Whew, it's been over a month since I posted here!
Even though I haven't completed or perfected my menu plan, I had to share my discovery!
Amy over at ManiakMadness posted regarding menu planning using Google Calendar. Uh, genius!!!
It was a chore for me to make up my menu plans on a weekly and (once) biweekly basis. My intent was to eventually have enough family favorites to come up with a rotating monthly plan. I hadn't gotten around to doing anything like it, though.
Enter: Google Calendar.
I won't reiterate Amy's marvelous post but allow me to show you my self-perpetuating menu plan!
I still have to put in recipe details and fill in a few gaps but the updated calendar will always be available on my sidebar.
My personal version of the Menu Plan calendar is color-coded: red = beef, yellow = chicken, green = vegetarian, blue = other (pork, sausage, pizza, etc.) and aqua = new recipe. If a new recipe is incorporated into the cycle, the color will be changed appropriately.
My menu plan loosely follows this schedule:
Monday = Mexican
Tuesday = Vegetarian
Wednesday = Chicken
Thursday = try something new!
Friday = Family Fav
Saturday = frozen pizza (I work these days and hubby's in charge of dinner)
Sunday = slow cooker (until 2013)
Stay tuned for tomorrow's post on using Google Calendar for my housework!!
Showing posts with label menu planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label menu planning. Show all posts
Monday, March 12, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
My 1st 2-Week Menu Plan
As I mentioned in my goals post, I'd like to eventually have a month-long menu plan. My intermediary step is a 2-week menu plan. I keep finding that I'd plan a week, buy groceries and then be scrounging for the next week until our next payday. Silly me!
I thought it'd be more difficult to coordinate a 2-week plan but all I did was go through my recipe binder and list some of the tried and true recipes as well as some of the recipes I've been meaning to try. From the list, I plopped meals here and there on my menu planner,* trying to space out meats (ie. beef vs chicken vs vegetarian) and genres (ie. Mexican vs Italian vs other) adequately.
*I usually use a paper that includes days of the week as well as a shopping list section before transferring it to the menu plan chalkboard in my pantry.
Sunday (yesterday) - Chickpea and Tomato Curry -- It was filling and tasted good but I'm not sure if I would make it again.
Monday (today) - Mexican Chicken Casserole -- This was a family hit the first time I made it but not so popular with the kiddies the second time I made it. Despite this, I'm going for it a third time!
Tuesday (Feb 7) - Quinoa Burgers -- This is a first-time try-out but I've heard great things from friends.
Wednesday (Feb 8) - Better-than-Ever Beef Enchiladas -- This is tried and true!
Thursday (Feb 9) - Cheesy Sausage Pasta -- A new one.
Friday (Feb 10) - Broccoli Quinoa Casserole -- Another newbie.
Saturday (Feb 11) - Frozen Pizza (I work during the day)
Sunday (Feb 12) - Taco Twist Bake -- A new try, though I won't be using ground turkey.
Monday (Feb 13) - Crockpot Chicken -- An easy go-to recipe.
Tuesday (Feb 14) - Best Ever Meatloaf -- A new recipe. I realized as I was typing this that this is Valentine's Day, though I sincerely doubt we'll be doing anything to celebrate it. If, by some miracle, we find a 'sitter and head out for dinner, this will still be what the kids are having for dinner.
Wednesday (Feb 15) - Pizza Quesadillas -- This is an easy tried-and-true and the kids never seem to tire of pizza.
Thursday (Feb 16) - Nacho Mac and Cheese -- Tried and true.
Friday (Feb 17) - Tater Tot Casserole -- A family-friendly go-to recipe.
Saturday (Feb 18) - Frozen Pizza
I thought it'd be more difficult to coordinate a 2-week plan but all I did was go through my recipe binder and list some of the tried and true recipes as well as some of the recipes I've been meaning to try. From the list, I plopped meals here and there on my menu planner,* trying to space out meats (ie. beef vs chicken vs vegetarian) and genres (ie. Mexican vs Italian vs other) adequately.
