Menu Plan Monday: Offspring Break Week 2

The kids are still gone.  Our routine is out the window.  I mainly need to plan our fasting days as those are the days I really have to pay attention to what we are eating.  Since the kids are gone I can kick the spices up a notch and eat crazy things like mushrooms!

Monday: (Fast)  Stuffed Buffalo Chicken Breasts

Tuesday: Pork Tenderloin with Mushroom Gravy (and probably mashed potatoes, because what else could you possibly serve??)

Wednesday:  Baked Brown Sugar Chicken Wings with Roasted Red Pepper dip

Thursday: (Fast) Chili Stuffed Peppers

Friday:  ???

Menu Plan: Offspring Break Edition

The kids are gone for two weeks.  That means my menu plan is going to feature foods my kids don't like.  It also means I don't have to plan every single day and will leave room for snacking on leftovers.

Tuesday: Crispy baked Hoisin Chicken

Wednesday:  Kitchen Closed

Thursday:  (fast) Turkey Bruschetta Burger

Friday:  Mac and Cheese Muffins with Meatloaf

Sat/Sun:  Leftovers?  Beef pie from last week?

Menu Plan

This week a bit of my menu plan is coming from the Pocket Change Gourmet.  Her recipes are simple, family friendly and my kids will eat them (mostly).  I am adding in my fast days, as usual.  The plan is really working for me and since I've started (again) I've lost an inch from my waist!

Sunday:  Perogies and Sausages

Monday: (fast)  Sweet Potato and Kale Hash for the grown ups, Eggs in a nest for the kids.

Tuesday:  Chicken Kabobs and rice

Wednesday:  Pulled Pork Sandwiches with coleslaw and baked beans

Thursday: (fast) Coconut Chicken Salad , roasted potatoes for R and the kids

Friday: Baked potato bar (with leftover pulled pork)

Saturday: Beef and cheese pie

Sunday:

Pancakes

Oh Hungry Girl.  I used to be such fan when I was doing hardcore calorie counting.  When you are on a calorie-reduced diet every little bit helps and HG has great short cuts to decrease fat and calories in our favourite foods.  Unfortunately a lot of her methods require you to purchase a lot of artificially sweetened, low-fat processed foods.  I am a fan of eating whole, real foods.  I still follow her blog and use her recipes (especially her salads--her salads are amazing) but I un-Hungry them and switch out the fake food for real food.  That means an increase in calories and fat, but I feel so much better eating real food again.  The 5:2 plan is so freeing that way.

Here is my version of one of her basic pancake recipes.

Oatmeal Cottage Cheese Pancakes

Serves 1

Ingredients 
1/3 cup oats
2 tablespoons dry pancake mix (or just use flour and a pinch of baking powder)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon 2% MF cottage cheese
splash vanilla extract
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)

Mix all ingredients together, adding 3 tablespoons of water.  Add chopped fruit or a mashed banana, if desired.  Spray a non-stick pan or electric griddle with non-stick spray.  Preheat to medium.  Scoop out about 1/4 cup measures of batter onto griddle and cook until they start to look solid.  Gently flip.  Cook until the insides are set and the pancakes are nicely browned.

Eat!

**Hints:  these are not traditional pancakes.  Make sure you cook the first side long enough or the whole thing will fall apart when you flip it.  It will take a bit longer than you think. Also, there is no oil or melted butter in this recipe so you do need to grease your non-stick griddle a bit or you will be sorry.**

According to My Fitness Pal, here is the nutrition information:
Per serving: 349 calories, 45 gm carbs, 8 gm fat, 19 gm protein, 10 gm sugar

Menu Plan Monday

Hey! I'm back!  Here's what we're eating this week!  I seem to be on a greens kick.

Monday: (fast)  Marinated Pork with sauteed mushrooms and  greens (carried over from last week)

Tuesday:  Lemon Pepper Panko  fish fillets with oven fries

Wednesday: Baked Chicken drumsticks, potato salad

Thursday:  (fast) Cheese and Spinach Portobello mushrooms for the grown ups, Spaghetti for the kids

Friday:  Pizza 

Saturday:  Buffet

Sunday:  Hot Dogs with fixings, Pork and Beans  also, make Pizza Buns and granola bars for day camp lunches

Possible lunches:

Best Grilled Cheese

Sweet Potato Tandoori Salad

Menu Plan

Wednesday--tacos

Thursday-- (Fast) crispy quinoa burgers

Friday--Slow cooker meatballs with spaghetti

Saturday--Curry Yogurt Grilled Chicken with lemon roasted potatoes (potatoes in WW Take Out Tonight! Cookbook)

Sunday--Buffet

Monday--(fast) Sesame Ginger Pork with vegetables

Tuesday --Grilled smokies with peppers and onions