Monday Meal Planning 2.6

FEEDING THE PREGNANT LADY'S CRAVINGS EDITION

Getting right to it this week because it's almost dinner time and I'm starving:

Monday: Taco Salad

Toss together in any quantities desired: lettuce, pinto beans, browned ground beef prepared with taco seasoning, tomatoes, onions, crushed Doritos, and Catalina dressing. Yum! If you want to make more than you'll eat for dinner, just add the Doritos and dressing to each serving.

Tuesday: Pasta with Broccoli, Sausage, and Roasted Red Peppers

Toss cooked pasta with steamed broccoli (2 to 3 stalks), browned bulk Italian sausage (1/3 lb.), 6 cloves garlic (minced and sauteed with sausage), chopped roasted red peppers (about 1/2 cup), olive oil (1 to 2 Tbsp.). Add pasta water as needed to coat, and sprinkle each serving with about a tablespoon of grated parmesan cheese.

Wednesday: Chicken Fajitas and Mexican Rice

For fajitas, I use a purchased fajita seasoning mix (like this one), saute strips of chicken with onions and green peppers, and put it all on tortillas with cheese, sour cream, salsa, and avocado. Anything with avocados is a winner around here lately. Maybe we should buy stock in an avocado farm.

I make my own Mexican rice instead of using Rice-a-Roni or similar. Here's my super-secret recipe: Make rice according to package directions, except for 1) use 2/3 water and 1/3 jarred taco sauce for the amount of water it calls for, and 2, I throw in a chicken bullion cube when I'm boiling the water. That's it. Aaron loves it, and so do I. Although we might smother it in cheese and sour cream as well. It's like I said before about the toppings.

Thursday: Piggy Pudding and steamed green beans

This recipe is a favorite comfort food around here, and super easy to make. Leftovers are good for weekend breakfast too.

Friday: Stove-Top Macaroni and Cheese with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

Another household favorite, and one of my current top cravings.

Saturday: Dinner out.

We went to Red Robin and I got the burger with the most pickles on it. How stereo-typical pregnant woman can I get?

Sunday: Fancy Grilled Cheese

I made this sandwich one day based on a craving for grilled cheese and the feeling that I should probably add some vegetables to my diet. For each sandwich you'll need two pieces of bread (duh, sorry) and you spread one side of each piece with butter. On one piece spread some Alouette or similar herb cheese spread (on the non-buttered side). Place this, butter-side down in the pan, sprinkle with shredded cheddar, and layer on sliced tomato and sliced avocado. Top with other slice of buttered bread (butter side up). Flip when bottom is brown to brown the top piece of bread. Eat, and then if you're like us, make another.

(This list so did not help with the starving thing. I'm even more hungry now, and I didn't think that was possible!)