Eat @HOME August Finale & September-Menu Planning

Well, it's official...we DID IT!  We ate at home for the entire month of August! (With the exception of Eli's Birthday Happy Meal!)  Anybody else out there try it?  I think the team's favorite new meal was the Baked Tacos followed closely by Chicken Rollatini.

It was a lot of cooking, but it was SO worth it.  So much in fact that we are doing it AGAIN!  Ahhh!  We are crazy! :)  We won't be AS strict this time.  We will allow ourselves a couple of times to go and grab something if we are in a pinch.  

Honestly it wasn't too bad!  True I did complain a few times, but those were times that I hadn't planned very well.  So that was my fault. :)

So here is my Eat @HOME September Menu!!  There are a few meals still left from August that I didn't get to.  You'll also see some repeats from August because they were so yummy.  I also added a couple of brand new ones to try out! (Those are noted by the *.)  I've also added a Snacks/breakfasts/Freezer category.  These are things I like to keep on hand at various times for the boys to either add to their school lunches or to take for snack.

Eat @ HOME September 2013 Menu

1. Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Taquitos *
2. Chicken & Dumplings
3. Pancake Squares *, Eggs & Bacon
4. Navajo Tacos
5. Chicken Rollatini , Pasta, Salad
6. Crockpot Lemon Chicken *, Baked Potatoes
7. BBQ Pork Ribs, Potato Casserole, Corn on the Cob
8. Tuna Salad Sandwiches, Sea Shell Pasta Salad*
9. Baked Tacos
10. Chicken Parmesan Meatballs *, Pasta, Ratatouille *
11. Garlic Chicken with Orzo*, Roasted Carrots
12. Crockpot Rotisserie Style Chicken Breasts, Mashed Potatoes/Gravy, Corn
13. Shepherd's Pie
14. Meatloaf, Oven Roasted Potatoes
15. Meatball Subs, Caprese Pasta Salad*
16. Baked Chicken Taquitos, Rice, Black Beans
17. BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, Parmesan/Spinach Orzo
18. Chili, Cornbread
19. Pizza, Cheese Sticks, Salad
20. Spaghetti, Salad, Green Beans
21. Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken*, Rice
22. Crockpot Chicken Fajitas*
23. Pan-seared Chicken breasts, Baked Potatoes
24. Beef & Potato Hash
25. Hamburgers, French Fries
26. Pancakes, Eggs & Bacon
27. BBQ Chicken Legs, Oven Roasted Potatoes
28. Fried Chicken, Mashed potatoes, Okra

Snacks/Breakfasts/Freezer

1. Hot Ham & Cheese Pinwheels*
2. Granola Bars
3. Poppy Seed Bread 
4. Banana Bread
5. Buttermilk Breakfast Cake
6. French Bread
7. Pizza Dough

Eat @HOME : Day #2 Chicken Rollatini

Dinner tonight was Chicken Rollatini with spaghetti and salad!  Let me just say, it was SO good!  You guys have to try this one.  The whole team loved it!

I made a few changes to the recipe nothing huge.

*I used 2 big chicken breasts, cut them in half, and then pounded them out thin.  So I had 4 portions.
*I used just regular bread crumbs that I had on hand.
*I used 2 beaten eggs instead of the egg beaters because it's what I had.  Part of them went into the cheese/spinach mixture and the other part was used to dip the chicken in.
*I opted not to put mozzarella cheese in with the spinach/ricotta mix, because Jeff isn't a fan of cheese.
*I just used a canned sauce to top the chicken and the noodles with.
*I also drizzled a bit of olive oil on top before I put it in the oven.

This is a pretty easy recipe.  It just has a lot of steps for assembly.  One option for those of you who might be hesitant to try it due to time constraints would be to assemble it the night before and then just pop it in the oven for dinner the next day.  I think it would hold up fine.

Don't forget to check out my menu for Eat @HOME August!

After it had baked for 25 minutes before I added the sauce and cheese.

Yummy yummy...with a copycat Olive Garden salad!

Jonah cleaned his plate & he is our SUPER picky eater! 

