How To Meal Plan.....

I've wanted to do this post for a while, just have never sat down to actually "write it".....but with some new blogging adventures on the horizon, and more people interested in this topic, now is the time!
So.....why meal plan? How do you start to meal plan????
Here are some short tips on how to start meal planning and make it effective :

1. Make Time To Plan Your Meals
In our society, time equates to money.......and there is no better way to spend your time (and save you money) then to set aside some time every week to plan meals. The "I don't have time, I am so busy" excuse does not fit here - we are ALL busy, we all wish we had more hours in the day - but if you can sit down and watch a t.v program or surf the net, you have time to meal plan - no excuses ; )
If you don't "make" time to menu plan, you won't have time for it - it's as simple as that.
When you first start to meal plan, it will take you a bit longer, but the more you do it, the less time you need to spend at it. Take an hour a week - preferably before you go grocery shopping (I choose to do my meal planning on Sunday or Monday morning) and look through recipes (tried and true as well as new ones) and decide what should be on your menu for the coming week.

2. Look At Your Flyers
If one of you goals is to save money through meal planning, then this step is essential! See what is on sale for the coming week, what specials are on, and try to meal plan around those sales. Flyers usually post their best deals on the front and back of their flyer - honest - that is the truth ; ).
Plan around what is on sale, and, if your budget allows, stock up on sale items - this goes more so for meat/fish as that can be the most expensive part of your grocery bill.
Also - plan around what is already in your pantry and freezer - huge money saver!

3. Get Meal Suggestions From The Family
Let's face it, planning meals week in and week out can be daunting.....the "what should we eat this week" can be exhausting to say the least. Heck, even I throw my arms up in the air many times with this question. Something that has worked well for me, is asking my husband and kids, what do you think we should eat this week? While Munchie's suggestion is always "Homemade Mac and Cheese mom", the Great One, offers up ideas that I hadn't thought of - it helps immensely......plus then you involve the whole family ; )

4. Before Going Shopping, Check your Pantry (A.K.A. the seven eleven!)
My girlfriend has nic-named her pantry the "seven-eleven" - it is always stocked and always open ; ). I am guilty of not doing this often enough, I "think" I have something and don't buy it, or I actually did have it , and then I either have to go back to the grocery store or have more items than I need on hand.....check that pantry before making a grocery list!!!!

5. Use a Top 25 Meals List
Sit down with your family and come up with 25 meals that all of you enjoy - this becomes your go-to list. I use my list more than I can tell you - if you look at our meal plans over the last year you can probably pick some of them out - in the summer, "Asian chops" and "taco salad" are huge on my list. Other items that are from my list: Slow Cooker Chops, Corn Chowder, Tater Tot Casserole, Chili and buns, Sweet and Sour Meatballs (You NEED to try this recipe!!!)............I might post my list soon....could be a good idea and a good tool!

6. Have A "Clean Out The Fridge Night" and a "Soup Night"
Essential to saving money is using up your leftovers. We do this most weeks in what we call the "leftover buffet" - I pull out the weeks leftovers and add a salad or a veggie and that is dinner. It saves me time and $$$$. I also try to incorporate a soup night during the winter (switched up with a salad night in the summer/breakfast for dinner) - this not only saves money, it is also good for you. If you ask my family what they want for dinner - odds are they will tell you "homemade soup and buns" - hamburger soup, taco soup, green pea soup, corn chowder, broccoli cheddar soup, meatless minestrone - the list goes on and on.....they love them all!!! (Plus....they're all homemade!)

