Proper Care and Feeding of Bergen Boys

I told my husband the other night after tasting our homemade Alfredo sauce "mmmm! That is yumm-O!" Then jokingly added "You married one good cook!" His reply "No. I married someone who learned how to be a good cook." Oh my. Yes, I suppose it's true. Our meals those first few months were meager at best. It wasn't for lack of knowing. My mom did teach me how to cook and meal plan. It definitely wasn't that I didn't care about food - it was just very very low on the priority list after classes, homework and teaching.

Then came along morning sickness, then a newborn, then major work projects (CYT, etc.), then the move to CO, then another bout of morning sickness. Whew! It's been a big couple of years. While my skill in the kitchen got better the longer we were married and blended our meanings of "yummo" (don't even get us started on spaghetti! That one is still a debate! I like sauce - he likes paste), well rounded, creative meal planning always seemed to take a back seat to whatever was going on.

Maybe it was the ravenous hunger that comes with the second trimester of pregnancy, maybe it was the fact that I now have two guys in the house that eat full meals, but I have been more determined the last few months to plan hearty, healthy, well rounded meals.

My new best friend is The Pioneer Woman. Her recipes are hearty (Justin votes yes!), tasty (Braxton votes yes!) and relatively inexpensive (Laura votes yes!). As you can see, it's a fan favorite in the Bergen household.

I've also started couponing/sale shopping again. Out here you really have to unless you want to be stuck eating the "great value" (maybe more like gag value?) Walmart brands while trying to stick to a grocery budget. So every Wednesday night, I sit down at the dining room table armed with my personal cookbook, my Pioneer woman cookbook and springsbargains.com and map out our next week of meals. I plan 21 meals a week and then if we decide to eat out, something gets rolled to the next week. I make my list of whats on sale and then I find recipes to go with what ingredients I'm planning to purchase. I've found that using this method has really expanded our menu. We're trying new things like homemade fried chicken (I FRIED it people...in oil! Legit fried chicken!) or getting to experience old favorites with quality ingredients (there is no comparison for Chicken Alfredo with Philadelphia Cream Cheese :-)).

Here's a glance at our menu for the coming week.

Our menus start on Thursday because that's the day I go grocery shopping (the day the sales rotate). I also only plan breakfasts and lunches for Saturday and Sunday. On Weekdays Braxton and I wing it with whatever we're feeling like. :-)
Thursday - Chicken and Rice Casserole with a side salad
Friday - Malaga Stew (trying to use up potatoes I got on sale a few weeks ago before they go bad!)
Saturday Breakfast- Homemade Cinnamon rolls
Saturday Lunch - Frozen Pizza (got this for a steal of a deal this week!!)
Saturday Supper - French toast with fruit salad (bread and eggs were on sale.)
Sunday Breakfast - Chocolate Malt o Meal (Justin makes it every Sunday for himself and Braxton)
Sunday Lunch - Leftovers or Grilled cheese
Sunday Supper - Pork Chops, Sauteed broccoli and Oven fried potatoes
Monday - Spaghetti, side salad and homemade rolls (Monday is officially spaghetti night!)
Tuesday - Chicken and Noodles, steamed carrots and side salad
Wednesday - BBQ Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans

There you have it! I'm hungry just looking at it.