Meal Planning Monday and a semi-homemade recipe for Scalloped Potatoes

   Potatoes are the ultimate budget friendly food. They are inexpensive, sometimes as low as 29cents a pound! They can be cooked in a ton of different ways, and they are good for you. This week our menu is leaning heavily on rice and potatoes and I am sharing my way of making Scalloped Potatoes. Most people think of a cheesy potato casserole when they hear the words "Scalloped Potatoes" but you can actually make a very flavorful side dish of scalloped potatoes without cheese, the secret is in the sauce. You can make a semi-homemade version using cream of chicken or mushroom soup, or you can go all the way and make a scalloped from scratch version.

What is your favorite way to make potatoes?

Semi-homemade Scalloped Potatoes

• 1 can condensed cream of chicken or mushroom soup
• 1/2 cup of milk
• Salt and pepper
• 4 cups thinly sliced potatoes
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced

1.  Mix together soup and milk 2.  Grease a 9"x13" baking dish. Place ⅓ of the potatoes in the bottom and season with salt and pepper. Pour ⅓ of the cream sauce sauce over top. 3.  Repeat layers ending with cream sauce. Cover and bake at 375 for 60 minutes. If your casserole dish doesn't have a lid, cover with foil or lay a cookie sheet on top  4  .Uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until golden brown and potatoes are tender. 5.  Allow to rest for 15 minutes before serving 

Monday-

• Breakfast- Scrambled eggs, toast, 1/2 banana
  
• Lunch- Kids eat at school, Us- sandwiches, crackers, apple
  
• Dinner- Mushroom Oven Rice, baked beans, broccoli
  

Tuesday-

• Breakfast- PB&J toast, apple slices
  
• Lunch- Kids eat at school, Us- leftovers, carrot and celery sticks
  
• Dinner- Ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans
  

Wednesday-

• Breakfast- Boiled egg, toast, 1/2 banana
  
• Lunch- Kids eat at school, Us- leftovers
  
• Dinner-  Salsa Chicken to eat over rice
  

Thursday-

• Breakfast- Peanut butter oatmeal, 1/2 banana
  
• Lunch- Kids eat at school, Us- leftovers, canned pineapple
  
• Dinner- Broccoli and cheese baked potatoes, corn, bread and butter
  

Friday-

• Breakfast- Scrambled egg, toast, canned pears
  
• Lunch- Kids at school, Us- Leftovers
  
• Dinner- Fake jambalaya , salad

Saturday-

• Brunch-  Frittata, toast, fruit salad
  
• Dinner- Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, peas
  

Sunday-

• Brunch- pancakes, sausage, cooked apples
  
• Dinner-  Whatever vegetables we have left and  Stir fried noodles using spaghetti noodles, fruit salad