So I listed everything I (know how to/can/the kids like me to) make for dinner. My goal was to get 31 things, so I can fill up a month's worth of dinners and then we only have to eat one thing a month. I tried that for a month, and it was good in theory. I like having a grain/veggie night one night a week, in effort to cut down on our meat consumption. I am also adding a fish night into our weekly rotation, again, in order to get down our meat consumption. (The Mediterranean diet is the most healthy, wonderful way of eating out there. I'm trying to edge us closer to that life way of eating.) So figuring in the weekly grain/veggie night and the weekly fish night, it wasn't too hard to come up with other things to fill in with to round out the month.
I do want to find and try new recipes. Allrecipes.com is my life saver there. I just go peruse until I find something I want to try. This week, it's Chicken Piccata. I am going to make it on Sunday, so I have lots of time to work on it. Some things I've tried and the family didn't like them, so I knocked them off the rotation.
I print out a calendar off my computer, and I pencil in a week's worth of dinners. I'm doing better with only a week at a time, since a whole month can get overwhelming. So on Monday morning, I sit down and plan out my menu, and then I go to Publix on Monday afternoon while Laney and Jude have art. I take my menu with me, and that makes it easier to look at, along with my list for the week too.
So far this has really been a blessing. I don't have to wonder at 4 o'clock what I am going to cook, and all the ingredients are there already. We aren't eating out on the weekends, because the menu is planned and ready to go. I try to have something on Friday night that can carry us over onto Saturday night. Or I'll so something fun, like buffalo chicken dip and salad. The planning is truly the hard part, so with some time and a little effort, this has made my life so much easier!
As I find new recipes, I'd like to knock off some of the more boring or simple dishes and use them as reserve dishes. But for now, here is my dinner option list. No laughing or pointing, please. ;)
Hamburgers
Sloppy Joes
Hamburger steak (with brown gravy)
Roasted chicken (which is always followed by a chicken soup of some kind)
Chicken noodle soup
Chicken gumboI do want to find and try new recipes. Allrecipes.com is my life saver there. I just go peruse until I find something I want to try. This week, it's Chicken Piccata. I am going to make it on Sunday, so I have lots of time to work on it. Some things I've tried and the family didn't like them, so I knocked them off the rotation.
I print out a calendar off my computer, and I pencil in a week's worth of dinners. I'm doing better with only a week at a time, since a whole month can get overwhelming. So on Monday morning, I sit down and plan out my menu, and then I go to Publix on Monday afternoon while Laney and Jude have art. I take my menu with me, and that makes it easier to look at, along with my list for the week too.
So far this has really been a blessing. I don't have to wonder at 4 o'clock what I am going to cook, and all the ingredients are there already. We aren't eating out on the weekends, because the menu is planned and ready to go. I try to have something on Friday night that can carry us over onto Saturday night. Or I'll so something fun, like buffalo chicken dip and salad. The planning is truly the hard part, so with some time and a little effort, this has made my life so much easier!
As I find new recipes, I'd like to knock off some of the more boring or simple dishes and use them as reserve dishes. But for now, here is my dinner option list. No laughing or pointing, please. ;)
Hamburgers
Sloppy Joes
Hamburger steak (with brown gravy)
Roasted chicken (which is always followed by a chicken soup of some kind)
Chicken noodle soup
Chicken burritos
BBQ chicken sandwiches
Nachos
Chicken and dumplings
Chicken pot pie
Salmon
Snapper
Chili
Taco Soup
Tacos
Spaghetti
Lasagna
Stuffed shells
Chicken Parmesan
Breakfast for dinner
Italian Crock Pot Dinner
Veggie and grain night
Shrimp pasta
Baked Chicken Spaghetti
Chicken quesadillas
Chicken with rice/mushroom soup
Chicken fingers
Grilled chicken salad
Salmon croquettes
Potato soup
Broccoli, rice and chicken casserole
Chicken Piccata
So there it is. We'll see if the Chicken Piccata stays on the list after this weekend! I am going to add recipes too, hopefully this month. My new hobby is to get cookbooks from the library and find good recipes from there. I just love the feel off a cookbook in my hands!
Whew. Off to plan my week's meals!
2 comments:
Shane and I just went to Publix yesterday after we got home from Birmingham and planned at least 4 meals for this week - but then I forgot to put the roast in the crock pot this morning . . . luckily a friend asked Emelia and I over for dinner and I was saved! Might have to ask you for some recipes!
Oh, thank you! Printing out your list right now. We made a similar one last night. I'm now trying not to eat meat or wheat, so it's getting trickier. You're so inspiring!
Post a Comment