Coronacation meals

So it seems that ever since Corona virus hit things have been a little crazy in everyone's world.  For me one thing that happened was that I couldn't count on getting a lot of the regular meal items I was used to getting.  I wanted to minimize time at the store, and the number of stores I went to.  We as a family also found that Aldi seemed to always be the best stocked store and the least busy, which helped to limit our exposure.  Because of this I would go to the store with a list in mind hoping I could find certain items but sometimes having to change it while at the store.  Aldi also doesn't have the same selection of HEB so we couldn't always find the right ingredients for meals so I had to try to plan accordingly.  We stocked up and froze a lot of chicken and ground beef, as well as some shrimp, fish fillets, pork tenderloin and pork chops.  This gave us a base for a lot of meals that I will list below.  The night before I move anything frozen that we are planning to use to for dinner the next night to the fridge so its ready to go.  I also keep a list of meals handy that we can choose from depending on schedules and weather to try to help make sure I freeze items before it goes bad, or maximize the fresh produce we did buy.  Overall, I feel like we have been doing well with a variety of meals, including several of our favorites and changing up the menu each night.  You will notice a lot of repeats (meat marinated with Lawry's- seriously guys these are the easiest and best mariates for both meat and veggies, roasted broccoli- the toddler will eat almost an entire head of broccoli by herself but won't touch a green bean, tacos- yes we love all kinds of tacos and mexican food and probably eat them at least once a week).  We've really been enjoying spending time and eating meals on our back patio so we have been trying to grill as much as possible when the weather is nice.  We also often serve the meals with whatever fruit is lurking in the fridge along with the listed sides. 

Hope you enjoyed my ramblings on how we are surviving dinners in this awesome predicament we are all in....and maybe gained some inspiration for you meals next week!

Here is a list and recipe links to some things we have had lately in case you are in need of some inspiration:

Chicken:
Grilled chicken (marinated in lawry's marinates), asparagus risotto (aldi package), steamed asparagus
Grilled fajita chicken, peppers and onions and black beans
Chicken kebabs (lawry's marinate), grilled and skewered with peppers, red onion, mushroom and served over rice
Chicken Enchiladas - also froze two portions for after baby arrives

Pork:
Italian sausage, ravioli and sauce with Ceasar salad
Pork chops (marinated in Lawrys), grilled veggies (whatever we have on hand but usually a mix of peppers, squash, mushroom, onion) mashed potatoes
Pork Schnitzel (frozen from Aldi), mashed red potatoes, brown gravy, roasted broccoli
Brats with penne pasta and zucchini/squash/Cannelini beans pasta sauce
Smoked sausage with browned cubed hashbrowns and a can of green beans tossed in BBQ sauce
Pork Tenderloin, Roasted broccoli and Zucchini, au gratin potatoes

Beef:
Hamburgers/fruit/fries
Hamburger helper/salad
Nachos, (refried beans, browned ground beef and cheese baked at 350 for 20 mins) then topped with lettuce, tomatoes and avocado and served with chips
Tacos with refried beans
Spaghetti and frozen meatballs with marinara sauce and salad

Seafood:
Shrimp Tacos
Shrimp Po Boys
Pretzel crusted Flounder (frozen from aldi), roasted sweet potatoes with everything bagel seasoning, broccoli

Soups:
Previously frozen tomato with tortellini soup
Previously frozen gumbo over jasmine rice
Previously frozen Thai Coconut Curry Soup with a side of potstickers (frozen from Sam's club)

3/15 meal plan

Saturday 3/15

Brats, Pierogies, sauteed with peppers and onions, served with salsa and sour cream.
- Found some new garlic ones to try at ALDI and soem 25% off Brats at HEB
- This is a super easy meal, that comes highly toddler and husband approved.

Sunday

Favorites 
Creamy Tomato and tortellini soup with grilled cheese
-I've been dying to try this soup and a rainy day was the perfect excuse, it was delicious and a hit with the toddler.

