Menu Plan Monday 10/17

This school year is going by QUICKLY.  I feel like last week flew by, but then the weekend, sadly, was even shorter.  It was also super busy.  We started our baby registry. I wish I could say it was a fun experience planning for and dreaming about the life we will have with this little guy... BUT... it was honestly stressful and overwhelming. I'm pretty sure Grant's words as we were leaving the store three hours later (only about 1/5 of the way done) were "if the women in Africa can raise children without all this, why do we need it?" Of course, I agreed... but unfortunately, when you are living in suburbia and driving everywhere, there are definitely some basics you need... like a car seat/carrier (didn't find one yet), a stroller (didn't find one yet) and a method of providing food for your little one while you are working (yup, haven't figured that out yet either).  This being said, we have a LONG way to go.  At least we have a crib picked out(which he won't sleep in for awhile) and some bedding, right?

I slaved away in the kitchen on Sunday, making apple brownies for a snack for our small group (they were délicieux- I also decreased the cooking time by 5 min), white chicken chili in the crockpot and pumpkin patch stuffed shells so we would just have to throw them in the oven.  We decided that the shells are good, but needed a little "kick," so we added some crushed red pepper flakes and a little extra cheese for the leftover portions for our lunches.  I think this pumpkin pasta recipe is still my favorite pumpkin pasta.  We will make it SOMETIME this fall... it just takes awhile. 

Here's the official menu plan: 

 Sunday: White Chicken Chili (I throw everything in the crockpot- I use chicken breasts and leave out the milk & masa and just add a little sour cream on top of each bowl)

Monday: Pumpkin Patch Stuffed Shells, salad, bread

Tuesday: Caramel Apple Pork Chops, Pierogies, green beans (didn't make last week)

Wednesday: Apple & Cheddar quesadillas, Mexican Jicama-Pineapple salad, refried beans

Thursday: Chicken Sandwiches, TJs Harvest Grains Couscous, baked acorn squash

Friday: having a snack before Tom's bday party :-)

Saturday: our cul-de-sac's Halloween Party... I'm taking Baked Potato Skins

For more menu-planning ideas go to http://orgjunkie.com/2011/10/menu-plan-monday-oct-1711.html