October ended so I took down the meal plan that was on the fridge. Behind it was November’s, as well as a shopping list for the whole month! That was easy. As I am getting the beginnings of a cold and have little energy, this was a good thing for the week as well.
While we won’t follow it to a ‘T’ most of the meals will be used as planned.
Below is a list of all meals, as well as those for just this week. It is always interesting to see how it works out.
This past month included several new-to-us recipes. The Cottage Cheese Pancakes with Oats and Flax (pictured above) will be a repeat, but not the Cookies-n-Cream Cake nor the Hot Cinnamon Apple Smoothie (pictured below). I made the pancakes for George and Jack on a school morning. The recipe made enough for each to have two, with an added side of banana. Both liked them, which is awesome. I tried some also and really enjoyed the texture and flavor, as well as the ease of making them. Not sure what my husband will think, but with all the protein they include and lack of flour, they will be found on the meal plan even if he decides he does not like them. I am not usually one for planning different meals for different people, but this would be a planned exception that I could handle.
Monthly Meal Plan
Breakfast:
- Croissant, eggs, hash browns, fruit
- Shake
- Cereal
- Eggs, Toast, Fruit
- Creamy Oatmeal
- Shakes
- Red Velvet Oatmeal
- Eggs, Toast, Fruit
- Shakes
- Cereal
- Eggs, Toast, Fruit
- Orange Poppy Seed Pancakes
- Shakes
- Coconut Oatmeal
- Fried Pancakes with Maple Cream Syrup
- Basic Crepes
- Cereal
- Eggs, Toast, Fruit
- Sausage-Bell pepper Baked Eggs with Gouda Cheese
- Shakes
- Coconut Rice Pudding
- TBD
- Strawberry-Jam Hand Pies
- Cereal
- Eggs, Toast, Fruit
- Peaches and Cream Oatmeal
- THANKSGIVING – visiting family
- THANKSGIVING – visiting family
- THANKSGIVING – visiting family
- THANKSGIVING – visiting family
Lunches:
- Eat Out (was not on the plan, but this is actually what happened – a big late breakfast and a filling late lunch meant we actually skipped supper this day)
- Eat Out
- Steak, potatoes, beets
- Sweet-and-Tangy Roasted Pork Tenderloin
- Salad
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- Salad
- Leftovers
- Eat out
- Salad
- Super fast Salisbury Steak, mashed potatoes, vegetables
- Pizza
- Chili
- Pot Roast with Bacon and Vegetables
- Spicy Pan-Fried Steak with noodles
- Eat Out
- Minute Steak
- Herb Crusted Pork Chops, fried potatoes, vegetables
- Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
- Grilled Spiced Pork Patties with Greens
- Pulled Pork Sandwich
- Grilled Peaches and Pork
- Eat Out
- Salad
- Salad
- Pizza
- THANKSGIVING – visiting family
- THANKSGIVING – visiting family
- THANKSGIVING – visiting family
- THANKSGIVING – visiting family
Supper:
- (skipped, see note for lunch)
- Leftovers
- Macaroni and Cheese with hot dogs
- Sandwiches
- Soft Tacos
- Herb Crusted Pork Chops
- Hot Rice Cereal with Nuts and Raisins
- TBD
- Leftovers
- Slow cooker Lentil and Brown Rice Tacos
- Sandwiches
- Perfect Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffins
- Minute Steak
- Popcorn, nuts and a movie
- Pulled Pork Egg Rolls
- Leftovers
- Basic Crepes
- Falafels, fresh vegetables over couscous
- Hot Dogs
- Sandwiches
- Special Night – eat out
- TBD
- Leftovers
- Basic Crepes
- Sandwiches
- Traveling
- THANKSGIVING – visiting family
- THANKSGIVING – visiting family
- THANKSGIVING – visiting family
- THANKSGIVING – visiting family
Wow, now that was enlightening. I can already see a few things that will need to be adjusted along the way.
- At the time of making this month’s meal plan, I had assumed my husband would be gone to class his normal two nights a week. I was informed last week that this next class will actually be one where they will not have a class, but will be working on a project and can meet online as needed. I had planned meals on those nights, where he would be gone, which he does not like but the rest of us do. Those will need to be changed.
- As I was typing it up I had the thought of there being too many “Sandwich” nights for suppers, as my husband usually grabs a sandwich on the night of class. I almost changed them, then realized if he is not going to class he will not be eating sandwiches those nights. Guess it all kind of balanced out.
- Our seemingly endless cereal stash has finally come to an end (6 months after not buying cereal). And there is great rejoicing from George and Jack. While we like cereal, we do not like it for every breakfast or even several times a week. Once is okay, more if we really like the cereal. These past few months I had increased us to having it for breakfast twice a week, in hope of using up the cereals that were past their “Best By” dates. Several days found protests happening at the table. Glad we are past that stage.
Late last night a friend stopped by with several pounds of lettuce. “We had too much at a church event earlier this week and was wondering if you all would want or could use this. We have been eating on more of it at home for the past few days and just can not use this up before it goes bad. I knew you guys at lettuce, so …?”
Okay, change of plans. We are not eating the Bacon Butternut Squash Quiche I originally had written down for supper tonight. Instead, I am going to use the taco shells in the pantry, browned ground beef in the freezer, cheese, tomato, onions and some of this lettuce to make Wednesday’s supper and move that supper to tonight. That was a meal my husband does not like (mac-n-cheese and hot dogs) but he likes tacos, so a win-win situation. I also see us having side salads with most meals this week.
Breakfast
- Shake
- Cereal
- Eggs, Toast, Fruit
- Creamy Oatmeal
- Shakes
- Red Velvet Oatmeal
- Eggs, Toast, Fruit
Lunch
- Eat Out
- Steak, potatoes, beets (another meal change from the original copy as I am fighting a cold and this is an easy meal)
- Sweet-and-Tangy Roasted Pork Tenderloin
- Salad
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- Salad
- Leftovers
Supper
- Leftovers
- Macaroni and Cheese with hot dogs
- Sandwiches
- Soft Tacos
- Herb Crusted Pork Chops
- Hot Rice Cereal with Nuts and Raisins
- TBD
I completely decimated my budget goal (yet again) for last month. A lot of … no, I’ll just be honest and say that I did not keep good track and spent without checking how I was doing or prioritizing. I am a bit leary of going all cash. I have thought about keeping a tally in my wallet, but think I would lose it.
Maybe I should just bite the bullet, and go cash for the month. With the home remodel to begin, this is not the time to be shopping just because I’m nervous. Anyone else find themselves doing that?
UPDATE: I have decided to take the leap and just do it this month. It will not be perfect, may even be a bit messy, but everyone has to start somewhere when they try something new. Right?
I never thought I was one of ‘those women’ who shopped as a way to deal with emotions, and normally I’m not. However, there are times I find myself bargain shopping (looking to see what I can find for free or cheap – groceries, books, gifts, samples, etc.) in order to avoid facing a seemingly daunting task in front of me.
The thing is, the daunting task/issue is still there when I get back, only I now have less time to deal with it. Once I realized what I was doing, it was easier to see it and call myself on it. While I do not always listen to myself, I do correct my actions faster than I used to. This week, my goal is to focus on the house and only do basic shopping. Yesterday I used four coupons that were set to expire. I stuck to my list and was in and out in just a few minutes (my husband stayed in the car with the kids, which also helped). There may be a few more items to pick up in Small town this week, but there should not be a large shopping trip. In all, it should all come out to under $20.
Linked up with OrgJunkie.
For more ideas also check out This Week For Dinner.
Also check out Confessions of a Homeschooler’s November’s Monthly Meal Plan.
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