Simple December Meal Plan

I created a meal plan to give to my MOPS moms as a gift during our Favorite Things giveaway this December and wanted an easy way for them to find recipes so I thought this would be the easiest way to do that. Hopefully this meal pretty simple and mostly home made for those busy nights during the Christmas season. This meal plan isn't ridged and most things can be swapped for ingredients your family will actually eat.

Breakfast Ideas
Oatmeal topped with butter and honey or pure maple syrup
Scrambled eggs with assorted veggies especially peppers, mushrooms, spinach etc.
Blueberry zucchini muffins - i use whole wheat pastry flour and apple sauce instead of oil
Fried eggs over spinach or with bacon
Whole wheat pancakes or waffles (there are some good remade brands out there)

Lunch Ideas
PB, banana, and honey on whole wheat
Tuna salad - made with pickle relish, plain greek yogurt and salt & pepper)
Green egg salad - 3 hard boiled eggs mashed with one avocado and salt & pepper
Homemade lunchables with triscuits, cheese, and ham
Veggie sandwich roll ups - spread tortilla with cream cheese, ham, shredded lettuce and shredded carrots, or small diced peppers
Leftovers

Dinner Ideas
Lentil casserole with roasted broccoli and bacon - lentil recipe below

Roasted Butternut squash with addition of diced apples and diced ham

Zippy BBQ chicken (can be served with dinner rolls) with sweet potato fries - recipe below

Spaghetti {squash} Pie with garlic bread - recipe below

Triangle burritos with baby carrots and zesty ranch dip - burritos are just tortillas spread with refried beans and sprinkled with cheese, then friend and cut into triangles like a pizza but the kids love it!

BBQ chicken pizza - I use this dough recipe and top with leftover bbq chicken, sauce and veggies

Lawnmower tacos and salad


Shopping List (for dinners only) 
onion
head of garlic
sweet peppers
broccoli - 2 heads
medium sized butter nut squash
spaghetti squash
apples
baby carrots - 1 lb
small can tomato paste
balsamic vinegar
frozen sweet potato fries
sour cream - 16oz
parmesan cheese
mozzarella cheese - 1 lb
sharp cheddar cheese - 1 lb.
butter
eggs - two dozen
whole wheat tortillas
non-fat refried beans
lentils - 1 lb.
brown rice - 1 lb.
chicken broth
package of thick sliced ham
ground beef - 1 lb.
bacon - 1 lb.
5 lbs chicken
Italian sausage
spaghetti sauce
ranch dressing
salsa
tortilla chips
taco seasoning
whole wheat flour


Lentil and Brown Rice Casserole
3 cups chicken or veggie stock (or salty water if you are out)
3/4 cup lentils
1/2 cup brown rice
1/2 onion, chopped
2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. garlic powder
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine broth, lentils, rice, onion and spices in 13"x9" greased glass baking dish. Stir together and cover tightly with foil. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Remove foil and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Return to oven and bake uncovered for 10-20 more minutes or until cheese is melted.

Serve with steamed broccoli or this AMAZING broccoli and bacon recipe.


BBQ Chicken in Crock Pot
I use this recipe for BBQ sauce and cover 5 lbs of boneless skinless chicken in the crock pot. Cook on low for 4-5 hours and ta-da, done.


Spaghetti {squash} Pie

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  Cook half of a squash in the microwave for 12 minutes and let cool before scraping out with a fork.

  One batch either makes 1-9x13 pan or 2-pie plates

  1 pkg whole wheat spaghetti or one spaghetti squash halved and cooked in microwave for 12 minutes, shred with fork

  1/2 c butter 1 c grated Parmesan 3 eggs, well beaten 2 1/2 lb ground beef or ground Italian sausage (I like to use the Italian sausage) 1 jar favorite spaghetti sauce 2 c sour cream 8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

  Cook spaghetti al dente, drain. Stir in melted butter, Parmesan cheese, and eggs. Cut spaghetti with knife or scissors. Take about 3/4 of the spaghetti mixture and form into 2 pie crust or 9x13 pan. Let cool.

  Cook sausage and drain grease. Stir in spaghetti sauce. Spread sour cream on bottom of "pie crust". Fill pies with meat sauce. Cover with mozzarella cheese and then the remaining 1/4 spaghetti noodles. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 mins. Then take off cover and bake for an add'l 10 mins. You can make and freeze these for several months. If frozen, cook for 75 mins then take off cover and bake for an add'l 10-15 mins.