Menu Plan Monday--June 28th

I'm trying to use up as much of the June Freezer Cooking Food this week.  We've eaten almost all of it!

I'm starting to work on a freezer cooking plan for July. 

1. Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches (Using shredded chicken and Marinara Sauce)
2. Sweet Potato Spinach Wraps
3. Cheeseburger Muffins
4. Chicken Cutlets
5. Nachos with Beans, Rice,  Veggie Burrito Mix and Cheese
6. Breakfast
7. Pizza

Be sure to check out Orgjunkie.com for more awesome meal plans each week!

Square Foot Gardening Update # 13-- June 26th

Well there is good news and bad news--

Bad news first--the squash bugs have hit the thriving pumpkin plants.  Actually, it might not be squash bugs.  It looks like something is eating the flower buds and starter pumpkins off.  Weird.

Good news now!

Dish Soap Spray and petunias are  helping many of my other plants.  My cucumbers have perked up, the pepper plants went through a growth spurt, and we are starting to get red cherry tomatoes.

We are still enjoying eating fresh green beans and lettuce too!  We even have more strawberries coming in.

Gardens are such huge blessings.

Check out more garden progress over at Grow Eat $ave @ $5 Dinners and $aving Makes Cents.

Chicken Cutlets

Chicken Cutlets have been a long time favorite in our house.  The are more of a cold-weather dish, but we enjoy them all year long.

Chicken Cutlets

Ingredients

2-3 lbs Boneless Chicken
2 c Flour
3 c Breadcrumbs
4 eggs
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Arrange three pie plates on the counter and fill each one with the flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs.

2. Add garlic powder, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper to breadcrumbs.

3. Tenderize/thin out the chicken.

4. Dip each piece of chicken in the flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs.

5. Brown the chicken in oil for 4 minutes on each side.

6. Once you have browned all the chicken, bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until chicken is cooked.

These are really good served with potatoes and veggies!

Check out more yummy treats at Tempt My Tummy Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday!

Menu Plan Monday--June 21

I took an unexpected break last week because I had tons of fun stuff going on!  We had family in town, friends to see, and my husband and I got a day out together last weekend. I decided a quick break was in order.

The freezer cooking I did in June is going really well! We are continuing to use up the foods and dinner prep is easy!  I'm also in love with all the fresh produce I'm finding--summer is here right?

Here's the plan for this week--

June 20-26

1. Father's Day--Marinated/Grilled Pork, Grilled Potatoes, Corn
2. Spaghetti, Broccoli and Butterhorns
3. Out of Town
4. BLT's
5. Pool Picnic--Egg Salad
6. Pizza
7. Day at the Zoo-Eat Out

We might actually have the meals in this order--we'll see.

What are you cooking up this week?  Check out Orgjunkie.com for more great ideas!

Menu Plan Monday--June 14th

1. Southwest Chicken Roll-Ups
2. Pizza (Sunday's Dinner)
3. Spaghetti
4. Breakfast
5. BLT's
6. Pool Picnic--Chicken Salad
7. Family Visiting TBA

What are ya'll cookin' up this week?


Check out Orjunkie.com for more Menu Plan Monday fun!

Square Foot Gardening Update # 12-- June 12

This week we continued to enjoy eating sugar snap peas!

There is a little pumpkin growing (along with signs of many others!)

I see the signs of green bean picking too!

It seems like the lettuce is not getting much bigger, but I don't know when to pick it.  Any ideas??

My pepper plants are getting flowers, but are not growing any taller--is that normal?

How is your garden holding up?
 

Check out more garden updates at Grow Eat $ave @ 5 Dollar Dinners

Homemade Bread Crumbs

 Here is some thing I have discovered--that I love

I used to buy at BIG container of bread crumbs until I started reading food labels.

Suddenly I realized that I could make my own bread crumbs with all the ends of our homemade bread!

When we get to the end of bread I stick the remains in a freezer bag in the freezer.  When the bag is full I thaw the bread, and toast it in the oven @ 400 degrees.

Once toasted, I place it in the food processor and process until light and fluffy.

It is great for meatballs, meatloaf, chicken--anything that calls for breadcrumbs!

