite fast and I was frequently changing things up when I scheduled daily meals.
So, here it is, another week of options....

MAIN DISH OPTIONS:
Flank Steak Sandwiches(my new favorite! I'll post the recipe soon.)
Pizza

Beef Enchiladas
Soft Black Bean & Chicken Taco's

Grilled Beef Burgers
Grilled Chicken
Grilled Pork Loins
Cowboy Beans


VEGETABLES:
Raw Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots
Steamed Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots
Grilled Veggies

Sauteed Green Beans
Green Salad
Peas
Corn
SIDES (will depend on what main dish is):
Oven Baked Fries

Potato Boats

Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

Apple Berry Sauce
Pasta Salad

Cottage Cheese
Homemade Pudding


What are you eating this week?

MPM or maybe not & Quick Pizza Bread Lunch

I'm tossing the menu plan out for the week.
To be honest, I didn't make one.
Our schedule has changed so much lately I haven't stuck to my plans. Instead of planning each day, this week I am jotting down a list of options and using my children as my menu makers.
The options will come from what we have in house. I have a bad habit of running to our small town grocery when I get a whim to make something. Does anyone else have that issue or is it just me?

MAIN DISH OPTIONS:
Reuben Casserole
Flank Steak Sandwiches
Pizza
Wet Burritos
Taco's
Chicken Noodle Soup
Hot Ham & Cheese with Tomato Soup
Chicken & Brown Rice
Sesame Chicken Stir Fry
Chicken Bruschetta

VEGETABLES:
Raw Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots
Steamed Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots
Sauteed Green Beans
Green Salad
Peas
Corn

SIDES (will depend on what main dish is):
Oven Baked Fries
Red Skinned Potatoes
Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls
Apple Berry Sauce
Cottage Cheese
Homemade Pudding


Quick Pizza Bread
Lunch can be a struggle when I am homeschooling. I refuse to feed my kids chemical laden lunch meat or PB&J every day. Leftovers have become 100x more valuable.
When I don't have leftovers, I have a go to list (in my brain) of easy lunches. Quick Pizza Bread and Homemade Fries are a favorite at our house. The pizza can easily be adapted to what you have in the freezer or refrigerator. I make the pizza using French bread sliced in half horizontally. Top with: homemade sauce, organic Mozz, and Hormel's Nitrate Free Pepperoni or precooked meat or chicken (I have in the freezer), add spinach or broccoli (I didn't have any when we made the ones below). Bake @ 375* until cheese is melted and the pizza is hot throughout.
If you think your kids won't eat spinach or broccoli, this is one of the best ways to introduce it to them. Mine especially love spinach on pizza!

Oven fries are a favorite at our house. To make: slice potatoes, then toss in olive oil, sprinkle with pepper /salt toss a little more, then put on parchment baking sheet and bake @ 425* for 15 - 20 minutes. Turn oven to broil and broil for a few minutes to crisp. Watch closely while broiling!

Take a lunch break with your kids & enjoy!

Do you homeschool?
What do you serve for lunch if you don't have left-overs?

MPM & Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

MONDAY: Baked Tilapia, Steamed Veggies, Chunky Apples
TUESDAY: Birthday Dinner for 12 year old! His picks: Shepherds Pie, Raw Carrots, Pickle Wraps, Oreo Ice-Cream Cake
WEDNESDAY: Grilled Hamburgers, Homemade WW Buns, Broccoli and Bacon Bake
THURSDAY:Away BB Game, eating out
FRIDAY: Chicken Noodle Soup (recipe below), Fresh Dinner Rolls
SATURDAY: Homemade Pizza, Chips & Salsa
SUNDAY: Cowboy Beans

*I cook everything by scratch and serve a green salad and raw fruit/veggies at each meal.

Chicken Noodle Soup
Season whole chicken with any or all of the following: sage, thyme, marjoram, poultry seasoning, pepper. Bake {I put mine in frozen} chicken at 350* for 4 -6 hours, depending on it's weight, until it looks like this.
If your chicken isn't frozen, reduce baking time to approximately 2 hours. Baking time will vary depending on weight.

De-bone and dice.
Set 3- 4 cups aside for soup and freeze the extra (in chicken juices) for future use.

Make broth out of Better than Bullion and 4 quarts water, following directions to reconstitute on the jar.

Prepare the following:
(all amounts and vegetable can be varied according to your desire)

Simmer in broth until tender:

1 1/2 cups thinly sliced carrots
2 stalks celery, diced

Add:
1 cup corn
1 cup cut green beans

Pour into crock-pot.

Or place broth in a large crock-pot and add a bag of mixed frozen vegetables.

