New Menu Plan

Well, since my last post was all about how I'm lovin' having my menu plan back in action. Here's another one for this coming week. It's already on the fridge! Tomorrow is another crockpot day because we have football practice at two different fields. We haven't had a pot roast in a l-o-n-g time, so this should be well received by all the men in my family.

I am trying to use up some staples that I have on the shelf.. I haven't made Hamburger helper in a while either, and it's not exactly a favorite here... but it is easy and except for the meat, it's already paid for. :-) Meatball subs close out the week with the leftover meatballs being used for Italian night on Wednesday. (At least I can say I'm prepared!)

Thursday
Breakfast –Muffins/Fruit/OJ
Lunch – Sandwiches/Fruit
Dinner – Pot Roast with potatoes and carrots

Friday
Breakfast – Eggs/Toast/Fresh Fruit
Lunch – Baked Potato/Broccoli/cheese
Dinner- Stir fry Chicken and vegetables

Saturday
Breakfast- Biscuits and Homemade apple butter
Lunch- Hot Dogs/Baked Beans
Dinner- Hamburger Helper

Sunday
Breakfast- Cinnamon Rolls
Lunch – Omelet/Breakfast Sausage/Brunch
Dinner- Ravioli/ garden salad

Monday
Breakfast- Cin. Raisin French Toast
Lunch- Pizza and salad
Dinner- Chicken Fried Rice and Vegetables

Tuesday
Breakfast- Eggs/Toast/Fruit
Lunch- Deli Wraps/yogurt/fruit
Dinner- Meatball Subs

Wednesday
Breakfast- Waffles/Fruit
Lunch- Mish-mash whatever is leftover....

Dinner- Spaghetti and Meatballs

I Did it!

It feels sooo good to have a menu done, and to have it on the fridge! I've already stuck to day one.... success!

Thursday
Breakfast- Cereal/Fresh Fruit
Lunch- Ravioli/apples/yogurt
Dinner- Tacos/Taco salad

Friday
Breakfast- Eggs/Toast/Fresh Fruit
Lunch- Pasta Broccoli Salad
Dinner- Margarita Chicken/rice/fresh fruit

Saturday
Breakfast- Pancakes
Lunch- Sandwiches
Dinner- Hamburgers/baked potato fries/salad

Sunday
Breakfast- Cinnamon Rolls
Lunch- Omelets/French Toast/Bacon/Fresh Fruit
Dinner- Sandwiches

Monday
Breakfast- Cereal/Muffins/Fresh Fruit
Lunch- Pizza/salad
Dinner- Grilled Chicken Salad

Tuesday
Breakfast- Waffles/Fresh Fruit
Lunch- Sandwiches/yogurt/grapes
Dinner- Pasta/Italian sausage/salad

Wednesday
Breakfast- Cinnamon Raisin French Toast
Lunch- Veggie/Deli Wraps
Dinner- Chicken Stir Fry

Menu Plan...It's coming!

I have everything on paper for all my menu ideas this week. I am very excited about it. It goes all the way through next Wednesday. Hooray! Now I just have to put the meals together and get them on my blog. I am planning to succeed this week! Not only on the frugal front, but on the eating front. My meals are all fairly healthy and when I know what I am cooking... I tend to stick to the plan.

Now onto one other piece of information. I can't believe I didn't know about this sooner. I never noticed this, but my friend Kris has had this blog listed on her website. It's called a Year of Crockpotting. One year!! There are some pretty good looking recipes on this site. The chewy peanut brittle looked awesome. (Yes, I did just say I was eating healthy, so naturally my mind is gravitating to the sweet treats that I haven't had in a while!) Anyway, check it out!

(Especially posted for my friend Becky who is looking for crock pot meals!)

My menu plan

Hmmm... I suppose I can name all the restaurants I have eaten in this week. Lots of salads!

Adoption stuff has taken over my life right now, and I have to just let the other areas step aside...

Big news is that we have been referred two little boys! We are busily getting ready to travel in a few weeks! Plus we have so much to get ready here at home! I have a feeling life is about to get a whole lot busier!

