Menu plan Monday and our dinner rules

This is my first official menu plan post, on my new cooking blog! My blog is titled, "Ya Get What Ya Get, and Ya Don't Throw a Fit", because that's what we help our kids say and remember at dinner time. When you have three kiddos, its difficult to always please everyone and I am NOT making special meals for everyone. I think its important for kids to learn, they don't always get their favorite or McDonalds, just because thats what they would like for dinner. Certainly there are meals that kids just won't like. I myself was a picky eater and still dont like certain foods, so its important to understand kids aren't going to like everything.  We have a few different meal rules in our house, and one of them is the kids have to at least try (if it's something new). What I make for dinner, is what I make for dinner. We try to balance the week with more kid friendly foods, one new thing, and food we will all like. It's also important to allow them to have their favorites and foods they really like, if I"m going to make them try new things I make! Our middle, Kai, used to eat chicken nuggets only. Serious. When I married into this family, Kai wouldn't eat ANYTHING! He's grown up and matured so much this past year, and will try and eat almost anything that I make for dinner. Now Keira, our youngest, has taken over Kai's pickiness. I dont know if this is the best method, BUT I tell her she's either going to eat or not. If she honestly doesn't like the dinner, she's stubborn enough to decide not to eat anything. She'll go put on her pajamas and get ready for bed. Now, She CHOOSES that instead of just eating dinner! Oh law! Of course it makes Edwin and I sad when any of our kids choose to make bad decisions, but I also think its important for them all to realize; dinner is dinner and we don't throw fits about it. Meal time used to be extremely stressful for me, and these rules have helped us all out tremendously! Dinner is dinner, and you're going to eat or not.  "Ya get what ya get, and ya don't throw a fit." 

For other recipes and menu ideas, check out Orgjunkie. 

Sunday- Italian Chicken over buttered spaghetti 

Monday- Lantham Stew (layered casserole). 

Tuesday- Grilled chicken, parmesan potatoes with zucchini, and peas 

Wednesday- Brisket, corn on the cob, baked beans

Thursday- Good ole spaghetti with garlic bread

Friday-Sunday- We're off to Dallas for Edwin to attend a job fair! 

RECIPES

Italian Chicken 

Place 4-6 boneless, skinless breast halves in bottom of casserole pan. Sprinkle both sides with some Italian seasoning ,(as much or little as you want!) then cover with Pasta Sauce. Cover pan with foil and bake on 400 for about 45 minutes. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and cook another 10-15 minutes without foil. Serve over buttered speggetti. 

Parmesan Potatoes

6 medium potatoes

1/3 Cup butter

1/4 Cup flour

1/4 Cup grated parmesan cheese 

1/4 ts. salt

1/8 ts. pepper

1/4 ts. dried italian seasoning 

Peel potatoes; cut each potato into 4 rounds (or chunks). Pour melted butter into baking pan. In a large plastic bag; combine the flour, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Add several potato rounds to the bag at a time; and shake to coat potatoes. Place potatoes on top of butter in baking pan. Bake uncovered at 350 for 30 minutes. Turn potatoes over and sprinkle with italian seasoning. Bake another 30 minutes. *Boil and cook zucchini and add chunks to finished potatoes