Easier Meatloaf

While at a ladies' retreat several months ago, the speaker mentioned that she mixes up her meatloaf in her KitchenAid mixer. I'd never thought of that! So I tried it. Works like a charm! No messy hands! I'll use mine the next time I make meatballs too.

Incidentally, Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond mentions using her KitchenAid to mix up meatloaf and meatballs in The Pioneer Woman Cooks. We're in good company!


What other things, besides the normal breads, cakes, and cookies, have you found mix up great in your stand mixer?


Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
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Menu Plan Monday: November 28, 2011

Since this blog sat idle for two years, it's been well over two years since I've participated in Menu Plan Monday, so let's jump back in!

Monday

Meatloaf

(from The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl)

Creamed Potatoes

Peas

Tuesday

Beans (ala Tammy's Recipes) & Rice

Veggies & Dip

Cornbread

Wednesday

Chicken Pie*

Corn

Ranch-Style Beans

Veggies & Dip

Thursday

Hot Dogs with Chili

Fries

Coleslaw

Friday

Chicken Alfredo Pizza*

Salad

Saturday

Scalloped Potatoes & Ham*

Peas

Rolls

Sunday

French Toast*

Sausage Links

Fruit

*My recipe posted on the day scheduled on the menu

Time for another week of menus! I don't always follow my menu plans exactly. Last week was a perfect example; I ended up switching things around on several days. But it sure does help to have some things written down so I have a basic idea of what's going on . . . and can switch meals out! Here are my plans for this week . . .

Monday - Cheeseburger Buns, Cheddar Potato Strips, coleslaw
Tuesday - Salmon Patties, creamed potatoes, chili beans, coleslaw
Wednesday - Beef Patties in Brown Gravy, rice, green beans
Thursday - Chalupa* (pork roast dish) over rice, tortillas, salad
Friday - Homemade Beef & Bacon pizza, salad
Saturday - Beef & Bean Burritos, corn, veggies & dip
Sunday - Pizza (Youth Appreciation Day at church)

*Recipe posted the day we plan to have this

For more menu plans and ideas, please visit Laura at I'm An Organizing Junkie!

Menu Plan Monday - March 2 (on Tuesday!)

I'm sorry this is being posted so late! Not only late in the day, but a day late to boot. One of my meals from last week made it onto this week's menu, because I didn't get it in the crockpot on time, so I had to postpone it for another day. I'm good like that. I'm also known for not getting things in the crockpot on time!

Monday - Tortellini with Alfredo sauce, corn on the cob, spinach salad
Tuesday - Taco Bake, corn, baked beans, green salad
Wednesday - Potato Chowder with ham, fresh homemade bread
Thursday - 10-Layer Slow-Cooker Dish*, baby carrots, rolls
Friday - Homemade Pepperoni Pizza, salad
Saturday - Enchilada Stuffed Shells, ranch-style beans, coleslaw
Sunday - Parmesan Chicken, green beans, corn, rolls

*Recipe posted on the day we plan to eat it

For more menu plans and meal ideas, please visit Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Menu Plan Monday - February 23

I'm here! I'm not making promises to always be here, but I thought a good start would be with Menu Plan Monday. Here's what we're planning to eat this week:

Monday - Garlic Chicken with potatoes and green beans
Tuesday - Roast beef with rice and gravy, carrots, and biscuits
Wednesday - Potato Chowder (with ham added) and cornbread
Thursday - White Chili Speciality* (from Fix It & Forget It Diabetic Recipes) with Family Favorite Bread
Friday - Chicken Alfredo Pizza* made with Monday's chicken leftovers; Sweet Spinach Salad
Saturday - Hot dogs with homemade chili and oven fries*
Sunday - Beef Potpie made from Tuesday's beef leftovers, green beans, corn

*Recipe posted on the day we plan to eat it!

For more menu-planning ideas, please visit Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie. You won't be disappointed!

Menu Plan Monday - September 29, 2008

I had to substitute a meal one day last week - I fixed smoked sausage instead of the Enchilada Stuffed Shells - so they were moved to Tuesday of this week.

