Menu Plan Starts Tuesday

Our life is changing rapidly. It's quite the merry-go-round. We think we're lucky enough to finally have Nora on a bit if a schedule, which means I can finally think about something other than sleep. Paul's going back in to work more this week. So, everything I make will have to consume as little time as possible since I'll be on my own taking care of the baby. Luckily, I have a Moby Wrap to carry her around in and still leave me with two functioning hands!

This week, I am only thinking about dinners starting today. Yesterday, we had dinner at my parents' house with some family from Louisiana who came to see my grandmother (and probably a little bit to see the baby, too.) Anyway, so my goal is to still focus on using what we have in the freezer and cabinets. Paul ran out yesterday to get fresh fruits and vegetables, which are a staple in our diet. Otherwise, we're using what we have on hand thanks to inspiration from Mollie Katzen's Eat, Drink and Weigh Less. It's part of my goal to make sure we are both as healthy as possible and are reclaiming my starting weight as quickly as possible. Not to mention, everything we use that we already have on hand is additional money we're saving right now.

So, here's my brainstorm:

• Braised Spinach (with dried cherries and walnuts) over quinoa
• Whole Wheat Couscous with pistachios and orange-flavored cranberries
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes with pan-fried vegetarian Skallops and baked beans
• Vegetarian chicken, bell pepper, onion, corn, etc. over brown rice

All of these are main dishes and we have some fresh salad ingredients to serve on the side, including mini cucumbers to dip into hummus and tzatziki, which Paul was drawn to while shopping for the fresh stuff.

It would thrill my heart to think I'm organized enough to get these on the table in like fashion to what I would have done a month ago, but I'll be happy to just get it on the table! I'll try not to beat myself up too much about anything.

Would you like to know what we're eating next?