*I usually use a paper that includes days of the week as well as a shopping list section before transferring it to the menu plan chalkboard in my pantry.
Monday (today) - Mexican Chicken Casserole -- This was a family hit the first time I made it but not so popular with the kiddies the second time I made it. Despite this, I'm going for it a third time!
Tuesday (Feb 7) - Quinoa Burgers -- This is a first-time try-out but I've heard great things from friends.
Wednesday (Feb 8) - Better-than-Ever Beef Enchiladas -- This is tried and true!
Thursday (Feb 9) - Cheesy Sausage Pasta -- A new one.
Friday (Feb 10) - Broccoli Quinoa Casserole -- Another newbie.
Saturday (Feb 11) - Frozen Pizza (I work during the day)
Sunday (Feb 12) - Taco Twist Bake -- A new try, though I won't be using ground turkey.
Monday (Feb 13) - Crockpot Chicken -- An easy go-to recipe.
Tuesday (Feb 14) - Best Ever Meatloaf -- A new recipe. I realized as I was typing this that this is Valentine's Day, though I sincerely doubt we'll be doing anything to celebrate it. If, by some miracle, we find a 'sitter and head out for dinner, this will still be what the kids are having for dinner.
Wednesday (Feb 15) - Pizza Quesadillas -- This is an easy tried-and-true and the kids never seem to tire of pizza.
Thursday (Feb 16) - Nacho Mac and Cheese -- Tried and true.
Friday (Feb 17) - Tater Tot Casserole -- A family-friendly go-to recipe.
Saturday (Feb 18) - Frozen Pizza
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
This Week's Menu Plan
Still scraping by with a weekly menu plan. I plan on upping it to biweekly before attempting monthly but haven't organized/pepped myself up enough.
Last week, I didn't even have a menu plan and I still did very well. A side benefit of menu planning that I hadn't expected is that you have a better idea of the recipes on hand so that when you find that pork tenderloin in the freezer while rearranging a bit, you know exactly what you're going to make with it.
Monday (today): I threw in some of what I call "Crockpot Chicken" (see recipe here)
Tuesday: Sloppy Joe Pie
Wednesday: Bratwurst Stew (I had this recipe on a previous plan or two, but have still never made it!)
Thursday: Italian Sausage Enchiladas
Friday: Chicken Noodle Casserole
Saturday: frozen pizza
Sunday: Slow Cooker Meatballs
On the recommendation of a former vegetarian, I picked up this book at Costco. Ever since attending a little seminar she put on regarding pulses (beans, lentils, etc.), and being a former vegetarian myself, I've been wanting to incorporate them into my diet more... Be prepared for plenty of quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) and bean dishes coming up!
Last week, I didn't even have a menu plan and I still did very well. A side benefit of menu planning that I hadn't expected is that you have a better idea of the recipes on hand so that when you find that pork tenderloin in the freezer while rearranging a bit, you know exactly what you're going to make with it.
Tuesday: Sloppy Joe Pie
Wednesday: Bratwurst Stew (I had this recipe on a previous plan or two, but have still never made it!)
Thursday: Italian Sausage Enchiladas
Friday: Chicken Noodle Casserole
Saturday: frozen pizza
Sunday: Slow Cooker Meatballs
Monday, January 9, 2012
Menu Plan This Week
One of my goals this year (I will be posting my goals) is change my method of menu planning. My plan is to come up with a monthly plan that has certain days for trying new recipes.
In the meantime, I will still have my weekly, or maybe even a biweekly, menu plan. As an improvement here, I've started planning sides!
Monday: Brown Sugar Meatloaf and corn
Tuesday: Lemon Dilly Chicken, roasted potatoes and broccoli
Wednesday: One-Dish Beef Stroganoff and green beans
Thursday: Tomato Onion Quiche
Friday: Indian Curried Barley Pilaf and broccoli
Saturday: my husband's in charge
Sunday: Crockpot Chicken,* rice and green beans
*I made a terrific variation (below) of the plain ol' crockpot chicken recipe.
