Menu Plan Monday Jan 29-Feb 4

I really have been doing menu planning over the last several months, but I haven’t taken the time to post them due to life getting very busy on me and reducing my time spent on the computer.  Now that a new year has started and I have a routine pretty much figured out, I am finding that getting back into menu planning is a great asset for those busy days and weeks because I am not having the big issue of wondering what I am going to throw together for dinner.

Last week was just getting the basics with grocery shopping.  I have been working at a new system of shopping over the last few months and the new system is working for our family! My grocery shopping system is I shop the stores within the 5 mile radius of my house and make a trip to Sam's around the 15th and the last day of each month, which coincide with hubby’s paychecks.   I am finding this plan to be working very well!  I can get the good deals on the weeks I shop and get creative in the kitchen on the weeks where I just swing into Aldi for our weekly supply of 4 gallons of milk and 4 dozen eggs.

This week’s meals are simple and using what meat I had in the freezer and pantry items leftover from before my big grocery shopping trip that was two weeks ago.  Sundays are family dinner dining out nights due to our schedule with church activities it makes life so much easier and dinner is served earlier rather than later.   The rest of the week is simple meals to save time, energy and money in the kitchen.

This week’s lunches that are listed below are for the kids and me! Unless we are having leftovers, our lunches are served with apple slices or carrot sticks along with fruit juice or water.   Hubby and my three oldest boys usually take a dinner leftover along with various snacks for their lunches so I don’t take the time to really plan their lunches. I just take the next container of leftovers in the stack in the fridge that I have prepared ahead of time.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus; go check the over 300 other delicious meal plans that have been linked at Laura-Organizing Junkie's site or look down in my right sidebar for my menu suggestion lists!

Sunday (1-29)

Breakfast: eggs, hash browns, sausage and cinnamon rolls

Lunch: leftovers –turned sloppy joes into taco meat and made sloppy chicken sandwiches from roasted chicken.

Dinner:  Checker’s (family dining out night)

Snack: snack basket

Monday (1-30)

Breakfast: cereal and leftover cinnamon rolls

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  saucy chicken, mashed taters, salad, rolls and green beans

Snack: snack basket

Tuesday (1-31)

Breakfast:  waffles and sausage

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  smothered chicken, boiled red taters, corn

Snack: snack basket

Wednesday (2-1)

Breakfast:  bagels and cereal

Lunch: sandwich & chips

Dinner: beef gravy over noodles, peas and crescent rolls

Snack: snack basket

Thursday (2-2)

Breakfast: Pancakes and sausage

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  chicken rice casserole served with homemade bread

Snack: snack basket                                                       

Friday (2-3)

Breakfast: cereal

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  chicken club sandwiches, fries and carrots

Snack: snack basket

Saturday (2-4)

Breakfast:  Your Choice

Lunch: sandwiches & chips

Dinner: pork chops, mac & cheese, peas, salad and rolls

Snack: popcorn or snack basket

Menu Plan Monday 4/10-4/16

This week’s meals are simple and using what items I have in the freezer and pantry.   I am planning on only getting milk and eggs this week from the store.  I need to use up some of my stockpile items before they expire.  I also need to clear shelves in the freezer so that I can do a big shopping trip at the beginning of next week.

This week I am keeping my options open for two different nights.  Lately there has been one night a week that hubby has been working late and then going to a bible study group so the kids and I either hit up the leftovers or have something quick out of the freezer(ie chicken nuggets).  For this week, I have two nights where leftovers or something quick might have to be utilized due more to my lack of inspiration and not wanting similar type dishes several times during the week. 

This week’s lunches that are listed below are for the kids and me! Unless we are having leftovers, our lunches are served with apple slices or carrot sticks along with fruit juice or water.   Hubby and oldest son usually take a dinner leftover along with various snacks for their lunches so I don’t take the time to really plan their lunches. I just take the next container of leftovers in the stack in the fridge that I have prepared ahead of time.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus; go check the over 300 other delicious meal plans that have been linked at Laura-Organizing Junkie's site or look down in my right sidebar for my menu suggestion lists!

