Pages

Monday, September 29, 2008

Menu Planning Monday


I'm a little late in getting this posted, but better late than never! This menu cost me right at about $80.00. My weekly budget is $75.00 for our family of 9. Remember though, I was had to completely buy all new meat due to the hurricane that came through. It's ok though since I still had leftover money from my previous budgets.

Breakfast:
Monday: Waffles and fruit
Tuesday: Baked oatmeal
Wednesday: Muffins and sausage
Thursday: Eggs and biscuits
Friday: Pancakes and fruit
Saturday: Eggs, hashbrowns, and a meat
Sunday: Country ham and gravy over biscuits

Lunch:
Monday: Grilled hot dogs, homemade mac & cheese, and a veggie
Tuesday: Sandwiches and a veggie
Wednesday: Soup and crackers
Thursday: Fried ham, mashed potatoes, and a veggie
Friday: Baked potatoes and vegetable plate
Sat and Sun: We either eat leftovers, or a salad, or sandwiches

Snacks:
Monday: Banana bread
Tuesday: Fruit
Wednesday: Homemade cookies
Thursday: Veggie and cheese tray
Friday: Tortilla wraps---> Filled with peanut butter, banana, and/or honey

Dinner:
Monday:
Teriyaki chicken
Eggrolls
Fried rice

Tuesday:
Mini meatloaf patties
Braised radishes
Cheesy cauliflower casserole

Wednesday:--->It's supposed to be cooler, I can't wait!
Homemade chili
Cornbread

Thursday:
Crockpot ribs
Mashed potatoes
Corn

Friday:
Homemade pizza
Breadsticks

Saturday:
Smothered pork chops
Rice and gravy
Green beans
Yeast rolls

Sunday:--->Olive Garden night! I got the recipes from copycat recipes. It tastes exactly like the real thing!
Blackened chicken alfredo
Tuscana soup
Breadsticks

Olive Garden alfredo sauce:
Ingredients:
1 pint of Heavy Cream
1 stick of butter
2 Tbsp. Cream Cheese
1/2 - 3/4 C. Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. Garlic powder
Directions:
In a saucepan combine butter, heavy cream, and cream cheese. Simmer this until all is melted, and mixed well. Add the Parmesan cheese and Garlic powder. Simmer this for 15 - 20 minutes on low. You may wish to season with a little salt and pepper. I have done this with half and half, but we prefer the heavy cream. But I wouldn't try it with plain milk.

Olive Garden zuppa tuscana soup:
Ingredients:
1 lb. Italian Sausage
2 large Russet Baking Potatoes sliced in half, and then in 1/4 inch slices
1 large Onion, chopped
1/2 package Oscar Meyer Real Bacon Bits or 6 slices bacon, crumbled
2 cloves garlic minced
2 C. Kale or Swiss chard chopped
2 cans Chicken Broth
1 qt. Water
1 C. Heavy Whipping Cream
1/2 tsp fennel seed
Directions:
Brown sausage in large pot. Place in bowl and put off to side after done cooking. Place onions, potatoes, chicken broth, water, garlic in pot, and cook on medium heat until potatoes are done. Add sausage, bacon, salt, and pepper to taste, and fennel seed and simmer for another 10 minutes. Turn to low heat, add kale and cream. Heat through and serve. Please don't skip the fennel seed. It is what really makes the dish turn out just like the real thing!

For more great menu ideas, head on over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for Menu Planning Mondays.

9 comments:

Nessa said...

Thanks for sharing your great menu! That is my favorite soup, so I'm thrilled you posted the recipe!

Have a great week!

Kirstin said...

Yum! I make a yummy 4 cheese alfredo that I love. Similar to yours but it adds in swiss cheese and also uses cream of mushroom soup. I know, odd addition, but it so amazingly rich and good, that it's all I make. I may have posted it on my blog. I'm not sure...how do you do your blackened chicken?

Anonymous said...

What do you use for bread sticks? Do you have an olive garden recipe too?
Sounds lovely. I love your snack rotation. Good Idea!

Teresa said...

nessa, it's my favorite soup as well! I was so surprised the first time I made it that it was exactly like the real thing. You really ought to try it.

Kristin, I have a blackening season that I put on the chicken. I also have a grill top that fits over my stove burners. I just grill them indoors most of the time. It's super easy.
The swiss with mushroom soup sounds interesting. I may try it. I have also tried it with fontina cheese, it's great that way too.

jessy, I have a breadstick recipe that I use here. I can get it posted tomorrow. It's real easy. They're good, but not quite as good as Olive Garden's. I'm still on the hunt for one that matches them. If I find one, i'll be sure to post it here.

Nicole said...

Ok Earl will love you forever for giving me the Tuscana Soup recipe. He goes there just for that.

Teresa said...

Nicole, me too. :-) If you need some fennel seed, let me know.

Kate said...

Wow Teresa, everything sounds so good. Thanks so much for sharing the Olive Garden recipes. I'll be making that soup next month. That has always been my favorite thing at Olive Garden.

Dusty (To the Moon and Back) said...

Mmmm. I'm going to have to try that Olive garden alfredo recipe. I love that place!

Lisa said...

Thank you so much for this post. We just went to Olive Garden last week for my daughter's birthday. My husband always gets this soup. My son always gets fettuccine alfredo. We spend $50+. A MAJOR splurge for us. Now I can surprise the family with homemade Olive Garden!