7. Save Your Menus
After putting in so much work for your meal plans......save them! No sense in reinventing the wheel - re-use some of those meal plans in the coming months, or simply use them for inspiration or meal ideas ; )

8. Do Batch Cooking
I sound like a broken record when I get going on this one at some of our classes.......when you are making soup or chili, double up the recipe and freeze it for a later date. Casseroles, lasagna, spaghetti sauce, meatballs (reg and sweet and sour) - double, double, double!!!! It is the same amount of work, so why not get two meals for your time???? This one is a no-brainer ; )

9. Plan For Snacks and Breakfasts
Make muffins, homemade waffles, cookies- whatever items your family eats on a regular basis and freeze them! You have no idea how handy it is to have muffins/cookies to grab when you are on the go with the kids - homemade is always better than store-bought!!!! I also have started making my own granola - yummmmm!!!

10. Do It!!!
All of the information in the world won't help you if you do not put it to use.....so go do it - meal plan the next week - trust me, once you do this a few times you will wonder why on earth you didn't start sooner!!!!!!

Homemade Granola

Took some time out this week to replenish my homemade granola......it is also a clean eating recipe that I put together.....and it is yummy : )

Homemade Granola
2 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup flax seed
1/4 cup hemp seed
1/2 cup slivered almonds (or any other nut you like)
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup honey
2 tsp cinnamon

Put all dry ingredients in one bowl - mix.  In another bowl, add the remaining ingredients and stir.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until it is all coated (this may take a bit).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and put the mixture on top.  Place in a 325 oven for about 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.  It is done when it is golden and dry to the touch.
I overdid mine a weeeee bit ; )

This is before it went in the oven.....

After - should have pulled it out about 5 minutes earlier....but it is still yummy : )

April Meal Plan

I have been plugging away at my April meal plan.....not sure if I am going to plan the entire month or not.  Our weather has been such a variation that I might just meal plan a week or two at a time.
Here is what I have so far:
April
1   Pot Roast with mashed taters and veggies (peas and carrots?) (and Yorkshire pudding!)
2
3   Clean Out the fridge night!
4   Homemade pasta sauce with meatballs  (Did this on Monday)
5   Cream of broccoli soup with homemade biscuits.
6  
7   Family Easter dinner - The Great One and I are responsible for making pies for 33 people! lol
8   Roasted Ham, Scallop Potatoes and veggies
9  Taco Salad??
10  Leftover ham used in mac and cheese (homemade)
11  Shepherds pie
12  Slow cooker corn chowder
13  Asian pork chops on the BBQ with double baked taters and salad
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

15 Minutes......

The Great One showed up with three family packs of boneless pork loin chops.  They were on for a GREAT price at a local grocery store and he took advantage of the sale.
I took 15 minutes, divided up the chops and prepared some for the freezer and some for tonight.

Pork Chops divided up into Ziploc bags......

Asian Marinade

Grilled Chop Marinade



4 of the 5 meals.....

Pork Stir fry - cut up and ready!

Asian Chops

Grilled BBQ Chops

Tonight's BBQ Chops (white wine, salt, pepper, garlic and chili flakes)

15 minutes made 5 meals......works for me!!!!

April.....

I'm sitting down tonight to start plugging in my April Calendar and do a bit of meal planning.  Can I tell you, I'm excited that this will be the first month where I am going to get to start putting in some frequent BBQ type meals......I LOVE this time of year!!!!!  While I know that I won't have as many BBQ days as the month of June, even a few will put a smile on my face : )

Will post my April meal plan as soon as I have it ready. 

Success!

The lawnmower taco recipe did not go over to well with the family.....neither did the tex mex fussili we tried (I like both of them.....the family however, did not....so it is a no repeat on both....sigh!)
BUT - the honey terriyaki chicken recipe - success!!!!!  VERY good - we did it on the BBQ (It is so nice outside lately!) and every little bit was gone - as in, no leftovers!!!!!
So - try it - you will like it!  Heck, you may like the lawnmower taco too......normal people like you and I do....it's those fuss pots like my "three" kids, that don't! lol
Enjoy!

Meal Plan Monday

I am adjusting our meal plan this week due to the amazingly beautiful weather that is headed our way!!!

