Kristen B.’s Meal Plan 12/9-12/14

(Photo courtesy of the Walt Disney Company)

Alright darlings, let’s plan some meals. I have finally unpacked enough boxes that I can a) see my counter and b) have a cooking receptacle. I’d say I’m in fighting form. If you happened to read my grocery trip this week, you may be thinking otherwise. But haven’t you learned not to count me out? Where there is a will, there is a Kristen B., making something out of nothing.

Speaking of making something out of nothing, a few days ago, when I was back in the old house and had packed literally everything but one pan, I stumbled upon the greatest meal I have ever made. I was trying to get rid of some leftover shrimp and chicken. I had just enough to not have enough, you know what I’m saying? And anything I would have made with it was complicated, or the essentials were packed, or I was tired.  I had one pan, 300 boxes, and two small children. I was barely keeping it together.

Taking stock, I saw I had some rice. Great chicken and rice. Then I also had some sausage I had gotten on clearance. Okay, sausage and rice? But wait, is that chicken broth? It is! Chicken broth, my old friend! And right next to it, some cream cheese. Now we were cooking with gas. But not literally, because my stove was electric. Based solely on my ingredients and a little bit of pluck, I decided to do a Faux Etouffee.

First, I cooked up the sausage. Easy. Cooking sausage is like Boers 101. In that same pan, I added a can of tomatoes, letting those veggies cook in the sausage fat. Then, I sprinkled my homemade Cajun seasoning that I had mercifully forgotten to pack (thank you, Lord, for providing me with seasoning!) and mixed well. Once the tomatoes started to look soft, I added a brick of cream cheese, cut into small pieces. Stir 1 million times, while the cream cheese melts. This is where the Faux part comes in. I know a real etouffee is made with a brown roux, but I didn’t have any flour or butter. And I know, you’re supposed to do the roux first and then add the tomatoes, but I had one pan, people! Once the cream cream cheese was nice and melty, I added ½ cup of chicken broth, to thin out the sauce. Since my shrimp and chicken were already cooked, I waited until the end to add them. Smother over some rice, top with a dash more of seasoning, and voila! A meal that was so good, my husband said “why haven’t you ever made this before?”

The moral of the story is, don’t bet against me. ;) But also, don’t bet against yourself. I know we all have those nights where we just don’t know how we’re going to pull a meal together. Or week, if you’re me. Seriously, if you haven’t, check out my grocery trip. My children are going to have to subsist on ice cream. Which I’m sure will be very sad for them. But if I can make etouffee out of some leftover chicken and a dream, you can make something work, too! Good luck this week, friends.

Saturday

• Breakfast-Cereal with Bananas
• Lunch- LO Takeout from the Move
• Dinner- Asiago Chicken Salad

*Ok, first random ingredient already integrated into the menu! I got that Asiago cheese on crazy sale, and had no idea what to do with it. Welp, problem solved. We changed up our salad routine and did Chicken pan fired over lettuce, mango, avocado, and, you guessed it, asiago cheese. Served with a red wine vinaigrette.

Sunday

• Breakfast- Cereal with Bananas
• Lunch- Asiago Bacon Salad
• Dinner- Pickle Chicken, Potato Wedges, and Carrots

*When I need to use up a leftover protein but don’ really have enough for multiple servings, I like to add another protein. It’s usually something that is easy to defrost or cooks fast. Something that adds to the flavor profile of the meal and gives it a new dimension, but doesn’t take over. Bacon is a great additional protein for salads, pastas, even casseroles. It is so flavorful, but can also be crumbled to spread that flavor around. Boers motto: when in doubt, add bacon.

Monday

• Breakfast-Mango Banana Smoothies and Homemade Oatmeal
• Lunch- LO Pickle Chicken and Carrots
• Dinner- Ground Turkey Taco Papas

*Ok ya’ll, this Ground Turkey Taco Papas, this is a completely made up dish. Like, I am making it up as we speak, based on the ingredients I see before me. I’ve got some ground turkey, so we’ll cook that up taco style, and make a red chile sauce with it. I’ve got a ton of potatoes, so we’ll cube those and make papitas. Smother the papitas with the sauce, top with cheddar cheese and diced avocados. Meal sounds great, not sold on the name…

Tuesday

• Breakfast- Sliced Apples with Trail Mix
• Lunch- LO Ground Turkey Taco Papas
• Dinner- Roast Chicken Thighs and Potatoes

* The Little Mermaid B recently had a reception after her Christmas program at pre-school, and I was asked to provide the mixed nuts. First of all, how different is pre-school these days? When I was in pre-school we didn’t have receptions, let alone mixed nuts. Because we were moving that week and my brain felt like mixed nuts, I accidentally made trail mix instead. It was a huge hit because, as you know, trail mix is mixed nuts but with delicious chocolate. And I don’t even feel bad about it, because that chocolate is dark chocolate and everyone knows dark chocolate is so healthy it might as well be a vegetable. We have a ton left over because I made enough for an army of pre-schoolers, so expect to see it pop up a lot the next week or two.

Wednesday

• Breakfast- Bacon and Asiago Scrambled Eggs
• Lunch- LO Ground Turkey Papas
• Dinner- Faux Etoufee

*Ya’ll remember when I made Etouffee and it was amazing by accident? Let’s hope round 2 goes as well! Also, no eggs on this grocery trip, but ya’ll know as soon as the last box was in the new house I was on my way to Target for eggs. And you know, other stuff they sell at Target. ;)

Thursday

• Breakfast- Sliced Mango and Trail Mix
• Lunch-LO Faux Etouffee
• Dinner- Dealer’s Choice

*I actually feel pretty good about trail mix for breakfast, seeing as how nuts are a great source of protein. The more I see it on the meal plan, the less strange it seems. Leaving Thursday night dinner open, as usual. If I don’t find anything good on the shopping trip Thursday, well, I’ve got some chicken and a song, so I’ll cobble something together.

Have you ever stumbled onto a great meal by accident? What did you eat while you were moving? Anyone want to come unpack boxes with me? Tell me all your hopes and dreams in the comments!

Kristen B. is wife to the best Prince around, mama to the spunkiest little princesses, and lover of all things Disney. She started her savings journey three years ago and is now dedicated to making her family’s wishes come true one coupon at a time. She is so excited to take her love of saving to the next level and share her journey with you! Click here to catch up on Kristen’s Savings and join in on your own savings adventure!