Monday - Meatballs & Brown Gravy over Rice, green beans, corn, biscuits

Tuesday - Enchilada Stuffed Shells, salad, broccoli

Wednesday - Garlic Chicken, potatoes, Ranch-style beans, coleslaw

Thursday - Beans and Rice, Cornbread

Friday - Homemade Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza, salad

Saturday - Hot dogs with chili, baked beans, fries, coleslaw

Sunday - Chili, cheese, Fritos

For more menu planning ideas from all over Blogdom, visit I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Menu Plan Monday - Family Favorites Edition

This week, we're sharing a family-favorite recipe in addition to our meals for the week. One of family's favorite meals happens to be one that we're having this week, Parmesan Chicken, from Sue Gregg's Main Dishes cookbook. I think we first tried it last year sometime, and after the first bite, our son said, "I think we just found a new favorite recipe!" and that was that. This is what I fixed a few weeks ago on the day he arrived home from his summer away, and it's the first thing that comes to mind for birthdays and "company" meals too. This week ought to be a good one at I'm an Organizing Junkie's; head on over there to see more favorites!

Monday - Sub sandwiches, chips, veggies, dessert - having friends over to watch the first pre-season Vancouver Canucks hockey game!

Tuesday - Lasagna, corn, salad, homemade rolls

Wednesday - Parmesan Chicken, Rice-a-Roni, broccoli, Ranch-style beans

Thursday - Enchilada Stuffed Shells, green beans, salad, rolls

Friday - Homemade Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza, salad

Saturday - Salmon Patties, mac & cheese, baked beans, carrots

Sunday - Roast Beef & gravy, potatoes, corn, green beans, biscuits

Menu Plan Monday - September 1

Happy Labor Day! School starts this week, and so our life settles back into a normal routine. It's been a great summer, but I'm ready for fall!

Monday
Grilled Burgers
Fries
Baked Beans
Grilled Veggies

Tuesday
Chicken Potpie
Salad

Wednesday
Swiss Steak Stew Skillet
Creamed Potatoes
Corn
Rolls

Thursday
Salmon
Rice
English Peas
Carrots

Friday
Homemade Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza
Salad

Saturday
Hot Dogs w/Chili
Fries
Coleslaw

Sunday
Roast Beef
Potatoes
Carrots
Biscuits

For more menus, visit I'm an Organizing Junkie

Menu Plan Monday - August 25

Monday
Grilled Pork Chops
Roasted Potatoes
Corn
Green Beans

Tuesday
Out of town

Wednesday
Stir Fry
Rice
Salad

Thursday
Garlic Chicken
Cheesy Rice
Broccoli
Carrots

Friday
Homemade Chicken Alfredo Pizza
Salad

Saturday
Beef Quesadillas
Rice
Veggie Sticks

Sunday
Chicken Casserole
Corn
Peas
Salad
Rolls

For more meal-planning ideas, visit I'm An Organizing Junkie

Menu Plan Monday - August 18

Our son comes home today! For a whole nine days! He's been traveling with a singing group from his college this summer, and they're finished now till school starts on September 2nd. But my boy, he has himself a job in campus security, so he has to be back a bit earlier than that. I hate saying goodbye again so soon, but I will celebrate while he's here by making his favorite foods. Then on Saturday, our second son will arrive back home from his summer job in South Carolina. And I'll celebrate some more . . . by making his favorite foods! He will be home to stay, at least for another year, then he'll be going off to college. Sniff.

Monday
Roast Beef in Brown Gravy over Rice
Corn on the Cob
Green Beans
Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits

Tuesday
Turkey Potpie with Potatoes, Peas and Carrots
Green Salad

Wednesday
Tator Tot Casserole
Ranch-Style Beans
Carrots

Thursday
Chicken Stir-Fry over Rice
Tossed Salad

Friday
Homemade Pepperoni Pizza
Green Salad

Saturday
Parmesan Chicken
Creamed Potatoes
Steamed Broccoli
Fresh Yeast Rolls

Sunday
Lasagna
Tossed Salad
Fresh Rolls
Apple Crisp with Ice Cream

For more Menu Plan Monday ideas, head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie!