Monday
Pasta/seafood night
Unwrapped egg rolls with black soybean noodles
I've been dyign to try these noodles since I saw them at Aldi (check out that protein and fiber content!!) so this was the perfect recipe
-didn't have sesame oil
- used a bag of broccoli slaw and a can diced water chestnuts
- also used a lurking 3/4 bottle of teriyaki sauce

                                                 

 

Tuesday
St. Patricks Day

Instant pot corned beef and potatoes/carrots with roasted cabbage
This is our favorite cabbage recipe but note that I double the sauce recipe

Wednesday
Asian/Mexican night
Fettucini alfredo, roasted broccoli, grilled chicken

Thursday
Instant Pot/Casserole/easy night

Cuban Sliders (previously frozen) with fries and left over broccoli

Friday-
Freezer/Pizza/Out game nights

something TBD with ground beef and sweet potatoes

2/23

Saturday 2/22

Baseball fundraiser- eat at the fields BBQ dinner

Sunday

Favorites 
Potato buffalo chicken crock pot meal
-originally planned for last week but moved to this week

Monday
Pasta/seafood night
Team dinner before play off game at Springer's house

Tuesday
Freezer meal for game night

Away against Alvarado in Corsicana
Eat on the road

Wednesday
Asian/Mexican night
Greek Chicken Sweet potato and kale
-Use frozen chicken from last week
- split kale between tonight and tomorrow
- sweet potatoes are on sale

Thursday
Instant Pot/Casserole/easy night

Sheet pan sausage and gnocchi with kale
- bought this gnocchi on a whim from Aldi a week ago and am so excited to use it!

Friday-
Freezer/Pizza/Out game nights

Veggie and chicken casserole-
-Need to use up some mixed frozen veggies and this will do the trick.  Adding some canned chicken and leftover chopped potatoes to make it a quick one dish meal. Also doubling to start to replenish my freezer stash

2/16 meal plan

Saturday 2/15

Date night since the in-laws in town.  P gets spaghetti and broccoli, they are eating leftovers

Sunday

Favorites 
Out to meet friends at Slow Rise (pizza)

Monday
Pasta/seafood night
Taco casserole served with roasted cauliflower, black beans and leftover chips from another week.  This was picked because all i had to buy was the cauliflower and black beans.  Everything else I was using up.

Tuesday
Freezer meal for game night

Away against Lorena
Chicken Pot Pie from freezer
Frozen in these amazing containers perfect for P and I:

Wednesday
Asian/Mexican night
UIL all day and wasn't feeling well so Paige got leftovers and I had some frozen soup and a grilled cheese

Thursday
Instant Pot/Casserole/easy night

Instant pot chicken, spinach mushroom with roasted Brussel sprouts topped with balsamic glaze (an ALDI find)
- editing this recipe to use my instant pot and some chicken breast because I'm not a big drumstick fan.

Friday-
Freezer/Pizza/Out game nights

Phil at Girls away game at Navarro
Freezer pasta bake

2/9 meal plan

Saturday 2/8

Pioneer Woman Hawaiian burgers with fries and fruit
- Phil was very skeptical when I told him about these burgers because he's  "purist" but he tried them and LOVED them.  Plus he had a blast making them with P, check out this adorable picture.

Sunday

Favorites 
 Greek stuffed bell peppers.
- found this gem of a recipe to use up some lurking feta and Tzatziki sauce from the fridge.  Had a little leftover filling to use this week with so wraps or pita bread for lunch

Monday
Pasta/seafood night
Black bean and sweet potato skillet
- didn't have chicken at home to use so I'm omitting and making it a meatless monday meal, also doubling and attempting to freeze a portion because I'm running low on freezer foods and I have some sweet potatoes I need to use up before they sprout

Tuesday
Freezer meal for game night

Home against La Vega
Chili with macaroni noodles or fritos topped with cheese and sour cream
- previously frozen in these amazing containers and will reheat in the mini crockpot

