Menu Plan Monday

It's Monday! I hope everyone is ready to dive into another week.

Looking back to last week's menu, the two new recipes that I tried were really good. We loved the risotto. This is the Chicken & Tomato Risotto in the newest issue(August-September) of the Taste of Home magazine. Since I like to mess with recipes, even the first time I make them, I used browned and crumbled sausage that I had on hand instead of chicken that I was out of. I also used canned mushrooms instead of fresh but otherwise followed the recipe exactly.Yum! This was awesome! While it is easy and quick to prepare, this risotto is one of those dishes that needs your full attention, instead of being left to simmer alone. I had forgotten that we had somewhere to be early when I planned this for Tuesday night so it was a bit hectic making this while I still had a fussy toddler nearby. I will definitely be making this again, though. It was so good and can be changed based on what you have in your pantry.

The second recipe- Black-eyed peas with tortillas. I was apprehensive to try this since I really don't care for the blandness of black-eyed peas. I added some salsa, cumin and chili powder to liven it up a bit since I didn't add a jalapeno pepper as the recipe suggested. I had a bit of corn and white rice in the fridge to use up so I dumped that in as well. This made a nice hearty meal served with tortillas, sour cream, cheese and more salsa. It was pretty good, we liked it and this gives me one more option when it comes to bean burritos. If I don't have one kind of legume, I can always substitute another!

Now on to this week:
Beef roast was on a good sale this week, so I'm doing an easy menu week and stretching a roast for several days. I'm looking forward to it. Yum!

I also got a bunch of waffles(8 boxes to be exact) at Harris Teeter last week which will end up being free after a mail-in certificate. So that explains the waffle kick that I am on! I prefer homemade waffles and usually freeze the extras when I make them. But free is free!

I plan to bake a large pan of rice for dinner on Tuesday then use it for the salad on Wednesday as well as a side dish on Friday. Easy peasy!

Sunday
B-waffles, fruit
L-eat out with our home fellowship group at Bob Evans
D-grilled cheese sandwiches

Monday
B-eggs, toast
L-peanut butter & honey sandwiches
D-roast with potatoes and carrots(in crock pot); salad

Tuesday
B-waffles, fruit
L-leftovers
D-beef and mushroom gravy over brown rice;salad

Wednesday
B-cottage cheese; toast
L-leftovers
D-beef pilaf salad; fresh veggies;muffins

Thursday
B-waffles;fruit
L-leftovers
D-some sort of spaghetti sauce with noodle dish(I have an open jar of sauce to use up!);salad

Friday
B-fruit smoothie;toast
L-leftovers or peanut butter and honey sandwiches
D-baked salmon;brown rice; steamed veggies

Saturday
B-cream of wheat;fruit
L-leftovers
D-tortilla chip pie/taco salad-(We love this recipe!)

That's all folks! For more menu planning fun, please visit Menu Plan Mondays!