Could it be that we have two “normal” weeks in a row? I can’t remember the last time that EVER happened around here. It feels so good! I am still working on dwindling down my freezer supply so I am basing many of the meals out of the freezer this week.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday – Baked Tortellini, bruschetta, green beans

Tuesday – Baked Chicken Burgers (February Menu), sweet potatoes

Wednesday – Dinner with House Church Family

Thursday – Leftovers

Friday – Lemon Chicken with Veggies (August Menu), mashed potatoes, vegetable

Saturday – Lunch – Sausage Gravy & Biscuits

Dinner – Zesty Slow Cooker Chicken Barbecue (April Menu) , tator tots, vegetable

Sunday – Lunch – leftovers

Dinner - Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti (May Menu), salad, easy garlic bread

For more great Menu Plan Monday menu planning ideas visit orgjunkie.com!

If you would like to leave information or helpful hints from your day, feel free to do so in the comments section below. If you wrote about your cooking day on your blog, please link up to the post so that we can read more about your adventure.

These stories really do help others to feel there way through their cooking days. And in some cases, even give encouragement to those that are just starting.

FINALLY! A “normal” week. Our schedules have been so crazy lately I was beginning to wonder if we were ever going to get back to any semblance of normal. Looks like we are. I am thankful. Here is what our week has in store for the kitchen table.

And if you haven’t entered there is a giveaway going on now through October 20th for Stephanie O’Dea’s Make It Fast, Cook It Slow: The Big Book of Everyday Slow Cooking.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday – Clean-Out-The-Pantry Minestrone Soup from Make It Fast, Cook It Slow: The Big Book of Everyday Slow Cooking (giveaway going on through 10/20), Mexican Grilled Cheese

Tuesday – Date Night – Out to Dinner

Wednesday – House Church – dinner with church family

Thursday – Mom’s Enchiladas (July Menu) (bulk batch to freeze some – leftover cheese and tortillas from OAMM Tweet-Up), Mexican Rice, corn

Friday – Spicy Honey Chicken (July Menu), Herb & Garlic Vegetables, Cheese Biscuits

Saturday – Lunch -leftovers

Dinner – Chicken Parmigiana (February Menu), Easy Garlic Bread, Green Beans

Sunday – Lunch – Monterrey Jack Quesadillas (July Menu), Carole’s Chili (September Menu)

Dinner – Leftovers

For more great Menu Plan Monday menu planning ideas visit orgjunkie.com!

I also wrote her that she was really going to be in for a challenge as I was concerned about her ability to adapt some of these very dairy holiday recipes. She says she is up to the task! I am very thankful for her efforts and hope that some of you that are dealing with these issues will really benefit from the fruits of her labors.

She had the appetizers, desserts, and breakfasts posted last Friday, the 9th of October, but with the tweet-up I just wasn’t able to post the link. However, you can go to Angela’s site an find Part 1 of the Gluten/Dairy Free October (Thanksgiving) Menu waiting on you!

Thanks again Angela!

This week is no doubt going to be a busy one! The Once A Month Mom Tweet-Up is on Saturday night (there are still a few in-house slots and plenty of Twitter space for everyone) which means my to-do list is unusually long this week. And my time in the kitchen, unusually short. Good thing my freezer is OVERFLOWING with meals. Folks, I am not kidding you, I think I might have a problem. Do you think there is a Freezerholics Anonymous group? If not, any of you interested in starting it. Anyhoo, this is what we are hoping to have for dinner this week.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday – Chili Cheese Potato Casserole (August Menu), bread, green vegetable

Tuesday – Date Night Out To Dinner

Wednesday – Hubby’s Favorite Casserole (August Menu), glazed carrots

Thursday – Tacos, Rice, guacamole and chips

Friday – Leftovers

Saturday – Prep ALL DAY for Once A Month Mom Tweet-Up – don’t miss out there are a few spots remaining!

Sunday – Brunch – Raspberry Coffee Cake (July Menu), Mixed Fruit

For more great Menu Plan Monday menu planning ideas visit orgjunkie.com!

Thanks for joining us again or welcome first time visitors! We are glad you have joined us. You can learn more about the origin of this months menu by listening to the podcast. If you are new and not sure how to get started, read here. For frequently asked questions visit here.

And don’t forget to RSVP for the Once A Month Mom Tweet-Up on October 10th. You will be really sad if you miss it!