Menu Plan Monday

I'm doing this post today, as my week will be shortened and I don't need to grocery shop at all this week.... we head to Florida on Friday evening... so for all you Florida bloggers or lurkers out there, I plan to visit the Publix groceries in your neck of the woods, to see how they differ from my own. Should be interesting, for me at least. lol! So here is our menu plan using up what we have in the fridge....

Monday
Breakfast- Cereal/Fruit /Toaster Strudel
Lunch- Soup/Ham
Dinner- Eggs/turkey sausage/toast

Tuesday
Breakfast- Waffles/Fruit
Lunch- Deli Wraps/Fruit/Granola
Dinner- Chicken Stir Fry

Wednesday
Breakfast- Cereal/Fruit
Lunch- Baked Potato/Broccoli
Dinner- Taco Salad

Thursday
Breakfast- Eggs/English Muffins
Lunch- Pizza/Salad
Dinner- Chicken Piccata (switched this because of MNO.)

Friday
Breakfast- Cereal/Muffins
Lunch- Out
Dinner- Pasta!

My Menu Plan....

Finally getting around to posting my menu plan... the first two days are over...but it was easier to include them. I have to say that I am soo proud of myself, because I am trying TWO new recipes this week! (My sister would be proud too). Penne Pasta w/ Ricotta and Turkey. This is a recipe that I got from a cooking class that I just took. I didn't actually cook the meal, but I watched the instructor and sampled afterward and it was good! However, it did have sausage in place of turkey and that may alter the taste in my own...but I want to use up my ground turkey. I still think it will work. I am making the sauce from scratch. Scary! I hope I'm up for this!

Then two days later, I am preparing another wonderful meal...Chicken Piccata. It's a lemony chicken, with breading, and I think I will serve it alongside pasta. (As pasta is a frugal ingredient right?) I'll let you know how they go.... So here is the rest of the menu plan! (Oh and almost everything on the menu I have in my freezer or pantry. I only had to buy hot dogs and buns!)


Wednesday
Breakfast-Waffles/Fruit
Lunch- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup with veggies/Fresh Bread
Dinner-Chicken Pot Pie

Thursday
Breakfast- Cereal/Fruit/English Muffins
Lunch- Pizza Salad
Dinner- Leftover Chili/Rolls

Friday
Breakfast- French Toast/Bacon Fruit
Lunch- Chicken Noodle Soup with veggies/Breadsticks
Dinner- Hotdogs/Tater tots/Beans/Salad/Fruit

Saturday
Breakfast- Muffins/Banana Bread/Fruit
Lunch- Steak Sandwiches and sautéed peppers
Dinner- Penne Pasta with Ricotta and Turkey (NEW Recipe!)

Sunday
Breakfast- Sweet Rolls
Lunch- Ham/Potatoes/Green beans (company over)
Dinner- Leftovers (on your own)

Monday
Breakfast- Cereal/Toasted pastries/Fruit
Lunch- Ravioli
Dinner- Chicken Piccata (NEW Recipe!)

Tuesday
Breakfast – Eggs/English Muffins/Fruit
Lunch – Deli Wraps/Fruit/Granola
Dinner- Leftovers

My Menu Plan.....

I love when my menu plan is Done! I used to only plan dinner, but just having 3 meals a day planned has helped me so much. I just look at the fridge to know what is coming up and what to take out to thaw. Plus the kids and dh have become dependent on the menu as well.... now when I get "What's for breakfast mom?" I just say, "look at the menu". :-)

I planned this week's recipes based on the sales flyers at my local grocery stores. Jennifer at All Things Frugal was correct, there was not much out there salewise this week. I found what I could at Bi-Lo, Food Lion and Publix. But it was slim pickin's as they say.... So if your interested here it is: Oh with one caveat..... no new recipe this week. What? Why??? Well we are having company arrive any moment, and that keeps me busy enough without having to try a new recipe as well! But, I plan to make a new recipe next week, maybe even using some ingredients I have on hand!

