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Monday, January 25, 2010

Menu Planning


Menu planning for the week is such an essential part to our Rhythm here. Without it I would be able to have a grocery budget, another essential part for us since we are now a one income family. I thought I would share our menu this week. When I make my menu I always consult what is in the freezer and pantry. Then I look through cookbooks and put pen to paper. Once this is done the list gets made and there that chore is done and ready for our Friday night outing to the grocery store. The reasoning behind Friday night shopping and planning is that our Fresh Connect delivery comes on Friday and I need to incorporate what is in the box to what will be on our plates.

I have a simple dry erase board that I write the menu out on. I can make notes on the side as to recipes in certain cook books if needed.



week of 1/22 - 1/29


friday ~ steak, baked potatoes, broccoli

saturday ~ pancakes, eggs, sausage

sunday ~ taco soup

monday ~ Chicken and Noodles, fresh broccoli

I had a whole chicken in the freezer, this is a great way to make the dollar stretch. Slow cook a whole chicken in your crock pot and you can usually get 2 - 4 recipes out of that chicken.

tuesday ~ tacos

wednesday ~ grilled cheese, tomato soup, applesauce

thursday ~ left overs

friday ~ chicken corn chowder, salad, pumpkin corn bread
Your menu planning does not have to be difficult. Make it customized to your family. Good luck and let me know if you see a difference in your grocery budget, I know you will.

6 comments:

  1. I meal plan too...can't imagine not planning that out. Although I have to say it's been tougher with so many nights out at basketball games. I'm on the hunt for new portable meals. have a great week...looks like the meals are good ones!

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  2. not sure how to email you so i'll do it this way. About St. Mary Mag...they do sunday school during church. It starts out as children's chapel, then they break off into age groups. SS is over and the children come in and join their families right before eucharist. There's also a nursery "play area" for your littlest guy. After the service there are two "snack" tables set up, one with kid-friendly items and the other with coffee and adult goodies. Liam is lovin it so far!

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  3. This is how we do things too. It really saves money not going to the store five times, and using some of whats on hand. I can't function without a weekly menu!

    :)Lisa

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  4. I wish I was as organized as you. I kind of, sort of formulate a plan on the weekends. But, by Thursday, all bets are off. Plus, lately I'm hating grocery shopping. I think it's the loading and unloading of bags and putting everything away that gets me down. And one more pet peeve -- pushing a cart through a slushy parking lot.

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  5. you are so good to meal plan like that. I do a bit and then sometimes I don't.
    So glad you are enjoying the newsletter. I hope they get better with each issue. Please feel free to write to contribute if you are led to.
    You asked about the crown at Plain and Joyful Living - I just made my own pattern, but at http://frontierdreams.blogspot.com - she has a tutorial link on her side bar.
    Many warm wishes,
    Tonya

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  6. I love your site—so reader-friendly! In my job for a cooking software company I study blogs and one of the happy parts of this assignment is finding great sites like yours. I am so glad I found this! I can relate regarding your menu planning. Since I work for the company, I FINALLY decided to try their product (duh!) and it’s saved me so much money and time already! Without sounding like an infomercial, I wanted to tell you about their cookbook software that’s made my menu-planning and meal management so easy and saved me a lot of money already. FINALLY I can find what I need, when I need it, without having to scour through boatloads of recipes and books! (I’ve included the link in case you and your followers are interested.) Lastly, thanks so much for a great blog—I love your information.

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