menu planning

I sometimes have a hard time coming up with something yummy for dinner. I know menu planning can make it easier. I have read this many times, in many different places. I have come up with a plan. I'm not sure how well it is going to work, but I'm willing to try.

step 1) get out the blank recipe cards. I have many of them in many different colours because I am a pack rat.

step 2) write out the names of all mains on the top of the card, not bothering with ingredients. Include two "get out of the kitchen free" cards so dinner out is planned and I have something to look forward to. Maybe use different colour for things like main salads for summer months.

step 3) get DH to go through the cards to see if I've missed any favourites or if there are any doubles.

step 4) shuffle cards and put them away until Sunday when I turn the page in my calendar/planner book

step 5) randomly pull out 7 cards to write them into the book, organize them as they match up with planned events-quick meals on busy days, favourite meals on special days.

step 6) verify that I have the ingredients. These are my favourite, regular meals, so I usually have the things I need at hand. Put the ones I don't have on the grocery list. Move the meals that need something to later in the week so I will have a chance to get to the store.

We'll see how this works. Luckily, I have two other tools to fall back on. One is a calendar from http://nicelynourished.com/ and the other is a cook book with complete recipes for the evening meal (includes desserts!) by Penny E. Stone called 365 Quick, Easy & Inexpensive Dinner Menus.

This week's menu...
Monday Chicken Noodle casserole (lots of veggies hiding in there)
Tuesday Chili (still ruminating on its depth and tones-TexMex? Curried?) biscuits
Wednesday Cabbage Roll Casserole mmmm cabbage. with meat or without?
Thursday (DD's #4 Bday!!!) Chick Pea Curry. It's her birthday. She gets meat. and kale
Friday Burritos. This is a tradition in our house. crudites
Saturday Baked Chicken and Barley in mushroom soup. a lazy day kind of meal. corn? broccoli?
Sunday Lasagna. eggplant or noodles? cottage cheese or ricotta? meat or veg'?

Let me know if there is a recipe you would like and I'll make sure it gets on here.