Menu Planning Monday: My menu for the week of 6/27

For those of you who may be doing Weight Watchers, I have included the points per serving calculations for most of my recipes this week. I used the “Recipe Builder” feature on the WeightWatchers.com e-Tools program to input all of the ingredients and calculate the points, so it should be pretty accurate.

You can read more about my $40 weekly budget in this post here.

If you’re new to menu planning, check out my post about how I do my menu planning.

Get more inspiration by checking out the hundreds of menu plans posted every week at orgjunkie.com!

SUNDAY:

Dinner ~ Frozen pizzas – we’ll just be getting back from vacation, so this will be something we have on hand that’s easy to make

MONDAY:


Breakfast ~ Cereal – we’re just getting back from vacation and I know I’m going to need to make a “grocery run” but this is something I know we have “on hand)

Lunch ~ Macaroni and cheese

Dinner ~ Lemon chicken saute – This recipe has come to be known as “Grandma’s chicken” around our house because it was a recipe from my husband’s grandmother that his mom used to make for them

Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (this is what we need for our family, adjust accordingly for yours)
3 T all purpose flour
PAM no-stick cooking spray
1/3 cup butter or margarine (we use I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter)
1/3 cup teriyaki sauce
3 T lemon juice
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp sugar

Roll chicken in flour to coat. Spray large skillet with Pam or other cooking spray. Add butter and melt over medium heat. Add chicken breast and saute till lightly browned on one side. Turn and brown on second side, 5-7 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove chicken and set aside. Stir teriyaki sauce, lemon juice, garlic and sugar into skillet. Return chicken to pan and simmer 3 minutes. Turn chicken over, and continue cooking until fork tender (2-3 minutes)

Serve over cooked rice.

WW points – 5 points per serving with chicken; 2 points for 1/2 cup rice or 4 points for 1 cup with rice, 1 point for the asparagus recipe below

Sides:  Marci’s Roasted Parmesan Asparagus 

TUESDAY:

Breakfast ~ Waffles

Lunch ~ Bagel  bites for the kids

Dinner ~ Texas Kielbasa skillet – I originally got this recipe from a freezer swap and it has become a big hit with our family

1 can (10 3/4 oz.) CREAM OF CELERY SOUP (I use whatever cream soup I have on hand)
1 1/2 cups WATER
1 Tablespoon BUTTER
¾ cup uncooked LONG GRAIN RICE
1 pound SMOKED KIELBASA SAUSAGE, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 pkg. (10 oz.) FROZEN PEAS
½ cup SLICED MUSHROOMS
1 cup SHREDDED CHEDDAR CHEESE

Combine soup, water and butter substitute in a large skillet with a lid.  Bring to a boil. Add rice and sausage. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.  Stir in peas and mushrooms. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes,
or until rice Is tender. Sprinkle with cheese and serve hot.

WW points = 10 per serving (makes 6 servings)

WEDNESDAY:

Breakfast ~ Scrambled eggs and cheese

Lunch ~ “Hairy” hot dogs (I know it sounds scary – this is from a recipe I found either through a Menu Planning Monday post or in Family Fun Magazine, I can’t remember which – I’ll try to post pictures when we make it)

Dinner ~ Black Bean & Chicken burritos (slow cooker)

Ingredients:
1 taco/fajita seasoning packet
2 cans black beans, drained
2-3 chicken breasts
1 can green enchilada sauce

Place chicken breasts in bottom of the crockpot and then add remaining ingredients. Cook on low 6-8 hours. Shred chicken before serving and serve in tortillas. We add cheese, sour cream, etc. to the tortillas. We sometimes add rice (cooked rice to the mixture once we’re ready to serve, not in the crockpot!). This is also really good if you use beef instead of the chicken!

WW points = 5 points for the mixture (add 2-3 points for each tortilla and any other toppings you add)

THURSDAY:

Breakfast ~ Puffed Pancakes – I got this recipe from Marci’s blog awhile ago and tried it out. My whole family loves it and it’s super easy to make

Ingredients:
1/2 cube butter (not margarine – I have used “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter and it has turned out fine)
6 eggs
1 cup Milk (I use skim)
1 Cup Pancake Mix (or Bisquick)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 Degrees. Place butter in a 9 X 13 inch pan. Put in preheating oven until butter is melted. In a blender, combine eggs, milk and pancake mix. Pour batter into baking dish. Bake for a bout 15 – 18 Minutes until pancakes are puffy and lightly browned. Do not open oven while pancakes are cooking. Top with sifted powder sugar.

Serve with warm maple syrup or fruit toppings.

WW points = 4 points per serving (makes 8 servings), this does not include any toppings you may add

Lunch ~ Grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup

Dinner ~ French dip sandwiches (slow cooker) – This is a family favorite and I love it because it is SOOO easy to make!

Ingredients:
beef roast
2 cans beef broth
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp garlic powder
4-6 hoagie buns
(we also add some swiss or provolone cheese)

Place roast in a greased slow cooker. Pour broth over the top of the roast. Add spices. Cover and cook on low heat 8-10 hours (or high heat 5-7 hours). Remove roast and save extra juice. With a fork, break the meat apart and serve on hoagies. Use excess juice for dipping sandwiches.

