Monday, January 2, 2012

Happy New Year

How's that new year going for you? At our house a new year means Jason getting all giddy and excited about making 1.27 million goals, rehashing the budget 3.7 billion times (until it's just right...down to the penny), and desperately trying to get his wife (that would be me) to join in on the "fun." Not that I don't like goals. I do. I just bristle at all the goals people make every new year that last about half a week. Why make 'em if you're not really committed. So I don't make them unless I am REALLY committed, and even then I usually don't share them. Call me private. :) And, actually, this year Jason's excitement has rubbed off a bit. I am excited to get back on track. And one track that I have been derailed of is menu planning and financial budgeting (is there another kind?). And in thinking about it, the two directly correlate. If I plan my menu for the week then I can get by with far less grocery store visits and thus spend less grocery money and gas money. So I am re-dedicated to planning my menu. So, I will share my menu with you for the week, BUT I am going to ask you to share your favorite recipe with me. What's your one go-to meal? What's your family-favorite? I want more ideas. My goal is to not only plan my menu but then actually keep a running log of what we really do eat. Then I will have ideas and reality to look at for future use. So here's my menu. If you want any recipes let me know and I'll see if I can round some up for you.

Monday: Sour Cream Enchiladas with broccolli
Tuesday: Potato Soup with peas and toast
Wednesday: Tacos with green beans
Thursday: Simple Sandwiches with mandarine oranges
Friday: Dinner with a friend
Saturday: Rice Pudding/Rice and peaches
Sunday: Poppyseed Chicken and green beans

I even worked my way through some coupons and developed a grocery list. Somebody hose me down cuz I AM ON FIRE!

Oh, and here's a recipe I want to try...

Chicken Noodle Casserole

2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
1 C. sour cream (8 oz.)
3 C. cooked fettuccine noodles
3-4 C. cooked cubed chicken
Stove Top Stuffing mix- Chicken Flavor
¾ cube butter or margarine
2 C. chicken broth or bouillon cubes

Mix first soup and sour cream together in a 9x13” pan. Stir in cooked noodles and chicken. Sprinkle Stove top stuffing mix over top (bread and seasoning). Pour melted butter and chicken broth over top of stuffing mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Now don't forget to leave me some ideas!

5 comments:

colds1 said...

I love your menus! I put mine up at Bloggest Loser ... with links to the recipes. There you go. :)

Nicole said...

When I do my grocery/menu list, I do it for two weeks at a time. I plan out fourteen meals, and figure out what I have, and what I need. I also take my list to my "food storage area" and see what I am running low on. I make a note of certain things and watch for the sale prices and then stock up. This year I am going to try using coupons a lot more, but with a new baby, my time for grocery shopping is very limited. Also I let the kids pick (from my list of course) what's for dinner as well. They seem to eat better when it's their choice. Also my main goal this year, is to lose the baby weight!!! I will send you some meal ideas, but don't get to excited, we are pretty lame!!! Love and Miss you all!!

Nancy Mc said...

I like the menu idea. I don't use one though. When the kids wereyounger, I had a list of about 30 meals that we used most often. I have the ingredients for these meals most of the time. I buy whats on sale each week, and make my grocery list by what is on sale. I think deciding early in the day what the night meal will be is the way to go.
My go to meal: Rice, browned hamburger, corn and ketchup. YUMMY a family favoite.

Unknown said...

Our go to meal is pancakes or spaghetti. I do it from a mix or scratch depending on if I need to use up milk. And I love spaghetti. I never get tired of it. We also do German Pancakes. Nothing too exciting here.

German Pancakes
Preheat oven to 450 and melt 1/2 stick of butter in 9X 13 pan
Beat 6 eggs till frothy and lemon like. Add 1 cup milk, 1 cup of flour and 1 tsp of salt. Mix. Pour over melted butter and bake for 15 min. Serve warm with syrup.

Darwin, Jen, Jensyn, Hurley, Violet, and Daphne said...

I love breakfast burritos.