Tuesday's Table — When Plans Change!

Sometimes you make a weekly menu, and sometimes life, unexpected leftovers, and a really good grocery store deal make you change the whole thing!

That's exactly what happened this week.

I had some unexpected leftovers in the refrigerator, found some great markdowns on beef, and decided it was time to switch gears and make a NEW menu.

And honestly, I'm glad I did because this week is going to be CRAZY!

Between a full week of tutoring, babysitting, making CIF flowers, a small wedding, haircuts for the girls, a school fall festival with Happy Faces, and a long community event two hours away on Saturday, I need dinners that are QUICK, EASY, and preferably already prepped before I leave the house.

So, here's what we're eating this week!

Monday — Smoked Tri-Tip, Scalloped Potatoes & Mac and Cheese

Justin is going to smoke some tri-tips, and we'll have scalloped potatoes and mac and cheese to go with them.

I'm certainly not complaining when someone else takes over part of dinner!

Tuesday — Beef Enchilada Casserole

This is a perfect example of why I love planned overs!

I had white rice left over from last week, enchilada sauce left from today's dinner, extra shredded cheese from prepping several meals and breakfasts, AND I found ground beef marked down 50% on Friday.

That's practically an entire dinner already waiting in my refrigerator!

I browned the beef today and portioned out the rice and cheese. Tuesday morning, before I leave for work, I'll assemble everything in a 9x13 baking dish.

Then all the kids have to do is pop it in the oven.

I would love to have it completely assembled today, but I only have so much refrigerator space. 😂

Wednesday — Kielbasa Sausage & Potato Casserole

This one is a carryover from last week's menu because we never got around to making it.

If you like funeral potatoes or cheesy potatoes, this is basically my version with a little protein added.

I chopped up some kielbasa sausage and mixed it into the potato casserole.

It's already assembled in a 9x13 pan, ready for the kids to put in the oven.

One less thing to worry about on Wednesday!

Thursday — Beef Stroganoff

I found chuck steaks on sale at Albertsons on Friday.

They're a little too tough for regular steaks, but they're perfect for slow cooking!

I chopped the meat into pieces, added a little water and seasoning, and cooked it on low for a couple of hours until it was tender.

Now it's ready to mix with my stroganoff sauce and serve over egg noodles.

A hearty, homemade dinner without spending all evening in the kitchen.

Friday — Meatball Sandwiches

The girls and I will be gone Friday evening, so I needed something easy for the guys.

Last week I made a HUGE crock pot full of homemade spaghetti sauce, and I still have some left.

So we're putting it to good use!

Meatballs, homemade spaghetti sauce, sandwich rolls, and a little cheese.

Dinner is done!

And since the guys all love meatball sandwiches, I know there won't be any complaints.

Jennifer's Kitchen Tip 🌿

Don't be afraid to change your menu!

Meal planning isn't about sticking to a calendar no matter what. It's about making your life easier.

If you find meat marked down, buy it if it fits your budget and you can use or freeze it safely. If you have leftovers that need to be eaten, build a meal around them.

And when you have a crazy week coming, take a little time to prep what you can ahead of time.

Brown the ground beef. Shred the cheese. Chop the vegetables. Portion out ingredients.

Even 15 minutes of prep today can make tomorrow's dinner so much easier.

Remember, the goal isn't to have a perfect meal plan. It's to feed your family, stretch your budget, and make life a little less stressful.

And sometimes that means throwing out the original menu and starting over!

Happy cooking, friends! 🤎
Jennifer