Monthly Meal Plan - January

Ok, this is something I have been working on!  The first image is just that an image to view or print.  Scroll down for the excel file that has attached grocery list and you can edit.

Still tweaking a bit but posting for those that asked.  You should be able to download a copy in excel and edit to suit your family's favorite meals.  The second sheet has an ingredient list and although setting it up may take a bit of time.... once you do it you can save and quickly update next month without having to enter everything in again!   You can then print the recipe list each month prior to your grocery trip.... This is my first month doing it this way.... And really I have already shopped for my January meals for the most part.... I will tweak the list as I go, adding or reformatting if needed.  I am in the process of posting my recipes to this blog too for reference....

I shop the bulk of my items by month.... Meats, canned goods, dry goods, cleaning products, etc.  In between I grab produce, milk, and bread as needed.  We also have spaghetti of some sort every Tuesday.... Sometimes it's spaghetti and meatballs, sometimes meat Sauce... sometimes with salad, and different breads.  Wednesdays we eat at church.  And most weekends I don't "cook", per se, but we eat up the leftovers from the days prior, or if there are none it's Soup/sandwich or pull something from my freezer stash.  Many Sundays we will eat out as well....

My goal for 2017 is to do this each month and then in future Years it won't require much to adjust for new dates! I am also starting something new in my little family assigning a cooking night to the kids.... They were excited about this and wanted to work in pairs.  So my boys are teaming up and my daughter is pairing up with daddy!  Hopefully this will help them all be more proficient in the kitchen, give me a break once a week from the cooking part at least!.... and perhaps they will gain a new appreciation for all my efforts!  I have printed the monthly page for the fridge and also keeping a copy in a binder that I am keeping as reference!  I am also highlighting the kids cooking night!

Anyway I hope this may provide some inspiration to you!  Feel free to copy and use/amend to suit your family, etc.  My kids won't be cooking at your house though LOL!

This Week's Menu

Monday (9/3/2012)
  Breakfast: Cereal

  Dinner Potluck with Friends

Tuesday (9/4/2012)
  Breakfast: Cereal or grits

  Dinner: Spaghetti w/ homemade Meat sauce, French Bread (makes 2 loaves, salad

Wednesday (8/29/2012)
  Breakfast: Homemade Waffles, sausage

  Dinner: Chicken Fried Steak, Mustard Greens, Rice (gravy), Corn on the Cob, Amazing Yeast Rolls (double for next day)

Thursday (9/6/2012)
  Breakfast: Bagels

  Dinner:  Homemade Cheese Ravioli with Meatball, Amazing Yeast Rolls

Friday (9/7/2012)
  Breakfast: French Toast (using , Sausage

  Dinner: Rice and Bean Enchiladas

Saturday (9/8/2012)
  Dinner: Grilled Chicken, green beans, Rice Pilaf

Sunday (9/2/2012)
  Dinner: Chicken Panini's, Broccoli Cheese Soup

***Lunches are usually easy pasta dishes, mac n cheese, sandwiches, or leftovers.

Monday (8/27/2012)
  Breakfast: English muffins, eggs bacon cheese

  Dinner: Stir fry over noodles or rice

Tuesday (8/28/2012)
  Breakfast: Pancakes

  Dinner: Spaghetti w/ homemade sauce, French Bread (makes 2 loaves)

Wednesday (8/29/2012)
  Breakfast: Grits, cheese fruit

  Dinner: Crockpot Roast, potatoes, carrots, green beans French Bread 2nd loaf

Thursday (8/30/2012)
  Breakfast: Cereal

  Dinner: Chicken marsala, Mac n cheese, Spinach

Friday (8/31/2012)
  Breakfast: Sausauge Biscuits

  Dinner: Hot dogs, sausage dogs, sauerkraut, tots

Saturday (9/1/2012)
  Dinner: Hamburger steak, rice/gravy, Mustard greens, Salad, homemade bread

Sunday (9/2/2012)
  Dinner: Cheesy Potato soup, Ham steaks, Field Peas

Menu Plan Monday~

Here is what is on our menu this week

Monday - Grilled Chicken, rice and gravy, green beans, Homemade Yeast Rolls
Tuesday - Spaghetti, homemade French Bread
Wednesday - Church
Thursday - Tacos
Friday- Sausage, Mac n cheese, peas, homemade bread
Saturday - Shrimp Scamp,Homemade Garlic Yeast Roll
Sunday - Ribeye Steaks, baked potatoes, corn on the cob

If I am not in the mood for something I will switch up the day that I make it... point is, I have a plan and have the ingredients to make everything.  This saves me time, money, and stress! In a pinch I usually can always make grilled cheese and tomato soup or throw together a tuna fish casserole :-)

Do you meal plan?  If not I encourage you to do so... Really does take the stress of "what's for dinner?" out of my day!


