Today's topic:
MENU PLANNING
I've not been too good at this in the past, but hope springs eternal! Here's another attempt. My hubby and I have been shopping the sales at our local Food Lion store and combining them with coupons. We've created a pretty good sized stock pile. I want to cook using the Pantry Principle that I posted about HERE and HERE. You know how that works. You only shop to replenish your pantry and freezer. I've got quite a few "makins" for meals in the pantry and freezer, so I've tried to make up my menus using what we've got on hand.
I printed out a Menu for January from the Family Homestead website and have filled it in for the first two weeks of January. Click here if you would like your own menu planning sheet. I was thinking that if I could finish menu planning for the whole month of January, why not just repeat that next month. The rotation of most of the meals would be far enough apart that it wouldn't be too monotonous. I could tweak it based on what we have on hand or what's on sale.
As you can see, I've marked out and scribbled all over it already! :o) Just keepin it real here!
Anyway, none of these meals are set in stone and I will simply use it as a guide. I'll probably switch them around or skip some of them entirely, based on whats going on in our lives or what leftovers we have. We received a couple of gift cards for restaurants for Christmas and you never know when we might use those instead of the meal planned!
I also want to be a better steward of our food resources. We throw away too many leftovers. I hope to make a soup on Saturdays using some of our leftovers, if any are left. All of us have done this at one time or another, but I gained renewed motivation for this from the Family Homestead website. Click here for ideas for using leftovers in soup. Also you'll notice that some Friday night menus are "Leftovers, On Your Own".
We have some ham left in our fridge and some potatoes that need to be used, so today I'm making a Ham and Potato recipe. My menu sheet says Ham and Potato Soup, but I found a very similar recipe in my "Taste of Home" cookbook that is made in the crock pot. I have every single ingredient on hand and it will help use up some leftovers. So that's a winning recipe in my book!
Click on this recipe if you need to make it larger.
My crockpot cooks really hot, so I think this recipe will be done in about 4 hours, even cooking on low.
5 comments:
I'm with you on the menu planning and not throwing out so much food. My main cooking day is Sunday morning, as I ususally have the whole family here for lunch. Sometimes it gets to be a huge chore to cook something good for Sunday's, so I am going to try to learn to use my crockpot more for Sunday lunch. This week I'll be starting with sloppy joes, potato salad, baked beans and some type of dessert. This should make tomorrow morning a lot easier!
You are doing so well, Debbie. :) I admire your determination and your menu looks great! I love those menu planners from The Family Homestead. She has such a wonderful site and gives so much to help others.
I'm looking forward to your future posts that you are planning.
I have been kicking around ideas to make menu planning easier. I love the idea of rotating your meals on a monthly basis!
I too like to keep Friday meals simple. After working all week I like my weekend to start at quickin time Friday. ha.
I look forward to seeing more of your menu planning meals,ideas, recipes and how they are working for you.
I'm off now to check out the site to make soup with leftovers! Thanks for sharing! :)
Hi Debbie,
You are doing good. I think we both may learn a new skill this year. I posted out menu plan last night for next week.
Hugs,
Elizabeth
Sounds yummy!! I have also fallen off the meal-planning wagon. I've got to better because it is just too expensive to grocery shop when you don't have a list!
Post a Comment