Podcast

• This audio podcast will describe to you the items on sale for the month, the philosophy behind the meal choices and helpful hints for preparing for this months cooking day.
• Listen in the orange player at the top of this post…

Menu

• Included below are the menu items that we will be preparing as part of our Once A Month Cooking (OAMC) BIG DAY. In the printable menu the menu items are listed as single, double, or quadruple depending on how much we need to make on the BIG DAY. The recipes linked below are ONLY for the single batch, to see the amounts we are making on the OAMC BIG DAY you will need to visit the Printable October Menu.

• Appetizers

  • Veggie Tortilla Pinwheels ** (demo at OAMM Tweet-up)
  • Pumpkin Cheese Ball ** (sample at OAMM Tweet-up)

• Side Dishes

  • Scalloped Corn**
  • Perfect Mashed Potatoes
  • Broccoli Casserole
  • Bread Stuffing

• Desserts

  • Pumpkin Pie
  • Freezer Apple Pie Kits**

• Breakfast

  • Pumpkin Coffee Cake
  • Gingerbread Waffles

• Dinners

  • Pumpkin Ravioli Casserole
  • Meat Pie
  • Cheesy Chicken Tortellini Bake (demo at OAMM Tweet-up)
  • French Baguette Casserole (via The Mushroom Channel)
  • Crockpot Cranberry Pork Roast**
  • Islander Pork Roast**

• Printable October Menu

**Indicates meals that require NO COOKING on your OAMC BIG DAY!

Grocery List

• Included in this spreadsheet you will find a listing of all the items you will need to complete your October OAMC BIG DAY. For more instructions on how to use this, go here.
• Grocery List

Instructions

• These are the step-by-step instructions you will need to quickly and efficiently approach your OAMC BIG DAY!
• Instructions

Labels

We have designed a set of 9 pages of labels designed to be printed on Avery 8163 or equivalent. These labels allow you to have 5 sticker labels for each of the meals that you will be preparing.

• Printable Labels

Helpful Hints/Resources

• How To Navigate the OAMM Menu
• How To Bake A Pumpkin
• Once A Month Mom October Tweet-Up
• Share Your Recipes: Thanksgiving Appetizers
• Share Your Recipes: Thanksgiving Side Dishes
• Share Your Recipes: Thanksgiving Desserts
• Tips AFTER my OAMC day – coming later this month
• Tips and Stories from other readers

What do you think of October’s menu?

And don’t forget to check out the right sidebar weekly to vote on past month’s menus!

Designed to be printed on Avery 8163 or equivalent! Readers who didn’t have labels available suggested just printing them on paper and taping them.

• October Labels 1 – Veggie Tortilla Pinwheels, Pumpkin Cheese Ball
• October Labels 2 – Scalloped Corn, Perfect Mashed Potatoes
• October Labels 3 – Broccoli Casserole, Bread Stuffing
• October Labels 4 – Pumpkin Pie, Freezer Apple Pie Kits
• October Labels 5 – Pumpkin Coffee Cake, Gingerbread Waffles
• October Labels 6 – Pumpkin Ravioli Casserole, Meat Pie
• October Labels 7 – Cheesy Chicken Tortellini Bake, French Baguette Casserole
• October Labels 8 – Crockpot Cranberry Pork Roast, Islander Pork Roast
• Blank Labels

Recipes
Please note that all recipes in this document have been altered (increased quantities) to meet the needs of TWO people participating in a OAM Cooking Day. It is indicated on each recipe whether it has been doubled or quadrupled for your convenience. If you are just one person or would like to make less of a particular recipe, you will need to make the adjustments on your own to the recipe and to the grocery shopping list.

Instructions

• 6 pounds of whole chicken will be cooked in the slow cooker (Cheesy Chicken Tortellini Casserole). This can be frozen and then thawed out before you cook it if you buy it early.
• 1.75 pounds of beef and 1.75 pounds of sausage (Meat Pie). This meat can be frozen because we are cooking it before freezing again.

Thaw

• Any meats you will be using that you have previously frozen.

Night Before:

• Put 6 pounds of whole chicken into a slow cooker, setting it on 3 1 inch diameter foil balls. Add 1 cup of water and cook for approximately 8 hours on low or until chicken is done. Or if using the Pampered Chef Deep Covered Baker, microwave for 30 minutes.
• If baking pumpkins for your making your own puree, do it the night before.
• Optional (but HIGHLY recommended) – chop up all vegetables, 1.75 pounds of beef and 1.75 pounds of sausage with 1 cup of water in slow cooker overnight.

Day of:

Grocery List

• Included in this spreadsheet you will find a listing of all the items you will need to complete your August Once A Month (OAMC)  BIG DAY. You can make a copy of this list and customize it for yourself and your family or use it as is. For more instructions on how to use this, go here.
• Printable Grocery List