May Menu

Here's my menu for May.  Every now and then I'll have what I like to call a, "Use What You Have" week  During that week I don't plan any meals and I also don't buy any ingredients for special recipes.  I just "Use What I Have".  I do go out and buy the essentials, like milk, bread, eggs, and produce, but other than that zip, zero, nada.  I use whatever meat I have in the freezer and I raid the pantry.  So, the first week in May ended up being my "Use What You Have" week since we were just returning from out of town and I hadn't planned my menu yet.

May

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Out.  On the way home from California	Use what you have week:  Grilled Chicken with Swiss Chard straight from the garden.  Kids: Chicken Nuggets with watermelon.	Grilled Cod with Swiss Chard and Triple Berry Salad (recipe to come next week).  Kids:  Fish Sticks with salad and Swiss Chard.	Taco Bell.  (No desire to cook!)	Grilled Chicken Sausages Stuffed with Feta and Spinach and Swiss Chard.  Kids: Quesadilla's and Strawberries.	Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes	Out
Mother's Day (Marie's)	Triple Berry Salad w/Grilled Chicken & Veggie Muffins	Egg Salad Sandwiches w/grilled Zucchini	Lemon Splashed Shrimp Salad	Taco Salad	Pizza	Leftover's
Baked Potato Bar and all the Fixin's	Wonton Chicken Salad	Grilled Shrimp Tacos	Artichoke & Pasta Salad	BLT's w/ fresh fruit	Breakfast for dinner	Out
Sunday Roast w/ Potatoes, Carrots, Rolls, & Salad	Cobb Salad	Spicy Thai Shrimp Salad	Mexican Delight	Cereal, fresh fruit, & muffins	Last Day of School!  Kid's Choice	Leftover's
Lemon Chicken w/ Rice, Salad, and Rolls	BBQ

Although I hate summers here in Arizona there are a few things about Summer, in general, that I love.  One of those things I love is the lighter food that is standard summer fare; salads, sandwiches, and barbecues.  I honestly look forward to eating in the summer.

My mother-in-law isn't going to be in town this Memorial Day, so for the first time in....ummm.....9 years we are on our own.  I'm already planning a BBQ with hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, and chips, but I need some ideas for other things to have and especially for a yummy dessert to make.  Any suggestions?  Also, any one want to join us for the festivities?

April's Menu

My friend Jamielyn over at I heart Naptime is an amazing crafter and also very organized when it comes to planning the dinners for her family.  Recently, she switched from weekly menu planning to monthly menu planning.  Today on her blog she posted her April menu and she asked if any of her readers had also planned their menus and if they had, if they would share them.  Well, I love to plan out my menu for the month.  It really does make everything easier.  So, I thought I would post my menu up here on the ole' blog and share it with Jamielyn.

April with the last two days of March!

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
			Honey Baked Chicken	Quinoa w/Black Beans	Pizza	My B-Day Out Kids-Mac and Cheese
Marie's (Mother-in-law)	Oven Roasted Red Potatoes and Asparagus	Salad w/Chicken	Shrimp Fettucini Alfredo w/Broccoli	Taco Salad	Fisherman's Quick Fish	Leftover's and Ward Picnic
Mulligatawny	Supper Nacho's	Mexican Delight	Lemon Splashed Shrimp Salad	International Quinoa Salad	Pizza	Leftover's
Roast w/Potatoes and Carrots	Hamburgers or Hot Dogs w/Chips and Fresh Fruit	Black Bean Soup	Penne Pasta w/Spinach and Bacon	Grilled Chicken Breast w/Veggies	Breakfast for Dinner	Leftover's or Out
Easter Marie's	Almost Lasagna	Fancy Quesdilla's	Leftover's	Out	California	California

Treats to try:

Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake

Homemade Granola Bars

Peppermint Patty Brownies

I had to add those last two dinners because they were HUGE hits with my family!  The Honey Baked Chicken was a new recipe and we all loved it!  The Quinoa with Black Beans has been a favorite of Dave's and mine for a while but I always thought it had a too grown-up taste for the kids.  However, recently I've decided that I'm DONE making two meals every night.  One for the kids, one for us, it was getting really old so now I make ONE meal.  The kids can eat it if they want, if they don't then they can skip dinner and wait for breakfast.  So last night I made our favorite Quinoa dish for the whole family and lo and behold, they LOVED it!  I was shocked and thrilled, but mostly shocked!  Even the Beast ate it!  So, if you have any questions or want some recipes let me know.  I am planning on making the Quinoa with Black Beans again and taking pictures so I can post the yumminess on this blog.  Maybe, Jamielyn will even let me share the recipe with her fans on I heart Naptime.

*All recipes in bold are new and I will let you know how they are if you're interested.