Wednesday
Breakfast-Eggs/Fruit/English Muffins
Lunch- Chunky Soup/Leftover Tortilla Soup/Fresh Bread
Dinner-Leftovers

Thursday
Breakfast- Cereal/Fruit
Lunch- Lunch Out(running today)
Dinner- Spaghetti & Meatballs/Salad/It. Bread

Friday
Breakfast- French Toast/Bacon & Sausage/Fruit (company is here)
Lunch- Ravioli/Fruit
Dinner- Hamburgers/Fries/Beans/Salad/Fruit

Saturday
Breakfast- Muffins/Banana Bread/Fruit
Lunch- Baked Potato/Broccoli
Dinner- Crispy Chicken over Salad Greens

Sunday
Breakfast- Sweet Rolls
Lunch- Crockpot Chili/Breadsticks
Dinner- Leftovers

Monday
Breakfast- Cereal/Toasted pastries/Fruit
Lunch- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup w/ vegetables
Dinner- Taco Salad

Tuesday
Breakfast – Waffles/ Fruit
Lunch – Sandwiches/Fruit/Granola
Dinner- Chinese Chicken Salad

Menu Plan

It’s been really good to have a Menu Plan to look back on for the last month. I’ve noticed a couple of things…. One, I have gotten myself into a rut planning my menus, and two I am planning way too much with preprocessed foods.

The preprocessed food is actually hurting my weight loss efforts. It contains a lot of salt, and while easier to prepare, it isn’t as healthy…. So, I am going to try to balance my week out a little more with several natural homecooked meals loaded with veggies, and then a few processed quick meals in there as well.

Now onto the rut I seem to get myself into…. I am so not a chef! Remember I did not get the cooking genes in my family.... cooking if it's complicated just generally stresses me out. So, I tend to go to the things that I know how to cook, and that are easy to pull together. But that gets old really fast, as I am finding when I review my menu plans. So, I am going to try to prepare one new meal a week. Just one meal, (I can DO this!). This week it’s the Chicken Taco Soup recipe that I found on All Recipes. This is made in the slow cooker, so it should be relatively easy and stress free.... It got 845 rave reviews, so I’m really hoping we can make it 846! Anyway, here is the link to the recipe if you care to check it out, Chicken Taco Soup..…and here is my Menu Plan for the week:

Monday
Breakfast-Cereal/Bananas
Lunch- Chunky Soup/Fresh Bread
Dinner-Papa John’s $5 Pizza/Salad

Tuesday
Breakfast- Eggs/Sausage/Toast
Lunch- Sandwiches, Fruit, Granola
Dinner- Baked Chicken, Couscous, Steamed Broccoli

Wednesday
Breakfast- Muffins/Cereal/Fruit
Lunch- Baked Potato/Broccoli
Dinner- Chinese Chicken Salad (didn’t make last week, so it’s on again for this week)

Thursday
Breakfast- Waffles/Fruit
Lunch- Vegetable/Deli Wraps
Dinner- Penne Pasta w/ Turkey Sausage Italian Salad

Friday
Breakfast- Cereal/Fruit
Lunch- Crispy Chicken over salad greens
Dinner- Chicken Taco Soup

Saturday
Breakfast- Pancakes/Sausage
Lunch- Soup and Sandwiches w/ Fruit
Dinner- Orange Roughy/Rice/Steamed fresh vegetables

Menu Plan Monday

I've made my menu which is my first step to sticking to my budget. You'll notice that I have sausage on the menu again.... no it's not two weeks in a row....although it could be with all the sausage I have in the freezer! Nope last Saturday I forgot to thaw the sausage, and so when it came time for dinner, and I went to get it, I realized my mistake. No problem though, I had bought Steak-um's on sale very cheap so they were stocked in the freezer as well. Dh loves these, and we never ever have them. So, we had those for dinner. It was actually a big hit with our kids too, so I'll look for more on sale in the future. They make a great back up when my original meal plan backfires!

The second thing is I always leave off Sunday's, because the day has past already, and I run my menu Sunday thru Saturday. We were to have friends come over after church yesterday, so I made a big vat of Chili to serve. We got the call that morning that 3 of their 4 children were sick, so we have a lot of chili leftover. While we would have loved to have fellowshipped with them....I now have some great chili to use as leftovers this week. So I'll stop rambling and post the menu. lol!

