Before I get into this week’s menu plan I wanted to let you know I have been doing a bit of work “behind the scenes” on the blog. This is what Wordpress does to me:
What should take only minutes always ends up taking me hours!
I updated my recipe tab, so everything is on there now. I also added an email subscription button over on the right sidebar. My previous one mysteriously disappeared at some point and I didn’t notice, for I have no idea how long. If you want to be sent a notification via email whenever I put up a new post, be sure to sign up by clicking on the yellow envelope button over there—->.
And (or) if you are an avid Facebooker, be sure to “like” my page on Facebook. I sometimes post things over there that I don’t always include in blog posts. And certainly, you wouldn’t want to miss out on any of it, riiiight?
Lastly, I installed some navigation buttons. See the arrows on either far side of the screen? They will take you to previous and next posts so you can get around from post to post much easier than before. Yay!
And now we can get down to some serious menu planning business, yo.
Since last week’s menu planning challenge worked out so well, I am determined to stick to the routine, but for now I am going to stick with only planning dinners. Breakfasts and lunches around here are spontaneous and some days each member of the family might have something different!
This week is extra busy and full of fun events that involve dinner-time (which is so unusual for us!), so it will make for a fairly light meal plan.
Monday: Coconut Lentil Veggie Soup–This is something I’ve been creating in my mind for weeks now so if it turns out well I will post the recipe later this week. It will be perfect for using up lots of veggies that we overbought at the farmer’s market.
Tuesday: Butternut Squash Mac-n-Cheez-n-Peas with a mixed green salad –My kids have been requesting pasta lately–I guess it’s been awhile.
Wednesday: Falafel over Spinach with Tahini Sauce –Accepting some help from Trader Joe’s with the falafel as it is a late soccer practice night.
Thursday: Leftovers –The three boys have a Dad-Kid dinner event at school so it will just be me.
Friday: Friday Night Pizza Night! –I am hoping to recreate the beauty that Erik made for me last Friday:
(A gluten-free crust with seasoned tomato sauce, light mozzarella, spinach, carmelized onions, roasted red peppers, roasted delicata squash finished off with a generous sprinkle of crushed red pepper. Unbelievable!)
Saturday: Erik and I have tickets to see Wicked!
I am more than excited! (Wow, two bucket list items crossed off in two weeks–last week we saw Madonna in concert!) We plan to eat dinner out at our favorite vegetarian restaurant in Seattle, Cafe Flora. I can’t wait to try a seasonal addition to the menu. (I just peeked at their menu and am thinking this sounds delicious: Yakima Valley Polenta: Grilled organic polenta, Dykstra Farm sautéed plums, grilled Walla Walla sweet onions and Romano beans with melted Cambazola cheese and a port-balsamic reduction.)
Sunday: Harvest Salad with Pumpkin Cider Vinaigrette –We will be at a family birthday party so I’m not sure what else we will have but I volunteered to bring a salad. I can’t wait to try this one!
Be sure to head over to Mommy Run Fast to see all the other Menu Plans linking up this week–you are sure to find lots of great ideas! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some Halloween decorating to do! Yippee!
Question: What are you making for dinner this week? What are your go-to quick meals for extra busy nights?
Everything that should be quick takes me hours too… thanks for the link reminders, just liked you on Facebook and followed your pinterest board!
That pizza sounds fantastic… we’ll have to add pizza to next week’s list. And what an awesome weekend you have planned- Wicked will be amazing. As will your pre-show dinner, yum!
Thanks for the follows! And, it might sound boring, but we make pizza at home every Friday night. It is the one meal we all absolutely love and everyone customizes their own, so everyone is happy. And, it is the one night of the week Erik makes dinner–win! win! win!
I loved Wicked! It is so much fun! That pizza looks great. I love homemade pizza. In fact, most times I order it out, I am not as happy with it as I am at home! It’s so easy to make your own dough and freeze it too!
We usually make our own crust too, but if we’re feeling pressed for time (or just lazy) sometimes we’ll use whole wheat flatbread for the guys and I make my own quick gluten free crust. And I totally agree–homemade is way better than ordering out!
I wish I could come eat at your house this week! Especially tonight – that soup sounds divine.
You are going to LOVE Wicked! I was it in ATL last year. The political undertones are especially fun this time of year.
You are welcome to come eat with us any time!
I just saw my typos in my comment… I need to quit commenting from my iPhone.
I didn’t even notice until you pointed it out!
The blog’s looking great!I don’t have a clue when it comes to ‘techie’ stuff (and unfortunately M is even worse than me on these matters
) so things that would take a normal person a couple of minutes end up taking me hours. I do feel disproportionately satisfied though when I finally manage to work it out 
Love this week’s meal plan! That pizza looks AMAZING!!
You must post some pics of the halloween decorations when they’re done. I’d love to see them!
Here I am up late again, still working on ‘techie’ stuff on the blog! It can be so frustrating because I don’t know what I am doing, but I am happy I got a few things figured out!
It has taken me all week to put up the Halloween decorations, and I am still not quite done! You can see photos from last year here: http://healthyincandyland.com/2011/10/31/my-favorite-day-of-the-year/
(I’ve only added a few small things this year.)