Menu Planning

In my married years I have been menu planning on and off for various reasons including saving time, saving money,and saving the 4:30 'Oh No, What's for dinner!?' panic attack. This time it is for all three. I thought everyone planned out their meals before they went shopping but after discussing it with a few of my 'mommy' girlfriends, I found out that this is not a common habit. It makes my heart beat fast just thinking that they are going shopping without a plan!

So let me share my menu planning, and by no means is this rocket science. I must have SOME simple things in my life that I have control over and THIS IS IT! So let's get down to the planning~

added note here: I started this when I still had all five kids at home but now I only have two kids left to feed daily.

Each day of the week is categorized to narrow down selections....like this~

Mondays: Breakfast! (No, not cereal!) Between having seminary age kids and that darn bus coming so early, my kids miss out on one of the greatest meals of the day! So I have moved this meal to Monday nights and go all out.

Tuesdays: Soup and Sandwiches! Sounds simple enough, right? My husband is not a soup fan and your's may not be either BUT since I am now making my soups from scratch he loves them. I don't always have soup AND sandwiches on tuesday.

Wednesdays: Pizza Night! No we don't wait for the pizza delivery guy to ring the bell, unless of course he is coming for dinner. My youngest and I make our own pizza, the way we like it and that makes for some great variety. Wednesdays are busy for my family with cub scouts and youth activities Also my husband goes straight from work to his church meetings. So that leaves two of us at home for dinner and two that will be starving when they make it home later.

Thursdays: International Cuisine! This is where I stick all the tacos and spaghetti. I am also a huge fan of french and danish cooking. I will get to that in another post.

Fridays: Vegetarian! This could also include fish. Anything vegetarian goes here but mostly ends up being a pasta night.

Saturdays: Grilled! The grill is not a fixture or piece of furniture out there. Use it! If it can be cooked on a grill then it fits in our Saturday menu. Due to my husband's lack of enthusiasm with grilling in the cold, we have been taking the same meals and cooking them inside. I might keep grilling for warm months and change it out in the cold ones.

Sundays: Traditional! These are mostly cooked in the crockpot and patiently waiting for us when we get home from church.  Meat and potatoes are commonly found on a Sunday afternoon. I try to make enough to feed us for dinner too.

It's as simple as that. With the menu planned, the shopping list can be made. If you stick to your menu you will not find yourself running back to the store during the week. That will save you lots of money. Then when 4:30 sneaks up on you, you won't be asking yourself "What's for dinner?"

Walnut Creams from Aunt Marie

Here is a recipe for a candy that was always mingling with the fudge on one of those fancy tiered crystal plates at Christmas time. It's very sweet and a little goes a long way.

1 white of an egg
1 Tbs water
1 package sifted confectioner's sugar (1 lb)
drops of vanilla
8 oz package of cream cheese
Walnut halves

Mix all ingredients until smooth and shape into small bite size balls. Press walnut halves in each and let sit for 1 hour.

Family Traditions

As I was growing up our family had many get togethers and I especially loved our Christmases together because of all the extended families, traditions and foods! My two older sisters and I would hop into the back of our '65 VW Bug with mom and dad and drive to La Mesa, California to my Aunt Doris and Uncle Jack's home. We would pop out of the backseat with not a wrinkle in our pretty dresses!
Aunt Doris would have her dining room table full of so many homemade goodies of fudges, candies, cookies, fruit and nut breads, cakes and pies. I can still see them in my mind with all their sparkling sugars, colorful sprinkles and crust edges pinched with delicate and loving fingers. The aroma of her home was out of this world and I would like to share some of the recipes that I have collected from these gatherings so you can create the same wonderful get together with your family.