Enjoy!  Let me know if you try it and how you like it!  For our team, this is definitely a keeper!  We'll be adding this to our rotation!

~Kristee

Eat @HOME Day #1: Crockpot Lemon Chicken

Well here we are, our first day of my Eat @HOME Challenge!  I left this morning without starting my dinner in my crockpot! :-/  I remembered right before Jonah and I walked into the movies (our last of the Harkins summer movies).  Luckily Jeff is off on Thursdays and was home with Micah.  So I called him to ask if he'd help me out.  Have I mentioned before how much he hates cooking? LOL  But this was an easy one so he was able throw it all in for me! :)  Thanks Babe!

This is what the recipe calls for:

Crockpot Lemon Chicken ~ Put cube of butter in bottom of crock pot. Lay chicken in pot. Sprinkle Italian dressing packet over chicken, drizzle with lemon juice, and pop the lid on. Cook on high 4-5 hours or low 6-8 hours.

He did it all! Except the lemon juice (I forgot to tell him that part.) I have to say it was really yummy. The whole house smelled great all afternoon!


Our team, well they loved it and gobbled it right up! (I think it was because Daddy "made" it!) They even named it "Daddy's Famous Chicken"! LOL I even have leftover chicken to throw on a spinach salad for lunch tomorrow! Double duty!


Next time I think I'll add in some cubed potatoes and green beans and cook it all up together. Can't beat a one pot dinner! :)

~Kristee

Tomorrow is the BIG Day! Eat @HOME

Hey friends!

Just a quick reminder about Eat @HOME August!  It begins tomorrow!

I'm planning on making the Crockpot Lemon Chicken, some microwave baked potatoes, and corn on the cob (it's on sale at Albertson's this week 8/$1 in case your wondering!).  The school boys and I have a library/Walmart date after school tomorrow.  So I needed to fix something quick.

What are you making for dinner tomorrow?  Why not pick something from my Eat @HOME August Menu? :)

Happy Cooking!
~Kristee

2 Days until Eat @HOME Aug. begins!!

Hi friends!  The countdown is on...2 days until Eat @ HOME August begins!

Our family is committing to eating meals @ HOME or from HOME for the entire month of August!  I know it sounds crazy, right?!  It is, BUT I'm excited to see how much money we can save!  To tell you the truth, I'm kind of excited about the challenge.  I probably won't be so excited on week #2!  :)

So who's in?  Anybody out there brave enough to try the whole month?  If your schedule needs a bit more flexibility, maybe you could do a modified version.

You could commit to:
Bringing your lunch everyday to work.
Eating @ HOME every week night.
Eating @ HOME for the weekend.
Giving up your Starbucks/Quicktrip drink stop.

The point of this isn't necessarily to "go without" but rather to help make us aware of how much money we waste because we don't plan well, or we take the easy way out!  I am SO guilty of that!  When I don't plan what to cook, before I know it the clock says 5:00 and everything we own is frozen.  DUH Kristee! :)  Or even worse, the days I just say, "forget it" and call Jeff and he stops for pizza on his way home. Guilty! :(  Please tell me I'm not alone!  I can't be the only one who sometimes fails at taking care of their family!

In case you missed it, this is my menu for the challenge.  I'll be reviewing several new recipes and sharing how my team liked them!

I hope some of you will join us! :)  If not, I hope that some of you will at least enjoy a couple of new recipes!  Comment below if you are planning on joining us in one way or another.  I'd love to know who I can complain , oops commiserate, with! :)

~Kristee

Eat @ HOME Aug.-Menu Planning

Hey friends!  I've been planning my menu for Eat @ HOME August.  I wanted to share it with you.  If you are anything like me, I love finding new recipes that are "team friendly".  I hope you consider joining in on this challenge.  Maybe committing to eating at home the entire month seems unrealistic for some of you.  I totally understand that.  So sit down and set a smaller goal, one that seems more workable for your family.  I understand how hectic life can be with work and kid's schedules.  I know for our team, it's not just about saving money, but it's also remembering to be good stewards of what we have.  :)  Too often we eat out because I just don't feel like cooking.  :(  My hope is that plenty of "teachable moments" will arise from this challenge.  We've already shared with our team what we are doing and they seem fine with it, for now!  But I anticipate some future complaining. 

