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mummytothree
07-15-2009, 02:41 PM
OK ladies I just got done with my monthly menu and I know that we all love this subject, so share your's here. You might give someone some new ides or you just might inspire someone to start their own weekly/bi-weekly/monthly menu!! Everyone loves to be orginized and save money!!!

Mine is full of a lot more "quick" meals then usual but man I'm getting big and by the time it come to getting dinner ready I am WHOOPED!!! Plus we don't have AC (only in the bedrooms) so it's to dang hot to turn on a oven....so it's grilling and stove top meals for us this month (and probably next month too!!! :D) with lots of frozen veggies and green salads!!!

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e119/mummytothree/monthly-menu-web.jpg

Here are my recipes!!

1. Pasta Carbonara
Ingredients:

* 2-1/2 cups uncooked mostaccioli
* 8 bacon strips, diced
* 1 jar (4-1/2 ounces) whole mushrooms, drained
* 3/4 cup half-and-half cream
* 1/3 cup butter, cubed
* 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
* 1 teaspoon minced garlic
* 6 to 8 drops hot pepper sauce
* 1/2 teaspoon salt, optional
* 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
* 1/4 cup sliced green onions

Directions:
Cook mostaccioli according to package directions.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels to drain. Brown mushrooms in drippings; remove to paper towels. Drain drippings from pan.
Add the cream, butter, parsley, garlic, pepper sauce and salt if desired to the skillet; cook and stir over medium heat until butter is melted. Drain mostaccioli; add to cream mixture. Stir in the bacon, mushrooms and cheese; heat through. Remove from the heat. Sprinkle with green onions. Yield: 4 servings.

2. Mac & Cheese
Velveeta Macaroni and Cheese
16*ounces macaroni*(uncooked)
1/2*cup margarine*or butter
1/2*cup all-purpose flour
4*cups milk
14*ounces Velveeta cheese, cut into chunks
salt and pepper
8*slices Velveeta cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook macaroni according to directions and drain.
Melt margarine in a large saucepan.
Add flour and whisk together.
Whisk in milk and cook over medium heat until mixture starts to bubble and thickens.
Stir constantly.
Add chunks of Velveeta and allow to melt.
Salt and pepper to taste.
Pour macaroni into a 13x9 oblong baking dish.
Pour sauce over macaroni.
Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, then put extra slices of cheese on top.
Bake for another 5 minutes until cheese melts.
Allow to cool for a few minutes, then serve.

3. Spicy Skillet Chicken (http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/spicy-skillet-chicken)

4. Zesty Tacos
Ingredients:

* 1 pound ground beef
* 1 cup water
* 1 envelope taco seasoning
* 8 taco shells
* 1 can (15-1/2 ounces) black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
* 1 cup chopped tomatoes
* 1 cup shredded lettuce
* 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
* 1/2 cup zesty Italian salad dressing

Directions:
In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat for 5-6 minutes or until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in water and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 4-5 minutes or until thickened.
Meanwhile, prepare taco shells according to package directions. Stir peas into skillet; heat through. Spoon 1/4 cup beef mixture into each taco shell. Top with tomatoes, lettuce and cheese. Drizzle with salad dressing. Yield: 8 servings.

5.Teriyaki & Ginger Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients:

* 1/2 cup reduced-sodium teriyaki sauce
* 1/3 cup olive oil
* 4 teaspoons brown sugar
* 2 pork tenderloins (1 pound each)
* 2 teaspoons minced fresh gingerroot
* 3/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions:
In a small bowl, whisk the teriyaki sauce, oil and brown sugar. Pour 1/2 cup marinade into a large resealable plastic bag; add the pork, ginger and pepper. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 4 hours. Cover and refrigerate remaining marinade.
Coat grill rack with cooking spray before starting the grill. Prepare grill for indirect heat. Drain and discard marinade. Grill pork, covered, over indirect medium-hot heat for 25-35 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 160°. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with reserved marinade. Yield: 5 servings.

