How did it get to be October all ready? ARGH! Time is flying by. Before you know, it’s going to be Christmas!! Last month I tried my hand at planning out my menu for the entire month at once. It worked out all right. I guess I made about 75% of my meal ideas – which is about all I make any given week anyway. I really liked the way planning the entire month at a time allowed me to shop in a more organized manner at the beginning of the month. I enjoyed staying out of grocery stores, for the most part, and think it may have saved me a bit of money in the long run. That’s always nice!
I decided that I would plan October all at once, too. But, I’m organizing it a bit differently – on Pinterest! We’re pretty busy this month with a weekend trip to Missouri for my 20th high school reunion and also a 4 day business trip for my husband and I. I’ve been busy pinning meals to my October Meals Board and I plan to use it each week to come up with my weekly game plan. I also have 8 or so meals in my freezer from my September meal exchange to work in to the mix too.
So here’s my plan for this week:
Breakfasts ~
- Homemade freezer waffles
- Refrigerator Oatmeal - a new recipe I’m trying out this month
- Egg Sandwiches
- German Pancakes
- Apple/Pear Scones {from freezer packets}
- Apple Muffins
Lunches ~
- Homemade cheesy noodles
- Leftovers
- Bean Burritos with Homemade Refried Beans in Under 10 Minutes
- PB & J
- Grilled Cheese
Suppers ~
{from my Pinterest Board}
- Homemade Rotisserie Chicken
- Sausage Potato & Kale Soup
- Homemade Fried Catfish
- Crispy Chicken Tortilla Rollups & Spicy Avocado
- Meal from my freezer exchange group {crockpot BBQ Chicken}
- Eggs N’ Hash
- Homemade Pizza
I’ll also be making salsa and homemade 5 grain bread this week as well. And if I can motivate, I’ll make grape jelly, too!
What are you eating this week? And what’s your favorite way to meal plan? How far in advance can you handle??
Linking up: MPM;
About Michelle
Welcome! I'm Michelle and I'm glad you're here. Simplify, Live, Love is a blog about simple life in rural Iowa. We are a self-employed, frugal, green, mostly homeschooling family of 6 working to go off the grid on a modern day homestead in Eastern Iowa. Please subscribe for gardening tips, green living hints, recipes, fun giveaways, and frugal ideas. Thanks for stopping by.
I always plan at least a week’s worth of meals, but sometimes I will plan a month’s worth and a couple of times I’ve even done three months worth when our freezer was fully stocked. I usually only plan the main dish and a starchy side dish, leaving the fruit and veggie decisions for closer to serving time. As long as I know that nothing is set in stone and that I can switch meals around or omit them entirely, I do ok with that kind of advance planning.
This week I’m cooking a half ham, so we’ll be having a lot ham based meals until it’s gone. I might throw in a chicken dish, though, just to change things up.
I love hams!! I have one in my freezer – I’ve been waiting for cooler weather and it’s here. Can’t wait to bust that thing out of the freezer. November!
Michelle – I love the new look!!! And the picture of you – gorgeous!! Just seeing the words “homemade fried catfish” made my stomach growl. Now I need to go get some catfish!
It’s the recipe from your blog that I’m making, MJ!! Can’t wait. We’re having it tomorrow.
Pinterest! What a good idea! I’m on there all the time anyway. I think that will help me, thank you.
Pinterest is very useful sometimes…
Good luck1