Thankful day 21: Menu Planning {How To}

Yesterday I talked about how I'm thankful for Google, and that I use it to menu plan.

Today, I'm thankful for the knowledge my mama taught me to be able to plan a menu.

*smiles*

Thanks mama!

Not everyone knows how, and many of my friends have been in awe of how I plan out my meals for 2 weeks in advance.

With a grocery list.

Do I forget things at the store?

Abso-freaking-lutely.

Does it drive me up the wall.

You have no idea.

So how do I go about planning my menu?

Simple, I hunt down recipes like a mad woman, and I put them on the list.

Then I look at the recipes and build my shopping list directly from what I've added on my menu!

Now, next week, I will re-add the dishes we didn't eat this week.

Because I know I already have the stuff for it, so I don't have to buy anything to make it.

Unless I forgot something.

*grumbles*

I print out my menu plan, and I put it on the front cover of my binder of recipes for easy reference.

I have all my recipes in sleeve protectors, because I am not a clean cook!

And I'll put all the recipes that I've got on this weeks plan at the front, so I can find them quicker.

I'm awesome {read: lazy} like that.

So, I'm going to give you my menu plan for this week.

Many of these recipes I've got on my Pinterest Dinner board, so if it's not linked, please check there.

I use a Pinterest board to help keep track of the meals I want to try.

I love Pinterest.

November 20th through December 5th
20th Jamaican Jerk Burgers with Apple Slaw & Oven Fries
21st Chicken Stew with Butternut Squash and Quinoa
22nd Chicken and Butternut Squash Pasta
23rd Small Group? Autumn sausage casserole
24th Thanksgiving Dinner at Bruce & Karen’s Cranberry sauce, misc other things
25th Black Friday Pizza Burgers and oven fries
26th Church Turkey with taters, green beans, cran sauce, stuffing
27th Leftovers
28th Broccoli & Cheddar soup {Panera Style} with turkey; bread for dipping
29th Black Bean Burgers with veggies
30th House Church Boca Burgers and oven fries
1st Spinach and Ricotta stuffed shells with salad and bread
2nd Sour Cream noodle bake with veggies
3rd Church Creamy chipotle turkey tortellini with veggies
4th  Cheesey Veggie Chowder
5th Turkey burgers with herb sauce and veggies

I've linked up today with Org. Junkie! Where you can find hundreds of other menu plans and recipes!

She also has an extensive list of recipe sites and resources!

Thankful day 20: Google

I promise you, this is not a paid advertisement.

I am a Google "groupie", for lack of a better word.

Obviously.

Blogger = Google

Gmail = Google email

Google Talk

Google Maps

Google Docs

Google Calendar

Google Plus

Android = Google

I use all of those on a regular basis, as in daily.

Right now I'm multi-tasking between a Google doc for my menu planning, Pinterest, and the budget I've created for 2012 in Google docs.

I am regularly checking the family calendar for what's going on today, tomorrow, this week.

I have a widget on my phone that helps me with it.

Hubby and I share a calendar, and whenever anything pops up that will possibly effect the family, it goes onto that calendar.

Hubby knows what I'm doing most days.

He knows when parent teacher conferences are.

When we've got a double date.

When we're watching the kids.

I know when he has to work late.

Or is hanging out with the guys.

What I love most about Docs, is that I can share the documents I've made for our home with my husband.

Our budget is in "the cloud" so if my computer crashes, I still have it.

{I learned this the hard way}

My menu plan and grocery list is in "the cloud" so that if I forget it while I'm out at the store, I can look it up on my phone and still know what I need to get.

There's an app for that.

Our list for Christmas gifts with links and price points?

In the cloud.

Some of our important documents?

Saved in Google docs.

My blog?

Google.

Need I go on?

I seriously could not fathom any other way to do things at this important, busy, productive point in my life.

Today, as I sit here menu planning, budgeting, and scheduling, I'm thankful for the services Google provides.

Meal Planning: 2 weeks of Comfort food!

I just got done planning my menu for the next 2 weeks.

I'm pretty excited, as the weather report is calling for lots of rain in the valley.

Snow in the Mountains!

Fall is coming, and I see it in the weather report!

Gone are the days of 80* temperatures and playtimes at the park.

I'm pretty sad about it.

The change of seasons have occurred pretty quickly and obviously.

But, to change my mood, I've gone to my trusty Pinterest board dedicated to dinners to help me plan my meals for the next 2 weeks.

{I also have Breakfast, Lunch, Drinks, and Snacks/Dessert boards too!}

Many of my dinners are comfort foods of soups & carbs.

*sigh*

I love fall.

I just don't feel ready for it yet!