To broth and vegetables, add:
1 tsp basil
3/4 tsp poultry seasoning (I seem to run out of poultry seasoning quite often, so I normally use a combination of 1/4 tsp each of: thyme, sage and marjoram)
1/2 tsp pepper
1 T dried parsley
1 T chives
1/4 tsp pepper

*I typically use about 1 1/2 times the amount on the spices for our family, we like things well seasoned.

Add diced chicken to the broth/vegetables.
Cook for 3 -4 hours in the crock pot on low, this helps blend the flavors.

About 20 minutes before serving, boil approximately 8 oz of noodles in water with a better than bullion added to the pot.

Scoop noodles out of water and put into crock-pot. Add extra noodle broth if your soup is too thick.

Add salt to taste.

NOTES:

• Don't let the noodles cook too long in the crock-pot. They will get mushy.
• We like our soup very thick. If you like more broth than filling, cut back on the ingredients or add more broth.
• I normally use raw carrots, and a mixture of vegetables I have in the freezer from last years harvest. However, a bag of frozen veggies from the store works great as well. Plus, it is a lot quicker :)
• I use whole wheat noodles.

MakeADifferenceMonday
Several Monday's ago, I talked with my children about blessing others, explaining to them that God expects us to serve those around us, regardless of their age, race, abilities... Each week, I am requiring them to go out of their way to serve someone. At times, this service will be unknown, other times it will be obvious.
I too, hope to become more aware of those around me. I hope the actions of my husband and I are noticeable in my childrens eyes so we can be an example to them.


1- 24-11
While snowboarding, my oldest went out of his way to help a little girl who was having a hard time on her skies. The other children have been great at noticing what my husband and I are doing and asking if they can help us. I have also 'caught' them holding doors for others :) I still remind them daily to be aware of others needs, but I can tell they are gaining awareness of the needs of those around them!

MPM & Homemade Chicken Nuggets {or Strips}

I keep my cottage cheese upside in the refrigerator.

Not that you really care.

My older and wiser cousin told me, 14 years ago, it would keep the cottage cheese 'fresher' tasting. So I did it, and still do, because she is so cool and all. So am I the only one with upside down cottage cheese in my refrigerator?

I went grocery shopping after church yesterday, with only one child. It was a very pleasant, enjoyable experience :) As I shopped, I menu planned. This is what I came up with for our dinners for the week...

MONDAY: (company's coming) Sprout Dip (recipe this week, promise!) and Chips for appetizers, Oven Roasted Pork Loin, Steamed Veggies, Dinner Rolls, Honey Butter, Fluff
TUESDAY: Chicken Wild Rice Soup, Fresh Bread (new recipe, can't wait to try it!), Strawberry Jam, Cheese, Crackers
WEDNESDAY: Beef Roast with Carrots & Onions, Red Skin Garlic Potatoes
THURSDAY: Chicken Enchilada's, Chips & Salsa, Crock pot Refried Beans
FRIDAY: Baked Tilapia, Stir-fry Veggies, Rice, Baked Apples
SATURDAY: Grilled Hamburgers, Homemade Hamburger Buns,
SUNDAY: Homemade Pizza, Chips and Salsa
*I also serve a green salad and raw veggies at each meal

Last week we had Chicken Nuggets, a few of you asked for the recipe. Here it is. I hope you like them as good as we do. I served the nuggets with steamed broccoli, the vegetable of choice of 3 of my children, yes!

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks or strips.We like Smart Chicken.
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 2 cups crushed Crispi Brown Rice (I put mine in a bag and roll with a rolling pin)
  
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 T parsley
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/8 - 1/4 tsp powdered garlic

Put chicken and yogurt in a glass bowl, toss to coat and chill for 1 hour to overnight. Mix remaining ingredients, stir to combine. Place a piece of chickenin the dry mixture and toss to coat. Transfer chicken to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or lightly greased. Bake at 375* for 20 - 25 minutes. If needed, turn on broiler and broil 1 - 2 minutes or until crisp. Watch closely!

For more menu ideas and recipes head to

What's for Dinner?

My boys left Saturday morning and will be gone until Wednesday. I feel like I am hardly cooking at all! We have leftovers, bread in the bread drawer and there is still 2 of the 3.5 gallons of milk {I bought on Thursday} left in the refrigerator. Normally I'd be making another milk run today and someone would be begging me to make more bread.
.It is quiet around here.
I miss my boys.
They are so fun.
I really can't imagine life any better.
.Precious.
My boys are simply precious.
Full of life, energy and spunk, yes. But none the less, precious. They are growing up way to fast for this mama. How does that happen?

The girls and I are having fun doing girl things; baking, cutting veggies, painting our nails, eating on fancy dishes, meeting friends, having tea parties... Yes, my girls are growing fast too. My 3 year old is already telling me what her wedding dress will look like. oy!