In the meantime, I will still have my weekly, or maybe even a biweekly, menu plan. As an improvement here, I've started planning sides!
Monday: Brown Sugar Meatloaf and corn
Tuesday: Lemon Dilly Chicken, roasted potatoes and broccoli
Wednesday: One-Dish Beef Stroganoff and green beans
Thursday: Tomato Onion Quiche
Friday: Indian Curried Barley Pilaf and broccoli
Saturday: my husband's in charge
Sunday: Crockpot Chicken,* rice and green beans
*I made a terrific variation (below) of the plain ol' crockpot chicken recipe.
4-6 (frozen) chicken breasts
2-3 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 pkg dry onion soup mix
Place all ingredients in crockpot. Cook on low for 7-10 hours.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Kitchen Reorg: Recipe Books and My Recipe Binder Revamp
While the Christmas season was wonderful for traveling and visiting family, it is good to be home and getting back into the swing of things. I've been able to work on a few more organizing projects, including setting some goals for this year, but for this post I'd like to focus on the near-completion of my kitchen reorganization series.
Here is a before picture of the cupboards above my refrigerator:
The plastic lunchbox was a Christmas gift some time ago from my mother-in-law who uses them to carry first aid supplies. A great idea but I am still considering how to improve upon it since the inside of the lunchbox is a disaster area.
In this post, I will be focusing on the left-side which housed a plethora of recipe books.
I am one of those people who has a hard time passing the Company's Coming display of recipe books at the grocery store or at Walmart.* My collection has definitely grown since I was a newlywed. The downside of this is that they don't stand up very neatly. I finally found a simple, if unimaginative, solution.
*Incidentally, I don't buy many recipe books any more. There is such a wealth of recipes online! The two exceptions to this will be:
After weeding out about half of my recipe books (I'm no longer vegetarian), I was able to tidy up my recipe book cupboard.
After cutting the flaps off of an empty diaper box, I was able to stand up the majority of my recipe books within it and shove it into the back of my recipe book cupboard. This way, they are still accessible but the back of the cupboard isn't wasted. I keep my recipe binders in the front, as I use them much more frequently.
My original recipe binder post was quite popular and can be found here. As is the way with most organizing projects, it was decided, after some use, that my system needed to be revamped.
The most apparent change is that I separated Breakfasts and Desserts from my Main Recipes (entrees, etc.). I also added some new categories.
My Breakfasts binder:
My Desserts binder:
My Main Recipes binder has a few extra categories as well. Pasta was split into its own categories and most of the Entrees had a Slow Cooker tab added.
I'm linking this at:
Here is a before picture of the cupboards above my refrigerator:
The plastic lunchbox was a Christmas gift some time ago from my mother-in-law who uses them to carry first aid supplies. A great idea but I am still considering how to improve upon it since the inside of the lunchbox is a disaster area.
In this post, I will be focusing on the left-side which housed a plethora of recipe books.
I am one of those people who has a hard time passing the Company's Coming display of recipe books at the grocery store or at Walmart.* My collection has definitely grown since I was a newlywed. The downside of this is that they don't stand up very neatly. I finally found a simple, if unimaginative, solution.
*Incidentally, I don't buy many recipe books any more. There is such a wealth of recipes online! The two exceptions to this will be:
After weeding out about half of my recipe books (I'm no longer vegetarian), I was able to tidy up my recipe book cupboard.
After cutting the flaps off of an empty diaper box, I was able to stand up the majority of my recipe books within it and shove it into the back of my recipe book cupboard. This way, they are still accessible but the back of the cupboard isn't wasted. I keep my recipe binders in the front, as I use them much more frequently.
My original recipe binder post was quite popular and can be found here. As is the way with most organizing projects, it was decided, after some use, that my system needed to be revamped.
The most apparent change is that I separated Breakfasts and Desserts from my Main Recipes (entrees, etc.). I also added some new categories.
My Breakfasts binder:
- Pancakes
- Waffles
- French Toast (New!)
- Other
- Muffins (New!)
My Desserts binder:
- Cakes
- Cookies
- Pies (New!)
