Meal Planning Monday!

I resolve in 2009 to make my Meal Planning Monday more involved (more links/recipes). I have to say. We eat fairly simple around here - but we eat GOOD! That is one thing I love about being a stay-at-home mom is having the time to make a good dinner. Well, let me preface that, I enjoy it, but not because my husband is a huge grouch if dinner isn't ready when he gets home. I do it for me. And that may sound selfish - but I am not one of those "anything for my husband" type gals. I love him, to death even, but not enough to become someone I don't want to be. I do enough for everyone around here without feeling guilty about saying that.

I like to do it because I like to eat good, I want my family to eat good too, but I don't do it because I am expected to or feel like I have to. I am not so "housewifely"... if you know what I mean.

This week is straight from the pantry and the freezer... so if your pantry and freezer are full like mine (some Trader Joe's "cheats" included) - this week can be inspiration for you!

Sunday - Chicken Noodle Soup -HOMEMADE! I didn't make this last week - but did tonight with my own recipe and it was SUBLIME!!! Read on... I'll post a little outline of if below.

Monday - Ravioli/Green Beans/French Bread (all in the freezer from TJ's)

Tuesday - Turkey Sloppy Joes and Broccoli (I am using frozen broccoli... because I used to be a "fresh" only type of person. But frozen is GOOD and I never even knew it! I buy a huge bag and just take enough out of the freezer for the four of us. This insures we have a least one veggie with each meal without veggies going bad in the fridge)

Wednesday - Eggrolls/Edamame/Rice/Peanut Sauce (all in the pantry/freezer from TJ's)

Thursday - Crispy Chicken (from Feb 2009 Real Simple - apparently it's not on the web yet so no link...) with Carrots and Dip... kid friendly, but still, what adult doesn't love this comfy food?

Friday - Pizza - again! We are really liking this weekly tradition. This past week my husband made it with a super thin crust and it was amazing!

Chicken Noodle Soup Run Down:

This recipe is so easy and can likely be made without a trip to the grocery store even.

First I chopped four "arms" of celery, then two handfuls of mini carrots (just what I had in the fridge) and started sweating (over high heat) those with 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large soup pot. While that was heating up I started boiling water in a separate pot and boiled two chicken breasts until they were cooked thoroughly. When carrots and celery (add onion too if you would like, I just didn't have any) are getting "sweaty", add 2 or 3 garlic cloves that are minced. And let cook 3-5 minutes more. Then I added a package of mushrooms (mine were already sliced and I additionally rough chopped them too). Stir the celery, carrots, garlic and mushrooms a couple of times over this high heat. It seems "dry" in the pot, but it colors the mushrooms a bit and I find that a "colored" mushroom tends to wilt less. I hate wilty mushrooms. Once your mushrooms brown a bit start adding chicken stock. I used two boxes - but use however much you like depending on how "brothy" you like your soup. Crack two or three turns of pepper over the soup and bring to a boil. Then check on your chicken, when it is cooked through take it out of the pot and shred with two forks then add to the main pot of soup. Continue at a low temp for 10 - 15 minutes more... or however much time you have. Probably not too long though so your veggies don't turn to mush. The last step is to add the noodles. I waited until I was ready to set the table. I broke up linguine noodles into thirds, dropped them in the pot, set the table - then voila! It was done! I didn't add salt, it seems the chicken stock always adds enough flavor (buy good stock so it doesn't taste like ONLY salt).

Then I served the soup with crackers and red wine. Er. Maybe I mentioned earlier that may be a bit tacky. But alas, the mushrooms in the soup went great with the Cabernet! Enjoy!

For tons more meals... check out Org Junkie!