Menu Planning

We were getting really bored eating the same old thing all the time. So the last few weeks we've been on a mission to try some new things. We've tried some fun things like Lime, Chili Fish kabobs, Grilled Tilapia, Kiwi Marinated Lamb Kabobs, Grilled asparagus , basil and balsamic pork chops (these were amazing and Justen thought it was the best pork he'd ever eaten) and Parmesan grilled corn on the cob. It's been really fun trying new things. One way I've found to keep myself on track and not get stuck in the what's for dinner rut is to Menu plan. I start by looking in the freezer, and cupboard to see what needs to get used. Then I look through the sale paper to see what is cheap this week. With those two things in mind I come up with a few old favorites then head over to recipezaar to find some new ideas. I finished my menu plan for the next two weeks on Sunday night, and went shopping yesterday for everything I will need. Aside from maybe a few more gallons of milk (only got six it will be close if we make it a full two weeks, we usually need 4-5 a week) and maybe a little more fruit for breakfasts and snacks we should have everything we need. I am hoping by posting it here I won't loose it, because little helping hands keep taking my list off the fridge and then I forget what I had planned and fall back into the rut. I've also found we eat healthier this way and produce doesn't go to waste because the produce I buy is all ear marked for a meal.

Dinners (two weeks worth)
*Sour Kraut and Brats (this was Sunday dinner)
*Braised Lamb Shanks (crock pot so not to heat up the house), Parmesan and Basil Orzo, Parmesan grilled Corn, and Grilled apples (this was last night)
*Grilled Trout and Acini di Pepe salad, w/roasted summer squash (trout was caught at a faculty party we went to for work right at the end of school)
*Scallops and Pasta Florentine (the new winco in town carries bay scallops at a really reasonable price)
*Black Bean Salad and chips (this has lemon, lime and orange juice, cilantro and fresh vegis in it, hoping we like it.)
*BLT Sandwiches (forgot to buy lettuce so we'll be having these with the spinach from the pasta- it was a big bag)
*Marinated Lamb Chops and Zucchini Couscous
*Grilled Chicken Pasta Salad (lots of vegi's in this)
*Chicken and Grapes salad on Pita bread (with Carrots and celery on the side)
*Grilled Lamb Chops (for our family BBQ/Party Friday night)
These last two are for my nights when I have to have a quick meal and there are no left overs left, like this thurs. night when we have our livestock board meeting.
*Beans and Weenies w/spinach salad
*Tuna Casserole w/corn

I just list it all out and then cook whatever we feel like eating that night. I don't list it on a day particularly because maybe we won't feel like fish on Monday we want it on Wed, so this has enough flexibility to keep us happy but enough structure to keep me organized and sane.

Lunch is usually leftovers, as is some dinners, the three of us just don't ever finish a whole meal at one sitting, so we have lots of left overs. We also always have stuff to make sandwiches. If we run out these are things that can be made with stuff I have in the house
*Tuna Sandwiches
*Ham Sandwiches
*Beans and Weenies
*Mac and Cheese (with corn and hot dogs or tuna)
-I actually made this today for lunch but for a fun twist we put fresh chopped
chives and parsley in it, a squirt of ranch dressing, corn and hot dogs. It was really good, actually made box mac and cheese enjoyable
*Grilled Cheese and Tomato Sandwiches
*Bean Burritos
*Egg Burritos


Breakfasts (we try to have a little fruit or something with this, like this morning we had the left over grilled apples from last night.)
We make huge batches of pancakes, waffles, and french toast sticks, then freeze them with wax paper in between. That way on a daily basis all we do is pull them out of the freezer and put them in the toaster for a few min. I also make big batches of biscuits and freeze them and can bake them in the toaster oven, we use them for breakfast but also sometimes to have fresh biscuits with dinner.
*Pancakes
*Waffles
*French Toast Sticks
*Biscuits and Sausage
*English muffins
*Bagels
*Oatmeal
*Cream of Wheat (I take a beaten egg or two and drizzle it in at the end while stirring really fast to add some protein make a big batch so left overs can be used the next day)
*Gries Brei Schnitzel (this stuff is awesome! You take your leftover cream of wheat and put it in a square container in the fridge. Let sit until the next morning. The next morning you slice it about half inch thick. Dip it in beaten egg then coat it in bread crumbs and fry it in a skillet or on a griddle. Serve with cinnamon sugar or syrup or fruit topping, and we always have either fried bananas, or fried cinnamon apples with it).
*Homemade yogurt w/fruit and granola (just put a batch of yogurt in the yogurt maker this morning)

Snacks
*Crackers
*Fruit (grapes, kiwi, apples, berries, cantaloupe, & bananas this week)
*Carrots and celery
*Yogurt
*PB and J (Justen eats a piece of whole wheat bread toast with pband j at least once a day, jam is homemade).
*Ice cream or Popsicles
I'm sure there is more I just can't think of it right now.


Sweets
*Banana Choc Chip muffins w/flax seed meal and wheat germ (to use old bananas up)
*Choc. Chop Cookies (Nanny's recipe-Justen is CRAVING them)
*Lemon Cake (for the BBQ Fri. Night)
*Rice Crispy treats (not healthy at all but we have a huge bag of marshmallows left from camping smores that needs to get used up).
*Old Fashioned Kettle Corn
*Kiwi Something?? I bought a huge box of Organic Kiwis at Sams a few weeks ago and I'm starting to loose the last 10 or so. I've got to figure out something to do with them, so that is today's project, save the kiwis. First kiwi recipe I've found is a Rachel Ray kiwi smoothie, sounds good! And uses up an over ripe banana, I may add a handful of raspberries too.