Meals From Scratch Summer Challenge Meal Plan Week 1 Preview

Week 1

Below is the first week’s meal plan.  Since this is the kids’ last week of school for us, I am letting them buy their lunch this week. So, if your kids are already out for the summer or you prefer to prep their lunches, you will have to make their lunches this week too.  

On a side note, as I mentioned in an earlier blog post, I made the switch to vegetarian, so I will post my vegetarian alternatives (which usually just includes a larger portion of vegetables and elimination of the meats).  Also, we believe there are some gluten sensitivities in our family as well.  So, I will note the gluten free options as we progress as well.  For example, cookies can easily be replaced with baby carrots, raisins and water for the Snack for the whole week (I do this for myself anyway), or you can follow a gluten free recipe.  Apple pie can be replaced with baked cinnamon apples, ice cream or sorbet, etc.  Last but not least, Marcus is lactose intolerant, so I replace his cheese with Veggies Shreds, if appropriate, or leave it out or replace it (for example, I give him a whole apple instead of the cheese).  So, as you can tell, everything here is flexible…and since my snacks change from week to week, you shouldn’t get too bored with things either, even if you are making substitutions.

Monday - June 4, 2012

Breakfast:           Cereal with milk (Marcus and I use Rice or Soy Milk)

Snack 1:              Chocolate Chip Cookies and water

Lunch:                 Kids = School Lunch         Adults = Salad

Snack 2:              1/2 apple, cheese, water

Dinner:                 Pot Roast with Stew Vegetables

Dessert:               Brownies

Tuesday - June 5, 2012

Breakfast:           Yogurt

Snack 1:              baby carrots, raisins, water

Lunch:                 Kids = School Lunch         Adults = Salad

Snack 2:              Frozen Blueberry Yogurt Skewer

Dinner:                Tamales, pinto beans, spanish rice

Dessert:               Flan

Wednesday – June 6, 2012

Breakfast:           Cereal with milk (Marcus and I use Rice or Soy Milk)

Snack 1:              Chocolate Chip Cookies and water

Lunch:                 Kids = School Lunch         Adults = Salad

Snack 2:              1/2 apple, cheese, water

Dinner:                 Lasagna

Dessert:               Flan

Thursday – June 7, 2012

Breakfast:             Yogurt

Snack 1:                baby carrots, raisins, water

Lunch:                   Kids = Sandwich, Fruit, Milk        Adults = Salad

Snack 2:                Frozen Blueberry Yogurt Skewer

Dinner:                 Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas, Refried Beans

Dessert:               Sopapilla with Honey

Friday – June 8, 2012

Breakfast:           Cereal with milk (Marcus and I use Rice or Soy Milk)

Snack 1:              Chocolate Chip Cookies and water

Lunch:                 Kids = Sandwich, Fruit, Milk        Adults = Salad

Snack 2:              1/2 apple, cheese, water

Dinner:                Pizza

Dessert:               Ice Cream (Marcus and I eat Sorbet)

Saturday  - June 9, 2012

Breakfast:           Yogurt

Snack 1:             baby carrots, raisins, water

Lunch:                 Grilled tomato and cheese sandwiches, fruit, kids mik and adults water

Snack 2:              Frozen Blueberry Yogurt Skewer

Dinner:                Steak, baked potatoes, broccolli

Dessert:               Apple Pie

Sunday June 10, 2012

Breakfast:           Cereal with milk (Marcus and I use Rice or Soy Milk)

Snack 1:              Chocolate Chip Cookies and water

Lunch:                 Chicken Nuggets, sweet potato fries, kids milk, adults water

Snack 2:              1/2 apple, cheese, water

Dinner:                Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn

Dessert:               Apple Pie

Meals From Scratch Meal Planning - June 2012

One of the most gruelling tasks for me following a from scratch lifestyle has actually been the meal planning.  I mean, it takes considerable effort sometimes to plan the meals out in which we are going to eat. After that, I have to create my shopping list, and then I have to buy the groceries and find time to cook everything.  In my house, we eat 6 times a day which while good for you makes planning and shopping time consuming at times! 

Pinterest has become my friend as of late, because it has given me fresh new ideas for summer and reminded me of some old recipes that I know. 

