Ok, ok, I know it's been....like... forever since I've blogged. I have been texted, emailed, called & just generally chewed out for it. I don't really have an excuse other than, I was just plain ole uninspired.
Tonight, though, I am gonna share some very inspiring information about how I do groceries/menus. Wooooo*Hooooo!!!
First of all, let me preface this by stating that I have had (yet again) very few original ideas in this area (as with most areas of my life). There are some wonderful books/blogs on this very topic. I've tried a lot of methods, & this is what is working for us. For now.
My method is this:
1:
I consider our month; when we will be out, special events, church nights & so forth.
2:
We usually have date night several times per month. I don't know when those days will be, so I am very flexible with my menu.
3:
I pull out a couple of my numerous recipe books/magazines/print-outs from Pinterest & choose several new things to try.
4:
Several years ago, I decided to sit down & make a list of everything I make that our family likes. I divided it into sections: Beef, Chicken, Pork, Meatless, Soups, Crockpot, Sides....etc. This is my *Go-To* list to choose from for the month. I update it periodically as we decide that a new thing we've tried is a new family favorite.
5:
Using the menu I have just created, I make my grocery list. I do not buy for the whole month...cause it's sorta a pain. I have done it, though.
What I do, is buy for about 10-14 days at at time. This puts me at the grocery store roughly twice per month.
I confess that I am somewhat a creature of habit. When I go to a store, I tend to head to the same section first every single time. With that in mind, I created a grocery list for the Wal*Mart in my area based on my method of shopping. This is one of the SINGLE BEST, TIME-SAVING activities I have ever done! I simply print it out & check off the items I need. Doesn't get much easier! :)
6:
Now the part of this process I hate more than any other part....heading to the grocery store.
Sigh.
I usually spend 2+ hours, use 2 baskets, & spend $300+ each time. I take the time to put find it, put it in the basket, stand in line, unload it (according to how I want it bagged, thank you), re-load it (according to how I want to put it in the car), & unload it again. When I get home, I....only carry in the bread & bananas...things I can't bear to have mushed, then I sic the kiddos on it. We ALL pitch into the job of putting stuff. Everyone from toddlers to Daddy are in on the job. It takes 8-10 people 30 minutes to put it all away.
When I am done...we usually eat out for dinner!!! HAHAHAHA!!!!
I have been trying to get the forms I use into some sort of format that I can insert into my blog....but I'm pretty much stumped as to how to go about it. So, I will type this out, and at the end of this posting, I will list the documents that I use. If you are interested in having a copy, please email me & I will happily send them to you as well as any recipes that look interesting to you.
Here is our menu for March:
1st
Out
2nd
Oven fried chicken
biscuits
edamame
3rd
out
4th
*Crockpot Chicken & Dumplins
5th
Baked Ziti
Okra
Breadsticks
Salad
6th
Date Night/Mini meatloaves (previously made & frozen)
stuffing
green beans
7th
*Crockpot Salisbury Steaks
Mashed Taters
Cabbage
8th
*Crockpot Island Kielbasa
Rice
Veggies
Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
9th
Chicken Pot Pie
Sauteed Broccoli
Deviled Eggs
10th
Beans (Pinto) & Sausage
Cornbread
11th
BBQ Baked Potatoes
12th
Creamy Chicken Stew
Skillet Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Salad
13th
Frozen Lasagna (cooked, of course)
Carrots
Salad
Breadsticks
14th
*Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken
Rice
Stir-Fry Veggies
Asian Salad (still looking for recipe)
15th
Pork chops
Corn on the Cob
Broccoli & Rice Casserole
16th
Little Ceasar's Pizza
17th
Irish Beef Stew
Crusty Bread
18th
Smoothies
*Farmer's Casserole
19th
Poppy Seed Chicken
Rice
Veggies
Rolls
20th
Beef Stroganoff
Green Beans
Salad
21st
*Crockpot Beef Enchiladas
*Corn, Bean & Avocado Salad
Spanish Rice
22nd
Cheese Stuffed Shells
Edamame
Salad
23rd
Homemade Burgers
Pasta Salad
Baked Beans
Banana Pudding
24th
OUT
25th
*Baked Potato Soup
*Herbed Muffins
26th
Chicken Spaghetti
Pea salad
27th
Beef & Bean Chile Rellenos
Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes
28th
Taco Salad
29th
*Spicy Chicken Kebobs with mushrooms & peppers
Okra, corn & tomato saute
30th
Homemade Pizzas
Salad
31st
Pot roast with Horseradish sauce & vegetables
Tonight, though, I am gonna share some very inspiring information about how I do groceries/menus. Wooooo*Hooooo!!!