For more Menu Planning Ideas:

Menu Plan Monday, My Weeks Worth!

I generally make my menu for a month at a time.  I do my grocery shopping by the month also....  I usually shop between the 10th and 15th of each month... I know I am weird LOL... It works for my family of 5 though!  I try to limit eating out to once a week... Usually this is on Sunday after church.  I stock freezer, pantry and produce/dairy all in my monthly trip.  Then usually 2 weeks later I stock milk/produce again... and dire necessities that can't wait for the next monthly trip.   I love to bake breads of all sorts.... and usually bake it 3-4x's per week in some manner :) More on my shopping habits later though LOL.

Monday - Sausage, Field Peas, Cheesy Potato Soup, Homemade Yeast Rolls
Tuesday - Spaghetti, homemade French Bread
Wednesday - Church
Thursday - Stew
Friday- Hamburgers, french fries
Saturday - Cheesy BBQ Chicken w/ Bacon, Broccoli, rice
Sunday - Dinner: Fettuccine Alfredo w/ chicken, homemade garlic bread

Here is a fun little dessert to make with the kids too: 

Cake Batter Waffle Sundaes

A little behind my methods of Meal planning....
With 3 kids, 2 of which are in school (1st and 4th grade) I try to keep school nights simple and quick because our nights are usually hectically filled with homework, baths, showers, bedtime... Well, it can get crazy without a plan!  One thing I found that helped me from getting overwhelmed when I began menu planning was assigning "spaghetti night"... For a while it was every Monday... then I got all crazy and switched it to Tuesdays :)  Sometimes I do spaghetti with meatballs, sometimes it is spaghetti with meat sauce, sometimes it is spaghetti with marinara sauce :)  I also try to do something in the crockpot once a week, and rotate chicken, beef, etc etc.  And if I am not in the mood for something I will switch up the day that I make it... point is, I have a plan and have the ingredients to make everything.  This saves me time, money, and stress!

Do you meal plan?  If not I encourage you to do so... Really does take the stress of "what's for dinner?" out of my day!


For more Menu Planning Ideas:

My Little ChalkBoard Easel I made

Here is one of my recent woodworking projects I did.  I was itching to get back into woodworking.... and a little intimidated by the miter saw that was sitting in the garage.  One day I saw some old wood laying the the yard... Actually they were the stakes I used in my garden last summer.  The kids had been playing with them... they were wet, dirty... really almost threw them out... Started looking them over and envisioned a chalk board I could write my menu on.... Originally I was thinking something I could place on my small buffet table in my breakfast nook... After taking some measurements of what I had on hand I thought I would go bigger to place on the floor or even use for outdoor parties down the road.  I love cooking, and just thought it would be a cute piece to have... Something just for me!

A quick call to my husband that went a little something like this... "hey, how do i use the miter saw?"  He was a little leary to say the least.  He told me to hold my wood firm, wear eye protection, and be CAREFUL!  uh ok honey lol :)

This is about 30 inches high... I built the frame for each side and then used some scrap 1/4" wood I had as well ( I painted those with black chalkboard paint) I used a black wood stain I had leftover from another project and then coated it with some poly.  I used 2 hinges on the top and twine with 2 eye screws to secure it from flopping on the floor.

~My little Chalkboard Easel~

I just love how it turned out!  Now when the kids ask what is for dinner I can just point :)  and as a bonus I can use both sides :)   I am linking up to a great Link Party.  Lots of great home organizing ideas for you to browse... Can't wait to see more ideas!

Cheesy Potato Soup

6 tbs margarine (divided... will use 3 tbs first... then the other 3 tbs melted)
1 cup onion diced
1 tsp garlic powder
6-8 whole potatoes peeled and cubed
2 1/2 cups milk
3 Tbs flour
8 oz cheddar cheese (or parmesan) grated
Parsley (optional)
salt to taste
pepper to taste

This soup is great by itself, but also a nice way to use up leftovers as stir-ins. I have added ham, broccoli, chicken, peas, and bacon to make this a very versatile freezer staple.


Melt first 3 tbs margarine in a large pot. Add onions, cooking until soft. Add potatoes and enough water to barely cover. Cook, covered, until potatoes are tender (15 - 20 minutes).  Do not drain!  Slightly mash the potatoes, then add milk.

In a small bowl, combine 3 tbs melted margarine & flour mixture, then add to pot, stir over low heat and cook until thickened... Add cheese, and stir until smooth. Heat, but do not boil. Add garlic, parsley and salt and pepper to taste.  If you have add in's be sure to add those too.  My favorite is crisp bacon and green onions on top!

To Freeze: Allow soup to cool, and ladle into 1 gallon freezer bag. Lay flat to freeze. Or Freeze in containers as well.

To serve: Reheat in microwave or over low heat on the stovetop, stirring constantly to keep from burning. Add in any additional ingredients and heat through.