Dinner Calendar

[Marisa]

Ok, I've done this before and boy, does it make life easier! I got off track but I'd like to start up again.

I'm making a calendar in MSWord that details what we're having for dinner for the next month. Entree, side dish(es) and dessert. Then I make a shopping list by type of item. 1. Staples/long shelf life 2. Weekly items 3. Need Fresh items Then I print out the calendar, lists and all the recipes to post to the fridge. Then our nightly battle of "what to eat" goes away! Plus we can plan our food budget instead of shopping randomly.

So post your dinner suggestions here. If y'all want, I will share the final product too!

[meeg124]

Our lives go so much smoother when I meal plan like that... We don't waste nearly as much food and save a lot of money because we aren't eating out all the time.

[Marisa]

Our lives go so much smoother ...

I know, right?!? EVERY night is like this:

"What do you want to do for dinner?"
"I dunno, what do *you* want to do?"
"I dunno, did you take something out of the freezer?"
"No, I forgot/was running late/ran out of XYZ"
"Well, what are we gonna eat?"
"I dunno!"

UGH!

[Lorah]

Some dinner suggestions:
* Pasta
* Meatballs
* Meatloaf
* Mac n Cheese with chicken
* Baked/oven roasted chicken with veggies
* BLT's
* Salads with meat of choice
* BBQ Hanburgers
* BBQ Chicken
* BBQ other
* Breakfast for dinner...i.e. pancakes, waffles, omlets
* nachos
* baked potatoes with meat sauce over it
* fish
* enchilladas
* Tacos
* lasagna
* burritos
* stir fry with or without meat

That's all I've got for suggestions for the moment....I'd love to see the finished product!!! I use to do something similar..I should really start again....I'd probably be able to cut my bill even more!

[TaivensMama]

it's hard for me to plan this stuff, my dh doesn't eat dinner at home as he works at 5pm 5 days a week...Taiven and I rarely eat the same thing...I just get a vareity of things for different moods...lots of veggies and fruits to start with then I go to frozen or canned for the few days before I shop again...I usually go 2 weeks before shopping again...Things like apples last long so I keep those around and I love frozen blue berries and peaches for a nice treat :)

[Lorah]

and frozen grapes!!! LOVE THOSE!

[Marisa]

Ok. But planning aside... what are some of your favorite meals?

IE: Spinach Lasagna
Baby Green Salad w/ Balsamic dressing
Garlic Bread

Pesto Burgers
French Fries
Fruit Salad

[meeg124]

I know, right?!? EVERY night is like this:

"What do you want to do for dinner?"
"I dunno, what do *you* want to do?"
"I dunno, did you take something out of the freezer?"
"No, I forgot/was running late/ran out of XYZ"
"Well, what are we gonna eat?"
"I dunno!"

UGH!

Then ours turns into...

Where do you want to go eat?
I don't know, where do you want to go?
And then Caden yells Chinese :lol

[Lynette]

I know, right?!? EVERY night is like this:

"What do you want to do for dinner?"
"I dunno, what do *you* want to do?"
"I dunno, did you take something out of the freezer?"
"No, I forgot/was running late/ran out of XYZ"
"Well, what are we gonna eat?"
"I dunno!"

UGH!

Hey! Do you have my house bugged?! :lol

[Marisa]

Totally! When we used this menu before, it seriously worked! We didn't have to think about it and whoever got home first could start cookin' cuz the menu was RIGHT there. Plus we were eating healthier more well rounded meals.

[Lynette]

I did something similar when I was on top of my game except only a week at a time because then I could work the sales. I also found if I didn't ask if certain dishes or items were ok I didn't have complete buy in and there was nothing more annoying than making dinner and having someone turn their nose up and decide to eat cereal instead :mad

[jellybeanmichelle]

We plan meals to.
Have you tried spagetti noodles with chilli and cheese?
I thought my hubby was weird for making that, but it actually tastes good.

[Sara]

Our favorites:

Hamburber Pie
Salad

Spaghetti & meatballs (frozen from trader joes-yum)

Swiss Chicken Bake (chicken breasts covered with swiss cheese, cream of chick soup & stuffing, baked, I usually add some frozen veggies)

Patty Melts (hamburgers on rye bread & chedder & sauteed onions)
Salad (we are boreing with veggies)

Chili
Cornbread

BBQ ribs/tri-tip
Corn
bread

[meeg124]

I like to bbq, so anything I can throw on the grill... corn, veggies in a foil packet, mix it up with some food on skewers...

This is my favorite chicken recipe...
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_20898,00.html?rsrc=search

If you have left over chicken or steak... make a ceasar salad the next night and top with the leftover beef or poultry.

I like to make cornish game hens or a baked chicken every once in awhile.

Scott hates this, but I like to have breakfast for dinner...

Stuffed portabella mushrooms.

I love spinach salad every now and then... with mandarin oranges and dried cranberries and bacon crumbled in it.

Sometimes for a sides dishe, I will steam a veggie (like grean beans, brussel sprouts, onions, whatever you think will work) and then I saute in a little bacon fat (just enough to add some flavor) and balsamic vinegar. Throw some almond slices on top.

Caden's favorite request right now is "balls and s'ghetti" :lol I buy the Aidell's pineapple teryiaki turkey meatballs and serve with some pasta. I don't use a sauce but I'm sure it would be fine with a sauce too.

I like to do a serve yourself chef salad bar and a baked potato bar. I put out whatever fixings I think will be good (chopped ham, chicken, olives, cheese, pickles, mushrooms, etc... try to use leftovers for this one too) and everyone helps themselves.

[Tracee]

This is a great idea...I'd love to see the final product! I can't imagine doing a month at a time...I'm more about a few days or a week at a time. But a spreadsheet is a great idea bc then you wouldn't have to manually make lists every time (as long as it created them for you I guess...).

A standby in our home is BBQ chicken with steamed veggies and rice. I love, love brown rice with cranberries, especially with a nice BBQ steak or chicken and some honey spinach salad. Yummy!!

A really good pasta dish is just some rottini with turkey sausage crumbles, sauted mushrooms, onions, garlic, broccoli, and a can of diced tomatoes. Soooo good!

Oh, oh, I also love the Tikka Masala sauce you can get at Costco...just simmer in some chicken and veggies and serve over Basmati rice. Another yummy one.

[Stacey]

I usually do 1-2 weeks out. That's great that you can do a whole month!

Here's a few of what we have on the menu now:

Parmesean Crusted Pork Chops with homemade apple sauce
Turkey Chili with buttery corn bread
Chineese simmered chicken, stir fried asparagus, and steamed rice
Spaghetti, sauteed zucch/onion/mush, garlic bread
Hamburgers and oven fried potatoes
BBQ steak, corn on the cob, spinach salad

hummm...this is making me hungry!

[Marisa]

Thanks guys! Those are some great ideas... I have to get this done in the next couple days since we're running out of groceries. I'll definitely figure out a way to post my calendar to share.

In the mean time... keep 'em coming!

[Tracee]

:bump

How did it turn out? Can we see the finished product?

[Marisa]

As usual I got sidetracked and only completed half of it. It's on my home computer and I'm at work right now so I'll try to remember to post it this weekend. ;)

[Theresa]

Wow. Since we don't eat red meat or pork we end up eating the same things every week. Sure makes it easy, but it's so boring. I always make some veggies and a starch, either pasta or rice. I like the 30min meal idea and all of these take about that, but nothing fancy like Rachel Ray.

turkey spaghetti-stuffed with beans and veggies, salad
salmon
halbut
mahi mahi
shrimp salad
baked chicken
beer can chicken
bbq chicken
turkey meatloaf