Weekly Menu Plan 9-24 to 9-30, 2023

 

Another change of seasons is here already!  Summer flew by.  Sitting outside on my porch swing yesterday, even though it was 80 degrees, it didn't feel the same as a summer 80 degree day.  The breeze was beautiful, leaves were falling, some of the maple trees are turning bright red and gold at their tops, and the birds are silent.  I don't hear the happy chirping like I did all summer.  Instead, it is quiet, except for a few caws from the crows.  Where did all the birds go already?  I didn't see any birds flying from tree to tree, or looking for worms in my yard.   A totally different feel in just a matter of days!

It looks like we're locked in a beautiful weather pattern for the next couple weeks.  Warm, dry, and hovering around upper 70's and low 80's.  What a perfect start to fall!

Last week's dinners were pretty good!  Here is my favorite pick of the week:

Shrimp and Imitation Crabmeat Pasta Salad

This was a cold, creamy salad that had a wonderful dressing!  I loved it, and even ate it for breakfast the next morning!  It made a nice big bowl full, and I will definitely be making this again.

I guess I was busier than I thought I would be, because I never finished the bag I wanted to make.  I have the outside done, but have to finish it this afternoon.  Here is what I have so far:

It is just a fun fall Japanese Rice Bag.  It will be a drawstring bag, and it holds A LOT.  It's in the shape of a flexible cube.  Perfect for packing with snacks for a road trip, or for carrying my knitting or cross stitch.  I had a few pieces left over from my table runner I made last week, so I used them up for the outside of the bag.  Waste not, want not, right?  I'll post a picture later when it's finished.  I have made several of these bags, and given most of them away.  I kept one, but my granddaughter really wants that one.  So I figured I better make a few more so I can keep at least one!

Here is my menu plan for the week.  Hopefully some more great meals this week!  As usual, notes and recipe links are below:

Recipe Links and Notes:

Sunday:

Crustless Broccoli Bacon Quiche is from The Bossy Kitchen

Gluten Free Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches are from My Gluten Free Kitchen

Gluten Free Oreo Cheesecake is from Mama Gourmand

Monday:

Gluten Free Pumpkin Waffles are from Fit Foodie Finds

Gluten Free Beef Stroganoff is from The Roasted Root

Tuesday:

Classic Chef Salad is from Billy Parisi

Gluten Free Brownie Cookies are from Mama Gourmand

Wednesday:

Apple Pie Oatmeal Bars are from Real Housemoms - this one needs adapting for gluten free.  I will use gluten free oats, and gluten free all-purpose flour (I usually use King Arthur or Pillsbury gluten free flour)

Gluten Free Chicken Nacho Casserole is from My Well Balanced Life

Berry Cantaloupe Salad is from Damn Delicious

Thursday:

Gluten Free Pumpkin Muffins are from Life After Wheat

Friday:

Gluten Free Tuna Casserole is from Flippin Delicious

Gluten Free Apple Cobbler is from Peel With Zeal

Saturday:

Gluten Free Pancakes are from Gluten Free Baking

Chicken Bacon Ranch Wraps are from I Wash You Dry - I will use a gluten free tortilla ( I use Mission brand gluten free wraps)

Gluten Free Potato Soup is from Wheat By The Wayside

That should do it for the coming week!  I hope you all have a fabulous first week of fall, and lots of good family meals!  See you soon!

Weekly Menu Plan 9-17 to 9-23, 2023

 

Before this week ends, fall will be here!  The weather today couldn't have been more perfect.  I just love this time of year - summer is my favorite, I love to be warm.  And to be able to just hop in the car with what you have on, and not have to find a coat, scarf, mittens, boots, etc.  But, when fall hits, I just love it!  The air smells different, the breezes are different, sitting on my porch swing gives me a whole different perspective.  I think I just like the changes every few months!  Luckily, here in Indiana, there's LOTS of changes all the time!

Last week's menu went over really well.  I tried a lot of new recipes, and almost all of them were keepers.  I love when that happens!  This week, I don't have as many new recipes to try, and that's okay.  It's nice to have a busy week, and then a not-so-busy-in-the-kitchen week.  Gives me time to sew!

Speaking of sewing, here's what I finished up this week:

A table runner for the shelves in my foyer:

And a little Halloween treat bag for one of the littles I know:

This week, I hope to finish another bag, and maybe make progress on another table topper.  We'll see what happens this week!

