We’ll be starting the September Meal Plan after Labor Day…mostly because I already know what we are having this week.  And I have no idea what we’ll be having this weekend…other than Rehearsal Dinner Food, Wedding Reception Food, and Cake! Yum!!!

6-
7- BBQ Chicken with Mini Corn Muffins
8- Out with Family
9- Black Bean and Salsa Chicken
10- Pasta E Fagioli
11-  Sandwiches or Leftovers
12- Grill Burgers

Gonna be a little heavy on the carbs this next week…as Steve will be running in the Air Force Marathon on Saturday…

13- Pasta with Corn and Bacon
14- Adobe Chili and Apricot Chicken - Get Green, Be Well…thanks Kimberly!!!
15- Emeril’s Essence Chicken
16- Pasta with Italian Sausage (Warning:  This will not be a $5 Dinner!)
17- Spaghetti – Carbo Load Night
18- Sandwiches or Leftovers (or whatever the marathon runner wants!!!)
19- Grill Burgers

20- Turkey Pumpkin Chili
21- Mini Cheesy Salsa Meatloaves - A Southern Fairytale…thanks Rachel!!!
22- Chorizo Breakfast Tacos
23- Lentils and Rice of some sort
24- We’ll see what’s on sale this week and make a “bargain meal!”
25- Sandwiches or Leftovers
26- Birthday Dinner!!! I’ll be celebrating the 8th anniversary of my 25th birthday!

I’m off to NYC this next week…but I’ll be leaving behind some favorites!

27- Chicken of some sort
28- Meatloaf
29- Spaghetti
30- Out on a Daddy Date!
1- Pork Roast with Apples and Pears
2- Chicken Sliders
3-  Will we still be grilling?!  I hope so!

Want to know more about why I plan my menus out each month? Read more here…

Want to give monthly meal planning a try?!?…check out all the printable planners and templates that will help with your weekly and monthly meal planning!

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
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A very clever meal planning idea from Stacie…that I couldn’t not share with you!

I’m always looking for ways to improve my menu planning!  I’ve tried so many different approaches (calendars, binders, computer programs, etc.), but I’ve never quite found the perfect match for me.  When I ran across a few ideas about making a magnetic menu planner for the refrigerator, I LOVED them!

After a little tweaking, I came up with two versions:

• a scrapbook version (the prettiest, but it takes more time),
• a recycled version (very frugal and easy).

I love having my magnetic menu for several reasons:

• I can plan my menu monthly or weekly.
• My favorite meal ideas are right in front of me, so I don’t get stuck in a rut and make the same ones every week!
• It is easy to swap out one dinner for another (no pen marks all over the calendar when I need to make a change)!

Visit me at The Amazing Mess for complete details and directions!

Stacie is a mom of three little girls, wife to her college sweetheart, former elementary teacher, and mess-maker extraordinaire! She blogs about craft projects, cooking, and other enrichment activities for preschoolers at The Amazing Mess.

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!

This weekend is Labor Day Weekend. And we’re outta here!

The kids and I will be heading down to San Antonio for a quick trip…family wedding calls! (Thankfully my sister will be flying back with us, so I don’t have to do both legs with all 3 children. Alone.)

Until then…here’s what we are eating!

Monday - Green Pepper Chili

Tuesday – Balsamic Chicken and Onions Wraps with Green Beans

Wednesday – Tacos (probably with Green Beans!)

If you see a meal you are interested in, please check back for the recipe later in the week!

Current Monthly Meal Plan can be found here! Get your printable meal planners from the printable resources!

Thanks to Andrea at Mommy Snacks and Marcy at Stretching a Buck for posting the best deals and coupon matchups at my stores each week! And all the BEST menu plans can be found every week at OrgJunkie.com!

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!

It’s Back to School Week around here…and I’m all of a sudden feeling the need to be uber-organized.  Schedules are changing, new routines put into place…and the last thing I need is to be unsure of what we’ll be having for dinner every night!