Monday
Breakfast-Waffles/Fruit
Lunch- Pizza/Salad
Dinner-Dinner Out

Tuesday
Breakfast- Eggs/Sausage/Toast
Lunch- Sandwiches, Fruit, Granola
Dinner- Italian Sausage Pepper sandwiches

Wednesday
Breakfast- Cereal/Fruit
Lunch- Leftover Chili baked Potatoes
Dinner- Chinese Chicken Salad

Thursday
Breakfast- Eggs/muffins/cantaloupe
Lunch- Pasta/Broccoli Salad
Dinner- Chicken Stir Fry

Friday
Breakfast- Cereal/Fruit
Lunch- Taco Salad
Dinner- Colorful Chicken Stew

Saturday
Breakfast- Pancakes/Sausage
Lunch- Crackers/Cheese/fruit/leftover Stew
Dinner- Turkey Burgers on Grill/Salad/Baked Beans

Better late than never....here is my menu for the week. Tonight's dinner was delicious...if you have never tried Jenni O turkey sausage you really must! I am planning on using it for many more things in the future. Turkey sausage sliced to put in wraps or to top on rice. It is delicious and dh had no idea it was turkey. (grin). He LOVED it as much as his regular sausage...only this is better for you. Anyway...onto the Menu.

Monday
Breakfast-Muffins/Cereal/Bananas
Lunch- Chicken Soup/Breadsticks
Dinner-Pasta/Turkey Sausage/Salad

Tuesday
Breakfast- Eggs/Sausage/Toast
Lunch- Sandwiches, Fruit, Granola
Dinner- Pizza/Salad

Wednesday
Breakfast- Cereal/Fruit
Lunch- Leftover Pasta
Dinner- Nacho bake/Salad

Thursday
Breakfast- Waffles/Fruit
Lunch- Soup/Sandwiches/Veggies
Dinner- Chicken Divan

Friday
Breakfast- Cereal/Toaster Strudel/Fruit
Lunch- Baked Potato/Brocolli
Dinner- Orange Roughy/Rice/Peas/Beans

Saturday
Breakfast- Pancakes/Sausage
Lunch- Soup/Sandwich/Fruit
Dinner- Italian Sausage Pepper Sandwiches

Menu Plan Monday

Monday
Breakfast-Waffles/Canteloupe
Lunch- Baked Potato Broccoli
Dinner-Tacos/Taco Salad

Tuesday
Breakfast- Eggs/Sausage/Toast
Lunch- Sandwiches, Fruit, Granola
Dinner- Turkey Pasta

Wednesday
Breakfast- Toaster Strudel/Fruit
Lunch- Homemade Chicken Soup/Breadsticks
Dinner- Hamburger Helper

Thursday
Breakfast- Muffins/Bananas
Lunch- Leftover Pasta
Dinner- Chicken Pot Pie

Friday
Breakfast- Cereal/Fruit
Lunch- Soup and Sandwiches
Dinner- Burgers on Grill/Tater Tots

Saturday
Breakfast- Pancakes
Lunch- Steak Sandwiches
Dinner- White Chili/Homemade Bread

Menu Plan Monday....

I'd like to link to Laura at Org Junkie's blog button, but for some reason her site is locking up on me every time I try to access it...so I'll have to go back later and edit. :-)

Well, before Monday is gone before my very eyes... I thought I would post my menu for the week. I learned my lesson after losing my last menu plan, so I put this one on the computer. It's in a Word Table, and it looks so cool on the fridge. Dh was lost the other night as I hadn't put a menu up all last week. He asked me, "Are you gonna put a menu up for this week, so I know what we're having?" lol!

So here is the menu: (I do my menu on Saturday evening, so since Sunday was already over, I left it out.)

Monday

• Waffles/Cantaloupe
• Chicken Vegetable Soup/Homemade Bread
• Spaghetti and Italian Sausage

Tuesday

• Eggs/Sausage/Toast/Fruit
• Sandwiches/Fruit/Granola
• Tacos/Taco Salad

Wednesday

• Cereal/Fruit
• Leftover Sausage Sandwiches
• Cracker Chicken/Green Beans/Couscous

Thursday

• Muffins/Bananas
• Chicken Vegetable Soup/Breadsticks
• Hamburger Helper

Friday

• Cereal/Fruit
• Pasta Broccoli Salad
• Orange Roughy/Rice/Green Beans/Peas

Saturday

• Pancakes/Fruit
• Steak Sandwiches/Carrots/Fruit
• White Chili/Homemade Bread

I have a partial week's menu completed for next week, hopefully utilizing a lot of food we already have!