Weekly Menus

We usually (Bubbe and RM) review the weekly menu on Sunday and make a grocery list. We have a template of 6 weeks worth of menus. There are 6 of us in the family...four adults and two children. Shopping can over lap and we can buy ahead when we find bargains.

This week we did a lot of substitution. Planning around days when son-in-law JE is home; using a turkey from the freezer instead of the daily meal plan; putting off leftovers to another day.

The weekly rotating menu is the best way to plan shopping, contain costs and use pantry items. And, it is supposed to keep me from shopping "from the hip"...just throwing anything into the cart that looks good to me.

Did you know that the shopping cart was invented in Oklahoma?  Google Sylvan Goldman or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvan_Goldman

To make a six week menu plan:

six sheets of 8.5 x 11 paper each printed with the week number and spaces for seven days
sticky notes; place a completed sticky note under each day of the week

On the sticky notes start writing some of your favorite meals. A favorite here is meatlof, green beans and mashed potatoes. Add some menus that can be grilled outside. (these are the days we change around to accomodate the weather and when JE is home...he is the world's best salmon griller).

Look for meals you would like to try and add one a week.  If it's a winner, keep the sticky note...if not, send it to the trash. We like Tex-Mex food, in short supply in Stafford, VA., asian food and lots of Salmon.  When the children are a little older, we will start experimenting with new receipes.