Meals this Week

So, what about meals?  what do i create from all these purchases?  Well....we kind of operate on the stock pile system, even when I have a "stock up" week like this one.  I try to use the fresh food quickly, then rely on frozen, etc toward the end of the week.  We do shop weekly, at least for milk and produce.  We currently use 6-8 gallons of milk a week, so there is often a mid-week trip for milk.

Sunday:  Grilled pork chops (both packages)
              Bush's baked beans
             Cantaloupe/strawberry fruit salad
             2 packages of the Kraft mac & cheese (homestyle)

Monday:  Spaghetti and meatballs
               Fresh broccoli - steamed
                French bread

Tuesday:  Leftover pork chops
               3 cans Ranch beans
               Cantaloupe/strawberry salad
               Rice a roni

Wednesday:  Grilled chicken breasts (make enough chicken for Friday)
                     Caesar salad
                     French bread

Thursday:  Mexican casserole
                 Taco Rice

Friday:  Chicken Stir Fry
             White Rice

Saturday:  Hot Dogs (grilled)
                Chips
                Pasta Salad

E-Mealz - Menu Plan Monday (a day late)

Meal planning has been frustrating for me as of late.  For some reason, I'm just major lacking in energy.  I find it especially difficult on the nights I'm at work.  Daddy always manages to prepare them a very decent meal, I just tend to be a "planner" and it bothers me when I don't have a plan in place.  E-mealz is a website that has done all the hard work for menu planning.  You can choose a specific store that you like to shop at (options are Walmart, Publix, Ralph's, Kroger, Aldi), or "any store".  The plans include a shopping list, which is nicely organized.  We've only used a few recipes so far, but we have found them to be simple, quick, and liked by the family.  The cost is $5 a month, we chose the "any store" option.  The meals feed 4-6 people, I adjust up just a little on well-liked items.  They have sample menus available on their site. 

My hope is that this will at least cover the nights I work......and maybe a few more...until I get my energy back and figure out what is going on with myself.  The meal plan also worked within our budget, an added bonus.  I just took the shopping list and crossed off the items I have in my stockpile, then shopped for the rest at Walmart and Winco.  Very easy!  See how it works HERE.

**Note:  I was not asked to do a review for E-Mealz - this is simply me blogging about how i'm planning meals for my family.  I have had a positive experience with E-Mealz and am simply stating my opinion. 

Menu Plan Monday (a day late)

Did you see my last post about my Costco trip? Well...here's the meals....

Monday (shopping day) - Waffles

Tuesday - Build-your-own Nacho's 

Wednesday - Grilled Tilapia, green salad, bread (from the bread machine), rice

Thursday - Lasagna, French bread, salad

Friday - BLT's, chips & salsa, watermelon

Saturday - Grilled hamburgers, cut up veggies

Sunday - Orange chicken, noodles from Panda Express

 (can buy a container of their noodles for under $4), Broccoli

**note to self...cook extra chicken for Monday and Friday nights**

Monday - Chef Salad with bacon bits, avocado, eggs, cheese, meat, peas

Bread or rolls 

Tuesday - Spaghetti and meatballs, veggie, bread

Wednesday - Grilled pork, coleslaw, baked beans, rolls

Thursday - Pork fried rice (if there is leftover pork, mandarin chicken

Friday -  Homemade Pizza

Saturday - Birthday Party for our Athlete!!!

Menu Plan Monday (a day late)

Well, here I am - a day late but full of menus!  I actually had them planned last night but couldn't post until now.....

Breakfasts (Dad is in charge of this meal so it has to be easy or stuff they fix themselves):

Cold cereal (Savemart deal)

English Muffins

Instant oatmeal

Orange Muffins

Freezer Waffles  **edit 4/28:  found Eggos to be over $2 at Winco!!!  Yikes....will have to make my own.....

Lunches:

Hot dogs

Mac and cheese (Easy Mac cups at Target 4/$2.79)

Sandwiches - peanut butter & jelly, lunchmeat & cheese

Cheese/crackers & fruit

Egg Salad

Leftovers

Dinners (not necessarily in this order):

1.  Beef with gravy over noodles (from the freezer), salad
2. Salad bar - toppings available:  kidney beans, frozen peas, veggies, eggs, cheese, meat,avocado and French bread   ** had this tonight - the kids loved it! got baguette's on sale for $0.99 at Savemart today!  Total cost for this meal:  just over $9
3. Grilled Tilapia, wild rice, broccoli
4. Beans & ham (slow cooker), grilled cheese sandwiches
5. Lasagna & French bread
6. Chicken curry & Rice
7. Cilantro chicken with avocado salsa, homemade applesauce, baked beans, rolls
8. Sandwich bar - toppings like Subway (my kids like to put their's under the broiler to melt the cheese), Tabbouleh, chips, fruit
9. Grilled pork chops, Caesar salad, rolls
10. Tostadas (meat, refried beans, cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream on tostada)
11. Chicken Alfredo, veggie
12. Baked enchilada casserole, coleslaw
13. Homemade Pizza
14. Slow-cooked pepper steak, rice, salad

Menu Plan Monday 3/8/10

Oops...i''m a litte late......this will be an interesting week...i have $50 to spend on groceries and some money to spend on household/personal items....

