Last week I kept pretty well on track with the menu plans, and as a result dinner time went smoothly.
So let’s look at this weeks calendar. I see that Yankee Bill has meetings on Monday & Tuesday. Monday he will stay in town & eat dinner, Tues he will be home but needs to leave promptly at 630 to make his meeting. I have a meeting on Thursday night at 7pm. We are going to an office dinner/Christmas Party on Saturday and the kiddos will be with a babysitter. Somewhere in there we hope to decorate the Christmas tree. This involves a specific dinner in our house. . . due to family tradition.
That means that tonight I can have something pretty simple with the kiddos, Tues I need to either start dinner early (unlikely) or else make something that can be ready to go. Thursday I will want to have everything done and cleaned up early, so again simpler is better. And decorating day requires a specific menu and a bit more time.
So here we go!
Monday: Breakfast for Dinner-Pancakes and Sausage
This is a great day to do this type of meal. Breakfast for dinner is usually a pretty cheap. I can whip up a batch of homemade pancakes for pennies and pair it with some venison breakfast sausage we have down in the freezer. However much the kids think it is fabulous and crazy to mix things up like this, Yankee Bill is not fond of the whole “Breakfast for Dinner” thing, so a night he is not going to be home is the perfect time to do it. Also, we are out of the waffles I made and froze 2 weekends ago, so I’ll do a triple batch and then flash freeze the rest. Hello! Easy & frugal breakfasts for a while!!!
Tuesday: Chili & Cornbread
This can be popped in the crockpot in the morning and left to cook all day. Viola, dinner ready whenever we are. Add some homemade cornbread (norther style, with white flour as well) and you’ve got a meal. Buddy is not fond of beans (I won’t let them say they “Hate” a food) so we will either pick the beans out of a portion, or he can have a PB&J.
Wednesday: Potato Pancakes w/applesauce, sour cream and/or Ketchup & Gluhwien (water for kiddos)
I have yet to perfect making potato pancakes, I always seem to have the oil either too hot (done outside, still a bit raw on inside) or too cool (oil soaks in). So if someone has some great advice on how to make them I’d appreciate it. This is our traditional Christmas Tree Decorating meal-a nod to the years we were stationed in Germany while dating. I usually just let us fill up on the pancakes and applesauce. . . . and skip additional veggies. Although I always feel a bit uncomfortable doing that-my mom always insisted you needed a green veggie with EVERY meal. Even if you already had one of another color, you needed a green one as well. So to completely skip the veggies. . . . well. . .
Thursday: Gnocchi w/Sauce, Mixed Veggies & Garlic Bread
I bought a couple of packages of Gnocchi when I saw them at Aldi’s a few weeks back. Add a jar of sauce and some spicy venison sausage (from the doe YB shot this year) and you’ve got a quick, easy & tasty meal that I can get cleaned up before my meeting.
Friday: Pizza (homemade)
Of Course!
Saturday: Fishsticks, Rice & Veggies
Quick and easy kiddo meal that I can whip up and have them eating when the babysitter arrives. Hubs and I will eat at the party.
Sunday: Ham, Homeamade Mac ‘n Cheese & Veggies
I’ve STILL got frozen packages of post Easter sale ham downstairs. I’ll make a big batch of Mac ‘n Cheese (to have leftovers for kiddos lunches etc) and pair it with canned veggies-kiddos choice (they love getting to pick)
For more great menu plans, stop by Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.
we made potato pancakes last year with my son’s school class, and called in a Latke expert to help us. The trick wat to let the oil heat, and before putting in the mix, fling a few drops of water onto the oil. If is sizzled, too cold, fi it splattered, too hot. If it danced, just right. Most of the Latkes were pretty darngood.
Sounds great.
Yes to the oil trick…or put a small piece of bread in the oil to see if the temp is good…if it sizzles it is!
Try grating some carrots or sweet potatoes into the potato mixture… nutritous and delicious! š
Victoria
Ohh, carrot and onion sound good. And thanks for all the advice on the oil temp. . . Hopefull this year will be the year of the perfect potato pancakes. . .
Thanks for the menu ideas. Always looking for some new simple dishes to make. If you are looking for more, try making salami and eggs. Sounds weird to some but it’s very simple, takes no time to make, very easy cleanup, and delicious.
My mom made Potato Pancakes when we were little. If they’re on the restaurant menu I’ll order them. Whole Foods has Potato Pancakes. We might try them this Christmas season.