- Brownies (New!)
- Bars (New!)
- Seasonal - Pumpkin (New!)
- Seasonal - Egg Nog (New!)
- Seasonal - Rhubarb (New!)
- Seasonal - Halloween (New!)
- Chocolate & Candy (New!)
- Dips & Sauces (New!)
- Ice Cream (New!)
- Beverages
- Other
My Main Recipes binder has a few extra categories as well. Pasta was split into its own categories and most of the Entrees had a Slow Cooker tab added.
- Menu Planning
- Pasta - Mac & Cheese (New!)
- Pasta - Beef (New!)
- Pasta - Slow Cooker (New!)
- Pasta - Other (New!)
- Beef
- Beef - Slow Cooker (New!)
- Poultry
- Poultry - Slow Cooker (New!)
- Pork
- Pork - Slow Cooker (New!)
- Vegetarian
- Other (sausage, tuna, etc.)
I'm linking this at:
Monday, December 12, 2011
Menu Plan for This Week
Monday (tonight) - Potatoes and Sausage with steamed broccoli
Tuesday - Cilantro Lime Chicken
Wednesday - Thai Red Curry Beef with rice
Thursday - Personal Pizzas
Friday - Tater Tot Casserole
Saturday - Shawn's night to cook... I work Saturdays!
Sunday - Crockpot Chicken
Monday, November 28, 2011
This Week's Meal Plan
I've always hated entertaining.
Too much stress and, I thought, too much effort.
But, since I had a menu plan, I didn't hesitate to acquiesce to family coming over on Sunday with only a few hours notice!
Sunday: Indian Curried Barley Pilaf (with boiled, shredded chicken)--really not that much curry in it, but really yummy!
Monday: Potatoes & Sausage
Tuesday: Tomato Pie
Wednesday: Sweet & Sassy Pork Tenderloin
Thursday: Mexican Chicken Casserole (a family fav!)
Friday: Personal Pizzas
Saturday: Southwestern Pulled Beef
Too much stress and, I thought, too much effort.
But, since I had a menu plan, I didn't hesitate to acquiesce to family coming over on Sunday with only a few hours notice!
Monday: Potatoes & Sausage
Tuesday: Tomato Pie
Wednesday: Sweet & Sassy Pork Tenderloin
Thursday: Mexican Chicken Casserole (a family fav!)
Friday: Personal Pizzas
Saturday: Southwestern Pulled Beef
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
This Week's Meal Plan
This is going up a bit late...
I had to come up with this week's meal plan a little differently than I usually do. My typical process involves finding recipes that look easy and delicious and then purchasing any items I need. This time, I had to take stock of what was in my fridge, freezer and pantry to create this week's meal plan. This was a good experience for me!
I had a budget of $100 to get essential perishables from Costco for the next 2 weeks! I'm definitely not used to working with a limit (our usual bill is between $250-$350) but I managed wonderfully, though I did have to use my meager savings to buy bread.
Monday (yesterday): Crockpot Chicken in Mushroom Sauce (the whole family enjoyed!)
Tuesday (today): Beef & Pasta (already cooking in the crockpot!)
Wednesday: Mac & Cheese (another crockpot recipe... I LOVE my slow cooker!)
Thursday: Grilled PB & J**
Friday: Homemade Pizza (this was on the menu last week but while I had intended to make dough, we had some refrigerated dough that needed using)
Saturday: Beef Dip (recipe below)
Sunday: Crockpot Chicken in Sauce
**I have previously tried Peanut Butter Cup Grilled Sandwiches, which were quite fun. I later learned about Grilled Peanut Butter and Jam Sandwiches, which we will try this Thursday.
Beef Dip recipe
This is something I do from memory. It's a recipe I received from my neighbor and friend.
What I Recommend from Last Week (stuff even my kids liked!)
I had to come up with this week's meal plan a little differently than I usually do. My typical process involves finding recipes that look easy and delicious and then purchasing any items I need. This time, I had to take stock of what was in my fridge, freezer and pantry to create this week's meal plan. This was a good experience for me!
