Menus

After struggling for years (literally) I think I've finally learned to menu. I don't know why this is so hard but it is. And I know it's not just me cause my friends have issues with this as well. When I finally figured it out, there was such a freedom in not having to think about that one thing again. Here is what works for me.....

~ I'm working on seasonal menus. Winter menus where I can use my oven as much as I like, and summer menus with colder meals and less cooking.

~I've divided my menus into "mostly beef" or "mostly chicken". This is to try to save money when one is on sale or when I have beef from my parents. So now my menus are labeled "Winter Beef".

~I'm making new ones and keeping old ones so when I don't have time to make a new one (or don't feel like it), I can pull out an old faithful. I have a section in my cookbook just for menus so I always have a place to put them and know where they are.

~When making a menu I start by asking everyone what they want to eat next week. They are usually simple requests. This week my son asked for spaghetti and my daughter decided on all her b-day meals. This gives me a good place to start.

~I check the ads and try to plan around stuff that is on sale. I don't find this to be all that helpful though b/c most of the sale stuff I use is produce.

~I check to see what I already have and plan from that. I actually plan around what I don't have. For instance, if I'm almost out of tuna then I'll plan some tuna dish. I'll buy enough tuna for what I need plus extra for the pantry. This usually keeps me from completely running out of too much. It gives me something to work with if I can't get to the store when I want.

~I get out my notebook paper, pen, and cookbook. I look at anything new that I want to try and add that to my list.

~I try to plan at least 7 days' worth of breakfast, lunch, tea, and dinner. I use my cookbook and browse through those sections

~I decide on each meal and write it all down. Then I work on a grocery list to go with that menu.

~I put the list and menu together and put them both in a page protector. I will keep out my current menu to work from all week. After that it goes in the menu section of my cookbook.

Making menus is NOT something I enjoy. I don't like it at all. But I love that feeling of having it done and knowing what is for dinner. It ends up being a big time saver for me in the long run.