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I love to cook.
I love everything about cooking from the menu planning to the grocery store
shopping to the prep. (Ok, not everything. I don’t like the clean up,) Ha!
We also love to eat. We love everything about eating. 😀
My problem is that I have zero control in a grocery store. Some women
buy shoes and purses like they are going out of style. I buy gourmet food items
and fresh fruits and veggies like it’s our last meal. The problem I realized, was
I was spending a small fortune at the grocery store. That is when I implemented
a Weekly Meal Planner which I am sharing with you today.
Weekly Meal Planner Printable
I realize that not everyone loves to cook.
I talk to lots of women who feel that cooking is more of a chore than a pleasure.
I get that. I am not always in the mood to cook dinner either, especially if I have
nothing planned or do not have the right ingredients. For years, I cooked by
the seat of my pants. Whatever I felt like, or whatever I had on hand. Cooking
was losing the pleasure that it once had, because I felt my unpreparedness was
adding more stress to my life. It was also about this time I also realized what I
was spending at the markets by making last-minute stops to pick up a “few items.”
Face it, does anyone ever pick up just a “few” items? I don’t think so. 😀
I had to make some changes to the way I grocery shopped.
I had used Menu Planning in the past, and had gotten away from this habit.
Many people think Menu Planning is only useful for larger families or for those
who do not cook that often. Actually, that’s wrong, Menu Planning can be used to
better organize your pantry and fridge and keep in stock items that will allow you
to pull together meals ranging from Gourmet to a simple Soup and Sandwich night.
I start with my Weekly Menu Printable.
Sure, there may be apps and gadgets and more technical way of preparing
a Menu Planner. But I am an old-fashioned “write it down” and
“see it in front of me” kinda gal…so this printable works for me.
So, what does a typical Menu look like in our home?
For us, it depends on how often the Babies will be staying with us. As much
as I wish they would, they are simply not going to eat Chile-Lime Roasted Salmon
with Israeli Couscous and Asparagus. 😀
But, they will eat my Best Ever Homemade Chicken Tenders with Roasted Potatoes.
So, in some ways – also knowing your weekly schedule and events taking place will
help with your menu.
Here is what my Menu for next week looks like…
What is my secret for having to purchase less items at the grocery store?
Plus, cooking less throughout the week? Here are 5 practices I use…
1.) Combine Meals & Cook Double!
It’s just as easy to prepare or purchase two chickens as it is one chicken.
For example, on Monday the menu reflects Rotisserie Chicken. By using
leftover Rotisserie Chicken again on Tuesday, I can fix a meal that the
Babies will enjoy – my 20-Minute Chicken and Black Bean Burritos.
Same with the Tenderloin. I will cook two tenderloins and use the leftovers
for Stuffed Pork and Green Chili Poblanos.
2.) Buy Seasonal and also Look in the “Buy Now” Section!
Tomatoes and Sweet Corn are in season right now. As in Squash. Look for
recipes that can utilize these vegetables which are cheaper to purchase since
they are more in abundance. My market has a special section for both vegetables
and meats that is called “Buy Now.” This is marked down meat and produce
that should be consumed and/or frozen immediately.
3.) Try a Meatless Night!
We love our meat, but every now and then we have a huge salad and pasta
with lots of grilled mushrooms and vegetables. Veggie Lasagna is one of
our faves that even the Babies will eat. (with lots of cheese!)
4.) Buy frozen chicken!
Rarely do I buy fresh chicken. Do you realize how much you can save by
buying frozen? I come home and repackage the larger bags into smaller
bags. I also tend to buy a lot of thighs, because a) once again they are cheaper
and b) I find them more flavorable.
5.) Crock Pots or Pressure Cooking – Buy Cheaper Cuts of Meat!
This little machine right here is one of my best friends.
Go-Wise Programmable Pressure Cooker
It’s a pressure cooker. I know – just the name itself scares the daylights out of
you huh? Don’t be! These new pots are soooo much safer and almost
fool-proof. I can cook an inexpensive cut of meat in this baby and it tastes
like “buttah!” 😀
So while I LOVE to cook, and even more we LOVE to eat – I also love
to garden and craft and read blogs and spend way too much time on Pinterest.
I also love to spend as much time with The Hubbs and my Babies as I can.
(Grammy with two of her three babies)
I love that I can grab this Printable from the front of our fridge on my way out to
the Grocery Store or Farmer’s Market, too.
I even included a “Notes” area where you can add non-food items you need…
I am sharing this Printable with you for FREE.
For other Printables that are for sell for only 99 cents each, check out
my Printables Shoppe. You can get the Menu Planner Printable HERE.
I hope this helps you out on both your grocery budget and your
time “budget” too. I’d love to hear from you!
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Thank you for spending a few
minutes of your day here with me.
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