6. BBQ Chicken Pizza (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/BBQ-Chicken-Pizza-II/Detail.aspx)

7. Chicken Parmesan Pasta Salad (http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/chicken-parmesan-pasta-salad)

8. Southwest Chicken Skillet (http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/southwest-chicken-skillet)

9. Club Pasta Salad (http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/club-pasta-salad)

10. Tasty Tuna Burgers (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Tasty-Tuna-Burgers/Detail.aspx)

11. Kielbasa Bow Tie Skillet
Ingredients:

* 8 ounces uncooked bow tie pasta
* 1 pound smoked kielbasa or smoked Polish sausage, cut into 1/4-inch slices
* 1 jar (4-1/2 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained
* 2 teaspoons minced garlic
* 2 tablespoons butter
* 1 tablespoon cornstarch
* 1-1/2 cups milk
* 1-1/2 cups fresh or frozen snow peas
* 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute the sausage, mushrooms and garlic in butter.
Combine cornstarch and milk until smooth; gradually add to the skillet. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Drain pasta; add to sausage mixture. Stir in the peas and cheese; cook until cheese is melted. Yield: 4 servings.

LeeAndra
07-15-2009, 02:48 PM
I totally thought for, like, 3.7 seconds, 'Why are they eating scrapbook pages for dinner some of the time?!' Ha ha. Then I figured out it was LeftOvers, not LayOuts.

Do I scrap too much or what?! :p

nikkiARNGwife
07-15-2009, 02:55 PM
I do mine weekly and even have to plan out the sides and desserts...yes I'm a tad OCD. I usually just have a generic template that I fill in in EXCEL but I decided to get creative...

https://www.sweetshoppecommunity.com/gallery/data/500/MEAL_PLAN_JULY_13-19.jpg (https://www.sweetshoppecommunity.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=97165&ppuser=1012)

I cook a lot. I enjoy it though so that's why such a full menu most days. I keep everything in a 3 ring binder..so like I print out my weekly menu and then behind that in my binder are my recipes labeled by day and my shopping list.

Serendipity
07-15-2009, 02:58 PM
My gosh that's so cute.

nesser1981
07-15-2009, 03:39 PM
No menus for me at the moment since my MIL is doing all the cooking, but there are tons of recipes on my blog, all tried and yummy!

lizzyfizzy
07-15-2009, 04:35 PM
wow. you ladies are organized. i am so last minute. i loathe cooking.

MamaK
07-15-2009, 04:41 PM
nothing cute on the pc but I do have a hybrid menu that I laminated and use a dry erase pen on, on the fridge.

(today) Wed = crock-pot beef stroganoff
Thurs = corned beef hash & eggs
Fri = dine out with family
Sat/Sun = weekend at my parents so no plans yet
Mon = BBQ chicken
Tues = Frito Casserole
Wed = baked potatoes
Thurs = spaghetti
Fri = dine out with family
Sat/Sun = family visiting for dd/dh's bday's so something to feed a crowd, prolly BBQ tri-tip and pasta.

MissKim
07-15-2009, 04:49 PM
Mine for July:
http://misskim.typepad.com/photos/web_hosting/julymenuplan.jpg

And my list of meals I know my family will eat, which I plan to print and keep handy so I can easily make meals. Then again, I haven't figured out how to easily add new recipes as we try them....

http://misskim.typepad.com/photos/web_hosting/triedandtrue.jpg

melmos75
07-15-2009, 05:01 PM
Wow!! You ladies can come and cook at my house anyday!! I totally need to get organized like this.

My night goes something like this:
Get off work, run around town picking up the 3 boys, rush to get to baseball practice/game, finally get home, dig through the pantry for something that I can throw in the microwave/oven, get kids bathed, settled down and in bed, collapse...and then stay up way too late scrapping!!

jessica31876
07-15-2009, 05:40 PM
LOL yep me too!!I totally thought for, like, 3.7 seconds, 'Why are they eating scrapbook pages for dinner some of the time?!' Ha ha. Then I figured out it was LeftOvers, not LayOuts.

