B & B Dreams

Blogging is always such a low thing on the priority list.  I've been wanting to get back and talk more about menu planning and savings, but have been so busy.  I can't honestly say that I've gotten the coupon thing down yet.  And I'm not seeming to come anywhere near $30 a week in groceries.  But the menu planning -- which I honestly used to do a long time ago, though not using a rotating standard menu -- is good.  I've been "off the wagon" a bit as we've been so very, very busy, and I'm not sure I'll get back on fully until after the holidays.  But at least having the groceries in the house (for the most part) means that I always have something to prepare.

The worst part of being "off the wagon" (i.e., not sticking to the menu plan) is the propensity to eat out more if dinner has not been started.  Wednesdays are a good example.  Our 6yodd has violin lessons that day.  So I pick dh up at the train station at 3-ish, drop him off home to stay with the 3 boys, and take our daughter to violin.  It is a 45 minute drive, a half hour lesson, and another 45 minute + drive (as it's now rush hour) home.  DH is usually putting the finishing touches on what I've started for dinner.  However, last night or other occasions when he gets off late, the boys (and sometimes even dh) go with to violin.  Now this means that dinner is not ready at 5:30 or later when we get home and our church's evening programs start at 6:30.  That often results in us picking up something.  Also, on really busy Sundays, like last Sunday when we unexpectedly spent 4 hours after church decorating the worship auditorium for the holidays, McDonald's was the meal of choice.  Now I know that this eats up a lot of money that could be used elsewhere and we need to learn to curb that unexpected spending.  It seems we go in spurts, and when things just get really, really busy, dining out becomes a more regular thing than it should be.  And with a family of 6, it's no small matter to eat out.

Anyway, I thought I'd share my two-week menu A:

Sun - spaghetti, salad, garlic bread

Mon - meat loaf, potatoes, carrots

Tue - lemon herb chicken, rice or potatoes, mixed vegetables

Wed - Hawaiin pork chops, rice, stir-fry vegetables

Thr - noodle parmesan supreme

Fri - leftovers

Sat - chicken pot pie

Sun - sloppy joes, fries, salad

Mon - parmesan chicken, noodles, broccoli

Tue - sweet sour meatballs, rice, stir-fry vegetables

Wed - tamale pie

Thr - chicken tetrazini, salad

Fri - baked chicken, stuffing, carrots or green beans

Sat - chicken fajits, spanish rice, corn

Well, dinner is ready, better go.

Blessings,

Barb