Anyway, on to what's on our menu for the week. It's a little girly and a lot little kiddy for the first 3 days.

MONDAY: Homemade Chicken Nuggets, Homemade Oven Fries, Steamed Veggies,
TUESDAY: Homemade Mac and Cheese, Grilled Hamburgers for Dad
WEDNESDAY: Pizza, Apple-Berry Sauce
THURSDAY: Baked Potato Bar, Chili, Steamed Veggies
FRIDAY: Church BBQ and Bonfire Potluck
SATURDAY: Tomato Soup, Baked Chicken, Italian Veggies
SUNDAY: Breakfast for Dinner, Fresh Fruit
*I also serve a green salad and raw veggies at each meal

What is your favorite thing to take to a potluck?
I'm looking for fresh ideas for Friday.

Does your menu plan need a different taste?
Head on over to MPM to get some fresh ideas!

Soft Taco Recipe & MPM

Soft Taco's are always a hit at our house.

The filling can be made with beef, chicken or black beans. I mix the filling in the crock-pot and let it cook for a few hours.

The filling is very flexible, adjust it to what your family likes. I don't measure, just dump and adjust to taste as needed.

Ground Beef Filling: browned hamburger, refried beans, taco seasoning, diced canned tomatoes (with liquid, it will cook down)
Chicken Filling: shredded cooked chicken, black beans, ~I like to smash about half of them, cumin, a little taco seasoning, diced canned tomatoes (with liquid, it will cook down)
Black Bean Filling: smashed black beans, whole black beans, diced canned tomatoes (with liquid, it will cook down), cumin, minced fresh garlic

Now, the fun part, everyone gets to customize their own soft taco.

Using a tortilla, layer any or all of the following in a strip down the center:
lettuce, cheese, salsa, green onions, onions, ranch, sprouts, jalapenos...
top with hot filling.

To prevent the filling from falling out the bottom, leave 1/2 - 1 inch at the bottom of the tortilla to fold up over the filling.

Fold bottom up, then fold one side in, roll and secure with a toothpick.

The younger children get a tortilla cut in half like the one shown below. They will often eat both halves, but it is easier to handle one half at a time.

We are not eating soft taco's for dinner this week, but we will most likely make them for an easy lunch.
This is what we will be eating this week...

MONDAY: Grilled Hamburgers, Onions on the Grill, Homemade Bread, Italian Veggies
TUESDAY: Mexican Chicken and Black Beans in the crock-pot, served over Brown Rice.
WEDNESDAY: Pasta with Meaty Marinara Sauce, French Bread
THURSDAY: Beef Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Veggies
FRIDAY: We're having Company... 2 kinds of Homemade Pizza, Chips and Salsa, ice-cream, cookies
SATURDAY: Shepherds Pie, Chunky Applesauce
SUNDAY: Hot Ham and Cheese, Peas, Red-hot Popcorn,
*I also serve a green salad and raw veggies at each meal

For inspiration on meal plans or to link up, head over to OrgJunkie.com

Menu Plan Monday

Does it fill like fall where you live? It has been unseasonably warm in our part of the country. We have been creating the 'fall feel' in our house with this

It smells divine.
.Target.
Go get one, you won't regret it :)

Now, on to our menu...

I'm only going to list our main dish and any special sides I decide to add to the menu. I serve a salad and raw veggies at each meal. In addition to our meals, our main snacks consist of fresh apples, bananas, nuts, nut butters, smoothies, and occasionally crackers/dry cereal.
The grocery store clerk asked me if I was in charge of taking apples and bananas for a school snack. Yeah, something like that *grin* I guess she thinks 12# of apples and 6# of bananas are too many for one family. What can I say? We love our apples and bananas.
What are your favorite snacks?

MONDAY: Grilled Salmon, Potatoes on the Grill, Homemade Dinner Rolls
TUESDAY: Chicken and Brown Rice
WEDNESDAY: Grilled Hamburgers, Homemade Bread
THURSDAY: Steak and Veggie Stir-Fry with Brown Rice
FRIDAY: Grilled something, we're having company, still deciding on menu
SATURDAY: Homemade Pizza

SUNDAY: Crock-pot Bean Dip & Taco salads with Tortilla Chips

What is your favorite thing to serve when you have company?

Looking for menu ideas?
Visit Organizing Junkie to get your out of your cooking rut.

Cowboy Chili Beans

(it's all about the name people)

Spicy and filling, these beans make a delicious side dish. Add sausage, (my addition) and top them on a baked potato, rice, corn biscuit or noodles and you'll have hearty main dish.
A bonus, they cook up in your crock-pot!

