Menu Plan Monday 4/20/09

I can hardly believe it's time to post monthly menus again! Where did the last month go?!?
This way of planning is working well for us. I've saved my menus as an Excel spreadsheet, so planning is getting easier. At the end of the month, I've been making notes about things we liked, things we didn't, ideas for future menus, etc. This month, I really wanted to try using our crock pot more often. We have a couple of busy days each week that make dinner time a bit tough to coordinate. I did some research and found four new recipes that look like winners! I'll let you know how they taste:)

Breakfasts (4/18-5/15)
Saturdays: Cereal and Donuts
Sundays: Eggs and Toast, Pancakes, Out of Town, Omelets and Fruit
Mondays: Oatmeal, Yogurt, Fruit
Tuesdays: Pancakes, Sausage, Fruit
Wednesdays: Oatmeal, Fruit
Thursdays: Cereal, Yogurt, Fruit
Fridays: French Toast, Fruit

Lunches (4/18-5/15)
Saturdays: Bday Party, Leftover Sandwiches, Out of Town, Turkey Sandwiches
Sundays: Out to Eat:)
Mondays: Grilled Cheese, Fruit, Veggies
Tuesdays: PBJ, Veggies, Fruit
Wednesdays: Out:)
Thursdays: Hot Dogs, Veggies, Fruit
Fridays: Leftovers

Dinners
Saturdays--Grill Night, Side--Salad and Potatoes
4/18 BBQ Chicken
4/25 Steak
5/2 Out of Town
5/9 Pork Chops

Sundays--Leftovers

Mondays--Mexican, Side--Corn
4/20 Tacos
4/27 Steak Fajitas, Corn Cakes
5/4 Enchiladas and Quesadillas
5/11 Tacos

Tuesdays--Meatless, Side--Salad
4/21 Baked Mac N Cheese
4/28 Spaghetti, Garlic Bread
5/5 Potato-Bean Soup
5/12 Baked Mac N Cheese

Wednesdays--Crock Pot, Side--Green Beans
4/22 Asian Lemon Chicken
4/29 Horino Psito (Slow Roasted Pork)
5/6 Chicken with Cranberries
5/13 Italian Chicken with Potatoes

Thursdays--Stir Fry/Pizza, Side--Rice/Salad
4/23 Pizza
4/30 Chicken with Peppers and Pineapple
5/7 Chinese Take-Out
5/14 Pizza

Fridays--Soup and Sandwich, Side--Veggies, Fruit, Pretzels
4/24 Big Sandwich, Ramen Noodles
5/1 Out of Town
5/8 Leftover Potato-Bean Soup, Cornbread
5/15 Chicken Noodles Soup, PBJ and Grilled Cheese

A friend asked me why we eat out so often...I had to giggle because we really used to eat out a lot more! Poor planning was usually the culprit. That or a certain someone with pregnancy related cravings...Anyway, we really enjoy eating out with friends after church on Sundays or even just as a family. It's nice to continue the fellowship from the church building to the community. On Wednesdays, the girls have piano lessons in the morning and I usually run errands for the week. It's a good day to pick up Happy Meals or the like. We tend to bring them home and have a carpet picnic together. Lastly, it helps to go ahead and plan when we are going to eat out, rather than let it happen haphazardly. We budget for those times and then enjoy the activity, instead of eating out as a result of poor planning and then blowing our budget for the month. God has really blessed us with the resources to enjoy modest meals out on the town and I enjoy the break from kitchen duties.
Happy menu planning to you all!