October 3rd through October 20th
3rd Sour Cream noodle bake with veggies
4th Coffee Class: Cranberry Pork Roast with veggies
5th House Church: Crockpot Chicken Stroganoff with rice and veggies
6th Corn Chowder with garden salad
7th Kasie’s Birthday: Dinner out!
8th Watch Aliya & Church: Mac & Cheese with Ham and Cheese sliders
9th Jamaican Jerk Burgers with Apple Slaw & Oven Fries
10th Pizza Burgers and oven fries
11th Southwest Chicken Chili Mac
12th Small Group: Crock Pot Soup
13th Black Bean Burgers with garden salad
14th Beef with Red Wine Sauce
15th Church: Broccoli and Cheddar Soup, Panera Style
16th Moroccan Beef Stew
17th Slow Cooker Mango Chicken
18th Coffee Class: Sour Cream Enchiladas
19th House Church: Spaghetti with Lentil Balls, salad and Easy French Bread
20th Papa Murphy’s Pizza!

Lunches for School {and for Monkey at home}
Monday  Peanut Butter and Honey with Apples & Crackers {3}
Tuesday Deli Meat sandwich with almonds & applesauce/yogurt {2}
Wednesday Ham and Cheese rolls, bell pepper slices and chips or crackers {2}
Thursday Corn dog muffins with cucumber slices and applesauce
Friday {early day!} Cheerios, yogurt and banana slices; or frozen smoothie with fruit & almonds

Breakfasts Cereal Pancakes apple oatmeal bake eggs & toast oatmeal Breakfast burritos Spinach & Sausage Egg Bake Crockpot Rice Pudding Hootenany Pancakes

Snacks Homemade potato chips Cinnamon Almonds Odwalla Bars Apples w/peanut butter or string cheese Yogurt with Granola Applesauce with Cinnamon

It's a pretty nice line up if you ask me!

Many of these are new recipes I haven't tried yet.

I love doing that.

So does hubby.

Hope you find something you'd like to eat yourself! You can follow me on Pinterest!

I linked up with OrgJunkie this week, where you can get hundreds of other meal plans!

Menu Monday: 2 Weeks of Dinner, Lunch & Breakfast

Hey Everyone!

Happy Labor Day to all of you that are in the States!

We're enjoying our day!

We went out and played at the park and had a picnic.

Now I get to go grocery shopping.

It's a good thing!

I have planned out 2 weeks worth of meals, and have included links for those of the meals that are online!

I hope you find some good ones!

{if you'd like me to post a recipe to something I have listed, let me know!

I usually get them from cookbooks!

I'm always looking for more suggestions too!

September 4th through September 20th
Slow Cooker French Dip with oven fries & veggie slices
Hubby’s BBQ chicken with Homemade Suddenly Salad & Corn on Cob
Veggie Cheese Pizza
Spicy Chicken & Veggies
Skillet Rosemary Chicken
9th Date Night: Grilled Cheese & Tomato Basil Soup
CP Cranberry Pork Roast with rice and oven baked veggies
11th~ Meatloaf & Sweet Potatoes & Rice
Asian Salmon with Wasabi Potatoes and edamame
Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas with salad
Pork Bites with Apples and rice
Creamy Chipotle Chicken Tortellini
16th Date Night: Black Bean Burgers
Boca Burgers with Oven fries & Salad
Fettuccini & Chicken Alfredo
Spaghetti with Lentil Balls & Salad
Eat Out

Lunches for School {and for Monkey at home}
Monday:  Peanut Butter and Honey with Apples & Crackers {3}
Tuesday: Deli Meat roll with almonds & applesauce {2}
Wednesday: Quesadillas with salsa, bell pepper slices and chips or crackers {2}
Thursday: Taco Salad with toppings, cucumbers and almonds
Friday {early day!}: Cheerios, yogurt and banana slices; or frozen smoothie with fruit & almonds

Saturday & Sunday: Leftovers, Mac & Cheese, or hot dogs

Breakfasts
Cereal
Pancakes
apple oatmeal bake
eggs & toast
oatmeal
Breakfast burritos
Hootenany Pancakes

Sides & Snacks
Homemade potato chips
Cinnamon Almonds
Zucchini Bread

Crackers

Odwalla Bars

Yogurt with granola

Applesauce with cinnamon

Apples with peanut butter or string cheese

Thanks for swinging by this week!

I'm linked up with Org Junkie!

You can find HUNDREDS of other meal plans there! {including specialized diets!!}

Menu Plan Monday

Last week I posted my menu for over 2 weeks, and since I did that, I didn't really have anything to post today.

Instead, I decided to review a couple of meals that we tried that were listed on the menu!

First up is the Creamy Chipotle Chicken Tortellini from Picky Palate

First, I didn't stick to the recipe.

I didn't have beans and I used 1% milk instead of skim milk.

This is an amazingly quick and easy meal.

I loved it, my husband loved it, and it got Princess approval.

The Monkey is in the "pizza" stage and refused to eat.

Poor kid.

This is a meal that I will be making again.

Hellooo Comfort FOOD!

The sauce is creamy.

The consistency is dense.

You add it with some oven roasted veggies and you've got a good hearty meal!

I'll be doing this again!

Another meal that we REALLY enjoy is Turkey Sloppy Joes posted on All Recipes.

This has become a quick family favorite!

My kids both adore this, and it's got tons of flavor and none of the canned Manwich taste!

