Menu Planning---A New Way!

I'm always looking for a way to simplify my life and organize my recipes. When I read today's post over at Home Sanctuary, I knew it was the answer to my cooking organization problems. So, not only did I organize some of our usual meals for dinner, but I put some of my ideas for lunch, breakfast and snacks on a printout as well.

By using the method that Rachel Anne suggests, I'll be able to effectively plan our menu quickly and make use of what's on sale and what I have in my pantry! Here are my categories and meal list, hope it helps someone else!

(And here's a link to a blank calendar courtesy of the comments on Home Sanctuary!)

Long Prep Meals
Chicken Teriyaki and Egg Drop Soup
Homemade pizza or Calzone with a salad
Salmon Patties with tartar sauce and coleslaw and fruit salad
Meatloaf and Creamed Potatoes and Vegetable
Chicken Parm with Spaghetti and vegetable/salad
Eggplant Parm with Spaghetti and vegetable/salad
Baked chicken with bread and vegetables
Baked fish and homemade tartar sauce, potato salad and vegetable
Hashbrown casserole with a baked meat, vegetable
Sweet Potato casserole with a baked meat, crowder peas and vegetable
Pork Chop and Brown Rice Bake and vegetable
Onion Chopped Steak with Easy Gravy, rice/potatoes and a green vegetable

Crock pot meals
Roast with potatoes, carrots and onions, rolls and vegetable/salad
Shredded bbq pork

Pie/Casserole Meals
Chicken pot pie with vegetable
Chicken Tetrazzini with vegetable
Mexican Chicken with salad, corn/corn relish
Beef, Onion and Potato Casserole with vegetable
Beef and Noodle Casserole with vegetable
Granny’s “Graham” Chicken with vegetable and bread
Mac and Beef Casserole with vegetable
Mac and Tuna Casserole with vegetable

Soup & Sandwich/Salad
Tortilla soup with corn chips and ham/turkey sandwich
Rocket soup with corn muffins
Tomato soup and grilled cheese
Bean Soup and Focaccia Bread
Potato Broccoli Soup with Cornbread
Zuppa Tuscana with bread sticks and salad
Beef and Vegetable Soup with BLTs
Super Save Tortilla Soup and quesadillas

Fend For Yourself Night (Items to have on hand)
Fruit
Bagged salad
Bread
Lunch Meat
PB&J
Chicken nuggets
Steam single serve vegetables

Take Out/Order In Meals
McDonald’s
Cracker Barrel
Chinese

Leftover Night
Leftover Buffet of Meals

Super Easy Meals
Spaghetti with vegetable
Tacos-as tacos or taco salad
Southwest Rollup Burritos

Josh Cooks Night
Burgers with Coleslaw (traditional or Texas Two-Step)
Steaks with baked potatoes and salad

Try Something New Night
Various Recipes in basket, cookbooks

Lunches
Leftovers
Sandwiches
Soup and sandwich

Breakfast
Potato Bake
Pancakes (chocolate chip banana peanut butter)
Waffles
Eggs and Bacon/Sausage
Cereal
Fruity Oatmeal
Oatmeal
Cream of Wheat
Toast
Fruit
Yogurt
Muffins
Quick Bread

Snacks
Fruit
Yogurt
Quick breads--Banana, zucchini, etc.
Muffins-blueberry, banana, chocolate chip
Cookies

Sides
Pears with mayo/cheese
Salad
ALL vegetables
Broccoli casserole
Fruit salad
Orange fluff
Green bean casserole
Strawberry Pretzel Squares

Desserts
Lemon Pie
Granny’s fruit cake
Banana pudding

Our menu for the week is as follows:

Breakfasts: cereal, fruit, pancakes and eggs (repeat as needed)
Lunches: Sandwiches, soup, fruit, leftovers (repeat as needed)
Dinners:
Onion Chopped Steak with Easy Gravy, rice and a vegetable
Chicken Pot Pie with vegetable
Spaghetti with vegetable
Baked fish with homemade tartar sauce, vegetable and a potato dish
Tortilla soup with sandwich
Roast with carrots, onions, creamed potatoes and broccoli
Leftover Buffet