Comments on: Menu Plan Monday ~Week 5

By: Mike and Amanda

Mike and Amanda — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 06:16:01 +0000

I struggle with the "do I really HAVE to make dinner" blues all the time. I finally decided to include a "leftover" day in my menu plan to give me that break I needed throughout the week!

One thing I have recently tried to get me motivated is themed nights!! So far…so good and my family seems to like it! We have an italian night, a mexican night, pizza night…etc. It is definately keeping me from making the same few dishes over and over!!!

I also like to try making extra of something and planning my menu around those extras. For example…if I am making a roast in the crockpot, I will buy a larger roast and use the extra meat in another meal like tacos or a casserole.

Hopefully that helps a little. Love your blog! Visit me at http://www.mikeandamandascott.blogspot.com

By: JoeinVegas

JoeinVegas — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:00:58 +0000

Yup, do the crock pot thing. Or make casserole type things in aluminum pans, freeze, and put frozen in the oven. You'll have to play with times, but it doesn't add too much more, and you can make several meals on the weekend to have ready done during the week.

By: stash mama

stash mama — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 04:05:48 +0000

Thanks for the birthday wish! Thanks for the follow! I am totally following you back now! I hope you get a chance to check out my Birthday BASH of giveaways at Stash Mama

By: Lolo @ Crazy About My Baybah

Lolo @ Crazy About My Baybah — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:14:56 +0000

What about trying something in the crock pot, or make a large batch of soup.

By: 4stemmes

4stemmes — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:01:03 +0000

Whenever I know that I have to defrost something (meat, especially), I will put it in the fridge the night before. Then, when I get up in the morning to get the kids' milk, I see the meat and put it in the sink. Then it is ready to go when I'm ready to cook dinner!

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:34:48 +0000

Hey there! Okay...couple of ideas...my go-to-in-a-hurry-or-don't-feel-like-cooking-meals: 1) Dinty Moore Beef Stew over Egg Noodles...inexpensive, filling & quick! 2) Chicken Quesadillas...using the Purdue Short-cuts-precooked-chicken.

Do you have a crock-pot? If so, there are so many recipes out there that are inexpensive & again, no fuss! I have one of Sandra Lee's Slow-Cooker cookbooks, and it's really a good one.

Also...Are you a fan of Rachael Ray from Food Network? She does 30-Minute Meals, I have several of her cookbooks! You can also get her recipe's from Food Network website.

Then I found this cookbook: Cooking Light: 5 Ingredients, 15 Minutes over at Amazon.

Plan a soup-and-sandwich night also! Make grilled cheese or tuna melts, BLT's or any kind and serve with tomato or chicken soup....oh, and my family LOVES breakfast for dinner too! Eggs, bacon and pancakes! : )

By: Sippy Cup Mom

Sippy Cup Mom — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:22:49 +0000

That will be a nice grocery trip! ;-)

I need to try that Soda Stream! We spend so much $$$ on soda!

By: Rebekah

Rebekah — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:20:51 +0000

Menu planning is difficult, but it's the only way for me. Otherwise, I feel lost around dinnertime. The night before, I always go over what I need for the next night so if I need to defrost anything, I can make sure that that gets done. After cooking dinner, the last thing I want to do is plan the next night, but it goes much easier if I do.