When making this I use Stubb's Original BBQ Sauce.

It's fantastic and doesn't have any High Fructose Corn Syrup or Partially Hydrogenated oils in it.

We serve these on either regular buns or the thin buns with a slice of Provolone on top.

YUM!

I hope I have helped you out with a couple of dinner suggestions!

I'm always open to hearing yours!

Thanks for swinging by!

I'm linked up with Org Junkie today!

Menu Plan Monday: 2 weeks of Dinner & Lunches

So I've been slacking on my Menu Plan Monday posts.

Honestly, I don't get on the computer on Monday's, so linking up is more...difficult.

Regardless, I know my mom likes to read my menu {she taught me to do it after all}, so I thought I'd post again.

But this post includes TWO WEEKS worth of meals.

Why?

Because I shop from payday to payday.

I admire those that can keep in a budget and do a week at a time.

I just am not one of those people.

Amazingly, I'll stay below $175 for groceries and household goods.

And I've got Princess' lunches to include now too!

She starts school this week!

*sobs*

Dinners

August 19th through September 4th
19th Date Night: Dinner out with the Krelo’s
20th: Dinner at Bree’s Parents Casa {Disneyland Coleslaw}
Bean & Tortilla Pie
Veggie Cheese Pizza
Skillet Rosemary Chicken
CP Cranberry Pork Roast with rice and oven baked veggies
CP GF Apricot Chicken with rice and veggies
26th Date Night: Grilled Cheese & Tomato Basil Soup
Meatloaf & Sweet Potatoes & Rice
Sour Cream Noodle Bake
Slow Cooker French Dip
Turkey Sloppy Joes
Easy Crockpot Chicken & Rice
Boca burgers
Creamy Chipotle Chicken Tortellini
Spaghetti with Lentil Balls & Salad
Black Bean Burgers

Lunches

Monday Peanut Butter and Honey with Apples & Crackers {2}
Tuesday Deli Meat roll with almonds & applesauce {2}
Wednesday Quesadillas with salsa, cucumbers and chips {2}
Thursday Taco Cups with fruit {2}
Friday {early day!} Pancake sammich {pancake with jam}, yogurt and fruit

I am linking up with Organization Junkie! Find hundreds of other meal plans every Monday!

Menu Plan Monday: Chicken Stroganoff

A favorite meal in my house is Chicken Stroganoff.

I make it in the crock pot, and the recipe is from one of my favorite people, Trixie.

I am pretty sure she wouldn't mind me sharing it.

Trixie's Crockpot Chicken Stroganoff

2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1/2c sour cream

1c white wine, water, or chicken broth

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

1 packet of Onion Soup Mix

Egg noodles

Place your chicken in the bottom of the crock.

Mix the remaining ingredients in a bowl and pour on top.

Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Shred chicken in the sauce.

Serve over egg noodles and enjoy!

Of course this will be included in our menu this week!

Here is what we've got planned!

Black Bean Burgers
Bean & Tortilla Pie
Meatloaf with sweet potatoes
Chicken Enchiladas {with black beans}
Spaghetti
Chicken Stroganoff {see above}
Leftovers

Lunches:

grilled pizza sammies

pb&honey
leftovers
deli meat sammies

hotdogs with cheese and yogurt

Breakfasts:

Cereal
Pancakes
apple oatmeal bake
eggs & toast
oatmeal
Breakfast burritos

I'm linking up this week with Organizing Junkie where there are hundreds of meal plans every week!

Blogger Guilt and Menu Plan Monday

It's been over a month since I blogged last.

Over 30 days.

I feel guilty, so I don't blog.

I feel guilty because I didn't follow through on eating well, or because I'm just dabbling in the world of blogging.

Who knows.

I tried to stick with 21 days for a change.

I stunk.

After about 4 days I throw in the towel and just say screw it.

Or it got hot and I quit exercising.

So many excuses.

Really it's just sad.

But I'm back today with my menu plan for the week.

Things have been weird here since my hubby got a new job.

I'm trying to juggle doing 16+ day meal plans vs. the 14 I was doing before.

Making my money stretch further.

Some pay periods I do 20 days.

It's insane.

This week, I'm going to put up my first 7 days.

Although I'll have bought enough food to last {hopefully} through till the 20th.

Yes really.

So here is my meal plan for this upcoming week!

I'm eating on the cheap.

Trying to make our money stretch is hard.

Having enough to keep the kids fed throughout the day is difficult.

Keeping my sanity is impossible.

Happy 4th of July!

Dinner:

Lazy Sunday Cassarole
Sloppy Joes & Disneyland Coleslaw
Spicy Summer Gazpacho
Southwest Chickpea salad
Savory Low Cal Chicken
Chicken Stroganoff
Leftovers

Lunch:

grilled pizza sammies
pb&honey
leftovers
deli meat sammies

Breakfast:

Cereal
Pancakes
eggs & toast
oatmeal
Breakfast burritos

I'm linking up with Menu Plan Monday at Organizing Junkie! Hundreds of meal plans in one spot!