Here is what I came up with for our menu plan this week.  Links and notes are below.

Notes and Links:

Sunday:

Maple Sausage Lentil Soup is from Haute Flavor - I'm not a huge fan of lentil soup, but this one I love!  The flavors are just so good together!  Be sure to use Maple Sausage - I use either Tennessee Pride or Bob Evans.  The first time I made it, I thought my husband wouldn't eat it, but he went back for a big second helping.  It is just delicious!

Gluten Free Pineapple Upside Down Cake is from King Arthur Flour - it is quite easy, since it uses a cake mix.  They are a little pricey, but sometimes I just like quick and easy!

Tuesday:

Seafood Pasta Salad is from Food.com - it needs adapting to make it gluten free.  I use gluten free bowtie noodles I get at Wal Mart, and I buy imitation crabmeat from Sams Club because it is gluten free.  Sometimes, I think the ones from Aldi, contain wheat.  Check the package!  I've made this one a lot this summer, it's delicious.

Wednesday:

Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal is from All Recipes - again, it needs adapted to be gluten free.  Use gluten free rolled oats, I use Quaker or Bob's Red Mill gluten free oats.  I also use dairy free butter and oat milk.  It still turns out delicious!  I don't even tell my husband, and he just eats it up and loves it!

Gluten Free Apple Cake is from Mama Shire - tastes like fall!  I usually put a scoop of vanilla ice cream on my husband's serving.

Thursday:

Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken is from Half-Baked Harvest - this one is new to me.  I have heard lots of good things about hot honey pizza, so I thought I'd give this chicken a try.  I hope it's not too spicy for me!

Friday:

Gluten Free Apple Crumb Coffee Cake is from The Heritage Cook - I know, another apple cake.  But this one's for breakfast!  Coffee cakes are my thing!  I could eat them every day!  And I look like I do! 😋

Saturday:

Crockpot Gluten Free Beef Stew is from My Gluten-Free Kitchen - I make this a lot during the winter.  I love getting it all prepped in the morning, it frees up my whole day!  I love slow cookers!  And Instant Pots! And Air Fryers!

Gluten Free Pumpkin Dump Cake is from Fearless Dining  - another cake that starts with a mix!  I love these kinds of recipes!  It's easy to make and so yummy!  I don't think I'm rushing pumpkin season, do you?  I tried to keep it to apples, but I couldn't resist this one!

So there you have it!  Another week of meals!  Take care, y'all enjoy waving good-bye to summer and hello to fall!  See you next week!

Weekly Menu Plan 9-10 to 9-16 2023

 

Good morning!

Apple pies are sounding good right now, aren't they?  I am totally in the mood to break out the baking supplies!  This week I am heading to one of our local apple orchards to stock up on some apple goodies, like cider and apple butter, and of course a variety of apples.  I can feel fall in the air!

Last week's menu worked out pretty well, so I'm crossing my fingers that it goes as well this week!  I have quite a few new-to-me recipes to try out, as well as some tried and trues.

Here is my plan for the week.  I have notes below, including links to the recipes.  I have been gluten free for so long now, that it's quite easy for me to change up a recipe to be gluten free.  If you're gluten free, and I have posted a regular recipe including gluten, just drop a comment below and I can tell you what I do to make it gluten free.  

Sunday:

Bacon and Cheese Omelet is from Recipe Tips - I buy frozen Hash Brown Patties that are gluten free at Wal Mart, and use Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Bread for toast

Gluten Free Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches are from My Gluten Free Kitchen - I don't eat the onion rings, I sub potato chips for me

Gluten Free Chocolate Mousse Cake is from Gluten Free On A Shoestring - I have this in the oven right now, and need to make the mousse as soon as I finish here

Monday:

Gluten Free Waffles are from Mama Knows Gluten Free - she is amazing and is my go-to website

Gluten Free Burrito Bake is from Rachlmansfield - This one is a new recipe I'm trying, and I can't wait to make it!

Tuesday:

Crock Pot Western Omelet is from Food.com - a tried and true favorite of mine

Chicken Pot Pie Quiche is from Plain Chicken - This one needs to be adapted for gluten free. I am using gluten free cream of chicken soup from Wal Mart, and I am subbing non-dairy cheese shreds and oat milk for the dairy products. I am using a gluten free frozen pie crust from Maine Woods that I buy at Meijer.  I haven't made this before, but it sounds yummy!

