The most important system for the smooth running of this house is my weekly menu. If I don’t have it in place, it seems like everything else falls apart. It takes a little time to plan out but when I do it saves me so much time, and money and stress in so many ways. I thought maybe I’d try to post ours every week (if you don’t make fun of my really simple, sometimes lame, and repetitious meals) and that will hold me accountable also.
My menus are always subject to change and substitutions depending on what the week throws at me.
Sunday
Tomato Tortellini Soup (new recipe I’m trying)
Snack- Soft Pretzels
Monday
Salad
Tuesday
Chili (I serve this with tortilla chips and top with cheese and sour cream)
Wednesday
Buffalo Chicken Bites (in this
cook book I bought myself for Christmas, can’t find the recipe on line yet)
Baked Potatoes
Eight Layer Dip (Pioneer Woman again)
Thursday
Spicy Roast Beef (a slow cooker recipe from this
book)
Green Beans
Friday
Pizza Night
Saturday
(Don’t know plans yet.)
Extra Snacks For The Week:
Hummus and Pita Chips
Thank you so much for this! I love to see what other families have for dinner! I get into such a rut with our weekly meals! Thank you, and Happy New Year!
I live by a weekly menu! And like you, I find that if I don't…everything else falls apart!
I plan my menu and grocery list on Thursday, and shop on Friday. Or talk my hubby into doing it on Saturday. My Peyton loves to help me. : )
I love knowing when I need to defrost meat, or start a crockpot meal.
Thanks for sharing!
Oh this makes my home and week (and brain) run smoother too! Thanks for sharing! I got the new Pioneer Woman cookbook for Christmas too and cannot wait to try some of her recipes! Buffalo chicken bites are on my menu for this week too! 🙂
Thanks for doing this!!! I totally need this because I get paralyzed with indecision. Silly, I know. So this is awesome for me. Thanks!!
I sat down last night and planned my menu for the upcoming week. It can be challenging to come up with new menus every week but boy does it save me a lot of stress for the rest of the week ! Looking forward to getting some new ideas from you .
YUMMY! Does Janey eat all of this too? My 2 year old is still not eating our dinners all the time.
The recipes sound amazing. I always plan ahead, for the same reasons!
I have started using my crock pot more often, making some great meals.
I totally agree! If I dont have a menu in place for at least Monday thru Thursday my days are disaster! It just becomes like I fell in a black hole and cant get out! Staying on top of a menu plan and laundry are a must for me or it all goes south and I get short and snappy…not good! Your menu sounds yummy Sarah, I might try your chicken noodle casserole! Especially since hot meals are a must in this part of the U.S.!! Snow Snow Snow and then its supposed to get really cold!! Thanks for sharing!
I would love to see your menus! Don't be embarrassed if you post simple meals; sometimes I forget about the simple recipe-less dinner ideas and get overwhelmed by complicated meal plans. Then I remember that my mom's weekly dinners usually included things like roasted chicken, meatloaf, spaghetti, etc. It's nice to try new recipes every once in a while, but keeping it simple is great when you're cooking every night!
I love it! I am the same way. If I don't plan my meals, this place goes downhill fast!
I seem to never be able to plan for more than 3 days in advance. A whole week seems like such a gamble to me! Whew! I do have aspirations though!
Thank you for doing this! I am in a bit of a dinner rut and would love to see your ideas. 🙂
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Yes! Definitely share. I'm just now coming around to the realization of how much stress an unplanned dinner causes to the whole house.
I'm actually doing the same thing on my blog, and usually link to your recipies (this week we are doing your Dinner Roll Pizzas). Thanks so much for sharing this, menu planning is such an important routine for my family as well! Enjoy your week 🙂
http://queenofallwildthings.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the menu plan! This is on my to-do list for today so I think I'm just going to steal yours! I try to menu plan for two weeks at a time and do a big grocery shopping trip at Winco, followed by a smaller trip for milk, bread, fruit after one week at a closer grocery store. When I do it that way, life is smooth. When I don't, things get a little harried and we're eating cereal for dinner. 🙂
Oh I love that you are doing this! It's something I really need to get better at. Thanks for keeping it real, too.
I just made these potatoes tonight and I couldn't stop eating them… thanks a lot, friend! 😉 But they were delicious. We had them with Trader Joes turkey meatloaf and steamed veggies. It was good and easy… my favorite kind of meal.
I'm so happy you're going to do this! I need all the help I can get!
Sarah! I've had such a fun night catching up on your blog. That picture of Janey on your bed is pure heaven. One to frame for sure! What a doll. I'm so glad you are posting your weekly menu! I have GOT to grow up and start this. Real meals for the family. I struggle so much with this. Kenny is always home late, kids are picky and it's way too easy to just fix them all mac-n-cheese all week! I'm so happy for you that you are in a good place with blogging too (that was SUCH a good post btw). Thrilled you didn't throw in the towel because if you would have shortly after I would have followed you. You are far too talented to stop. I know you are going to write a series of books someday that become wildly famous. And I will feel so lucky to have my own signed copies. 🙂 Hoping 2014 is less stressful for both of us! Love you sweet friend. xx
I already your blog and would love to see a weekly menu plan!!
Meal planning is essential- especially with a mess of boys to feed! I blogged about the exact same thing today. (Though I'm sure you'll think my way is ridiculously obsessive compulsive!)
Sarah
http://stayathometerritory.blogspot.com
Thank you for doing this! I struggle in this area and would love to see what someone else does as an example!
Love this! Ideas are always appreciated and so is the time it takes to share them:)
This is perfect timing! I am vowing to start doing menu plans each week but I'm sick of everything I usually make and need ideas. Thank you!!! was the soup good? Thinking of trying it.
Man I have wondered how & what you feed your family (with all those boys!). I feel like I cook tons just for my 1 little boy & husband! 🙂
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Sarah, it makes me SO happy that you will be posting your weekly menus. 🙂 I also try to make menus each week…it makes everything so much less stressful. Somehow…I put it off so many weeks. I am totally back on track and I can't wait to see what you post too…repetitions and all. I love that we are all going through the same thing. 😉
p.s. Janey is SO cute. That sleeping pic in your last post! Good gracious – adorable! 🙂
We tried the Tomato Tortellini Soup last night and it was fabulous! Thanks for posting!