I’ve got my monthly meal planner on the table, my grocery shopping list with weekly meal plan…and I’ll be hitting the store circular to make my list.  We’re eating mostly from the freezer this week…as there are no really great meat prices this week. Succotash veggies in the freezer, shredded chicken and mini-meatballs in the freezer from last week’s batch cooking.

Monday - Succotash Rice Pilaf

Tuesday – Pasta Salad

Wednesday – Shepherd’s Pie with Chicken

Thursday – Indian Curry in the Slow Cooker

Friday – Spaghetti with Mediterranean Mini-Meatballs

Saturday – Family Picnic – We’re bringing grasshopper brownies

Sunday - Grilled something or other, or leftovers

I will try to post the recipes each night after I make the meal. If you see a meal you are interested in, please check back for the recipe later in the week!

Current Monthly Meal Plan can be found here! And check out the meal planning and grocery shopping printable resources!

Thanks to Andrea at Mommy Snacks and Marcy at Stretching a Buck for posting the best deals and coupon matchups at my stores each week!

All the BEST menu plans can be found every week at OrgJunkie.com!

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!

It’s birthday week around here…so be on the lookout for some cool giveaways…and some cool new recipes too!

Monday - Blueberry Pancakes

Tuesday – Quinoa Waldorf Salad

Wednesday – Green Chile Chicken

Thursday – Spanish Rice in the Slow Cooker

Friday – Cobb Pasta Salad

Saturday – Party/Picnic

Sunday - Burgers with Spicy Onions

I will post the recipes each night after I make the meal. If you see a meal you are interested in, please check back for the recipe later in the week!

Current Monthly Meal Plan can be found here!

Need help with your weekly meal planning and grocery shopping…check out all the printable resources!

Thanks to Andrea at Mommy Snacks and Marcy at Stretching a Buck for posting the best deals and coupon matchups at my stores each week!

All the BEST menu plans can be found every week at OrgJunkie.com!

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!

Better late than never.  Right?

It’s been since…April, I think…since I’ve had a monthly meal plan. And my mental condition has suffered as a result! It’s time to get back on the monthly meal planning bandwagon and bring a little sanity back into the kitchen!!!

(Even if it is 1/3 of the way through this month already!)

School starts so soon…and I’d really like to have my brain screwed on as we move into this next season of busy-ness.

12 – Slow Cooker Chicken with Rosemary and Maple
13 – Stuffed Tomatoes
14 – Sandwiches
15 – Butter Burgers on the Grill

16 – Grilled Chicken Thighs
17 – Quinoa Waldorf Salad
18 – Green Chile Stuffed Chicken Breasts
19 – Spanish Rice Casserole
20 – Cobb Pasta Salad
21 – Leftovers
22 – Chicken Sliders

23 – Succotash Rice Pilaf
24 – Mexican Pizzas
25 – Shepherd’s Pie with Chicken
26 – Coconut Chicken Curry
27 – Pasta with Mini Meatballs
28 – Sandwiches
29 – Grill Burgers

30 – Tacos
31 – Balsamic Chicken and Onion Wraps
1 – BBQ Chili with Green Peppers
2 – BBQ Chicken with Cornbread
3 – Pasta E Fagioli
4 – Leftovers
5 – Family in town…not sure!

We’ll see what’s on sale this week and make a “bargain meal!”

Numbers

Want to know more about why I plan my menus out each month? Read more here…

Want to give monthly meal planning a try?!?

…check out all the printable planners and templates that will help with your weekly and monthly meal planning!

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!

Ok friends…just wanted to share that this week’s Menu Plan Monday will be more like Menu Plan Wednesday.

We had a family wedding this weekend and I’m way behind on everything…from blogging, to cooking, to meal planning, to sleeping, and more…

That being said…I’m hoping to have a meal plan for the rest of August up and ready to go on Wednesday!

