Month of Meals: September 2013

As promised, all be it a few days late… our first ever Month of Meals.  Starting with this month, we’re bringing you a full menu plan: dinners, entertaining menus, lunch ideas and breakfasts for the whole fam.

September is for many of us The Mommy New Year.  The time when we get into new routines, new schedules, and we are forced to re-evaluate what’s working for us and what isn’t as we haul our kids to school, soccer practice and the grocery store.  As I began to think about my schedules, I realized I needed to have a better idea of what I was cooking each night, and each week.  I figured you might appreciate it too.

With our Month of Menus, you’ll be able to shop for great deals on bulk items that appear in our menus regularly, you’ll be able to make some of our Make Ahead Meals on days when you have some spare time, and you’ll be able to plan for some fun get-togethers with our fabulous entertaining menus and game day fare!

So without further ado, here’s how this will work.

Print out this handy-dandy September Month of Meals Calendar and place it front and center on the refrigerator.  You’ll notice that some of the meals are in a red font.  These are all meals that you can make ahead.

Next, you’ll find each week’s recipes in the list below.  Print them out week by week or all at once.  Whatever works best for you.

After cooking some of our recipes in the menu,  let us know what you thought!  Comments are welcome and encouraged.  If you changed something and you think it made it better share that too!

Finally, if you have a recipe you’d like to see highlighted in an upcoming menu, please add it using the inlinkz tool below.  Even if it doesn’t show up in a future menu, we’ll be sure to share it on our social media channels so others can discover your recipes!

Have a fantastic Mommy New Year,

Katie

September Month of Meals – Click to Download

 

Week 1:

Breakfast: Cinnamon Oat Pancakes, recipe from Mom favorites

Lunch Idea: Veggie Hummus Pitas, recipe from Mom Favorites

Monday: Cajun Shrimp and Rice, recipe from Food Network Magazine

Tuesday: Spicy Peanut Chicken Rice Bowl, recipe from Closet Cooking (make double batch for Thursday)
with Sesame Carrots, recipe from Goop.com

Wednesday (Vegan): Green Curry Noodle Soup, recipe from A Life… Including Cake

with Garlic Naan (from Trader Joe’s, frozen aisle)

Thursday: Spicy Peanut Chicken Tacos, recipe from Closet Cooking
with Sliced Mango

Friday (Vegetarian): Lemon Spaghetti, recipe from Mom on Timeout
with Sliced Tomatoes

Entertaining Menu (Vegetarian)
App: Baked Brie with Quince Paste, recipe from Muddy Fingers Pottery

Main: Grilled Haloumi and Mixed Veggies, recipe from Dinner a Love Story
Dessert: Nutella Pudding

Drink: Lavender Vodka Cocktail, recipe from Yum Sugar

Week 2:

Game Day (Optional Vegan): Veggie Chili and the Works, recipe from Mom Favorites

Lunch Idea (Vegetarian): Lentils with Grapes and Feta, recipe from Martha Stewart

Monday: Spinach & Spaghetti Squash Casserole, recipe from Daily Unadventures in Cooking
with Grilled Sirloin Steaks

Tuesday: Gingery Pork and Cucumber Pitas, recipe from Real Simple
with Sweet Potato Fries (Trader Joe’s, frozen aisle)

Wednesday (Vegetarian): Cauliflower Mac & Cheese, recipe from The Captivating Life
with Peas & Onions (Birds Eye, frozen aisle)

Thursday (Vegan): Baked Barley with Shiitake Mushrooms and Onions, recipe from Cooking Light
Roasted Green Beans: toss one pound of trimmed green beans with olive oil, salt and pepper.  Roast at 450 degrees for 20 minutes, flipping once.

Friday (Vegetarian): Wild Mushroom Soup, recipe from Scandi Foodie
with Spinach Artichoke Flatbreads, recipe from High Heels to Hot Wheels

Weekend Entertaining Menu:

App: Hot Corn Dip, recipe from Brown Eyed Baker

Main: Beef Barbacoa with Toppings, recipe from The Kitchn

Dessert: Snickers Fudge, recipe from Six Siters Stuff
Drink: Beergaritas, recipe from Mom Favorites

Week 3:

Sunday Brunch: Salmon & Potato Casserole, recipe from Cooking Light
with Fruit Salad and Cinnamon Rolls (the Pillsbury kind.  Admit it, if you could make them from scratch and they’d be half as good, you’d be happy.)

Lunch Idea: Israeli Couscous with Corn, Black Beans and Mushroom, recipe from Martha Stewart

Monday (Optional Vegan): Wild Mushroom & Lentil Cottage Pie, recipe from Cooking Light (sub non-dairy milk for buttermilk with vegan diets)
with Roasted Carrots: Toss carrots with olive oil, salt, pepper and garam masala.  Roast at 450 degrees for 20-25 minutes, flipping once.

Tuesday (Vegetarian): Tomato, Cauliflower & Potato Gratin, recipe from Kayotic Kitchen
with Mixed Green Salad

Wednesday: Papparedelle with Smoked Salmon, recipe from Cooking Light
Roasted Asparagus, recipe by Ina Garten

Thursday (Vegetarian): Ricotta & Spinach Tacos, recipe from Food Network
with Black Bean Salad, recipe from Whole Foods

Friday: Pork & Green Chiles Casserole, recipe from Better Homes and Gardens
with Mexi-Slaw, recipe from TLC Cooking

Weekend Entertaining
App: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic Aioli, recipe from Lifestyle 365

Main: Grilled Pimiento Cheese Sandwiches, recipe from Southern Living
and Tomato Orzo Soup, recipe from Food Network
Dessert: Caramel Popcorn, recipe from The Kitchn
Drink: Hard Cider

Week 4:

Game Day: Mini Tacos and Nacho Bar, recipe from Recipe Sweet

Lunch Idea: Fig and Goat Cheese Panini, recipe from Savoring Every Bite

Monday: Slow Cooker Chicken Curry, recipe from The Lemon Bowl
with Steamed Rice

Tuesday: Southwest Shrimp & Corn Chowder, recipe from Cooking Light
with Chips and Guacamole

Wednesday: Cajun Halibut with Praline Sauce and Dirty Rice, recipe from Annie’s Eats
with Roasted Broccoli, by Simply Recipes

Thursday: Tuscan Sausage Soup, recipe from Mom Favorites
with Breadsticks, I like to use the Pillsbury ones found in the dairy case

Friday: Grilled Chicken
with Garlic Pumpkin Mashed Potatoes, recipe from Oh She Glows
and Kale Chips, recipe from Mom Favorites

Weekend Entertaining:
App: Prosciutto & Melon Skewers

Main: Polenta Bar, recipe from The Kitchn
Side: Arugula Salad, recipe from Food Network
Dessert: Almond Biscotti, recipe from Smitten Kitchen
Drink: Elderflower Champagne Cocktail

Week 5:

Casual Brunch: Blueberry Cream Cheese Grilled Sammies, recipe from In the Kitchen with KP
with Strawberries

Monday: Shrimp Tacos with Grilled Corn & Grapes, recipe from A Spicy Perspective
with Chips and Salsa

Want to be included in a future Month of Meals Menu?  Add your favorite recipe here: