Time to Make a Plan

I'm always comforted by having a weekly dinner-menu plan in my back pocket.  Even if I change my mind about what we're eating, or the order in which we eat it, it's good to know what's in the plan and that we have the ingredients in the house to make those dishes.

That said, I haven't had a menu plan in four weeks.  Four weeks ago today, I was in the hospital for major surgery.  Thanks to my hardworking family and many wonderful friends and relatives, I haven't had to worry too much about dinner.  I can cook it again, as long as someone else retrieves ingredients or equipment that is stored below waist level (it's also easier if someone else does the oven work.  I'm not bending too comfortably just yet.)  But it's lovely to be able to cook again.

Yesterday, Middle Sister asked if her friend could come over for dinner tonight.  Not a problem.  This morning I texted her while she was on the school bus to ask if her friend was, indeed, coming--just so I could get a head count for dinner.  When she answered "yes," I replied, "Any requests?"

"Food."

Maybe that's a compliment to my cooking (does it all really taste so good that you're happy for whatever I serve you?)--but in some ways, it's frustrating.  Food is a big part of how I love my family.  I enjoy making dinners that they like to eat.  And sometimes I'd like to know what they'd like to eat.

Remember, you have ONE MORE DAY to enter the Sweet Eats cookbook giveaway!

Dinner Tonight

Because it feels like spring, we're cooking chicken on the grill!  Here's the whole lineup:

Appetizer:  Pepperoni Bread (one with pepperoni, one with sauteed onions, peppers, cheese and sauce)

Best Barbecued Chicken

Orzo with Garlic and Onions

Sauteed Asparagus

Honey Butter Dinner Rolls

and cupcakes for dessert!

What's for Dinner? January 2012

My New Year's Cooking Resolution is to better incorporate fresh vegetables into our meals.  I have a new Pampered Chef steamer which I plan to use for broccoli, green beans and other vegetables.  Microwavable "steam fresh" veggies are great and I will be using those on crazy days, but I'd like us to eat more fresh food when we can.

January's meal-planning challenge around here is the theatre.  Little Brother's acting in a play that opens the last weekend of this month, so there's a full week of every-night rehearsals, plus Sunday-afternoon rehearsals, to work around.  In addition, there are Middle Sister's track meets, and one week left of feeding Big Brother well so that the dorm food is extra-yucky by comparison (hey, a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do.)

I didn't plan meals for next weekend, which is our wedding anniversary and Big Brother's birthday.  Otherwise, this plan was based on the reality that is our schedule for this month.

Sunday 1:  Gumbo and biscuits (the gumbo was delicious but never thickened up...the next day I cooked it 2 more hours with some pearl barley and wound up with fantastic chicken-barley soup)

Monday 2:  Spaghetti, Olive-Garden breadsticks

Tuesday 3:  Homemade Chipotle with crockpot chipotle beef

Wednesday 4:  Beef paysanne with noodles

Thursday 5:  Rosemary-balsamic chicken

Friday 6:  sick day

Saturday 7:  Pizza at Grandma's

Sunday 8:  Cilantro-Lime chicken drumsticks, rice, green beans

Monday 9:  Italian veal stew with penne and breadsticks

Tuesday 10:  Enchiladas, hash-brown casserole

Wednesday 11:  Spaghetti (time to make a big new batch!)

Thursday 12:  Pho and vegetable dumplings (I have to search for a recipe for the Pho, and the dumplings are frozen)

Friday 13:  Happy Anniversary to us!  (We'd better not be eating at home!)  Takeout for the kids.

Saturday 14:  Big Brother's birthday is tomorrow but we'll probably celebrate as a family tonight.  He gets to pick what he wants.

Sunday 15:  dinner for 3, working around a late-afternoon rehearsal.  I think it might be a good night for French toast.