Sunday (4-10)

Breakfast: eggs, hash browns, sausage and chocolate donuts

Lunch: frozen pizzas and pizza rolls

Dinner:  grilled spicy chicken, egg noodles, corn and biscuits

Snack: snack basket

Monday (4-11)

Breakfast: cereal and cinnamon toast

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  thin sliced roast, mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans served with homemade bread

Snack: snack basket

Tuesday (4-12)

Breakfast:  waffles and sausage

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  oven fried chicken, fries and corn

Snack: snack basket

Wednesday (4-13)

Breakfast:  bagels and cereal

Lunch: sandwich & chips

Dinner: bacon burgers, seasoned pan fries, and carrots

Snack: snack basket

Thursday (4-14)

Breakfast: Pancakes and sausage

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  ????

Snack: snack basket                                                       

Friday (4-15)

Breakfast: cereal

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  creamy chicken over noodles, peas

Snack: snack basket

Saturday (4-16)

Breakfast:  Your Choice

Lunch: sandwiches & chips

Dinner: ?????

Snack: popcorn or snack basket

Menu Plan Monday 1/2-1/8

I really have been doing menus over the last several months, but I haven’t taken the time to post them due to life getting busy on me and reducing my time spent on the computer.  Now that a new year has started, I am working very diligently to getting some resemblance of order and schedule in place so that a routine can be in place for the whole family.

Last week I did a big grocery shopping trip! I have been working at a new system of shopping over the last few months and the new system is working for our family!  My grocery shopping system is I shop the stores within the 5 mile radius of my house and make a trip to Sam's around the 15th and the last day of each month, which coincide with hubby’s paychecks.  The system allows me to cash in on the good deals and then have some time away from the stores so I am not burning myself out chasing deals every week.  I am finding this plan to be working very well!  I can get the good deals on the weeks I shop and get creative in the kitchen on the weeks where I just swing into Aldi for our weekly supply of 3 gallons of milk and 2 dozen eggs.

This week’s meals are simple and using what meat I had in the freezer and pantry items leftover from before my big grocery shopping trip.   We have had sickness in the house, so the menu might change to accommodate those who are on the mend.

This week’s lunches that are listed below are for the kids and me! Unless we are having leftovers, our lunches are served with apple slices or carrot sticks along with fruit juice or water.   Hubby and oldest son usually take a dinner leftover along with various snacks for their lunches so I don’t take the time to really plan their lunches. I just take the next container of leftovers in the stack in the fridge that I have prepared ahead of time.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus; go check the over 300 other delicious meal plans that have been linked at Laura-Organizing Junkie's site or look down in my right sidebar for my menu suggestion lists!

Sunday (1-2)

Breakfast: eggs, hash browns, sausage and cinnamon rolls

Lunch: mini pizzas and pizza rolls

Dinner:  creamy chicken over noodles, peas and crescent rolls

Snack: snack basket

Monday (1-3)

Breakfast: cereal and leftover cinnamon rolls

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  oven fried chicken, fries and corn

Snack: snack basket

Tuesday (1-4)

Breakfast:  waffles and sausage

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  spaghetti(from freezer), and garlic toast

Snack: snack basket

Wednesday (1-5)

Breakfast:  bagels and cereal

Lunch: sandwich & chips

Dinner: roasted chicken, mashed taters& gravy, corn and biscuits

Snack: snack basket

Thursday (1-6)

Breakfast: Pancakes and sausage

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  roast, carrots, and potatoes served with homemade bread

Snack: snack basket                                                       

Friday (1-7)

Breakfast: cereal

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  saucy pork chops, rice and green beans

Snack: snack basket

Saturday (1-8)

Breakfast:  Your Choice

Lunch: sandwiches & chips

Dinner: ????? not sure yet.

Snack: popcorn or snack basket

Menu Plan Monday 9/5-9/11

Last week I really did do menus but I didn’t post them because life got busy on me and I didn’t find the time to post them.  Now that school is starting this week, I am working very diligently to get some resemblance of order and schedule to get back into a routine for the whole family. There is a big change this school year in that I am sending my oldest to high school so I will only have four kids during the day. 

Last week I did an essentials trip of grocery shopping!  I am trying to keep the grocery budget down for the next few months because we have six birthdays, an anniversary and Christmas to worry about before the end of the year so we will need extra in our “gift budget”. I really need to get myself motivated to bake up some goodies as that would decrease the baking supply items (butter, zucchini, blueberries & mashed bananas) that I have in the freezer.  