Monday
Lawnmower Taco Meal  (pre-made freezer meal that we did not use at the beginning of the month!)

Tuesday
Grilled Terriyaki Honey Chicken  (Another pre-made marinade), with Spicy Noodle Salad and some steamed asparagus

Wednesday
Not entirely sure yet......... maybe a pork chop recipe or pork roast - potatoes and steamed broccoli

Thursday
Clean Out the Fridge Night!

Friday
Salsa chicken or BBQ

Saturday
Pizza night!!!!!

Sunday
Hmmmm....... lots of choices........something on the BBQ, or ham???

The Best Burgers....

Here is the recipe for the burgers I made for my freezer.  They are seriously delicious!!!!


Yummo Burgers   Click Here For Printable Recipe

2 lbs ground beef

1 egg , slightly beaten

0.5 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix (can use the whole package if desired)

2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic (or use 1 teaspoon garlic powder)

¼ cup dry breadcrumbs (or crushed soda cracker crumbs, more if needed)

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper 

1 -2 tablespoon Frank's red hot sauce  (optional but I would use it!!!)

Directions:

1. In a bowl crumble the ground beef with clean hands.
2. Add in the dry soup mix, egg, garlic, breadcrumbs or crushed soda cracker crumbs, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper and hot sauce (if using).
3. Using clean hands mix until combined, add in more breadcrumbs or cracker crumbs if needed to just hold the mixture together (do not overwork the meat or it will be tough).
4. Divide the ground beef into 6 equal patties (or make 8 small patties).
6. Place the patties onto a large plate or a small cookie sheet; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 6 hours or up to 24 hours to blend flavors.
7. Grill or pan fry the burgers as desired until cooked through (if desired sprinkle a small amount of seasoned salt on top while cooking the patties).
8. Serve burgers in toasted buns with choice of condiments.
9. TIPS FOR EXTRA JUICINESS; shape the hamburger into a ball, press 1 tablespoon cold butter into the middle then seal the meat around the ball then flatten into burger shapes ----or add in 2-4 tablespoons raw finely grated potato into the hamburger mixture then shape into patties, use no more than 4 tablespoons for 2 pounds of ground beef or the burgers will take on a meatloaf texture.

1 hour, 10 minutes....

Today I took an hour.....and hour and ten minutes......and I made:
10 burgers (6 for dinner, 4 for the freezer) UPDATE - Made 12 more burgers Sat afternoon in 15 minutes - will post recipe with pics soon!!!
Tater Tot Casserole
Marinara sauce with meat
Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Not bad.....will post pictures later...... UPDATE!!!!
Here are the pictures from my freezer meal hour......

The way I started - clean stove!

Browning my meatballs for the sweet and sour meatballs .

 Getting my marinara sauce going.....  (basically some onions, celery and red pepper sauteed in olive oil.  Then add 2 crushed garlic cloves, 1 can of diced tomatoes, some tomato paste, salt and pepper, oregano and basil and some dried chili flakes - then cook for about an hour)



This is how I prep any of my Ziploc meals - I put the plastic bag in a large bowl to hold it upright - makes life much easier!!!



Here is a view from the top - all ingredients in! 

Sweet and Sour Meatballs - ready to freeze.  Remember - freeze them flat and they take less room in your freezer!  I would normally write all instructions on the bag...but this is such a staple meal in our home that I have the directions for it all in the old brain ; ) 

Tater Tot Casserole ready to freeze.  (We had this this week as I swapped out a  meal - really good!!!)



Burgers - ready for the freezer and dinner!  I will post this recipe soon - it was delicious!!!



Finished marinara sauce with some meat added.  Easy as pie!