Gluten Free Peach Cobbler is from The Spruce - can't wait to make this one!

Wednesday:

Gluten Free Sausage Gravy is from Mama Gourmand - Actually, my husband usually makes this for both of us and it always turns out great!  We use oat milk instead of regular milk, and sometimes, depending on the flour we use, it soaks up lots of milk.  So we just keep adding until it reaches the right consistency.

Ham Steaks with Pineapple Sauce is from Midget Mom - easy and yummy!

Thursday:

Gluten Free Shrimp Quesadillas are from Gimme Delicious - I will use non-dairy mozzarella shreds for mine, as well as a gluten free tortilla from Mission, that I buy at Meijer or Wal Mart.

Gluten Free Whoopie Pies are from Mama Gourmand - I've not made these before, but they sound delish!

Friday:

Gluten Free French Toast is from Gluten Free Palate

Gluten Free Apple Pie Bars is from Hunny I'm Home - cannot wait to make these!

Saturday:

Gluten Free Blueberry Pancakes are from The Loopy Whisk - tons of delicious gluten free recipes here!

Gluten Free Clam Chowder is from Fearless Dining - I have not made this before, but when I found the recipe I was so excited to try it!  I love this website for gluten free recipes, and I have no doubt it will be delicious.  I am going to try it with extra creamy oatmilk and coconut whipping cream.  That will probably alter the flavor a tiny bit, but I think it will still work.

That's it for this week!  Looks like I'll be spending some time in the kitchen this week, but I'm looking forward to it.  Have a wonderful week, and I will be back next week with another menu!  Take care!

Weekly Menu Plan 9-3 to 9-9 2023

 

Well, I'm a couple months and a day late, but I'm here!  This one's for you, Linda!

I have to admit, from time to time, I get frustrated that my posts aren't useful to anyone, so I just give up.  I do keep making my menus, I just don't post them.  I have to have a plan, that's just how I am.

This summer, it's been very warm and I've been very busy.  I still 'watch' the youngest grandgirl, but these days all I do is run her back and forth to sports practices and whatever else she feels like doing.  She plays tennis 4 days a week for 5 hours, so that pretty much takes up her time and mine, as I run her back and forth.  But she made the tennis team for the coming year, and right now is playing volleyball on another team.  Since she's back to school, my days are free until after school, when I go over and run her to whatever practice she has.  I'm just a granny chauffeur these days!  But I still enjoy it!

I pretty much stuck to using my outdoor griddle and grill this summer.  I LOVE the outdoor griddle!  We have had some great meals from it.  It's so nice not having to heat up the kitchen!  I think I will use it almost year-round, unless it's too cold or snowy to go outside.  

This week, I am still in hot weather mode.  But I can feel the air changing, and even though it's hot outside it still has a fall feel to it.  I really love these cooler evenings!

Here is my menu plan for this week.  If a recipe isn't gluten free, I just change it around to make it gluten free.  And now, for me, I am mostly dairy free as well.  My tummy does so much better without dairy!  Knock on wood!

Recipe links are below for the highlighted recipes.

Sunday:

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats are from Just So Tasty

Monday:

Gluten Free Brownies are from G-Free Foodie

Tuesday:

Loaded Bacon Ranch Potato Salad is from Mama Knows Gluten Free

Wednesday:

Gluten Free Pumpkin Muffins are from Life After Wheat

Sausage, Potato, and Green Bean Casserole is from Great Grub, Delicious Treats

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Brownies are from My Gluten Free Kitchen

Thursday:

Vegetable Soup is from Natasha's Kitchen

Friday:

Tuna Pasta Salad is from Tornadough Alli

Gluten Free Lemon Brownies are from Fearless Dining

Saturday:

Gluten Free Granola Breakfast Pie is from Izzy Cooking

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies are from Fearless Dining

And there you have it!  Another week of family meals!  As always, I hope you can find an idea or two to help you plan your meals.  Even if you're not gluten free, you can always make these recipes the normal way, with all the gluten you like!  :)

Have a wonderful week, and if you find something helpful here, please drop a short comment in the comment section below.  It helps me stay motivated to know someone is out there!

See you next week!  Take care!