Wednesday
Asian/Mexican night
Sprialized Zuchini noodles with frozen meatballs and my favorite ALDI jar sauce

Thursday
Instant Pot/Casserole/easy night

Team dinner at May's

Friday-
Freezer/Pizza/Out game nights

Home vs Connally Senior night
Order out with grandparents here or something quick TBD

2/3 meal plan

Sunday

Favorites 
Leftovers because we had a ton in the fridge

Monday
Pasta/seafood night
Ravioli and salad

Tuesday
Freezer meal for game night

Away atGatesville
Order Pizza from Marcos for Track fundraiser

Wednesday
Asian/Mexican night
Sweet and sour stir fry

• use frozen stir fry veggies
• chicken from freezer
• two cans water chestnuts because P eats almost a whole can by herself

Thursday
Instant Pot/Casserole/easy night

Team dinner at Golden's

Friday-
Freezer/Pizza/Out game nights

Home vs Lorena
Leftovers sent home with us from team dinner by a super awesome mama 💙

Saturday

Pioneer Woman Hawaiin burgers with fries and fruit
- Phil was very skeptical when I told him about these burgers because he's  "purist" but he tried them and LOVED them.  Plus he had a blast making them with P, check out this adorable picture.

1/26 meal plan

Sunday

Favorites 
Chicken gyros, served with tomato cucumber salad and Tzatziki and hummus

Monday
Pasta/seafood night
Chili mac and broccoli/salad

Tuesday
Freezer meal for game night

Away at Connally

Wednesday
Asian/Mexican night
Gumbo from freezer with rice and frozen fried Okra

Thursday
Instant Pot/Casserole/easy night

Team dinner at Coe's

Friday-
Freezer/Pizza/Out game nights

Home vs Lorena
Pizza and salad

Saturday

Tacos

1/19 meal plan

Saturday

Chicken, rice and mixed veggies in the instant pot- use the linked recipe but sub some lurking frozen mixed veggies from the freezer
** Moved from Thursday of last week due to attending the team dinner

Sunday

Favorites 
Grilled pork chops (lawrys marinate), grilled veggies (squash,  zuchini, mushrooms, onion), twice baked potatoes from freezer

Monday
Pasta/seafood night
Meat and cheese ravioli (use veggie filled sauce from freezer) with salad or broccoli and fruit

Tuesday
Freezer meal for game night

Home vs Robinson
Freezer meal- chicken pot pie (thaw night before)

Wednesday
Asian/Mexican night
Ground beef tacos, serve with avocado, lettuce, refried beans, tomato, salsa

Thursday
Instant Pot/Casserole/easy night

Team Dinner? (Jackson's house)
Pot roast with carrots and potatoes- this one looks easy and I like that it adds the veggies at the end to keep them less mushy (freeze leftovers)

Friday-
Freezer/Pizza/Out game nights

Away at La Vega

Broccoli cheese soup and sandwiches

1/12 meal plan

Sunday

Favorites 
Chicken Taco salad- use left over HEB fajita chicken, Tostado Crown shells, avocado, tomato, cheese, refried beans, HEB cilantro-lime dressing

Monday
Pasta/seafood night
Veggies rotini with pesto cream sauce, add blended spinach and diced cauliflower to up the veggie content, diced tomatoes and hot italian sausage topped.  Use leftovers for lunch prep this week.

Tuesday
Freezer meal for game night

(Freshman game, Phil scout)
Cuban sliders (from freezer) with fries
These are so easy to make, and are a toddler and husband favorite!
Affiliate link below to the containers I use for easy freezing.

Wednesday
Asian/Mexican night
Beef and Broccoli over ramen
So easy to do, P loves the broccoli and will eat a ton! 

