Meal Plan Monday: January 17, 2010

Posted by marocmama on Jan 17, 2011 in All other posts | 1 comment

I need to preface today’s post by saying how tired I am of eating whatever we can scavenger up.  This knee injury is absolutely terrible in the sense that I have very little ability and control over what is being made and fed.  Honestly, most nights I’m so tired and sore to even care!  We’ve been lucky to get in one good home cooked meal.  I’m really going to try harder this week.  As soon as I get home from work I am starting dinner and having it ready to go in.  


I’m hoping to be able to make;
Lamb and White Beans (made and in the fridge)
Tacos (meat is precooked and frozen)
Honey Lemon Chicken
Beef Stroganoff
Pizza


What is on your menu this week?  Not sure yet – stop over to orgjunkie.com  for more great ideas.  


I still have my giveaway going – if you haven’t entered yet there is still time to win a Moroccan tea set!  Oh and make sure you’re getting your bread recipes ready for Food of the Sun this Friday!


Voting continues at Morocco Blogs.  Show me a little love?  Stop over and vote please!

Meal Plan Monday:January 3, 2011

Posted by marocmama on Jan 3, 2011 in All other posts | 1 comment

Happy New Year!  I wish that I could say 2011 started off on a high note for me but unfortunately it was pretty low!  New Year’s eve I was picking up my youngest son’s birthday cake and some groceries for his party when I slipped on some ice at the grocery store and hurt my knee.  After a few hours and not much improvement I headed for the ER and found out that I had broken my patella (knee cap).  I’m in a hip to ankle brace and crutches to try and heal up.

This is a blow for me on two fronts.  The first being I have a lot of things going on for work.  The second that I am basically out of commission in the kitchen.  I really want to focus on losing some weight.  In the middle of last year I had been doing very well until a back injury.  Now this!  Even though I can’t really exercise I plan to cut back on eating and try to move around as much as I can even in this brace!

These next few weeks are going to require some easy recipes to get us fed with minimal standing/prep time.  My husband has been a dear and very helpful.  However he hasn’t done much of the cooking in a few years.  I’m going to do what I can but relying on him to do a lot of it.  Injuries like this remind me of why meal planning and having a solid set of recipes that range from easy to difficult is vital.  He won’t be cooking gourmet meals, but I can pull out some easy ones and guide him.

This week we’ll try;

• Chicken and Cannellini Beans
• Spaghetti with meat sauce
• Tacos (leftover meat from the holidays – thanks grandma!)
• Homemade Chicken Nuggets and veggies
• Baked Chicken Breasts with Roasted Mixed Veggies
• My weekend project will be; Vegetable Beef Soup

For more meal ideas stop over to OrgJunkie!  Do you have an easy, fast (healthy?) recipe that might help us make it through the next few weeks?  Leave a note in the comments!

Meal Plan Monday: December 27, 2010

Posted by marocmama on Dec 27, 2010 in All other posts | 0 comments

It’s been a whirl-wind handful of days.  We’ve been out of town visiting family for the holidays and just got home last night.  It’s safe to say that I am very happy to be home and in my own kitchen again.  While it’s always nice to have someone else do the cooking for you, it’s also nice to be in control of what I’m being fed!  I feel like a lump!  However, it has spurred me to again get back on track to some weight loss and healthier eating.  We generally eat fairly healthy but portion sizes are the biggest issue.  I’m going to be focusing very diligently on keeping that in check.  This week doesn’t lend itself to many Moroccan recipes.  I’m just not in the mood!  Sticking with fast and easy meals!

Some news for readers is that I got a nice new digital SLR camera!!  That means improved pictures and more pictures!!!  I hope you’re excited as I am.  (I’m excited can you tell?)  I am also going to be working on a video in the next few weeks about menu planning.  I’ve gotten a few requests from readers who would like more information and a better tutorial.  I’m thinking of a menu planning class.  Like it?

This week we’re eating some favorites as I have a busy week ahead:

Monday – Chef Salads

Tuesday – Asian spiced Tilapia with Quinoa

Wednesday – Crock Pot Beef Stew (my favorite!)

Thursday – Chicken with Cannelini Beans (a new favorite)

Friday – leftovers

Saturday – little man’s birthday and New Year’s Day – appetizer buffet/ open house.

Sunday – Tacos

Looking for more meal planning ideas?  Check out www.orgjunkie.com for other great bloggers.

I’m a little sad that no one has linked up to the Food of the Sun Blog Carnival – what can I do to make it better?  Not interesting?  Too busy?  You can still link up!!!
Week 1 – Desserts
Week 2 – Comfort Foods
Week 3 – THIS WEEK!  Appetizers


Need the guidelines?  Here they are!

Meal Plan Monday: December 20, 2010

Posted by marocmama on Dec 20, 2010 in All other posts | 4 comments

The year is winding down, but it always feels to me like the last month of the year flies by.  It’s usually full of holidays, parties, and get together’s – not to mention my youngest son’s birthday on New Year’s Eve!  I’ve got a full slate of activities at work this week and we are heading out of town Thursday.  This week is not very exciting but it will get the job done!

