"Menu Plan Monday" #3

This week is going to be low key, with Jac gone on business (Brazil). I cooked a roast in the crock pot Sunday, so I will be doing some roast beef recipes* (see below), as well as using the fresh fruit and vegetables the kids and I picked up at Costco after church yesterday (strawberries, grapes, bananas, blueberries, lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, & cucumbers).

These fruits and veggies will be lunch and snacks for the kids this week, along with yogurt, cheese sticks, & turkey sandwiches. My lunches will be salads, fresh fruit, and turkey, swiss, and carmelized red peppers and onions on Melba toast*.

We had hot Bob's Red Mill muesli* (whole grain oats, wheat, rye, barley, triticale, date pieces, raisins, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, almond slices, and chopped walnuts) for breakfast this morning--yum!

Another new thing I tried and liked from Costco, is the sparkling juice, Talking Rain Ice (all natural, 5 calories).

So, I guess this sums it up for this week--I'll plan the menu out more specifically again next week.

RECIPES

*my favorite Roast Beef Ideas--(shredded beef)--

1. French Dip Sandwiches--heat leftover broth (with fat skimmed after cooling) on stovetop in a small saucepan, pour into small bowls, and serve with roast beef on toasted buns (add carmelized onions, and swiss cheese, if desired).

2. BBQ Beef Sandwiches--roast beef on toasted buns with barbecue sauce (We like Sweet Baby Ray's from Costco) and melted cheddar.

3. Enchildadas/Burritos

4. Shepherd's Pie

*carmelize red peppers and onions, that have been sliced into thin strips, by cooking in olive oil on high heat, and occasionally stirring, until they 'melt' down and are thick, with a golden color. Cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about a week. This is a sweet/savory topping for quesadillas, eggs, sandwiches, etc.

*Muesli recipes

Hot Muesli--soak 2 cups muesli in 4 cups water overnight. The next morning, add a couple pinches of salt and cook on medium-low for 15-20 minutes. Cool & serve with favorite toppings.

Chocolate Chip Muesli Cookies--(from the package)

1 cup muesli

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

2/3 cup applesauce

3/4 cup brown sugar (or rapadura)

6 oz. chocolate chips (or carob chips)

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 egg

Mix wet ingredients, then, add in dry ingredients that have been sifted together. Mix well and place on cookie sheets. Bake @ 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.