Do I scrap too much or what?! :p

Sharon Kay
07-16-2009, 12:43 AM
I totally thought for, like, 3.7 seconds, 'Why are they eating scrapbook pages for dinner some of the time?!' Ha ha. Then I figured out it was LeftOvers, not LayOuts.

Do I scrap too much or what?! :p

ROTFLMTEO me too! Me too! Course I am in a "Benadryl haze" and that's my excuse (itching like crazy today...took a dose and took a 5 hour nap)...

I can't believe people plan a month in advance...I have troubles with a week...I'll get things planned and then not be in the mood for it...we wing it most days.

4noisyboys
07-16-2009, 12:48 AM
These are freakin amazing!!! Seriously. I hate to cook (hmmm...I think I did a layout called that!). We've survived though...a lot of grilling, pizza, salads, eating out, etc...I hate to shop too...so I just go to Costco or Trader Joes and get what looks good!

These look so cool though, that I might just have to try it out for fun! (I don't really have to make it all...just make the cute layout!)

RatherBScrappin
07-16-2009, 01:08 AM
Y'all are so organized! I am very organized in most aspects of my life, but meal planning is not one of them! I envy those who can do it. We fend for ourselves for at least 3 days a week because of our schedules, but I do try and cook a couple times during the week. Those layouts of your menus are so stinkin' cute!!

Tomorrow I'm gone, so Bob (dh) will do his own thing and then he's going to Boy Scout Day camp (but staying over night Fri and Sat) so it will be fend for myself weekend. I'll be out of town on Saturday, so I'll eat out that day. My son is staying down at the Boy Scout camp he works at this weekend, so I'll just feed myself.

rach3975
07-16-2009, 01:10 AM
I am seriously impressed, both by the amount of cooking and the beautiful menus! I hate to cook, so every time I cook I make enough for 2 meals and we eat it twice that week. Cooking wouldn't be so bad if everyone here was less picky, but there are so few meals that everyone will eat. This is what I'm thinking for next week.

Mon--baked ziti, bread, mixed veggies, fruit
Tues--meat (DH's choice since he cooks it)/veggie burgers, potato casserole, mixed veggies, fruit
Wed--baked ziti, fresh veggies with spinach artichoke dip, fruit
Thurs--meat/vegetarian 'chicken', fresh veggies with spinach artichoke dip, potato casserole, fruit
Fri--chicken nuggets, fries, fruit
Sat--dinner out
Sun--breakfast for dinner, probably scrambled eggs and pancakes or French toast with meatless bacon

nikkiARNGwife
07-16-2009, 08:16 AM
I think it was just the way I was raised out here in the country lol and you know I stay at home and my kids are both still really small so we aren't running from one activity to another just yet...so things may change cooking wise when that starts happening..lol oh and when I did work..i didn't plan..it was just whatever I could come up with that day or back then before kids we ate out a lot lol.

MissKim
07-16-2009, 08:25 AM
Leftovers? What are those? My son is 15 and I could never plan to eat leftovers. :) If we have them, it's just a tiny bit that he ends up eating before the night is over. The boy will seriously eat dinner, and 15 minutes later, he's making a sandwich. He just eats and eats and eats.

I do leave some flexibility in my menu. For example, I had cheese enchiladas planned for Tuesday, but it was so stinking hot here that I didn't want to turn on the oven. So I made Thursday's dinner and we'll have the enchiladas tonight (it's cooler now).

I need to do a month at a time or we get in a rut of having the same thing over and over again. We buy groceries every 2 weeks because my husband gets paid every 2, and if I do a month at a time, I know we won't end up having spaghetti 3 times that month.

nikkiARNGwife
07-16-2009, 08:32 AM
I only plan a week at a time...it makes it easier to go through my old menus and swap them up throughout the month kwim?

Jenn Barrette
07-16-2009, 08:36 AM
Thank you for sharing your menus! Elizabeth, thanks for sharing your recipes too, I totally added the BBQ Chicken Pizza recipe to my list :)

mummytothree
07-16-2009, 09:04 AM
well I do a month at a time because I only shope once a month!!! It's tough being 8 months pregnant and dragging 4 kids shopping.....I only wanna do it ONCE!!! :D Also we get alot of bulk stuff at sam's club and that's over an hour away......When I go it's an all day event because we hit the nice mall and target too.......man I am DRAGGING when i get home from there!! Then the next day I finish up at Wal Mart here in our town...that's a good 2 hours there!!!

We do hit the local grocery store every 7 to 10 days for milk, fresh fruit and bread, but it's usually the hwole family and it's only a 10 minute trip or my DH picks the stuff up on the way home from work!!!

There is plenty of flexibility in my men too...since I have everything already in the house to prepare I can always (and often do) switch around meals if things come up or if we get rain and don't feel like grilling out!!

I'm alot like Nikki....this is how I was raised...we had 8 people in my family growing up and you just can't "wing" 3 meals a day with that many people :D Heck I can't imagine winging it with 6!!! Alsp with 6 people it's hard to say....let's just go out.....when we go out it costs a FORTUNE!!! Like $70 plus tip.........I just can't see wasting that much money!!!! We can't even do fast food for less then $36 bucks!!!! :blink:

Plus I'm so proud and happy that we sit down every night as a family to eat!!! :wub: It wn't be like that in a couple years and I want to do it as much a s possible now that we can!!!!!

And ladies.....I'm loving your LO menus!!! Seeriously CUTE!!!! :wub:

MissKim
07-16-2009, 10:09 AM
when we go out it costs a FORTUNE!!! Like $70 plus tip.........I just can't see wasting that much money!!!! We can't even do fast food for less then $36 bucks!!!! :blink:

Yes, my two oldest are now teens and don't eat off the kids' menu. That's something you don't think about until you get the bill at Applebee's and it's $70 because you have 4 adult meals and 4 adult drinks with 1 kids meal where kids' drinks are free. We now drink water and get meals to go and eat them at home. I find if I plan meals and have the stuff at home, it's so much easier to just stay home and cook. Especially now that my kids are taking an interest in cooking.

robinforman
07-16-2009, 10:21 AM
I only plan a week at a time...


I do one week at a time, too. We eat a TON of fresh produce, so I shop each week, and we just plan a certain number of meals (based on schedules) and then choose each morning what we will be having, depending on what sounds good on that particular day.

digideb
07-16-2009, 10:25 AM
I used to be really good at making a menu. But, haven't lately. I need to b/c we actually spend less money when we know what we're buying instead of just getting what looks good for the meals. We eat out occasionally, but not too often. It get ridiculously expensive! When we do, we usually get one water & one coke (or tea), a cheaper appetizer & one meal and just share it all. Makes it much cheaper! We can usually get out of there for about $20 instead of $30!
I've got to get back to making a menu though. maybe I'll try scrapping a page and laminating it & doing it like a dry erase board. Maybe that will motivate me. lol

MamaBee
07-16-2009, 10:41 AM
Elizabeth... thank you so much for posting this... and really a huge thank you for the recipes!!! I'm so inspired to really try menu planning! I just cleaned out the fridge of all the food that had good intentions, but never made it to the table. I'm so sick of wasting food!!! :thumbdown:

stayawake
07-17-2009, 09:31 AM
I only do one week at a time - and we buy groceries about every week and a half.
This next week I've planned

- mooshu pork with manadarine pancake wraps and springrolls (frozen)
- chicken cesear salad with fresh baked cheese bread
- cheese stuffed tortellini bake with veggies and dip / salad
- chicken and broccoli and fusilli alfredo
- Hamburgers/Hotdogs salad and chips
- pad thai OR Peanut chicken stirfry

I love making foods from different cultures, unfortunetly my kids have a limited tolerance for them, so I can do something 'interesting' about twice a week. :) I love making my own potstickers, mooshu pork, stir fries, stuff like that. I really hate casseroles, but have them sometimes because my husband loves them.