Monday: Crock Pot Lasagna

Tuesday: Tacos

Wednesday: we’ll either be driving or eating what’s about to go bad in the fridge!

Thursday – Sunday: out of town…

I’m trying to avoid eating fast food on the road during this trip because after a long weekend away we’re usually full of junk foods.  If you’ve got a suggestion for a great car meal for us (including a 6 and 3 year old!)  Please share!  

Menu Plan Monday: Week of December 13 2010

Posted by marocmama on Dec 13, 2010 in All other posts | 0 comments

I’m back to menu planning!  I have a ton of baking that I want to get done this week and since I’ll be back at work after two weeks of working from home, I need a solid meal plan to get us through the week.  Everyone here is craving some homemade food so I am going to do my best to oblige.  I usually do my meal planning on Saturdays, and shop either Saturday or Sunday morning.  Sunday’s I try to prep whatever I can.  However since this weekend was a blizzard, I didn’t get much done, aside from creating a plan!  Shopping will have to wait until we dig out.

Breakfasts:
Flaky Biscuits from Mad Hungry: Feeding Men and Boys
Brioche for tartine’s
Oatmeal

Lunch:
Chinese Chicken Salad
Cold Ginger Soy and Honey Sesame Noodles from Yum-o! The Family Cookbook
Vegetable Couscous for Work Party
Leftovers

Dinners:
Flat Roast Cornish Hens and Italian Fries from Mad Hungry: Feeding Men and Boys
Homemade Chicken Nuggets with Broccoli
My Go to Beef Daube from Around My French Table: More Than 300 Recipes from My Home to Yours
Chicken Stir Fry
Sesame Shrimp Skewers with Rice Pilaf

You can find more great meal plans at orgjunkie.com.  Want to start meal planning but unsure where?  This post is on meal planning 101 and for more advanced tips read up on our switch to a Whole Foods Lifestyle Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.  Still have questions or want help getting started? Drop me an email or send me a tweet (@marocmama) and I’ll be happy to help!

Don’t forget that Thursday starts Food of the Sun blog carnival!!!!  This week will be hosted by Henia on Simplicity by the Sea as we’ll alternate hosting weeks.  Don’t worry though I’ll still be posting my recipe!

Meal Plan Monday: November 15

Posted by marocmama on Nov 15, 2010 in All other posts | 0 comments

Did you notice anything new?  I’ve finally had a few changes made to the layout and look of MarocMama.  What do you think?  Hopefully it will be easier to navigate the tabs and find the information you’re looking for.  A quick breakdown;

• Blog – Home Page; where the posts are
• The Moroccan Pantry; list of common ingredients and the recipe index
• Mentions; see where MarocMama has been listed or talked about
• Market; New products and other items for purchase
• Holiday Cooking; Recipes and information specific for holidays
• Blogs; A list of my favorites and starred posts

If you are hosting or know of any other food/Morocco related giveaways let me know and I’ll add them to my weekly post!


And finally – next week’s meal plan!!  

Meal Plan Monday: November 1st

Posted by marocmama on Nov 1, 2010 in All other posts | 0 comments

                                                               


Last week just re-confirmed my need to have a good meal plan to make it through the week.  Although I did cook a few nights, we ended up with takeout way more often then I care to admit.  Maybe I just wasn’t feeling it.  I know when I have a decent plan and have done all the shopping for the week, we usually end up eating well.

Monday: Stuffed Shells (i use my lasagna filling mix and stuff it in shells)

Tuesday: Chicken Parmesan Bundles

Wednesday: Moroccan 6 Spice Roast Chicken

Thursday: Taco Buffet

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Potluck

Sunday: Beef Stew

I’m linking up at I’m an Organizing Junkie - stop over and check out some other great menu plans for this week! 

Meal Plan Monday: October 25th

Posted by marocmama on Oct 25, 2010 in All other posts | 3 comments

I’m not sure what I’m going to cook this week.  There I admitted it!  I’ve been fighting all weekend to try and figure out a decent plan but, it just didn’t happen.  So the basics;


- Djej M’hammar 
- Chicken Tikka Masala
- Kefta Tajine from here
- something with Salmon
- Tacos or enchiladas
- Apple cake from here


I’ll have to come up with a few other things.  


I’ve found a bunch of great links this week too;

• Winter Squash with Maple Pecan Topping from $5 Dinners
• 13 Spooktacular Halloween Food Ideas from Living Locurto (i love the monster brownies!)
• Pumpkin Spice Steel Cut Oatmeal from Everybody Loves Sandwiches
• Hachis Parmentier from eat.live.travel.write
• The Making of Macarons from Dessert First
• Ethiopian Doro Wat from A Year of Slow Cooking
• Tuna Croquettes from Cooking During Stolen Moments
• Boiled Lobster from Global Table Adventure
• Roasting Vegetables 101: Simple Seasonal Side Dishes from Simple Bites

So what are you eating? Reading?