• Dice 1 or 2 bell peppers and 1 onion.

Saute in olive oil, until cooked and tender.

Put in a crock-pot:

• 3 cups (or 2 cans) of cooked pinto beans, with liquid
• 2 - 4 T minced garlic
• 1 - 2+ T chili powder
• 2+ tsp oregano
• 1/8 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, start with less and add to desired 'kick'
• salt and pepper

Turn crock-pot on high and stir well.

If desired, fry up 1# of sausage. Drain fat, add to crock-pot along with:

• sauteed peppers and onion
• 1 - 2 cups of ketchup or a 4 oz can of tomato paste
• 2 - 4 T Worcestershire sauce

Cook on high for 2 - 3 hours with the lid off*. Then turn to low and cook for 2 - 4 hours.

We ate them with oven roasted (red) potatoes. The meal was a hit with my entire family, perfect for cold winter day.

*Cooking with the lid off will help to thicken if you use ketchup. If you use tomato paste it should already be fairly thick. I used ketchup.

Let your cow-pokes dress the part.
Remember 'it's all about the name'.

Black Bean Soup

My new favorite soup.

1 med onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1-3 T Cumin (I like cumin, recipes says 1, I put in 3)

2 T oil

3 - 16 oz cans black beans (I cook my own; soak overnight, drain, then cook in the crock pot or for a faster cooking method I simmer approx 1 hour in triple the water)

1 - 14.5 oz can chicken or vegetable broth (I use more like 24-32 oz, most likely because I normally use more beans)

1 - 16 oz jar salsa, spiciness of your choice

1 -2 cups frozen corn with liquid (my addition, I use the corn we freeze in the summer)

salt and pepper to taste

*In a large stock pot, sauté onion, garlic and cumin in oil until soft. Blend 1 can beans (in liquid) and 1/2 of the broth in a blender until pureed. Add blended beans to the sautéd onion mixture. Repeat with 2nd can of beans. Add to pot. Add remaining can whole beans and salsa to pot. Bring to a boil and boil on med/high heat for a few minutes. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir constantly to prevent scorching.

Serve with fresh cilantro, sour cream, and chips.

Menu Plan Monday Rambling

click the link above to see what others are eating
Last week I didn't do very good at planning meals. It made life a little more crazy, well at least in my mind. My problem is I am tired of making the same things. I know, I'm the cook I can pick whatever I want to to make. But, I want easy, healthy meals. Meals I don't need to get the recipe for. Meals I can just whip up.

I am not thrilled with casseroles, they don't do much for me. But they are often easy, economical and can be made ahead. I'm not in crock pot mode yet as the weather is still warm and most of my crock pot dishes seem to be heartier, warm your soul type foods.

I need to buy fish. We really like fish, and it's easy. Next week, we'll have fish.

Maybe you can help...what are you eating this week?

MONDAY:Manicotti, French Bread~ brought to us by some friends*
TUESDAY: mom & kids not home, leftovers for dad*
WEDNESDAY: Grilled Chicken & Steak, Chips & Fresh Salsa, Fresh Fruit*
THURSDAY: Roasted Turkey,Baked Potato Chunks, Cooked Broccoli*
FRIDAY: Tacos, Fresh Salsa, Refried Beans in crock-pot*
SATURDAY: BLT's, Corn, Melon*
SUNDAY: Homemade Pizza, Popcorn*

*at every meal we have raw veggies and salad.

On the Go Food Idea's

Need on the go food ideas for your busy back to school schedule?

Try some of these...

Pita's filled with tuna, veggies, eggs, diced chicken, cheese. I have a great whole wheat pita recipe I will share soon.

Wraps filled with nitrate free lunch meat, veggies, cheese, mashed banana and PB,

Banana and PB Bread Wraps flatten a slice of bread with a rolling pin. Spread with banana and PB. Roll up, slice into pinwheels or leave in a log.

Hot Ham and Cheese baked in tinfoil. Stick in a cooler (without other cold items) to keep warm.

Calzones Make ahead, freeze, warm and wrap in foil to keep warm, stick in cooler to keep warm for a longer period of time.

Homemade Lunchables Dice lunch meal, cheese and crackers. Add a treat. Package.
Nuts A mixture is good to add various nutrients to your diet. You can also roast them in your oven with a little olive oil and seasoning of your choice (salt, garlic, pepper, lime, chili powder, cumin...) My boys love Pistachios in the shell, shell spitting contests are fun :)

Red Hot Popcorn

Pop popcorn on the stove top or in a stir crazy popper with red hots and oil. The red hots will melt and coat the kernels when they pop.

Coconut Oil Popcorn Pop popcorn in coconut oil instead of oil or butter. Lightly salt. Yum!