I had a budget of $100 to get essential perishables from Costco for the next 2 weeks! I'm definitely not used to working with a limit (our usual bill is between $250-$350) but I managed wonderfully, though I did have to use my meager savings to buy bread.
My husband usually works late on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and so I don't do anything fancy on those days. Here's what we have going for this week:
Monday (yesterday): Crockpot Chicken in Mushroom Sauce (the whole family enjoyed!)Tuesday (today): Beef & Pasta (already cooking in the crockpot!)
Wednesday: Mac & Cheese (another crockpot recipe... I LOVE my slow cooker!)
Thursday: Grilled PB & J**
Friday: Homemade Pizza (this was on the menu last week but while I had intended to make dough, we had some refrigerated dough that needed using)
Saturday: Beef Dip (recipe below)
Sunday: Crockpot Chicken in Sauce
**I have previously tried Peanut Butter Cup Grilled Sandwiches, which were quite fun. I later learned about Grilled Peanut Butter and Jam Sandwiches, which we will try this Thursday.
Beef Dip recipe
This is something I do from memory. It's a recipe I received from my neighbor and friend.
- roast (I usually thaw mine first but this doesn't mean cooking from frozen isn't possible!)
- packet dry onion soup mix
- about 3/4 cup of water or beef broth/whatever
What I Recommend from Last Week (stuff even my kids liked!)
Monday, November 7, 2011
This Week's Meal Plan
So having a meal plan last week made a complete BELIEVER out of me!! My goodness, the amount of stress relief was tangible, especially since I had so many slow cooker meals on the list. Sometimes, the plan was deviated from but there seemed to be plenty of room for change!
Here is this week's plan:
Monday: Better-than-Ever Beef Enchiladas (didn't get around to this last week)
Tuesday: Bratwurst Stew
Wednesday: Mini Gyro Meatloaves (didn't get around to this last week)
Thursday: Chicken & Biscuit Casserole (I'm going to boil up* a bunch of chicken for this and Saturday during the day)
Friday: Homemade Pizza (as in homemade pizza dough! You read that right, Mom!)
Saturday: Mexican Chicken Casserole
(Crockpot) Sunday: Chicken in Mushroom Sauce (it's mushroom soup so I don't have to worry about my son's "ick" factor)
*thanks to Kristin at A Simply Klassic Home for her helpful tips!
I've linked this up at:
and
Monday: Better-than-Ever Beef Enchiladas (didn't get around to this last week)
Tuesday: Bratwurst Stew
Wednesday: Mini Gyro Meatloaves (didn't get around to this last week)
Thursday: Chicken & Biscuit Casserole (I'm going to boil up* a bunch of chicken for this and Saturday during the day)
Friday: Homemade Pizza (as in homemade pizza dough! You read that right, Mom!)
Saturday: Mexican Chicken Casserole
(Crockpot) Sunday: Chicken in Mushroom Sauce (it's mushroom soup so I don't have to worry about my son's "ick" factor)
*thanks to Kristin at A Simply Klassic Home for her helpful tips!
I've linked this up at:
Sunday, October 30, 2011
First Menu Plan!
I put together my first menu plan last evening... I decided on mostly slow cooker meals as I will be working during the supper hours...
Monday (Halloween!) - grocery shopping (and supper?) @ Costco
Tuesday - Texas Chili (uses beef bits rather than lean ground beef)
Wednesday - Slow Cooker Lasagne
Thursday -Mini Gyro Meatloaves
Friday - Sloppy Joes
Saturday - Better-than-Ever Enchiladas
Sunday - Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken
I know there's a lot of beef in here but I'll get better with time! ;)
I've linked this up at (click image to go to the specific post):
Monday (Halloween!) - grocery shopping (and supper?) @ Costco
Tuesday - Texas Chili (uses beef bits rather than lean ground beef)
Wednesday - Slow Cooker Lasagne
Thursday -Mini Gyro Meatloaves
Friday - Sloppy Joes
Saturday - Better-than-Ever Enchiladas
Sunday - Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken
I know there's a lot of beef in here but I'll get better with time! ;)
I've linked this up at (click image to go to the specific post):
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Recipe Binder
This is one of the first projects I started during this organization kick. I finished it in pretty good time but then I wanted to add some pretty paper to the front/spine. I have TONS of patterned paper but I just couldn't seem to coordinate bringing the binder to my craft room.