Monday (well..yesterday) - used leftover taco meat and made taco-enchiladas with refried beans on the side

Tuesday - chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and corn (a comfort meal!)

Wednesday (BBall allstars practice) - Pork tri-tip in the crock pot, rice, coleslaw

Thursday - (softball & track practice) Baked potato bar, homemade chili (using more taco meat and canned beans, spices, onion)

Friday - BBQ chicken (from the freezer), homemade applesauce, Rice, bread (mom at work)

Saturday - Dad's choice - mom at work

Sunday - Dad's choice - mom at work

Linking to Menu Plan Monday at Org Junkie!

Menu Plan Monday

 

Monday (today) - Grilled cheese sandwiches and soup

Tuesday - Chicken Enchilada Casserole (from the freezer), salad

Wednesday - Lemon Broccoli Chicken (from the freezer) over rice, cut-up veggies

Thursday - Homemade Pizza, caesar salad

Friday (mom at work)- Lasagna, French bread, veggie

Saturday (mom at work) - Nachos

Sunday (mom at work) - Dad's choice or leftovers

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - grilled pork roast (leftover), beans, coleslaw
Carrot Cake

Tuesday - (mom at work) - Layered nachos with corn chips

Wednesday - grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, salad, Pillsbury Grands biscuits
Birthday cake for me! chocolate on chocolate please....or a peanut butter pie!

Thursday - (Mom at work) - Breakfast for dinner - bacon, eggs, toast, potatoes

Friday - Spaghetti and Meatballs, French bread, salad
Apple crisp

Saturday - HALLOWEEN......probably homemade deli sandwhiches, chips, fruit

Sunday - Homemade pizza, salad

SNACKS:

yogurt, apples, popcorn, treats purchased at Target, toast, cereal, leftovers, Muffins

I don't plan breakfast and lunch as Daddy is in charge of those.....and he doesn't like to plan. He does a great job with breakfast......for lunch, lets just say there are too many corndogs consumed in this house!

On a side note, i find myself itching to make food using pumpkin.... Check out these great looking pumpkin recipes!
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Scones with Cinnamon Icing

Double Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes

Pumpkin Cookies - though i think i would add raisins or chocolate chips!

Pumpkin Cheesecake - ok, i'm totally dreaming here...i've never made a cheesecake!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Grilled pork, salad, grilled potatoes, watermelon
Tuesday: Burritos
Wednesday: Chicken strips, salad, mac and cheese
Thursday: Beans and cornbread
Friday: may eat out (leave for vacation on Saturday) or Potato soup with cheese and crackers
Saturday: BEARSKIN MEADOW - DIABETES CAMP!!!! YAY!!
Sunday: At camp - a whole week of not having to cook!!!

Menu Plan Monday

Here are the menus we plan on cooking this week:

MONDAY: (dad home, mom at work) - dinner at softball team (Visalia Heat) board meeting - BBQ tri tip. Will probably fix grilled cheese or something for the little ones.

TUESDAY: (dad home, mom at work) - pancakes and fruit

WEDNESDAY: (planning on this being the day to go to Costco, so i want an easy crockpot dinner)
Beans and cornbread

Edit: got up too late (worked until 1 a.m.) for crockpot food. will have to go shopping and be creative.

THURSDAY: salmon, rice, steamed cabbage, salad

FRIDAY: Hamburgers, potato salad, melon

SATURDAY: Grilled pork, wild rice, broccoli, salad

SUNDAY: leftover pork open faced sandwhiches (under the broiler with cheese), melon, chips

See Organizing Junkie for menu plans from around the blogosphere!

Menu Plan Monday (a day late)

Menu planning really is key in sticking with a budget. I so often come home from work tired and less than ambitious, it helps to know what i'm making for dinner or for Matt to know what to make for dinner. My general practice is to shop first, then draft menus. This way I can shop sales and eat at home too. Over the summer, my kids will be helping with menus, couponing, shopping, and cooking during their turn at managing the kitchen.

DINNERS:

Monday - Baked salmon, rice, watermelon, homemade bread
Tuesday - Burritos (used pre-cooked taco meat and leftover rice) & watermelon
Wednesday - Potato soup, homemade bread, sliced cheese
Thursday - Shrimp in pasta/alfredo sauce, steamed broccoli
Friday - pulled pork on homemade rolls, coleslaw
Saturday - leftover
Sunday - mom's choice (don't know what that will be until Sunday a.m.)

BREAKFAST AND LUNCHES:
(these are really up to Matt, I just try to make sure there is plenty to choose from)

SNACKS:
homemade granola bars (boy, these are good!)
popcorn
peanut butter & crackers
watermelon
apples
carrot sticks
kiwi
bananas
banana bread (i made this Sunday and i think it is already gone!)
chips & salsa

See more menus over at Organizing junkie