Menu Plan Monday - August 4

This is an exciting week for us! Our older son is a student at West Coast Baptist College. Every summer, singing groups from the college travel all over the US and parts of Canada promoting the college in local churches. Sam, who finished his freshman year in May, was chosen to travel with one of the groups, and his group will be with our church next Sunday for our Friend Day. The five boys and their chaperon and his wife will arrive at our house Saturday afternoon, so I get to feed them Saturday night's supper and Sunday morning's breakfast, and we're having a potluck after the morning service for Sunday dinner. Lots of work, but lots more joy in having our son with us for the weekend!

Here's our menu for this week . . .

Monday
B: Bacon & eggs, bagel
L: Leftover casserole, corn, Ranch-style beans
S: Tuna salad

Tuesday
B: Eggs, bagel
L: Salmon patties, creamed potatoes, corn
S: Chef's Salad

Wednesday
B: French toast, bacon
L: Beans & Rice, fried zucchini, cornbread
S: Tuna salad

Thursday
B: Bacon, eggs, toast
L: Parmesan Chicken, rice, ranch-style beans, rolls
S: Leftovers

Friday
B: Oatmeal w/nuts and cream
L: Homemade Pizza
S: Grilled cheese sandwich, chips, fruit

Saturday
B: Eggs & cheese on English muffin
L: Sandwich, chips, fruit
S: Meat Kabobs (not a recipe), potatoes, baked beans

Sunday
B: Pancakes, sausage patties
L: Potluck - Egg Noodle Lasagna, Chicken Potpie, Homemade Banana Pudding
S: Burgers/Leftovers

For over 200 more menu plans, visit I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Menu Plan Monday - July 28

My husband and I are taking a short vacation this week, so our menu is a little up-in-the-air. On our trip, we plan to make our own breakfasts, snack on crackers, cheese, fruits, veggies, and nuts throughout the day, and eat out for dinner in the late afternoons. We'll be back home by Friday, so here's what next weekend looks like.

For more meal planning ideas, please visit I'm An Organizing Junkie.

Friday
B: Oatmeal
L: Homemade Chicken Alfredo Pizza*
S: Tuna Salad Sandwiches

Saturday:
B: French Toast, Bacon
L: Grilled cheese sandwiches
S: Tater Tot Casserole

Sunday:
B: Turkey sausage, eggs, biscuits
L: Grilled Salmon, Potatoes au Gratin, green beans, rolls
S: Burgers/Leftovers

Menu Plan Monday - July 21

Our teenaged daughter will be working as a junior counselor at church camp this week, so it's just my husband and me at home. I'm cooking some of his favorites, which is pretty normal around here. He's da man! ;)

For tons more meal ideas, visit I'm An Organizing Junkie.

Monday
B: Cereal, Milk
L: Meatballs in Brown Gravy, Creamed Potatoes, Ranch-style Beans, Coleslaw
S: Chicken Caesar Salad

Tuesday
B: Eggs, Bacon, Bagel
L: Grilled Pork Chops, Roasted Potatoes, Corn, Steamed Cabbage
S: Tuna Salad Sandwiches

Wednesday
B: Pancakes, Turkey Sausage
L: Parmesan Chicken, Rice, Baked Beans, Salad
S: Tomato Soup

Thursday
B: Oatmeal w/Brown Sugar, Nuts, Cream
L: Bacon Cheeseburgers, Fries, Coleslaw
S: Egg Salad Sandwiches

Friday
B: Egg & Cheese Bagel Sandwich
L: Homemade Pepperoni Pizza
S: Cream of Chicken Soup

Saturday
B: French Toast, Turkey Sausage
L: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
S: Steak Quesadillas, Rice, Salad