Here is my menu below.  These are in no particular order.  I don't assign specific meals for a specific day.  I just compile a list of meals that I will have the ingredients for.  Doing menu planning this way, enables me to pick and choose as our schedule allows.  I usually make my meal choice the night before so I'll know if I need to set something out of the freezer.  I'm only planning for dinners.  Breakfasts are usually cereal, oatmeal, eggs, previously cooked frozen pancakes, etc.  My big boys will take their lunch to school (as usual).  I can't imagine paying $2.25/per school lunch.  Eli sometimes ate school lunch, but with two in school now-forgettabouit!  :)  Jeff & I will eat leftovers or sandwiches for lunch.

Eat @ HOME August 2013 Menu

1. Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Taquitos *
2. Skillet Chili Mac *
3. Pancake Squares *, Eggs & Bacon
4. Pan Seared Chicken with Tomatoes *, Parmesan/Spinach Orzo*
5. Chicken Rollatini *, Pasta, 
6. Crockpot Lemon Chicken *, Baked Potatoes
7. Pork Loin *, Potato Casserole
8. Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Sea Shell Pasta Salad*
9. Baked Tacos*
10. Chicken Parmesan Meatballs *, Pasta, Ratatouille *
11. Honey Lime Chicken Skewers *, Roasted Potatoes with Garlic Sauce*
12. Crockpot Rotisserie Style Chicken, Mashed Potatoes/Gravy, Corn
13. Shepherd's Pie
14. Meatloaf, Oven Roasted Potatoes
15. Meatball Subs, Salad
16. Baked Chicken Taquitos, Rice, Black Beans
17. BBQ Chicken Cornbread Pie
18. Sloppy Joes, French Fries
19. Pizza, Cheese Sticks, Salad
20. Spaghetti, Salad, Green Beans
21. BBQ Pork Ribs, Baked Potatoes
22. Enchiladas, Rice, Black Beans
23. Beef & Potato Hash
24. Hamburgers, French Fries
25. French Toast, Eggs  
26. BBQ Chicken Legs
27. Fried Chicken, Mashed potatoes, Okra-Jeff's meal! :)

*These are brand new recipes which I'll review and feature here on my blog.

There you have it!  I only included 27 meals on my menu, to allow for a few nights of leftovers or sandwiches.  I typically don't plan a ton of sides.  I'll add fresh veggies/dip, or a cooked family favorite.

I hope this helps you plan your menu for the month.  Please feel free to share your family's favorites as well.

Happy Planning!
~Kristee

Eat @ HOME August

It's coming!  A brand new challenge I'm calling "Eat @ HOME-August"!  It is exactly how it sounds, you commit to eating all of your meals "at home" or "from home".

We have done this many times before and we love to see how much money we can save.  It's been a long while since we've done this, so we thought we'd give it another try.  I won't lie, it is A LOT of work for me, since Jeff doesn't cook at all. (He can make some yummy scrambled eggs, but that's about it.)  It takes a lot of strategic planning/prepping, but it CAN be done.

We don't spend a ton of money eating out.  But we do take advantage of the drive-thru way too much.  Let's face it, it's cheap, fast, and kid-friendly.  Jeff and I do take-out after the team's in bed, a couple of times a month. We also are guilty of late night trips to Coldstone, Kokomo, or my personal favorite, In-N-Out.  $20 here and there, can really add up!

I am currently planning my menu for the month.  I'm planning for my family's favorites as well as several new recipes.  I will post my menu as soon as it's complete.  I should be done by the weekend.  I'll also be posting recipe reviews throughout the month of the new recipes I'm trying.

So who's with me?  If you'd like to join the challenge just comment below.  I figure accountability is a good thing!  Also, if you have any favorite, team friendly "go-to" meals please share them below.  This Momma appreciates all the help she can get, and I know others will too!  

I know this challenge seems a lot of work, but you can do it!  Just think of how much money you will have left at the end of the month!  CHA-CHING! :)

~Kristee