Camelle’s Classroom Kitchen

As a 31 year teacher, you notice patterns, and flow. And one of my favorite things to notice is the hallway sign for the “Track Meeting.” Why? Because once spring sports start the rest of the year goes so quickly!!!! And today…I noticed the sign. And also heard that our seniors only have 48 more days of class. Woo hoo. Summer is a comin’

It’s been a lonnnnng while since I shared my menus. But. Groceries are crazy expensive…and only going up. So. Here is my budget friendly-ish menu for this week. (Ps….HyVeehas their store ground ground beef on sale for 3.99 through today….get yourself 10 pounds and freeze in 1 pound ziplocks. )

This week….not sure what is on which day yet…

-stick of butter rice. Recipe posted below. This is SO EASY. I double it (but still only use 1 stick of butter) and add a pound of browned ground beef. This plus a big salad. So cozy.

-tacos. We legit haven’t had “regular” (American) tacos in forever.

-Mediterranean Chicken (I made this one up…. But it’s easy. And it’s an easy prep ahead. Put some (a couple handfuls) spinach, a jar of sun dried tomatoes packed in oil….including the oil, feta, a lid full of the Trader Joe’s Italian seasoning (or reg Italian seasoning) garlic into a food processor blitz it a few times. (That’s what I prep early). Then brown some chicken breasts on both sides (don’t fully cook. Just get some color on them). Put the spinach mixture on top bake in a 325 degree oven for 30 min. Serve w a big salad and crusty bread. The recipe I based this off of stuffs tha5 mixture into the chicken breasts….and that’s cute and all, but no body has time for that. Oh it also had Kalamata olives in it. But olives is one food I just cannnnnnnot do.

-ham steaks, scalloped potatoes and green beans.

What are your meal plans this week?

Stick of Butter Rice Just 4 simple, pantry staple ingredients make up this rice side dish that will blow your mind! Kids and adults alike will be begging you to make it again!

It’s been a while… but here’s this weeks meal plan… not sure what is what day yet.

-Chicken Tikka Korma, jasmine rice, cucumber salad, naan bread. (Making a big batch so this will be 2 nights.)
-Tatortot Casserole (ground beef, green beans, cream of mushroom soup)
-Philly Cheese Sandwiches, curly oven fries, jello w fruit.

Sorry for no meal plans the last couple weeks. I’ve been struggling w that. But. This week. Back on track. Cleaned the fridge and restocked groceries. Here is this weeks plan:
Sunday (and I almost never cook on Sunday) Giada’s Quick and Spicy Tomato soup w grilled cheese sandwiches. And I plan to bake something… maybe apple
Cake?

Monday: meatloaf and baked potatoes.

Tuesday… vegetable beef soup and homemade sourdough bread.

Wednesday… pork chops, roasted squash/apples/onions.

Thursday…. Leftovers.

Friday…. Make your own pizzas. I think.

Week two of school. Wooo. It was a week! I was so grateful I had easy meals! I think this week will be easy….but a little less pre packaged. Unsure of the order of these meals…depends how many are eating…

-spaghetti and meatballs (I will prepare these on Sunday. )

-homemade beef and broccoli, rice, cucumber spicy salad

-bierra bomb tacos. , chips and salsa

-inside out pork dumplings (Pic of recipe below. )

-pizza Friday night….will it be take out? From the freezer? Make your own? We will decide the ease factor closer to 6pm Friday.

Next week is the first week w kids… it’s a full week. No short days. All day everyday. Here’s what’s on the menu at the kinney house. No specific order. You will notice. It’s pretty much a repeat of last week. Easy is the plan.

-BLTs. Chips. Maybe corn.
-Trader Joes Orange Chicken add some broccoli. And some rice.
-tacos
-smoked pulled pork (straight from Sam’s club) on Hawaiian rolls. Maybe some Mac and cheese to go with. And carrots and ranch.
-Trader Joe’s frozen pizza.

