Dine and Dish

Food blog with family recipes

Menu Planning Monday

Remember when I wrote out some of my goals for 2007? The very first thing on my list was to create a menu plan twice aaastuffedpepper003.jpg month. Well, the first half of January was great. I made the plan, followed it with very little deviation, and I felt great. We saved money, ate out less, and I had a plan. For some reason, the second half of the month didn’t go quite as well. I planned last week, but it was very haphazard.

So,  here I am again… the first part of February and I need to do my plan. I sat down on Friday with some of my favorite cookbooks/magazines/websites and made my menu plan for the first half of the month. As much as I’d love to just sit here and eat the double chocolate layer cake all month long, I know menu planning is the only way for me to stay on track.

If you feel like making your menu plan a part of your 2007, head over to the I’m An Organizing Junkie blog and join in on Menu Planning Monday’s. They say there is strength in numbers!

Here we go:

  • February 3rd – Spaghetti and Meatballs
  • February 4th – Southwest Stuffed Peppers (see picture)
  • February 5th – Chicken Noodle Soup with crusty bread
  • February 6th – Ginger’s Enchiladas
  • February 7th – Fiesta Chicken Pasta
  • February 8th – Italian beef with Spaghetti
  • February 9th – Pizza
  • February 10th – Tilapia with Lots of Spice
  • February 11th – Zesty Chicken and Rice
  • February 12th – Tacos
  • February 13th – Spiced Beef Patties with Cous Cous
  • February 14th – Chicken with Garlic Sauce
  • February 15th – Chili
  • February 16th – Easy Salmon Supper 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Elizabeth says

    Yay Kristen.I have tried numerous times to keep to a menu,but It fails all the time. I see something on a blog or magazine or online and all menus are forgotten! But I will say that when I do keep to a menu,I spend less money at the grocery store and my stress level is a bit less because I know what I am making for dinner! Good luck!

  6. Jenifer says

    I need to do this for Brian and I. It’s expensive to eat out every meal in a big city. Also, now I have access to everything a girl with a kitchen and a will to cook could want. I just need to know how to get motivated and also, I always want to plan out EVERYTHING…sides and deserts (if we have one). Any tips on how you make up your dinner plan, let me know. PS…Making the white bean chili this week!

  7. suzy says

    maybe it’s just me, but the thought of planning on mondays sends shivers of fear through me. it’s probably because monday is go-back-to-work day for me, and therefore evil, and organizing is a little scary too. i do plan ahead for the weeks tho — i just do it on friday, and then shop on saturday & cook saturday and sunday. kudos to you for planning a whole half-month in advance! that will be, maybe, next year’s resolution…

  8. Misslionheart says

    Very tasty looking menu!
    I too have found that planning ahead and a leftover night keeps food in the fridge to a minimum, lowers the food bill and doesn’t ‘wreck my head’ every night wondering what to make for four children and a very hungry Hubby! Over the last few weeks, my food bill has lowered by 20 euro a week! I won’t change a thing!

    Thanks for calling in and have a great week..

  9. Kirsten says

    You are so organized! Good for you.

    I really like menu planning, but being a single girl, I can never tell just when I’ll be home for dinner or when I’ll be working late, or throwing back martinis with girlfriends or enjoying steak and wine at my boyfriends house, so I think it will be a few years, but I’ll be back to join you in menu planning! 🙂

    Kirsten

  11. Karen says

    Hi Kristen-

    I just tagged you for a meme and read your recent post featuring green peppers! You’ll have to read my five to know what I mean…

  13. Lydia says

    An ambitious (and delicious) plan! I find that my plans work better when I back up dishes that use common ingredients. Roast a chicken one night, make enchiladas the next night. After two nights, I don’t want to eat the same food and I’m ready for a change.

  17. veron says

    Oh my, I am impressed! I couldn’t really plan pass Monday. I’m checking out that Organize Junkie blog you mentioned.

  20. Luv2cook says

    Hey thanks for visiting my blog :). I love the way you are creating menu plans. I can hardly do it for more than a week..even then I deviate too much…

  22. Jill says

    Your menu looks really good! I love the stuffed peppers, but my kids (ok, and my husband!) cannot stand them. How do you make your Tuscan Chicken, that sounds great!