Week 1 (FALL)

Menu 1 ~ (Fall)

Monday

Butternut Soup with Cornbread

Creamy Butternut Soup

This one is a HIT in our house, and YES the kids will eat it! The creamy-ness of the coconut milk with the sweetness of the squash is a great fall meal. Easy, takes under 45 minutes and costs under $15 for the whole thing!

1 large butternut squash
3 cans chicken or vegetable broth
1 large onion (or 2 medium) chopped
4 tbs butter
1 can coconut milk
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp salt
pepper


Cut the squash into large pieces (I cut it in half and then quarter those) and clean out seeds. Place in a baking pan with about 1/2 inch water, cut sides down. Bake at 350 for 20-40 minutes, until tender. Meanwhile place chicken broth, 2 tbs butter and onion in large pot over Medium heat. Simmer until squash is done and onions are tender. Place squash (remove skin) and broth/onion mixture in blender and blend until smooth. Return to pot and add 1/2 can coconut milk sugar, spices, remaining butter and sugar. Bring to a simmer and it is ready to eat. Depending on your taste you can add more coconut milk, sugar or spices.

Prepare Cornbread according to package directions, there is nothing wrong with making life easier on yourself!


Tuesday

30 minute Stroganoff with Egg Noodles and Green Beans

My family loves this easy weeknight meal, and it really only takes 30 minutes. If you want to do it in the morning you can substitute the ground beef for stew meat and crock-pot it, just brown your meet first and add the sour cream and milk 1/2 hour before you serve.

1 lb Ground Beef
1/2 lb mushrooms
1 medium onion (diced)
1 beef bullion cube
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 milk
1/4 tsp pepper

Brown ground beef with onion in large sauce pan. Add mushrooms, saute until mushrooms become tender. Add soup, milk, and bullion until combined over Med heat. Add sour cream and pepper simmer until well combined.

Put egg noodles in when you have beef browning.

2 cans of green beans cook in about 5 minutes


Wednesday

Sort-of Out of a Jar Spaghetti...But Better! With garlic toast

We love this spaghetti and it is EASY, takes only about 25 minutes! If you use whole wheat spaghetti it definitely increases the nutrition value of this meal. Makes extra sauce for Friday, save 1-2 cups!


2 cans Hunts Spaghetti sauce (three cheese)
2 lbs hamburger
1 med onion diced
1 large clove of garlic (crushed or very finely diced)
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 c. red or Burgundy wine (cooking wine works fine in this recipe)


Brown hamburger with onion and garlic. Add sauce, tomatoes, and wine. Simmer for 20-30 minutes over Med-Low heat for flavors to combine.

Garlic Toast

I use whatever bread we have and spread it with our "garlic cheese butter", broil in oven until brown.

Garlic Cheese Butter:
1/2 stick butter softened (please use real butter, SO much better)
1/2 tsp parsley
1 clove crushed garlic (use less if you like a milder taste)
1/4 tsp salt (if using unsalted butter, if salted omit salt)
2 Tbs grated Parmesan cheese


Thursday

Grilled Ham and Cheese with Creamy Tomato Soup

YES, this is the easiest dinner ever! But there are a few changes to the traditional soup and sandwich supper. ..check it out.

Grilled Ham and Cheese

8 slices of bread
2 tbs butter
1 tsp olive oil
8 slices of cheddar cheese
4 slices of ham
1 package of cream cheese (softened)

Spread 4 slices of bread with cream cheese, thin layer. Top with ham, top with cheddar cheese, top with slice of bread. 1/2 tsp of butter in pan with dash of olive oil (olive oil keeps butter from burning) add sandwich. Grill each side for 1-2 minutes, or until browned.

Tomato Soup

4 cans tomato soup
1 cup sour cream
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper


Combine and bring to a simmer for 5 minutes, do not boil. If you like it thinner add more milk. If you have some extra tomatoes on hand chop and add, increase cooking time to 10-15 minutes.


Friday

Pizza Pockets

This is a fun meal that everyone can make themselves and bake them all up at once. The kids love making their own and seem to eat a whole lot more of it when they know what is in it!

2 packages Mrs. Whites pizza dough (prepare according to pkg directions)
2 bags of shredded mozzarella cheese
fillings (pick whichever you like!): pepperoni, olives, ham, sausage, onion, peppers, pineapple, mushrooms...

Divide dough into 1/2 c. to 1 c. sized balls depending on how large you want your pocket. roll out to about 1/8 inch thick. fill with cheese and toppings. fold over and seal, bake according to dough package directions. when done serve with pizza sauce from Wed night.


Saturday

Waffles and Peaches with Whipped cream and Sausage

I don't know about you but Saturdays are BUSY at our house! I love to use up the peaches that are overflowing from our tree so this is a great use for them and the kids go nuts for them! If you don't have a tree, peaches are really reasonable this time of year so go out and get some.


Waffles- use whatever mix you like best prepare as usual
6-8 peaches sliced
whipping cream- whipped
sausage

Top waffles with peaches and dollop of whipping cream. Serve with sausage.


Sunday

Baked whole chicken with garlic cheese mashed potatoes
Pretty basic but really does make it seem like you went to a lot of work!


1 large chicken
1 tbs of each: rosemary, salt, pepper, lemon juice and 1/2 tbs garlic powder
3tbs butter
2 tbs olive oil


Combine spices and butter. Pour 1 tbs olive oil in bottom of baking pan. Place chicken in pan and coat in remaining olive oil (rub in!), put 3/4 of the butter mixture under skin of chicken and remaining over top of chicken. Bake at 375 for 35 minutes per pound or until juices run clear. Let rest for 10-15 minutes before carving.

Garlic Cheese Potatoes

8-10 potatoes skinned and boiled until tender
1/2 c. sour cream
1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
3 tbs butter
1/2 tsp garlic powder (you can use crushed garlic if you like it better..I would put in 1/2 to 1 clove depending on size)
Milk
salt and pepper

Mash all together, add enough milk to make consistency right.

Shopping List

3-4 lb Butternut Squash
3 large onions
1 can coconut milk
1 box cornbread mix
1 pkg (4 sticks) butter
Milk
6 eggs
3 lbs hamburger
1/2 lb mushrooms
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 16 oz. container of sour cream
1 pkg egg noodles
1-2 cans green beans
2 cans Hunts 3 cheese spaghetti sauce
1 head of garlic
1 bottle of red or Burgundy wine (or cooking wine)
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 loaf bread
1 small container Parmesan cheese
1 package deli ham
1 pkg cream cheese
4 cans tomato soup
8 oz cheddar cheese
2 pkg mozzarella cheese
pizza toppings (can use extra ham): pepperoni, olives, pineapple, onions etc.
2 pkg Mrs. Whites pizza dough
6-8 peaches
waffle mix
sausage
1 4 oz whipping cream
1 whole chicken
8-10 potatoes