MMC 30-Minute Menus for March 29

The meals are really budget-friendly this week using less meat but being creative with other menu items so no one feels deprived. I think I covered most of the major cuisines this week to keep the menus varied!

I have included one of my favorite money-saving tricks of 'cook once eat twice or three times' with the Turkey Breast on Sunday followed by two meals later in the week. I have found that if the meals using the leftovers are quite different, everyone is happy and won't be saying "Oh no, not leftovers again!" Adding special touches help liven the meal but don't have to add to the food dollars.

I am planning a Spring Brunch for Saturday. Lobster Newburg will be an elegant start to our gathering. The meal will go together quickly and easily so I can enjoy my time, too! I am hoping the weather will be nice so we can gather outside prior to the meal (this is a brunch celebrating Spring, after all!). For starters, I will serve the Easy Elegance 'Party in a Bag': brie, smoked salmon, and grapes, with cucumber dill dip, mango chutney, water crackers, and gourmet olives. I will also be serving white wine and champagne along with a non-alcoholic punch.

Do you have a party in your plans? Check out the latest feature on my website - 'Party in a Bag'! The Bags are designed to help you pull your party together in 30 minutes - flat! I love to entertain but don't often have the time required to pull off a big, fancy 'do', so, over the years, I have learned a few short-cuts; I will share them with you.

If you are planning a dinner party, take a look at the Holiday and Special '30-Minute Complete Menu Plans' on my website. You will find menu ideas to help with your celebration or 'do'.

The Family Meals '30-Minute Complete Menu Plans' are developed to help with both weeknight and special dinner prep. I create Complete Menu Plans using the 30-minute menus from this blog:

• The Complete Menu Plans give you recipes and step-by-step instructions for preparing the complete meal (not just the entree as most meal plans do) in 30 minutes - flat! I even include a grocery list to save unnecessary trips to the grocery store.
• These are eComplete Menu Plans so you can purchase the menu plan now and use it for dinner tonight!
• You won't have to spend your precious time thinking of menu ideas and then looking up the recipes - I will send it all directly to you!
• You can purchase a Complete Menu Plan for the introductory price of .25 each.
• If you have found my 30-minute menus helpful, then you must check out the 30-Minute Complete Menu Plans!

You will find that I use several cooking methods, mix and match, to get dinner on the table quickly! (The ingredients in parenthesis show some of my quick-prep steps.) You can always substitute your favorite made-from-scratch recipes when you have more time.

I hope you have a great week!

Sunday:
Turkey Breast with Herbed Wine Sauce (crock pot; save some turkey for Tuesday and Thursday)
Mashed Potatoes (frozen mashed potato steamers)
Green Beans with Mushrooms
Pecan Pie (purchased pecan pie, canned whipped cream; save some whipped cream for Tuesday and Friday)

Monday
Beef Stroganoff (dried onion soup mix, canned sliced mushrooms)
Wide Egg Noodles
Broccoli
Caramel Apple Pies (purchased tart shells, caramel ice cream topping)

Tuesday:
Polynesian Ginger Turkey Stir Fry (turkey from Sunday, canned pineapple, jarred orange marmalade)
Rice
Sugar Snap Peas
Coconut Tarts (purchased tart shells, instant coconut pudding mix, canned whipped cream; whipped cream from Sunday)

Wednesday:
Mushroom Fritters with Vindaloo Sauce (vegetarian, sliced mushrooms, jarred Vindaloo sauce)
French Bread
Fresh Fruit Salad
Toasted Pound Cake with Ice Cream (purchased pound cake and ice cream)

Thursday:
Mexi-Mac and Double Cheese (turkey from Sunday, boxed mac&cheese mix, shredded cheese)
Fresh Green Beans
Cookie S'mores (purchased cookies, bagged chocolate morsels, mini-marshmallows)

Friday:
Kielbasa and Bean Cassoulet (fully cooked kielbasa, canned garbanzo beans)
Apple Feta Salad
Pumpernickel Bread
Chocolate Puddings (instant chocolate pudding mix; whipped cream from Sunday)

Saturday:
Lobster Newburg (puff pastry, frozen lobster tails)
English Peas with Red Bell Pepper (frozen peas)
Fruit Salad (bagged salad greens, canned pear slices, bottled vinaigrette)
Coconut Macaroon Kisses with Strawberries

Get inspired for your weekly menus at OrgJunkie!

I sincerely hope you have fun with your meal planning and preparation,
Elizabeth Randall and Family