Menu Planning

So I am scouring in the internet today trying to find any and all recipes that I can slap on my calendar to make the next few weeks run as smooth as possible. 

I'm was nervous starting my job and what it will do to our already lack of family routine! I've tried a few things- cooking ahead for the days I work, planning a menu for the hubbie to follow, etc. and nothing has turned out to be "magical" at this point.

This past months I made a calendar of meals (in pencil of course!) and planned shopping, etc.  There was some rearranging, but that's what the pencil was for, and things worked out really well.  I even left blanks for left over days and I need a break days!

So to start things off I am collecting some other blogs that have freezer and slow cooker recipes that I can use as resources for my adventure!  Boy has pinterest been my best friend.

 So far my favorite had been Once a Month Mom where I also found a link for the "skinny" chefs called Skinny Mom (that's another post about my weight loss endeavor!).

Here's a few of the recipes I have tried that are keepers!! These were links found on Once a Month Mom.

Root Beer Pulled Pork

I'm a sucker for pork sandwiches- and my family loves them too. These turned out juicy and sweet!

 

 

 

Ingredients:

• 2 pound pork roast
• 0.5 teaspoon garlic salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 1.25 cups onion, sliced
• 0.75 cups root beer
• 0.25 cups ketchup
• 2 Tablespoon tomato paste
• 0.5 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• 1 Tablespoon flour

Directions:

Sprinkle roast with garlic salt and pepper. Place in slow cooker. Mix all other ingredients together and pour over roast in crock pot. Cook on low for 8-9 hours. Remove roast and onions. Shred pork and discard onions. Add roast back to sauce in crock pot. Serve with buns and slaw if desired.

Freezing Directions:

Place all ingredients into freezer bag(s). Label and freeze. To serve: thaw in fridge. Place in crockpot and cook on low for 8-9 hours.

Servings: 4

Author/Source: Heather @ Onceamonthmom.com, adapted from 365 Days of Slow Cooking

Mexican Dorito Casserole

Ingredients:

•2 c. shredded cooked chicken
•1 c. shredded cheese (or more if you are a cheese
  hound)
•1 can cream of chicken soup
•1/2 cup milk
•1/2 cup sour cream
•1 can Ro-tel tomatoes (canned tomatoes with      
  jalepenos-mild)
•1/2 packet taco seasoning (or more- to taste)
•Bag of doritos

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350-f degrees.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except doritos.
3. In a greased 2 qt baking dish, put a layer of crushed doritos (about 2 cups), then a layer of the chicken mixture. Repeat once more, ending with a layer of chicken mixture. Top with more shredded cheese, cover, and bake for 30-35 minutes, till bubbling hot.

Servings: 4-6

Source: Domestic Chicky