Thursday
Instant Pot/Casserole/easy night

Chicken, rice and mixed veggies in the instant pot- use the linked recipe but sub some lurking frozen mixed veggies from the freezer

Friday-
Freezer/Pizza/Out game nights
Home game

Frozen pizza/salad or soup

Saturday

TBD

One word for 2020

I've thought a lot lately about new year's resolutions and just how many things there are that I want to get better at in 2020, but tackling all of them just isn't realistic.  So instead of actual new year's resolutions I decided to choose one word to try to infuse into all things.  I've seen this idea several times over the years and actually did it with my students last year, but didn't truly embrace my own word.  This year I'm making a conscious effort to change that and made wooden signs (for both the hubs and I) with my word and posted it where I will have a daily reminder.

My word for 2020 is PRESENT.  I want to be present in alllll the aspects of life.  In this day and age its too easy to just "zone out" and relax with a phone or T.V. on and hours pass without actually accomplishing anything.  I want to be present in my everyday life, actively participate and reach goals.

At home I want to take advantage of the time I have with my daughter and husband before we add the craziness of a newborn to our life and our next season of life begins.  I want my daughter to know the importance of play and conversation, not playing on a device or watching T.V.  I want to make efforts to connect with my husband when she goes to bed, with no T.V., no phones, no tablet.  He works several nights very late but there needs to be a conscious effort to keep out connection alive, other than just the "I need you to do" conversations we have way too often.  I want to play games together, to challenge each other and to share more about our daily lives.  I'm not kidding myself into thinking there won't be phone/movie/TV time because I do love to browse FB and Insta and I can't miss A Million Little Things or This Is Us, but I don't want this time to pass us by when we do have a toddler that goes to bed at 7:30 and have time for us a couple.

At work/school I want to be present with my students.  I want to ask (and remember) what is going on in their lives, and make those personal connections.  I want to be available for help and remember to purposefully check in with the ones that might be more reluctant to ask for help.  I want to make the time to pull small groups and be present and have uninterrupted time to guide their learning.  I want to be present with my coworkers and ask how things are going for them, and follow up with them when there are family or work things that they talked to me about.  I want to be present on campus to make a positive impact where I can and to spread positivity.

Outside of my relationships I want to be present to work on my blogging and crafting.  I have such a sense of fulfillment when people tell me they made a recipe I shared, or they got ideas from my blog.  Sometimes I feel silly sharing yet another post about what I'm doing in life....because why would anyone care what I ate for dinner.  But then someone reaches out and tells me they made something I shared and they loved it, or they ask a question because they want to make it to and it feels good to know that people might actually read what I post.

All this to say, 2020 I'm excited for you and the many changes and challenges you are going to bring and I want to be PRESENT for every single one of them.

1/5 meal plan

Sunday

Favorites 
Crockpot ribs, black eyed peas, twice baked potatoes
These ribs are seriously amazing, but definitely finish in the oven for a bit.
Making a large batch of these twice baked potatoes to freeze as sides.  Inspiration from haleywynndesigns on insta....(seriously check her out)

Monday
Pasta/seafood night
Thai curry cocount veggie soup with garlic bread
Update after making
- added shrimp the last 3-4 minutes
- used half chicken stock, half seafood stock because that's what I had on hand and needed to use
- added shredded carrots and chopped water chestnuts to up the veggies and use up some lurking vegetables.
- used ramen for easy and cheap noodles, needed 2 packages not 1
- had enough leftovers to save one soup container like the one below (affiliate link)

Tuesday
Freezer meal for game night

Away game
Pasta bake with shells, pasta sauce, and italian sausage served with cesear salad for me and broccoli for P
Use these amazing containers (affiliate link) for freezing smaller portions....perfect for P and I when daddy is working

Wednesday
Asian/Mexican night
Chicken fajita quesadillas- Phil grills HEB chicken fajita meat, add cheese and sauteed spinach to ours, serve with avocado, salsa, sour cream

Thursday
Instant Pot/Casserole/easy night

Instant pot pork chops, garlic mashed cauliflower and green beans

Friday-
Freezer/Pizza/Out game nights

Away game

Chicken pot pie

Saturday

JH away tournament