Finally done! Well, I may eventually add a label (printed or stamped) but for now, I just like looking at the pattern.
As you can see, it is quite a large binder. It has to be with all the dividers I have inside!
Each of the dividers has pockets! These were a fabulous find at the dollar store!
At the beginning of every section (ie. Desserts, Entrees), I have a free printable from I Heart Organizing. I will use this to track "Tried and True" recipes from other sources (ie. cookbooks, my other recipe compilations).
My categories are vast!
Here's a quick video I did just because I'm a nerd like that!!
I've linked this up to A Bowl Full of Lemons here and to Delightful Order here.
{Edited to add:} I was featured!
Finally done! Well, I may eventually add a label (printed or stamped) but for now, I just like looking at the pattern.
Each of the dividers has pockets! These were a fabulous find at the dollar store!
Within my Menu Planning section, I have subcategories...
- Menu Planning
- Breakfast - Pancakes
- Breakfast - Waffles (I need to divide out the pumpkin recipes in both of these breakfast categories!)
- Breakfast - Other
- Breads/Muffins
- Appies/Dips
- Soups
- Salads
- Sides
- Entrees - Pasta (I plan on subdividing this by meat)
- Entrees - Beef
- Entrees - Chicken
- Entrees - Pork
- Entrees - Vegetarian
- Entrees - Other (for things like sausage or tuna... I don't care for any other type of seafood)
- Desserts - Cakes
- Desserts - Cookies
- Desserts - Other (I need to divide out the pumpkin recipes in Desserts as well... love me some pumpkin!)
- Beverages
- Cooking Tips
Here's a quick video I did just because I'm a nerd like that!!
I've linked this up to A Bowl Full of Lemons here and to Delightful Order here.{Edited to add:} I was featured!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Weekly Menu Planner
Jen just shared some awesome reader kitchen ideas!
One of the photos was a DIY menu planner. Seeing it reminded me that I had not only made my weekly menu planner, I actually use it! At least, sometimes I use it...
My pantry is one of the things on my Organizing To Do List, but it's not too bad. ;)
Okay, so my complete ignorance of "handy" terminology is going to embarrass me here...
This menu planner is made from a board of some sort that I covered with chalkboard paint. The second coat was applied about half an hour later. Once completely dry, I applied the precut vinyl words with transfer tape. (You could use a personal electronic cutting device, such as a Cricut or Silhouette, to make these but I didn't.) I rubbed the entire board with chalk (it was so sad to cover that perfect blackness!) and then wiped it off with a paper towel (chalkbrush would be ideal, but I don't have one).
That's it! Ready to go!
I definitely can't take credit for this idea since I made it at a church function! ;)
Now if only I would consistently plan my menus
I linked this to the link party at A Bowl Full of Lemons One Project at a Time here.
One of the photos was a DIY menu planner. Seeing it reminded me that I had not only made my weekly menu planner, I actually use it! At least, sometimes I use it...
My pantry is one of the things on my Organizing To Do List, but it's not too bad. ;)
Okay, so my complete ignorance of "handy" terminology is going to embarrass me here...
This menu planner is made from a board of some sort that I covered with chalkboard paint. The second coat was applied about half an hour later. Once completely dry, I applied the precut vinyl words with transfer tape. (You could use a personal electronic cutting device, such as a Cricut or Silhouette, to make these but I didn't.) I rubbed the entire board with chalk (it was so sad to cover that perfect blackness!) and then wiped it off with a paper towel (chalkbrush would be ideal, but I don't have one).
That's it! Ready to go!I definitely can't take credit for this idea since I made it at a church function! ;)
Now if only I would consistently plan my menus
I linked this to the link party at A Bowl Full of Lemons One Project at a Time here.
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