Menu Plan Monday October 28, 2013

I can not believe it is already the last week in October.  The year goes into hyper-speed right about NOW.  It will be Christmas before I know it and I haven't even started shopping.  I did manage to get my porch decorated for fall though.  I must say it looks pretty good - if I do say so myself!!

After what was an extremely fun and busy weekend,  it's time to get back into the normal weekly routine.  Just for fun though,  I'll share a couple pics of our church's fall festival and what we were busy doing.

 Baking cakes for the cake walk - red velvet with cream cheese icing

 Chocolate chip with butter-cream frosting.

 My favorite - Chocolate cherry - YUM!!!

 Besties with their faces painted at the fall festival.

 My view from the sweets table.

My contribution to trunk or treat!! Had to steal from my porch for this one.

 My peacock princess

 Alice in Wonderland

 Bat Girl

 My little cowboy

Our hair-do for the peacock princess.

Good times had by all, I assure you!!  I wish I had more pictures of the fall festival, the church went all out!!  We had rides, games, the cake walk, and a dunk tank!!  It was super fun!!! 

On to this week and the many more fun, busy things we have to do.  Our boys' football team has their first play-off game this Thursday night - GO CANES!!!!  Our church is having fall jubilee this week as well.  So, running every night means I HAVE to plan this week out.  PLUS,  I'm very serious about eating better - for EVERYONE - not just me.  I have a lot of weight I NEED to lose and our diet needs some major changes.

MONDAY - Chicken, green beans, and potatoes (a pinterest find - recipe to follow)

TUESDAY - Amazing crock pot pork tenderloin, potatoes, and carrots

WEDNESDAY - Baked chicken, grilled sweet potatoes, corn on the cob

THURSDAY - Tacos, chips n' salsa

FRIDAY - Chicken Lo Mein (new recipe)

SATURDAY - Pizza for the kiddos/ Out to eat for me n' hubby if I lose my goal weight this week

SUNDAY - Teriyaki chicken n' rice

For more meal planning ideas and recipes to steal, visit Menu Plan Monday over at Organizing Junkie.

Amazing Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin

I LOVE my crock pot!!  It makes things so easy on my busy days.  I should use it more often!!  Last week, I veered from my menu plan and tried this pork tenderloin recipe I found.   I'm usually not a fan of pork, because it's so hard for me to fix without being tough or dry!!  I made just a couple of changes,  but the results were still AMAZING!!!!!

Here's what you need:
          2-3 pound pork tenderloin
          1 tsp garlic powder
          salt and pepper
          1 envelope onion soup mix (I use homemade)
          1 cup water
          1 cup chicken broth
          3 tbsp soy sauce

Use salt, pepper, and garlic powder to make a rub for the pork.  I didn't give specific amounts, because I didn't measure.  I just sprinkled and rubbed it into the pork.

 Heat a tbsp of olive oil in a skillet and sear the pork before putting it in the crock pot.  While the pork is browning in the skillet;  whisk together the  water, chicken broth, and soy sauce.

Once the pork is seared, place it in the crock pot and pour the dry onion soup mix over it.  While the skillet is still hot,  pour the liquid mixture in and stir it around to get all the flavors from searing the meat.  Then, pour that over the pork.

 The original recipe called for this to be cooked on low for 4 hours.  However on my crock pot, the 4 hour setting is high.  I went ahead and used the 4 hour setting and it came out absolutely delicious.

My hubby and oldest child was into this before it ever got to the table.  It was also requested again the next day.  Unfortunately,  there weren't any leftovers to be had!!!  This recipe is definitely a keeper!!!  I paired it with some roasted potatoes and glazed carrots.  DELICIOUS Sunday afternoon meal.

Menu Plan October 14, 2013

It's already the middle of October?  Time flies when you're having fun!!

We have a lot of extra things to get finished this week in addition to our normal busy routine!

Here are the top priorities:

decorating the porch for fall

finish up the GREAT CLOTHING SWITCH OUT

couple of school papers for the boys

fall art projects for the girls

My inspiration for the porch.

(This is our porch last year, but will hopefully be looking like this again this week.)

All that means the menu plan this week is simple, quick, and easy.

MONDAY - Chicken gravy biscuits, mashed potatoes, corn

TUESDAY - Vegetable soup

WEDNESDAY - Chicken casserole, green beans, glazed carrots

THURSDAY - Hamburgers, french fries

FRIDAY - Truth for Youth outing/HAUNTED HOUSE!!!  ScAry!!

SATURDAY - Pizza

SUNDAY - Zaxby's (I have to work, so hubby stops after church and gets their lunch and mine.  Ain't he sweet?) 

This time of year just seems to zoom by on me. I'm not sure why, but it seems like once fall gets here, it's Christmas before I know it.  How does that happen?  It's nice to keep one thing on track and Menu Plan Monday from Organizing Junkie sure helps that.  Head on over to see what others are planning to eat this week,  get some recipes, and menu ideas for your weeks ahead.  Have a great week.  

Menu Plan Monday October 7, 2013

Time sure does fly when you're having fun.  I can not believe we are in October already. Only 78 days til Christmas!!!

Christmas Countdown

I haven't even started my shopping.  Yet another reason to have my menu's planned so there's not as much to worry about.

On to the menu for this week (there are a couple new ones I'm trying):
 
MONDAY - Baked chicken, roasted potatoes, green beans

TUESDAY - Chili

WEDNESDAY - Grilled Mahi Mahi with lemon sauce, glazed carrots, crunchy cranberry waldorf salad

THURSDAY - Spaghetti and meatballs, garlic - parmesan bread

FRIDAY - Potato soup, grilled cheese

SATURDAY - Hibachi chicken and rice       

SUNDAY - Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Pork Tenderloin, Roasted Potatoes, Corn

Visit Menu Plan Monday at Organizing Junkie for more meal planning ideas.