First of all, let me preface this by stating that I have had (yet again) very few original ideas in this area (as with most areas of my life). There are some wonderful books/blogs on this very topic. I've tried a lot of methods, & this is what is working for us. For now.
My method is this:
1:
I consider our month; when we will be out, special events, church nights & so forth.
2:
We usually have date night several times per month. I don't know when those days will be, so I am very flexible with my menu.
3:
I pull out a couple of my numerous recipe books/magazines/print-outs from Pinterest & choose several new things to try.
4:
Several years ago, I decided to sit down & make a list of everything I make that our family likes. I divided it into sections: Beef, Chicken, Pork, Meatless, Soups, Crockpot, Sides....etc. This is my *Go-To* list to choose from for the month. I update it periodically as we decide that a new thing we've tried is a new family favorite.
5:
Using the menu I have just created, I make my grocery list. I do not buy for the whole month...cause it's sorta a pain. I have done it, though.
What I do, is buy for about 10-14 days at at time. This puts me at the grocery store roughly twice per month.
I confess that I am somewhat a creature of habit. When I go to a store, I tend to head to the same section first every single time. With that in mind, I created a grocery list for the Wal*Mart in my area based on my method of shopping. This is one of the SINGLE BEST, TIME-SAVING activities I have ever done! I simply print it out & check off the items I need. Doesn't get much easier! :)
6:
Now the part of this process I hate more than any other part....heading to the grocery store.
Sigh.
I usually spend 2+ hours, use 2 baskets, & spend $300+ each time. I take the time to put find it, put it in the basket, stand in line, unload it (according to how I want it bagged, thank you), re-load it (according to how I want to put it in the car), & unload it again. When I get home, I....only carry in the bread & bananas...things I can't bear to have mushed, then I sic the kiddos on it. We ALL pitch into the job of putting stuff. Everyone from toddlers to Daddy are in on the job. It takes 8-10 people 30 minutes to put it all away.
When I am done...we usually eat out for dinner!!! HAHAHAHA!!!!
I have been trying to get the forms I use into some sort of format that I can insert into my blog....but I'm pretty much stumped as to how to go about it. So, I will type this out, and at the end of this posting, I will list the documents that I use. If you are interested in having a copy, please email me & I will happily send them to you as well as any recipes that look interesting to you.
Here is our menu for March:
1st
Out
2nd
Oven fried chicken
biscuits
edamame
3rd
out
4th
*Crockpot Chicken & Dumplins
5th
Baked Ziti
Okra
Breadsticks
Salad
6th
Date Night/Mini meatloaves (previously made & frozen)
stuffing
green beans
7th
*Crockpot Salisbury Steaks
Mashed Taters
Cabbage
8th
*Crockpot Island Kielbasa
Rice
Veggies
Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
9th
Chicken Pot Pie
Sauteed Broccoli
Deviled Eggs
10th
Beans (Pinto) & Sausage
Cornbread
11th
BBQ Baked Potatoes
12th
Creamy Chicken Stew
Skillet Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Salad
13th
Frozen Lasagna (cooked, of course)
Carrots
Salad
Breadsticks
14th
*Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken
Rice
Stir-Fry Veggies
Asian Salad (still looking for recipe)
15th
Pork chops
Corn on the Cob
Broccoli & Rice Casserole
16th
Little Ceasar's Pizza
17th
Irish Beef Stew
Crusty Bread
18th
Smoothies
*Farmer's Casserole
19th
Poppy Seed Chicken
Rice
Veggies
Rolls
20th
Beef Stroganoff
Green Beans
Salad
21st
*Crockpot Beef Enchiladas
*Corn, Bean & Avocado Salad
Spanish Rice
22nd
Cheese Stuffed Shells
Edamame
Salad
23rd
Homemade Burgers
Pasta Salad
Baked Beans
Banana Pudding
24th
OUT
25th
*Baked Potato Soup
*Herbed Muffins
26th
Chicken Spaghetti
Pea salad
27th
Beef & Bean Chile Rellenos
Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes
28th
Taco Salad
29th
*Spicy Chicken Kebobs with mushrooms & peppers
Okra, corn & tomato saute
30th
Homemade Pizzas
Salad
31st
Pot roast with Horseradish sauce & vegetables
NOTE: Items marked with * are new recipes.
Here is a list of the forms I use:
Blank Calendar
WalMart Master Grocery List
Master Meal List
Here is a list of the forms I use:
Blank Calendar
WalMart Master Grocery List
Master Meal List
You may email me at: diayoung (at) sbcglobal (dot) net
Let me know what you think...was this helpful at all?
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