2012 Menu Planning Challenge

[AspiringToBeFrugal]

Nuisance 26 got us started on this challenge in 2011 so I thought I'd kick it off in 2012!

Post your weekly or monthly menus here. Planning ahead can alleviate dinnertime stress and add to your overall yearly $$ savings. Additionally, posting ideas here can be a fantastic source of culinary inspiration for others! What other reasons do you have for planning your menus ahead of time?

Good luck and I can't wait to see what you're planning to make!

P.S. Can this be started as a sticky? Thanks!

[zakity]

Meals for w/e 1/7/2012

Monday - taco casserole
Tuesday - beef soup
Wednesday - roast
Thursday - hamburgers
Friday - ffy

[mauimagic]

Monday 1/2/12 will be my first meal of the new year at home. I have everything on hand and will plan and buy for the rest of the week then.

Hamburger vegetable soup with Low-carb pasta.

[AspiringToBeFrugal]

For Jan. 1-7 (and these are just dinners):
~ Turkey w/ stuffing, mashed potatoes & veggies
~ Orange Chicken Curry w/ salad**
~ Spaghetti w/ homemade bread
~ Beans & Rice
~ Chili & cinnamon rolls
~ Fried rice w/ shrimp**
~ Eat out

** indicates a new recipe that I'll post for my 2012 Try New Recipes Challenge.

[AspiringToBeFrugal]

Trying to work ahead as much as possible in preparation for the new baby. So, for week #2, January 8-14, our dinner menu will be:
~ Hamburger Cabbage Casserole w/ crescent rolls**
~ Parmesan Chicken w/ veggies**
~ Pasta Puttanesca w/ homemade bread
~ Beefy Mac**
~ Leftovers
~ Eat out (my son's birthday)
~ Philly steak sandwiches w/ peppers and onions

** indicates new recipes I intend to try for the 2012 Try New Recipe Challenge.

[MakeADollarHollar]

Mine actually starts Friday, 12/30 and runs in to the new year...

Friday - Pizza with a box crust from the pantry (need to use it up)

Saturday - New Year's Eve
Buffalo Wings
Celery and Blue Cheese
Ranch Spinach Dip with Crackers and/or Celery

Sunday - New Year's Day
Lunch - Black Eyed Peas, Cornbread (cooked the peas yesterday and they're in the freezer)

(Not enough room in either freezer for all the wings so I have to do a back to back preparation)

Dinner - Sweet Soy Wings, Devilled Eggs, Cucumber Salad, leftover Dip from yesterday

Monday - Biscuits, Sausage Gravy, leftover Devilled Eggs and Cucumber Salad

Tuesday - Spaghetti with Italian Sausage, Garlic Bread, Salad

Wednesday - Mexican Chicken, Yellow Rice, Salad, Dressing of Salsa with a little Sour Cream stirred in

Thursday - usually leftover night but I have some Green Peppers that will need to be used up so...Stuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey, leftover Yellow Rice, Green Beans

[tlenad]

Okay this I really need to do...

1st Week of the Year

1-1 - Chicken & Potato Bake
1-2 - Spaghetti with garlic bread
1-3 - Hot Dogs & Mac N Cheese (Kid's Choice Night)
1-4 - Pork Chops & Green Beans
1-5 - Breakfast for Dinner (Pancakes & Ham)
1-6 - Ham Quiche
1-7 - Tuna Caserole

New Year's eve is up the air as of yet, we'll see it will probably be a potluck with my cousin and I. I'm sure I can find something here to make but I need a head count for dinner first.

[qsaver704]

I'm in, back soon to post menus

[imagine]

I plan Friday thru Thursday

So my menu is
Dec 30 Super - Drip/Dip beef sandwiches

Dec 31 Party foods
Lunch sandwiches
Dinner homemade Apple bees boneless Buffalo wings knock offs served with Bleu cheese dip and fresh veggies
Night party foods ( pizza rolls, bottle soda, floats, mac and cheese bites, cheese sticks, and little smokies)

Jan 1 Lunch grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup
New Years beans and rice for supper

Jan 2 lunch topped nachos
dinner Enchiladas

Jan 3 beef stew
Jan 4 home made Egg mc muffin night
Jan5 Mustard artichoke chicken over rice

Lunches not listed are sandwiches or leftovers I only pan lunches if everyone is scheduled to be home.

Veggies and fruit are served even if not listed.

[cmu]

I need to get in on this one too. Living on 1 income is hard enough but since the hubby is home every day he can start dinner for me before I get home. This will help me stretch the grocery money... will be back later to post my menu..

[nuisance26]

~Thanks for getting this going! I totally dropped the ball with this mid-year. I blame the stress of knowing we were going to have to move out of state. Suddenly, food planning seemed a lot less important than planning a move, a new home, what to take, how to sell this house and how to leave my family behind.
But I feel like we have a good plan going now for all that and I want to get back in this challenge.
Dinners around here have been a bit lack-luster for a couple of months. I'm dealing with a meat sensitivity issue. Every few years I go through periods where I can't eat meat. Even handling it freaks me out. So it's tricky trying to make uncomplicated meals that will please everyone.
I absolutely must start planning again so that I can have my vegetarian stuff and the rest of the clan can have their meat. I also need to use up the couple months' food supply in the pantry and freezer since we won't be taking the food with us across country.
I'm going to print a calendar to use for planning in January.~

[Squidge]

Definitely in again. Didn't always post my weekly menus, but followed them pretty well last year. Will start when we've defrosted the freezer.

[wunsagin]

I've been menu planning for years, I usually plan for a week.

Th- goulash, green beans, garlic toast
F- eggs, sausage, pancakes
S- creamy chicken enchiladas*, hm mexican rice, LO coconut pie
S- ham, blackeye peas, sweet potatoes, corn, ambrosia salad, rolls, hot fudge brownie sundaes
M- turkey noodle soup*
T-hamburgers, fries, corn on the cob
W-LO's

*new recipe

[MNmammaof2]

I am in!!! Here is my list for the first week of 2012

Sunday-crockpot chicken parmesan*
Monday- Bacon Parmesan Pasta*
Tuesday-Crockpot Brats with fresh potato wedges
Wednesday- Sheppard's Pie
Thursday-Spaghetti and homemade garlic bread
Friday- homemade personal pizzas
* indicates new recipies for the week
I didn't include desserts in this week

[piney]

I am in here my menu for 1-7
Chilie & crackers,cake

White beans,fried potatoes,cabbage and corn muffins

Vegetable soup corn muffins and peach cobbler

meat loaf, green beans,& cream potatoes

Bacon,hash browns,egg,and biscuit

Peas and carrots,mac and cheese,apple sauce and graham crackers

chicken and steamed vegetables