Hey Everyone!
It’s that time of the month when Shay and I team up to share, HOW WE WEDNESDAY! This month the topic is all about FOOD!
Tab and Andrew would be the first to admit that Shay and I probably discuss, think about food, etc. twice as much as they do daily. What can I say…we love our food?! The point is…this topic is perfect for us. 😉
My Meal-Plannin’ Steps:
1. I ALWAYS check the weather first before I even think about what we’ll be eating. You better believe if a cool front hits our town there WILL be chili or some type of soup in my slow cooker for dinner that evening. We had a cool day a few weeks ago and Tab called from work asking what was for dinner. When I responded with soup, he was like, “I KNEW it!”.
2. Then I check our calendar…are there practices, games, scrimmages, or do we have any free nights? This dictates what type of meal I’ll be making each night. For example, if I’m carpooling kids and shuffling them around from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. then there’s no way I can make something that takes forty-five minutes OR I need to plan ahead and make it before I ever leave.
3. Now it’s RECIPE time! I prefer to change up what we’re having for dinner. We definitely have favorites we repeat, but in a month-time I’m typically making all different things. I usually stick to one source per week. If I’m using Pinterest to find recipes, then they’ll all come off Pinterest for the week. Or, if I’m using the Simmers’ cookbook, then I’ll get a week’s worth of Simmer’s recipes. Shay’s latest cookbook, Meal Planner, has a week’s worth of meals broken up into seasons and includes a grocery list as well.
4. Grocery Pick-Up has CHANGED my life! As I’m writing down our menu for the week, I also login to my local grocery store’s online system and I’m adding the things I need for the week to my cart. EASY PEASY! This takes just a few minutes. I choose a time convenient for me to pick up all the groceries and it’s DONE! This is the BEST invention since sliced bread. #nodoubts
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A few of the Slaughter family favorites…
Pumpkin Sausage Pasta–I’ve gotta be honest. I was one of those people who preferred pumpkin in my pie so I had some doubts about this recipe. My cousin could not stop talking about how much their family likes this recipe, so I tried it. And the Slaughters are ALL IN! We had this one earlier this week and before Nixon went to bed he asked if he could have some more pasta. #leftovers
Sloppy Joe Stuffed Spuds-I serve this for the kids in regular baked potatoes and then Tab and I eat it on a sweet potato. I’m a fan of a sloppy joe, but when I get to add some cheese, sour cream, and green onions well, I become their number one fan.
Chicken Caesar Rice Bowls-My people tend to eat better if they get to “make” their plates. This kind of meal is one of my favorites for many reasons…1. It’s EASY! 2. I put everything out and kiddos can choose what they want to add to their bowl. 3. We can go super healthy with a little rice or make it more “comfort food style” with more rice. We feel the same way about the BBQ Chicken Rice Bowls.
I’m not sure this is a recipe as much as some random things I throw together…I cut up chicken into smaller bites, then wrap half a piece of turkey bacon around the chicken, secure it with a toothpick, and bake them. My kids eat these like they’re Skittles. I serve them with some dipping options because in my opinion they’re a little dry{I’m a bit weird about chicken so I probably bake them a little too long-which makes them dry}…Ranch, Ketchup, Thai Chili Sauce, Honey Mustard…take your pick! Add a vegetable or two and dinner is served!
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Our favorite snack right now are Ebby Lee’s muffins {which happen to be Shay’s 3-Ingredient Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins. I’d be embarrassed if you saw how many cans of pumpkin are in my pantry right now. Let’s just say…in a snow storm, the Slaughters will be fully stocked on our 3-Ingredient Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins. 🙂
My Meal-Plannin’ Steps:
1. I ALWAYS check the weather first before I even think about what we’ll be eating. You better believe if a cool front hits our town there WILL be chili or some type of soup in my slow cooker for dinner that evening. We had a cool day a few weeks ago and Tab called from work asking what was for dinner. When I responded with soup, he was like, “I KNEW it!”.
2. Then I check our calendar…are there practices, games, scrimmages, or do we have any free nights? This dictates what type of meal I’ll be making each night. For example, if I’m carpooling kids and shuffling them around from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. then there’s no way I can make something that takes forty-five minutes OR I need to plan ahead and make it before I ever leave.
3. Now it’s RECIPE time! I prefer to change up what we’re having for dinner. We definitely have favorites we repeat, but in a month-time I’m typically making all different things. I usually stick to one source per week. If I’m using Pinterest to find recipes, then they’ll all come off Pinterest for the week. Or, if I’m using the Simmers’ cookbook, then I’ll get a week’s worth of Simmer’s recipes. Shay’s latest cookbook, Meal Planner, has a week’s worth of meals broken up into seasons and includes a grocery list as well.
