Easy Weekly Meals Your Family Will Love – Week #5

Even though this has seemed like the longest month ever, I’m still super behind on my to-do list. It’s nice when I can take one thing off my never-ending list like meal planning. If you too want to simplify your life sign-up for my monthly newsletter (directly below) to get five dinners and one dessert sent right to your inbox with accompanying grocery list.

Please keep in mind that my family consists of two hungry adults and two toddlers. Adjust the number of ingredients you’ll need if you have a larger family. One rack of ribs might not cut it for you!

Monday – Meatless Monday

Jalapeno Popper Pizza and Salad

Our friends in South Dakota inspired me to make this tasty dinner. Jalapeno popper pizza also makes a great appetizer if you slice it into strips. I make this meal “super healthy” by dipping my pizza slices into nacho cheese sauce (that’s why it’s on the shopping list).

Don’t worry this pizza is not actually spicy at all – take it from a white girl who cried eating mild salsa one time. If you want to save more time you can certainly buy a pre-made pizza crust.

Serve with a side salad to add a little nutrition to this meal.

Pizza Crust:

1. Pour 1 pkg of yeast and 1 tbsp sugar into a large mixing bowl. Add 1 c of hot water to the bowl and stir. Let the ingredients sit for about 10 minutes.

2. Next, add 2 1/2 c of flour and 1 1/2 tsp olive oil to the yeast mixture. Using a fork mix all the ingredients together.

3. Knead the dough in the bowl for 5 minutes adding flour as needed when the dough gets sticky.

4. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise for at least 1 hour (preferably more time if you have it!).

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 450.

2. Spread out the dough on a floured pizza pan or stone.

3. Open a pkg of softened cream cheese, thinly slice it, and distribute the slices over the pizza crust. Spread out the cream cheese (like you would with sauce) using a rubber scraper.

4. Sprinkle 1 c mozzarella cheese over the cream cheese.

5. Sprinkle diced jalapeno over the mozzarella cheese – I typically use 1 jalapeno but some people would prefer more.

6. Top with 1 c cheddar cheese.

7. Bake for approximately 10 minutes.

Tuesday – Slow Cooker Recipe

Citrus Chicken Thighs, Wild Rice, and Green Beans

Slow cookers are just the best. This chicken ends up moist with a light citrus flavor.

Wednesday – Breakfast for Dinner

Breakfast Burritos and Strawberries

Need a super-fast but filling dinner for a busy night? Breakfast burritos are your answer. Customize these burritos with any extra toppings you want, just remember to add the ingredients to the shopping list.

Directions:

1. Cook a package of bacon.
2. Then scramble eggs (as many as you need for your family) and lay in tortillas.
3. Top with cheddar cheese, salsa, and bacon.

Thursday – Leftovers

Friday – Friday Favorites

Dr. Pepper Ribs, Mac & Cheese, and Corn

I don’t enjoy “messy” food but for these ribs, I’ll make an exception. We never, ever have leftovers with this recipe.

Directions:

1. Place 1 rack of baby back ribs in a 9×13 pan (you may need to cut the rack to make them fit).

2. Pour Dr. Pepper over the ribs until they are completely submerged.

3. Refrigerate overnight.

4. Preheat the oven to 350.

5. Pour 1 c of water into a new baking dish.

6. Pat the ribs dry and rub with 1 tbsp of chili powder. Place the ribs in the baking dish and cover the pan with aluminum foil.

7. Bake in the preheated oven for two hours.

8. Mix together 1 c of bbq sauce with 1/4 c Dr. Pepper.

9. Remove the aluminum foil, brush the ribs with the Dr. Pepper bbq sauce and continue to bake for about 15 minutes. Add more sauce as you see fit.

Saturday – Eat Out or Order In

Sunday – Multicultural Night

Stroganoff, Broccoli, and Bread

We typically use venison when our family eats stroganoff but I put beef on the shopping list for families that don’t hunt.

Weekly Dessert

Peanut Butter Cookies

My toddler daughters were caught stealing a bunch of these cookies from the pantry this week. No one can resist peanut butter cookies (sorry for those of you with nut allergies!).

Are you in need of more dinner ideas? Here is my Weekly Meal Plan #4!