Mmm Mmm Good

Hey!  Look at that.  I've just-about survived my first week back to work.  Laundry's about as caught up as it ever is, the house is about as straightened as it ever is, everyone's at least mostly happy.  Life is perking along. 

As we get ever closer to being completely submersed in real, grown-up life and responsibilities, as opposed to our summer of loose and fun, an organized mom's thoughts turn to meal plans and grocery lists.

My grocery list and meal plan will be supplemented this week by purchasing items for 5 "pantry" meals--meals that I can pull out of the pantry when nothing's thawed and ready; meals that can be ready (relatively) quickly; meals I can cook when I really don't feel like cooking.  See?  Starting the year with so many good intentions.  :)  Again, if you have a great "turn-to" or "pantry" meal, please share.  One can never have too many of those.

Friday:  There's a Food Truck Fest tonight downtown.  I have a 4:45 doctor's appointment, 4:45 on a Friday evening??  I was obviously out of my mind when I took that appointment.  I think afterward we'll head downtown to check out our city's yummy offerings.

Saturday lunch:  A girl's outing for Rebekah and I.  Pedicures, lunch, Bridesmaids.  Can't wait!
Saturday dinner:  Trying to squeeze in my girl's favorites before she leaves next week.  :/  Anyway, Buffalo wings, Oriental wings and potato skins are on the menu.

Sunday brunch:  Cheese-Stuffed French Toast from Cooking Light.  I haven't made this in ages.  Isn't it funny how you make something, you enjoy it a lot, then it just drops off your radar?  That pretty much sums this up.  Melisa recently made something very similar and it reminded me of the yumminess.  I can't wait!  I love breakfast.  :)

Sunday dinner:  Mexican Feast.  One last hurrah before Rebekah leaves.  We're really going to town with this one:  Alton Brown's All American Beef Tacos,   Slow Cooker Chili Chicken Tacos, green salsa, corn cakes, refried beans, Guy Fieri's Confetti Mashed Potato Flautas w/Bobby Flay's Roasted Tomatillo sauce , Yogurt Peach Pie 

Yes, lots and lots of food, but it will be nice to have leftovers, plus some for the freezer down the road.  Too, cooking for the vegetarian in the family, I like to offer some things I think he'll like.

Monday (dance begins again):  leftovers
Tuesday:  Guy Fieri's Cedar-Planked Salmon, rice pilaf, asparagus
Wednesday:  Leftovers or Homemade Hamburger Helper-ish Beef & Noodle Skillet
Thursday:  General Tso's, rice, green beans  (This is seriously good and easy.  J&J both loved it.  Jacob went back for more chicken 4x!  Normally, one piece of protein, one tiny piece, and he's done.)
Friday:  ??

My Five Pantry/Freezer Meals are:
Spanish Rice
Salmon Patties w/Buttered Noodles & Creamed Peas
Ground Beef & Noodles w/gravy skillet
Pasta
Noble Pig's Plum Chicken, Rice, Broccoli

Still with me?  Thanks for sticking around.  It took me a ridiculous amount of time to come up with these, I don't know why.  Then again, doing anything seems to take me a ridiculous amount of time anymore.  I think that's called 'welcome to your new normal'.