Monday 16:  Chicken piccata bites, rice

Tuesday 17:  Tacos

Wednesday 18:  Spaghetti

Thursday 19:  Asian chicken wraps

Friday 20:  Sweet & spicy tilapia

Saturday 21:  Hawaiian chicken

Sunday 22:  Tech rehearsal all afternoon/evening; it's Fend For Yourself day

Monday 23:  Chicken pot pie over biscuits

Tuesday 24:  Southwest chili mac with chicken, corn muffins

Wednesday 25:  Spaghetti

Thursday 26:  Spicy orange chicken, rice

Friday 27:  French bread pizza, salad

Saturday 28:  Copycat Alice Springs Chicken

Sunday 29:  Crockpot BBQ chicken (perfect for an after-matinee dinner!)

Monday 30:  Balsamic chicken with thyme

Tuesday 31:  Fajitas

Organizing the Shopping List

There's something to be said for good old pencil and paper sometimes.  Sure, I've got tech gadgets--and there's an app for just about everything these days.  But my best planning (and meal-planning) tools are my planner, a spiral notebook, a binder clip and a pencil.

I get the planner through Family-Centered Press, and it's got space for everything.  Monthly grid, plenty of weekly space, and even menu or lesson-planning pages (I use the lesson pages for lists and reminders).

I get the spiral notebook at the supermarket during the back-to-school notebook sale.  I haven't had to pay more than 15 cents for a spiral notebook in years.  And I get about a year out of a notebook--doesn't get any more frugal than that!

Last week while I sat at the rehearsal for the play Little Brother is in, I was busy with my calendar, planning out dinner ideas for December.  I needed to work around his rehearsal schedule, his sister's schedule for a different play, Cub Scouts and a couple of church events.  I needed to include meals that were easy to make, and I wanted to make some favorite dinners for Big Brother when he gets home from college in 2 weeks.

So I sat there with my pencil and planner and figured all this out.  And today when I went to the grocery store with my notebook, I wished I'd had that planner with me so I could look for deals on things I'll need to make those meals for the month ahead.

While I stood on the checkout line--of course, the slowest line ever--I figured out a way to bring the menu plan along even if I'd left the planner at home.

I printed out the monthly menu calendar at Canny Women and trimmed it to fit the inside cover of my notebook, then just taped it in.  After that, I penciled in all the dinner choices and even started listing groceries I know I'll need to make those meals--though I've got most of it already in the freezer and pantry.

There's a reason for the pencil--it's erasable!  That's important when things suddenly come up and get in the way of the plan.

I can't forget to bring my menu plan to the store if my shopping list is written in the same notebook.

On the Menu: October 31 - November 12, 2011

Chili Honey Chicken

Here's the almost-two-week dinner plan for early November.

Mon 31:  French bread pizza

Tues 1:  BBQ pork chops in the slow cooker, mac & cheese, broccoli

Wed 2:  Caesar crumb chicken, rice, mixed vegetables

Thurs 3:  Spaghetti

Fri 4:  Pizza

Sat 5:  Chili Honey Chicken, rice, broccoli

Sun 6:  Beef enchiladas (using shredded beef frozen from last week's French Dip), Alfredo noodles, green peas with pearl onions

Mon 7:  Chicken piccata bites, orzo, mixed vegetables

Tues 8:  Pot roast in the slow cooker, potatoes, green beans

Wed 9:  Beef & noodle skillet dinner, corn

Thurs 10:  Spaghetti

Fri 11:  Flounder, potatoes, broccoli

Sat 12:  Chicken pot pie (possibly an "inside-out" version served over biscuits)

Menu Plan October 1-7, 2011

Sat 1:  Honey mustard chicken, hash brown casserole, broccoli, oatmeal bread

Sun 2:  leftovers

Mon 3:  ate at the new Golden Corral buffet

Tues 4:  Chicken piccata

Wed 5:  Spaghetti

Thurs 6:  went to a pasta party for Middle Sister's soccer team

Fri 7:  Crab mac 'n cheese

September 2011 menu

September was a crazy month!  Big Brother was back at school and I was still getting used to cooking for only 4 again.  Both kids are busy with soccer, and they were also both involved in a musical at the community theatre.  It was rare that all 4 of us still at home got to eat all together--and I didn't want to have to resort to dining out too often.  I wound up doing that more than I cared to, but we did manage to eat at home MOST nights.

Thurs 1:  BBQ chicken in the crockpot, potatoes

Fri 2:  pizza

Sat 3:  leftovers

Sun 4:  ate at the diner

Mon 5:  picnic with friends.  We brought Dr. Pepper baked beans and Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes Tues 6:  taco skillet

Wed 7:  Hawaiian Chicken, rice

Thurs 8:  Roast chicken

Fri 9:  Shrimp tacos

Sat 10:  Chicken francese

Sun 11:  potluck at the theatre.  We brought baked ziti with meat.

Mon 12:  BBQ chicken calzones

Tues 13:  Spaghetti

Wed 14:  Beef & noodle skillet

Thurs 15:  ate out

Fri 16:  ate out

Sat 17:  Tandoori chicken

Sun 18:  Spanish rice with pork

Mon 19:  Chili honey chicken

Tues 20:  Roast chicken cooked in gravy over noodles

Wed 21:  Spanish garlic shrimp

Thurs 22:  Chicken Caroline

Fri 23:  Pasta with shrimp marinara

Sat 24:  ate out

Sun 25:  burgers

Mon 26:  honey & garlic chicken

Tues 27:  garlic & cheddar chicken

Wed 28:  spaghetti

Thurs 29:  combo tacos

Fri 30:  French bread pizza

What's Cookin'? Late August 2011

Citrus cilantro chicken legs

It's been a while since I posted a menu plan, so here's the rest of August 2011:

14 - 18 vacation

Friday 19:  Shrimp Scampi with Linguine (this is a great pantry meal!  The frozen shrimp defrost quickly in cold water, and you can peel them in the time it takes to boil water for pasta.)

Saturday 20:  at a family picnic

Sunday 21:  Chili honey chicken, rice

Monday 22:  Citrus cilantro chicken legs

Tuesday 23:  Tacos

Wednesday 24:  Chicken pitas, orzo with garlic

Thursday 25:  Spaghetti

Friday 26:  dinner out for TheDad's birthday

Saturday 27:  Roast chicken, baked potatoes

Sunday 28:  Luau chicken on the grill, corn on the cob

Monday 29:  Southwest chili mac

Tuesday 30:  Spaghetti

Wednesday 31:  Meatball sandwiches

On the Menu: August 1 - 13, 2011

You can tell it's summer around here when in a 2-week period, we have pizza twice and takeout once! Every so often, the cook (that's me!) needs a day off too.

Asian chicken wraps.  YUM!

Mon 1: pizza

Tues 2: Pie pan enchiladas, salad

Wed 3: Roast chicken, rice, broccoli

Thurs 4: Asian chicken wraps, brown rice

Fri 5: takeout

Sat 6: Steak on the grill, crispy smashed potatoes, corn. The potato dish was a new recipe and received a BIG thumbs-up. You get baked-potato flavor, but they're not all dried out.

Sun 7: Tandoori chicken, Alfredo noodles, mixed vegetables

Mon 8: Gyros, pasta salad, cucumbers

Tues 9: Cheddar garlic chicken (now with pictures!), sweet potato fries, broccoli

Wed 10: Spaghetti with meatballs

Thurs 11: Beef noodle skillet, corn

Fri 12: Pizza

Sat 13: Chicken piccata bites, rice, broccoli

Menu Plan end of July 2011

Just catching up...

Mon 25:  Lemon Mushroom Herb Chicken

Tues 26:  Pot roast

Wed 27:  Spaghetti

Thurs 28:  Shrimp Tacos

Fri 29:  ate out

Sat 30:  family picnic

Sun 31:  neighborhood picnic

Menu Plan July 16-24, 2011

Saturday 16: French bread pizza with meatballs

Sunday 17: picnic for our church folk group: burgers, hot dogs, Dr. Pepper baked beans, corn relish, pasta salad, homemade sauerkraut

Monday 18: BBQ chicken in the slow cooker

Tuesday 19: chicken & dumplings

Wednesday 20: spaghetti

Thursday 21: combo tacos

Friday 22: not home

Saturday 23: burgers

Sunday 24: Mexican steak on the grill, Mini Farfalle

Menu Plan first half of July 2011

Is it a menu plan if you post it after the fact?  It's summer, and I've gotten more "fly by night" about menu planning, especially since attendance at dinner is sporadic as far as my 2 teens are concerned.  Very often I wind up changing the plan 3 or 4 times by the time 6:00 rolls around!

FRIDAY 1:   Shrimp scampi with pasta (now with pictures!)

SATURDAY 2:  Grilled chicken

SUNDAY 3:  Waffles

MONDAY 4:  Grilled steak

TUESDAY 5:  Carnitas

WEDNESDAY 6:  Maple-dijon chicken

THURSDAY 7:  Spaghetti

FRIDAY 8:  Homemade pizza (using the same dough as Calzones)

SATURDAY 9:  Burgers

SUNDAY 10:  not home

MONDAY 11:  Chicken piccata bites (now with pictures!)

TUESDAY 12:  not home

WEDNESDAY 13:  Beef noodle skillet

THURSDAY 14:  ate at the diner

FRIDAY 15:  Italian veal stew (now with pictures!)

June 2011 Menu Plan

May 30: Memorial Day: burgers and hot dogs on the grill, pasta salad

May 31: Chicken pitas

June 1: Calzones. I made Buffalo Chicken and Barbecue Chicken with Caramelized Onions. The barbecue was the biggest hit.

June 2: Spaghetti

June 3: Shrimp tacos

June 4: Fajitas

June 5: Hoagies

June 6: Lemon Mushroom Herb Chicken

June 7: Shredded Chicken Tacos (these tasted great--but were very drippy.  I want to find another way to use the meat from this dish.)

June 8: Takeout

June 9: Spaghetti

June 10: Shrimp tacos (again! By popular demand!  Yes, it is that good)

June 11: Not home

June 12: Not home

June 13: Beef Skillet

June 14: Balsamic chicken with thyme (now with picture!)

June 15: Tacos

June 16: Ravioli with marinara

June 17: Carnival

June 18: Chicken on the grill

June 19: Ate out for Father's Day

June 20:  Chicken barley soup

June 21:  Chicken francese

June 22:  Cheesesteak sloppy joes

June 23:  Meatball calzones (using the Once a Month Mom pizza dough)

June 24:  pizza

June 25:  at a family party

June 26:  Chicken piccata bites, farfalle with mixed vegetables

June 27:  ate out

June 28:  Hawaiian chicken, rice, green beans with almonds

June 29: ate out

June 30: Chicken Pitas. I discovered that you can make this in a skillet just as easily as you can on a griddle pan--but any spatters are much better contained. So there were no "grill marks." So what? As soon as you fold the pita, you don't see any grill marks anyway. I'm all about keeping it easy AND delicious.

End of May Meal Plan

This will JUST about get me through the end of the month.

Saturday 21:  We had Chicken Parm planned, but I found a great deal on rib-eye steaks (my husband's other favorite!)  Weather was more favorable for grilling on Saturday than it would be on Sunday, so we had steak on the grill, broccoli and Roasted Potatoes with Old Bay.


Sunday 22:  Chicken Parmesan

Monday 23:  Skillet Turkey & Noodles

Tuesday 24:  sick day!

Wednesday 25:  Slow-cooker BBQ pork chops, brown rice, brussels sprouts

Thursday 26:  Spaghetti & meatballs

Friday 27:  Baked flounder with fresh parsley and lemon, cilantro rice, corn on the cob

Saturday 28:  Luau chicken on the grill, seasoned potatoes in the slow cooker

Sunday 29:  Mexican steak

As for next week, I'm still figuring that out.  The kids and I have rehearsals for 4 nights for a church musical event; Middle Sister has choir events on the 2 nights when we don't have church rehearsals.  I've got to put on my thinking cap and make this all work.

Upcoming Meal Plan: Just Me and the Kids Week

When my husband's on a business trip, some of our regular menu routines change.  They used to change even more, but now his schedule at work has shifted a bit and he misses dinner with the family more often than not these days.  It's not a situation we're thrilled with, but it's the one we live with right now, and I try to make the best of it on the days when he IS able to join us at mealtime by having something he especially likes.

Last night, unfortunately, that didn't work out--and I had to be the gatekeeper over the skillet of Rainbow Stir Fry before the hungry teenagers ate all of Dad's dinner!  (This is such a yummy, quick dish.  I put snow pea pods in it instead of the peas listed in my recipe.  This kind of dish is pretty forgiving that way.)

This week, we'll eat earlier, and a bit differently.  I gave myself one "fast food" night as a break from it all.  We'll see what the kids lobby for that day.

SATURDAY:  TheDad and Little Brother are on a Cub Scout outing.  The rest of us will eat hot dogs or chili with rice (from the freezer) and miscellaneous leftover side dishes.  It's pretty much "Raid the Fridge" night for me and the 2 teenagers.

SUNDAY:  We're going to the diner after church before TheDad leaves on his trip.  Dinner will be Chicken Pitas.

MONDAY:  Pork carnitas, "Chipotle" style.  I've found some copycat recipes for the rice, corn relish, and pinto beans.  If it's a success, I'll post it.

TUESDAY:  Fast-food night.  Halfway point of Mom Flies Solo Week!

WEDNESDAY:  Breakfast for dinner:  French toast, bacon, and fresh fruit.

THURSDAY:  Spaghetti and meatballs.  Of course.  What else would we eat on a Thursday?

FRIDAY:  Cub Scout crossover ceremony and picnic.  Burgers and hot dogs, maybe a giant roaster oven of baked beans if I am so moved, some pasta salad and tossed salad, chips and dessert.  We keep it easy at these events.  I'm still waiting on the number attending so I can get started planning this meal, since the shopping and non-grill cooking/food prep is on me.

SATURDAY:  Chicken parmesan--my husband's favorite dish.

Menu Plan weeks of April 8-14 and 15-21

Not the most inspired menu plan in the world...

FRIDAY 8: pizza

SATURDAY 9: chicken on the grill, pasta salad, vegetables

SUNDAY 10: we went to the diner.

MONDAY 11: Enchiladas

TUESDAY 12: Chinese buffet

WEDNESDAY 13: Skillet Turkey & Noodles

THURSDAY 14: Spaghetti

FRIDAY 15: French toast & fresh fruit

SATURDAY 16: Chicken caroline, potatoes au gratin, steamed broccoli

SUNDAY 17: "fend for yourself"

MONDAY 18: Barbara's Chicken with Paprika Sauce, noodles

TUESDAY 19: pot roast in the crockpot

WEDNESDAY 20: Paula Deen's Sesame Chicken Strips

THURSDAY 21: Spaghetti

Menu Plan week of April 1-7

Friday 1: Crab Mac 'n Cheese

Saturday 2: Leftovers

Sunday 3: Cast party after the school play

Monday 4: Lemon Mushroom Herb Chicken, rice, corn. I did the chicken in bite-size pieces this time and it was fabulous!

Tuesday 5: Skillet Beef & Noodles (we skip the sour cream & lemon in this stroganoff recipe)

Wednesday 6: Pork Roast with Orange Pan Sauce, red potatoes and carrots

Thursday 7: Spaghetti & meatballs

March 2011: A Month of Menus

Tues 1: Skillet Turkey & Noodles

Wed 2:  Roast chicken, potatoes, green beans amandine

Thurs 3:  Chinese roast pork, rice, Asian vegetable blend

Fri 4:  pizza

Sat 5:  birthday party for Little Brother.  Spaghetti & meatballs, rolls, chili (my best batch ever--I used 4 kinds of beans:  pink, red, black and pinto)

Sun 6:  Chicken piccata

Mon 7:  Father Leo's fajitas from the Grace Before Meals cookbook

Tues 8:  Beef paysanne, noodles, broccoli

Wed 9:  tomato soup & grilled cheese sandwiches

Thurs 10:  Spaghetti

Fri 11:  pizza

Sat 12:  corned beef & cabbage at my parents' house

Sun 13:  birthday party for a neighbor

Mon 14:  "Grandpa's Dark Meat Chicken"

Tues 15:  Chicken piccata bites, rice, broccoli

Wed 16:  Corned beef in the slow cooker

Thurs 17:  Spaghetti & meatballs

Fri 18:  pizza

Sat 19:  Mexican lasagna

Sun 20:  takeout

Mon 21:  Leftovers  TECH WEEK:  I'm serving dinner with the other Stage Mothers to the cast, crew and orchestra of the high school play.  Only TheDad and I will be eating at home.

