Menu Planning

The truth is, I do not enjoy menu planning much at all.  However, I have learned that my week goes much smoother when I do it. 

There are several ways to menu plan.  I'm going to tell you my favorite.  I like to keep it simple and not over plan or be tied to a bunch of recipes.

The first thing I do is to make sure I have plenty of things on hand for breakfast and lunches.  Those meals are not big ordeals and everyone pretty much just makes their own.  So this is just a matter of planning ingredients. 

For breakfast the kids usually like to have cereal or toast.  This means making sure I have the following on hand:

Bread
Butter
Peanut Butter
Cereal (store bought or homemade granola cereal)
Milk

Sometimes we like to change things up a little and have something different.  If I have time I might make muffins ahead of time.  I also usually have eggs since we raise chickens.  I often like to have an egg and toast for breakfast with my coffee. 

For lunches it's a lot of sandwiches or wraps with some fruit or veggies on the side.  Here's a basic idea of what I keep on hand for lunches:

Bread
Lunch Meat
Cheese
Tortillas
Seasonal / Cheap Fruit
Apple Sauce
Carrot Sticks and other veggies

You get the idea.  These are things my kids can put together easily on their own to make a lunch.  The picture above is a simple wrap that came together out of wanting to use up what was in the fridge.  I simply spread a tortilla with some cream cheese, added some shredded cheese, green onion, turkey, and tomato.  It was delicious, fast and simple.  That's my kind of lunch.

Now on to dinner.  These are slightly  more complicated, but I still try to keep it simple.  I don't often plan out each detail of the meal if I'm making separate courses.  I'll plan the meat and then make sure I have options on hand for sides (pasta, rice, potatoes, veggies, etc.)  If I'm roasting a chicken, I don't need to over think what goes with it.  If I make sure I have veggies in the freezer and rice or potatoes in the pantry I know I have options.  I also plan about five meals in a week and figure that there will be a couple days worth of leftovers.  I plan for leftovers so that busy days are easier on us.

Here's an example of my dinner menu planning:

Tacos
Roast Chicken
Chicken Soup (with the leftover chicken)
Meatloaf
Potato Soup and Sandwiches

Now that I have a basic idea of what I want to make, I can plan accordingly.  I try to plan meals based on what I have on hand as much as possible.  That way I have fewer things to purchase at the grocery store. 

What I don't recommend when you start menu planning is going out and finding a bunch of new recipes to try all at once.  Do you really want to be learning to make a brand new thing every night?  If you want to try some new things, choose one a week and pick your slowest night to make it.  Busy nights should be things you are use to making so that you aren't overwhelmed. 

I'm working on coming up with a way to simplify my planning even more.  Maybe a master sheet of menu ideas, or note cards with meals on them.  I'm not sure yet, but I will keep you updated. 

Do you menu plan?  What tips would you give those who want to start? 

Meatloaf

My cousin recently made the comment to me that she needs ideas to stretch her meat bill in a way that isn't just having casseroles for dinner.  As luck would have it, I was dealing with this very dilemma that same night. 

I had one small package of ground meat I needed to stretch into a minimum of six servings.  My solution was meatloaf.  I was able to nearly double what I had with addition of egg, rolled oats, chopped onion and ketchup.  Meatloaf is a "wing-it" kind of meal for me, but here's the basic recipe for those who need it:

To one pound of ground meat (in my case it was goat this time) add:
 1/2 cup rolled oats
1/3 - 1/2 cup ketchup
2 whole eggs
one chopped onion (the size depends on how well you like onion)

For seasonings I added approximately:
1 TBS garlic powder
1 TBS Cumin
1 TBS Paprika
1/4 Cup parsley flakes
2 tsp salt

Mix  it all together well.  I like to use my hands.  It's fast and I get it all incorporated well. 

Press the mixture into a loaf pan, or form into a loaf shape on a cookie sheet.  Top with more ketchup and bake in a 350 degree oven for about an hour.

Here's the thing with meatloaf, you can add more to it if you would like.  In the past I've added shredded carrots and potatoes.  You can use crushed crackers or bread crumbs in place of the oats.  Use different seasonings to get a different flavor.  Use BBQ sauce instead of ketchup (this is actually my preference, but I didn't have any). 

Don't be afraid to try different things and make it your own.  You could also use this mixture to make meatloaf burgers and meatballs. 

That's just one idea for making meat go further.  I have a few others up my sleeve I'll share later on.  And possibly a soup or casserole as  well. 

Need Vs. Want

Not long ago my younger two children were learning about needs and wants in school.  I think this is a good thing for all of us to ponder from time to time.  It's especially important when you are financially strapped and trying to take a hard look at where you can cut expenses.

The last couple of weeks I've been really trying to look at how many things in my life I treat as needs, but really they are only wants.  I've discovered that I'm really good at convincing myself a want is a need if I want it bad enough. 

My new strategy is to ask myself if I really have to have it right now.  Usually the answer is no.  So I wait until the next payday and ask myself again.  I find the longer I wait for most things, the less I really feel I have to have it.

I have to wonder why it is that when I have no money, my desire to impulse buy is so much higher.  My current theory is that it's because I feel deprived and sorry for myself.  Somewhere in the recesses of my mind it's like I'm having a little pity party. 

Of course a person can't be expected to give up everything they want.  We all should have a little something now and then just because it makes us happy.  So now I'm working to prioritize my wants, and those of the rest of my family. 

The key for me here is to remember that just because something seems less important to me, doesn't mean that it is going to be less important to other members of my family.  I need to remember to let them tell me what is most important to them and work out together how to fit those things in.

For example, I don't mind drinking my coffee black.  So when things are tight, I can save a few dollars by cutting my flavored coffee creamer out of the budget.  My husband, however, holds his creamer much higher on his list of priority wants.  So that stays. 

I'm realizing that it's all about perspective and not comparing my situation to others.  Sure, I might want what someone else has.  But I shouldn't feel sorry for myself because they have it and I don't.  I need to focus on my goal and remind myself that even though I can't have everything I want now the pay off in the end will be worth it. 

Every want I pass up now is one step closer to financial security later on.

Grow Something

Yes, I said grow something.  Yes, I'm in the frozen north of Michigan and I'm thinking about growing food.  The truth is, I'm always thinking about what I can grow in my garden.  If only I had the time to grow the garden in my head. 

The thing is, now is the time to start thinking and planning what you want to grow.  And growing things yourself is a great way to trim the grocery budget. 

Even if you live in town, you can grow tomatoes and salad greens easily in containers.  Some varieties of strawberries do great in hanging baskets. 

Or how about Edible Landscaping?  Check out all the books on this subject available at Amazon HERE.

How about some fresh herbs in containers in your kitchen window?  It would be a great way to add a little flavor and flare to your meals.

If you are thinking of growing something, now is the time to figure out what.  Soon it will be time to start your seeds.  If you plan now, you can spread any purchases you need to make out over a few weeks. 

Pick up some soil this week.  Next week get some of those little trays to start your seeds in.  The next week, get some seeds.

Another thing you can do is get creative with seed starting containers.  I dare you to google seed starting.  There are so many ideas out there from making cups out of newspaper to using egg shells. 

Personally, I found that I had a hidden stash of baby socks recently (unmated of course).  I'm going to see how those work for seed starters. 

If you could grow only one thing, what would it be?