Oh hey, it's been a loong time since I posted. I blame it on work :-)
I just finished planning out our menus for November. I like to plan for a month ahead of time because then I can just spend a half hour planning and then do a mega grocery shopping trip. (Usually Aldi for almost everything, then to HyVee for stuff I can't get there) Let's just say the freezer is stuffed when I get home!
I go about every week to HyVee to get things like fruit or milk.
November is a "clean out the freezer" month--so I'll be able to buy some extra baking supplies for the holidays!
To make menu planning as easy and pain free as possible I have a spreadsheet on my computer with the various things I make for dinner and the ingredients I need to buy. It took a while initially, but after that it only takes me about half an hour to plan for the whole month.
I'm really bad about planning side dishes--I like to throw veggies in whatever I'm cooking and have a one dish meal! :-) I also only plan dinners because we usually eat leftovers for lunch or eat at our work cafeterias, and breakfasts we just eat whatever!
So here are the things I'm making by week (or that Mike will be making on weeks where I work evenings):
Chipotle Bean Burritos, Oatmeal Pancakes, Corn Fritters, Dutch Baby
BBQ pork chops, Potato Corn Chowder, Hamburgers and curly fries, Spaghetti Pie, Bacon and egg quesadillas
Hot Wing Soup, Broccoli Cheese and Rice, Chana Masala and rice, Baked French Toast and sausage
BBQ pizza, crock pot potatoes and ham, sausage eggwiches
Spaghetti and garlic bread, Chili dog casserole
This is probably the biggest way I save money and time for our household! Plus I don't like having to think about what's for dinner.