Sunday
B: Bacon, Eggs, Biscuits
L: Roast Beef, Potatoes, Carrots, Corn
S: Leftovers and/or Cheeseburgers

Menu Plan Monday - July 14, 2008

For a few days this week, it'll be just my daughter and me, so we'll probably eat lightly. For whatever reason, I feel like I'm having my own personal mini vacation when my honey is away, thus I think I can skimp on having regular meals and cooking for myself. However, since I am trying to take better care of myself, due to diabetes, I decided that I needed to make a menu just like always so that I'll have my food planned and ready for me . . . instead of scrounging in the pantry for whatever high-carb junk happens to be in there.

For more Menu Plan Monday ideas, visit I'm An Organizing Junkie!

Monday
B: Sausage biscuit
L: Salad
D: Roast Beef and Gravy over Egg Noodles, Broccoli, corn

Tuesday
B: Apple-Cinnamon Oatmeal
L: Chicken Stir-Fry, Brown Rice
D: Tuna salad on toast

Wednesday
B: Bran Cereal
L: Steak Quesadillas, salad
D: Tuna salad on crackers, carrot sticks, fruit

Thursday
B: Pancakes, sausage
L: Out for lunch
D: Not sure - fetching my honey from the airport

Friday
B: Bacon, eggs, toast
L: Homemade Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza
D: Sandwich, veggie sticks, chips

Saturday
B: Sausage, eggs, bagel
L: Sandwich
D: Hot dogs, chili, coleslaw, fries

Sunday
B: Biscuits, eggs, sausage
L: Garlic Chicken
D: Burgers and/or leftovers

Menu Plan Monday - March 12

Monday
Garlic Chicken
Rice-a-Roni
Baked Beans
Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Tuesday
(monthy shopping day)
Chicken Sandwiches
Chips
Cookies

Wednesday
Taco Bake
Corn
Green Beans
Rolls

Thursday
Super-Easy Chicken Manicotti
(recipe follows)
Salad
Rolls

Friday
Homemade Stuffed-Crust Pepperoni Pizza
Veggie Sticks w/Dip

Saturday
Senate Bean Soup
(recipe follows)
Coleslaw
French bread

Super-Easy Chicken Manicotti

1 jar (26 to 30 ounces) tomato pasta sauce (any variety)
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 1/2 pounds chicken breast tenders
14 uncooked manicotti shells (8 ounces)
1 can (2 1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 ounces)

Heat oven to 350 F. Spread about one-third of the pasta sauce in ungreased rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches.

Sprinkle garlic salt on chicken. Insert chicken into uncooked manicotti shells, stuffing from each end of shell to fill if necessary. Place shells on pasta sauce in dish.

Pour remaining pasta sauce evenly over shells, covering completely. Sprinkle with olives and cheese.

Cover and bake about 1 1/2 hours or until shells are tender.


Senate Bean Soup

2 10-3/4 oz. cans bean and bacon soup
15-1/2 oz. can Great Northern beans
15-oz. can navy beans
16-oz. can pinto beans with jalapeños
1 onion, chopped 1 green pepper, chopped
1-1/2 t. celery seed
1 lb. Polish sausage, thinly sliced
1-3/4 c. water

Combine all ingredients in a stockpot. Simmer over low heat for one hour. Serves 8 to 10.

I can't remember where I found these recipes, so if they're yours or you know whose they are, let me know so that I can give proper credit!

For more Menu Plan Monday ideas, visit Laura at I'm An Organizing Junkie!

Menu Plan Monday - March 5

Monday
Hot dogs w/chili
Fries
Baked beans

Tuesday
Salmon Patties
Roasted potatoes
Peas

Wednesday
Smothered Steak Strips
Creamed potatoes
Broccoli

Thursday
Schoolhouse Chili
Cheese & crackers
Veggies & dip

Friday
Homemade Pizza
Salad

Saturday
Beef & Black Bean Soup
Cornbread

Sunday
Tortellini
Corn
Salad
Rolls

For more menu ideas, visit Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie!