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Farm Kitchen:  Meal Planning Challenge 2009  |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 02 2009 : 07:27:14 AM
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Hi Ladies!
Back in 2008 we had a challenge to meal plan each month and it really helped me stay on track with food purchases. So this year I am offering you a second challenge. A challenge to yourself and your family! Let's plan meals and stick to a budget. Let's work in as much healthy food as we can! There will be a companion challenge here in Farm Kitchen about grocery shopping on budget and I am thinking about a Family Matters Family Budget Challenge as well!
I know I do better when I feel accountable to others so I am hoping you all will join me and help keep me on track.
So the next post will be a template. Just highlight it and copy it into your reply and fill out for your meal plan. If you are planning on eating left overs go ahead and put in leftovers and then if you plan on eating out put that down as well.
I noticed last time I did this, I planned or cooked way too much food- but I am going to do that on purpose this time. If we start not having to cook it all, but I have the food on hand, it will be a great cushion!
I am going to put a star next to meals once I have bought the main ingredients for them.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
Edited by - Alee on Jan 03 2009 11:23:37 AM |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jan 02 2009 : 07:54:27 AM
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Month: January 2009
2 Spaghetti with Meat Sauce*
3 Hamburger Rice Skillet*
4 Goulash*
5 Chicken and Dumplings*
6 Beef and Broccoli
7 Pork Fried Rice*
8 Oven Baked Chicken*
9 Ham dinner
10 Pot Roast*
11 Chicken Casserole*
12 Meatloaf*
13 Black Bean Soup*
14 Homemade Pizza*
15 Tacos
16 Lasagna
17 Cuban Chicken*
18 Pork Roast*
19 Pasta Dinner
20 Lamb Roast
21 Corned Beef and Cabbage
22 Enchiladas
23 Chicken with Sun Dried Tomatoes
24 Spaghetti*
25 Pot Roast*
26 Pork Chops
27 Chicken breast with veggies
28 Oven Fried Chicken
29 Burritos
30 Hamburgers*
31 Meatloaf*
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
Edited by - Alee on Jan 03 2009 11:24:53 AM |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Jan 02 2009 : 7:06:45 PM
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Alee - we are planning in two week increments, started on Wednesday so here goes.
12/31 Tomato Soup/Grilled Cheese
1/1 Leftover Sweet and sour Meatballs/HoppinJohn
1/2 Nachos (using up leftover taco meat)
1/3 Leftovers
1/4 Pot Roast
1/5 Mushroom/Cheddar Frittata
1/6 Stroganoff
1/7 Sausage Potato Soup
1/8 Sausage Dogs (a nod to the 16 yo boy)
1/9 Tacos
1/10 Pork Chops and Scalloped Potatoes
1/11 Pork Paprikash
1/12 Green Chili Egg Puff
1/13 Chipotle Chili
1/14 Soup from the freezer and bakeover mix biscuits
We do our non-Costco shopping on Wednesdays so that is the soup from the freezer night. Then on the 13th we will sit down and plan the next two weeks.
I would love to go for a month but since we both get paid weekly the cash flow doesn't work for that big of a shopping excursion, plus our fridge is really small.
Cheers - this will be fun!!
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" |
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ILoveBaskets14
True Blue Farmgirl
76 Posts
Stefanie
Cross Lanes
WV
USA
76 Posts |
Posted - Jan 02 2009 : 7:20:54 PM
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this is nice just to get ideas of other things to make. I am tired of the same old thing every week. Thanks for all the ideas!
Stefanie
Baskets of Blessings. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
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K-Falls Farmgirl
Chapter Leader
2096 Posts
Cheryl
Klamath Falls
Oregon
USA
2096 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2009 : 3:19:46 PM
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My menu starts tonight Sherri with breakfast for dinner.. we do this fromtime to time..then using up leftovers in freezer throughout the week.