Tues 22:  Dinner at the diner with TheDad.

Wed 23:  Sort-of-Spicy Orange Chicken and Asian Green Beans. Only TheDad and I will be eating at home.

Thurs 24:  BBQ chicken pizza. Only TheDad and I will be eating at home.

Fri 25:  TECH WEEK:  I'm serving dinner with the other Stage Mothers to the cast, crew and orchestra of the high school play.  Dinner out with TheDad afterwards.

Sat 26: Shrimp Scampi with linguine

Sun 27: Tandoori Chicken

Mon 28:  Leftovers! TECH WEEK:  I'm serving dinner with the other Stage Mothers to the cast, crew and orchestra of the high school play.  Only TheDad and I will be eating at home.

Tues 29:  More leftovers! TECH WEEK:  I'm serving dinner with the other Stage Mothers to the cast, crew and orchestra of the high school play.  Only TheDad and I will be eating at home.

Wed 30:  Chicken piccata bites, rice, broccoli

Thurs 31:  Spaghetti & meatballs

Play Time!

It's going to get crazy for the next 6 weeks: it's spring musical time at my daughter's high school. Even though I only have one child in high school, two of my children are participating in the musical. The school is doing The Wizard of Oz, and they've welcomed about 20 elementary-school students to perform as well as the 95 high-school students who are in the play.

My daughter also runs track, so she gets home around 5. She has to be back at school for play practice from 6:30 to 9, along with her little brother. Normally we don't eat dinner much before 6:30 because of my husband's work schedule and long commute.

So we'll have to do some shuffling around here. The slow cooker is going to be my best friend on play-practice nights, and it's a good bet that I'll have to keep a plate of dinner warm for Dad, since the kids have to eat before play practice. It's a good thing that the high school is only 5 minutes away. During Tech Week, the cast and crew arrives at 5 and the Stage Mothers provide dinner for them. I'll be a Stage Mother this year and am looking forward to that.

My reward for spending a chunk of my evenings shuttling my kids back and forth to school is that it's going to be nice and quiet around here for a couple of hours each evening. Ahhhhh!

Menu Plan February 2011

Tuesday 1: Father Leo's fajitas from Grace Before Meals cookbook, tater tots & salad.

Wednesday 2: Melt in your mouth braised & barbecued chicken, Irish potatoes. I'm the only one who seemed to like the potatoes, and I cut the dill about in half. That was a LOT of dill. I liked the method of cooking them, though!

Thursday 3: Spaghetti.

Friday 4: Pizza.

Saturday 5: Swiss Chicken Melt, rice.

SUPER BOWL Sunday 6: Chicken Enchilada Soup with cornbread for dinner. Game snack: Pizza Bites (plain and pepperoni)

Monday 7: Pot roast

Tuesday 8: Skillet Stroganoff

Wednesday 9: Honey garlic chicken with orzo

Thursday 10: Spaghetti

Friday 11: Spicy Citrus Tilapia, roasted potatoes

Saturday 12: Honey pork chops

Sunday 13: we ate out with the kids.

Monday 14: Japanese Hibachi food, at a restaurant for Valentine's Day

Tuesday 15: Chick-Fil-A for a school fund-raiser

Wednesday 16: Back to home-cooked food! I made arroz con pollo. I'll still need to tweak this recipe before I post it--it "needed something."

Thursday 17: Beef paysanne over noodles.

Friday 18: Shrimp Scampi with linguine

Saturday 19: Boy Scout spaghetti dinner

Sunday 20: Lidia's chicken and potatoes

Monday 21:  Italian Veal Stew

Tuesday 22: Chicken Piccata Bites, rice

Wednesday 23: Spaghetti

Thursday 24: Skillet Stroganoff

Friday 25: Baked flounder

Saturday 26: Cub Scout Blue & Gold Dinner

Sunday 27: Roast chicken

Monday 28: Tacos