4. Grocery Pick-Up has CHANGED my life! As I’m writing down our menu for the week, I also login to my local grocery store’s online system and I’m adding the things I need for the week to my cart. EASY PEASY! This takes just a few minutes. I choose a time convenient for me to pick up all the groceries and it’s DONE! This is the BEST invention since sliced bread. #nodoubts
****************************
A few of the Slaughter family favorites…
Pumpkin Sausage Pasta–I’ve gotta be honest. I was one of those people who preferred pumpkin in my pie so I had some doubts about this recipe. My cousin could not stop talking about how much their family likes this recipe, so I tried it. And the Slaughters are ALL IN! We had this one earlier this week and before Nixon went to bed he asked if he could have some more pasta. #leftovers
Sloppy Joe Stuffed Spuds-I serve this for the kids in regular baked potatoes and then Tab and I eat it on a sweet potato. I’m a fan of a sloppy joe, but when I get to add some cheese, sour cream, and green onions well, I become their number one fan.
Chicken Caesar Rice Bowls-My people tend to eat better if they get to “make” their plates. This kind of meal is one of my favorites for many reasons…1. It’s EASY! 2. I put everything out and kiddos can choose what they want to add to their bowl. 3. We can go super healthy with a little rice or make it more “comfort food style” with more rice. We feel the same way about the BBQ Chicken Rice Bowls.
I’m not sure this is a recipe as much as some random things I throw together…I cut up chicken into smaller bites, then wrap half a piece of turkey bacon around the chicken, secure it with a toothpick, and bake them. My kids eat these like they’re Skittles. I serve them with some dipping options because in my opinion they’re a little dry{I’m a bit weird about chicken so I probably bake them a little too long-which makes them dry}…Ranch, Ketchup, Thai Chili Sauce, Honey Mustard…take your pick! Add a vegetable or two and dinner is served!
***************************
Our favorite snack right now are Ebby Lee’s muffins {which happen to be Shay’s 3-Ingredient Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins. I’d be embarrassed if you saw how many cans of pumpkin are in my pantry right now. Let’s just say…in a snow storm, the Slaughters will be fully stocked on our 3-Ingredient Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins. 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by today! If you have a favorite family recipe you’d love to share or a way you meal plan that’s unique, please share! I’m always on the hunt for other GAME CHANGING ideas!
Be sure to join us next month bloggers-when we talk Adoption to our Kiddos.
XO
I just tried this pumpkin chocolate chip muffins of Shay’s this past weekend! I have one in my lunchbox for later on today! Yummy!
We do think about food a lot. Hahahahahaha! Madeley just asked me yesterday when Ya-Ya and I were going to walk to eggy tacos again. Thank you for making my recipes a part of your family's dinners. It's such a honor! xo
They’re SO good! Right? And maybe Madeley’s onto something?! 🙂
I just love reading about how others meal plan!! What great tips, friend!!
I love this post! You know what else I love? Peeking into people's carts at the grocery store. ESPECIALLY if I run into somebody I know! I just love to know what people are eating!
Grocery pickup has changed my life too! I meal plan, add in all the necessary ingredients, check my list twice and then the elves get to work :). I love it!!!
The link to the chicken Caesar bowls goes to the sloppy joe spuds. Thanks for the ideas. ☺️
I completely agree with having to meal plan around all my kids' activities! We have 6 kids at home (2 are already in college) and with kids between 3-16 years old, someone is always going somewhere! But crockpot recipes are my friend! And meals that kids can put together themselves – this allows the older ones to come in later and still have a warm meal.
How long do you bake your chicken bites and on what temp? I think my kids would love this! Thanks for sharing.
Grocery pickup is the greatest thing ever! EVER. My mom still hasn't tried it and I can't understand why not! Lifechanging. haha.
That Inspired Chick
Try rolling that turkey bacon wrapped chicken in brown sugar before cooking it. So so yummy and less dry!
Meal planning with my 17 month old can be challenging so I cannot even imagine it once we have more kids and they are in activities! I haven't experimented with grocery pick up, however, we use Instacart as a grocery delivery service and I cannot even express how much it's helped us out. I want to buy a subscription to every new parent I know haha!
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Grocery pickup is life changing! Our local one isn't free, but the $4.95 is totally worth it when it comes to my sanity in the checkout lane with a 2 and 4 year old on tow 😆 Meal planning can be time consuming but the evenings run so much smoother when I do it.