Saving time and money!

Each Sunday I usually sit down and plan out the dinner menu for the upcoming week.  This keeps me organized, on track when grocery shopping, and I typically spend less money.  In the past I have mindlessly thrown grocery items into my cart as I walk down the aisle.  Now I am focused and get in and out of the grocery store quickly.  I usually scan my Pinterest pins from the week before or get ideas from other blogs I follow.  I have been know to be set in my ways by making the same meals over and over.  My goal is to try a variety of new meals!  My dinner menu for the upcoming week:

Sunday: Trader Joe's Grilled Burgers with Chickpea Avocado and Feta Salad from Two Peas and their Pod and steamed green beans.  I actually made the chickpea avocado and feta salad last week and it was so good I have to make it again! 

Ingredients

Finished Product

Monday: Crockpot Chicken Rice and Beans from A Fun Foodie
Tuesday: Leftover Italian Baked Ziti my mother generously made for us.  Nice to have a night off from cooking!
Wednesday:  Baked Chicken Stuffed with Pesto and Cheese accompanied with a side salad
Thursday: Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

I love my new free meal planner printable I found online from TheViewFromFiveTen!

You can also find really cute ones on Etsy (my personal favorite: Chalkboard Meal Planner).  Maybe this will be the finishing touch to our kitchen once the renovations are complete!

What's on your menu for the upcoming week?

Chicken Taco Chili

Thank goodness it's Friday! Cheers to the weekend. What a long but productive week.  It feels good to be back in the working world.  Now that I am working I have to come up with quick and easy meals.  Since baby Benjamin goes to sleep by 6:30 going out to eat is pretty much not an option.  I also do not want to be eating takeout every night.   

Tonight's dinner was Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili.  It was so good and made three extra dishes for lunches.  I estimate the cost of this meal plus leftovers was less than $10.  I put all the ingredients on before I left for work in the morning and came home to a complete meal.  I made a few modifications to the recipe.  I only used two chicken breasts instead of the three to four in recipe.  I also topped with a little cheese, chopped green onions, sour cream, and cilantro.  It tasted perfect!

Before I left for work in the morning

Bon Appetit!

What are some of your favorite quick and easy recipes during the work week?  Please share!

Crustless Quiche!

The past summer has been filled with lots of change!   A brand new baby puts a quick stop on eating out.  My husband and I often went out to eat, especially, during our major home renovation which will be in a different post(s).  I have been taking advantage of Pinterest and some of my favorite cooking blogs (Budget Bytes) to try new recipes.  I am happy to report we have not gone out to eat in over a month, except once during a wedding weekend in Vermont.  It's amazing how much money you save and better you feel cooking at home.  We are lucky to have friends who enjoy coming over to the house for dinner (and also playing with Benjamin)!

Since I had some free time during the day I decided to whip up a Budget Bytes crustless quiche.  I didn't have all the ingredients on hand so I substituted the mushrooms for leftover fresh corn and onions.  It was delicious, quick, inexpensive, and so easy to make!

Recipe:  Budget Bytes Crustless Quiche 

The final product!  I also served with a side salad and sparking water.  Yum! What are your favorite quick and easy recipes? Please share and comment!