i’ve had a few friends recently tell me they’ve started meal-planning recently. YAY! i used to meal-plan for a month-ahead, and did so for several years. only in 2010 have i changed to a weekly-planning mode, and it’s been a lot less stressful for me. sunday afternoon/evening, i get to sit down with my laptop, browse through magazines, blogs, old menus i’ve planned and plan out our week’s meals. this week, i’ve decided to include breakfast. because boxed cereal is a HUGE expense, and the boys can very easily be addicted to it (even though i’m THAT kind of mom that doesn’t buy sugar cereal…or even brand-name cereal!). lunch is pretty standard: sandwiches, fruit, crackers, yogurt, cheese, etc). i find a two-hour slot on monday to go shopping by myself and we’re set for a week – fresh fruits and vegetables, and no need to get back out to the store for a whole week. this way, i can keep track of our budget as well. it’s just EASIER.
so…on to the week’s menu:
Monday
Breakfast: oatmeal, toast, vitamin drink (emergenC – the kids love it)
Dinner: Oven BBQ chicken, Ginger Mashed Sweet Potatoes, lima beans (we are an anomaly…the boys adore lima beans.)
Tuesday
Breakfast: Banana Coconut Bread, warmed homemade applesauce (made in the crockpot, overnight)
Dinner: Classic Shepherd’s Pie, Big ol’ tossed salad
Wednesday
Breakfast: Malt-O-Meal, orange slices, peanut butter-on-toast
Dinner: Sweet and Sour meatballs over rice, steamed broccoli
Thursday
Breakfast: homemade granola (my sister-in-law’s recipe), fruit smoothies
Dinner: Sloppy Cornbread, big ol’ salad
Friday
Breakfast: Fluffy baked doughnuts (without the glaze), apples
Dinner: OUT!
Saturday
Breakfast: Daddy’s famous pancake breakfast
Dinner: Leftovers
Sunday
Breakfast: English Muffin toast with jam, honey, or butter, oranges
Dinner: Superbowl get-together…chili, kielbasa and brownie pie
If JB ever comes home regularly for dinner, I will so weekly menu plan!
I am FREAKING OUT EXCITED over the Sloppy Cornbread!!! Bless you for the link – I CANNOT WAIT to make it! If I didn’t already have my black beans & yellow rice going for tonight, I would be ALL OVER it NOW!!! Mmmmmm!
Can I request the recipe for your SILs granola? I love that stuff and always trying new recps for it.
i’ll post it soon, reynie!
sues – if you haven’t made the sloppy cornbread yet i have two suggestions: DON’T double the recipe for cornbread – it overtook the 9×13 pan! i would actually double the meat batch and use a regular cornbread recipe. if you don’t have whole wheat flour, dont’ fret – all purpose works just fine.
Love this!
How’s that applesauce recipe? Sounds divine to me. Please share if you’re willing.
I love getting a glimpse of your life through your blog and FB! What a lovely family you have.
Brenna
brenna! good to see you here.
the applesauce recipe is SO easy. i use macintosh apples (they break down so easily and are naturally sweet so i don’t have to add much (or any) sweetener:
1 bag of macintosh apples (peeled, and cubed into 1″ pieces)
cinnamon
some water
sugar (to taste)
put apples into a pot over medium-high heat. add a bit of water and begin to mash with a fork as the apples start to break down. this should take about 15 minutes. add cinnamon and sugar at the end of cooking time and let cool on stovetop (off of the heat).
we like to eat it warm and if we want it warm for breakfast, you can just throw the water and apples into a crockpot before you go to bed, set it on low and in the morning stir in the cinnamon and sugar.
REALLY good on thick slices of bread.
Hooray! I’m so excited, I finally did an entire month of menu planning. I’m hoping to revolutionize breakfast too, that is phase II though
Baby steps…