1. Sat. Breakfast for Dinner Buttermilk blueberry Pancakes, sausage, eggs,
2. Sun. Roast Chicken dinner, potatoes, broccoli
3. Mon. Pulled pork over rice ( left over in freezer)
4. Tues. Left over roast chicken & salad (from Sunday)
5. Wed. Chili Verde (left over in freezer)
6.Thurs. Spaghetti meatballs
7. Friday Chili *( leftover in freezer) and cornbread muffins
http://www.k-fallsfarmgirl.blogspot.com/
Come visit the barn at http://barndoorcreations.blogspot.com/
Cheryl #309
Farm girl sister
"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." Maya Angelou |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2009 : 06:27:45 AM
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For several years I have used the same menue plan. Every 10 days I start over again. With countless ways to fix chicken,pork,beef or fish, we never have the same thing twice in one month. Here is how I do it:
1 Beans
2 Fish
3 Chicken
4 Roast Beef
5 ground beef
6 pork
7 Mex or chinese or pizza
8 Left overs, something new that has come up, Open for suggestion
9 Hamburgers (and french fries of course)
10 Pasta
I try to make soup on Sunday. I take what ever the meat for that day is and make soup. I don't stick to the plan everyday but it gives me something to go by when we don't know what we want. Last night we had chicken tenders (because it was the 3rd) and we had quite a bit left over so we will have it again tonight but will change the veggies. So the 4th roast will be put off a day. I took a piece of left over tri tip roast out of the freezer so it is good to go whenever. I also use up leftovers on 7 and 10. |
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peachy
True Blue Farmgirl
593 Posts
Melissa
Fennville
MI
USA
593 Posts |
Posted - Jan 05 2009 : 10:40:56 AM
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Here's mine for this week - I love this...so many ideas for dinners on here! I'll try to sit down and do the whole month next! My daughter and I started cooking on Friday late morning and we cooked up all the dinners for the whole week by Friday night!! What a fun time to spend with your kids in the kitchen!!!
January
2 BBQ Sandwiches
3 Chicken & Dumplings
4 Chili
5 Ham & Potatoes Skillet
6 Chicken Soup/Sandwiches
7 Manicotti
8 Tuna Casserole
9 leftovers
Melissa
Farmgirl Sister #360
Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain! |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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jumpingjuliet
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
becky
oroville
CA
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Jan 06 2009 : 08:23:04 AM
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Here is mine for this week:
Starting today:
1. beef mushroom barley soup using left over tritip
2. tritip burritos w/ homemade budgetmix tortillas
3. left over soup w/ grilled cheese
4. pork sauerkraut, and kunadles
5. Goulash and rice
6. breakfast for dinner
7. left over goulash and rice
8. stromboli using budget mix crust
9. pasta night
10. fish sticks and tatortots
Becky
I am one with my inner farm girl! |
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peachy
True Blue Farmgirl
593 Posts
Melissa
Fennville
MI
USA
593 Posts |
Posted - Jan 06 2009 : 09:21:07 AM
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Hi Alee! Sharing the manicotti recipe! It takes alot of twists and turns though...I started out using the recipe on the back of one of the boxes then added my mom and grandma's into that and have now started adding and subtracting "whatever" I have in the house! The kids seem to love it every time!!!
Cook pasta according to the box directions. Preheat oven to 350. In a large saucepan brown 1 pound meat (whatever kind you like...I mix hamburg with sausage - fresh from the farm!) with 1/2 cup onion & 2 cloves garlic. Salt & pepper to taste. Cook until tender. Stir in pasta sauce (26 oz jar or homemade), oregano and I add a bit of Italian seasoning. Simmer 15-20 minutes. Now, the box instructions say to mix everything else separate in a bowl...I add it all into my skillet on low. 2 cups mozzerella cheese, 1 container (15/16oz) Ricotta cheese, 1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained (I've also used fresh!), 1 container (16 oz, I think) cottage cheese and sometimes I add a can of tomatoes - drained. Mix it all together, I add alittle more sauce if it's too thick. Stuff into pasta with a small spoon I found works best and put in a 9x13 pan, pour any remaining stuffing mixture & pasta sauce over the top (sometimes I add some Parmesan or mozzerella cheese to the top) and bake, covered 30-40 minutes.
