Whew, what a busy busy week! Monday night I went to the American Idol concert, whoo hoo! (I'll post more about that when I've had time to look at the pictures) Tuesday Gitli (our dog) is being neutered and hubby has the annual employee appreciation dinner at work, so I'll eat what and when I feel like it. Yea! Wednesday morning, fabric shopping and lunch with my mom and sister-in-law then off to work. Thursday, doctors appointment and around dinner time the Dish Network installers will be here to do our new installation. Also, The Sims 2 Apartment Life is out so I'm planning on something really easy for dinner, can't have game time interrupted! ; ) By Friday night I'll be ready for some serious couch time with a pizza.

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Monday: Dinner out before concert (John picking up hamburger on the way home)

Tuesday: Eat what you find night

Wednesday: Chicken with Artichoke and Cous Cous

Thursday: Unstuffed Cabbage

Friday: Pizza Night

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Apparently I would do pretty good as a wife in the 30's. hehehe Now, if only I lived in the 30's.

67 As a 1930s wife, I am Superior Take the test!

The menu for this week is a mix of stuff, easy and a little more time consuming. I've got a busy week work wise, but the hours are all packed into 3 days. Buying groceries on Sunday (which I hate) because hubby needs the car on Monday. Yea, a day of no driving! :)

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Sunday: Crockpot Hobo Dinner

Monday: Buttermilk Baked Chicken with Spinach Salad

Tuesday: Hamburgers and French Fries (long work day, hubby offered to cook)

Wednesday: Chicken Packets

Thursday: Spaghetti and Meatballs - Salad (meatballs from stash in freezer)

Friday: Make your own pizza night

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Feel free to leave comments, I love em! :)

Here's the plan for this week, just trying to use up what I have in the fridge and not feeling too well this week so things are easy

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Monday: Shrimp Basket (Fried Shrimp from Sam's Club, French Fries, Cole Slaw)

Tuesday: Pulled Chicken Sandwiches - Chips

Wednesday: Parmesan Crusted Tilapia (from Sam's) - Pasta Alfredo (mix) - Mixed Veggies

Thursday: Chicken and Rice Casserole - Mandarin Salad

Friday: Order Pizza or Leftovers (depending on the budget)

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Inspirations for next week (so I don't forget):
Buttermilk Baked Chicken with Spinach Salad
Recipes from Everyday Italian - Cooking with Kids episode

What a lovely time we had Saturday at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. John's cousin Jessica works with the circus taking care of the horses. She took us backstage to meet some of the animals before the show. (click on the pictures to see a bigger version)

Apparently a frog has taken up residence in our air conditioner drain pipe outside. He's been there about a week and just lets the water drip on him all day. Gotta keep cool in this Texas heat somehow!

It's not my first menu plan though. Every Monday I use a simple Excel spreadsheet and type in my dinners for the week. I post the menu on my fridge because my hubby John likes to "get his taster ready". :) At the end of the week I put the menu in a binder and when I've run out of inspiration I can refer to my old menus.

It is HOT HOT HOT here in Texas right now so all but one of my dinners involve no oven. Wednesday is John's birthday and he requested meatloaf (why I don't know, it's not usually his favorite, but he said he was craving it).

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Monday: Hamburgers from Whataburger (it was a long tiring day and I didn't feel up to anything else)

Tuesday: Chicken Fajitas

Wednesday: Meatloaf - Scalloped Potatoes - Green Beans - Chocolate Birthday Cake

Thursday: Summer Pasta Salad

Friday: Teriyaki Chicken and Veggie Stirfry - Rice

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3 cups bow tie pasta
1/2 pound chopped ham
2 cups shredded Colby cheese
1/2 cup ranch-style salad dressing
1 cup Miracle Whip
1 cup frozen peas, thawed

In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente, rinse under cold water and drain.
In a large bowl, combine the pasta, ham, cheese and peas.
Whisk together the ranch dressing and Miracle Whip. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Refrigerate until chilled and serve.