Wow so nice to see so many ladies join us last week, we were just shy of 500! That’s so awesome and I hope you found your week was much more organized because of it. Let me know in the comments how it went. Were you able to follow your menu plan? Did you find it to be flexible enough to change around as needed?
Our recipe highlight from last week goes to the Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup recipe. It took a little longer to prepare than I normally like due to the peeling of the potatoes (anyone else hate peeling potatoes as much as I do?) but my hubbie really enjoyed it so that made it all worth the while 🙂 It wasn’t safe for my allergic son (11) to eat so I just served him ham and potatoes plain which he prefers anyway. Did anyone else give it a try?
I’m not sure if you had a chance to see yesterday’s post yet but I’m so excited that I might have the opportunity to meet one of my readers in New York City!! Please go check out this post to see what all the fuss is about and find out how to enter to win this amazing giveaway. The winner is also going to receive a $500.00 shopping spree from the Container Store, yay!
Menu planning resources:
For those of you that are new here I keep a list on my blog of my family’s favorite recipes. If you are looking for simple, quick and delicious meal ideas be sure to check it out. Also I did have a post which included links to other online recipe indexes. Right now those links seemed to have disappeared on me but hopefully I can get them back. If not we’ll just have to do it again 🙂
Also I have a whole page of additional menu planning resources which includes recipe sites and sites that do the menu planning work for you.
This week’s web resources:
14 Awesome Ways to Display Your Meal Plan ~ @ Crystal & Company
Video ~ Allergy-Friendly Chicken Tenders (can’t wait to try this!)
Here’s what we’ll be eating this week:
Monday: Tortellini Spinach Tomato Soup served with bread machine Honey Whole Wheat Bread
Tuesday: Slow Cooker Lemonade Chicken
Wednesday: All Day Macaroni and Cheese (lightened up) served with Italian Sausages
Thursday: Leftover buffet
Friday: Slow Cooker Sundried Tomatoes and Feta Tri-Tip
Saturday: Weeknight Ravioli Bake
Simple Supper Sunday
WHAT’S ON YOUR MENU THIS WEEK?
Menu Plan Monday guidelines and banner selections are here.
Kelli @ 3 Boys and a Dog says
I know I say it every week, but seriously… Thanks so much for providing this linky! It not only makes me remember to plan my menu, but it brings me loads of traffic. 🙂
Off to the grocery store… see you next week!
Laura says
Thanks Kelli, I like seeing your face here in the comments 🙂
Amy Lynne says
That Tri tip recipe sounds wonderful! I think I may need to try that one out!
Liz@HoosierHomemade says
Sounds like another yummy week! We are having Ravioli this week too.
Thanks for hosting Laura!
~Liz
Char says
Wow your menu looks good this week – can I come over for dinner?
The slow cooker tri tips sound delicious and they would go great with the Greek 7 Layer dip I made over the weekend (recipe on my site).
Sherry says
Glad you liked the soup! I don’t peel my potatoes just for that reason plus added vitamins in the skin. 🙂
Laura says
Yes I will be doing that the next time for sure! 🙂
Laura @ no more spending says
Thanks for hosting Laura, linking here has made me stick to menu planning like never before! Have a great week 🙂
Julie @ Pary Moppins says
Usually my menu plan is a suggestion and the meals get switched around on different days but last week everything went according to plan. 🙂 As for peeling the potatoes, for Christmas my hubby put a pair of potato scrubbing gloves in my stocking. This way they get really clean while you wash them and can leave the nutritious skin on while cooking. (I don’t like peeling taters either.)
Mom's Menu Planner says
The cheesy ham and potato soup recipe looks delicious, I will definitely have to try that! But here’s a thought – the McCain potato company makes these new “Purely Potatoes,” they come frozen, already peeled and sliced, why not use those in the soup to save time? They cook quickly and they taste great as mashed potatoes!
Laura says
Definitely looking for them!
Tiffany says
Thanks for hosting and for the great links! I’m off to check out all the ways to display my menu.
Crystal & Co. says
Laura- what a pleasant surprise to see my menu display post listed here this morning. I have a whole series going on about meal planning right now, which was inspired your recipe criteria post a few months ago that encouraged me to share my criteria with my readers as well. http://www.crystalandcomp.com/search/label/meal%20planning%20101
I also wanted to say thank you for always offering this weekly link up. By sharing my meal plan here, your site sent 396 readers my way in December! You rock! 🙂
Martha(MM) says
Sounds like a yummy week – thanks for hosting!
Susie's Homemade says
Looks fantastic! Here is what we are having this week:
http://susieshomemade.blogspot.com/2011/01/vanilla-and-black-pepper-pork-loin.html
Jillian says
Last week was the first time I’d really stuck to a menu I’d written down, and it was great! This week, my planning saved me already, as the Sunday dinner in the crock-pot did not turn out as planned, so I was able to quickly whip up Tuesday’s already thought out dinner and shift everything! I wrote all about it in my post. Yay for planning!
Laura says
Isn’t that the best feeling, when you know you’ve got it covered. Ahh, I love that! 🙂
Dianna says
Thank you so much for hosting the MPM and allowing others to post their menu and recipes. It is great inspiration. Now that I am a SAHM again (Yeah for me, bad for the reasons) I feel I especially have the responsibility of keeping up the house and sticking to the budget (especially now that we are one income again) while making tasty by more healthy meals. I don’t have many followers yet, but feel free to drop on by and see what is cooking (in all ways) at my house. This is Week is going to be light and cheap, go see why?
http://crftysahm.blogspot.com/2011/01/wow-week-of-this-year-is-gone.html
Again, thanks for helping me stay accountable and organized.
Dianna
Queen of the House says
Just like Mom’s Menu Planner mentioned above, Purely Potatoes are great to use. I have been able to get them on sale, which makes them rather reasonable. I love saving a step (not having to peel them)!!!! 🙂
Thanks again for the link up! 🙂
Laura says
I’ve not seen these here in Canada…just looked again this morning when I got groceries. Will definitely keep my eyes open because it would be so worth it to me 🙂
Queen of the House says
That is very strange….do you have McCain’s at all?? They are a Canadian company. You might need to request that your store carry it! 🙂
Ore-Ida also sells “steam & mash” potatoes…they do contain a little salt, though.
Hope you can find some! 🙂
Maria says
Zehr’s carries McCain’s, next to the frozen french fries. I prefer Ore-Ida myself as some of the McCain’s products texture and taste don’t remind me of potatoes. But I’ve not tried the Purely Potatoes.
Oh and peeling can be a lot more fun (and faster) with one of these!
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.ca/product.asp?SKU=11917925&
Jami @ An Oregon Cottage says
Laura, I so appreciate MPM and the accountability it has provided for me for the last 2 years! I always know where I can go if I need inspiration, too. 🙂
Thanks!
Jami
Laura says
Thanks Jami! Trust me I need the accountability too for sure! Love MPM!
Theresa J says
We love potato soups of all kinds around my house, but like you , I hate peeling potatoes also. I generally buy red skinned or yellow skinned potatoes, wash them really well, cut them up and use them in the recipe with the skins on. Leaving the skins on does not detract from the taste a single bit, and actually adds some fiber to the soup.
Thanks so much for hosting this link up, it’s a great inspiration to see all the other menus and recipe ideas.
Have a blessed day.
Jessica (Cheapskate Life) says
The only time I peel potatoes is when they are getting mashed…I hate peeling potatoes! That Cheesy Potato and Ham Soup definitely looks yummy!
Christina says
This is my first week posting my meal plan but I have been planning for the last two months or so and it definitely helps me maintain my sanity throughout the week! 🙂 Laura, my son has allergies, as well (which makes planning all the more critical). Love that you are concious of allergy-friendly needs as well – it helps to have so many partners out there in blog-land on this topic!
http://www.christinatibesar.blogspot.com
Living the Balanced Life says
I REALLY should get involved with this! Hubby and I started a healthier eating plan (I refuse to call it a diet as it needs to be permanent!) and it would help me to get it organized out. And I am sure some others would love as well!
Bernice
How does your faith affect your ability to cope?
Miss Mommy/Emily says
Hi, Laura! Thanks as always for this great resource!
I wanted to share a great find with you- I was thinking that you probably already had seen them, but then I remembered you’re in Canada, so maybe not if Target’s not there. Target has this great $1 section and right now they have these awesome little containers you would LOVE! Here is my post on them- I needed something to store craft stuff that was also lightweight enough to fly home with…anyway, there you go!
http://www.theadventuresofmissmommy.com/things-i-love-thursday-great-cheap-storage-containers/
Laura says
Oh my how I would love to go to Target…maybe if I go to NYC I could check it out! Love your containers 🙂
Miz Helen says
Hi Laura,
I really like you Slow Cooker Lemonade Chicken and your menu. I would love to invite you to Full Plate Thursday at my Country Cottage. Thank you for hosting us today and you have a great week!
Wendy @ Celiacs in the House says
Putting that slow cooker to good use this week Laura. I’ll have mine going while I try a few recipes from Stephanie O’Dea’s new More Make It Fast, Cook It Slow. Life is going to get hectic around here and I need more of those slow cooker meals to get us through. Have a great week.
Jamie @ thrifty veggie mama says
I have that cookbook and use it all the time!
Wendy @ Celiacs in the House says
Is it the new one that just came out? I have both, but am liking the new one even better.
Jamie @ thrifty veggie mama says
I didn’t know there was two! This is the first one. I will have to look for the second.
Christine says
Found your site last week and have been linking up! Thanks for the menu ideas!
MEGHAN says
Such great ideas from all those who are linking up. Off to check out more now! I just posted mine as well http://www.thetuckerstaketennessee.com/2011/01/menu-plan-monday-january-10th.html
Meghan
Christy @ organicprincess says
Still can’t link up 🙁 Wish I knew what was wrong.
http://organicprincess.blogspot.com/2011/01/weekly-menu-plan-19.html
the chatty housewife says
It’s one more thing to store, but I love my Rotato. I peel potatoes and sweet potatoes with it and it has saved me many times from the dreaded peeling jobs! It’s fast!
http://www.amazon.com/Rotato-Potato-Peeler/dp/B0004BV2MU
Laura says
Oh my goodness I would love one of those!
Julieann says
Hi Laura and everyone:)
Laura your menu looks so fun and delicious:) Especially the raviolis!!
My menu this week is going to be a little differnt then usual. My husbnad has to miss a few dinners because of work, so a few nights will be easy and kid friendly. Tonight I am making teriaki chicken, steamed rice, steamed broccoli, salad and homemade dinner rolls:)
Have a glorious Monday!
Julieann
Laura says
Mmmmm I LOVE teriyaki chicken!
Trish says
Each week, when I plan my menu, I figure that I will probably not need to make them all, since there are normally leftovers, and sometimes we just make something fast, that is not on the menu, such as eggs. Last week, I had to switch my Mon and Fri meals around, since I had forgotten that my husband had sausages on Sun and would not want them again on Mon. By the end of the week, we had enough leftovers that it was not necessary for me to make a new meal on Fri, so today, I will be making them meal I originally planned for last week.
Thanks for hosting and for all of your recipe links!
Laura says
Ahh that’s the best part of menu planning to me! I regularly switch things up, it’s the best!
Patti Beverlin says
I made the Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup this week and we LOVED it! I hate peeling potatoes and it makes my hands itch, so I avoid it at all costs. I simply scrubbed my potatoes, diced them, and proceeded with the recipe as written. Didn’t hurt a thing, as I already stated that we LOVED it! 🙂
Thanks for the recipe link! And thanks for your weekly menu planning reminder. I’ve been following it for several months now.
Patti
Laura says
I think that’s what I’ll do next time as well!
dramaqueensmum says
The ravioli bake sounds yummy. I need to print the recipe.
Jamie @ thrifty veggie mama says
This is my first week participating and I am already getting such great ideas! The tortellini soup looks great!
Carli says
Thanks again, Laura! No, last week didn’t go as planned. My turkey is way too big and is taking forever to thaw!
Amy says
Thanks for hosting. I love coming here to look for inspiration.
eatingRD says
Love this idea! Looking forward to joining! 🙂
Mrs. Fuzz says
Better late than never, right?
This week we are doing lots of Star Wars Cookbook recipes for our soon to be 5 year old that is obsessed with star wars. Should be fun. Or interesting. 🙂
There are Soooooo many menus to look at on here!
Megan says
oops, I almost forgot to add my link this week. The tortellini soup is on my list for next week – thanks for linking to it!