Sunday, March 22, 2009

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

8 comments:

  1. I love your new blog and the Italian Chicken looks great!

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  2. Looks like a great variety of food! Best wishes with your blog and thanks for visiting my blog today!

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  3. LOL....this is a different Rachel. I love your blog design on your cooking blog. Super cute. My theory with kids, (we have four in varying ages) they'll eat when they get hungry. I stand by the same rule though. What I make is what I make, deal with it. Sometimes they choose not to eat but they will eventually get hungry. :) Your little family looks so sweet.

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  4. What an adorable blog!

    Sounds like a yummy week...never heard of that stew layered casserole, but it sounds interesting!

    :)

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  5. we have a similar program in our house - I don't cook different food for the kids, but I try to make sure that at least one of the items on the menu is something they have had and enjoyed before. And then I try to offer a ton of variety. I also don't get disappointed if they try something once and don't like it. I offer it again. Our pediatrician told me that some kids need up to 12 times to try something before they like it!

    Great menu plan this week, good luck on the new food blog!

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  6. I really like your blog! I will have to make sure to come back. I found you through MPM. I like your rules. Right now, I have a very picky three year old. My other two kids were never picky like this. It's even harder because my husband is the same way! He won't even eat any veggies except for corn and potatoes and sometimes peas. Any pointers for a picky husband? I have cut out catering to how he eats because it just isn't healthy but then I feel badly when he doesn't have anything he is willing to eat. I'd love your suggestions! :)
    Thanks!
    God bless,
    Amanda

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  7. Thanks for visiting my blog & best of luck with yours! I love your title. I often use that very phrase myself! Will you be taking pictures of your food?

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  8. Love the title of your blog! That's awesome and I'm the same way. I sometimes have to make a separate meal for my allergic son so I'm definitely not doing it for the others who may just not like what I'm making. Too bad!

    Hope you are having a great week!

    Laura

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