Last week was odd, cooking-wise. I didn't cook a whole lot, and much of my menu went right out the window. Mostly as I never quite got to the grocery store! Early in the week was Emi-grumpy time and then later in the week my sweet gal was back and all I wanted to do was enjoy that time. I need to find a balance between mommy-hood and household responsibilities, it's not coming easy to me. I'd much rather play with Emi than mop the kitchen floor or cook, and I love to cook!

I am purposely setting up a *very* easy week, as it's getting hot again and I know I won't want to mess too much. Plus, we set up the little pool for Emi over the weekend and she adores it. So, if I am in the backyard with her, I can't be in the kitchen cooking.

Here's the menu for the week, for more MPM's head on over to Organizing Junkie's.

• Sunday: What I Didn’t Get to Last Week
• No matter how much I plan or promise myself I won’t laze out and just say “scrounge night”, it happens. At least once a week. So, I end up with a menu and (usually) ingredients for one meal (sadly, sometimes more than one). So here is my plan to not waste anything and to use up that meal. If, on the other hand I am fabulously organized and manage to make all planned meals … I hereby declare Sunday nights PIZZA night. Order in, Kiy does nothing, Pizza night!
• This week it’s: Quick Spinach Roll-Ups. I made it tonight and ooh-la-la it is ever good! The first time it takes a bit longer (all recipes do, at least for me, the first time) but I can see where this would actually be an easy weeknight meal or a fancy entertain-the-boss type meal. It looks amazing and tastes even better.

• Monday: Taco Salad – perfect for a hot night when I don’t feel like cooking. What we like in ours (I put all the stuff on the counter and we sorta buffet-it): ground beef or turkey with taco seasoning, taco chips of some kind, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, canned corn (rinsed and chilled), pineapple (I know it’s odd, but it really works!), sliced olives (for Jeff & Emi), shredded cheese and salsa (both mild and whatever Jeff is eating at the moment, varies from medium to oh-my-gosh my stomach walls have burned away).

• Tuesday: Another meal I didn’t get to last week: Chinese Appetizer Dinner: Homemade Egg Drop Soup, Egg Rolls, Sesame Chicken Satay, New Year Dumplings

• Wednesday: Maple-Flavored Barbecue Chicken (crock-pot), rolls, frozen vege (probably peas or carrots as Emi loves both)

• Thursday: Leftover Buffet

• Friday: Fresh fish (whatever looks good at Yokes), usually grilled with some olive oil, a bit of ginger and soy sauce, served with udon or soba noodles, sugar snap peas or other vege

• Saturday: Free Nite

Original Post: Menu Plan (July 20 – July 26)