This week’s meals are simple and using what I have on hand in the freezer and pantry.   I am going to be doing some baking this week, along with shifting the family from summer vacation to school routine.  I need to get the baking done so that I have items to stick in my hubby’s and oldest son’s lunch.

This week’s lunches that are listed below are for the kids and me! Unless we are having leftovers, our lunches are served with apple slices or carrot sticks along with fruit juice or water.   Hubby usually takes a dinner leftover along with various snacks for his work lunch so I don’t take the time to really plan his lunches. I just take the next container of leftovers in the stack in the fridge that I have prepared ahead of time.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus; go check the over 300 other delicious meal plans that have been linked at Laura-Organizing Junkie's site or look down in my right sidebar for my menu suggestion lists!

Sunday (9-5)

Breakfast: eggs, hash browns, sausage and jiffy muffins

Lunch: mini pizzas

Dinner:  

Snack: snack basket

Monday (9-6)

Breakfast: cereal

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  bacon burgers, fries and corn

Snack: snack basket

Tuesday (9-7)

Breakfast:  waffles and sausage

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  Taco Bar

Snack: snack basket

Wednesday (9-8)

Breakfast:  bagels and cereal

Lunch: sandwich & chips

Dinner: baked chicken, mashed taters& gravy, corn and biscuits

Snack: snack basket

Thursday (9-9)

Breakfast: Pancakes and sausage

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  grilled chicken/catfish/shrimp, rice and green beans

Snack: snack basket                                                       

Friday (9-10)

Breakfast: cereal and toaster strudel

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner: beef gravy, egg noodles, peas

Snack: snack basket

Saturday (9-11)

Breakfast:  Your Choice

Lunch: sandwiches & chips

Dinner: ????? not sure yet.

Snack: popcorn or snack basket

Menu Plan Monday 8/22-8/23

I can not believe that I haven't posted menus since the beginning of May! Life has been very busy lately! The summer sneaked up on us and then flew by! Now, the new school year is approaching and I need to get back on track with making menus each week. When I stopped posting them I lost the motivation to even make them so for much of the summer I have been flying by the seat of my pants in the meal department.  It is time to get the motivation back, so I am going to start posting menus again. 


Last week’s menus were delicious! I stuck with simple, family favorite meals.  I took advantage of the nice weather to grill several times so I did not heat up the house.  We have been having my parents over for a meal at least once a week during the last several months. If they do not come to my house, we go to their house and eat a meal with them. Doing this routine seems to be helping my mom, who has dementia, to actually eat home-cooked meals rather than going out to eat for every meal.  My dad has stated that when she eats with a crowd she seemingly eats better than when it is just the two of them. 

Last week’s grocery shopping was a big shopping trip. Hopefully I calculated things correctly so I will just have to a staples run (milk, produce) these next couple of weeks before payday.  We are still working at paying down some unexpected debt along with having THREE birthdays and an anniversary in the next month!  So I am trying to keep the grocery bill down so that we have the extra money to work with for the "celebrations". 

Hopefully sometime this week, I will be able to get some long overdue baking done.  With the new school year fast approaching in a couple of weeks and having to actually pack a child's lunch for the first time, I want to have some baked goods ready to go! It would be nice to get a big stash of items done so that I don’t have to worry about not having something to pack in his lunch. 

This week’s meals are more of my simple, family favorite meals.  Things are going to be busy around our house again this week so I am keeping things simple in the kitchen. I am not totally sure what day or days, my parents are coming over so I might have to change some things around as the week progresses. 

This week’s lunches that are listed below are for the kids and me! Unless we are having leftovers, our lunches are served with apple slices or carrot sticks along with fruit juice or water.  Hubby usually takes a dinner leftover along with various snacks for his work lunch so I don’t take the time to really plan his lunches. I just take the next container of leftovers in the stack in the fridge that I have prepared ahead of time.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus; go check the over 300 other delicious meal plans that have been linked at Laura-Organizing Junkie's site or look down in my right sidebar for my menu suggestion lists!