Until then…

Need help with your weekly meal planning and grocery shopping…check out all the printable resources!

Thanks to Andrea at Mommy Snacks and Marcy at Stretching a Buck for posting the best deals and coupon matchups at my stores each week!

All the BEST menu plans can be found every week at OrgJunkie.com!

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!

We’ll be trying some new recipes…and revisiting some old favorites this week…in an effort to clear out the freezers and pantry!

Monday - Scampi Tilapia

Tuesday – Grilled Pizza

Wednesday – Potatoes and Meat (of some sort!)

Thursday – Grilled Chicken Fajita Pasta

Friday - Lentil and Brown Rice Casserole (The cheapest meal I’ve ever made!)

Saturday – Leftovers or Tuna Sandwiches and Crudites

Sunday - Grill Burgers

I will post the recipes each night after I make the meal. If you see a meal you are interested in, please check back for the recipe later in the week!

Current Monthly Meal Plan can be found here!

Need help with your weekly meal planning and grocery shopping…check out all the printable resources!

Thanks to Andrea at Mommy Snacks and Marcy at Stretching a Buck for posting the best deals and coupon matchups at my stores each week!

All the BEST menu plans can be found every week at OrgJunkie.com!

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!

We’ll be revisiting some favorite recipes this week…partly to clean out the pantry, use up my uber-cheap green peppers, and to eat a “Bargain Meal of the Week” meal that I’ll be making on my local Fox news on Monday morning!

Monday - Grilled Eggplant Panini

Tuesday – Stuffed Peppers from The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook

Wednesday – Grilling Guac Burgers with Friends

Thursday – Dinner out with the girls…”Psghetti for the Boys”

Friday – Honey Baked Lentils from The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook

Saturday – Slow Cooker Meal

Sunday - Grilling Chicken

I will post the recipes each night after I make the meal. If you see a meal you are interested in, please check back for the recipe later in the week!

Current Monthly Meal Plan can be found here!

Need help with your weekly meal planning and grocery shopping…check out all the printable resources!

Thanks to Andrea at Mommy Snacks and Marcy at Stretching a Buck for posting the best deals and coupon matchups at my stores each week!

All the BEST menu plans can be found every week at OrgJunkie.com!

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!

On Saturday, I was in and out of the kitchen…trying to get a jump on this coming week!  I was hoping for a little “focused” time in their during Tyler’s nap, but Steve was out of town…so the prep time and batch cooking didn’t quite go as planned.

Le sigh.

But, I still managed to knock out most of my batch cooking list for this week! Ideas for the pesto and recipe for the sausage jalapeno swirl bread coming soon.

• Pesto. Done.
• Sausage Jalapeno Swirl Bread. Done.
• Pumpkin Muffins. Done.
• Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins. Done. (And mostly eaten!)
• Pancakes. Done. (Waffles…not done. Will hold off on these.)

Still to do…

• Brown the Chorizo sausage and make breakfast tacos.  Will do on Tuesday morning.
• Make Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Cake (or something like that). Will do Monday.
• Soak and cook chickpeas.  Will do Monday.

And for dinner this week…

Monday - Chickpea Tuna Salad – using garden tomatoes

Tuesday – Grilled Honey Mustard Drumsticks

Wednesday – Beef Kebabs

Thursday – Pork Chops (On sale this week for $1.88/lb…not the greatest price, but it will do!)

Friday – Scrambled Farm Fresh Eggs, Turkey Bacon and Fruit

Saturday – Leftovers or Sandwiches

Sunday - Burgers

I will post the recipes each night after I make the meal. If you see a meal you are interested in, please check back for the recipe later in the week!

Need help with your weekly meal planning and grocery shopping…check out all the printable resources!

Thanks to Andrea at Mommy Snacks and Marcy at Stretching a Buck for posting the best deals and coupon matchups at my stores each week!

All the BEST menu plans can be found every week at OrgJunkie.com!

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!