Menu Makeover Results

So you may all be delighted to learn that my menu plan makeover WORKED!  I loved having a list of meals that I could make that I HAD the ingredients for. You can check out my original post about it hereThe meals list was nice for me to also use it to give J some options to select from.  While we deviated from it somewhat, it was a great resource.  I made notes for myself on whether or not we liked a recipe and I could see based on the dates if it had been a while or too recently that we’d had something similar.  But I’m also including the info below regarding when we actually ate the meal or if we didn’t (in red).  I added things that we ate that I didn’t plan for in blue.

Don’t be too aghast about the number of fast food outings.  That is pretty atypical.  J treats us every now with his lesson money when he can see the desperate look in my eyes, which apparently, he must have seen a lot this month. 🙂

Using the ingredients that are remaining and my inspiration for Nov, I’m hoping to create another similar list for November. Do you want me to share? Does anyone else have any menu planning genius that you can share to help me as I sit down with my calendar and my cookbooks for this month?

Here are the results from the makeover . . .

  • Slow Cooker (Often Tues since that is a day that I am gone a lot and have no energy to cook)
    • BBQ Turkey Meatballs (AYR)
    • Bratwurst w/ Sauerkraut and Apples (AYR) 10/12
    • Chili
    • Meatloaf 10-23

  • Seafood –Mostly on Wednesdays?(I get my seafood at ALDI b/c it is such great prices)
    • Tilapia (ALDI $3.99 for 1.5 lbs!!)
    • Shrimp Scampi (ALDI $4.49 for lb e-z peel!!)
    • Salmon w/ Rice (ALDI $3.99 lb) 10-5
    • Mrs. Paul’s w/ Tater Tots (This will double on Easy Prep) 10-14
  • Easy Prep/ Kid Friendly–Mostly Monday b/c J has lessons and is gone thru dinner hour.
    • Mrs. Paul’s w/ Tater Tots 10-14
    • Mac n Cheese and Hot Dogs 10-21
    • Stouffers Chicken Dinner 10-20
    • Hamburger or Chicken Helpers (I have SCADS of these from HT Super Doubles)9-29
    • Bean and Cheese Quesadilla (also Vegetarian) 10-19
    • Frozen Pizza 10-17, 10-24
    • Stromboli (Pillsbury pizza crust w/ pepperoni, cheese, dip in the sauce–or ham and cheese, dip in honey mustard) 10-7

  • Mostly Vegetarian
    • Penne w/ Broccoli and Chickpeas (AYR) 10-1
    • Spinach Salad w/ Figs and Warm Bacon Vinegrette
    • Butternut Squash Soup and Tossed Salad 9-28
    • Black Bean and cheese Quesadillas 10-19
    • Stirfry Veggies over Rice 10-11
    • Pumpkin Soup w/ Spicy pumpkin seeds (AYR)
  • Fancy Pants (will require a bit more prep)
    • London Broil w/ Garlicky sweet Potatoes (AYR on the potatoes)10-4
    • Bacon and Sage Wrapped Chicken Breasts (AYR)
    • GOING OUT w/ NO KIDS for our 8th anniversary Woo-hooo! 10-9
    • Pasta w/ Italian Sausage
    • Chicken Pot pie or shepherds pie 10-15
  • Silly Supper/ Breakfast (Shouldn’t every meal be breakfast? I think so.)
    • Western Frittata (AYR) 10-8
    • Raised Waffles w/ Sausage
    • Awesome Oatmeal (my specialty)
  • Other things we had that weren’t on my original list . . .
  • 9/27 Canned Beef and Potato Soup w/ Oyster Crackers
  • 9/30 Burger King
  • 10/1 Pigs in a Blanket w/ Tator Tots
  • 10/2 McDonalds Lunch. Cereal Dinner
  • 10/6 Spaghetti Pie
  • 10/13 Spaghetti
  • 10/10 Cereal
  • 10/23 Subway

3 thoughts on “Menu Makeover Results

  1. you ate out 3 times in a month? I think that compared to most americans this is PRETTY GOOD! we don’t eat out that much in France, but I totally think you are doing pretty well! Great job on the menus. I am going to be stealing some ideas…

  2. Hey – this is the best way I have ever seen the menu laid out… Maybe this was how you displayed it last time, but I like the idea of having categories of meal types to choose from. Hmmm, maybe I will do a meal plan for the first time ever in the month of November. Katrina, You’re the meaning in my life
    You’re the inspiration
    You bring feeling to my life
    You’re the inspiration
    Wanna have you near me
    I wanna have you hear me saying
    “No one needs you more than I need you”
    (No one needs you more than I)

    🙂 *anyone that DIDN’T just hear Peter Cetera in their mind should ignore the above stanza*

Comments are closed.