Back to School Week Recipes

This is an exciting week. Everyone is heading back to those school week routines after a long summer break. For some, swinging into the drive through tonight, grabbing a happy meal and discussing the first day back, may be the plan of action. That's cool. The first day for all of us can be trying.

As for the rest of the week, let's go ahead and have a plan to spend more nights around the table together. We need each other most when things are new, as well as the same old hat. I've gone through my recipes this morning and selected some easy, comfort meals that everyone will enjoy. Consider doubling a couple and save yourself from cooking every night. We all know that most meals taste better the next day anyway.

HERE'S MY PICKS FOR THIS WEEK

• Black Bean Enchiladas
• Sloppy Chicken Enchiladas
• Texas Chicken Chili
• Sloppy Joes
• Rich & Meaty Lasagna
• Creamy Penne Pasta and Chicken
• Chicken Quesadillas
• Spinach Tortellini
• Hamburger Pizza
• Caesar Chicken Dinner

Alright, that ought to do it. Plenty of simple meals, full of comfort, satisfying for the burliest of husbands to the smallest of the pickiest eaters.

Y'all, I mean this, have a wonderful week.

Relax as much as you can, don't sweat the hiccups you get in the day. Hug your kids. Kiss your spouse like you did on your first date. This is just another week in life and time flies faster than we can appreciate the minutes of our days.

Free Menu Planning e-Course

I just got word from menus4moms about their free tool to help save you time and money in the kitchen!

menus4moms, one of the most popular menu planning services online, has put together a free e-course called "Menu Planning for Busy Moms".

"Menu Planning for Busy Moms" teaches you how to make a great menu plan that will keep you sane at mealtime and save you time and money. These moms have planned hundreds of menus over the years and they want to teach you how effective menu planning can help you save in this uncertain economy.

You can register for their free e-course here:

5 Simple Meals & A Shopping List

Skip trying to figure out what your family's going to eat this week; it's all right here!

HERE'S ALL YOU NEED TO DO

• Follow the Recipe links and print the recipes
• Print the Shopping List provided
• Follow the cooking suggestions

ON THE MENU

• Roasted Chicken Breasts
• Ground Beef Cooked Ahead
• Black Bean Salad, Chicken Quesadillas
• Rich & Meaty Lasagna
• Chicken Fajitas
• Hamburger & Jalapeño Pizza

SHOPPING LIST

• 3 small onions
• 2 fresh jalapeños
• 1 head of green leaf lettuce
• 1 bulb of garlic
• 1 bunch of cilantro
• 1 fresh lime

• 1 box Oven Ready Lasagna Noodles
• 1 (26 oz.) can/jar Spaghetti sauce
• 4 oz. whole kernel corn, small can
• 1 (15 oz.) can Southwest Style tomatoes
• 2 (15 oz.) cans black beans
• 1 jar of your favorite salsa

• 1 package of Mission Zesty Garlic Flour Tortillas
• 1 package Mama Mary's Gourmet Thin & Crispy Pizza Crusts, comes with two medium crusts
• Corn Tortilla chips for dipping

• 1 to 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
• 4 chicken breasts, bone in, skin on
• 1 pound chicken tenders

• 8 oz. container sour cream
• 16 oz. container small curd cottage cheese
• 1 package (2 cups) Mexican Blend shredded cheese
• 1 package (2 cups) Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 package (2 cups) Italian Blend shredded cheese
• 1 package (2 cups) Pizza Blend shredded cheese

.

COOKING SUGGESTIONS

1. Roast the chicken breasts and cook the ground beef.  Divide up the cooked meats to use in the recipes, and store in airtight containers or freezer bags to have ready.  You'll have 2 extra cooked chicken breasts to use as you wish.
2. Wash, prepare and store green leaf lettuce and cilantro in airtight containers to have ready to use.
3. Make the Black Bean Salad, Chicken Quesadillas before the chicken fajitas, there will be plenty of black bean salad to add as a side for the fajitas.
4. Reserve 1/3 cup spaghetti sauce from the lasagna recipe to use on the Hamburger pizzas.  You can add 1/3 cup water/vegetable/chicken broth back to the lasagna sauce and no one will know the difference.
5. The Rich & Meaty Lasagna will make enough to eat for two dinners.  So, there's one night you don't need to cook, just reheat leftovers.

Okay, now I've done all the planning, list building, and given you easy to follow instructions.  Go live it!

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT
Come back and tell me if this meal plan worked for you and your family.  Should I make more of these?

You gotta speak up.  This was a bigger task than I thought it would be, but I would do it again and again, if I knew it would help you through the week.