Meal Plan {Feb 11 - 15}

I have recently become more interested in meal planning for my family...at least when it comes to dinner.  Having 2 young kids, there is only so much you can plan because they tend to not want to eat what mommy and daddy are eating.  I guess that only can pertain to the 3 1/2 year old, since the 6 month old isn't eating table food as of yet!  My 3 1/2 year old is getting better, but she is still pretty picky!

I am always searching online for new recipes.  Pinterest is my favorite place to find recipes.  I was never one to really experiment with cooking, I always stayed within my comfort zone (i.e. spaghetti, bbq chicken).  But as I get older, and more so since I have become a stay-at-home mom, I feel I have more time and energy to really try out new recipes.  However, don't be fooled, I am still a sucker for easy recipes as well!  Heck, I am still the mom of 2 little kids first...they can be quite draining!

For this week here is what I have planned for dinners (this week is going to be a little off on one day because my daughter is due to have surgery which includes an overnight stay):

• Monday {February 11th} - Chicken Leg Quarters w/ Lemon Pepper (290 calories) and Del Monte Canned Corn (70 calories)
• Tuesday {February 12th} - Slow cooked chicken tacos with cilantro lime corn on tortillas
• Wednesday {February 13th} - Zatarain's Jambalaya with Turkey Sausage
• Thursday {February 14th} - No meal planned...will be eating hospital food with my girl...Happy Valentine's Day to us! :)
• Friday {February 15th} - Butterball Turkey Burgers (no buns) with baked beans

So as you can see, I mix some "fancier" meals in with some easier meals.  The weekends are reserved for the higher calorie/higher carb meals (i.e. chicken parmesan, spaghetti, etc.).

Do you have any recipes you have been dying to try or that you absolutely love?  I would love for you to share them so that I could try them out!  If they turn out well, I will share the directions/pictures here on my blog!  I am always looking for new and exciting dinner recipes!

HEALTHY VERSION of the Yummy Breakfast Casserole {RECIPE}

My friend, and blog follower, Bernadette, tried out the Yummy Breakfast Casserole from my last post.  She was so gracious to send me the "healthy" changes she made to it along with some pictures so that I could share it with you all!  She followed the directions from the last post, but made some substitutions to the ingredients.  Below are the ingredients that she used in her healthier version:

1/2 cup(s) 2% reduced fat milk 28 oz Ore-Ida Potatoes O'Brien, with Onions and Peppers 2 cups Kraft Natural Shredded Cheese, Sharp Cheddar, Reduced Fat 1 lb Jennie-O Turkey Sausage 16 oz Egg Beaters, Egg Whites 1 g Pam Cooking Spray Salt & Pepper to taste Here are some pictures from her finished product!!  It looks just as yummy and sounds healthier!  I will have to give this version a try! Thank you Bernadette for sharing your healthy version!

Yummy Breakfast Casserole {RECIPE}

First off...sorry I have been gone soooo long!  My kids have both been very sick!  My daughter got strep in early January, and then my son followed with bronchiolitis and was on a nebulizer several times a day.  Needless to say there wasn't much time for blogging!

In late January, I made up a breakfast casserole for dinner one night that was exceptional!!  I didn't take a whole lot of pictures, but I thought I would share the recipe along with the few pictures I did take :)

Breakfast Casserole

So delicious!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of breakfast sausage ( you could use Italian sausage as well)
• 10 eggs
• 1/2 cup of milk
• Bag of Ore Ida Potatoes O'Brien potatoes
• 8 ounces of mild cheddar cheese, grated/shredded
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F
• Spray a 9x13 inch pan with cooking spray and set aside
• Cook up breakfast sausage until fully cooked
• In a large bowl, mix up all the ingredients (except for about 1 cup of the cheese)
• Pour ingredients in to the pan and bake for about an hour
• Ovens vary so your cook time may vary as well.  Once the eggs have cooked you know it is done (I started cooking it for 45 mins then just kept adding 10 minutes until it was fully cooked)
• Remove from oven and top with the remaining cup of cheese
• Place back in the oven and cook for another 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is done!
• Enjoy!!!

I topped mine with ketchup when I ate it and it was DELICIOUS!!!!  I have to say, I was a little skeptical on how leftovers would reheat.  However, I am happy to say it was just as amazing the next day as it was the night I cooked it!  I cannot speak for the 3rd day and beyond, because it didn't last that long in this house!!!

Here is a few pictures of it all put together ready to go in to the oven!  Sorry I didn't take many pictures!