June 2014 menu

It's that time of the month when I start to plan my menu for the next month! I feel like it takes the same amount of time as it would to plan one weeks worth! I feel that way because I am a lot less picky about what I want to eat for an entire month than what I want for that week.

These are my lovely cookbooks I took to Florida (I probably left 20 behind! I'm a little obsessed with them!!)

I start my writing out all the days on a piece of notebook paper because I cross it off after I make it. Next, I fill in every Friday with Homemade Pizza. My family loves pizza and I think it's cheaper to make it than to order out. Adam loves pepperoni pizza but Nataleigh loves ham & pineapple so I can't get away with just a Hot & Ready because someone won't be happy. So when I make it I do half of what each child likes (the hubs & I both love their choice of pizza). 

I fill in all of the Saturdays with Eating Out because that is my day off from cooking. Granted sometimes we switch days if my hubby wants to eat out a different day but for the most part we stick to the menu I plan.

Next is the fun part! I ask my hubby & kids what they want to eat so they get their favorite meals throughout the month! Depending on what they request and how long it takes to make determines what day I put it on. We attend Wednesday night services at church so Wednesdays are always a quick easy meal or even leftovers.

I look in the cupboards and freezer to see what meat and canned goods I have that would go together to make meals then I go through a few of my cook books to see if I have recipes that can use up these ingredients to cut down on my food budget for the month.

As you can see I still have a lot of food left over from my couponing days! (Just so you know I haven't coupon r&d in a year now!)

Here is my plan for the month:

Sun 6/1 BLT's

Mon 6/2 Chicken Stir-fry

Tues 6/3 Veal Parm, bread sticks, & salad

Wed 6/4 Ham broccoli rice casserole

Thur 6/5 Leftovers (flying to MI today!!)

Fri 6/6  Eat at Grandma's house

Sat 6/7 Parents Annual Fish Fry

Sun 6/8 Supper with Buchinger's/Kelly's 

Mon 6/9 Eat with family (undecided)

Tues 6/10 Crock pot Chicken Enchiladas

http://www.allyou.com/food/international-food-crock-pot/enchilada-casserole

Wed 6/11 Crock pot Mac N' Cheese

Thur 6/12 Breakfast- Pancakes, sausage & fruit

Fri 6/13 Homemade Pizza

Sat 6/14 Eat Out

Sun 6/15 Chicken Potpie
http://www.progresso.com/recipes/easy-weeknight-chicken-pot-pie/5930cdd8-c66e-4c6a-96f3-db38b28751c5

Mon 6/16 Black bean or Turkey Burgers, corn on the cob, salad

Tues 6/17 Chicken Pasta Sauté

Wed 6/18 Crock pot BBQ boneless ribs, sweet potatoes, salad

Thur 6/19 Meatloaf, mashed potatoes & gravy, corn, salad

Fri 6/20 Homemade Pizza

Sat 6/21 Eat Out

Sun 6/22 Breakfast- Waffles, bacon & fruit

Mon 6/23 Meximelt Casserole

Tues 6/24 Sausage Eggplant Stew
http://www.allyou.com/food/one-list-five-meals/simple-dinner-recipes-0/sausage-eggplant-stew

Wed 6/25 Stuffed Shells
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/spinach-stuffed-shells-50400000134927/

Thur 6/26 Chicken Fricassee

Fri 6/27 Homemade Pizza

Sat 6/28 Eat Out

Sun 6/29 Pasta w/ Beans, Turkey, & Cheese
http://www.allyou.com/food/family-meals/easy-dinner-ideas/pasta-beans-cheese

Mon 6/30 Tomato-Garlic Shrimp over Creamy Corn
http://www.publix.com/aprons/meals/MainDish/SimpleMeal.do?mealId=9449&mealGroupId=1080

So there you have it!  I will post a weekly grocery list and the recipes in future posts to come!  This is one of my favorite things to do in life.  Making meals for my lovely family!

That's all for now! Till next time,  Emileigh