What's for dinner?

That is always the question at 5:00pm. What can I make that is fairly simple.
I am no grand cook, I like things quick and easy with simple ingredients but tastes good and not have to run to the store everyday to get those ingredients. So lately I have been putting my list of groceries together (on post-it notes) then (on the next post-it note behind the grocery list), I put a list of meals we can have that has our menu for the next week to week and a half. I am starting to have a collection of post-it notes with menus on them. (Not so organized I know, but it works for me) I just need to rotate them and I'll be set. Here are some of the dinner meals I have planned:

Last nights dinner,
Penne pasta whole wheat (this is what I had, but you can use any noodles) with spaghetti sauce and meatballs, with salad. I also added chopped mushrooms and green onions to the pasta mix. The meatballs were already prepared so I cooked them in the sauce while the pasta boiled, then added them together and it was done. homemade meatballs are simple too, just get your hamburger, add parmasean cheese, egg and a few crushed cracks, mix together, shape into balls, bake in oven until cooked through 10-15 minutes

Tacos, these are always a favorite, brown the meat, cut your favorite toppings (I love the shredded lettuce already shredded!)

Pizza- I buy the premade dough from pillsbury, pizza sauce, toppings, bake and done.

Chicken in a croissant - depends on what I am in the mood for, already made chicken or chicken in a can, take two croissant dough triangles that are put together to form a retangle, spread with cream cheese, chicken, last time I put mushrooms and onions in it, you can add favorites (other cheeses, green peppers S&P,etc.) , fold both long sides to the middle, pinch together, pinch ends shut, turn seam side down and poke 3-4 holes in top, brush with egg or butter add a seasoning or parmasean cheese to the top and cook.

Chicken noodle soup - cut up carrots, celery, onions, homemade frozen noodles, same thing, either cut up chicken cooked or chicken in a can, chicken bouillon and S&P and water. Simmer everything until noodles and carrots are done. (I buy Reams frozen homemade noodles, they are yummy!)

Grilled Tuna or Egg Sandwich - tuna, mayo, S&P, minced celery, minced egg(optional), mix all together, toast bread in toaster or oven, top with tuna mix, serve with apples, oranges, berries, you get the idea.

Pita - lunch meat, tuna mix, leftover chicken, whatever I have on hand, in pita with lettuce tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese. Serve with fruits or veggies, carrots, celery, yadayadayada.

Taco soup - Water, 1-2 cups of salsa, bouillon or soup base, chicken, simmer all together and serve with tortilla chips

Chili - 2 cans chili beans, 1 can tomato sauce, cook ground turkey or hamburger (I add chili seasoning to the meat too), chili seasoning, canned tomatoes, simmer all until warmed enough, serve with chips, saltine crackers, rolls, etc.

The always and true roast and potatoes for sunday dinner too.

And I should add, that one of the nights in the middle and end of all these dinner plans, is buffet night, meaning all the leftovers from whatever I have made is set out and it is chose what you want to get rid of it all!

These are just a few examples, they may not be much, but they are quick and my kids like them for the most part. Most of them can be made pretty healthy, especially by using chicken or turkey. I also always have hot dogs and buns on hand for really quick dinners!

So there you have it, that is what is for dinner at my house. What are you having tonight?

1-2-3-4

#1 - Daniel is now crawling hence the video at the bottom. He is getting faster everyday and it looks so darn cute, he especially loves to crawl to his mama!

#2 - Sarah is officially fully potty trained!!!! She was potty trained with #1 and at night time from the first week we started but #2 has always been an issue so we had pull-ups. We finally ran out and now she has no choice to go in the bathroom. THank Heavens!!!

#3 - I should have brought the camera with us Saturday. We took the kids roller skating for the first time. Megan and Joseph were a bit nervous and they were all excited. Sarah did great, it was like walking for her, I don't think she fell once! Joseph and Megan were getting good at the end but it will take a couple more times of going for them to really get used to it. They still had to have me or Brent to hold onto when they wanted to go out on the wood floor, on the carpet they did great. There was no way Brent and I were going to put on skates!

#4 - Enough with this snow already!! We have had sooo much snow it is ridiculous, good thing kids don't care as much about the snow as us adults, because they love to go out and play in it. The 3 of them went out and played for almost 2 hours last week, when it was warm enough! It has been fun for them, not for us!

#5 - Daniel is FInALLY sleeping through the night! I have not been one of those lucky mothers to have a baby sleep all night until they are 8-12 months. I don't mind getting up in the middle of the night and feeding them and having that precious cuddle and bonding time but around 7 months I am done! Finally physically exhausted so, I let Daniel cry the other night for about 30-40 minutes then remembered that his crib was still high enough that if he stood up he could go over the side, so after hearing him keep hitting the crib, I went in there and put his paci back in, held him for about 10 minutes and he was out. Every since then he has slept from about 10-11 to 8-9. I am giving myself this week to sleep until I have to get up and then next week I will be getting up early and exercising. Exciting huh?!?!?! (actually I am excited!)

#6 - I am also just about done nursering. Since he loves the bottle lots me than me and keeps biting me, I am down to 2-3 times a day for a couple minutes, pretty soon it will be once then I will be done. Kind of Bittersweet.....

These are some pictures of them playing outside

Notice the snow bank taller than Sarah?!

Sarah all dressed up ready to go out