March Freezer Meal List

Here is the list of meals I am planning on making in the next week for my freezer.
It will not only simply my life, but also save $$$ on my budget ; )

Beef:
Tater Tot Casserole (2)
Hamburgers (teriyaki perhaps)  (12 burgers - enough for at least 2 meals)
Pasta Sauce with Meat or Meatballs

Pork
Asian Pork Chops (make towards the end of the month for April!)
Shredded pork roast (made in the crock pot)

Chicken
Chicken Stove Top Stuffing Casserole
Asian Chicken (for the grill)

Meatless
Twice Baked Potatoes (12-16 of them)


Some of the Recipes I use:

Tater Tot Casserole
1 lb lean ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1 can cream of mushroom or chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
pepper
2 cups frozen mixed veggies (corn, carrots, peas)
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (we like old)
1 medium package of tater tots.

1. Brown beef and onion. 
2. In a bowl, mix soup and milk.  Add some pepper to taste. 
3. Mix beef and milk mixture and add veggies
4. Place mixture in a 9x13 pan (if cooking right away) or a tin foil pan if making this for the freezer
5. top with tater tots and shredded cheese
6. To serve, bake uncovered at 350 for 35-45 minutes or until tater tots are brown and casserole is hot.
7. If freezing - do not cook!!!!   Place in freezer and then adjust the cooking time depending on whether you thaw you casserole or not.

Asian Chicken
1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup canola oil
3 tbsp brown sugar
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tbsp peanut butter
1/2 tbsp fresh ginger

1. Mix all ingredients and place in a ziploc bag.  Add 6 chicken breast and freeze.
2. To cook, thaw and then grill on the BBQ.

Chicken Stuffing Casserole
4 chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup  (low sodium)
1 cup milk
1 1/4 cups mozzarella cheese (Shredded)
2 boxes of low sodium stuffing

1. Place chicken in the bottom of a 9x9 pan  (again, if you are freezing this, use a tin foil pan).
2. Top with shredded cheese.
3. Mix soup and milk together.  Pour over cheese/chicken.
4. Prepare stuffing according to box directions.
5. Place prepared stuffing over the chicken/soup/cheese mixture.
6. Bake covered for 1 hour at 350.  If cooking from frozen state, adjust cooking time.

March Meal Plan

Here we are, my first blog post for my new blog - I'm a wee bit excited!
I love Fernando's Adventures, but I need to have a blog that is dedicated to strictly meal planning and freezer meals.
And so - to start off this new blog, I am sharing with you my March meal plan as well as my March Freezer meal list  (most of it anyway ; )  )
Enjoy, and I hope this site helps some of you to organize your meal plans and batch cooking : )

March Meal Plan
Date            Meal
4th             Lawn Mower Taco Meal  (in freezer)
5th             Cream Of Potato Soup and homemade buns
6th             Salsa Chicken (freezer meal) with rice and salad
7th             Chili on a bun with veggies  
8th             Clean out the fridge night
9th             TexMex Fusilli (new recipe!)
10th
11th             BBQ, baked taters and grilled veggies!!!!
12th           Honey Terriyaki Chicken  with basmatti rice and either green beans or carrots
13th           Tacos with veggie platter
14th           
15th
16th           Turkey Ranch burgers with oven fries and salad
17th           Pizza Night!
18th           Jaime Olivers Roasted Chicken with all the fixings
19th           Sweet and Sour Meatballs with rice and veggies
20th          
21st           Pasta with Meat Sauce and Caesar salad
22nd   
23rd           BBQ Steaks, baked taters and salad
24th           Clean Out the Fridge night!
25th           BBQ ribs/pork chops and potato salad
26th           Chicken Stuffing Casserole (in freezer) with rice and veggies
27th           Veggie Soup with buns
28th           Tater Topped Casserole (need to make 2 and freeze one!)
29th   
30th           Grilled Chicken, Spicy Noodle salad and veggies
31st           BBQ Burgers (possible teriyaki!), veggies platter and sweet potato fries


I have some dates that have no meals yet......I am leaving a few nights open for events, as well as some freezer meals I need to make and then slot in.
Stay tuned for a list of my freezer meals for this month!