Meatless Monday: Baked Pasta

This can be made WITH OR WITHOUT meat, generally chicken.   We have had it both ways, delish either way!


1 1/2 cups multigrain Penne Pasta (I just use regular pasta, anykind!)
1 pkg Fresh Spinach leaves (I use frozen, just make sure its defrosted first)
1tsp dried basil leaves
1 jar (14 1/2oz) of Spaghetti or pasta sauce (any kind)
1can diced tomatoes
2 oz (1/4 of a 8oz brick) cream cheese
1 cup shredded Mozzerella cheese
2 tbsp Grated Parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 375.

Cook pasta, adding spinache to the boiling water for the last minute. ** In another pan, add sauce, basil,  and tomatoes, bring to a boil. simmer 3 minutes.  Stir in cream cheese.

Drain pasta, return to pan.  Add sauce mixture and 1/2 of shredded mozzerella.  Spoon into a 2qu baking dish. Bake 20 minutes.  Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake another 3 minutes.

**TO ADD THE CHICKEN:  take 1 lb of chicken, (about 3 or 4 breasts) cube them, and brown them in a separate pan while the pasta is cooking.  Add the basil, THEN the sauce and continue according to the directions.

Creating a weekly menu with Themes

Okay here is what I came up with,  and I'd love suggestions here!   For Tackle it Tuesday (yes I know its Wednesday!) , the idea was to create a menu for one week. I'd like to create a rotating schedule so we don't have the same thing all the time, but so that I'm not constantly trying to be creative.  (That gets old to me LOL)

SO I came up with idea, to do a theme each day.  I also thought it would be a good way to get the kids involved, Meghan was helping me come up with ideas for this.  Here is what we came up with so far, now we just need recipes and meals to go with our themes.  That's the next step.

Meatless Monday: All meals will be created without MEAT.  SO vegetable lasagna,    bean burritos, breakfast meals, quiche.

Taco Tuesday:  I don't know why I came up with this, probably because Taco and Tuesday both begin with a T. LOL   Not sure how this one will work out,  but Mexican themed meals, like Taco, Taco bake,  burritos, fajitas, or whatever.  this one may change, if you can help me think of another 'T' word! LOL

White Meat Wednesday: I think this one is self explanatory.  All meals will contain some sort of white meat, chicken, pork, or fish.

Three Course Meal Thursday.  I think the kids will like this one the best, there will be 3 courses to this meal.  A salad, main entree, and a dessert.   We never do desserts, and I always serve a salad WITH a meal. LOL  Not before!  Haha!

Free Friday:  This will be pretty much whatever, pizza, Chinese takeout, or whatever we want.

Daddy's Saturdays:  I'm leaving it up to Daddy.  Since I work on Saturdays, I don't care what he does! LOL

Special Sunday:  Sunday is usually our 'family' day, I get out of work at 2, so it can be a roast type big meal.  Though Daddy likes to have Steak and Salad on Sunday.

Any other suggestions???  I need to make a plan  for when I go grocery shopping this week.

Southwest White Chicken Chili

Saw this in All You Magazine, its a Campbell's ad. 

Prep time 10 mins. Cook 20mins. Makes 6 Servings

• 1tbsp. Vegetable oil
• 4boneless skinless chix breasts, cut into cubes
• 4 tsps chili powder (I'm only gonna use 2 because my kids will probably complain about the spiciness)
• 2 tsps ground cumin (Again, cutting it to 1)
• 1 large onion chopped
• 1medium green pepper chopped
• 1can (10/3/4 oz) condensed cream of Chicken soup
• 3/4cup of water
• 1 1/2 cups frozen whole kernel Corn
• 2 cans (15oz each) of white kidney beans (cannelloni) rinsed and drained
• 2 tbsp. shredded cheddar cheese 

1. Heat oil in 4qt sauce pan over medium heat. Add chicken, chili powder, cumin, onion, and pepper and cook until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender, stirring often.

2. Stir soup, water, corn and beans in saucepan and heat to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook 5 mins, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with cheese.

I will also serve with is cornbread.   Enjoy!

Wild Wednesday!

OH yes, its a real Wild Wednesday!  LOL    Here is my to do list for today:

• Finish laundry
• 
  Finish organizing coupons
• clean bathroom
• run to walmart to get ingredients for tonight's supper(White Chicken Chili, new recipe I'm anxious to try!)
• make up a menu for the next 2 weeks
• put laundry away
• vacuum
• wash dishes
• mop kitchen floor/vacuum living room
• feed children supper
• help with homework
• Samantha's 4th grade winter concert (FINALLY!)
• And get my grocery list and coupons together for a big shop this week.

Don't be jealous of my glamorous life! LOL! Its WILD I'm telling ya! LOL

I'm hoping if I write it down, I can  motivate myself to get moving.  What organizing techniques do you use to get yourself motivated?? 

Free CoffeeMate today only

Woohoo!  I love my coffee and its even better with a little bit of liquid heaven! LOL   I'll never use milk and sugar again.  And to be honest, there are usually so many deals on coffee creamer, that I will always have it on hand.  Its not as expensive as what people might think it is, quite often I get it for free with coupons  and pay nothing.  And I'm not a snob, I will get whatever I can with coupons, doesn't matter on the brand for me.  Coffeemate, International Delights, and Bailey's are the top ones you can get free or very very cheap after coupons.  Every week, one of them are on sale at Shoprite!  You can store this, even though it says on the bottle, Do not freeze, you can freeze it.  SO If its on sale and I have the coupons, I'll buy ahead and freeze them.

There are many more uses for coffee creamer other than just flavoring your coffee, you can use it in your baking too.  Where it says to add milk, add some french Vanilla cream for a different flavor.   And some people use it in their regular cooking, use it instead of milk in your mashed potatoes.



SO check in today and get your FREE Coffeemate at 12pm EST, 9am PST, and get one of 100K coupons for a FREE bottle of Coffeemate creamer! 

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