I am clearing out my stock of some things that I have in my pantry and I have planned out my meals for June.  I challenge everyone to do the same and to start a from scratch lifestyle this summer.  I will post my meal plan, weekly shopping list, recipes, etc., and the bulk of the work will be done for you.  All you have to do is go to the grocery store to buy the groceries (something you have to do anyway) and make the meals (making everything from scratch might be a little more time consuming, but I am planning meals which mostly you can prepare and cook in one day and then freeze/refrigerate and reheat for the week).  If this seems like a lot of work, grab a neighbor or friend.  It makes the time go by faster and the extra hand in the kitchen is always a plus. 

I will be grabbing my neighbor and good friend Angie this summer.  We are going to try and bake our bread, make and prepare our snacks and meals for the week on Mondays - which I have also conveniently dubbed crockpot day! 

So, clean out your kitchen this week, and get ready for a from scratch summer with me!  I promise you will feel better if you do it!  I will post in the next couple of days the 1st weeks' meal plan, shopping list and recipes. 

5 Minute Homemade Salsa: Secret Ingredient - Hungarian Wax Pepper

The Hungarian Wax Pepper, is a wonderful pepper.  Although it looks a lot like a Banana Pepper, it is hardly the same.  The to easiest way to tell a Banana Pepper from a Hungarian Wax Pepper, other than tasting it, is the tip of the pepper.  The Hungarian Wax Pepper is rounded.  As far as flavor goes, it is considered a mild-hot pepper, not a sweet pepper like the Banana Pepper.  This guy, about 6 inches in length, is the secret ingredient to my homemade salsa (recipe below).  

Salsa:

3 cans petite diced tomatoes OR 4 cups diced Roma tomatoes
1 Hungarian Wax Pepper
3 jalapenos
1/2 Yellow Onion
6 leaves fresh Cilantro
3-4 cloves garlic
garlic salt, to taste

Dice the peppers, onion and cilantro.  Mince the garlic.  Add all the ingredients to the tomato, then add garlic salt to taste.  

The Magical Fruit - Beans

I can bake and cook a lot of things, but beans has never been one of them.  Thanks to my WONDERFUL neighbor, Angie, I now know how to prepare beans.  Her recipe, below, was a big hit...

2 bags of beans (or a couple cans)
1 onion, chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 can tomato sauce (or make your own - I use Roma tomatoes to make my own)
1 bunch cilantro
Water

Brown the chopped onion and garlic.  Remove from heat and put in blender with Cilantro.  Blend until smooth.  Place blended mixture, tomato sauce and beans in crockpot and add just enough water to cover.  Cook on low heat for 8 - 9 hours.

I made this, froze what I thought I wasn't going to use this week and had to go get more out!  My boys ate them up after I informed them that beans make them fart.  They think farting is was the best thing ever, so they kept asking for more!  Gotta love boys - well, at least I do, because I have 4 of them now, sigh! ;) 

Things to take from this week - neighbors and friends are always a great source of information and if you inform your young male children their vegetables will make them fart, they will eat them!  LOL!!!

Successful Recipes

Over time, I have taken recipes and perfected them to be just what I wanted them to be. This past week, I found that one of my recipes had gone missing (probably on the computer that crashed). I was so heartbroken!

Today, I thought I'd share with you some of my successful recipes from the past week with two motives in mind 1) To share my recipes with you 2) To keep this blog as an alternate storage method to just my home computer and binder. Enjoy!


Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup dry bread crumbs
2. 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
3. 1/2 teaspoon paprika (I actually used smoked paprika)
4. 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
5. 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
6. 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
7. 1 egg well beaten
8. 3-4 pieces skinless boneless chicken breast; filleted in hal

Cooking Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, stir together breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, paprika, garlic salt, pepper and parsley. In a separate bowl beat the egg. Dip the chicken in the egg, and then roll in the crumb mixture.

Place coated pieces of chicken on a lightly oiled baking sheet (or a baking stone - which is my preference), arranging pieces so they don't touch (use two pans if needed).

Bake 40-45 minutes.

Homemade Breadcrumbs

Use whatever you have in the house for bread. Don't use stale bread though.

If the bread is too fresh or not very dry follow the directions below:

Place bread in oven on an ungreased baking sheet. Make sure they are stacked only one piece high and that there is breathing room between the pieces. Bake at 300 degrees for 10 - 16 minutes; about halfway through turn over so they dry evenly.

Tear dried bread into smaller pieces and place in your food processor (or blender). Process until desired coarseness.

