Mama's Menu: May 1-14, 2020
You know what grinds my gears? Hearing my husband ask, “What’s for dinner?” You know what grinds my gears even more? Having to figure out what’s for lunch AND dinner. Families are spending more time at home and grocery bills are on the rise. Let’s cut that out shall we?
Most bloggers will give you a recipe or one week’s worth of ideas. I’m here to take care of your entire lunch and dinner menu for the month of May! What if I told you that there’s a way to lower your grocery bill, decrease the number of Shipt deliveries you’re getting and never have to answer the dreaded question, “Honey, what’s for dinner?”
Here’s what’s on the menu for the first two weeks! Check back next week for the menu for the remainder of the month.
Now, let's get that grocery list together! I loved the convenience of Shipt, but ended up canceling when I realized the groceries that I purchased most often were about 20% more expensive. Eek! Now, I schedule a pick up time on my Walmart App, pull up and have a friendly team member throw it in my trunk. Yay for social distancing grocery shopping! (NOTE: I forgot two items on the grocery list - Rotel and vegetable oil)
BBQ Sliders
Dump half your bag of frozen meatballs in your crock pot (or all of it if you have greedy monsters or a mini football team to feed)
Squeeze your entire bottle of BBQ sauce and grape jelly in the pot
Turn on low and let it do it's thing for 3 hours (stir it occasionally)
Throw those suckers in a Hawaiian role and serve - drizzle the extra sauce over the slider if you're feeling fancy! (You can always save the sauce and use it to make baked BBQ chicken)
Lemon Pepper Baked Chicken
Pre-heat your oven to 405 degrees (it's odd but go with it)
Take out as much chicken you think your family will chow down on and beat it until it's relatively thin (thicker chicken breasts are harder to cook just right)
Season it well with the lemon paper seasoning
Place foil on a baking sheet and toss that seasoned chicken on it. Throw it in the oven and wait for 23 minutes. You're done. Dinner served, Mama!
Fried Chicken Tenders / Chicken Fried Chicken
Get 2 brown paper bags (like from the grocery store) and place one inside the other. This is to protect your kitchen from a flour explosion
Throw a good amount of flour in the inside bag - enough to coat all the chicken your greedy goblins are going to eat
Take out three eggs and beat them like you're about to whip up scrambled eggs. Season it with your Natures Seasoning and put a splash of milk in it (my Mama taught me this so don't question it - just go with it)
Slice your chicken breasts into tenders (or you can just buy the tenders) and season well with your Natures Seasoning
Dip the seasoned chicken tenders in the eggs covering them completely. Take the chicken out and drop it all (not the eggs!) in your brown paper bags. Dispose of the remaining egg concoction.
Fold the bags down and shake it like you wish you could shake your kid when they keep asking you what's for dinner. TIP: Don't shake your kid. CPS will take her away.
Throw some vegetable oil in a skillet and heat it up. If you drop a speck of flour in and it sizzles then it's ready to go. Drop those chicken tenders in the oil - 3 minutes each side and you should be good to go. (Forgot to add vegetable oil to the grocery list!)
Place fried strips on a paper towel to help soak up the extra grease and serve to your greedy crew.
Spaghetti with Meatballs
Pre-heat your oven to 400
Throw the remaining frozen meatballs on a baking sheet
Toss that baking sheet in the oven and leave it in there for 15 minutes
Whip up your favorite spaghetti sauce and boil the noodles
Mix it all together and dinner is served!
Turkey Chili
Brown your 1 pound of ground turkey seasoning well with Natures Seasoning and dump it in your crock pot
Dump a can of corn, pinto beans and chili beans in your crock pot (no need to drain the juices!)
Open the two packets of chili seasoning and dump that in the crock pot too
Put the crock pot on low heat if you've got 8 hours to let it stew. If not, cooking it for 3 hours on high is just fine.
Dinner is served (throw some steamed broccoli in there right before serving if you're feeling fancy and want the kids to get in some greens)
Cornbread goes great with this - follow the instructions from the Jiffy but add a pinch of sugar and as soon as it comes out of the oven poke holes in it and then lay on a thick layer of butter. The holes let the butter seep in and it's just better that way.
Crystal Oh's Meatloaf (that she stole from her Mama)
Pre-heat your oven to 385 degrees and place foil over a baking sheet
In a large bowl, mix 1 pound of ground beef, 1 packet of Lipton Onion Soup, splash some Worcester sauce in there if you have it but totally not necessary, about a quarter of a can of Sloppy Joe Sauce and 1 can of Rotel (forgot to add this to the grocery list!) If you've got some bread crumbs or some crushed crackers lying around you can toss a fistful into the mixture but if not no biggie.
Stir up that meat mixture and lay it out on the baking sheet - shaping it like a meatloaf with your hands
Throw that sucker in the oven for 40 minutes and drizzle the rest of the Sloppy Joe Mix on top. Heat up those instant mashed potatoes and you're good to go! Dinner is served, Mama!
Spanish Bowls (Can also be fajitas - it's up to you!)
Pre-heat your oven to 385 degrees and take out as much chicken as you think your crew will eat and slice it into tenders (or just buy the tenders).
Throw the chicken in a mixing bowl and toss in as much of the frozen bell peppers and onion mix as you want.
Open those two packets of taco seasonings and toss it in the mixing bowl. Mix it all together making sure the chicken and veggie mix is coated well
Take out your favorite baking sheet and cover it with foil. Spray it down with Pam - don't hold back - coat it generously.
Throw that chicken veggie medley on there and toss it in the oven for 25 minutes.
Serve on top of brown rice - throw in some canned corn, black beans or guac if you feel your crew deserves an extra treat! A little cilantro and salsa if they've behaved exceptionally well.
Cowboy Casserole
Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees and mix up the Jiffy cornbread like the box says (add a pinch of sugar - makes it taste better)
Sit the cornbread mixture to the side while your brown 1 pound of ground beef
Add 1 can of Sloppy Joe Mix
Whip out a baking dish and coat it with Pam. Toss the ground beef mixture into the pan then dump the cornbread mix on top
Throw it in the oven for 20 minutes (poke it with a knife to make sure the cornbread is done all the way)
Gather all your wild cowboys and cowgirls and tell 'em dinner is served!
Mexican Casserole
Pre-heat your oven to 385 degrees and pull out a baking dish
Brown 1 pound of ground beef seasoning it with your Natures Season. Drain the fat then add 1 can of Cream of Mushroom soup
Lay some tortillas in the your baking dish as your first layer then dump about half of your meat mixture on top. Dump half a can of Rotel on top of the meat mixture (spread it out evenly) then coat generously with your fiesta cheese blend.
Lay another layer of tortillas and dump the rest of your meat mixture, Rotel and another coat of cheesy goodness.
Cover with your last layer of tortillas and cover the baking dish with foil.
Toss it in the oven for 25 minutes then serve.