Do you menu plan?

We are a one income family & my husband gets paid once a month. Needless to say, we have a tight grocery budget. One of the ways I've recently incorported frugality into our life, is to menu plan. I sit down once a week and plan what we will eat for dinner. Sometimes I even plan 2-3 weeks at a time. I look at the grocery store ad to see what's on sale, then go to my freezer & pantry to see what in there, & this time of year, I look at what's fresh from my CSA, my garden or at the farm market. Once I know what's on sale and what I have on hand, I start making a list of what I'll need for each meal. So, what does my menu look like? Here's a sample:

(I started this week on Tuesday with an easy meal, because I was out of town for the holiday.)

T ~ grilled cheese & tomato soup with applesauce
W ~ black bean chili w/ gluten free cornbread & fruit
> peach** cobbler for dessert <
R ~ grilled chicken & asparagus* & pears**
F ~ spinach* lasagna & salad* w/ pears**
Sa ~ country sweet chicken pizza w/ broccoli & onions
Su ~ hamburgers*** & macaroni salad w/ peaches**
M ~ cajun rubbed pork chops*** w/ roasted potatoes & onions &
applesauce.

I actually did another week & a half, but I figured you'd get the picture.
What do the * represent?
* = something from the CSA
** = something I preserved last year
*** = meat that I purchased in bulk straight from a farmer. (We buy 1/2 a pig & 1/4 beefalo ~ another way to save money.)

So, that is my menu planning strategy. I hang my completed menu on the fridge so I can readily see it. I just use a spiral notebook, but there are some worksheets that may help you plan easily. They can be found here. I also try to take out the meat I'm using to thaw in the fridge once I get things planned. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment & I'll try to answer your inquiry. Happy Meal Planning!

Does this make me famous?

My friend Stephanie linked my blog to hers. Does that make me famous? LOL! I've linked other people's blogs to mine, but I've never been on the receiving end before! And all because of a recipe from a different blog!

Eating Better ~ Recipe Review 2

So, I decided to try a another recipe from the cookbook Deceptively Delicious. This time I tried the Peanut Butter & Banana Muffins. These muffins are made with either carrot or cauliflower puree. I chose the later. Cauliflower is an excellent source of vitamin C & is one of the veggies that help fight cancer. Plus, I love it ~ raw, steamed, roasted ~ anyway you please! Now I love it with peanut butter! I don't think I'm allowed to share the recipe, but it's easy & straight forward. The muffins are yummy & they melt in your mouth. They seem to be a little on the crumbly side, though, so you'll want to have a plate or napkin nearby. If you'd like to try the recipe, you can borrow my book or check it out at the library.

Happy Birthday To My Firstborn!

Today is Ian's 5th birthday! I cannot believe how the time has flown! God made me move out of my comfort zone when He blessed us with a boy ~ what was I going to do with a boy?!? I've learned to look at bugs, dig in the dirt & spend time with the cows at the farm; not to mention that I can name most of the different kinds of tractors! It has been a joy to watch him grow & learn. I can't believe he'll be starting kindergarten this fall! Anyway! Here are some pics to look at:

May 4, 2005

May 2006

May 2007

May 2008

(for the record, he asked for pink frosting!)

May 2009

May 2010

It's a special day!

Happy Birthday Mom! Love you so much! Thanks for all you've done, do & will do! (Happy Earth Day, too!)

Addison's 2 Yr Checkup

Everything looks great for Addison. She's 26 lbs & 35 1/4 in. The dr. said she's tall for her age, ranging in the 90th percentile. I think she's going to be built like her daddy. Tall & thin, which is just fine.

Happy Birthday Baby!

Today is our baby girl's 2nd birthday! Happy Birthday Addison! Love you so much!

March 2010

March 2009

March 2, 2008Thank you God for this beautiful blessing!