WW points = 6 points per serving (this does not include the cheese or the buns)

FRIDAY:


Breakfast ~ Cold cereal


Lunch ~ Turkey and cheese sandwiches

Dinner ~ Parsley parmesan chicken (freezer meal) – I love the recipe!  It’s one of our favorites. 

Ingredients:
2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (or 6-8 chicken breasts)
1/3 bottle of Italian salad dressing
1/2 c shredded Parmesan cheese
1/3 c dry bread crumbs (used Seasoned Italian bread crumbs)
1 1/2 T parsley flakes
1/2 T paprika
Salt & Pepper

Assembly Directions:
Marinate chicken in dressing overnight.
Mix the remaining ingredients and bread each breast with coating.

To Freeze: Lay chicken breasts side by side on baking sheets and place in freezer for 1 to 2 hours to firm up. Place chicken in labeled gallon size Freezer Bag and freeze.

WW points = 6 points per serving

SATURDAY:

Breakfast ~ Strawberry and Cream Cheese French toast – This one comes from Favorite Family Recipes (this has to be made the night before)

1 loaf french bread, cut into 1 inch slices.
Whipped cream cheese

Spread cream cheese between two slices of bread, place sandwiched slices in a glass pan sprayed with cooking spray.

Mix together:
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Pour over bread and let sit for five minutes, turn bread over and cover pan with saran wrap. Refrigerate overnight. Drizzle melted butter over the top and bake at 400 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

Whipped Topping:
1 pt whipping cream
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. almond or amaretto flavoring

Top with strawberries mixed with sugar and the whipped topping.

Lunch ~ Tuna sandwiches or leftovers

Dinner ~ Spaghetti

Walgreens photo deals: buy 25, get 25 free and more!

 If you’ve got photos from your summer vacation that you would like to get developed Walgreens has a couple of deals for you: (don’t forget to check out the weekly deals post for more deals!)

Buy 25, get 25 free when you enter the code FIFTYPICS at check-out (This offer is valid up to five times per account through June 30th). Make sure you choose to pick up your photos in store to avoid shipping charges!

Save 75% off a 5X7 Everyday Photo Book when you enter the code SUMMER2010 at check-out (this offer is valid up to five times per account through June 30th).  Make sure you choose to pick up your books in store to avoid shipping charges!  These would make great gifts for grandparents or are also a nice way to relive your summer memories all year long!

This post is part of Becentsable’s Grocery Gathering.

Free Avatar Video on Demand Rental from Amazon.com!

You can rent Avatar FREE from Amazon Video on Demand when you enter the codes HDNATION and FILMRIOT.

(Thanks Freestuff4Free!)

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my disclosure policy for information.

Rent two, get one free at Redbox!

I got an e-mail from Redbox about a promotion that they have right now where you rent two movies at the same time and then get a promotional code for a free rental!  This promotion runs through June 30, 2010.  Your free promotional code will be delivered to your inbox within 72 hours of your qualifying rentals.  Limit one promotional code per customer per day (I guess that means you can earn more than one, just not more than one in a day?)  The rentals do have to be “paid” rentals.

Here are a few promotional codes that may work if you haven’t used them before: 

BREAKROOMDVDONME
REDBOX

For use at Walgreens only: DVDATWAG
For use at Kroger family of stores only:  DVDKROG

You can use these codes once per card (you do have to swipe a credit or debit card to “rent” the movie).

To learn more about Redbox (or to find a location, see what’s available, or reserve a selection online), check out their blog here and their site here.

Save 40% off at Gap plus get 20% cash back when you shop online!


Gap is having a huge summer sale right now where you can save up to 40% off online and in storesEbates is also offering 20% cash back for all of the Gap stores (GapKids, babyGap, and regular Gap).  This is the highest cash back amount I have ever seen for the Gap!  There is a $7 flat rate shipping fee.

If you haven’t signed up for Ebates before, you will also get a $5 bonus for signing up!  If you’re not familiar with Ebates, it is a site where you can earn cash back when you shop through the retailer links on their sites. I joined about two years ago and I was so excited when I got my first “big fat check” with the “rebates” I had earned from online shopping during the Christmas season that first year. 

Here’s how it works:

1. When you are ready to shop online, visit Ebates and look for the retailer on their site (they have 100s of retailers and pretty much the only one I haven’t found that I use regularly is Amazon). When you click through that store’s link, it will create a “tracking ticket” and then take you to the retailer’s site.

2. Once you get to the retailer’s site, complete your purchase just like you normally would.

3. Within a few days, you should receive an e-mail letting you know that your “cash back” has been credit to your account.

4. Your “big fat check” payment is issued every three months.

For purchases made between 1/1 and 3/31, you will receive your “big fat check” on 5/15.
For purchases made between 4/1 and 6/30, you will receive your “big fat check” on 8/15.
For purchases made between 7/1 and 9/30, you will receive your “big fat check” on 11/15.
For purchases made between 10/1 and 12/31, you will receive your “big fat check” on 2/15

5. You can choose to be paid via the following methods:

*Big Fat Check: Have a check sent directly to you, free of charge.

*PayPal: Your payment is deposited directly into your Paypal account (you do not have to pay any fees). This is a quick option!

Let me know what you get if you take advantage of this deal!