Cheeseburger Pie Soup

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
•  1 diced onion
• 3 to 4 carrots, shredded
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 tsp basil
• 1 tsp parsley
• 4 TBS butter
• 5 cups beef broth (I use water and beef base)
• 4 cups cubed potatoes
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
•  2 cups shredded or cubed Cheddar cheese (Velveeta is good too)
•  2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup sour cream

Directions

1. In a large pot, melt 1 TBS butter over medium heat: cook and stir vegetables and beef , until beef is brown, drain grease.
2. Stir in basil and parsley. Add broth and potatoes. Bring to a boil, then simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10-12 minutes.
3. Melt the remainder of butter and stir in flour. Add the milk, stirring until smooth.
4. Gradually add milk mixture to the soup, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Stir in cheese. When cheese is melted, add sour cream and heat through. Do not boil.

This Week's Menu

Monday (9/3/2012)
  Breakfast: Cereal

  Dinner Potluck with Friends

Tuesday (9/4/2012)
  Breakfast: Cereal or grits

  Dinner: Spaghetti w/ homemade Meat sauce, French Bread (makes 2 loaves, salad

Wednesday (8/29/2012)
  Breakfast: Homemade Waffles, sausage

  Dinner: Chicken Fried Steak, Mustard Greens, Rice (gravy), Corn on the Cob, Amazing Yeast Rolls (double for next day)

Thursday (9/6/2012)
  Breakfast: Bagels

  Dinner:  Homemade Cheese Ravioli with Meatball, Amazing Yeast Rolls

Friday (9/7/2012)
  Breakfast: French Toast (using , Sausage

  Dinner: Rice and Bean Enchiladas

Saturday (9/8/2012)
  Dinner: Grilled Chicken, green beans, Rice Pilaf

Sunday (9/2/2012)
  Dinner: Chicken Panini's, Broccoli Cheese Soup

***Lunches are usually easy pasta dishes, mac n cheese, sandwiches, or leftovers.

Honey Chicken Crockpot Recipe

Chicken (1-2 lbs)
1/3 cup Honey
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup Soy sauce
2 TBS minced garlic (or 2 cloves), garlic powder works in a pinch too!

Put all ingredients in the crock pot on low 6 hours.  You can use any type of chicken with or without bones.  We prefer boneless skinless breasts.  Great served over rice or egg noodles.   This makes a great sauce.  I like to thicken the sauce before serving.  Mix 2 TBS cornstarch or flour with 1 TBS cold water... then whisk into sauce on low heat... add more or less to desired sauce consistency.  My kids LOVE this!

Menu Plan Monday~

Here is what is on our menu this week

Monday - Grilled Chicken, rice and gravy, green beans, Homemade Yeast Rolls
Tuesday - Spaghetti, homemade French Bread
Wednesday - Church
Thursday - Tacos
Friday- Sausage, Mac n cheese, peas, homemade bread
Saturday - Shrimp Scamp,Homemade Garlic Yeast Roll
Sunday - Ribeye Steaks, baked potatoes, corn on the cob

If I am not in the mood for something I will switch up the day that I make it... point is, I have a plan and have the ingredients to make everything.  This saves me time, money, and stress! In a pinch I usually can always make grilled cheese and tomato soup or throw together a tuna fish casserole :-)

Do you meal plan?  If not I encourage you to do so... Really does take the stress of "what's for dinner?" out of my day!


For more Menu Planning Ideas:

Menu Plan Monday, My Weeks Worth!

I generally make my menu for a month at a time.  I do my grocery shopping by the month also....  I usually shop between the 10th and 15th of each month... I know I am weird LOL... It works for my family of 5 though!  I try to limit eating out to once a week... Usually this is on Sunday after church.  I stock freezer, pantry and produce/dairy all in my monthly trip.  Then usually 2 weeks later I stock milk/produce again... and dire necessities that can't wait for the next monthly trip.   I love to bake breads of all sorts.... and usually bake it 3-4x's per week in some manner :) More on my shopping habits later though LOL.

Monday - Sausage, Field Peas, Cheesy Potato Soup, Homemade Yeast Rolls
Tuesday - Spaghetti, homemade French Bread
Wednesday - Church
Thursday - Stew
Friday- Hamburgers, french fries
Saturday - Cheesy BBQ Chicken w/ Bacon, Broccoli, rice
Sunday - Dinner: Fettuccine Alfredo w/ chicken, homemade garlic bread

Here is a fun little dessert to make with the kids too: 

Cake Batter Waffle Sundaes

A little behind my methods of Meal planning....
With 3 kids, 2 of which are in school (1st and 4th grade) I try to keep school nights simple and quick because our nights are usually hectically filled with homework, baths, showers, bedtime... Well, it can get crazy without a plan!  One thing I found that helped me from getting overwhelmed when I began menu planning was assigning "spaghetti night"... For a while it was every Monday... then I got all crazy and switched it to Tuesdays :)  Sometimes I do spaghetti with meatballs, sometimes it is spaghetti with meat sauce, sometimes it is spaghetti with marinara sauce :)  I also try to do something in the crockpot once a week, and rotate chicken, beef, etc etc.  And if I am not in the mood for something I will switch up the day that I make it... point is, I have a plan and have the ingredients to make everything.  This saves me time, money, and stress!