  It works like a charm and does not have any preservatives.  I love that it cuts down on food waste too :)

If I can't use all the bread crumbs at once I throw them in a freezer bag until I need them.


Check out more things to love at Things I Love Thursday @ The Diaper Diaries

Menu Plan Monday--June 7th

I stocked my freezer this weekend in hopes of making dinner prep a little easier this month.  We did eat out quite a bit this weekend with errand running and all the cooking, so this week we'll try to eat dinner at home all week.  Saturday we are going for a ride on the Thomas Train so I'm not sure what will happen, but hopefully we'll be home in time to enjoy a meal from the freezer!

Here's the plan for the week--

June 8- June 12

1. Eat Out (OAMC DAY)
2. Meatball Subs
3. Chicken Cutlets
4. Spaghetti Pizza
5. Sweet Potato Spinach Wraps
6. Pool Picnic--Egg Salad Sandwiches
7. Nachos and Rice

What are you cooking this week?

Check out my Freezer Cooking plan here.
Check out my June Meal Plan here.

Check out Orgjunkie.com for more fabulous meals plans!

June Freezer Cooking--Final Tally

 Here's the results from the cooking marathon I ran this weekend.  I'll know at the end of the month if it's worth it.   I'm hoping for less dishes and more time with the kiddos in the early evening hours!

Meatballs (for Subs)
Southwest Chicken Roll-ups

Sweet Potato Spinach Wraps (recipe coming soon)

2 Dinners of Chicken Cutlets (recipe coming soon)

24 Cheeseburger Mini-Muffins


Parts of Meals:

Red Sauce (for Spaghetti)
3lbs Bacon (BLTs and Biscuit Cups)
12 c Shredded Chicken (Sandwiches and Tacos)

Sweet Potato Wedges
Homemade Bread Crumbs
Refried Beans


Breakfast:
Bacon Egg and Cheese Biscuit Cups
Chocolate Chip Waffles

Baking List:

2 dozen Strawberry Flax Muffins
3 Dozen White Chocolate Chip Cookies
32 Butter horns








Whew!  I'm beat.


It was fun, and I'm sure rewarding!

Be sure to visit Life as Mom for more freezer cooking adventures!

Stories on Sunday--Corn and Bean Tacos

Most ingredients came right from the freezer!

I have been buy lots of corn because it has been on sale every week.  Thomas is finally getting excited about picking up his corn.  I guess that happens when your mom serves it...all...the...time!

I heated up the chicken and beans in one pan and then let the cheese melt on top.  It was tasty with great texture.


Can you tell we love Mexican inspired dishes around here?

Corn and Bean Tacos

Ingredients
2 TB olive oil
2 TB minced garlic
2c shredded chicken
1c black beans
Sprinkle of salt
Sprinkle of cumin
2 ears of corn, cut off cob (I cook it in the microwave)
1 c shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
Hard Taco Shells

Directions:
1. Heat oil in large saute pan with lid.  Add garlic and let is sizzle a bit!
2. Add in chicken, black beans, salt, and cumin until heated through.
3 Layer in the corn, then the cheese.  Place lid on top and reduce heat to low.  Let the cheese melt.........
4. Scoop up mixture into your taco shell and enjoy!


Serve with a side of Refried Beans.

Check out more yummy recipes at Tempt My Tummy Tuesday!

Square Foot Gardening Update # 11 June 5th

I left for a week and look what happened!!!  Remember last week when I said my pumpkins were thriving?

Now they are over-taking!  Oh well, it's fun to watch them grow.

My husband had to mow around them--

Uh-oh as my daughter would say!

The other Uh-oh, is that some squash bugs started to eat my zucchini plants.  I decided to take them out because the cucumbers still looked okay.  I am going to plant petunias in their place to hopefully continue to ward those nasty pests off!

Now, onto more growth--

We've got tomatoes sprouting:

The beans are sprouting--

I guess I can pick some lettuce soon or do I wait?

Lastly, we have been enjoying fresh picked sugar snap peas everyday!  They are so delicious.  Next year I'll plant them in a better place, but they have done really well at climbing our trellis.  I love, love, love them!

Okay, so what next?  Should I plant more beans?  What other things do you plant when the weather gets HOT?


Head over to $5 Dollar Dinners for Grow Eat $ave for more garden fun!