Menu planning makes my life sane. I do it by the month instead of the week because that allows me to pick up non-perishable items all at once at the beginning of the month and only take short trips for fresh veggies and dairy later. Menu planning is something I don’t really enjoy, so I prefer to get it over with early and enjoy the fruits all month.
Cajun Shrimp with sweet peppers, onions and baby spinach
I’m off to print my menu and get started. Care to join me? I could use some inspiration this month. What’s on your menu?
P.S. It’s not too late to grab your copy of How to Have a Grocery Shrink Christmas. It’s only $4 through Friday and lots of recipes are also appropriate for the Thanksgiving table. You’ll learn how to make bread stuffing, sour cream and chive mashed potatoes, and herb roasted turkey, all without commercial mixes!
it is almost Nov. , isn’t it? thanks for the reminder
I got this book over the weekend and it is AMAZING!!!! thanks so much for the tips, tricks and saving ideas. A tip that I have used for many years for holiday cookies. make dough in advance and spread flat in a gallon size ziploc freezer bag, and freeze. when it is time to bake, just pull out and cut (just like the ones in the grocery store) you can cook as many as you need at that time. This is great for all kinds of cookies, mix several different batches at once and the mess and clean up is done. Instant cookies in a pinch.
I really dislike menu planning myself. I am working to do it consistently on a weekly basis. Perhaps one day I will get to monthly menu planning like you! I’m returning to some cool weather favorites this week like Beef Stroganoff in a slow cooker, chicken tortilla soup and sausage and lentil soup. Yesterday was unusually warm so we just grilled chicken and had veggies and long grain & wild rice on the side. It was just too hot to even think about sausage and lentil soup!
I’m wondering how you menu plan monthly. I only get store ads that are good for a week at a time. How do you know what will be on sale?