Note: Coarser is better, because you can always make coarser crumbs finer later...

Beef & Bean Chili

Ingredients

1. 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2. 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
3. 4 cloves garlic, minced
4. 3 tablespoons chili powder
5. 4 teaspoons ground oregano
6. 2 teaspoons ground cumin
7. 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
8. 2 pounds (extra) lean ground beef
9. 2 jars tomato sauce
10. 1 cup water
11. 1 cup cooked kidney beans or one can kidney beans
12. 1 cup cooked black beans or one can black beans
13. Sea salt
14. 1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Directions:

In a large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic. Cook until onions are translucent.

Stir in chili powder, oregano, cumin and crushed red pepper and thoroughly mix. Add ground beef and stir until the meat is browned.

Next, add tomato sauce, water and beans. Season with salt to taste, then bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 25 - 30 minutes more, stirring often so flavors can meld together.

In the last 10 minutes, stir in cilantro.

Southern Homemade Cornbread

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 cup sifted flour
2. 1/2 cup sugar
3. 1/2 teaspoon salt
4. 4 teaspoon baking soda
5. 1 1/2 cups corn meal
6. 2 eggs
7. 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
8. 1 stick unsalted butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Sift together dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, add eggs and milk. Melt butter in skillet and swish around to grease well. Pour batter into mixture; mix well. Mixture should have bubbles but no dry lumps. Pour mixture back into skillet.

Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until top springs back.

Cool slightly, slice and serve.

Banana Bread

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups sifted flour
2. 2 teaspoons baking powder
3. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4. 1/2 teaspoon salt
5. 1/4 cup butter
6. 1/2 cup sugar
7. 2 eggs
8. 3 medium ripe bananas
9. 1/2 cup butter milk or sour milk (to sour milk - had 1 teaspoon vinegar to milk)
   

Directions:

Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together.

Cream butter, sugar, eggs in a separate bowl. Mash the bananas into the mixture.

Alternately add milk and flour to the mixture.

When well blended pour into a greased bread pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Another Baking Weekend

This past weekend was another successful weekend of baking. Cookies, muffins and bread keep me standing in the kitchen for 3-4 hours, but the end result is more than worth it! Last weekend it was bread, multi-berry muffins, oatmeal scotchies and chocolate chip cookies. This weekend it was bread, chocolate chip muffins and oatmeal raisin cookies.

As I've mentioned before, we are a family on-the-go, so we need quick out-the-door breakfasts. The muffins are perfect, and we can change it up weekly depending on what fruit is on sale, or just use chocolate chips for a treat, like I did this week.

Lunches consist of organic milk boxes for Michael, Almond Milk for Marcus (he's lactose intolerant) and water for me, a piece of fruit, a sandwich and cookies. For the sandwiches, I make the bread, and we use Hormel Natural Choice meat, because it is nitrate/nitrite free. Cheese goes on Michael's and my sandwich. We like provolone or swiss cheese. The hubby usually takes the dinner leftovers, or he enjoys a salad.

Dinners have a bit more of a challenge since we're always on-the-go, and last week our house was a construction zone and without a kitchen (redoing the floors after a flood). Monday night ended up being sandwiches. Tuesday we ate at the ball field. Wednesday, I took my crockpot over to my mothers and made a pot roast with potatoes. Thursday and Friday I still didn't have a kitchen, so these days were grab and go too. We'll have to see how dinners are this week! I will also post our recipes.

Doesn't Anyone Cook Meals From Scratch Anymore?

My husband and I have discussed for sometime now about eating healthier and stopping the habits of eating stuff from a can, or things which have ingredients that we can't pronounce, especially those with 13 syllables.

The first and most obvious change I could think of was to start cooking meals from scratch. From scratch means cooking with non-prepared ingredients, to me. I started searching the internet for recipes that were "from scratch" and found that a lot of these meals and desserts called for pre-prepared items. This infuriated me. So, I went to the bookstore, thinking that they have to have some "from scratch" cookbooks, right? I scoured Barnes N Noble and turned up not one cookbook that had meals in it that weren't strictly Vegetarian or Raw Food diet books that had meals from scratch.

So, I've returned home, armed with one of my mother's cookbooks, a few websites and blogs which I've marked as favorites, and I'm here to post my recipes (as I perfect them), experiences of cooking from scratch, and hopefully satisfactions of cooking from scratch.