You can pretty much add or subtract whatever you want to this one, the box instructions also calls for 1 egg - I don't add that but have added various veggies (squash, zucchini, beans - you name it...just to hide it from the kids to get them to eat their veggies!!!
Enjoy!
Melissa
Farmgirl Sister #360
Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain! |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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peachy
True Blue Farmgirl
593 Posts
Melissa
Fennville
MI
USA
593 Posts |
Posted - Jan 06 2009 : 10:58:46 AM
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I was just thinking about the manicotti and realized if you didn't have manicotti noodles, you could probably make this using lasagna noodles or maybe even macaroni noodles...I'm trying to think "inside" my pantry! LOL
Melissa
Farmgirl Sister #360
Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain! |
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Lanna
True Blue Farmgirl
330 Posts
Lanna
A little town in Idaho
330 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2009 : 6:13:00 PM
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I just did this the other day on my calendar.  Will be back to post it after I get the kiddos fed and in bed. I'm trying to spend not so much this month and next month so we can throw giant payments at our new car (it's only a year old, but getting it paid off in a year and a half is very much our groovy goal).
I've got stocked freezers, a very pretty pantry, and really should use up some stuff before I start planting again in a few months. 
*****************
Lanna, mama to three little monkeys |
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sweetproserpina
True Blue Farmgirl
535 Posts
meg
Vinemount
Ontario
Canada
535 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2009 : 4:14:01 PM
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Warning; I tend to detail my menus, so this make get a bit wordy 
Month: January 2009
7 Chocolate chip pancakes
8 Spelt pasta with homeamde tomato alfredo sauce, caesar salad
9 Stir fry w/brown rice, cabbage, chicken sausage, carrots, grn peppers.
10 Homemade pizza w/feta cheese,sundried tomatoes,zucchini; salad
11 Roast chicken; potatoes,carrots, broccoli w/swiss chalet gravy
12 Bakeover using up leftovers from last night's roast
13 Chicken Stew (using leftover bits, and stock from carcass), dumplings, salad
14 Thai peanut stirfry with rice noodles,broccoli, cabbage, peppers, lime..
15 veggie frittata with sweet potato hash browns
16 Homemade pizza w/ feta and salami
17 creamy broccoli/rice/cheese casserole thingy
(trip to farmer's market/butcher for next week's groceries)
18 pork chops, baked sweet potato fries, green beams, salad - peach pie (homemade from freezer)
19 Will edit to add rest of Jan after trip to farmer's market and butcher
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23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world."
http://quaintandkeepinghouse.blogspot.com New Homekeeping Blog!
http://theprimroseway.blogspot.com/ |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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sweetproserpina
True Blue Farmgirl
535 Posts
meg
Vinemount
Ontario
Canada
535 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2009 : 6:44:27 PM
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Thanks Alee! Reading this thread makes me hungry - everything sounds good :)
When I was planning out my menu, I was trying to think seasonally and locally (and to use what I preserved last summer and fall.) I've added some winter veg that usually gets left behind for the trucked-in glossy peppers and tomatoes - local cabbage, carrots, and potatoes are in abundance, as well as the frozen peppers that I picked last summer. I've never been much of a cabbage fan, but chopped fine and thrown in with other veg - it's barely noticeable!
And the great thing about menu planning is using every little bit (I know Alee has mentioned it before, but it's such a good way to 'use it up') My roast chicken on Sunday will provide some chicken for the Bakeover on Monday, and the carcass will provide the stock for the stew on Tuesday plus any left over meat will go into the stew. And leftover stock will go into the freezer for the next soup..
I kinda feel like a nerd when I say this- but menu planning is so fun!
"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world."
http://quaintandkeepinghouse.blogspot.com New Homekeeping Blog!
http://theprimroseway.blogspot.com/ |
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Lanna
True Blue Farmgirl
330 Posts
Lanna
A little town in Idaho
330 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2009 : 12:10:06 AM
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I may be short a butternut squash or two (I wasn't sure how well they'd store in our house - turns out, they store pretty darn well!), some carrots, and maybe broccoli. I've really got to rotate out a bunch of stuff in the freezer in the next few months.
