I am thrilled to be sharing my weekly menu plans with the readers at Better Batter Flour!  My menu plan will be sponsored by Better Batter Flour this next year and I couldn’t be more excited about the partnership.  My kids have been playing around with the Better Batter Flour blend and having a ball baking up recipes from all kinds of sources, and not just using gluten free recipes.  Better Batter Flour works cup for cup in most recipes for wheat based flour.  My kids think it is magical and must be made with fairy dust and unicorn sparkles- LOL!  Better Batter also has a great recipe archive with all kinds of things I can’t wait to try, including some “taste alike clone” recipes which look like a lot of fun.  Head over to my post at Better Batter Flour and see what is happening.  For more menu planning inspiration at Better Batter Flour, check out the gluten free vegetarian menu from Cindy of Vegetarian Mamma.

This week the Gluten Free Menu Swap is being hosted by Cheryl at Gluten Free Goodness and she has picked plums as the theme this week.  I adore plums and I am lucky enough to have planted two dwarf plum trees  in my back yard a couple of years ago.  This year is the very first year we are getting some fruit.  (That is a photo of some of my baby plums in the Gluten Free Menu Swap tag.  Almost to cute to eat!)  I only have 7 plums this year, but it is still very exciting to me.  I can’t wait for the years to come when I have enough to harvest to make plum sauce or for drying.  For the most part, my family eats plums fresh, but an easy recipe using plum preserves is Slow Cooker Plum-Balsamic Chicken.  How do you like to serve plums?

My chickens are getting pretty! Ethel Von Pecky-Pants is ready for her closeup. She is a Silver Laced Wyandotte.

Freezer cooking plan for the week:  This week I start a freezer cooking series to fill my freezer over the next four weeks preparing for the upcoming school year.  I don’t freezer cook for my family by cooking everything in one day for an entire month, as some do, but in smaller easier to accomplish steps.  I prefer to double recipes of muffins or a dinner then freeze the extra, or I pull together a few recipes with a similar ingredient (such as chicken) when that ingredient is on sale.  I need to get some things stocked up for the upcoming school year to make the first few weeks simpler.  I would love for you to join me and fill our freezers together!  To entice you I am providing a grocery list, printable recipe cards and freezer labels. Below in the menu you will see what I am cooking up each day, but be sure to check out this week’s breakfast freezer plan so you can see if there are any instructions or day before prep you may want to do if you are baking along with me.

Food preserving plan for the week:  Can a small batch of corn relish.  I brought corn home on the same day my husband brought corn home.  We did not need that much corn for dinner!  LOL!  Also, check herb stash this week.  Old herbs dried last year can be composted, and new herbs from the garden dried to replace them so my winter supply is fresh.  Make a list of what herbs need to be harvested so I can dry some each week until I have enough.  Shred extra zucchini (and is there ever extra!)  Measure out amount needed for single and double batches of zucchini bread for freezing.
Printable grocery list for this week’s dinners.
Monday:  Big girl check up/canning corn relish (photo will be up later in the week)
Thai Chicken Burgers, Naomi’s Favorite Potato Rolls (I can’t wait to try this recipe!  Yum!), and Napa Cabbage Slaw

Breakfast Week – Baking for the freezer:  Zucchini Muffins (double batch=3o muffins) or try this yummy looking Chocolate Zucchini Bread baked as muffins.  Be sure to reduce baking time.  Recipe should make about 12 muffins, so make a double batch.

momma chores:  check fridge contents and use up leftovers in lunches and breakfasts, clean bathrooms (with kiddo help), mop

kiddo chores:  change dishcloth & hand towels, vacuum

 

Tuesday:  Little girl check up/mommy works/neighborhood picnic

Steak and Potato Salad with Dairy Free Ranch Dressing and watermelon

Breakfast Week – Baking for the freezer:  Chewy Gluten Free Granola Bars (using chocolate chips and making a double batch=32 bars)

momma chores:  clean out purse, balance checkbook, clean toaster

kiddo chores:  clean bathroom mirrors, clean computer screen/mouse

 

Wednesday:  Mommy works

Impossible Bacon Spinach Quiche Pie with Breadsticks Inspired By Olive Garden (made dairy free) and fruit salad

Breakfast Week – Baking for the freezer:  Make  two of Impossible Bacon Spinach Quiche Pies (one for dinner and one for the freezer)

momma chores:  wash dinning room windows, mop kitchen

kiddo chores:  change dish & hand towels, dust kid bedrooms

 

Thursday:  Mommy works/marching with the Girl Scouts in local town parade

Barbecue Glazed Chicken (from my freezer) and Simple Arugula Garden Salad

Breakfast Week – Baking for the freezer: Banana Strawberry Muffins (double batch= 24) or you can bake these Banana Nut Muffins (double batch=24 muffins).

momma chores:  clean middle shelf of refrigerator, clean outside of stove

kiddo chores:  dust living room, clean out van of extra things

 

Friday:  Possible outdoor movie night at a friend’s…

Taco Pizza and Cilantro Cashew Salad

Breakfast Week – Baking for the freezer:  Catch up on any baking that might not have happened, bake up a double batch of your family’s favorite breakfast to freeze, or take a well deserved day off!  On next Sunday look for my plan to stock our freezers with lunches.  🙂

momma chores:  change sheets, wash bedding, sweep porch, mop

kiddo chores:  change dish & hand towels, change sheets in kid bedrooms, vacuum

 

 

Need more menu planning inspiration?  Check out OrgJunkie’s Menu Plan Monday and this month’s gluten free menu plan from Melissa at Stockpiling Moms.