Here we go…. Back to school. Back to (trying to) post my menu weekly and a new recipe or three along the way.
This is year 29 for me….and one (of many) thing I’ve learned is to set the bar for meals the first two weeks verrrrry low. Meaning, I stocked up on a ton of super easy foods. So the menus the next couple weeks won’t likely be super inspiring. But I hope it gives you permission to just get you, your kids….heck, your pets, back into a routine. THAT ALONE is hard work. It’s kind of like in January when you decide you are going to have all these big goals and jump in FULLY and by Jan 12th you’re not working on anything. So….back to school baby steps is my mottos. Week one’s baby step… just getting back to having a schedule, a bed time, wearing real clothes…that seems like a big enough step. But alas….we must still eat….
Oh. Also. The pool is still open this week…so yes, yes I do plan to still be there after school from 4-6pm. Soooo another reason my suppers need to be super simple.

-Trader Joe’s frozen BBQ Teriyaki Chicken. Steamed broccoli and rice.

-burgers on the grill, homemade pasta salad (making that today. It has pasta and cucumbers and onion and tomatoes and garlic…YUM!

-BLTs. Chips. Leftover pasta salad.

-chicken strip salads. I buy the “just bare” brand frozen chicken strips, and “salad kits”. Viola. Super easy and great for the hot summer days ahead still….

-frozen pizza….or carry out of some kind….by Friday. I will be 100% done.

So that’s the plan this week….and honestly next weeks plan will be very similar.

It’s been a couple weeks. I’ve been just using up random things from the freezer. But. We officially needed some groceries. So here is this weeks plan.

Monday: pork cutlets were on sale. And I remember my mom making breaded fried cutlets, on a soft bun w mayo, crisp lettuce and some sliced onion. I happen to have a package of Hawaiian rolls that needs used. So….im going to make a version of this. W some homemade potato salad. And dorietos.

T: date night! We are going to LSW to see my good friends daughter perform in show choir. So go8ng to make an evening of it and grab dinner out.

W: beef tips on mashed potato’s. And green beans. Recipe that I am basing this on l8mked below.

Th: tacos! Wrong night. But we haven’t had tacos in a few weeks, and I think we are having withdrawals.

Fri: girl dinner….

Slow Cooker Beef Tips Slow Cooker Beef Tips are tender beef slices, mixed with chopped mushrooms and onion mix slow cooked to perfection! Easy weeknight meal!

STUPID cold this weekend... BUT then.... break out your bathing suits next week we get above freeezing and to 40 even! Here's my plan for the week:

Friday (tonight) Pizza from.... Ramos?

tomorrow: homemade chinese take out. I have a wonton type soup I want to try out and then also some beef and broccoli. OR take out from like the oven... muligatawny soup and naan is sounding DELISH.

Sunday: Zuppa Toscana and sourdough.

Monday: Impossible cheeseburger Pie.... a friend posted this and i've been hungry for it since. FLASH BACK to childhood!!!

Tuesday: Dominican Meatballs recipe from Marcie Castillo. SUPER excited to try this out.

Wednesday: Pepper Stew (ground beef, pasta, corn, cheese)

Thursday: I have PT Conferences... so leftovers.

So sorry for the lack of menus the last couple of weeks. Here is a back to school, post holiday, comfort food, winter menu coming right up.

Sunday: I’m hosting three friends for a brunch. I’m making a spinach, mushroom, feta crustless quiche and some fancy bacon (thick cut bacon w some brown sugar and red pepper flakes, baked). They are bringing fruit, pastries and juice. I can’t wait.

Monday: homemade Runzas. Btw the trick to these…make the filling the day before, make sure it has fat in it (don’t drain the beef and maybe even add some butter if it’s lean beef) then chill down. Then make the actual Runza the next day.

Tuesday: spaghetti squash w goat cheese and baby tomatoes roasted in the oven. (I have goat cheese leftover from the holidays and this sounds so good.) I will also make “real spaghetti” for the guys

Wednesda:. roast beef, mashed potatoes and honey thyme carrots.

Thursday: beef and noodles or veggie beef soup and a loaf of homemade sour dough. W a Cesar salad.

Friday: homemade pizza.

Simple. Homey. Warm. That is the goal this week. What’s on your menu?

Sweet sweet summertime! Here is this weeks menu at the Kinney House.

Monday: bbq ribs on the grill. I cannot wait to just sit outside at the patio table and babysit these babies tomorrow afternoon. Sides: watermelon, corn casserole.

Tuesday: brats or hotdogs on the grill, chips, broccoli salad, watermelon.

Wednesday: BLTs, leftover broccoli salad, and likely the last of the watermelon.

Thursday: chicken stir fry. Rice.

Friday. Steaks, grilled asparagus, wedge salad.

And,….the pool every day.