Do you meal plan?  If not I encourage you to do so... Really does take the stress of "what's for dinner?" out of my day!


For more Menu Planning Ideas:

Cheesy Potato Soup

6 tbs margarine (divided... will use 3 tbs first... then the other 3 tbs melted)
1 cup onion diced
1 tsp garlic powder
6-8 whole potatoes peeled and cubed
2 1/2 cups milk
3 Tbs flour
8 oz cheddar cheese (or parmesan) grated
Parsley (optional)
salt to taste
pepper to taste

This soup is great by itself, but also a nice way to use up leftovers as stir-ins. I have added ham, broccoli, chicken, peas, and bacon to make this a very versatile freezer staple.


Melt first 3 tbs margarine in a large pot. Add onions, cooking until soft. Add potatoes and enough water to barely cover. Cook, covered, until potatoes are tender (15 - 20 minutes).  Do not drain!  Slightly mash the potatoes, then add milk.

In a small bowl, combine 3 tbs melted margarine & flour mixture, then add to pot, stir over low heat and cook until thickened... Add cheese, and stir until smooth. Heat, but do not boil. Add garlic, parsley and salt and pepper to taste.  If you have add in's be sure to add those too.  My favorite is crisp bacon and green onions on top!

To Freeze: Allow soup to cool, and ladle into 1 gallon freezer bag. Lay flat to freeze. Or Freeze in containers as well.

To serve: Reheat in microwave or over low heat on the stovetop, stirring constantly to keep from burning. Add in any additional ingredients and heat through.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

2 tbs butter
1 whole onions chopped
1 whole garlic cloves (I use minced in the jar)
½ cup butter
1 lb. broccolli washed, cut (Or use frozen)
½ cup flour
1 qt. half & half
1 qt. chicken stock (or use chicken Base)
2 salt and pepper, to taste grated
¼ tsp nutmeg
8 oz. cheddar cheese
2 whole carrots shredded

This soup serves 6 and can be easily doubled. It is unbelievably delicious!!
time to make 55 min 25 min prep


1. Saute onion in butter. When onions are golden, stir in garlic and cook for 3 more minutes. Set aside.
2. In another pan melt the 1/2 cup of butter and stir the butter and flour (make a roux) using a whisk over med. heat for 3-5
minutes. Stir constantly and slowly add the half-and-half. Add the chicken stock whisking all the time. Simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Add the broccoli, carrots and onions. Cook over low heat till veggies are tender for 20-25 minutes. Add salt and pepper.
4. Pour in batches into blender and puree.
5. Return to pot and add the grated cheese and stir till well blended.
6. Put on low heat and stir the nutmeg.

Serve with cheese on top.... Freezes wonderfully!

Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce

1½ tbs margarine melted
3 TBS minced garlic
1½ tbs flour
2 cup milk
3 tbs cream cheese
½ cup parmesan grated
2 tbs parsley chopped fresh


In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add garlic; cook and stir 30 seconds. Blend in flour; cook and stir minute. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook and stir until mixture comes to a boil and thickens. Remove from heat; stir in cheeses and parsley until cheeses melt. Toss with fettuccine.

Serve with cooked chicken breasts too!

To Freeze: Allow to cool and ladle (sauce only) into 1 gallon Ziploc bag. Lay flat to freeze.

Serve with fettuccine noodles

Shrimp Scampi

2 tbs olive oil
1 stick butter or margarine
1 whole green bell pepper chopped
1 whole onions chopped
salt & pepper to taste
2 tbs garlic minced
Italian seasoning to taste
1 lb. shrimp (frozen is what I use)
1 jar diced tomatoes I use a large jar (maybe 25-30 oz)
splash of wine (i use whatever I have on hand white or red)
pasta (thin spaghetti or angel hair is preferred)


Ben's Favorite! (and very easy)
I don't eat seafood so I usually do a seperate butter sauce for me :)

heat olive oil, saute minced garlic, onions, peppers. add 1 stick of butter... Add salt, pepper and italian seasonings. stirring here and there. Add 1 jar of diced tomatoes with juices (you can use italian blend or plain)... You can also use fresh if you have them. continue cooking until peppers and onions are tender. If I have wine on hand I add a bit to the mixture while cooking too. (red or white). At the end add shrimp (tails removed) saute tossing a few minutes until cooked. (I usually buy frozen shrimp for convenience but fresh is good too!)

could also be made with chicken instead of shrimp.

serve over angel hair pasta or thin spaghetti :)
add a salad, garlic bread and red wine for the perfect meal!