Sunday (8-22)

Breakfast: eggs, hash browns, sausage  and cinnamon rolls

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  McDonald’s (after church)

Snack: snack basket

Monday (8-23)

Breakfast: cereal and toaster strudel

Lunch: sandwiches and chips

Dinner:  chicken club sandwiches, fries and carrots

Snack: snack basket

Tuesday (8-24)

Breakfast:  waffles and sausage

Lunch: lunchables

Dinner:  beef gravy over noodles, peas

Snack: snack basket

Wednesday (8-25)

Breakfast:  bagels and cereal

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner: spaghetti and garlic toast

Snack: snack basket

Thursday (8-26)

Breakfast: French Toast and sausage

Lunch: pizza

Dinner: oven fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn

Snack: snack basket                                                       

Friday (8-27)

Breakfast: cereal and toaster strudel

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner: grilled burgers, and fries

Snack: snack basket

Saturday (8-28)

Breakfast:  Your Choice

Lunch: ????

Dinner: event @ church with dinner included!

Snack: popcorn or snack basket

Menu Plan Monday 5/2-5/8

Last week’s menus were delicious! I stuck with simple, family favorite meals.  I really need to work at finding new meal combinations or new recipes to try because the same old meals are getting old!  The weather keeps “yo-yoing”!  We have several days of summer weather with no rain and then we have several days with below average temperatures and rain with wind. Just when I feel like doing lots of grilling and lighter meals, the weather makes think of a big bowl of soup with homemade bread!

Last week’s grocery shopping was a big shopping trip. Hopefully I calculated things correctly so I will just have to a staples run (milk, produce) these next couple of weeks before payday.  We are still working at paying down some unexpected debt.  We went from getting new windows to having both of our vehicles at the mechanic’s shop for several different items. We went from having no issues with anything to having a “mudslide” happen and trying to prioritize everything that is a occurring has been interesting to say the least.

Hopefully at the end of the week, I will be able to get some long overdue baking done.  The weather is be at a “cool stage” so instead of running the furnace I’ll just run the oven! J Each week, I have been working at keeping some kind of sweet item and bread item available for my crew to have during the week. It would be nice to get a big stash of items done so that I don’t have to work a time in each week to bake something.

This week’s meals are more of my simple, family favorite meals.  Things are going to be busy around our house this week as it appears that each evening there is something going on!  Monday, hubby has bible study; Tuesday, I have bible study and hubby is having friends over to watch the Red Wings/Sharks game; Wednesday and Thursday night, hubby has first aid certification class and then Friday and Saturday look clear at the moment but that could change as the week progresses.

This week’s lunches that are listed below are for the kids and me! Unless we are having leftovers, our lunches are served with apple slices or carrot sticks along with fruit juice or water.  Hubby usually takes a dinner leftover along with various snacks for his work lunch so I don’t take the time to really plan his lunches. I just take the next container of leftovers in the stack in the fridge that I have prepared ahead of time.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus; go check the over 300 other delicious meal plans that have been linked at Laura-Organizing Junkie's site or look down in my right sidebar for my menu suggestion lists!

Sunday (5-2)

Breakfast: eggs, hash browns, sausage or steak and chocolate donuts

Lunch: pizza

Dinner:  McDonald’s (after church)

Snack: snack basket

Monday (5-3)

Breakfast: cereal and donuts

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  chicken rice casserole and homemade rolls

Snack: snack basket

Tuesday (5-4)

Breakfast:  waffles and sausage

Lunch: lunchables

Dinner:  grilled chicken, seasoned pan fries, and green beans

Snack: popcorn and bbq smokies for munchies during the game

Wednesday (5-5)

Breakfast:  bagels and cereal

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner: chicken club sandwiches, French fries and carrot sticks

Snack: snack basket

Thursday (5-6)

Breakfast: French Toast and sausage

Lunch: pizza

Dinner:  roasted chicken breasts, mashed potatoes, and corn

Snack: snack basket                                                       

Friday (5-7)

Breakfast: cereal and toaster strudel

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner: chili, rice and homemade corn muffins

Snack: ice cream

Saturday (5-8)

Breakfast:  Your Choice

Lunch: ????

Dinner: Salisbury Steak, mashed potatoes, corn and biscuits

Snack: popcorn or snack basket