Meal Planning

So, this post didn't start out as a post at all.  It actually all started as an email to a friend who was forced into accepting wanted some of my meal ideas.  If you don't like cooking or have no interest in eating, this post is not for you.  Also, if you don't like reading long posts, this is not for you.  This is a highly detailed post of how I get ready to go to the grocery store.  (Now you know why it takes me about 2 hours to get ready to go to the grocery store...).  And you may think I am completely crazy after reading this post... 

Planning Your Menu:
Each week, I go to the grocery store with a list that looks like this on one side:

On the reverse side of my grocery list, I make 3 other categories of things to I need to know before going to the store.  First, I start with a list of stuff to use up.  All my extra veggies, maybe I have an old can of beans that I only used half of, or I made a curry sauce that didn't all get used up.  Next, I write down a list of different types of meals that we could have (see the 3rd pink item on this list), and then at the top of the page, as I find them, I write down the actual meals for the week.  I like having the menu for the week at the top of the page, because it makes it easy to find when I post the menu on my fridge when I get back from the store.    

Here is an example of what a week would look like:

A few of the categories that I use with my favorites for each one:

(you can check out my Main Dish Pinterest board for more ideas)

Mexican:

- Chipotle tacos - I skipped the part where you put the whole tortilla and all the toppings in the oven and just served with in a tortilla with ranch on top.  

- Stacked Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas

- Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps

- Grilled Cumin and Lime Quesadillas

- Sweet Potato Tinfoil Tacos  

- Black bean and corn quinoa

- Charred Corn Tacos with Zucchini Slaw - I left out the radish

Pizza:

- Roasted Vegetable and Pesto Pizza

- Sweet Potato, Balsamic Onion and Bacon Pizza

- Whole Wheat Roasted Red Pepper Pizza

- Apple Bacon and Onion Pizza

- Green Calzones

- Ham and cheese Pizza Rolls - I used pizza dough and pepperoni and cheese

Sandwiches:

- Pear and Mustard Panini's - We do pretty much any white cheese we have and stone ground mustard.  

- Apple, Bacon Panini's

- Roasted Vegetable Pita's

Salad:

- SouthWest Pasta Salad 

- BBQ Chicken Salad with creamy dressing

- Balsamic Roasted Vegetables and Quinoa Salad

- Massaged Kale Salad

- BBQ Chicken and Quinoa Salad

- Chickpea and Carrot Salad - I use peanuts instead of cashews. 

- Gourmet Green Salad

- Thai Peanut Noodle Salad 

- Chipotle Roasted Vegetable Layered Salad

Pasta:

- Italian Pasta with Tomato Pesto and Sun dried Tomato Pesto(With this one, I make my own sun dried tomato pesto, but you can buy it at the store)

- Sun-dried Tomato Fetticine

- Pesto Zucchini "Spagetti"

Soup:

- Cream Cheese Chicken and Vegetable Soup

- Broccoli Cheese soup

- Creamy Chicken and Wild-Rice Soup

- Sweet Potato, Gouda and Bacon Soup - I make this without the mushrooms

- Roasted Red Pepper and Sweet Potato Soup

- Red Lentil Soup

- Farmhouse Chowder

- Zuppa Toscana

- Creamy White bean and Bacon Soup

- Carrot Soup with Tahini and Chickpeas

- Chicken Potato Soup with Leeks

- Green Lentil Soup

- Sun-dried Tomato Soup
- Mustardy Kale Salad with Roasted Sweet Potato and Apple

Asian:

- Baked Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce

- Chickpea Curry - made this with regular rice and yellow curry paste

- Yellow Thai Curry over Rice - I like to put in carrots, onions, potatoes and chicken.    

- Hoisin Chicken Lettuce Wraps

- Sweet Potato and Quinoa Curry - I leave out the currents

- Thai Chicken Wraps with peanut sauce

- Sweet Potato Curry

- Peanut Soba Stir-Fry

Quiche:

-Broccoli Bacon Cheddar Quiche

-Tomato and Corn Quiche

- Leek and Swiss Chard Tart

Kabobs: 

- Honey and Chicken Vegetable Kabobs

One Pot:  

- Shepherd's Pie

Happy cooking!  Your kitchen will love you!