9 ~ Leftovers (steak, mac&cheese, smoked salmon)
10 ~ Garlic Lime Pork, brown rice, steamed corn
11 ~ Crockpot Chili, corn muffins, salad
12 ~ Chicken with Bacon and Feta, butternut squash or steamed peas, applesauce
13 ~ Microwave Tuna Casserole
14 ~ Roasted Chicken, maybe with mashed potatoes, green beans
15 ~ Leftovers while I'm simmering chicken stock
16 ~ Tacos
17 ~ Chicken Louisianne, brown rice, steamed corn, carrot cake for hubby's bday
18 ~ Hubby's bday - hopefully we're going out for a fancy adult-only dinner. :)
19 ~ Shrimp Alfredo, steamed broccoli or carrots
20 ~ Garlic Lime Chicken, green beans
21 ~ Ricotta Shells, salad, pears
22 ~ Leftovers
23 ~ Applesauce Pork Tenderloin, butternut squash or green beans
24 ~ Garlicky Tomato Chicken Pasta
25 ~ Broccoli Cheese Soup, rolls
26 ~ Spaghetti
27 ~ Leftovers
28 ~ Garlic Lime Chicken, steamed carrots
29 ~ Potato Bacon Soup and fresh baked rolls
30 ~ Crockpot something
31 ~ Baked Salmon, steamed corn or peas
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Lanna, mama to three little monkeys |
Edited by - Lanna on Jan 10 2009 12:11:28 AM |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2009 : 07:12:21 AM
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Wow! Are we really a third of the way through our month already! This is crazy! :D
How is the planning going? I planned but the follow through has been less than stellar- but we have at least be using the things in the fridge instead of running out to buy new things!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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MsCwick
True Blue Farmgirl
775 Posts
Cristine
Farmville
Virginia
USA
775 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2009 : 09:57:57 AM
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I have to start mine for the beginning of February. I told my husband about our Farmgirl plan and he was like, "what an excellent idea!"
Here's mine
Month: February
1 Spaghetti
2 Tacos
3 a whole baked chicken
4 fish & chips
5 roast venison
6 manicotti
7 potatos & kielbasa
8 homemade pizza
9 meatloaf
10 chicken tenders
11 venison steaks
12 tuna melts
13 beef stroganoff
14 buffalo chicken sandwhiches
15 ham dinner
16 chicken alfredo
17 spaghetti
18 sloppy joes w/ LO spaghetti sauce mmixed in
19 venison
20 goulash w/ LO sloppy joe
21 fish & chips
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23
24
25
26
27
28
end of feb.
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30
31
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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peachy
True Blue Farmgirl
593 Posts
Melissa
Fennville
MI
USA
593 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2009 : 3:59:19 PM
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I'm a bit behind! Here we go for the next couple weeks! I left off on the 9th so I'm starting with the 10th (even though we already had it!)
10 chicken rice soup
11 steaks (cooking on the woodstove right now!)
12 meatloaf
13 stroganoff
14 manicotti (I never got to make it last week!)
15 pork roast
16 hamburg/veggie casserole
17 chicken & dumplings
18 garlic parsley noodles with something fun added
19 bbq
20 broccoli/rice casserole
21 steaks
22 porcupine meatballs
I'm trying to only use what I can out of the freezer and pantry this month and keep shopping to a minimum...things are alittle tight around here right now!
Happy cooking!
Melissa
Farmgirl Sister #360
Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain! |
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
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Celticheart
True Blue Farmgirl
811 Posts
Marcia
WA
USA
811 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2009 : 8:01:33 PM
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I'm only going to do a week at a time too. That's what I'm used to anyway.
Starting today:
Pot Roast with veggies & mashed potatoes
Hot Beef Sandwiches, green salad
Baked Potato Soup, biscuits, fruit
Breakfast for dinner, probably veggie quiche
Spaghetti with meatballs
Veg Beef Soup
"Nature always has the last laugh." Mrs. Greenthumbs
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Farm Kitchen: Meal Planning Challenge 2009 |
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Meal Planning Challenge 2009
