My Life Series: More Weekday Dinners Done!
I was so shocked by how many of you read my blog about Weekday Dinners that I thought I would share another with you. This is something I do that literally makes my life easier and less stressful. I take a couple hours, usually on a Sunday (but it's been known to happen on a Saturday as well - especially if I know our Sunday is going to be busy) and prepare our meals for the week.
My husband and I both work and commute to our jobs. Before I stared to do this the hours after we arrived home were stressful and crazy busy as I dashed around the kitchen trying to think of what to eat. Of course I wasted so much time on those evening looking from cabinet to cabinet and in the freezer trying to decide. Now I don't have to worry. I map out what we're going to eat, I keep it simple, prepare it all in one day, freeze it and then serve it the day we have planned. Here's this week's plan! Try it out, and Enjoy :)
Monday: French Dip Sandwiches
For this yummy meal I use my handy dandy crock pot. I throw in a London Broil (I prefer this cut over others because it has less fat and I don't like fat in my meat). I add a packet of Au Jus mixed in one cup of water (or a jar if you have a hard time finding a packet on the gravy aisle). When I can't find or forget to get Au Jus I use brown gravy mix and throw in some ranch dip mix (it's good). Then, I add salt and pepper to taste. Turn on the crock pot and let it go for about 6 hours. Since this is our Monday meal, I don't put this in the freezer. I stick it in the fridge and let it warm again in the crock pot on Monday after I get home from work.
We serve ours on french sandwich rolls with provolone cheese. And, we usually have french fries on the side or a salad. This week, I didn't get my grocery shopping done, so french fries it is!
Tuesday: It's always Taco Tuesday and I keep it super simple.
I cook ground beef on the stove top add taco seasoning and I'm done. I keep the beef in the freezer until Tuesday when I thaw and then heat it up in the microwave. (I said simple!)
We always have soft shells, hard shells and nacho chips to appeal to each of favorite ways of eating tacos. We add cheese and taco sauce, and I always add tomatoes to mine.
Dinner DONE!
Wednesday: Spaghetti
I love to make my own meat sauce for Spaghetti. When I'm cooking the hamburger for Taco Tuesday, I always cook enough extra to include in my spaghetti sauce. My recipe is simple:
Ingredients
- Hamburger meat (1/2 pound or maybe a little more)
- Homemade canned tomatoes (usually 1 quart jar)
- Italian seasoning
- 1 Thick & Zesty pack of Spaghetti mix
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- Diced onions
I let this all cook/simmer in a pot for an hour or so. I find the longer it simmers the better the flavor. i'm well known for burning stuff and that includes Spaghetti sauce. So, I'm always careful to keep a close eye on the sauce to avoid burning. You can also prepare this in a crock pot. Cook on high for about 4 hours. I recommend cooking and draining the hamburger meat.
On dinner night, I cook the noodles and serve with delicious garlic bread! Yummy!
Thursday: BBQ sandwiches
My crock pot makes preparing multiple meals so easy! For this one, I throw in a pork tenderloin, and add 1 packet of Campbell's Slow Cooker Southern BBQ sauce. I also add salt & pepper to taste. I let this cook in the crock pot on low for 6-8 hours. Fabulous flavors!
On dinner night I serve on buns with cole slaw. For the slaw, I buy a ready to mix bag from the produce section in Food Lion. It's so good even my toddler eats it. I usually serve with a veggie on the side. And dinner is done!
Friday: Taco Soup
Even though we have Taco's on Tuesday this is simply delicious and doesn't seem like a repeat at all! I found this recipe from Six Sisters Stuff. It's a montage of canned goodness.
Ingredients
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 (15 oz) can sweet corn, drained
- 1 (12.5 oz) can chicken breast, drained
- 1 (10.75 oz) can cream of chicken soup
- 1 (10 oz) can green enchilada sauce
- 1 (14 oz) can chicken broth
- 1 (1 oz) packet taco seasoning
Even though I haven't taken a picture of the food yet, I thought I would keep sharing my go to recipes with you guys!
We love to have ice cream, root beer floats, milk shakes and all of that yummy goodness. Not every day but enough for me to have gained a few unwanted pounds. Hmmmm....
